Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MAKE ROOM IN THE SHED
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010
Track team to meet Tigers
Nationally-ranked track team travels to Columbia for dual. TRACK | 6B
COMMENTARY
PAGE 1B
GETTING ON TRACK
Self uses starting spots to motivate
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
It's not hard to figure out how Bill Self came to his conclusion. The last time he had an unmotivated, underachieving veteran, he stuck him on the bench for a couple games, let a promising freshman take his starting role, and watched the magic happen.
That was Tyshawn Taylor, who got bumped for Elijah "nine assists, no points" Johnson when Taylor was prone to being, as a friend of mine put it, a walking turnover.
Glad we cleared that up.
Kansas searching for team effort
Why not, though? If Self follows the original script, Robinson has a good start left in him for Saturday, and Morris has one more monster game in him for Saturday, before the starting five goes back to the one we all know and generally approve of.
But back to Wednesday, when Marcus Morris, who's been having his name called as a starter since game two this year, was bumped for Thomas "first freshman double-double of 2009-10" Robinson.
"I may start Thomas again," he said. "I don't know."
Dear Tyshawn: If you're still not sure, that it. That is your role.
Cole Aldrich, though, is not a freshman. The "crap in his throat" is feeling better, according to him. He should be a double-double machine, but for the third time this season, he had neither double-digit points nor double-digit rebounds Wednesday.
Through sixteen games last year Aldrich had not scored in single digits once, and had nine double doubles to this year's six.
Then Self's got the erratic Xavier Henry. Is he tired? Is he shy from the spotlight? Is he just cold? Whatever it is, Henry hasn't looked like he did earlier in the season when he shot 58 percent through the first 11 games. But, obviously, it's tough to bump the inspired veteran when he is, in fact, a freshman himself. It's this fact that gets Xavier a little more leeway.
The experiment wasn't a smashing success for Johnson, who played well in his starting debut, but saw just four minutes of action in his second. However, it sparked Taylor into unquestionably the best five-game run of his career in which he posted an absurd 29—3 assist-turnover ratio.
The experiment was a smashing success for Robinson, who in his debut as a starter was yanked off the floor two minutes into the game when Nebraska jumped out to a 12-1 lead. On the other hand, Morris was incomparable. If it wasn't his best game, it was certainly his most efficient. He finished with 19 points, seven rebounds (four offensive) and zero turnovers.
With the recent success of his Mike Tomlin-esque coaching move, maybe Self should do it more often. Sherron is safe. I think we can all agree on that. Three straight games of efficient 20 point performances? Acceptable, I suppose. I would love to see some more of C.J. Henry in the starting lineup, but maybe Tyshawn is ready for round two (1—1 assist-to-turnover ratio the last four games).
Bill Self, in his I-m-not-going-to-tell-you-everything but-just-enough-to-get-you-salvating way, offered up the following thought after the game:
Paging Mr. Withey.
Edited by Cory Bunting
Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor goes for a layup against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Wednesday night, Taylor, who scored 11 points, ruffled feathers before the game when he said that he didn't really know his role, a comment coach Bill Self joked about after the 84-72 victory.
Weston White/KANSAN
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
Just as conference play begins. Kansas is slowly rounding into form.
For the past few weeks, senior guard Sherron Collins has been the most consistent and effective player on the team, essentially carrying everyone on his back.
But Kansas coach Bill Self said Wednesday's game at Nebraska was a step in the right direction in "team" basketball. While Kansas made their defining run late in the second half to pull away, his two best players — Collins and junior center Cole Aldrich — weren't even on the floor.
"We actually extended our lead with Sherron on the bench," Self said. "So I thought as long as we're playing good, let's go ahead and go with this.
Collins led the laj Hawks in their recent victories. While he isn't asked to do as much this year, Collins said he knows when he must take the reigns.
"So Sherron and Cole are on the bench and we actually play some of our best basketball."
Now Kansas will attempt to gather all its pieces on the same page when Texas Tech comes to Lawrence Saturday at 12:45 p.m.
"You always have that role and I've always been a scorer," Collins said.
Everyone knows what to expect from Collins at this point in his career, but the rest of the team is trying to catch up.
In the early part of the season, freshman guard Xavier Henry looked like the key for a Jayhawk title run. But his average has dropped six points in the last five games.
Despite the struggles, he intends to stick to the playbook.
The Jayhawks also hope to resolve their post issues.
"I'm going to keep trying to play through the team and keep helping the team win." Henry said.
Aldrich has rebounded and blocked shots,but Self said he still hasn't taken enough shots offensively.
Morris said the biggest motivation came from junior guard Brady Morningstar.
The Morris twins, specifically Marcus, have picked up Aldrich's slack recently. After getting benched for freshman Thomas Robinson Wednesday night, Morris responded with 19 points and seven rebounds.
SEE MEN'S ON PAGE 3B
Senior guard Danielle McCray drives past an Oklahoma State defender during the second half. McCray scored 28 points against the Cowgirls, but will now have to carry the offensive workload after the season ending injury to freshman guard Angel Goodrich.
Ryan Waaggoner/KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Undeterred by losses, team prepares to battle Tigers
BY MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/maxrothman
After a week marked by Kansas losses — both its starting point guard because of injury and its third straight game because of inconsistent play — Sunday's upcoming Border Showdown against Missouri was nearly lost in the shuffle.
Despite the barrage of bad news, Kansas (10-5, 0-2) will still host rival Missouri at 1 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
Freshman guard Angel Goodrich suffered a season ending injury after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during Tuesday's loss to
But the game shall go on.
"You've got to have some toughness and resiliency," coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Oklahoma State — the team's third consecutive loss and first defeat at home this season. The combined obstacles do not provide Kansas with an ideal set-up for a rivalry game.
The Jayhawks will certainly need plenty of both at this point in the season.
Senior forward Jessra Johnson leads the Tigers with 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
The Tigers (10-5, 0-2) travel to Lawrence with a tough and experienced squad, making last year's dismal 13-17 record easier to forget.
KANSAS VS.
MISSOURI
TIME: 1 p.m.
DATE: January 17
PLACE: Allen Fieldhouse
However the numbers, while gaudy, don't serve Johnson's intangibles any justice. She's an aggressive attacker and a fiery leader for a defensive-minded Missouri team.
"They'll pressure and get out in passing lanes," Henrickson said.
SEE WOMEN'S ON PAGE 3B