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A lot to look forward to next semester
I'll be the first person to admit that this wasn't the best semester ever for Kansas athletics.
The start of this semester looked promising for the football team. With Todd Reesing, Kerry Meier, and Darrell Stuckey returning, the expectations were high for Kansas. The Jayhawks won their first five games and rose to as high as No.15 in some polls. A Big 12 North title was within sight and things were looking good for Kansas.
But then it all came crashing down. The football team dropped their last seven games of the season and did not even become eligible for a bowl game. The same team that some analysts picked to win the Big 12 North finished last in the division. And to make matters worse, the Jayhawks fell to the Missouri Tigers on a last-second field goal after playing one of their best games of the year.
Things couldn't get worse for the two most prominent programs at Kansas. But they did. An investigation of Mark Mangino and the football
But the problems weren't just on the football field. The basketball team saw its share of problems as well. A fight with the football team brought exposure to the No.1 Jayhawks for all the wrong reasons. Brady Morningstar exacerbated the situation by getting a DUI, and the basketball team had to start worrying about more than just how to beat a good zone defense.
program began after complaints surfaced about the head coach. For a team that was already struggling, it was the last thing that the Jayhawks needed. The investigation is still going, and sports fans all across the nation have taken notice.
But there is some good news, and it has nothing to do with saving money on car insurance by switching to Geico. Kansas has a chance to accomplish great things during the second semester and put the bad memories of this semester behind it.
It won't be easy. It's always tough to rebuild a reputation. But the Jayhawks have a lot that they can accomplish next semester.
The men's basketball team is still ranked No. 1 and the women's basketball team is still ranked. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich hope to lead Kansas to a National Championship while Danielle McCray has a great chance to be named the Big 12 Player of the Year.
The baseball team has high hopes after an appearance in the NCAA Tournament this spring and the track and field队 returns several athletes who had great success last season. Emily Powers is set to lead the women's golf team in spring play and other programs also have high hopes for their upcoming seasons.
This next semester could be pretty fun. If the men's basketball team starts the season 29-0, then Kansas would have a chance to win its 2000th game in Allen Fieldhouse against K-State. It seems farfetched, but this team has the potential to have a perfect season.
Even if the Jayhawks didn't win their first 30 games, they would likely have a chance to pick up victory No. 2000 in the Big 12 Tournament or the Big Dance. Add in a 53rd conference championship and a fourth National Championship, and this season would definitely be one to remember.
It's going to take a while to erase the memories of this semester, but next semester is a good time to start trying.
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior guard Sherron Collins, junior guard Tyrel Reed, sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor, and sophomore guard Travis Leford hold up their hands after a three pointer by sophomore guard Jordan Juenemann Friday night against Tennessee Tech.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE DECEMBER 4,2009