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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009
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SUPREME IN ST. LOUIS
Louis
Jayhawks sneak past Memphis
Team struggles offensively in narrow victory
BY COREY THIBODEAUX cthibodeaux@kansan.com
Memphis tried its best Mario Chalmers impersonation. And once again, Kansas came out on top.
The Tigers missed the goahead three-point jumper as time expired, giving the Jayhawks a 57-55 victory in the Hall of Fame Showcase Tuesday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Junior center Cole Aldrich led the Jayhawks with 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. But the biggest performance wasn't on the stat sheet.
Favoring his right thigh with cramps, senior guard Sherron Collins had several visits with his trainer hoping to stretch it out.
But Collins limped back to the locker room with around 7:30 left to go in the second quarter.
With his team struggling to execute cohesive offense, he returned right when his team needed him.
"I was going to get out there some way and finish the game off."
down the rest of the game. I was going to get out there some way
"I wasn't going to sit out the whole game," he said. "I wasn't going to let the cramps keep me
SHERRON COLLINS Senior guard
and finish the game off."
Leading by four with three minutes left to go, Collins ran straight out of the locker room into the game.
Memphis whittled the lead down to two points in the
final minute and Collins had a floater counted for goal tending.
On the other end, Memphis hit a three, giving Kansas a one-point lead with 16.7 seconds to play.
Collins was fouled right away and only hit one out of two free throws, but Memphis guard Elliot Williams missed a three-pointer, giving Kansas the victory.
Coach Bill Self said he thought the game was well-played on both sides except for Kansas' offense.
"Offensively, we stunk," he
SEE RECAP ON PAGE 4B
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas hopes for chance at NCAA tournament spot
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Senior middle blocker Paige Mazour spikes the ball against Baylor. Kansas will play Iowa State tonight and hopes to be win a spot in the NCAA volleyball tournament.
Mike Gunnoe/XANSAN
Kansas comes in with a 15-11 (7-9) record and has won six out of the last nine matches. Iowa State sports a 22-4 (14-3) record with its only losses coming from ranked teams. It is the only team to defeat No. 2 Texas as well.
Fresh from an emotional victory against No. 21 Baylor and a season sweep of Kansas State, Kansas will travel to Ames, Iowa, to face a daunting No. 8 Iowa State team.
BYZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
With only four matches left in the season, Kansas is hoping to knock off another ranked opponent in order to make itself an attractive pick for the NCAA volleyball tournament. Kansas will have its chance as it faces three top 10 teams in its final four matches of the regular season.
"They are a premier top-10 team," Bechard said. "That's exactly what we need. With the two ranked teams (this) week, we need to find a way to get a win or two to get some people to look at us for the postseason."
Coach Ray Bechard said this match is coming at a great time of the season.
The players minds are set on a postseason berth, which may be the reason Kansas has been playing well lately, junior defensive
Iowa State swept Big 12 conference volleyball honors last week. Outside hitter Victoria Henson was named offensive player of the week, libero Ashley Mass was named defensive player of the week and middle blocker Jamie Straube was named rookie of the week.
specialist Melissa Manda said.
Iowa State has been playing well lately and has a lot of quality players. Manda said.
"We've kind of realized what we're playing for getting close to the end of the season," Manda said. "Picking up another win from a ranked team would help a lot."
"They work really well together," Manda said. "They have a really good defensive system and their libero is really good."
While the team can't help playing many ranked opponents in conference play, it's good to have the chance to play ranked teams, senior libero Melissa Greb said.
"It's good to play these high quality teams because if we do get wins like that, it's better than beating someone that wouldn't help our case at all." Grieb said.
There is also a sense of urgency for Kansas players, especially for the seniors, Grieb said.
"We've been working hard all season and finally with the good chemistry on the team that it's
PREVIOUS MEETING
lowa State
at Kansas
WHEN: Oct. 10
Kansas 18 16 17
Iowa State 25 25 25
Kansas at
No. 8 Iowa State
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. tonight
WHERE: Ames, Iowa
UP NEXT
Kansas' season is shaping up much like the 2005 season, which was the last season during which Kansas went to the NCAA volleyball tournament. In that season Kansas was 15-14 in the regular season and played nine ranked teams in the regular season. Kansas will face nine ranked teams this season and has victories against Oklahoma and Baylor, along with a season sweep of Kansas State.
all coming together," Grieb said. "Every game could be your last. There is urgency through the last three weeks of the season."
Follow Zach Getz at twitter com/zgetz.
Edited by Samantha Foster
COMMENTARY
Bill Self, recruits should be trusted
All-world basketball recruit Harrison Barnes sat down for his press conference to announce his college decision Saturday. Six signs showing the logos of most of the major basketball programs in the country, including Kansas', faced him.
But instead of throwing on a ball cap or simply stating his college plans, Barnes decided to Skype the announcement of his decision to his future coach, Roy Williams, at North Carolina.
Williams, Kansas' former coach, yanked Barnes away from his former program. A player Kansas coveted went east.
But let's not look too much into his ranking or any other recruit's ranking.
Let's look at Self's recruiting classes since his arrival in Lawrence.
Let's just recognize that coach Bill Self seems to recruit players that continually surpass the online appraisal of Rivals, ESPN or Scout.com. Self gets players who fit his program. Barnes would have certainly fit well, but Self will have a backup plan.
Kansas fans need to take a collective deep breath when looking at the recruiting class for 2010, which currently contains just one three-star recruit, Royce Woolridge.
Consider the 2005 class as Self's first, because a coach's contact during recruits' junior year is often the most crucial factor in where they decide to play.
That class? Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Julian Wright and Micah Downs. Three of them are now starting in the NBA, Julian Wright was Scout.com's highest ranked player at No. 3. Rush was No. 12.
In 2006, Self brought in Sherron Collins, Darrell Arthur and Brady Morningstar—an NBA first-rounder, a probable NBA player and one solid college player. Collins and Arthur weren't the top ranked guys in their class at their position.
In 2007, Self didn't have much room but picked up Tyrel Reed, walk-on Conner Teahan and some dude named Cole Aldrich, the No. 35 recruit in Scout.com's class of 2007.
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The book is still out on the 2008 and 2009 class, but it's clear that Self knows how to get players who will make an impression.
It's about putting the right pieces together. Maybe the No. 1 recruit has more freakish potential, but maybe the No. 42 shooting guard Woolridge, is a lot safer bet to be a happy part of the bench.
Who knows?
Mixing and matching is as much a factor in a building championship team as any recruiting ranking.
Believe in the system. Self won't get every player that he wants and he shouldn't expect to. With a couple of scholarships available. Self will probably find two more great players in the 2010 class.
By now, Self knows his recruits much better than any recruiting service could. He has built a championship team once already with players he recruited and might have built another one this year.
Self should be trusted.
-Edited by Jacob Muselmann
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