Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSA
Jayhawks cruise to a victory McCray notches double-double in game. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 8B
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16,2009
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SENIORS' LAST STAND
PAGE 1B
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior receiver Kerry Meier fumbles the ball that could have put Kansas up 17-10 on the Nebraska 4-yard line in a play. Meier led the Jayhawks on Senior Day with 127 yards in a 31-17 loss to the Cornhuskers Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Jayhawks reflect on losing streak
Kansas suffers fifth-consecutive loss and disappointment overshadows Senior Day
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
Kansas' players slowly filtered into the postgame press conference and settled into desks scattered throughout the corners of the room.
They talked about a handful of missed plays and mistakes, about disappointment and about a frustration gripping each individual on the team
And there were enough of each to serve as the foundation for Kansas' loss.
But for the first time all year
— for the first time after a loss
— the layhawks reflected on the season, offering a glimpse into the minds of athletes stuck in a losing streak.
"It's been one of the more difficult things of my life so far," senior wide receiver Kerry Meier said. "It's definitely been tough. Nothing I've experienced is like it in the sports aspect. I'm a frustrated guy right now and I think a bunch of guys are frustrated."
Moments before, in the final home game for 15 seniors, the
Nebraska 31, Kansas 17.
speed bump lingering in Kansas season grew a little higher.
Kansas entered Saturday afternoon's game with hopes of snapping a four-game losing streak while also picking up a sixth victory to become bowl eligible.
Instead, the Jayhawks have now lost five consecutive games for the first time since coach Mark Mangino's first year in 2002.
"It's disappointing for all 15 seniors that suited up tonight and it's disappointing for the entire team," senior defensive back
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See a photo gallery of the Senior Day game against Nebraska at Kansan.com.
Justin Thornton said. "It's definitely tough losing five straight. We feel like we've had chances to win each and every one of those ball games.
"When it rains, it pours.
And we're getting poured
on right now."
That certainly appeared to be the case.
On Kansas' opening drive of the third quarter, Meier hauled in a pass from senior quarterback Todd Reesing and headed toward the end zone. But he was stripped from behind and Nebraska recovered the fumble at its own 4-yard line.
The Cornhuskers converted the turnover into a field goal on their ensuing possession to take
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 4B
COMMENTARY
At times, it's more than just a game
There comes a moment where the pursuits we choose be it forever.
choose — be it footfall, bioengineering or sitting in front of a computer typing stories — begin to take on a deeper meaning.
But Saturday, when Kansas lost its fifth-straight game after opening the season nationally ranked with a 5-0 record, and after its seniors fell to the Big 12 North's cellar in front of family, friends and fans for a final time, the players faced a moment in life that they won't forget for good or ill.
It's the moment when one's best is not enough — that realization, that harsh reality that can't be prepared for or foreseen.
Few, if any, of this team's players are accustomed to losing so much as a few games per year.
And yet there they sat, faces blank and voices weary, in a postgame press conference setting that has come to decrease in length and increase in unease with each week's unfortunate result.
"It's tough," junior wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe said. "It hurts bad We're fighting basically to be bowl eligible right now."
Coach Mark Mangino's portion of the press conference lasted half as long as usual, with a 15-second pause before the first question and between several others as reporters tried to figure where and how to start.
Though Mangino was visibly disappointed Saturday, it seemed those trying delicately to word their
MEN'S BASKETBALL
SEE COLUMN ON PAGE 5B
Henry makes his mark on opening night
BY COREY THIBODEAUX cthibodeaux@kansan.com
Xavier Henry wasted no time making his way into the national spotlight. He scored 27 points, leading the lajayhaws to a 101-65 victory against Hofstra Friday night.
Henry scored eight points in the first five minutes of the game and had 11 straight for the beginning of the second half. Showing his efficiency, he made eight of his 12 shots and went 5-of-8 in three-point shooting. Henry was wide open for many of his jump shots, noting Hofstra's defense as the reason.
In the two exhibition games, freshmen Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson had their breakout performances while Henry showed small flashes. Kansas coach Bill Self said until this game, Henry had been tentative about his role on the team.
"The zone is designed for shooters," he said. "When they play zone, I know I'm going to be open."
"I'm happy for him because he's a natural scorer and he's been thinking instead of playing." Self said. "Tonight, I think he played instead of thought."
Once again, senior guard Sherron Collins and junior center Cole
Aldrich failed to attract as much attention. Collins put in a somewhat quiet 23 points with four threepointers and three assists. Regardless of the lack of attention, Collins said Henry's performance was devastating to opposing defenses.
"I'm pleased with him," he said. "This showed everybody in the country that me and Cole won't score all the time so now you have to pay more attention to people around us."
"We have enough weapons this year where I don't have to hunch down and force things like I did last year," he said. "I'm just trying to give other guys open shots."
Collins said that he wasn't bent on taking over the game offensively, and that there were other ways to dominate a game without scoring.
"We have enough weapons this year where I don't have to hunch down and force things..."
Aldrich was a monster on the boards with eight
rebounds and four blocks. He was the only other Jayhawk in double figures with 11 points. However, he only took five shots while the Jayhawks went 11-of-27 from three-
SHERRON COLLINS Senior guard
See a photo gallery of the men's basketball season opener at Kansan.com.
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"We took 27 threes, which is way too many threes," Self said. "We're not a big three-point shooting team and we haven't ever been since I've been here. But they played zone. I think what they did dictated that
point range. That was the doing of Hofstra's zone defense, Self said.
as much as anything else."
After trailing 2-0 to start the game, Henry hit a three and the Jayhawks didn't look back, leading the rest of the way.
Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins led his team with 23 points, despite what Self
called a great defensive effort by soonhomore guard Tyshawn Taylor.
"I though Tyshawn was really good defensively," he said. "The big guys didn't help him much on the ball and that's why Jenkins got a
"We knew this was the one that actually counted," he said. "So we just came out and had to make sure everybody knew we were No. 1."
Henry's 27 points set a record for a freshman in his first game, though he said that did not mean as much to him as winning. He said he was impressed with the college atmosphere, the fans and how they cheered at just about everything Kansas did.
Read more men's basketball coverage on page 3B.
lot of points. Jenkins is good. He is strong and gets to the paint."
"That's the great thing about college basketball," he said, "is that everybody is on your side when you're at home and it gets so loud so you get pumped up for it."
Henry said he expected this kind of performance coming from the top-ranked team in the nation.
Follow Corey Thibodeaux at twitter.com/c_thibodeaux.
— Edited by Amanda Thompson
Weston White/KANSAN
Freshman guard Xavier Henry winds up to throw down a dunk off a fast break Friday night. Henry scored 27 points and also had five rebounds in 24 minutes.
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