Stories for March 25, 2009

Jayhawks depart for Sweet 16

Family helps send off team to Indianapolis

Maria Graves nearly tripped as she sprinted to her parents and sister, pink hat clutched in her hands, the black scrawl of Tyrone Appleton’s signature barely legible on the bill.

Jayhawks' first-round foes back in North Dakota battling flooding river

After battling the Kansas Jayhawks, members of the North Dakota State men’s basketball team returned to campus and found themselves taking on another challenge: fighting the threat of flooding.

Jayhawk still alive among top 10 'pet' mascots

An online site ranks Kansas University’s Jayhawk as the No. 10 mascot in this year’s NCAA Tournament field, but the mythical bird already has survived longer than four higher-ranked animals — including the pre-tournament No. 1, Dubs the Husky from the University of Washington.

KU Athletics releases report that includes plans for $24.6 million Olympic Village

The Kansas University Athletic Department released a draft of a self study Wednesday detailing information on budgets, master plans and many other aspects of its operation.

KU softball hammered

The softball mercy rule in college is set up to serve one purpose — to avoid any further humiliation by the losing team when the game clearly has become out of reach. The rule states that a game ends when one team holds an eight-run lead after any inning beyond the fourth.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

Cole Aldrich needs eight blocks to pass Greg Ostertag as KU’s single-season block leader. “I’m just going to go out and play the same game I played all year, try to block shots, rebound, get opportunities to score,” said Aldrich, who has 90 blocks.

One-on-one challenge

Self holds individual talks with Taylor, Morris twins

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self summoned three Jayhawks to his office on Monday afternoon. His message to Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris during one-on-one chit-chats? That they ought to be loose, carefree and primed to produce top-quality minutes in Friday’s Sweet 16 battle against Michigan State (approximately 8:37 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis).

Rematch looks promising

Few things make a sports columnist feel cheesier than writing nice words about the local coach, especially one as celebrated as Bill Self. So when it’s unavoidable to do so, the easy route involves stepping out of the way to let the numbers do the talking.

Mangino honored in Pittsburgh

Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was inducted into the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at the group’s 23rd annual awards and scholarship banquet on Sunday.

Bears advance to semifinals of NIT

The Baylor Bears made big baskets, grabbed timely rebounds and dodged a few bullets. Apparently, they’re getting the postseason formula down pretty well.

Fieldhouse will be closed to public

Allen Fieldhouse will be closed to the public once the Kansas University men’s and women’s basketball seasons end.

Twists, turns leave KU's Taylor happy

Tyshawn Taylor let the red and blue practice jersey dangle from his fingers as he sat on top of a vacant concession stand inside Allen Fieldhouse and reflected on the year that had just passed. He wasn’t supposed to be here, inside the home of one of the most storied programs in college basketball. He was supposed to be 600 miles northeast.

Former Firebirds reunite in Jayhawks’ win

Robby Price and Brett Lisher found a familiar face staring back at them Tuesday when they stepped to the plate during Kansas University’s matchup with visiting Western Illinois. For the first time since leading Free State High to the 2006 Class 6A state championship, they found themselves on the same field as former prep teammate John Sneegas, a junior pitcher at WIU making just his third Division-I start against the Jayhawks.

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