Marian Washington is loathe to admit the Kansas University women’s basketball team’s NCAA Tournament hopes will have to be pinned on winning the Big 12’s automatic berth.
But Washington is enough of a realist to know the math isn’t in Kansas’ favor for an at-large berth.
“I’ll never give up until after the last game,” Washington said Tuesday, the eve of the Jayhawks’ meeting with 12th-ranked Oklahoma. “We have to keep pushing forward. We might have a shot, but Missouri is a prime example. A few years ago, they ended up winning the postseason tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament. It’s always a possibility if you peak at the right time.”
Kansas will carry a 7-9 overall record, 1-4 in the Big 12 into tonight’s meeting with OU (13-4, 4-1). Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse, with a tape-delay telecast available locally at 10:30 tonight on cable channel 6.
The Jayhawks, who have played in nine straight NCAA Tournaments, would have to win their remaining 11 games and pick up two victories in the Big 12 tournament to get to the magical 20-win mark that all but assures an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t know that I look that far ahead, but we’d have to be very successful in our last 11 games,” Washington said. “There isn’t much room for us to lose many games.”
The Jayhawks, losers of two in a row, six of seven and eight of their last 10, will face a tough test tonight. The Sooners have won four straight, lead the league in scoring offense (83.9 points per game) and rank second in field-goal percentage at 47.5 percent.
“Oklahoma’s very good,” Washington said. “All five players can score, and they’ve got the whole package, inside and outside.”
Stacey Dales, a 6-foot junior forward, leads the Sooners with 16.6 points per game, while LaNeishea Caufield, a 5-9 junior guard, adds 16.4 ppg. Forward Caton Hill, a 6-1 sophomore, contributes 12.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
“They’ve got a great, heads-up point guard with great quickness, and Caufield and Hill do a great job in the paint,” Washington said. “And they’re very balanced. That makes it very difficult to defend. They’re a high-scoring team. We’ll have to find a way to keep them from getting so many opportunities.”
They also field a high-scoring defense. OU ranks last in the Big 12 in scoring defense, surrendering 73.9 points per game.
Kansas’ leading offensive threats are Jaclyn Johnson, a 6-1 senior forward averaging 15.9 points and 7.6 rebounds, and Brooke Reves, a 6-foot senior forward who contributes 14.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
No. 12 OKLAHOMA (13-4, 4-1)F Caton Hill, 6-1, Soph.F Stacey Dales, 6-0, Jr.C Jennifer Cunningham, 6-3, Jr.G LaNeishea Caufield, 5-9, Jr.G Sunny Hardeman, 5-7, Sr. |
KANSAS (7-9, 1-4)F Brooke Reves, 6-0, Sr.F Jaclyn Johnson, 6-1, Sr.G Jennifer Jackson, 5-10, Sr.G Leila Meng6, Fr.G Selena Scott, 5-6, Jr. |
| Tipoff: 7:05 tonight, Allen Fieldhouse.TV replay: 10:30 tonight, cable channel 6. |
Johnson, who didn’t start KU’s last game with a sprained ankle, should return to the starting lineup tonight.
Washington said that true freshman Leila Mengo made her first career start Saturday at Colorado, likely would start again tonight in place of center Nikki White.
“I haven’t decided yet, but I’ll probably go small with Leila,” Washington said. “She works so hard and has such a good attitude. She’s scrappy. That’s the kind of effort we need, and I thought she should be rewarded.”
The Jayhawks will travel to Kansas State on Saturday.
