Jon GoeringDanielle McCray is Danielle McCray, but the Big 12 preseason women’s basketball player of the year was on the back burner Sunday afternoon.
“It bodes well for us,” Kansas University coach Bonnie Henrickson said, “when you have Danielle McCray, and she’s not the most impressive player in the gym.”
Two Jayhawks making their first starts — Aishah Sutherland and Angel Goodrich — stole the show as KU punctured Pittsburg State, 86-56, in an exhibition game in Allen Fieldhouse.
At this time a year ago, Goodrich was on the shelf because of a knee injury, and Sutherland was so far down the bench she was nearly in another zip code.
The 6-foot-2 Sutherland, who evolved into KU’s best bench player late last season, earned her first start and paced the Jayhawks with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
“She has just outplayed everybody at her position,” Henrickson said when asked why she had started Sutherland. “She has started where she finished last year.”
What a difference a year has made for the 6-foot-2 sophomore from Perris, Calif.
“Last year I wasn’t as confident,” she said. “I was messing up on and off the court.”
Henrickson told Sutherland at mid-week she had earned her first opening bell after coming off the bench 29 times as a freshman.
“I expected it,” Sutherland said, “because I was doing good in practice.”
Goodrich expected to start, too, even if it was a year late for the talented point guard from Tahlequah, Okla.
“I was very nervous,” Goodrich said. “Actually, I’ve been nervous all week.”
That Goodrich had the jitters caught at least one of her teammates by surprise.
“She doesn’t show it at all,” McCray said. “She has that straight face all the time.”
Goodrich logged 18 minutes and contributed 10 assists, many of them thanks to finishes by Sutherland and McCray off fast breaks.
“I thought she did good,” McCray said. “That’s just talent. She was born with the ability to see the floor.”
Added Sutherland: “She’s the best passer I’ve ever played with. As long as I’m running, I know she’ll get me the ball.”
Notably, however, Goodrich attempted only two shots, missed both and didn’t score a point. Then again, Henrickson said she hasn’t installed many plays designed to free Goodrich to score.
“Right now, we don’t have a lot in for her,” the KU coach said. “We will put in more, but I didn’t want to overload her.”
Meanwhile, although playing third fiddle to Sutherland and Goodrich, McCray was solid with 18 points, five assists and three steals.
Also impressive was Nicollette Smith, who had lost her starting job to Sutherland. The 6-2 junior from Tulsa, Okla., contributed 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Krysten Boogaard, the other starter inside, had 13 points and two boards. Thus, KU’s three top post players combined for 45 points and 20 boards.
Other than Goodrich, none of the other newcomers produced moments to remember. Freshman Monica Engelman saw the most time, logging 16 minutes, but missed six of seven shots.
Junior-college transfer Rhea Codio played 10 minutes at point guard with two assists and two turnovers.
“Rhea struggled a bit, but she’ll be fine,” Henrickson said.
Lawrence High product Tania Jackson logged three minutes in mop-up time and had three rebounds while hitting one of two free throws.
Jackson, like Goodrich, had missed all of last season because of a knee injury, so it was her first floor time since the 2008 Class 6A state championship game, when she was a junior.
Kevin AndersonThe first tee-shot of the inaugural National Championship Classic sailed far right and toward the trees, a slice if ever there was one, but in the eyes of the man responsible, things could have been much worse.
“(I was) just hoping I wouldn’t miss and have everybody laugh at me,” said Mario Chalmers, the former Kansas University basketball standout and tournament host.
Having recently finished his rookie season with the NBA’s Miami Heat, Chalmers underwent a little rest and relaxation Friday as he hit the links at Alvamar Public Golf Course in the first of what he hopes will become an annual event.
“A lot of business deals are made on the golf course — a lot of people have told me that,” said Chalmers, explaining the charity’s setting. “I want to get my foundation started, get it off to a good start. What better way to start it off than a golf tournament where everybody can come out and participate?”
Well, everybody with $250 to spare, anyway.
That was the cost for the tournament and ensuing dinner banquet, the proceeds of which went to the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation, which is said to “create and support community based programs that encourage the positive development of youth through sports and education and fund initiatives for breast cancer research and treatment.”
Originally slated to include the bulk of KU’s 2008 national championship roster, participation dwindled a bit in the days leading up to the event. In addition to the absences of Brandon Rush and Sasha Kaun, who are overseas this week, both Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson were unable to attend the event due to basketball-related obligations.
Those who were able to attend, however, seemed to enjoy themselves.
Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins puffed a cigar. Former guard Russell Robinson, who was playing golf for just the second time, contemplated the possibility of a few lessons. And KU assistant coach Danny Manning showed enough course wherewithal to impress Alvamar Country Club head pro Randy Towner.
“Not bad,” said Towner, after watching Manning tee off on the 18th hole. “A lot of times, big guys have loose, floppy swings. But his is pretty good.”
For his part, Chalmers admitted his golf game could use some work (“I’ve been getting a couple lessons, keep practicing,” he said), although there was one aspect of it that he was confident he had down pat.
“Mario said he’s trying to get set up with some clubs and some shoes,” said Alvamar Golf Course head pro David Dunn. “But he thought he’d done a pretty good job dressing the part.”
