Jayhawks Return to Action Wednesday Against Western Illinois
Nov. 27, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
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Matchup: Western Illinois (1-4) at <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas (3-1)<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 29
Tip-off: 7:05 p.m.
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Allen Fieldhouse
Capacity: 16,000
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Dec. 8, 2004 at KU
Current Win Streak: 1, Kansas
KU Coach: Bonnie Henrickson
Record: 190-92 overall and 32-30 at KU
vs. WIU: 1-0
WIU Coach: Leslie Crane
Record: 141-92 overall and at WIU
vs. KU: 1-1
-Radio
Jayhawk Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Nate Bukaty
Color Analyst: Brenda VanLengen
-Television
Sunflower Broadband (Ch. 6)
Play-by-Play: Kevin Romary
Color Analyst: Steven Davis
-Internet (kuathletics.com)
Live Audio
Live GameTracker
Live WebCast
OPENING TIP
The University of Kansas (3-1) returns to action Wednesday night against WesternIllinoisUniversity (1-4). Tip-off between the Jayhawks and Westerwinds is set for 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse. Wednesday’s game is Douglas County Night, fans can purchase single game tickets for only $3 with a DouglasCountyID.
FAST BREAKS
-The Jayhawks own a 15-game non-conference regular season winning streak at Allen Fieldhouse.
-Western Illinois has attempted 117 free throws this season while KU has attempted 58.
-After shooting 35% from the floor and 14% from the three-point arc in its first two games, Kansas has shot 42% from the floor and 37% from behind the arc in its last two contests.
-Kansas will travel to Wisconsin to face the Badgers on Sunday, Dec. 3. Tip-off at KohlCenter is set for 1:30 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Tonight marks the third meeting all-time between KU and WIU. The Westerwinds knocked off the Jayhawks, 48-46, on Dec. 7, 2002 in the first-ever meeting between the two squads. On Dec. 8, 2004, Kansas defeated WIU, 58-41. The game was Bonnie Henrickson’s seventh at the helm of the Jayhawk program. Both games were played at Allen Fieldhouse.
A LOOK AT KANSAS
Kansas is riding a two-game winning streak into tonight’s contest with Western Illinois. The Jayhawks continue to be led in scoring by sophomore post Marija Zinic. Despite scoring a season-low six points at Creighton last Monday, Zinic is averaging 11.3 points per contest. Zinic and junior Taylor McIntosh are both averaging a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game. KU’s three victories have been by an average of 13.3 points.
A LOOK AT WESTERN ILLINOIS
Junior Stephanie Lovingood leads the Westerwinds in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (6.0). Lovingood is shooting 54-percent from the field and has blocked eight shots on the year. Point guard DeeDee Murphy is WIU’s lone returning starter off last year’s 23-7 squad. The senior is averaging 10.0 points while dishing out 17 assists. The Detroit, Mich., native was the only Westerwind named to the AmeriSuites Midtown Thanksgiving All-Tournament Team last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M. The Westerwinds are coached by Leslie Crane. In her ninth year on the job, Crane has led WIU to four-straight Mid-Continent Conference titles.
Six degrees of separation
-Bonnie Henrickson earned her master’s degree in physical education from Western Illinois. Henrickson served as a graduate assistant coach for the Westerwinds from 1986-88.
-The Westerwinds roster consists of two Kansas natives. Sophomore Lindsay Boss is from Carbondale while freshman Jordon O’Brien is from Parsons.
-WIU head coach Leslie Crane is a native of Lola, Kan. Crane served as head coach at KCKCC from 1993-97 and Turner High School (Kansas City, Kan.) from 1989-93. Crane also served as head volleyball coach at Circle High (Towanda, Kan.) from 1987-89.
-Western Illinois assistant coach Todd Schultze is a native of Ottawa, Kan. Schultze competed in basketball and track at Allen County C.C. before transferring to KU to continue his track career with the Jayhawks. Schultze earned his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa and his mater’s degree from KU.
-Neil Crane – father of WIU head coach Leslie Crane – was the head men’s basketball coach at AllenCounty (Kansas) Community College.
KU’S LAST OUTING
KU defeated Creighton, 60-47, in Omaha, Neb. during its lone game last week to improve its record to 3-1. Freshman Kelly Kohn opened the game with seven-straight points and the Jayhawks played solid defense to take a 33-8 first half lead. Junior Jamie Boyd had a career night for Kansas. A native of nearby Underwood, Iowa, Boyd set new career-highs for points (8), assists (3) and minutes (26). Kohn and fellow freshman Sade Morris led the Jayhawks in scoring with 11 and 14 points, respectively. The victory over Creighton in Omaha was KU’s first since Nov. 16, 1997.
STARTING YOUNG
Freshmen Kelly Kohn has started every game this season for KU while fellow frosh Sade Morris started KU’s first three contests. The last time Kansas had two rookies in the same starting lineup was on Jan. 17, 2004 against KansasState. Current Jayhawk Sharita Smith and former `Hawk Lauren Ervin made their first career starts against the Wildcats.
WEBCAST AVAILABLE
New this season, Kansas fans will be able to watch 15 KU home basketball games live via AT&T Jayhawk All Access. To subscribe to Jayhawk All Access, log on to kuathletics.com and click on the All Access logo in the upper right corner of the page.
PICK UP A GAMEDAY PROGRAM
Kansas fans may need a program early in the season to identify Bonnie Henrickson’s 2006-07 roster. Half of KU’s 14-player roster consists of true freshmen. The seven-member class was ranked in the Top 25 by some recruiting services, Henrickson’s second-straight class to earn the distinction. Making up the seven players are two local products: Danielle McCray (Olathe, Kan./Olathe East HS) and Lindsay Ballweg (Shawnee, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas HS). Two Texans: LaChelda Jacobs (Mansfield/Mansfield HS) and Porscha Weddington (Temple/Temple HS). Kelly Kohn (Adrian/Adrian HS) hales from Michigan, Sade Morris (Norman/Norman HS) is from Oklahoma while Rebecca Fieckert (Goodrich/Sheridan County) is a native of North Dakota.
