Kansas.com: WSU Shockers

Marshall happy to size up WSU

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

Remember all those missed shots in the lane for the Wichita State men's basketball team last season? Layups, gimmes, bunnies -- call them whatever -- they rarely seemed easy for the Shockers.

WSU shot 41.7 percent from the field, ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference, in part because of an inability to score close to the basket. Coach Gregg Marshall remembers.

"We weren't very good this year at finishing shots around the rim," he said.

Marshall feels better about those scoring opportunities in the future, now that he has had a good look at what his roster could look like for the next season or two. While there are some "ifs" and "whens" to clear up, the Shockers are big.

Inexperienced, but big.

New coach keeps team busy

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:22 CDT

Shel Silverstein wrote the book "The Giving Tree" and the song "A Boy Named Sue."

One of those works is required reading for members of the Wichita State women's basketball team this summer, and it's not the one involving a deadbeat dad and a bar fight. New coach Jody Adams can't work with her team on the court this summer; she is keeping them busy in other ways.

The reading list is one of her attempts to get know her players and help them prepare for a season with a new coaching staff and new expectations. It's been hectic since she was hired in late March. July is a busy recruiting month. In August, Adams will make an in-home visit to each of her players. Among other items, they will talk about the books and a journal the players are keeping.

"It provides great communication back and forth," Adams said about the journals, an idea borrowed from Texas coach Gail Goestenkors. "It gives me a little bit more insight into them."

The other required books are "The Choice is Yours" and "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work" by John Maxwell, who writes about leadership. The Shockers will need intangibles working in their favor to progress after a 9-22 season in 2008.

Wichita State AD thanks Shocker fans

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:21 CDT

Shocker fans,

With the 2007-08 athletic year coming to a close, I would like to extend my sincere thanks for your support of Wichita State athletics.

Fans are an integral part of the success of any program, and with your loyalty and support you have made WSU a great place for our student-athletes to compete. Not only did our teams excel this year but you, the fans, also accomplished a great deal.

During volleyball season you helped break the single-game attendance record twice. Your continued support helped WSU rank seventh in the nation in average volleyball attendance and set a school total attendance record of 35,698, crushing last year's record of 29,157.

The enthusiasm carried over into basketball season, when the men's basketball team sold out the entire season and has sold out 47 straight home games dating back to the 2005-06 season. The women's basketball team was the only Missouri Valley Conference squad with a crowd of more than 10,000 when the Shockers claimed victory in front of 10,103, the third-largest crowd in Valley history. Men's basketball attendance has ranked consistently in the top 50 in the nation while women's basketball ranked 60th this past year.

WSU's '63 football team reunites

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Before the 1963 football opener, Ray Patterson didn't own a nickname or a prominent role in the University of Wichita's offensive backfield.

That changed quickly during a 33-13 win at Arizona State. Patterson turned into an unlikely hero in an unlikely win that propelled the Shockers to a 7-2 record and a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title.

Around 42 coaches and players from that team are expected to visit this weekend for their 45th reunion. "Wheels" Patterson, now superintendent of schools for Pawnee Heights and Hanston, will be one of them.

Coaches gave him that nickname after he scored on a 72-yard touchdown pass against the Sun Devils. Patterson motored into the end zone on a hot September night in Tempe despite the presence of sprinter Henry Carr in the defensive backfield. A year later, Carr won two gold medals in the 1964 Olympics, one in the 200-meter dash and one anchoring the 400 relay.

"He was chasing me," Patterson said. "Because of fear, I outran him."

1963 MVC CO-CHAMPIONS

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

WU 33, Arizona State 13

Boston College 22, WU 16

WU 26, Hardin-Simmons 12

WU 47, Louisville 14

North Texas State 7, WU 3

Goddard's Watkins will sign with Cubs

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:40 CDT

Goddard infielder Logan Watkins will sign with the Chicago Cubs today, his father said Thursday.

Watkins, selected in the 21st round of this month's major-league draft, had planned to play baseball for Wichita State. He decided Wednesday that Chicago's offer of a $500,000 bonus and $100,000 for college was too good to pass up.

"It's real tough on him," Brian Watkins said. "He feels like he's let a lot of people down who have been good to him."

Watkins said his son turned down offers of $300,000 and $430,000 and held firm to his demand of $500,000.

"Even if they had gone to $490,000, we would have said 'no,' " he said. "It takes a lot of money to turn down a program like Wichita State. We never thought they would get there."

BASEBALL

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

Bradley hired Eastern Kentucky's Elvis Dominguez, 45, as its coach, replacing Dewey Kalmer. Dominguez went 178-199-2 in seven seasons at Eastern Kentucky. He played shortstop at Creighton and spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Bluejays.

BASKETBALL

Kansas State hired Mike Lopriore as basketball trainer Tuesday. He has been in athletic training for 30 years, 14 on the professional baseball level. He was head trainer at Vail (Colo.) Cienega High last year.

• Asjha Jones scored 20 points and rookie Amber Holt added a career-high 19 as Connecticut defeated Detroit 85-68 in the WNBA.... Diana Taurasi scored 31 points as Phoenix halted Washington's winning streak at three with a 98-90 victory.... Ebony Hoffman had career highs with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Indiana defeated Sacramento 78-73.... Seimone Augustus scored 21 points and had nine assists, and the Minnesota Lynx defeated New York 91-69. Nicole Ohlde hit her first six shots from the floor and finished with 14 points for Minnesota.

GOLF

Cink finishes big at Travelers

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:41 CDT

Stewart Cink had a reputation as a good golfer who just couldn't finish off a tournament.

His final-round collapse in March in the PODS Championship left him with one victory in the nine career events he led going into the last day.

On Sunday, he put that behind him, holding off Tommy Armour III and defending champion Hunter Mahan to win the Travelers Championship by a stroke at Cromwell, Conn. With his fifth career victory, Cink was projected to go to a career-high No. 6 in the world rankings.

Cink, also the 1997 winner at TPC River Highlands, shot a 3-under 67 -- following rounds of 66, 64 and 65 -- to finish at 18-under 262 for his first victory since 2004.

Armour (65) and Mahan (65) tied for second.

Coleman might flip switch

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:22 CDT

Wichita State shortstop Dusty Coleman homered eight times, including two at Long Beach State's spacious Blair Field and one in the NCAA regional.

He may remember a batting practice home run just as fondly. Taking aim at the Green Monster in left field at Fenway Park does that. Coleman, a junior-to-be, practiced in Boston with the U.S. National team during its tour of New England this month.

"I did hit one over the Monster," he said. "I hit it off the Monster five or six times. You've got to hit it pretty hard to get it over that bad boy."

Coleman is playing shortstop and second base, and played third Friday night for the National team, which cuts 14 players on Tuesday to make its final roster of 22. Regardless of where Coleman finishes his summer, he is working on an important side project during practices. He wants to be a polished switch-hitter by the spring. A right-hander, Coleman switch-hit in high school before abandoning the tactic.

"I think I can get it going by the spring," Coleman said.

Shocker newcomers build for future

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:36 CDT

It's an entirely forgettable pickup game in June, a scene where big men shoot three-pointers because they can and hustle is optional.

It's shirts and skins. Not practice with coaches on the watch.

Even in this relaxed atmosphere, however, meaningful things can happen. It is the start of Wichita State blending six newcomers into its men's basketball team. Transfer Reggie Chamberlain, who played at Seward County Community College last season, knows little things matter in building a team.

Twice in one game, Chamberlain turns down open shots to give Clevin Hannah, also a transfer, the ball so he can shoot.

"We're trying to assemble a young team, so we've got to get our chemistry going on," Chamberlain said. "I'm going to be a point guard, so I figure if I can pass up an open shot to get my teammate a better look, that's always good."

WSU lands transfer from East Carolina

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Wichita State men's basketball is no longer short on bodies or big bodies.

Power forward Gabe Blair, a transfer from East Carolina, committed to WSU late last week. He will sit out the 2008-09 season and have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"After talking with Coach (Gregg) Marshall, I felt something special is about to happen there," Blair said. "I felt like I could be a big part of it."

Blair fills WSU's 13th and final scholarship. Last season, WSU had 10 eligible scholarship players and injuries sometimes made it difficult to find enough healthy players for a scrimmage.

Blair (6-8, 217 pounds) said he also considered Winthrop, Virginia Tech, Nebraska and Purdue. He committed to WSU late last week after visiting earlier this month.

Shockers face major changes in wake of success

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

This might be the second-biggest building project in Gene Stephenson's tenure as Wichita State's baseball coach.

In 1977, he started the program without baseballs or a field. For the 2009 season, he expects to replace his top three starting pitchers and six of his eight position players.

"Our losses are probably greater than they've ever been in 31 years," Stephenson said. "We have a lot of teaching to do."

The departing members of the 2008 team left behind a legacy of success and leadership. The past two seasons reaffirmed WSU's status atop the Missouri Valley Conference and reestablished the program among the top 16 in the nation. WSU advanced to its first super regional in 2007 and returned in 2008. A week ago the Shockers needed one victory to secure their first trip to the College World Series since 1996.

Two losses at Florida State ended those hopes. They didn't spoil any of the good feelings created by the 2008 team.

Seattle boosters call on McDaniel to rally Sonic fans

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

It is impossible to forget the dunks, the passion, the glare and the shaved head. Xavier McDaniel remains a star in Seattle.

In Oklahoma City? Well, it's just not the same.

Legal proceedings begin Monday in the city of Seattle's lawsuit against the SuperSonics. McDaniel will speak at a "Save our Sonics" rally outside Seattle's Federal Courthouse, timed to tip off as court lets out.

"He was the headliner on this thing," said Steven Pyeatt, co-founder of "Save our Sonics." "If he hadn't signed on, we would probably have Steve Scheffler and Rich King."

McDaniel, 45, played for five NBA teams after his All-America career at Wichita State. He considers himself a Sonic (1985-91) and will fly from his home in Columbia, S.C., to lend support. If his speeches at WSU are any indication, it will be passionate, off-the-cuff and perhaps profane.

WSU's season in review

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:48 CDT

Record: 48-17 (19-5 MVC, 1st)

Finishing fast

Nobody knew what to expect from the Shockers after a 12-0 loss at home to Oral Roberts on May 13. Few expected what happened next. WSU ran off 10 straight victories to win the MVC Tournament, the Stillwater Regional and take a 1-0 lead in the Tallahassee Super Regional. WSU's bats, inconsistent to that point, carried the Shockers. WSU averaged 11.8 runs in those games and run-ruled four opponents.

"We just started playing good baseball," WSU senior Andy Dirks said. "We pitched well, played good defense and put up some runs. After the ORU game, it was kind of like gut-check time."

That surge made WSU's offensive numbers some of the program's best in recent seasons. The team's batting average (.314), slugging percentage (.473) and on-base percentage (.402) were the program's highest since 2004. The same goes for its average of 8.0 runs.

AWARDS

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced finalists Friday for their annual athletic awards, to be presented June 27. They are:

Girls high school senior athlete: Bailey Gee, Andover Central; Kim Kellogg, Northwest; Katy Nugent, Andover.

Boys high school senior athlete: Jordan Cyphers, Southeast; Jake Marasco, Maize; Ethan Ungles, Andale.

College women's athlete: Sara Lungren, Wichita State; Kelsey Poljansek, Cowley; Lauren Supak, Butler.

College men's athlete: P.J. Couisnard, Wichita State; Blake Henry, Newman; Markus White, Butler.

Ex-Shockers make way to Wichita Open

TAYLOR ELDRIDGE — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Never once did Chris Drewes or Jesse Buss discuss their college intentions with each other before each decided to attend Western Illinois.

Drewes, from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Buss, from Freeport, Ill., bowled next to each other at a Junior Olympics Gold Tournament in St. Louis, but it wasn't until a random meeting at Western Illinois that the two became friends.

"One day we just saw each other at Western (Illinois) and we were like, 'Hey dude, what's going on?' " Buss said.

Since then, the two have quite the history.

First, transferring from Western Illinois to Wichita State. Then, winning a national championship this past season. Today, they're both bowling in the sixth annual PBA Southwest Region Budweiser Wichita Open at Thunderbird Bowl this weekend.

Nevada selects Albright as coach

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:40 CDT

Jane Albright is following Darryl Smith again.

Albright, Wichita State's women's basketball coach for the past five seasons, was hired Wednesday at Nevada. She replaces Kim Gervasoni, who resigned in May.

Smith had spent last season as an assistant under Gervasoni. He was WSU's head coach from 1998-2003. When athletic director Jim Schaus fired him, Albright replaced him.

Albright went 48-95 at WSU. She was fired in March by Schaus during a 9-22 season.

Nevada athletic director Cary Groth saw Albright in a different light when both worked at Northern Illinois. Albright coached from 1984-94 at Northern Illinois and led the Huskies to five 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament berths. Groth spent 20 years at Northern Illinois, ending a 10-year tenure as athletic director in 2004.

Shockers' Land finds old form

TAYLOR ELDRIDGE — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:39 CDT

Mica Land always knew that it was just a matter of time before things finally started to click once again.

For the past two years, the Wichita State distance runner has endured setbacks and distractions that have kept her off course. But at the start of the outdoor track season, things fell into place.

With a clear mind, Land has been able to shift her focus back to the 3000-meter steeplechase event. Land set a school record last week at the Midwest Regionals and also qualified for today's NCAA outdoor championships in Des Moines.

Other qualifiers for the Shockers are senior Kyle Becker and Brett Trudo in the javelin and junior Brooke Demo in the pole vault.

"All year I think I've been ready for the season I have been having now," said Land, an Andover native. "Just a lot of things out my control really happened."

Seminole hit parade puts an end to WSU's season

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:47 CDT

The Game 3 loss looked a lot like the Game 2 loss, and this time there were no second chances.

Wichita State's baseball season is over, so close to Omaha, but not nearly as close as it seemed. Florida State routed the Shockers 11-4 to win the best-of-3 Tallahassee Super Regional on Sunday.

The second-ranked Seminoles, after losing the opener 10-7 Friday, battered Shocker pitching in Saturday's 14-4 win and again Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium.

"We're not used to giving up that many runs," WSU coach Gene Stephenson said, speaking for a pitching staff worn down by Florida State's patience and power.

Florida State (54-12) advances to the College World Series for the first time since 2000 and will play Stanford on Saturday at Rosenblatt Stadium. No. 13 WSU (48-17) finished its best season since 1996 one win short of its ultimate goal, losing in a super regional for the second straight year.

Florida State fan gives up two runs

PAUL SUELLENTROP — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:38 CDT

Florida State won, so the Seminoles could laugh. Wichita State enjoyed Andy Dirks' Bartman-like second-life home run even more.

Steve Bartman is the Chicago Cubs fan made infamous when he innocently caught a foul ball that Cubs outfielder Moises Alou had a chance to grab in the 2003 National League Championship Series. The Cubs, up 3-0 against Florida, lost the game and the series.

Bartman's name came up in the third inning Sunday. Dirks, with a 3-1 count, lofted a foul ball down the third-base line. Two Seminoles chased it, and third baseman Stuart Tapley had a shot.

Until a glove shot over the fence. A man wearing a Florida State football jersey with a No. 4 on it grabbed the ball. The Seminoles protested.

Dirks homered on the next pitch to cut FSU's lead to 6-2.