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zake201
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May 14 2014, 10:39 AM
Post #1
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MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Kansas and Kansas State rarely paint a masterpiece when they meet on the hardwood. The defensive-minded Jayhawks, with Travis Releford on the perimeter and Jeff Withey in the paint, make life miserable for opposing offences, while the veteran Wildcats relish the chance to bump, bang and bludgeon foes on both ends of the court. Little surprise that they played another tough-as-nails game Tuesday night. Releford scored 12 points, Withey and Ben McLemore each added 11, and the third-ranked Jayhawks held on down the stretch for a 59-55 victory that gave them sole possession of first place in the Big 12. "That game went just as all you predicted, not the most artistic," Kansas coach Bill Self said, sporting the kind of wry smile that said he didnt mind one bit. The Jayhawks have grown accustomed to such blood-and-guts games, needing a desperation 3-pointer from McLemore to force overtime in a win over Iowa State and a frantic second-half comeback to beat Texas, all while running their winning streak to a nation-leading 16 games. Kansas (17-1, 5-0 Big 12) briefly led by 10 points in the second half before needing everything it could muster in the closing seconds to end the Wildcats eight-game winning streak. "They just find ways to win," Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. Shane Southwell, who had a career-high 19 points, tried to do the same for Kansas State (15-3, 4-1), getting his team within 56-53 with a scooping layup with 38.2 seconds left. Naadir Tharpe made two foul shots to restore the Jayhawks five-point lead, and the Wildcats Rodney McGruder misfired from beyond the arc at the other end. But McLemore missed the front end of a 1-and-1, and McGruders two foul shots made it 58-55 with 5 seconds left. Elijah Johnson was fouled, and his free throw put the game away. "There were several plays that allowed us to keep our distance," Self said. "We made it hard on ourselves by not converting at the free throw line and stuff like that, but just a tough game and a great road win." McGruder finished with 13 points and Angel Rodriguez had 12 for the Wildcats, who lost for the 45th time in the last 48 games against their bitter in-state rival. Kansas improved to 23-2 in Bramlage Coliseum since its opening in 1987. "If anything, we look forward to this game," Withey said. "Its a lot of fun, a hostile environment. Its one of the best crowds were going to get besides our own crowd." The atmosphere was amped long before the opening tip. Students on their first day back from winter break lined up for several hundred yards in freezing temperatures, and then flooded seats on one side of the building more than 2 hours before the game started. The Jayhawks, undaunted by the pulsating crowd, methodically built a 16-8 lead midway through the first half. Kansas took advantage of some balky outside shooting by the Wildcats, and routinely beat them off the dribble at the other end for easy baskets around the rim. McLemore picked up his second foul of the half with 9:22 left, though, and Kansas State went on a run with the Jayhawks leading scorer on the bench. Martavious Irving started the 11-2 spurt with a scooping layup and Southwell ended it with a 3-pointer for a 19-18 lead. Self called a timeout and it settled down the senior-laden Jayhawks. Perry Ellis scored a couple of baskets around a shot clock-beating jumper by Tharpe to help Kansas retake the lead, and Kevin Youngs putback off his own miss made it 31-27 at halftime. McGruder, shadowed everywhere by Releford, only managed two points on a soaring jam just before halftime. He missed both of his outside shots as the Wildcats went 4 for 16 from the arc. The Big 12s reigning player of the week finally hit a 3 to start the second half, but Kansas answered with eight straight points, including a dunk by Withey off a feed from Young that forced Weber to call a timeout of his own early in the half. McGruder hit consecutive 3s later in the half to help keep the Wildcats close, but a 3 from the corner by McLemore and then an open jumper by the freshman with 6:50 to go gave the Jayhawks a 53-43 lead, the first time the margin had reached double figures all game. Southwell shot the Wildcats back in it, hitting a jumper with 8:13 remaining and then consecutive 3-pointers -- his fourth and fifth of the game -- to make it 54-49 with 5:30 remaining. But the Jayhawks kept buckling down on defence, kept finding an answer for every push that the Wildcats made, allowing them to pull out a win despite a scoring a season-low 59 points. "Im upset we lost that game. This is the last time Im going to play them in Bramlage," McGruder said. "But we have a lot of basketball left. This cant be the end of it right here." http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Phil-Esposito-Bruins-Jersey/ . 14-20. Boozer helped the Bulls to a three-win week and averaged 23.0 points per contest and a league-leading 14.8 rebounds. Boozer totaled a weekly-high 36 points on 16-of-24 shooting from the field in the Bulls 107-105 win over the Raptors on Jan. http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Shawn-Thornton-Bruins-Jersey/ . Commissioner Gary Bettman has suggested placing a two-week moratorium on stalled collective bargaining negotiations, multiple sources told The Canadian Press on Thursday night. http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Reilly-Smith-Bruins-Jersey/ . -- Tiger Woods had his lowest opening round in three years Friday in the Deutsche Bank Championship. http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/ . "Its nice. Different questions," he said contentedly. After a record-setting nine straight losses to start the MLS season, Winter finally had a win to talk about thanks to Danny Koevermans 88th-minute goal against the Philadelphia Union. http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Jarome-Iginla-Bruins-Jersey/ . Keith Waters, the European Tours Director of International Policy, will meet in London on Thursday with the owner of Prosper Golf Resort that had been scheduled to host the event from Aug.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs were courting former Eagles coach Andy Reid on Wednesday as they searched for a replacement for Romeo Crennel, who was fired this week after the worst season in franchise history. Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt was meeting with Reid in Philadelphia, a person familiar with Reids plans told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans were not made public. ESPN.com first reported the interview would take place. Reid, fired Monday after 14 seasons in Philadelphia, also planned to interview for the open job in Arizona. The Cardinals dismissed Ken Whisenhunt on Monday. The Chiefs have a connection with Reid through team president Mark Donovan, who spent his previous six years as the Eagles senior vice-president of business operations. Hunt began his search for Crennels replacement in Atlanta, where he interviewed offensive co-ordinator Dirk Koetter on Tuesday. But one day later, Falcons coach Mike Smith said Koetter had signed a new contract and would not be pursuing a head coaching job this season. "I dont want to really get into any of the details," Smith said Wednesday. "Dirk is going to be here with us. He informed me of that last night. We talked at length." Hunt told the AP in an interview this week that he would lead the search for the Chiefs next coach, not embattled general manager Scott Pioli. Hunt said he had "the appropriate resources available to help me in the process," but would not say who is assisting in the search. "Were very well organized," Hunt said. "We want to be thorough, but efficient as well." Hunts decision to spearhead the coaching search coincides with his plan to take greater control of football operations. Pioli had been responsible for all personnel moves since he was hired in 2009, including the hiring and firing of head coaches. Pioli parted with Herm Edwards shortly after he was hired and replaced him with Todd Haley, but their relationship was strained. Haley was dismissed in December 2011 and Crennel was made interim coach. He was given the job on a permanent basis in January. Crennel was fired Monday afterr going 2-14 in his first full season.dddddddddddd It was widely thought Pioli would also be fired after a series of failed drafts and poor free-agent acquisitions. Hunt said he had not decided whether to release the GM. Its likely that the decision wont be made until Hunt hires a coach. "I dont have a timeline laid out per se on that," Hunt said. "Obviously the beginning of February there are a lot of important events related to the upcoming draft, the combine and so forth, and we want to be solidified in that regard before that." The Chiefs have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the first time in franchise history. Hunt refused to discuss potential candidates to replace Crennel, but did offer a lengthy list of qualities hes seeking in an ideal head coach. "Id say a proven leader," Hunt said. "Somebody who has demonstrated the ability to build a successful program, or been part of building a successful program. Somebody of high integrity, somebody who is a successful teacher and communicator. Somebody who has a high football IQ, but at the same time likes to roll up their sleeves and work hard." Reid would appear to have most of those qualities. The Eagles were 3-13 the year before he arrived, but two seasons later, they went 11-5 and finished second in the NFC East. It was the first of five straight years in which the Eagles won at least 11 games, and included a trip to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season. Reid was 130-93-1 in Philadelphia, the most wins in franchise history. He helped the Eagles win 10 playoff games -- the Chiefs havent won one since 1993 -- and six division titles. Reid is considered a bright offensive mind with success developing quarterbacks, an area of particular need in Kansas City. His best years coincided with Donovan McNabbs best years, and the 54-year-old coach also worked with Brett Favre early in his career in Green Bay. "Im not going to go into discussing who were talking to," Hunt said Monday, before adding: "We do have a list of candidates who are priority for us." ------ AP Sports Writers John Wawrow and George Henry contributed to this story. ' ' '
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