Friday, February 29, 2008
There might be 16 more days until Selection Sunday for the NCAA, but things have already begun heating up in the Student Recreation Fitness Center on Wednesday night. Team Johnson and White Ben Can’t Jump battled it out to get closer to the championship game.
With a nine-point lead, White Ben Can’t Jump took home the 57-48 victory against Team Johnson.
Both teams played strong defense, caught rebounds when necessary and communicated to help teammates. Team Johnson had tight passes, but balls bounced off the rim instead of going through the net.
White Ben Can’t Jump’s ability to shoot three-pointers helped in awkward spots behind the line. Throughout the night, Sam Simpson, Columbus freshman, shot multiple three-pointers to help his team.
pullquote
We got gypped on calls.
Tarek Shaath, Team Johnson player
As the second half ended, both teams took a quick water break and reevaluated game plans. White Ben Can’t Jump led 24-21, and with the score so close, it was anybody’s game.
The tiredness of both teams quickly showed as the second half started. During free throws, both teams had time to catch a breath before getting back into the competitive game.
The second half allowed White Ben Can’t Jump to take a big lead. Some nice low passing and an assist from Anthony Roberts, Baxter Springs freshman, to Kevin James, Springfield, Mo., junior, gave White Ben Can’t Jump two more points to add to its score. However, before White Ben Can’t Jump got too comfortable with the lead, Team Johnson quickly responded and tied up the score at 36.
Turnovers hurt both teams as players made careless mistakes or got trapped by the opponent. Also, foul calls made members of both teams angry at the referees. Each team thought the fouls were either not fair or should have been called.
“We got gypped on calls,” said Tarek Shaath, Dodge City freshman and Team Johnson player.
Getting the rebound after a foul shot gave White Men Can’t Jump a chance to shoot from the outside. Roberts found an opening on the wing and scored a three-pointer that barely touched the net.
As the game continued, Team Johnson started to up the ante and stayed on top of its opponent. Simpson got trapped in the right corner a couple of times and had to pass the ball blindly to teammates.
Team Johnson attempted to distract its opponent by yelling during shots, but that didn‘t seem to help.
“We went out there and just played and had fun,” Zach Olsen, Madison, Wisc., freshman and Team Johnson player, said. “We’re not winning the national championship or anything.”
With two minutes left in the game, Team Johnson received three consecutive foul calls on different players, hurting its chances for a comeback. Bench players for White Ben Can’t Jump cheered from the sidelines.
“We didn’t want to foul or turn over the ball,” Robb Lamb, Republic, Mo., junior and White Ben Can’t Jump player, said. “We wanted to be smart with the ball.”
As the seconds ticked, it became apparent who was winning the game, but each team continued to play hard until the end. White Ben Can’t Jump advanced to the next game in the playoffs and will play Team Lego today.
— Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
Marcus Morris displays leadership in victory
Morris' confidence key to Kansas' close win against Oklahoma State.
Women's basketball defeats Iowa State in two ...
Junior forward Carolyn Davis scored 18 of her 21 points during the ...
Phi Delt 1 sizes up to Pi ...
Phi Delt 1 proved that size doesn’t matter Tuesday and beat Pi ...
Pskills advance with tight win against Law ...
With the playoff season in motion, Pskills sits at No. 6 in ...
Game Day: Kent State strikes
The Golden Flashes are the first of five non-BCS games for KU, ...
The Qwest begins
An early tip didn't affect Kansas at the Qwest Center in Omaha. ...
Kansas will rely on strong guard play
The Jayhawks remain confident despite weak three-point shooting and the initial lack ...
Kansas escapes with an 87-78 victory
Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor combined for 52 points to hold off ...
Chalmers leads Kansas to big victory
Behind sophomore guard Mario Chalmers' 22 points, the Jayhawks blew out the ...
Intramural game gets defensive in last minutes
The two intramural teams played an aggressive game Tuesday night. Pharmacy stayed ...
Kansas-Oakland live blog
Follow The Kansan's live blog of No. 1 Kansas playing host to ...
Matson: Iowa State won’t be an easy ...
The Cyclones are earning a spot at the top of the Big ...
Raising Tennessee
Tennessee is the most athletic team in the country, but Taylor Bern ...
Self’s advice helps Hawks overpower Cats
Passes in to Aldrich helped turn the game in Jayhawks’ favor on ...
Jayhawks win despite mistakes and a lack ...
Kansas hit one of thirteen three-point tries and committed 15 turnovers and ...
Morning Brew: Rules of the Rec
Remember these essential tips for the best on-court experience.
Basketball team has struggled from outside
Most of the team’s points have come from inside and at the ...
Energetic Jayhawks boost past Wildcats
With a 88-74 home victory against K-State, Kansas regains some momentum that ...
Kansas tops Colorado despite sloppy play
After a passive second half, the Jayhawks manage a 75-64 victory over ...
Jayhawks prepare for uneven matchup
Kansas will face Alcorn State tonight but won’t let overconfidence lessen its ...
Syracuse defeats Kansas 89-81 in overtime
Jayhawks lose first game of the season in the final of the ...
Women’s basketball awaits Morris’ return
After being injured in the game against Texas Tech, Sade Morris is ...
Jayhawks watch lead slip away in final ...
With the game on the line, everyone expected Texas A&M; to get ...
Foul trouble limits Arthur’s influence
After an impressive freshman season, many expected the Jayhawk offense to go ...
Womens Basketball Gameday
Preview of the upcoming game
And then there were four
Trip to Final Four stamped for Kansas on a missed game-winning shot ...
Rec basketball not just for fun
Chi Omega1's skill proves too much for Alpha Delta Pi 2
Sophomore forward known for 3-pointers expands game
Nicollette Smith shows that she can shoot inside the arc and rebound ...
Kansas falls to Texas in double overtime
Jayhawks suffer second straight heartbreaking loss to ranked opponent.
Intramural victory emerges for Phi Delt 1
Tension during the game intensified among family members and fraternity brothers as ...
Team debuts in Great White North
The Jayhawks showed Canada how Kansas basketball is played, winning all three ...
Jayhawks’ leadoff hitter starts the spark
The men’s baseball team’s center fielder shows his versatility for the team.
Hero-less 'Hawks victorious
Kansas wins the Big 12 Tournament for the second straight year, but ...
Just how good is Kevin Durant?
The Texas freshman is being compared to Kansas great Danny Manning. See ...
Kansas denies Dayton 60-43
Cole Aldrich recorded Kansas' first ever triple-double with 13 points, 20 rebounds ...
Exhausted teams battle in title game
Rewind: A look back at this weekend's ...
The high/low, prime plays, notebook and more.
Final: Kansas rolls in 107-68 victory against ...
Kansas set to face Fort Hays State in exhibition.
KU defeats Tennessee 92-85
Kansas gets its first quality victory of the season.
Kansas to play Villanova in third round
There was little celebration following the Jayhawks' second-round victory; they're focused on ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID