Friday, January 30, 2009
At the beginning of the season, without the pressures and responsibilities of conference play, junior guard Kelly Kohn and sophomore forward Nicollette Smith positioned themselves behind the three-point line with one purpose: make 100 shots.
But, as the season wore on and practices became more rigorously focused, Kansas’ three-point sharpshooters’ attentions turned from simply shooting to, say, scouting reports on an upcoming opponent.
Junior guard Kelly Kohn feels the pressure from a Texas Tech defender during a Jan. 17 game in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks will need Kohn to help them from deep if they want to beat Texas A&M Saturday.
That Kansas’ percentage has dipped 15 percent since conference play started serves as an example.
“When we were shooting so well, we had the time in the offseason to get in the gym and consistently make 100 threes every day,” Kohn said. “And that just gets kind of tough as you get in to conference season.”
This week, though, Kohn and Smith are once again finding time for shooting. With Kansas in the midst of a bye week before traveling to Texas A&M on Saturday, Kohn and Smith again set goals to make 100 three-pointers before and after practice.
Each day this week, the two have grabbed their respective position coaches and shot three after three. The coaches, in turn, critique and offer advice on technical details such as form or release points.
“We have to have good rhythm and find shooters when they’re not contested, when they’re not in pressure, when they’re not challenged,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “We did that earlier in the year but it hasn’t looked like that recently.”
That must change against Texas A&M on Saturday. The Jayhawks are in the middle of a three-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five. And seventh ranked Texas A&M offers the most athletically talented — and highest ranked — team Kansas has faced this season.
Facing a team with as much length and sheer athleticism as the Aggies posses, the Jayhawks are well aware that every scoring opportunity — and every chance to knock down an open three — will be crucial.
“We have to make sure that we take advantage of every single chance we get,” Smith said. “Teams like that, that are ranked like that, they aren’t going to let you have many errors.”
During Kansas’ current three-game losing streak, the Jayhawks have made just seven of 31 three-pointers (23 percent). That number is nowhere near proficient, Kansas’ success behind the arc earlier in the season makes that stat more alarming.
The Jayhawks have ranked in the top five nationally in three-point percentage for much of the season. But, since conference play started, Kansas is connecting on just 31 percent of its three-point attempts and has twice been held to just one three-pointer in games.
“It’s definitely a big change once you get into conference,” Smith said. “You’re (playing) against better coaches who know how to scout and they have players that can play against your tendencies better.”
But Henrickson hinted that Kansas’ struggles have less to do with opponents and more to do with how and when the Jayhawks are shooting three-pointers. In the first 13 games of the season, many of Kansas’ threes were open looks created by transition.
The Jayhawks know that if they want to compete against the better teams in the Big 12, such as the Aggies, they’ll need the three-point shot to create more space on offense. Without it, teams can sag defensively inside, clogging up the middle.
And with the extra shooting this week, Kohn and Smith are hoping they can provide an outside threat.
“For me, if I’m in the game and I get the ball, I just think ‘I’ve made 100 of these, what’s one more in a game?’” Kohn said. “That’s something that’s definitely helped us.”
MORRIS PROBABLE FOR SATURDAY
Junior guard Sade Morris has eagerly awaited her return to the court since suffering a Grade 2 concussion on Jan. 17. And, barring any setbacks the rest of the week, Morris should get her wish on Saturday.
“What looks like a green light now,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said, “hopefully stays green.”
Henrickson said that if Morris is healthy enough to play, Kansas’ second leading scorer will start against Texas A&M.
“What’s she going to gain from sitting there watching?” Henrickson said. “I’d rather get her on the floor, let her get rid of the jitters she might have and let her play through that right away.”
— — Edited by Sam Speer
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