Kansas City Star: Big 12 Conference

Kansas shows some fight, but not enough, in loss to Texas

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

AUSTIN, Texas | With the nation watching, Kansas coach Mark Mangino showed a softer side. He walked onto the field to check on his injured players, even trying to help freshman running back Toben Opurum off the ground. He told a referee that he was “a good man.” He gave sophomore Daymond Patterson a big ol’ hug after a long punt return. You could have called it a Bear hug.

Ole Miss, Cal, UNC back in AP Top 25

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:45 CST

Mississippi, California and North Carolina, teams that started the season with lofty expectations before stumbling, have surged back into the AP Top 25 college football poll.

No. 11 Oregon tops Arizona; on track for Rose Bowl

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:07 CST

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli watched as red-clad Arizona students ringed the sidelines as time ticked down, ready to rush the field.

At 6-5, Weis would have hard time arguing firing

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:19 CST

Charlie Weis wouldn't blame Notre Dame for firing him.

Southern Mississippi beat Tulsa 44-34

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:52 CST

Martevious Young threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Southern Mississippi beat Tulsa 44-34 on Saturday night.

BCS at-large bids up for grabs in final weeks

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:44 CST

Iowa and Penn State ended their seasons eligible for an at-large BCS bid, and Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech are also in position to be eligible for invites to the four big-money bowl games even though they have no shot to win their conferences.

Recap: Nebraska vs. Kansas State

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:35 CST

Zac Lee passed for 166 yards and a touchdown to help the Nebraska Cornhuskers capture the Big 12 North Division title with a 17-3 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats.

Recap: Southern Miss vs. Tulsa

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00 CST

Martevious Young threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 completions to lead the Southern Miss Golden Eagles to a 44-34 triumph over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a Conference USA clash.

Nevada grabs records, beats New Mexico State 63-20

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:52 CST

Nevada rushed for 575 yards - and shattered some NCAA record in the process - as the Wolf Pack beat New Mexico State 63-20 Saturday night.

Recap: Georgia vs. Kentucky

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:40 CST

Morgan Newton threw for 137 yards and three touchdown passes to lead the Kentucky Wildcats to a 34-27 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in an SEC battle at Sanford Stadium.

Recap: Texas vs. Kansas

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:10 CST

Colt McCoy threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns on senior day in his final home game to lead third-ranked Texas to a Big 12 South title and 51-20 victory over Kansas

Recap: New Mexico St vs. Nevada

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:05 CST

Luke Lippincott ran for 162 yards and two touchdowns as the Nevada Wolf Pack posted a resounding 63-20 win over the New Mexico State Aggies in Western Athletic Conference action at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Recap: Arizona vs. Oregon

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:15 CST

Jeremiah Masoli accounted for six total touchdowns -- three throwing and three rushing -- and his one-yard run on third down in the second overtime lifted 11th-ranked Oregon to a critical 44-41 win over Arizona to remain in control of the Pac-10.

Recap: San Jose St vs. Hawaii

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:20 CST

Leon-Wright Jackson hit the end zone on a five-yard run in overtime to give the visiting Hawaii Warriors a 17-10 win against the San Jose State Spartans in Western Athletic Conference action at Spartan Stadium.

Hatcher won't return for Georgia Southern

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:05 CST

Georgia Southern has decided not to renew the contract of head football coach Chris Hatcher.

No. 15 Iowa blanks Minnesota 12-0

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:22 CST

With a bronze pig on the line, No. 15 Iowa put a new twist on winning ugly - this time by taking a game that featured more punts than points.

DeMarco's 5 TDs lift Old Dominion over VMI 42-35

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:22 CST

Thomas DeMarco rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two more as Old Dominion won its sixth straight game, beating Virginia Military Institute 42-35 on Saturday to complete its first season of football.

Kent State defeats Rochester 63-44

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:54 CST

Rodriquez Sherman scored 15 points to lead Kent State to a 63-44 victory over Rochester (Mich.) on Sunday night.

No. 2 MSU tops Valpo 90-60 for Izzo's 340th win

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:14 CST

Tom Izzo won his 340th game at Michigan State on Sunday, tying the school record for victories in the No. 2 Spartans' 90-60 win over Valparaiso.

NC State edges Auburn 60-58

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:44 CST

Tracy Smith's basket with 1.3 seconds remaining lifted North Carolina State to a 60-58 victory over Auburn on Sunday night.

No. 20 Louisville holds off Morgan State 90-81

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:24 CST

Samardo Samuels scored 23 points to go with 12 rebounds and No. 20 Louisville held off Morgan State 90-81 on Sunday.

No. 5 'Nova beats Ole Miss 79-67 in Puerto Rico

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:59 CST

Scottie Reynolds scored 21 points, Corey Stokes added 18 and No. 5 Villanova beat Mississippi 79-67 on Sunday to win the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

IUPUI beats Georgia State 67-56 in OT

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:49 CST

Alex Young scored 22 points and John Ashworth added 14 as IUPUI defeated Georgia State 67-56 in overtime on Sunday.

Brown knocks off Maine 75-62

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:49 CST

Matt Mullery scored 24 points and Peter Sullivan added 20 points to lead Brown to a 75-62 victory over Maine on Sunday.

South Florida outlasts UNC-Wilmington 74-66

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:49 CST

Dominique Jones scored 28 points and South Florida beat North Carolina-Wilmington 74-66 on Sunday in the third round of the Charleston Classic.

Miami beats South Carolina 85-70

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:29 CST

James Dews scored 22 points and Dwayne Collins added 17 points to go with 15 rebounds, leading Miami past South Carolina 85-70 in the championship game of the Charleston Classic on Sunday night.

Wells leads James Madison to 81-68 win over FIU

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:39 CST

Julius Wells scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead James Madison to an 81-68 win over Florida International on Sunday night.

New Mexico tops Louisiana Tech 81-52

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:52 CST

Junior-college transfer Darington Hobson scored a career-high 30 points Saturday to lead New Mexico to an 81-52 victory over Louisiana Tech in the Basketball Travelers World Vision Classic.

Albany holds off Robert Morris 71-66

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:09 CST

Will Harris scored 22 points and Tim Ambrose added 15 points to lead Albany (N.Y.) to a 71-66 victory over Robert Morris in the third round of the 2K Sports Classic on Sunday.

Murray State pounds NC Central 84-61

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:44 CST

B.J. Jenkins scored 16 points, leading five Murray State players in double figures, as the Racers routed North Carolina Central 84-61 on Sunday night.

Rhode Island knocks off Holy Cross 92-75

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:44 CST

Delroy James scored 21 points and had eight rebounds to lead Rhode Island to a 92-75 victory over Holy Cross on Sunday.

Detroit beats Alcorn State 79-59

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:55 CST

Xavier Keeling scored 17 points and Eli Holman notched a double-double, leading Detroit to a 79-59 win over Alcorn State on Sunday.

Central Florida defeats Drake 59-50

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:49 CST

A.J. Rompza hit two difficult shots down the stretch and Central Florida held Drake scoreless over the final 6 minutes for a 59-50 victory on Sunday.

K-State notebook

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Roller coaster Kansas State never won or lost more than two straight, and the two-game losing streak to end the season kept the Wildcats from qualifying for the postseason.

Texas Tech humbles Oklahoma 41-13

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

LUBBOCK, Texas | Last season, the Oklahoma Sooners played for the national championship. This season, it has come down to this: Beat Oklahoma State this week or finish at .500. Texas Tech put the Sooners in that unlikely — and unexpected — position on Saturday with a 41-13 rout, the Red Raiders’ most lopsided win ever over Oklahoma.

Wildcats' season ends with 17-3 loss to Huskers

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

LINCOLN, Neb. | This was all or nothing for Kansas State because a Wildcats loss meant no division championship and no bowl game. And the loss happened, 17-3, to surging Nebraska, which will meet Texas in the Big 12 title game. But for Kansas State, this season wasn’t for nothing. Although the Wildcats’ 6-6 record meant a mere one-game improvement over last season, the feeling is vastly different — upbeat because of a program rejuvenated by Bill Snyder.

Alexander stars in Missouri's 34-24 win over Iowa State

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

COLUMBIA | After Danario Alexander caught another 11 passes for another 173 yards in what inevitably became a 34-24 victory over Iowa State, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel tried his best to produce new superlatives. “I don’t know what to tell you,” Pinkel said of his senior wide receiver. “I don’t know what to say. I just wish he was a junior.

Big 12 standings

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Thursday’s result Oklahoma State 31, Colorado 28

VCU upsets No. 17 Oklahoma

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

RICHMOND, Va. | When Jeff Capel left Virginia Commonwealth to become the head coach at Oklahoma four years ago, his contract mandated that he bring his new team back to Richmond to play the Rams. Capel received a very warm welcome Saturday night, and then the Rams showed him that things are just fine without him.

Women's top 25 roundup

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

•At No. 7 LSU 72, Houston 54 •At No. 9 Xavier 59, No. 14 Arizona State 46

Big Steve steps up for Mizzou after slimming down

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

COLUMBIA | Big Steve this. Big Steve that. Throughout last season, every time Steve Moore’s name came up, it was Big Steve. The nickname fit. At 6 feet 9 and 280 pounds, Moore, the then true freshman out of Truman High, was as hard to miss on the Missouri bench as he was easy to miss on the court.

K-State's Clemente enjoys a homecoming in Puerto Rico

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

T OA BAJA, Puerto Rico | In the center of Pajaros, the neighborhood where Denis Clemente grew up, there is a baseball field. It is surrounded by chain-link fence and stadium lights. The field is as green as the tropical forests visible in the distance.

Mississippi beats K-State in Tip-off semifinals

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico | Denis Clemente raced up court with the basketball, stopped inches short of the three-point line and swished an outside jumper. During his time at Kansas State, making shots like that is what he has done best. Anytime Clemente, a senior guard who is a Puerto Rico native, can use his speed and find open space before opposing defenses get back, he is dangerous.

Kansas QB Reesing's homecoming not as happy as he would have liked

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

AUSTIN, Texas | Todd Reesing grew up about five minutes from Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and used to attend Texas home games with his father, Steve, a Texas alum. With Reesing’s roots planted here and having sprouted all the way up to Lawrence during the last four years, tonight’s game between the Jayhawks and Longhorns was supposed to be the perfect celebration to cap the career of the most prolific quarterback in KU history.

K-State faces challenge of playing at Nebraska

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium remains a place opposing football teams dread. It’s always packed — the Cornhuskers have sold out a record 302 consecutive games — with more than 81,000 rowdy fans, and Nebraska feeds off the crowd for victories.

Mizzou senior class small but mighty

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

COLUMBIA | When asked to comment on being one of only 15 seniors who will be introduced before this afternoon’s Missouri-Iowa State kickoff, Kurtis Gregory had this observation: “It’s going to take a lot less time to announce all of us.”

Pelini-shaped defense has Huskers on verge of title

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

LINCOLN, Neb. | Carl Pelini thought Nebraska’s defense looked tired last weekend, and that speaks volumes about the Cornhuskers’ improvement. A weary defense helped Nebraska beat Kansas 31-17. This was a Jayhawks’ team aching for a victory, motivated on Senior Day, and a program that had scored no fewer than 32 points against the Huskers over the previous four seasons.

College buzz | Tigers' class leads Big 12

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Missouri’s four-man 2010 basketball recruiting class has landed the Tigers a No. 12 national ranking from Rivals.com, the highest in the Big 12. Texas A&M is ranked No. 21 and Baylor No. 24.

Big 12 Insider | Conference loaded with first-round talent

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Conference reputations are built largely on nonleague and bowl games because those are the opportunities of direct comparisons among leagues. But there is one other occasion that measures a conference’s strength, and the Big 12 is poised for an exceptional showing if early projections can be trusted.

Kansas State shoots down Boston

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico | Denis Clemente missed nine shots, and Jacob Pullen made just four. Normally, that’s an awful sign for the Kansas State basketball team. Anytime it doesn’t get good point production out of its two best guards, the Wildcats are beatable. The same could be said for any squad in the country.

Kansas has no trouble routing Central Arkansas

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

LAWRENCE | C.J. Henry last played in a game four years ago. That was the Oklahoma Class 6A high school semifinals, and there’s been a professional baseball career and full season at Memphis in between. That gives a man time to think, and Henry did some just minutes before tipoff of a game he knew he would play — finally — when a video of Kansas basketball highlights played on the Allen Fieldhouse scoreboard.

Oklahoma State holds off Colorado

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

STILLWATER, Okla. | Third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, leading No. 12 Oklahoma State back from an 11-point deficit for a 31-28 win against Colorado on Thursday night. Starter Zac Robinson was injured and backup Alex Cate ineffective, so Weeden took over in the second half and got the offense going for the Cowboys, 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12.

Mangino attacks critics on radio show

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Kansas coach Mark Mangino went on a lengthy rant Thursday night during his weekly radio show “Hawk Talk” on KCSP 610 AM, calling out some of the parents of his players and the former players who have spoken out against him. “Let’s take a look at this,” Mangino said. “We’ve improved graduation rates here for football. We have set semester records for team GPA. We’re graduating kids, we’re putting kids out into the world that are prepared. But I can’t do the work of some parents, what they should have done before they got to me. There’s some things for 18 years that happened in their lives that I can’t change in four years of college. Can’t change their behaviors, can’t change their attitudes.

Chiefs - Chargers Wrap

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:43 CST

Heads in the CloudsDespite giving up 515 yards, having a lethargic offense most of the day to go with it, five sacks, having lost 10 consecutive games at home and playing the defending Super Bowl champions, Kansas City managed to find a way to win a game … in overtime. Miracles happen all the time in the NFL, just not in KC – at least not until now.read more

Big 12 Bowl Analysis

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:33 CST

Even 33 may not be enough.Last week I looked at the various teams in the Big 12 and tried to make sense out of who would be going to bowls. My most debatable opinion was probably that Kansas would not make a bowl if they lost to Texas and beat Missouri (if K-State also won over Nebraska and Texas A&M also won over Baylor). Well, KU lost to Texas as expected and A&M blew out Baylor. The fly in the ointment was K-State losing to Nebraska. That opens up another potential bowl bid for a Big 12 team and KU might get it if they beat MU. K-State, as everyone knows, has ended their season without qualifying for a bowl.read more

The one about Bret Saberhagen's fake job on the Dennis Miller show

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:03 CST

My cell phone buzzes and the two-time Cy Young winner's number lights up on caller ID."Hey," he says, "it's Bret with one 'T'."There's a pause."But I'm Saberhagen, not that other guy."He laughs, a minor mystery solved. A few months ago, a friend of mine passed along this link and it seemed like a great story.One of the best pitchers in Royals history is now the technical director for a nationally syndicated radio show? Sweet!So I called Saberhagen, and after asking him a few questions about Zack Greinke, I mentioned that I'd like to write something about his work on Dennis Miller's radio show.Silence."I don't work on that show," he says, "but you're like the fifth person who's asked me that."I considered the possibility that Sabes just didn't want to talk about it, which would be fine. But logically, the bio does seem a little strange, and doesn't have a picture, and besides, if he didn't want people to know then why he want his name on the website at all?So I dropped an e-mail to the producer of the show, who explained that a guy who works there is named Bret, one 'T,' so they started calling him Sabes, it caught on, and they just ran with it."If you get the sense that the real Sabes was upset about it, just let me know," the producer wrote back.He's not."I don't need them to take it down," the real Sabes says. "I guess it's flattering if people remember you, right?"For sure.Because if the technical director's name was "Jose," and they called him "Lima-Time," it wouldn't be a compliment.

KU Basketball: That's more like it!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:54 CST

66.4% Effective FG%After the Memphis game, I complained that KU didn’t shoot the trey often enough and that they didn’t press. Believe it or not, I actually saw a full court press against Central Arkansas. Ok, it was only once or twice, but that’s still infinitely more than normal. Maybe… just maybe… Self will employ it in the future. And, instead of only five three-pointers against Memphis, the Hawks shot 19 Thursday night, hitting 11. Obviously, my opinion had nothing to do with it, but it’s always good when I don’t have to complain.read more

Wilcats vs Huskers: For All The Marbles

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:33 CST

KSU FootballSnyder: "I have never been involved in a ballgame in which bowl eligibility and a division championship were on the line at the same time. I'm gratified on how much progress we make from week to week, but this past week, we didn't make much progress. So that wasn't very gratifying at all. We have to play better than they (Nebraska) do. That's the bottom line anywhere. It is going to a big challenge to play in a very large stadium with a bunch of red-clad fans cheering against you, but that's part of this game."read more

MU to Unveil Combat Uniforms Monday

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:02 CST

Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden says the school will unveil the Nike Rivalry - or Combat - uniforms the Tigers will wear against Kansas in the Border War football game. "It is only a one-time deal," Alden said. "We won't wear them again." Here's a link that shows an approximation of the special unis: http://theninecommandments.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/new-nike-combat-unis...

Big 12 rewind, Nov. 22

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:22 CST

NEBRASKA Beat Kansas State 17-3, at Colorado on Friday read more

Missouri's Bowl Destination? Insight or Holiday

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:38 CST

Here's what we're hearing regarding Missouri's most likely bowl destination. Beat Kansas in the Border War and - with an Oklahoma State victory over Oklahoma - the Tigers look to have a real shot at the Holiday Bowl. Lose to Kansas in the Border War - or with an Oklahoma victory over Oklahoma State - the Tigers are more likely headed to the Insight Bowl. Pay no attention to the supposed bowl selection order. After the BCS title game, it is all a negotiation with the bowls not concerned with anything except selling tickets. Some concerns on the Holiday and Insight bowls. read more

K-State makes strides, doesn' t trip

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:59 CST

LINCOLN, Neb. _ This was all or nothing for Kansas State because a Wildcats’ loss meant no division championship and no bowl game. And the loss happened, 17-3 to surging Nebraska, which will meet Texas in the Big 12 title game. But for Kansas State this season wasn’t for nothing. Although the Wildcats’ 6-6 record meant a mere a one-game improvement over last season, the feeling is vastly different, upbeat because of a program rejuvenated by Bill Snyder. read more

K-State halftime: Wildcats trail by one score

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:30 CST

Kansas State kept the halftime deficit at 10-3 with stellar defensive moments on successive snaps. A short punt allowed the Cornhuskers to take over at the K-State 35 and two first downs later Nebraska faced a second-and-goal at the 5. On a night when defense was setting the early tone a two-score lead might have seemed insurmountable. But Wildcats end Jeffrey Fitzgerald ran down Zac Lee for a 14-yard sack. Now, at least, Nebraska could be facing a long field-goal attempt. read more