LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 4/5 Kansas men’s basketball opened the 2015-16 season with a 89-66 exhibition win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday night inside historic Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks relied on 46 points from its big men to notch its 43rd-straight exhibition win in Lawrence. Senior forward Perry Ellis led the way with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 15 second-half points. Freshman forward Carlton Bragg Jr. scored 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting in his debut as a Jayhawk. Senior forward Hunter Mickelson tallied 10 points on 5-of-6 from the field with six rebounds in just 13 minutes.
Kansas held Pitt State to 28.2 percent (20-of-71) shooting from the field while shooting a 48.6 percent mark of their own – nearly four points higher than last year’s season-average.
A total of 14 different players saw minutes in Wednesday night’s win with 10 of those players contributing points.
The Jayhawks held advantages in points in the paint (56-22), bench points (41-22), total rebounds (55-45), defensive rebounds (36-26) and tied the Gorillas in offensive rebounds (19).
Kansas will play its final exhibition game Tuesday at home against Fort Hays State. The tip is set for 7:00 p.m.
ST. JOSEPH – Six members of the Missouri Western women’s soccer team have been named All-MIAA.
Landing on the second team were goalkeeper Sarah Lyle and defender Sydney Andrews. Bridget Blessie earned her first All-MIAA selection as a third team forward. Defenders Taylor Gant and Ashlyn Powers joined mid-fielder Drew Mantlo as honorable mentions. It’s the second consecutive year the team had six players named All-MIAA after repeating as the six-seed in the MIAA postseason tournament and the second straight winning, regular season, the only two in program history.
Sarah Lyle was named second team All-MIAA for the second year in a row and finished the regular season second in the MIAA with a .745 goals against average and an .852 save percentage. She allowed more than one goal in only one match, was named MIAA Goalkeeper of the week once and held opponents scoreless four times. The junior is MWSU’s career leader in wins (20) and shutouts (14.1). She sits second on the career list for saves (269), save percentage (.815) and goals against average (1.14).
Sydney Andrews earned her second All-MIAA selection after being named third team in 2014. Andrews helped her team give up the second fewest goals in the MIA and third lowest goals against average (.82). The senior is MWSU’s career leader in penalty kicks made with three. Andrews has played 5,933 minutes in her career, third most in program history. Her 68 games played are tied for ninth all-time at MWSU and her 67 starts are tied for sixth. As a defender, Andrews was second on the team with 33 shots and scored two goals.
Blessie received her first all-conference nod as a sophomore. She finished the regular season ninth in the MIAA averaging 2.76 shots per game. She finished second in the MIAA with four game winning goals and now sits tied for first in MWSU history with six career game-winning goals. Her five goals this season led the team and moved her into seventh place on the MWSU career list with seven. Blessie is fourth on the career points per game list (.39); goals per game (.19); second in shots per game (1.86); and fourth in shots on goal per game (.86).
Gant was named All-MIAA for the second year in a row after being a second team pick in 2014. She was one of three defenders joining Lyle as 2015 All-MIAA selections. Gant was an MIAA Defender of the Week once this season after scoring her first career goal.
Ashlyn Powers earned her first All-MIAA selection and joined Lyle, Andrews and Gant as All-MIAA defenders for a team that allowed only MIAA champion Central Missouri to score more than one goal. Powers finished the 2015 season with 10 shots, six on goal from her defensive position.
Drew Mantlo wrapped up her final regular season with her first All-MIAA selection. The midfielder finished the 2015 regular season with six shots, two on goal. Mantlo was part of a senior class that won more matches than any other class in program history and qualified the team for its only two postseason appearances (2014 &15). She sits eighth in program history with 69 games played.
The six All-MIAA selections and their teammates continue the 2015 season Wednesday night when they travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma for the first round of the MIAA Tournament against third seeded Northeastern State.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have declined mutual options on right fielder Alex Rios and starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, beginning the reshaping of their team one day after celebrating their World Series triumph with a downtown parade.
Other decisions loom Wednesday: All-Star reliever Wade Davis, All-Star shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielder Jonny Gomes have club options, while Alex Gordon has a player option worth $13.75 million after the All-Star outfielder achieved a series of escalators.
The 34-year-old Rios had a $12.5 million option with a $1.5 million buyout, while the 36-year-old Guthrie had a $10 million option with a $3.2 million buyout.
Both moves had been expected. Rios struggled much of the season, though he contributed a few key hits in the World Series. Guthrie was left off every postseason roster.
ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team is receiving votes in the 2015-16 WBCA/USA TODAY Sports Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll that was released Tuesday.
The Griffons are receiving 48 votes and they’re tied with Albany State (GA) just four spots out of the Top 25.
Two MIAA teams are ranked in the Top 25 as Emporia State is No. 1 in the poll and Fort Hays State is ranked 10th.
Missouri Western returns four starters from a 2014-15 team that went 15-12 overall and 9-10 in the MIAA. The Griffons were picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Missouri Western begins the 2015-16 season on November 13 in Marshall, Minnesota where the team will play Southwest Minnesota State.
Thousands of people rally to celebrate the Kansas City Royals winning baseball’s World Series Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals beat the New York Mets in five games to win the championship. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The world champion Kansas City Royals basked in the adulation of hundreds of thousands of ecstatic fans in a parade and rally Tuesday that nearly shut down downtown for hours.
After driving a 2.3-mile route in a caravan, team owner David Glass, manager Ned Yost and several of the Royals returned the love by telling fans they could not have captured the World Series without their support and calling the turnout for Tuesday’s celebration ”unbelievable” and ”amazing.”
City officials estimated Tuesday that 500,000 people attended the events.
”This is a day like none of us have seen before and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts,” Yost said. ”What (the team) wanted most was to come to this city to win a championship for you guys. We celebrate it with you today.”
Left fielder Alex Gordon, who has been with the team since 2007, recalled years of losing seasons for the Royals. ”To see this unfold to this is unbelievable. We’re the World Series champs and you are the best fans in the world,” he told the crowd.
Gordon, who is not expected to exercise an option on his contract for next season, gave no hint about his possible future with the team.
Johnny Gomes, a midseason acquisition from the Atlanta Braves who didn’t make the playoff roster but was credited with bringing positive energy to the clubhouse, was the most animated of the players, forcing the reluctant relieving corps to take a bow and introducing several players. He also asked for a moment of silence in honor of Edinson Volquez’s father, Chris Young’s father and Mike Moustakas’ mother, all of whom died this year.
”It’s unbelievable what those guys did,” Gomes said, emphatically.
Volquez drew loud applause when he vowed that the Royals would be back on the same stage next season after winning another world championship.
Fans began arriving hours before the festivities and were packed in so tightly that many could not move. Yet the mood remained mostly jovial, with people waving flags, hats and signs, thrilled for their team’s first World Series win since 1985.
Hall of Famer George Brett told the crowd this year’s team was better than the one he played on in 1985.
”These guys are the best team ever, in my opinion, and I’m sure in yours too,” he said.
Several area school districts called off classes for the day and Rachel Bryant, of Kansas City, took advantage and brought her 7-year-old son, Jayden, to the parade.
”It’s been 30 years since the last championship. Who knows if it will be another 30 years? It might be a one-time experience for him. I hope not; I hope we’re back here next year,” she said.
Steve Templeton, of suburban Lee’s Summit, said the championship brought the city together.
”The Royals were a doormat for so long and look at it now, it’s just a sea of blue,” he said. ”It’s fun because they are bringing everybody together, every nationality, every kind of person is here together because we love the team.”
Downtown was so crowded that some fans who came for the festivities left before they began, realizing they wouldn’t be able to see or hear anything.
”It’s a shame because we’re so proud of the team,” said Mary Winston of suburban Overland Park, Kansas, who brought her five children three hours before the rally and left before it began. ”But with five children we would have had to be here at 5 a.m. to get a seat.”
The Kansas City Transit Authority said those trying to take public transportation to the events endured waits of one- to three-hours. Spokeswoman Cindy Baker said the crowds were ”definitely more than we expected,” with a conservative estimate of about 100,000 people being shuttled before the rally, with more after it began. Police spokesman Tye Grant said traffic was so heavy that some drivers parked along the interstate and walked.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas men’s basketball team is ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Poll, which marks the highest preseason ranking for the Jayhawks since entering the 2009-10 season No. 1.
This is the third-straight season KU has been ranked No. 5 or higher by the AP. KU was No. 5 in the AP preseason poll in 2014-15 and 2013-14. It is also the sixth time in the last seven season that the Jayhawks have entered the season No. 7 or higher by AP.
Under 13-year head coach Bill Self, this is the 10th time that Kansas enters the season ranked seventh or higher in the Associated Press preseason poll and historically, the No. 4 ranking marks the 18th time since the 1992-93 season that Kansas will enter the season seventh or higher.
Last season, KU entered the year No. 5 nationally in the Associated Press poll and ended at No. 10. The AP’s final poll is released prior to the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks were ranked in the top 10 for 14 weeks during the 2014-15 season.
Kansas has been ranked in each of the last 124 polls dating back to the 208-09 season which is the second active streak behind Duke at 156. Arizona is third at 60 and Wichita State fourth at 40.
Kansas will play nine regular-season games against teams ranked in the AP preseason poll: No. 2 Kentucky, No. 7 Iowa State (twice), No. 8 Oklahoma (twice), No. 13 Michigan State and No. 22 Baylor (twice). Additionally, KU could play No. 15 Indiana or No. 18 Vanderbilt in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Nov. 25.
Kansas enters the 2015-16 season No. 5 in the preseason USA Today Coaches’ poll which was released Oct. 15.
Kansas opens its exhibition play when it hosts Pittsburg State Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. (Central) in Allen Fieldhouse.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have exercised their $11.5 million option on lefthanded starter Jaime Garcia and declined their $9 million mutual option on righthanded reliever Jonathan Broxton, who gets a $2 million buyout.
St. Louis also said Monday that infielder Pete Kozma and catchers Ed Easley and Travis Tartamella have been assigned outright to Triple-A Memphis.
Garcia, 29, was 10-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 20 starts following thoracic outlet surgery, including 7-2 from Aug. 8 through the end of the regular season before losing to the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series. He is 52-32 with a 3.31 ERA in 126 regular-season games.
Broxton, 31, was 3-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 26 games after he was acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline. He becomes eligible for free agency.
Kozma, 27, a former first-round draft pick, played in 76 games last season. Easley, 29, and Tartamella, 27, both made their major league debuts in 2015.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State sophomore punter Nick Walsh has been named one of 79 candidates nationally for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top collegiate punter, the Augusta Sports Council has announced.
Walsh’s candidacy is the fifth in K-State history and the first since Mark Krause in 2013. Tim Reyer was a candidate in 2006 and a semifinalist in 2007, while Ryan Doerr was a candidate in 2011.
A product of Lyndon, Kansas, Walsh holds a 41.6-yard average on 37 punts this season, including eight punts that have landed inside the 20-yard line and six 50-plus yard kicks. He recorded a season-high 47.5-yard average at Oklahoma State a week before booting a career-long 63-yard punt against TCU.
Kansas State hosts second-ranked Baylor on Thursday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which will be televised by FS1, kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
Kansas City, Mo. – Central Oklahoma’s Clay McKenzie has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Football Offensive Athlete of the Week. ESU’s A.J. West earned Defensive Athlete of the Week honors with PSU’s Slade Nordic earning Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors.
MIAA/AstroTurf Offensive Athlete of the Week Clay McKenzie, RB, Central Oklahoma
McKenzie powered UCO to its fourth win in five games with a 48-17 road rout of Northeastern State, rushing for 248 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. The sophomore running back scored on runs of 3, 6 and 40 yards in the third-highest rushing game in school history, with his 40-yard TD scamper breaking an early 3-3 tie to give UCO the lead for good. McKenzie also caught three passes for 28 yards, giving him 276 all-purpose yards for the 8th-best game in school history. The 5-11 sophomore running back is a native of Callisburg, Texas where he competed at Callisburg High School.
MIAA/AstroTurf Defensive Athlete of the Week A.J. West, DB, Emporia State
West had seven tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception return for a touchdown in the Hornets 47-21 win over Washburn. He recovered a fumble on WUs first possession of the second quarter and returned it ten yards to the Ichabod 21 yard line. Three plays later the Hornets scored to go up 23-0. The Hornets held the Ichabods without a first down on their first four possessions of the game until midway through the second quarter. On their fifth drive West intercepted a pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown and a 30-0 lead with 8:21 left in the half. The 5-10 sophomore defensive back is a native of Yukon, Okla. where he competed at Yukon High School.
MIAA/AstroTurf Special Teams Athlete of the Week Slade Nordic, KR, Pittsburg State
Nordic sparked Pittsburg State University by returning the opening kickoff of the game 100 yards for a score, setting the tone early in the Gorillas 41-14 victory over Missouri Southern State University Saturday (Oct. 31). The Bartlesville, Okla., became the fourth player in Pitt State history to record a 100-yard kickoff return, the first since John Brown did so against Washburn on Nov. 5, 2011. He also became the 17th player in MIAA history to return a kickoff 100 yards. Nordic is a redshirt freshman return specialist who came to Pitt State from Bartlesville (Okla.) High School.
James Washington (Oklahoma State), Charles Tapper (Oklahoma), Emmanuel Ogbah (Oklahoma State) and Jakeem Grant (Texas Tech) were named Big 12 Football Players of the Week by a panel of media that covers the Conference. Ogbah (co-defense) earned his third award of the season and fourth in his career while Grant (special teams) picked up his second honor of the season and his career. Washington (offense) and Tapper (co-defense) were each recognized for the first time.
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week James Washington, Oklahoma State, WR, So, Stamford, Texas
James Washington turned in an OSU top-10 single-game receiving performance to help the No. 12 Cowboys to a 70-53 come-from-behind win at Texas Tech. He finished the game with four catches for 200 yards, but came up big in the deciding fourth quarter with 148 of those yards on touchdown receptions of 75 and 73 yards on consecutive fourth-quarter drives. Washington became the first Cowboy since Justin Blackmon in 2011 to go over the 200-yard receiving mark in a game and joined Dez Bryant and Blackmon as the only OSU underclassmen to eclipse 200 receiving yards in a game.
Big 12 Defensive Co-Players of the Week Charles Tapper, Oklahoma, DE, Sr, Baltimore, Md.
Senior defensive end Charles Tapper recorded his first three sacks of the season and registered two forced fumbles in only three quarters of work as No. 14 Oklahoma won 62-7 at Kansas. Tapper, who did not play in the fourth quarter, finished with four tackles in the game and was the catalyst for an OU defense that held the Jayhawks to 216 total yards (3.1 per play) and less than 1.0 yard per rush. The Sooners recovered both of Tapper’s forced fumbles and converted them into 10 points.
Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State, DE, Jr, Houston, Texas
Emmanuel Ogbah continued his dominant play with seven tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries in Oklahoma State’s win at Texas Tech. Ogbah went head-to-head with Red Raider standout left tackle Le’Raven Clark for most of the game. He leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally in sacks per game and also rates in the top 10 nationally in tackles for loss per game.
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech, WR/KR, Sr, Mesquite Texas
Jakeem Grant totaled a career-high 323 all-purpose yards in Texas Tech’s 70-53 loss to No. 12 Oklahoma State. He recorded his program-best fourth-career kickoff return for a touchdown with a career-long and school-record tying 100-yarder and also had a career-long 90-yard TD reception. Grant’s all-purpose yards rank fourth all-time in TTU single-game history. He finished the game with 146 kickoff return yards and 178 yards receiving on a career-high 13 receptions. The performance moved Grant into fifth place with 2,973 career receiving yards and into sixth place with 5,010 all-purpose yards. According to ESPN.com, the senior’s 210 first quarter all-purpose yards are the most in a single quarter in the nation this year.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 4/5 Kansas men’s basketball opened the 2015-16 season with a 89-66 exhibition win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday night inside historic Allen Fieldhouse.
