IRVING, Texas – Kansas senior Lagerald Vick posted back-to-back 30-point efforts as he has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the league, the conference announced Monday. This is the second-straight week Kansas has taken home the Big 12 Player of the Week accolade as redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson was last week’s honoree.
Vick opened the week scoring a then-career-high 32 points in Kansas 84-68 win against Vermont on Nov. 12. In the game, the Memphis, Tennessee, guard broke the Big 12 and Kansas record for most 3-point field goals made without a miss by going 8-for-8 from beyond the arc. Vick’s 8-for-8 effort was two shy of the NCAA record and his eight treys tied for the second most made in Kansas history.
In Kansas, 89-76 win against Louisiana on Nov. 16, Vick scored 33 points, surpassing his career high set earlier in the week. Once again Vick was sharp shooting from 3-point range, making 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. KU’s lone senior just missed a double-double against the Ragin’ Cajuns as he pulled down nine rebounds in the win.
For the week, Vick averaged 32.5 points and shot 23-for-32 (71.8 percent) from the field, 15-for-20 (75.0 percent) from 3-point range and averaged 6.0 rebounds. Vick’s 15 3-pointers in the two contests set a Kansas record for most 3-pointers made in consecutive games.
No. 2 Kansas (3-0) will take on Marquette (3-1) on Wednesday, Nov. 21, in the NIT Season Tip-Off at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The contest will start at 6 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has been named the HoopDirt.com Division II national coach of the week.
McCollum, who captured the 2016-17 HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year award, has led Northwest Missouri State to a stellar start to the season. The Bearcats opened the season by defeating both teams from the NCAA D-II championship game last year. They beat last year’s runner up Northern State 72-70 in overtime on Nov. 3, then defending champion No. 13 Ferris State 100-86 the following day.
After that, McCollum’s team won three straight blowout games to move to 5-0 on the season and take the No. 2 spot in the D2SIDA poll. The Bearcats will begin the MIAA Basketball Challenge on Monday against Illinois-Springfield.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the fourth time in 10 weeks Kansas freshman running back Pooka Williams Jr., was honored by the Big 12 Conference with its weekly football awards as he was tabbed Newcomer of the Week by the league office on Monday.
Williams shined in Kansas’ game at No. 6/6 Oklahoma as he produced 312 all-purpose yards for the Jayhawks. Williams set a new Kansas single-game freshman rushing record with 252 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. His 16.8 yards per carry was the third-best output in a single game in Big 12 history. Williams picked up 42 yards on kickoff returns and 18 receiving yards, in addition to his 252 yards rushing. He also tossed his first touchdown pass, connecting on a nine-yard score with wide receiver Jeremiah Booker.
With his 252 yards on the ground against the Sooners, Williams became KU’s first player to produce a 1,000 yard rushing season since James Sims in 2013. He currently has 1,022 yards rushing, which also ranks second in the Big 12 in 2018. Williams leads the conference in all-purpose yards at 154.50, which ranks fifth in the FBS.
Williams and the Jayhawks are set to host Texas for Senior Day on Friday, Nov. 23. The game will kick off at 11 a.m.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Thanks to a 4-for-4 effort last week in Kansas State’s 21-6 victory over Texas Tech, sophomore place kicker Blake Lynch has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
It is Lynch’s first-career weekly conference honor, while the Wildcats now have four player-of-the-week accolades this season. Isaiah Zuber was the special teams player of the week following the South Dakota game, while Alex Barnes (offensive) and Duke Shelley (defensive) were honored following the Oklahoma State win.
Lynch tied his career high and tied for second in school history with his four field goals against the Red Raiders, which came from distances of 20, 34, 41 and 22 yards. He is the third player in school history to make at least four field goals in a game twice in a season, joining Jamie Rheem (vs. Texas and Utah State in 1999) and Martin Gramatica (vs. Texas A&M and Kansas in 1998).
This season, the Goddard, Kansas, product is 13-of-15 on field-goal attempts, including a perfect 13-for-13 mark from under 50 yards. His current 86.7-percent mark ranks third in school history for a season, while he is four field goals shy of entering K-State’s top-10 list for field goals made in a season.
Kansas State travels to Ames, Iowa, on Saturday to take on Iowa State inside Jack Trice Stadium. The Wildcats, who are in search of their all-important sixth win of the season to extend their bowl streak to nine-straight seasons, and Cyclones kick off at 6 p.m.
MARYVILLE, Missouri – Northwest Missouri State head volleyball coach Amy Woerth has announced the signing of six student-athletes for the 2019 recruiting class.
“I would describe this class as hard-working student-athletes who push themselves on the court and in the classroom,” Worth said. “I’m excited about their competitiveness as this class has played high-level volleyball in their high school and club careers. We are thrilled to have these student-athletes and their families join the Bearcat family.”
Jaden Ferguson is a 6’0″ outside hitter from Lincoln, Nebraska. Ferguson has accrued 1,310 kills, 846 digs, 152 aces and 144 blocks for Lincoln Southeast High School for head coach Mark Novotny. She is a two-time all-state selection and a three-time all-conference pick. She also earned all-state state honors in basketball in 2017 and 2018. She is an honor roll student. Ferguson posted academic all-state honors in 2018. She has a 4.0 GPA. Ferguson is the daughter of Stephanie Emryand Pete Ferguson.
Londyn Gartner is a 5’11” middle hitter from Leawood, Kansas. She ranks third all-time at Blue Valley North High School in career blocks (254). She ranks ninth in career kills (644) for head coach Matt Allin. Gartner led the squad in kill efficiency as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Blue Valley North placed third in the state of Kansas her freshman season and fifth place in both her junior and senior years. Gartner played for the Dynasty Volleyball Club and qualified for Open in 13s, 14s and 15s. Her club squad finished in the top 10 among open teams at USVA 14s division at the national tournament. She helped her team to a second-place finish at the USAVA National the 16s and also placed fifth for the 17s. Gartner is the daughter of Trevor and Kara Gartner.
Emmy Grant is a 6’1″ middle hitter from Omaha, Nebraska. Grant has helped Millard North to a No. 1 ranking in the state of Nebraska as a senior for head coach Lindsay Peterson. She led the squad to a runner-up finish in the 2017 state tournament. She has posted 528 kills (.303) and 341 blocks. Grant was named to the top 25 most outstanding blockers in the country in 2018 by Prep Volleyball. She owns the school record in blocks in a season and a career. She is an honor roll student. Grant is the daughter of Kit Nelson.
Hannah LaPour is a 6’0″ middle hitter from Blue Springs, Missouri. LaPour tallied 227 kills (.336) with 62 blocks and 17 service aces as a senior at Blue Springs North High School for head coach Mallori Perry. LaPour tallied all-state honors in 2017. She is a three-time all-district and all-conference pick. LaPour is the daughter of Steve and Jane LaPour.
Sydney McDermott is a 6’1″ right side/middle hitter from Omaha, Nebraska. McDermott helped lead Skutt Catholic High School to three state championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for head coach Renee Saunders. McDermott earned class B all-tournament team honors and overall all-tournament teams honors in the 2018 state tourney. McDermott earned honorable all-state honors in 2017 from the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World Herald. McDermott tallied 606 career kills with 126 career blocks. She hit .347 as a senior. She earned academic all-conference honors in 2016, 2017 and 2018, while being a three-time academic all-state selection. She is the daughter of Theresa and Greg McDermott.
Alyssa Rezac is a 5’7″ setter from Wahoo, Nebraska. Rezac posted 2,300 career assists and 1,000 digs at Bishop Neumann High School for head coach Brandi Sladky. Rezac is a three-time honorable mention all-state selection. She is a three-time all-district honoree and a four-time all-conference pick. She was a member of the state runner-up girls basketball team in 2018. She was given the NSAANCPA academic all-state award and the St. John Scholar award. She has been honored for outstanding achievement in accounting. She is the daughter of Chad and Julie Rezac.
Northwest Missouri State Volleyball Signees
Name Height Position Hometown/High School
Jaden Ferguson 6’0″ OH Lincoln, Nebraska/Lincoln Southeast HS Londyn Gartner 5’11” MH Leawood, Kansas/Blue Valley North HS
Emmy Grant 6’1″ MH Omaha, Nebraska/Millard North HS
Hannah LaPour 6’0″ MH/RS Blue Springs, Missouri/Blue Springs South HS
Sydney McDermott 6’1″ RS/MH Omaha, Nebraska/Skutt Catholic HS
Alyssa Rezac 5’7″ S Wahoo, Nebraska/Bishop Neumann HS
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Jordan Geist scored 18 of his season-high 21 points in the second half, and Missouri used a late run to pull away from Oregon State 69-63 Sunday in the semifinals of the Paradise Jam tournament.
Kevin Puryear added 17 points for the Tigers (3-1), who advance to Monday night’s championship game at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Sports and Fitness Center.
Tres Tinkle scored 17 points, Stephen Thompson Jr. added 15 and Alfred Hollins 12 for the Beavers (3-1).
Missouri led by as many as 10 points in the first half and were ahead 32-28 at the halftime break. But Oregon State rallied in the second half to tie the game three times, the last at 48 on Tinkle’s layup with 9:57 remaining.
However, Geist hit a short jumper 23 seconds later, kicking off a 13-point run by the Tigers capped by Xavier Pinson’s floater in the lane for a 61-48 lead.
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Kansas State coach Bruce Weber didn’t panic when his 12th-ranked Wildcats struggled to score Sunday against Penn.
Instead, Weber counted on Kansas State’s defense to settle things down in the Wildcats’ 64-48 victory over the Quakers in the semifinals of the Paradise Jam tournament.
Dean Wade scored 17 points to lead three players in double figures for Kansas State (4-0), which advanced to Monday night’s championship game against Missouri at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Sports and Fitness Center.
“Our defense has been our strength,” said Weber, whose Wildcats forced Penn into 19 turnovers, leading to 24 points. “It was last year, and so far we’ve been pretty good.
“Our guys were trying to make plays, and we’ve gotta let the team make the plays. We’ve got good balance, and we just need to let things come to us.”
Kamau Stokes added 16 points and Xavier Sneed had 11 for the Wildcats, who advanced to their fourth in-season tournament final under Weber.
“It’d be nice to finally get one,” Wade said. “We got a little antsy on offense at the beginning. We had some interesting shot selection, but once we got settled down, things started flowing. We started getting buckets.”
Devon Goodman scored 18 points and Michael Wang added 14 for the Quakers (4-1), who led by as many as eight points in the first half.
As Kansas State struggled, missing 18 of its first 22 shots, Penn was able to pull ahead 19-11 on Wang’s layup with 7:16 remaining in the first half.
But the Wildcats scored 17 of the next 19 points to lead 28-21 at the half. Austin Trice’s tipin with 2:46 left made it 21-all, and Wade’s 3-point play at 1:35 put Kansas State ahead 24-21.
“We’re a very good defensive team, and I thought we guarded them the whole night,” Penn coach Steve Donahue said. “But they’re big and strong, and they wore us down. They’re a very good basketball team. They wore us down, and we didn’t make shots we typically make.”
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Les Miles, a national championship-winning former coach at Louisiana State and Oklahoma State, has been named the new head football coach at the University of Kansas, Kansas Athletics Director Jeff Long announced Sunday.
photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletics
With Miles’ hiring, Kansas becomes the only university in the country that can boast a current men’s basketball coach with an NCAA Division I Championship and a football coach with an FBS Championship.
Miles will receive a five-year contract that will pay him $2,775,000 annually, with additional retention bonuses due in Nov. 2020 and Nov. 2022.
“Since the beginning of our search, we focused on identifying and recruiting an experienced head coach with a strong track record of success on and off the field,” Long said. “Les Miles is exactly what we need for our program right now. His national reputation as a great recruiter and as a coach who student-athletes love playing for will enable us to break the cycle and return a winning tradition to the Kansas Jayhawks. We are thrilled to have Les and his family as Jayhawks.”
Miles brings to Lawrence 142 victories, a BCS national championship and two SEC titles in 15-plus seasons as a head coach, the most career wins of anyone who has coached football at Kansas in the modern era.
Most recently, Miles served as the head coach at LSU (2005-16), where his teams averaged 10 wins per year in his 11 full seasons. He led LSU to bowl games in each of those 11 seasons (winning seven), and won 42 games against Top-25 teams and 16 over Top-10 teams. Miles’ teams won 10 or more games seven times, reached the SEC title game three times (winning twice) and led LSU to five Top-10 and three Top-5 finishes.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the KU football program and I am grateful to Chancellor Girod and Jeff Long for the opportunity,” said Miles. “We will bring Jayhawk Football back and we will do it with outstanding coaches, tremendous student-athletes of character and ability and an unrelenting drive for excellence. My family and I cannot wait to be a part of the KU family!”
During his tenure at LSU, Miles coached an SEC-leading 69 NFL draft picks, 13 of them first-round selections. He coached 22 first-team All-Americans and 11 players who won national awards. He is the second-winningest coach in LSU history in overall wins (112) and SEC regular-season wins (63).
In the classroom, more than 240 players earned degrees under Miles and during his tenure, LSU Football’s graduation rate ranked as high as No. 2 in the SEC multiple times. As part of LSU’s Project Graduation established in 2010, more than 30 players who had left school without a degree returned to earn their college diploma before Miles left in 2016. Nearly 190 LSU players were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll during Miles’ time there.
“I want to thank Jeff Long for his outstanding work and leadership of our Athletics’ program. I also want to thank the student-athletes in our football program for the mature way in which they have handled this challenging circumstance. I have no doubt that Coach Miles will have an immediate impact on our football program, and on our university,” Chancellor Girod said. “Together as Jayhawks, we will rebuild our football program the right way, winning championships and continuing to graduate young men of character. Today is an exciting day for the KU Family.”
Miles went to LSU after a four-year tenure as head coach at Oklahoma State. The OSU program he took over in 2001 had registered only one winning season since 1988. The Cowboys went 4-7 his first year, then had three-straight winning seasons (8-5, 9-4, 7-5). He led OSU to three-straight bowl games, a first for the program since 1983-85.
Miles’ four-year winning percentage of 57 percent is the best career winning percentage for an OSU coach since 1949. OSU was the only team in the nation to beat Oklahoma twice during Miles’ four-year tenure there.
Prior to OSU, Miles spent three years as tight-ends coach with the Dallas Cowboys (one divisional title, two playoff appearances). He went to Dallas after serving as offensive coordinator at OSU for three seasons (8-3, Alamo Bowl berth in 1997).
Miles served two stints (total of 10 seasons) as an assistant coach at Michigan, several of them under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler. During Miles’ second tenure there, from 1987-94, Michigan won 71 games, made eight-straight bowl appearances, including four Rose Bowls, and finished no lower than No. 21 in the final Associate Press national rankings.
Between tenures at Michigan, Miles spent four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado.
Miles graduated from Michigan in 1976 with a degree in economics. He was a two-year football letterman, playing on two Big Ten championship teams. He earned all-state honors in football at Elyria High School in Ohio, where he also earned letters in baseball and wrestling.
Miles’ wife, Kathy, was a point guard at Central Michigan University and later an assistant basketball coach at Michigan. They have two daughters, Kathryn (nickname “Smacker”), a former swimmer at Texas and currently a TV sports personality who hosts Les’ podcast), and Macy, a youth softball pitching standout. They also have two sons, Manny, a quarterback at North Carolina, and Ben, who won a high-school football state title in 2015 and is currently a fullback at Texas A&M.
ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri Western men’s basketball (4-1) overcame a 12-point first half deficit to pick up its first road win of the season, 89-79 at Missouri S&T (2-1), Saturday. The Griffons have won four-straight and the 4-1 start is the best for the program since winning the first four games of the 2011-12 season.
Missouri Western trailed by 36-24 with 6:24 left in the first half, but closed the gap to just one point at the break and opened the second half with an 18-6 run.
NOTABLES
89 points was the highest total by the Griffons in four years. Missouri Western scored 97 in a home win over Baptist Bible College in 2014
Missouri Western shot 53 percent from the field, making 33 shots on 62 attempts
The Griffons out-scored the Miners 57-28 in the paint
After shooting 64 percent from the line in the first half, the Griffons shot 83 percent from the charity stripe after halftime, making 10 of 12 attempts
The Griffons led by 13 with 9:21 left, their largest lead of the game
LEADERS
Lavon Hightower posted his second double-double in his last three games, leading all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and adding a career-high 12 rebounds
Tyrell Carroll was 7-of-12 from the field for a career-high 19 points
Bryan Hudson scored 13 points and Tyus Millhollin added 10
Millhollin had a team-high five assists
UP NEXT
The Griffons stay on the road with a trip to Quincy with the Griffon Women on Nov. 20.
ALLENDALE, Michigan – The Northwest Missouri State Bearcat football team used a punishing ground game and slowed down the Grand Valley State passing attack for a 42-17 victory at Lubbers Stadium in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division II playoffs.
Northwest (10-2 overall) rushed for 356 yards and the Bearcat defense held the Lakers to 128 yards passing. GVSU came into the game averaging nearly 270 yards per game through the air. The Lakers finished the season at 10-2 overall.
Bearcat running backs Isaiah Strayhorn and Josh Caldwell took their turns attacking the Lakers on the ground. Strayhorn rushed for 171 yards, including an 84-yard score at the end of the third quarter that stifled any momentum the Lakers had for a comeback. Caldwell tallied 147 rushing yards and a pair of 28-yard touchdown scampers. Strayhorn also posted an additional rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Bearcat defensive effort was led by Austen Eskew’s three quarterback sacks, Jack Richards’s two interceptions and Ben Althoff’s team-best 12 tackles.
Northwest wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as the Bearcats found the end zone three plays into the game. Redshirt freshman Braden Wright hit senior wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. on a crossing route of the middle on a third-and-11 play. Bane broke a tackle and raced 51 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.
Bearcat senior defensive end Austen Eskew recorded a sack to thwart a Laker drive. The Lakers then pinned Northwest on the 1-yard line for the Bearcats’s ensuing drive. On second down, Wright fumbled the snap and GVSU defensive lineman Dylan Carroll fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a Laker touchdown with 4:58 left in the first quarter.
Northwest regained the lead in the second quarter when the Bearcats drove 75 yards in 11 plays and took a 14-7 advantage. Wright connected with junior tight end Marqus Andrews on a one-yard toss with 7:10 left in the second.
GVSU kicker J.J. McGrath pulled the Lakers to within four before halftime with a 35-yard field goal. McGrath’s kick left Northwest with a 14-10 lead with 2:35 on the clock.
Senior safety Jack Richards intercepted a Bart Williams pass with 6:10 left in the third quarter. Northwest took full advantage of the turnover when senior running back Josh Caldwell took it 28 yards on the ground for a touchdown. Caldwell’s score gave Northwest a 21-10 lead with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
The Lakers trimmed the margin back to four at 21-17 following a two-yard touchdown plunge by Jack Provencher with 1:02 left in the third quarter.
However, Northwest answered back immediately when running back Isaiah Strayhorn, evoking memories of an Xavier Omon playoff touchdown run against the Lakers, broke through for an 84-yard touchdown run of his own. Strayhorn’s gallop gave Northwest a 28-17 advantage with 0:42 remaining in the third quarter.
Strayhorn added a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 4:06 left in the fourth quarter. Strayhorn’s touchdown was his second of the day and gave Northwest a 35-17 lead over the Lakers.
Caldwell put an emphatic ending to the win when he barreled into the end zone for his second 28-yard rushing score with 1:37 left in the fourth quarter.
Northwest will play at Ferris State next Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Ferris State knocked off Harding, 21-19.
NOTES: It is Northwest’s first road playoff win since a 38-31 overtime win at Midwestern State (Texas) on Nov. 26, 2011 … Northwest has won a Division II-best 48 playoff games … Northwest is 18-0 when leading at halftime under head coach Rich Wright … Shawn Bane Jr.’s touchdown was the 30th career touchdown reception for the senior from Sarasota, Florida … Caldwell has rushed for 35 career touchdowns, including 11 this season for the Bearcats … Caldwell delivered his second straight 100-yard rushing performance – the 17th of his collegiate career … Strayhorn notched his second 100-yard rushing game of his Northwest career … Northwest gained 448 total yards, while limiting Grand Valley State to 239 total yards.
IRVING, Texas – Kansas senior Lagerald Vick posted back-to-back 30-point efforts as he has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the league, the conference announced Monday. This is the second-straight week Kansas has taken home the Big 12 Player of the Week accolade as redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson was last week’s honoree.
Northwest Missouri State head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has been named the HoopDirt.com Division II national coach of the week.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Thanks to a 4-for-4 effort last week in Kansas State’s 21-6 victory over Texas Tech, sophomore place kicker Blake Lynch has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Jordan Geist scored 18 of his season-high 21 points in the second half, and Missouri used a late run to pull away from Oregon State 69-63 Sunday in the semifinals of the Paradise Jam tournament.
ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri Western men’s basketball (4-1) overcame a 12-point first half deficit to pick up its first road win of the season, 89-79 at Missouri S&T (2-1), Saturday. The Griffons have won four-straight and the 4-1 start is the best for the program since winning the first four games of the 2011-12 season.