Sports – Page 445 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Northwest’s Tjeerdsma, Miles nominated for the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

IRVING, Texas – Former Northwest Missouri State University head football coach and current Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma and All-American Tony Miles have been nominated for the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Football Hall of Fame released the 2017 ballot which includes 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 95 players and 29 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Tony Miles was a two-time First Team All-American who led Bearcats to back-to-back Division II National Championships (1998-99) and four-consecutive MIAA titles. He set conference and school records for career receiving yards (3,890), receptions (235) and TDs (37).

Mel Tjeerdsma, who coached at Austin College (Texas) from 1984-93 and at Northwest from 1994-2010, led the Bearcats to seven Division II national championship games, winning in 1998, 1999, 2009. He was a four-time AFCA Coach of the Year who boasts most wins (183) in Northwest history. He led teams to 15 MIAA conference titles and 15 playoff appearances.

The ballot was emailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Courts, which deliberate and select the class. The FBS Honors Court, chaired by NFF Board Member and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Griffin from Ohio State, and the Divisional Honors Court, chaired by former Marshall head coach, longtime athletics director and NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel, include an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media.

The announcement of the 2017 Class will be made Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. The city is serving as the host for the CFP National Championship, which will be played Jan. 9 at Raymond James Stadium. Some of the inductees will be on site at the press conference to represent the class and share their thoughts on the announcement. The Jan. 6 announcement will be televised live, and specific viewing information will be available as the date draws near. Inductees will also participate in the pregame festivities and the coin toss on Jan. 9.

The 2017 class will be inducted at the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 5, 2017, at the landmark Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The inductees will be permanently enshrined at the new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta later that December and honored on the field during the 13th Annual National Hall of Fame Salute during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The criteria for Hall of Fame consideration includes:

First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.
A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation’s Honors Courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man, with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years.* For example, to be eligible for the 2017 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1967 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.

*Players who do not comply with the 50-year rule may still be eligible for consideration by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Divisional Veterans Committee.

Once nominated for consideration, all player candidates are submitted to one of eight District Screening Committees, depending on their school’s geographic location, which conducts a vote to determine who will appear on the ballot and represent their respective districts. Each year, approximately 15 candidates, who are not selected for the Hall of Fame, will be named automatic holdovers and will bypass the district screening process and automatically appear on the ballot the following year. Additionally, the Veterans Committee may make recommendations to the Honors Court for exceptions that allow for the induction of players who played more than 50 years ago.

Of the 5.12 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869, only 977 players, including the 2016 class, have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two ten-thousandths (.0002) of one percent of those who have played the game during the past 147 years. From the coaching ranks, 211 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou’s football opener at West Virginia will kick off at 11 AM

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football’s season-opening game at West Virginia on Sept. 3 will air on Fox Sports 1 at 11 a.m. (CT), as announced Wednesday as part of the Big 12 Conference’s television package. It will be Mizzou’s first morning kick for a road game since 2014 at Toledo and Mizzou’s seventh morning road kick since joining the SEC. Mizzou is 5-1 in the previous six games. The contest at West Virginia will be the first game for first-year Mizzou head coach Barry Odom.

The season opener will mark the sixth all-time meeting between Mizzou and West Virginia, with Mizzou holding a 3-2 edge in the previous five games. The last meeting was in 1998 as Mizzou defeated West Virginia, 34-31, in the Insight.com Bowl. Before that, West Virginia swept a home-and-home set in 1993 and 1994. The two teams also met in the 1920s with Mizzou claiming both meetings as part of a home-and-home in 1926 and 1927.

Fans looking to purchase season tickets for the 2016 Mizzou Football season can fill out the season ticket request list at MUTigers.com or call the Mizzou ticket office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Mid-Missouri). Single-game SEC tickets will go on sale for Tiger Scholarship Fund (TSF) donors beginning the week of August 1. TSF members will receive an email showing when their donor level will open up for sales. Donate Now to become a TSF Member and gain access to this early sale. Single-game SEC tickets will go on sale online for the general public (based on availability) beginning Thursday, August 11 at 6 p.m. CT.

— Mizzou Athletics —

St. Louis falls short of sweep at Milwaukee

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Zach Davies had pinpoint command. He frustrated hitters with four pitches and stayed ahead in counts.

What made Davies’ crisp outing on Wednesday even more impressive was that he shut down the formidable lineup of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Davies had a career-high nine strikeouts over eight shutout innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers averted a three-game sweep with a 3-1 win over their NL Central rivals.

“It’s hard to get much better than that,” manager Craig Counsell said.

Davies (3-3) allowed three hits and retired 13 in a row to finish the longest outing of his young career before yielding to Jeremy Jeffress. The closer gave up a pinch-hit solo homer to Brandon Moss before retiring the final three batters for his 13th save.

It was a memorable afternoon for Davies, who got stronger as the game wore on. He struck out the side in the eighth to draw a standing ovation from an appreciative hometown crowd.

Davies, a 23-year-old right-hander, didn’t allow a runner to reach second. He kept hitters guessing with his fastball, curve, cutter and changeup.

That left the Cardinals frustrated after entering the day second in the National League with 71 homers and a .460 slugging percentage.

“It was just being able to find the bottom of the zone and just being able to command the ball a lot better today; making them put the ball in play early and getting ahead of guys,” Davies said.

The Brewers scratched out two runs in the first off Jaime Garcia (4-5) and added insurance with Martin Maldonado’s solo homer in the sixth.

Garcia allowed five hits, three walks and two runs before departing after five innings.

“It’s just one of those where he just had trouble finding the feel on a consistent basis,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “But still, he only gave up only a couple runs five hits. But he had a lot of traffic and a lot of stress innings.”

ZACH ATTACK

Davies was one of the Brewers’ first acquisitions when the organization decided to rebuild at midseason last year, arriving from Baltimore in exchange for outfielder Gerardo Parra. Davies was drafted in the 26th round of the 2011 amateur draft.

He has rebounded after a tough April, when he went 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA in three starts. He had a 3.81 ERA in May in five starts.

Kolten Wong, who struck out twice, said Davies kept the Cardinals off-balance with his changeup.

“Just something that caught us off guard,” Wong said. “He kept us off balance with his fastball coming in and threw that changeup away.”

FIRST FOUR

The Brewers’ first four hitters opened the game with a walk and three straight singles, capped by run-scoring hits for Ryan Braun and Chris Carter.

Milwaukee squandered opportunities for more offense by leaving the bases loaded in the first and third. Maldonado recorded the inning-ending outs each time before atoning in the sixth with his homer off reliever Matt Bowman that landed on the concourse beyond left-center.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Garcia showed no discomfort and stayed in the game after getting hit in his lower left leg by a hard bouncer up the middle from Aaron Hill in the third. The ball deflected into short left for an infield single.

Brewers: LHP Will Smith was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. The hard-throwing reliever had been sidelined since spring training after spraining a ligament in his right knee while taking off a shoe in the clubhouse during spring training. Smith had been expected to share closing duties with RHP Jeremy Jeffress this season, and manager Craig Counsell said he would use Smith judiciously to start.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Following an off day, St. Louis returns home on Friday to open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Right-handed ace Adam Wainwright (5-3) gets the start. He is 5-0 in his last seven games.

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (2-6) opens a four-game series on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies. He is 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia.

— Associated Press —

Missouri-Arkansas rivalry game set for Friday after Thanksgiving

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The annual Battle Line Rivalry presented by Shelter Insurance® between Mizzou Football and Arkansas has been set for Friday, Nov. 25, with a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff on CBS, as announced Wednesday. The 2016 season will mark the third consecutive year that CBS has broadcast the game on the Friday following Thanksgiving. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26, before being picked up by CBS.

This year will mark the third installment of the annual rivalry between the border foes. Mizzou won the initial meeting in the rivalry in 2014, clinching a second consecutive SEC East Division title with a 21-14 win. Arkansas won last year’s meeting in Fayetteville, 28-3.

Mizzou and Arkansas have met seven times over the years and twice since Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012. Mizzou owns a 4-3 advantage over the Razorbacks in history. Two of the seven games in the series have come in bowl games – Mizzou lost the 2003 Independence Bowl, 27-14, while Mizzou defeated Arkansas in the 2008 Cotton Bowl, 38-7, thanks to a Cotton Bowl-record 281 rushing yards and four TDs by RB Tony Temple.

— Mizzou Athletics —

First three K-State football game times announced

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Highlighted by a primetime televised Friday night season opener at Stanford and an afternoon home opener, game times and television designations for Kansas State’s first three football games were announced by the Big 12 Conference and its television partners Wednesday afternoon.

The Wildcats and Cardinal kick off the 2016 college football season at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California, on Friday, September 2, at 8 p.m. (CT), in a game televised by FS1. It marks the first time since 2007 that K-State opens the season on the road and the second time in the last four years the Wildcats will open their season on a Friday night.

Following an off weekend on September 10, in which Bill Snyder Family Stadium will host the Wildcat Kickoff music festival featuring Zac Brown Band and Train, Kansas State begins its home slate on September 17, with a matchup against Florida Atlantic at 1:30 p.m., on FSN. The afternoon tilt is the first for a home opener since the Wildcats topped UCLA, 31-22, in 2010.

K-State wraps up its non-conference slate on September 24, with a 6:10 p.m., contest against Missouri State, which will be shown world-wide on K-StateHD.TV. Programming on K-StateHD.TV will begin at 5:10 p.m., with its K-State Gameday show featuring Brian Smoller. For ordering information, log on to www.k-statehd.tv and click on the “Subscribe Now” button.

All remaining Big 12 television selections will be announced on a 12-day or six-day basis throughout the season.

— K-State Athletics —

KU announces times for football games with Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas Tech

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Big 12 Conference released the television broadcast assignments for the first three weeks of the 2016 college football season and specialty date games, with Kansas being tabbed for television in each of its first two games, along with its conference opener.

The Jayhawks play at American Athletic Conference member Memphis the third week of the 2016 college football season and that game time and broadcast designation will come from the AAC.

Kansas, under the direction of second-year head coach David Beaty, will open the 2016 football season with a home game versus Rhode Island on Saturday, Sept. 3. The KU-Rhody game will be played at 6 p.m., with a live broadcast on the Jayhawk Network in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro area and is available outside of the state lines to a national audience on ESPN3. More information on the Jayhawk Network (JTV) and its affiliates is available at KUAthletics.com/TV.

The Jayhawks will host Ohio in their second contest of the season on Saturday, Sept. 10. KU-Ohio will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Net (FSN), with a 1:30 p.m., kickoff.

Following a trip to Memphis for its third game of the 2016 season, Kansas will open Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech on Thursday, Sept. 29. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. The Thursday night game will mark the first time the Jayhawks have played on a Thursday since they hosted Kansas State on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010.

Kansas made three appearances on Fox Sports Net in 2015 and two on JTV. KU was featured on FOX Sports 1 in six of its 2015 games and kicked off one time on the Big Ten Network.

Kansas will also host TCU (Oct. 8), Oklahoma State (Oct. 22/Homecoming, K-Club Weekend), Iowa State (Nov. 12) and Texas (Nov. 19) at Memorial Stadium during the 2016 campaign.

— KU Athletics —

Cain homers, drives in 4 as Royals defeat Tampa Bay 10-5

Posted on May 31, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain homered and drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-5 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to a season-best five games.

The Royals, who have won six straight series, took a two-game lead in the AL Central after being seven games out and in fourth place on May 10.

Cain hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a two-run single in the five-run fifth when the Royals batted around. Cain has 23 RBI in his past 19 games after driving in 10 runs in his first 30 games.

Kendrys Morales homered — a two-run shot in the sixth — and drove in three runs for the Royals while Eric Hosmer had three hits and drove in two runs. Hosmer is 13 for 30 with 13 RBI on this homestand.

Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (2-2) labored through five innings to pick up the victory, throwing 102 pitches. He gave up four runs and nine hits, while walking one and striking out seven.

Rays starter Drew Smyly (2-7) was pulled after four innings, yielding eight runs and 12 hits. In his past three starts, all losses, he has allowed 25 hits and 16 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings.

Every Royal had at least one hit. Paulo Orlando singled in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. Drew Butera had three hits, matching his career high.

Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer for the Rays in the second and drove in another run in the ninth.

The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth off rookie left-hander Scott Alexander. Evan Longoria led off the inning with a double and Alexander walked the next two. After Dickerson’s one-out RBI single, Wade Davis was summoned and picked up his 15th save in 16 opportunities.

THE DEFENSE RESTS

The Rays, who made three errors Monday, have committed 11 in their past seven games with four multi-error games. “That’s terrible,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’re better than that and we need to get better at it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Brad Boxberger, who just came off the DL after adductor muscle surgery in March, left after 16 pitches in the sixth with a muscle strain in his left side. . 2B Steve Pearce, who left in the eighth inning Monday with a tender right elbow, was back in the lineup Tuesday, but was pinch hit for in the fifth inning. . RHPs Alex Cobb and Chase Whitley, who both underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, each threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday at Tropicana Field. . INF Logan Forsythe, who is on the DL with a left scapula hairline fracture, hit off the tee and fielded ground balls at Tropicana.

Royals: LF Brett Eibner was carted from the field in the fifth inning with a left ankle sprain. He will be evaluated further Wednesday. . 3B Mike Moustakas, who has a torn right ACL, will see Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for a second opinion. . LHP Mike Minor, who missed last season after surgery for a torn labrum, was pulled out of his rehab assignment with shoulder fatigue. He came Tuesday to Kansas City to be examined by the Royals medical staff.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Chris Archer is 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in three career starts against the Royals.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy has a 4.86 ERA this season at Kauffman Stadium and a 1.29 ERA on the road.

— Associated Press —

Carpenter has 4 more hits to lead Cards past Milwaukee

Posted on May 31, 2016May 31, 2016

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight hits in two days have made Matt Carpenter a happy man.

Carpenter tied his season high with four hits for the second straight game, scored four times and drove in two runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers 10-3 on Tuesday night.

“When you feel good, you feel good,” Carpenter said after his 13th multihit game this season. “Hits come in bunches. I’ve had stretches during this year where I felt really good, was hitting balls right at people. Baseball has a funny way of working itself out.”

Carpenter is 8 for 10 with seven runs, three doubles and two triples during this three-game series which ends Wednesday.

“It’s pretty clear he’s locked-in,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s tough to pitch to when he’s like that.”

Jedd Gyorko hit a three-run homer, and Mike Leake (4-4) allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four over six innings for his fourth win in the last five starts. His only mistakes were Jonathan Lucroy’s home run leading off the second and Ryan Braun’s RBI double in the sixth.

Carpenter and Matt Holliday — 2 for 4 with two RBI — continued their torrid hitting against the Brewers, this time against Wily Peralta (3-6).

In the Cardinals’ 6-0 win on Monday, Carpenter had four hits and three runs and Holliday added his second consecutive three-hit game, including his second home run of the nine-game road trip.

Tuesday night, Carpenter doubled, singled and tripled twice. Holliday singled twice, driving in Carpenter both times. Carpenter also scored when Holliday hit into a double play in the seventh. Carpenter scored again when Aledmys Diaz grounded out to third during a five-run eighth.

Carpenter has been rolling since his wife, Mackenzie, gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Kinley Rae, last Wednesday. He says he’s been more relaxed since then.

“When we got the good news, it’s definitely one less thing to think about,” he said. “A kid doesn’t guarantee you’ll go out and get four hits, but it’s certainly one less thing to think about.”

Seung Hwan Oh pitched a scoreless seventh, Kevin Siegrist surrendered Lucroy’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth and Jonathan Broxton finished with a perfect ninth.

Peralta needed 29 pitches to get through the first, but then held the Cardinals in check until the fifth. He allowed three runs on nine hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out two while dropping to 0-7 over his past eight starts against the Cardinals. He lost 7-0 in his first start this season against the Cardinals on April 14 at Busch Stadium.

CARDINALS DROP A DIME

St. Louis had 10 or more runs in a game for the 10th time this season and improved to 10-0 when doing so.

BREWERS MOVES

The Brewers claimed RHP Neil Ramirez (0-0, 4.70 ERA) off waivers from the Chicago Cubs and designated INF Colin Walsh for assignment. Manager Craig Counsell said Ramirez would join the club on Wednesday. Walsh, a Rule 5 player, appeared in 38 games, batting .085 in 63 plate appearances.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Stephen Piscotty was back in the starting lineup after missing Monday’s game with a stomach ailment.

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun was back in the starting lineup after missing consecutive games with a sore neck. The team’s leading hitter also has been bothered by soreness in his lower back and right wrist this season. He is hitting .351 with nine home runs and 30 RBI and hadn’t played since Saturday in Cincinnati, when he pinch-hit and hit into a double play. … RHP Matt Garza (Class A Wisconsin), RHP Corey Knebel (Class A Brevard County) and OF Domingo Santana (Double-A Biloxi) began rehab assignments Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Jaime Garcia makes his second start of the season against the Brewers. He pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout in a 6-1 win at Busch Stadium on April 30. He is 10-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 18 career games, including 17 starts, against Milwaukee.

Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (2-3, 5.40 ERA) makes his ninth start of the season and first career against the Cardinals. Opponents are batting .294 with seven home runs against him since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on April 17.

— Associated Press —

Kansas announces 2016-2017 non-conference men’s basketball schedule

Posted on May 31, 2016May 31, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball annually plays one of the toughest schedules in the nation and the 2016-17 slate is no exception as 10 of KU’s 12 non-conference opponents advanced to postseason play in 2015-16.

Four of KU’s 2016-17 non-league foes – Indiana, Duke, Kentucky and UNC Asheville – competed in the 2016 NCAA Championship. CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponents UAB, Georgia and George Washington, along with Davidson and Long Beach State, participated in the NIT, and Siena in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). George Washington won the 2016 NIT. Including the always-rugged Big 12 schedule, Kansas will have 22 games against teams which played in the postseason in 2015-16.

For the last seven seasons Kansas has ranked no lower than fifth nationally in the final Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), which is one of the tools the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee uses in selecting the NCAA Championship field. Three of those times – 2010, 2011 and 2016 – the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1. KU’s strength of schedule has ranked in the top 10 in eight of head coach Bill Self’s 13 seasons, including fifth in 2015-16. In that span, KU has had the nation’s toughest schedule three times: 2004-05, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

“With this schedule, once again we will rank at the top of the toughest schedules in the nation,” Self said. “We’ll get our share of frequent flyer miles right off the bat playing Indiana in Honolulu and Duke in New York City. We’re playing 10 of our 12 non-league games against teams which went to the postseason last year, including four NCAA teams. This schedule, like in the past, will help us prepare for the always tough Big 12 season.”

Following two home exhibition games against Washburn (Nov. 1) and Emporia State (Nov. 7), Kansas will hit the road, air actually, for a pair of games about as far apart as possible. The Jayhawks will compete for the first time in the Armed Forces Classic against Indiana on Nov. 11 in Honolulu; they’ll then fly to New York City to play Duke in historic Madison Square Garden in the sixth Champions Classic Nov. 15.

Kansas returns to the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse to host Siena in one of two CBE Hall of Fame Host Games on Nov. 18. The second follows the Kansas City event when the Jayhawks host UNC Asheville Nov. 25. Sandwiched in between is the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at Sprint Center, where KU will play Nov. 21-22 against either UAB, Georgia or George Washington. This is the third time Kansas will compete in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic; the Jayhawks won the 2012 event and finished runner-up in 2008.

The Nov. 25 UNC Asheville game begins a six-game homestand. KU will play Long Beach State on Nov. 29, then former KU great Jerod Haase will bring Stanford to Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 3. Haase will be in his first season as head coach at Stanford after a successful run at UAB.

On Dec. 6, UMKC will make its first trip to Allen Fieldhouse since the 2010-11 season, then former conference foe Nebraska will return to Lawrence on Dec. 6. This will be the 242nd game between Kansas and Nebraska, and the first meeting since Feb. 5, 2011.

Kansas will complete its homestand when it hosts Davidson in the Jayhawk Shootout at Sprint Center on Dec. 17. The shootout is part of the KU home ticket package.

KU will close out the calendar year non-conference slate when it travels to UNLV on Dec. 22. Kansas is making its first trip to Las Vegas since 2010 when it won the Las Vegas Invitational. Kansas will close out its non-conference portion of the season at Kentucky Jan. 28 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The two teams have played seven times in the Self era with KU holding a 4-3 series edge in those contests.

Kansas returns three starters and eight letterwinners from a 33-5 team that won the school’s 12th-straight, 16th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 59th overall conference regular-season title with a 15-3 league record. The 2015-16 Jayhawks won the 2015 Maui Invitational and the 2016 Big 12 Championship, and entered the 2016 NCAA Championship as a No. 1 seed, advancing to the Elite Eight. Seniors Frank Mason III and Landen Lucas, along with junior Devonte’ Graham, are KU’s returning starters with Mason and Graham in the backcourt and Lucas in the frontcourt. Junior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr. return after also playing significant minutes in 2015-16. Additionally, KU welcomes one of the top-ranked recruiting classes that consists of guard Josh Jackson, center Udoka Azubuike and forward Mitch Lightfoot. Jackson was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2016.

The Big 12 league schedule will be released in August. Season ticket sales for KU’s 18 home games, the 17 in Allen Fieldhouse and the Dec. 17 game against Davidson in Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, are on sale at KUAthletics.com. To order season tickets, fans must be active members of the Williams Education Fund, which can be done by making a minimum gift pledge of $100. For current men’s basketball season ticket holders, applications were mailed in late May. Men’s basketball season tickets are limited and allocated according to Williams Education Fund policy and subject to availability. For more information, one can contact the Williams Education Fund at WilliamsFund.com or 785-864-3946.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

Washburn, exhibition (Nov. 1, Lawrence)

Under 37-year head coach Bob Chipman, Washburn is coming off a 13-15 season in 2015-16, which included an 11-11 MIAA (NCAA Division II) record where the Ichabods tied for fifth. This 40-game series dates back to 1906 and Kansas leads 37-3, including 6-0 in exhibition battles. KU has won 11 consecutive against the Ichabods with the last Washburn victory in 1944.

Emporia State, exhibition (Nov. 7, Lawrence)

Emporia State went 13-16 overall and 10-12 in the MIAA (NCAA Division II) and placed 10th in 2015-16. The Hornets are coached by former Colorado standout Shaun Vandiver who will enter his sixth season at ESU in 2016-17. This 23-game series dates back to 1904 and Kansas leads 20-3, including 7-0 in exhibition contests. Kansas has won 10 straight against Emporia State with the last ESU win being in 1947.

Indiana, Armed Forces Classic (Nov. 11, Honolulu)

Under eighth-year head coach Tom Crean, the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Indiana went 29-8 last season, won the Big Ten regular-season title with a 15-3 league record and finished ranked 14th by Associated Press. The Hoosiers lead the overall series with Kansas 7-6 but the Jayhawks have won six of the last seven meetings. KU and IU last met in 1995 in Kansas City with the Jayhawks claiming a 91-83 victory on Dec. 16. This series dates back to 1940 with the first two meetings, both IU wins, in the NCAA title game in 1940 and 1953.

Duke, Champions Classic (Nov. 15, New York)

Preseason No. 1 by many for 2016-17, Duke went 25-11 last year and placed tied for fifth in the ACC with an 11-7 record. Under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA Championship and finished ranked No. 19. Duke leads the series with Kansas 7-3 but the Jayhawks have won two of the last three meetings, including a 94-83 win in the 2013 Champions Classic in Chicago. This series dates back to 1985.

Siena, CBE Hall of Fame Classic Host Game (Nov. 18, Lawrence)

Under head coach Jimmy Patsos, who will enter his fourth season at Siena, the Saints went 21-13 in 2015-16 overall and lost in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) to Morehead State (84-80). Siena went 13-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) last season, placing third. Kansas won the only meeting with Siena, 91-84, on Jan. 6, 2009, in Allen Fieldhouse.

UAB, potential CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponent (Nov. 21 or 22, Kansas City)

UAB welcomes first-year head coach Rob Ehsan who replaced former KU guard Jerod Haase who went to Stanford. The Blazers were 26-7 last season and won the Conference USA regular-season title with a 16-2 record. UAB fell to BYU, 97-79, in the first round of the 2016 NIT. Kansas leads the series with UAB 2-1. UAB won the first meeting, 50-46, on Nov. 25, 1984, in the title game of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage. Kansas won the next two: 109-83 on Nov. 15, 1989 in the Preseason NIT and 100-74 on March 26, 2004 in the NCAA Championship in St. Louis.

Georgia, potential CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponent (Nov. 21 or 22, Kansas City)

Georgia head coach Mark Fox enters his eighth season at UGA. The Bulldogs went 20-14 last season and tied for sixth in the SEC with a 10-8 record. Georgia went 1-1 in the NIT defeating Belmont, 93-84, before falling at St. Mary’s, 77-65. Kansas has won all three meetings with Georgia in a series which dates back to 1992 with a 76-65 win in Allen Fieldhouse. The next two battles were neutral-site contests with KU winning 89-79 on Dec. 18, 1993, in Atlanta and 88-78 on Nov. 25, 1999, in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.

George Washington, potential CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponent (Nov. 21 or 22, Kansas City)

George Washington won the 2016 NIT defeating Valparaiso, 76-60, in the title game at Madison Square Garden. GW posted a 28-10 record in 2015-16 and finished fifth in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an 11-7 mark. Colonials head coach Mike Lonergan completed his fifth season at GW in 2015-16. Kansas has won all three meetings with George Washington. The Jayhawks defeated the Colonials, 76-70, in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 22, 1984, and 94-71 the following year, Dec. 23, 1985, in Allen Fieldhouse. KU also defeated GW, 85-56, on Dec. 11, 1996, in Allen Fieldhouse.

UNC Asheville, CBE Hall of Fame Classic Host Game (Nov. 25, Lawrence)

UNC Asheville and Kansas have something in common in they both lost to eventual NCAA Champion Villanova in the 2016 NCAA Championship. The Bulldogs were 22-12 overall last season and tied for third in the Big South Conference with a 12-6 league record. UNC Ashville won the Big South Championship and entered its fourth-ever NCAA Championship a No. 15 seed. UNC Asheville fell to the second-seeded Wildcats, 86-56, in the two teams’ first game of the tourney in Brooklyn. Head coach Nick McDevitt enters his fourth season guiding the Bulldogs. Kansas is 3-0 against UNC Ashville in a series which dates back to 1994. All three meetings have been in Allen Fieldhouse with the Jayhawks winning 90-44 on Jan. 5, 1994, 105-73 on Dec. 15, 1996, and 102-50 on Jan. 2, 2003.

Long Beach State (Nov. 29, Lawrence)

Long Beach State went 20-15 last season and placed third in the Big West Conference with a 12-4 league record. Having lost in the Big West title game, LBSU competed in the 2016 NIT losing to Washington, 107-102, in the event’s opening round. The 49ers are coached by Dan Monson who enters his 10th season at LBSU. Kansas leads the four-game series with Long Beach State, 3-1. KU won the first two meetings, 69-52 on Dec. 1, 1970, in Allen Fieldhouse and 66-60 on Dec. 7, 1991, in Long Beach, California. The 49ers defeated KU, 64-49, on Jan. 25, 1993, in Allen Fieldhouse and Kansas won the last meeting, 88-80, on Dec. 6, 2011, also in Allen Fieldhouse.

Stanford (Dec. 3, Lawrence)

Stanford first-year head coach Jerod Haase will face his alma mater in Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 3. Haase’ 1,264 points rank 32nd on the KU all-time scoring list and he also ranks on the Kansas career lists in 3-point field goals made (11th at 156), 3-pointers attempted (seventh at 461), assists (18th at 343) and steals (11th at 174). Last year the Cardinal went 15-15 overall and finished ninth in the Pac-12 with an 8-10 record. Kansas leads the series with Stanford, 8-3, but the Cardinal have won the last two meetings: 60-57 on March 23, 2014, in the NCAA Championship in St. Louis and 64-58 on Dec. 6, 2003, in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim, California. This series dates back to 1932 and KU is 4-0 versus Stanford in games played in Lawrence.

UMKC (Dec. 6, Lawrence)

UMKC fourth-year head coach Kareem Richardson hopes to improve the Kangaroos from their 12-19 record in 2015-16. The Roos were 4-10 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) which tied for sixth in the league race. Kansas has won all six games against UMKC in a series which dates back to 1992. The Jayhawks are 4-0 versus the Kangaroos in Allen Fieldhouse with the last meeting being a KU 99-52 victory on Jan. 5, 2011, in Lawrence.

Nebraska (Dec. 10, Lawrence)

These two former conference foes are meeting for the first time since Nebraska left the Big 12 following the 2010-11 season. Husker head coach Tim Miles enters his fifth season and the Huskers are coming off a 16-18 season where they finished 11th in the Big Ten Conference with a 6-12 record. Former Kansas guard Andrew White III will be making a return visit to Allen Fieldhouse. White was a two-year letterwinner for KU in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Kansas leads the overall series with Nebraska, 170-71, and has won the last 17 meetings, from March 5, 1999, to Feb. 5, 2011, and 26 of the last 27 matchups dating back to the 1998-99 season. KU is 88-23 versus NU in games played in Lawrence, including 51-7 in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have won the last 12 home meetings with the Huskers.

Davidson, Jayhawk Shootout (Dec. 17, Kansas City)

Under 27-year head coach Bob McKillop, Davidson is coming off a 20-13 season where it placed sixth in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 10-8 record. The Wildcats advanced to the NIT losing at Florida State, 84-74, in the event’s opening round. This two-game series (1-1) has had drama. Kansas defeated Cinderella Davidson, 59-57, in the NCAA Championship Elite Eight in Detroit, Michigan, on March 30, 2008. The Jayhawks would go on to win the 2008 NCAA National Championship in San Antonio. Davidson returned the favor with an 80-74 win on Dec. 19, 2011, in the Kansas City Shootout at Sprint Center. Later that season, KU would advance to the 2012 NCAA Championship game in New Orleans.

UNLV (Dec. 22, Las Vegas)

Marvin Menzies begins his first season at UNLV heading to Las Vegas after nine seasons at New Mexico State. Menzies inherits a team that finished 18-15 overall and tied for sixth in the Mountain West Conference with an 8-10 league record. Kansas is 5-0 against UNLV and this will be the first meeting between the two schools in Las Vegas. The series dates back to 1989 when KU defeated UNLV, 91-77, in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT in New York City. Kansas went on to win the event defeating St. John’s two days later. The next meeting was also part of a KU Preseason NIT title on Nov. 21, 1997, in Allen Fieldhouse, a KU 92-68 victory. Kansas defeated UNLV, 75-56, on March 22, 2008, in Omaha, Nebraska, en route to the 2008 NCAA National Championship. The last meeting was a Kansas 76-61 win in Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 4, 2015.

Kentucky, SEC/Big 12 Challenge (Jan. 28, Lexington, Kentucky)

Under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari, Kentucky is coming off a 27-9 season where it tied Texas A&M for the SEC title with a 13-5 record. The Wildcats advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship falling to Indiana, 73-67. The upcoming SEC/Big 12 Challenge will mark the eighth meeting between the two schools in the Kansas head coach Bill Self era at KU. The Jayhawks hold a 4-3 advantage in that span and Kentucky leads the overall series with Kansas, 22-7. Last season, with ESPN College Gameday originating from Lawrence, No. 4 Kansas defeated No. 20 Kentucky, 90-84 in overtime, at Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 30 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Kansas Men’s Basketball 2016-17 Non-Conference Schedule

Nov. 1 – Washburn (exhibition)
Nov. 7 – Emporia State (exhibition)
Nov. 11 – vs. Indiana (Armed Forces Classic, Honolulu)
Nov. 15 – vs. Duke (Champions Classic, New York City)
Nov. 18 – Siena (CBE Hall of Fame Classic Home Game)
Nov. 21 – UAB/Georgia/George Washington (CBE Hall of Fame Classic, Kansas City)
Nov. 22 – UAB/Georgia/George Washington (CBE Hall of Fame Classic, Kansas City)
Nov. 25 – UNC Asheville (CBE Hall of Fame Classic Home Game)
Nov. 29 – Long Beach State
Dec. 3 – Stanford
Dec. 6 – UMKC
Dec. 10 – Nebraska
Dec. 17 – Davidson (Jayhawk Shootout, Kansas City)
Dec. 22 – at UNLV
Jan. 28 – at Kentucky

— KU Athletics —

Royals score four in the 8th inning to top Tampa Bay

Posted on May 31, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Late-inning rallies are becoming the trademark for the Kansas City Royals.

Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer after Lorenzo Cain drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth inning and the Royals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Monday night.

The Royals have won four straight, matching their season best streak, and have scored 19 runs after the sixth innings in those victories.

“Good teams at the end of the game find ways to do it,” Hosmer said. “We’ve been really doing it a lot of different ways, finding a way each and every night.”

Cain’s single scored Alcides Escobar with the first run of the inning before Hosmer took a pitch from Erasmo Ramirez (6-3) deep to right-center for his 10th home run. Hosmer has 10 RBI in the first four games of this homestand.

“Cain took a good protective swing,” Ramirez said. “He got good contact there through the right side. I made a high pitch to a great hitter like Hosmer, so he just made me pay about it. So, now I can do nothing about it.”

Kelvin Herrera (1-1) blew the save, allowing a run in the eighth, but he picked up the victory. Steve Pearce scored from second on an infield single by Steven Souza Jr. to tie it at 2.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy walked a season-high five, including the bases loaded in the fifth, but limited the Rays to three singles and one unearned run over six innings. He has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 10 starts, lowering his ERA to 3.03.

Kennedy retired Logan Morrison on a pop up to shortstop Escobar to end the fifth. Kennedy also escaped a bases loaded jam in a 29-pitch first inning when he walked two. He struck out Souza looking to end the inning.

Rays right-hander Matt Andriese allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings.

Kendrys Morales walked with one out in the Royals’ second. Paulo Orlando, who had two hits and is batting a major league-leading .441 in May, doubled, moving Morales to third, where he scored on Cheslor Cuthbert’s groundout.

The Rays tied it with an unearned run in the fourth. Morrison led off with a single, stole second, took third on catcher Drew Butera’s throwing error and scored on Corey Dickerson’s groundout to second baseman Whit Merrifield.

Jarrod Dyson produced a run with his feet in fifth. Dyson singled to center and when Desmond Jennings had difficulties picking up the ball, Dyson motored to second, just beating the throw. Dyson stole third and when catcher Hank Conger’s throw landed in left field he trotted home.

“They probably felt I wasn’t going,” Dyson said. “A 3-1 count is a fastball count. I picked a good spot to go. Catcher come up, tried to fire it, rushed his throw and the ball ended up in the outfield. I get up and score easily.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Pearce left after seven innings with a right elbow irritation. “I’ve been dealing with it for a while,” Pearce said. “It just flared up a little bit.” … RHP Ryan Webb was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Friday, with a right pectoral strain. … RHP Brad Boxberger, who had surgery March 17 to repair a torn adductor brevis muscle, was reinstated from the DL.

Royals: C Salvador Perez missed his second straight game with a bruised quad.

SHORTSTOP BENCHED

Rays SS Brad Miller, who has committed four errors in his past nine games including a throwing miscue in the sixth inning Sunday to end RHP Jake Odorizzi’s perfect game bid against the Yankees, did not start. He came in in the eighth inning and promptly committed another error, botching a grounder by Orlando.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Drew Smyly, who starts Tuesday, was a college teammate of Royals OF Brett Eibner at Arkansas.

Royals: RHP Dillon Gee has never faced the Rays, leaving just the Red Sox, Indians and Mets as teams he has never pitched against.

— Associated Press —