KRIS BAUMANN

Don’t know if you caught my Jayhawk Conference previews, but in case you didn’t … here’s my men’s story on Garden City Community College coach Kris Baumann, and here’s my women’s story on Hutch shooting guard Heather Robben.

Impressions? Both came off well. Of course, if you’re ending up as our season preview story it usually means you’ve had some type of success. And with both subjects, they’re coming off Region VI titles … you get the point. And as for Baumann’s knickname, Bucket? He’s still not saying how he got it. Just the generic “my teammates and coaches gave it to me” line. Aside from that, I was happy with the story.

Friends redshirt freshman center Zak Vanlooy — a 7-footer from Michigan — is the subject of Tuesday’s KCAC men’s preview and UMKC transfer Jessica Halsig, who should be the man for Friends this year — is the women’s subject. Newman on Thursday.

Out.

PS — IF YOU’RE NOT WATCHING, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD.

Guess who went to Jayhawk media day Monday morning? That’s right, Steve Eck!

Just kidding, although Coach Eck was really there, and had some Sunflower Slate-related questions, as always, and our lowly little blog even got a shout out from Ron Burgundy, er, Craig Fletchall … who thinks he’s kind of a big deal now that he’s also the Barton AD.

Enough with the pleasantries. I know you want scoop.

Here’s what I got:

JAWANZA POLAND

1. Jawanza Poland and Robert Goff ain’t playing this year

There you go. Five dudes (that I know of) transferred from Cowley to Hutch when Eck left — Cortez Barnes, Adonis Gantt, Garrius Holloman, Jawanza Poland and Robert Goff — only three get to play for the Blue Dragons this year. Cowley gave releases to the first three but not the last two. Here’s how I see it: The KJCCC rules on transfers are so jacked up that in this case, the people who suffer the most are the kids. Which leaves everybody with a bad taste in their mouth. I mean, come on … they judge these things on a case-by-case basis? Seriously? How is there not just a blanket rule? You transfer from one school to another within the Jayhawk and sorry bro, but you gotta sit a year unless their are some extremely extenuating circumstances. Don’t get me wrong, the first three players are nice, but the last two … they play and I say the Blue Dragons cruise to Region VI and maybe further. It’s like that. That being said, I don’t blame Cowley for not letting them play. Their decision was made within the rules, however …

2. There’s a lot of dissension about the rules

Mainly when it comes to the Jayhawk Shootout, video exchange and what I was just talking about. The media types had a layover in the conference room while we waited for the men’s coaches meeting to break up, so for some reason they went ahead and started the women’s coaches meeting in their while we were still in there. What can I say … it got pretty snippy. I don’t want to get into all the details out of respect to the parties involved, but there seems to be some conflicting ideas on how to exchange video/access to video/whatever. One coach even got up and explained the “unwritten rules” of tape exchange. Hey, I know there’s certain stuff you just don’t do, even though it’s not in the rulebook … but in this case I’d have to say all’s fair in Love and War … and video exchange. It got a little heated, which I liked. Wanna know who doesn’t like each other at these things? It’s easy, just look around the room and follow the laser beams shooting from one set of eyes to another.

DR. EVIL

3. The guy from Great Bend

Not really sure how to do this, so here it goes. In order, here’s what Barton men’s coach Craig Fletchall managed to talk about during his turn at the podium: Title 9/having H1N1/losing nine pounds/chest hair/Hobrecht (not always the easiest guy to talk to)/Obama/Something I just Googled and can’t put on a public forum/minor beefs with Coach Eck/e-mails from ex-girlfriends/Tom Saia/videos he lent to another coach/my fantasy football team/setting up betting pools on the Dodge City-Highland football game this weekend.

HEATHER ROBBEN

4. John Ontjes/Heather Robben

John Ontjes is locked in. The Hutchinson women’s coach earned some big-time Sunflower Slate love with his performance at media day — crisp and concise on the podium, sharp in the interview segment and there’s this — sophomore Brittney Chamberlin is out for the year with a torn ACL. She’s … a scrapper. If you’ve never seen her play you’re missing out ‘cuz she’s tough as nails and was a big reason why Andover Central went undefeated and won a state title two years ago and the Blue Dragons won Region VI last year. The way JO talked about her … you could tell dude really cares about his players. I don’t want to say he was beside himself upset, but if you’re wondering where the team gets its heart from, just look at the sideline. As long as he’s there, they’ll contend. Biggest shocker of the day? Learning Maize product and All-American Heather Robben got offered by TCU and decided to stay at Hutch this year.

Her and Ariella McGee both back? Game over in the west, maybe in the region.

KRIS BAUMANN

5. There’s always Bucket

Kris Baumann won a men’s Region VI title last year at Garden City, the first for the Broncbusters in 53 years. Straight up, he told me he thought he could do it but I didn’t believe him. Don’t know what to else to tell you … his story is incredible and I get to tell it, finally, this Sunday. I think it’s going to hit home not just with hoops fans, but everybody … because you know me, I’m always up for a good yarn.

So that’s Five to stay alive. I got plenty more but I don’t want to give away all my secrets. I’ll do a follow up with my top 10 JuCo players — men and women — sometime Sunday.

-I’m out

TA

DAVID KING

Southwestern All-American David King, a 6-foot-11 center, looks like he’ll be out for the season after hurting his knee last week. I talked to first-year Southwestern coach Matt O’Brien this morning and he confirmed what I’d been hearing since the weekend.

“We haven’t had an MRI yet, but both of our training staff that looked at the knee thought he had either a torn ACL or a partially torn ACL,” O’Brien said. “It looks likely he’s done for the season.”

It’s the second year in a row the Moundbuilders have lost their leading scorer before they even got into KCAC play. Last season, another first-team all-KCAC pick, Alwyn Jordan, tore his knee up.

“We’re going to have to make due in the post by committee,” O’Brien said. Stating the obvious: Losing King, a Maize product, could be disastrous for Southwestern. Don’t forget they also lost their top returning guard, Avery Richardson, who transferred to Friends.

HE'S A LEFTY

So Friends men’s basketball coach Dale Faber walks up to the podium to speak at the KCAC’s media day on Wednesday at Friends and … well, you probably can guess how it went. Here’s the first words out of his mouth.

FABER: I’d like to go ahead and accept the 2009-2010 KCAC coach of the year award. It worked for Obama, so I figured it’d work for me.

The whole thing seemed like it it went by very quickly, mainly because the coaches were on top of things — TRANSLATION — nobody, comment-wise, went off the reservation, which can make these things seem like they last an eternity. Sunflower Slate even got a shout-out from new Southwestern men’s coach Matt O’Brien, who it turns out is a big Entourage fan like myself.

Here’s how it went down, giving you the team, last year’s record and finish and where they’re predicted to finish this year, by the coaches, media and yours truly:

MEN

ZAK VANLOOY

FRIENDS (2008-2009: 13-17, 8-10 T-6th/Coaches poll: 2nd, Media poll: 2nd, Adame poll: 1st) – Before the season started last year, everybody knew Friends was going to be bad. Point blank. Some recruits had fell through because of eligibility issues, yada, yada, yada, no size, not a lot of skill … and they still almost pulled a .500 in league play, which I think is a testament to Faber. This year they’re loaded. 7-footer Zak Vanlooy redshirted last year because of academics, Brett Steven transferred in from WSU, Avery Richardson from Southwestern and they’ve got Mike Hyde whenever he’s done scoring touchdowns for the football team. Oh, and just so you know, Faber is “having a hard time getting this whole MyFace and SpaceBook thing figured out.”

TIM SWARTZENDRUBER

MCPHERSON (08-09: 14-14, 8-10 T-6th/Coaches poll: 5th, Media poll: 5th, Adame poll: 7th) – A true wild card, and I may have to end up eating my words on this pick. Tim Swartzendruber as a coach in the KCAC is a scary thing, because he knows talent and you wonder if in a couple of years, because of him, they might be in the mix every time this thing comes around. I’m just thinking Year 2 is a little too soon in a league where you need program guys to develop over time, then win.

OTTAWA (08-09: 19-14, 10-8 5th/Coaches poll: 8th, Media poll: 7th, Adame poll: 6th) – The Braves, most likely, are going to struggle this year. Andy Carrier, who is in his 20th year as their head coach, acknowledged as much in his speech. And he won me over. Said he’s not going to try and do it with juco guys and transfers just so they have a shot at winning right away. Said he tried it before and it didn’t work. I totally agree. It’s a formula for disaster at this level. Carrier might be the most well-respected coach in the KCAC.

DAVID KING

SOUTHWESTERN (08-09: 15-14, 8-10 T-6th/Coaches poll: 6th, Media poll: 1st, Adame poll: 2nd) – Let me just qualify my pick by saying IF DAVID KING GETS RIGHT. The dominant big man in the whole league (and a Maize product) took the summer off to rehab some injuries and then sprained his ankle recently. He put on some weight, which he’ll need to work off, so I’m guessing we won’t see the true DK until mid-season. Losing Avery Richardson hurts, but it’ll hurt even more to have to play against him.

STERLING (08-09: 21-10, 14-4 1st/Coaches poll: 3rd, Media poll: 2nd, Adame poll: 3rd) – Sterling coach Dean Jaderston made the best point out of any of the coaches regarding the league race: 14 or 15 wins and you’re probably the champ. So true. Sterling’s got the best proven backcourt in the league with Zack Goodrich and Chad Friess … as a sports writer you always wonder what you’d pay money to see. I’d pay to see Goodrich — a first-team pick a year ago — and Friess go against Friends this year. That will be a BATTLE. Losing big man Jonathan Woods is going to have to be a replacement-by-committee type deal, though.

KANSAS WESLEYAN (08-09: 19-12, 13-5 T-2nd/Coaches poll: 4th, Media poll: 6th, Adame poll: 8th) — The ‘Yotes lost a lot of talent, not only because their eligibility was up (Trey Sims, Eric Hammond), but also a couple because of whatever else ails you.

TABOR (16-12, 11-7 4th/Coaches poll: 9th, Media poll: 8th, Adame poll: 5th) — I like the Bluejays, and I like coach Micah Ratzlaff, who reminds me a lot of Garden City C.C. coach Kris Baumann, one of Sunflower Slate’s all-time faves. And I like freshman Ryan Chippeaux, a 6-foot-7 forward from Goddard. You read it here first: Chippeaux can be one of the best players in the league in a couple of years. No doubt about it.

BETHANY (2008-2009: 9-21, 4-14 9th/Coaches poll: 7th, Media poll: 8th, Adame poll: 9th) – So the Swedes have senior CJ Littlejohn, a two-time first-team all-KCAC guy the last two years. He’s good, with 16.7 points per game, yeah, but 2 assists? And you’re a 6-1 guard? Come on, bro. Coach Clair Oleen gave one of the strangest speeches I’ve ever heard, period.

BETHEL (08-09: 3-25, 1-17/Coaches poll: 10th, Media poll: 10th, Adame poll: 10th) – Here’s the thing about going 1-17 in KCAC play: if you go 2-16 this year, good job! They’ve got some eligibility issues, to say the least. Could be another rough year.

SAINT MARY (19-11, 13-5 2nd/Coaches poll: 1st, Media poll: 3rd, Adame poll: 4th) – Makes you wonder what the coaches know that we don’t. They lost POY Carvelle Taylor, right? Okay, ’nuff said.

WOMEN

RHYS PIHL

BETHANY ( 2008-2009: 13-17 overall, 7-11 KCAC T-6th/Coaches poll: 8th, Media poll: 8th, Adame: 6th) – Sophomore Rhys Pihl didn’t take long to adjust to the KCAC last year, and by not long I mean she finished the year with averages of 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The first-team all-KCAC pick could be one of the 5 best players in the league (if she’s not already), but she’s gonna need some help. Cool note on Bethany coach Jim Campion — he was an assistant football coach at Bethany in 1990 under Dr. Ted Kessinger.

HANNAH BLACKBURN

BETHEL (08-09: 13-16, 6-12 8th/Coaches poll: 4th, Media poll: 6th, Adame poll: 5th) — I think the Threshers could surprise people if depth and injuries don’t become an issue. First-team all-leaguer Hannah Blackburn brings back her 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game and Amanda Hiebert averaged 13 ppg last year. If junior Angela Wood finally lives up to her potential (she hasn’t so far, sorry it’s true) and Dodge City C.C. transfer Samantha Askew can hold her own in the post, watch out.

JESSICA HALSIG

FRIENDS (08-09: 18-12, 10-8, T-4th/Coaches poll: 3rd, Media poll: 5th, Adame poll: 3rd) – For somebody who I thought was on the hot seat last year, Friends coach Gayla Soyez put together a really nice season. She’s recruited well the last couple of years, and has a star shooting guard back who likes to play defense in Tavi Polley-Davis (12.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.0 spg) although … they’re bringing in a one-year left, DI transfer in forward Jessica Halsig. I say this because they tried this two years ago with Liz Barton, who transferred in from Colorado State. And that didn’t work. Barton had a nice year but I think it screwed up the team’s chemistry. We’ll see how this works, but I think the Falcons will be pretty good regardless.

KANSAS WESLEYAN (08-09: 27-6, 16-2 T-1st/Coaches poll: 5th, Media poll: 3rd, Adame poll: 4th) – Last year was the greatest season in KWU history, with a nobody-saw-it-coming run to the KCAC title and the national tournament. It won’t happen again this year. The ‘Yotes just lost too much firepower.

MCPHERSON (08-09: 3-21, 1-17 10th/Coaches poll: 10th, Media poll: 10th, Adame poll: 10th) — Here’s the thing about going 1-17 in league play … if you go 2-16 the next year, then good job! Wait, didn’t I just say that?

OTTAWA (08-09: 9-20, 8-10 5th/ Coaches poll: 6th, Media poll: 4th, Adame poll: 7th) — This is one me and the media disagreed upon. I trust myself. How tough is Valley Center product Kylie Covey? She’s coming back off her third ACL tear. Man.

TYLAR HARTFIELD

SOUTHWESTERN (08-09: 18-10, 13-5, 3rd/Coaches poll: 2nd, Media poll: 2nd, Adame poll: 2nd) – This is hard for me to say because I always adhere to the philosophy of nobody’s bigger than the team, but losing Tylar Hartfield meant the difference between contending for a KCAC title and NAIA tourney berth for The Jinx last year. Hartfield was one of the best freshman in the league two years ago and a dominant post player, but tore her ACL before last season. She’s back and it makes all the difference. Losing Kara Beal hurts, but they’ve got plenty of talent coming in. Coach Dave Denly is the AD now, and said he didn’t get too much of a preseason because of it. Don’t think I would have admitted that, even if it is true.

MEGAN PATRICK

STERLING (08-09: 27-6, 16-2 T-1st/Coaches poll: 1st, Media poll: 1st, Adame poll: 1st) – The thing that separates the Warriors every year is depth, and this year is no different. Coach Lonnie Kruse, in his 29th year, said this is “what we could classify as a rebuilding year.” Yeah? Really? Here’s what that means — three underclassmen all-KCAC honorable mention picks coming back in sophomore 6-footers Megan Patrick and Cathryn Wiebe, along with 5-11 Brittany Gasper. Patrick is a star in the making, so watch out.

TABOR (08-09: 10-20, 7-11 T-6th/Coaches poll: 7th, Media poll: 7th, Adame poll: 8th) — I saw 6-1 sophomore forward Gina Hullet play in the state tournament a couple of years ago and she’s a pretty nice player, however, she’s playing volleyball right now… get the picture?

Next week, The Jayhawk. And that means Steve Eck.

-TA

CHIP STEVEN

Newman’s men’s basketball team just got a huge boost in signing Barton County guard Chip Steven — a 6-foot-2 Derby product who averaged 11.3 points last season to go with 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 88 percent from the line. Don’t kid yourself — you can’t be a punk and average double digits in the Jayhawk. Not a chance. And he did it twice. He was also a second-team all-Jayhawk West pick last season. GREAT pickup for the Jets and coach Mark Potter, who is after a Heartland Conference title.

Steven leads an eight-person class, and you can read about the rest of the new Jets here.

I’m Out.

-TA

DOUG HALL

Southwestern men’s basketball coach Doug Hall — who looks a lot like Peyton Manning in that pic — is leaving the Moundbuilders after 8 seasons. He’s making a big jump to the Division I level, where he’ll be the director of men’s basketball operations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

So, what did Hall mean to The Jinx? Everything. His eight years were the winningest stretch in 103 years of hoops. He went 145-92 in that time, including a No. 5 national ranking in 2006 and an appearance in the NAIA national tournament. Hall became the head coach when he was just 29, so he’s got a lot of coaching ahead of him. I’m sure the Moundbuilders will miss him, and I’m sure the next coach will want to send him a thank-you note at some point, because he left a nice squad behind, including all-KCAC player David King, a 6-foot-11 center. That’s a nice luxury.

I’m out. -TA