LAWRENCE — The Kansas golf team could not go into the Big 12 Golf Championships with much greater momentum.
The Jayhawks are coming off their first team title since 2010 after claiming the Hawkeye Invitational earlier this month in Iowa City, Iowa.
That breakthrough, however, was nothing first-year coach Jamie Bermel championed as an immediate goal.
LAWRENCE — The concept for the Gridiron Club is dead.
Sheahon Zenger officially killed the proposed addition to the east side of Memorial Stadium shortly after taking over as Kansas athletic director.
Yet in a sense, Zenger facilitated his own, more sensible, stadium makeover with the development of Rock Chalk Park.
Nothing is official yet. The groundbreaking, however, was unofficially conducted this weekend at the 86th Kansas Relays.
LAWRENCE — The 2012-13 Kansas basketball team stood together in a ballroom full of flashing light bulbs and clapping hands.
It may be the last time they’re all in the same room.
As the applause began to lower in volume, Kansas coach Bill Self commanded this group for, what may also be, the last time.
“Everybody have a seat except our four seniors,” Self requested. “This may be the last time they have a chance to thank everybody.”
LAWRENCE — Before we all get too carried away, it’s worth noting that a year ago at Kansas’ spring game, some guy named Dayne Crist looked pretty sharp, too.
Despite numerous similarities, albeit with much more reasonable expectations, Jake Heaps showed he is not Dayne Crist — or as much as he could, anyway, in a meaningless game in April.
That’s not to say Heaps did anything to lessen the hopes that he’ll provide the Jayhawks with some much-needed stability, if not an actual playmaking threat, at quarterback.
LAWRENCE — His teammates wouldn’t dare bother him. Especially before the ninth inning.
KU closer Jordan Piché sat alone in the dugout before preparing himself for one more inning to finish off No. 19 Oklahoma State.
“I just told myself,” Piché said, “it stops here.”
Piché was successful, as the (18-12, 5-4) Jayhawks beat the (22-8, 4-4) Cowboys 3-2 on Sunday, to win the weekend series 2-1. It was KU’s first series win over a ranked team since the Jayhawks finished the series against No. 21 Baylor on April 3, 2011.
LAWRENCE — Carolyn Davis leaned forward and then back. Fellow senior Angel Goodrich sat beside her perched forward the entire time with her hands crossed together as platform for her chin to rest on.
The two were in the second of three rows of Kansas players waiting to see what their future held. Would they make the NCAA Tournament?
The first teams were announced at 6:04 p.m., and knees began to bounce and feet began to twitch left and right, as the Jayhawks grew increasingly anxious to see their name.
LAWRENCE — The 6th day of February was when fashionable overkill favoring prohibitive underdogs went viral.
Kansas triggered the sentiment. It lost at TCU.
What had been a mere whisper suddenly swelled into an uproar: This is the year a No. 16 seed beats a No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament!
Well, the time has come. The NCAA bracket was unveiled Sunday.
And, as fate would have it, Kansas was seeded on the 1-line.
“It’s going to happen, a 16 is going to beat a one. Eventually,’’ KU coach Bill Self said.
LAWRENCE — Lawrence city commissioners have approved agreements for a city-owned recreation center and tax abatements for a larger project that will include athletic facilities for The University of Kansas.
The commissioners Tuesday night approved a development agreement for a $25 million Rock Chalk recreation center. And they approved an ordinance to give a 100 percent property tax abatement for the next 10 years for the larger project, which includes privately owned athletic facilities for the university.
LAWRENCE — From an outsiders perspective, it would seem that a two-point performance from Angel Goodrich on senior night would be disappointing.
Most outsiders don’t quite understand the player that Goodrich really is.
“It’s fitting,” Bonnie Henrickson said.
Never one for stats outside of assists and turnovers, Goodrich was more than content with her 12 assists and three errant plays Tuesday night as the 17-12 (8-10 Big 12) Jayhawks beat TCU 74-67.
LAWRENCE — When Angel Goodrich made her game-tying free throw with 18 seconds left, it appeared Kansas had done it once again.
The Jayhawks already had two double-digit comeback victories in Big 12 play. They trailed Texas Tech by 16 points at the start of the second half.
However, that was before the Red Raiders galloped down the court and scored a layup for the 72-70 win on Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Angel Goodrich missed her last second heave which could have given KU the win.