Senior guard Sade Morris goes in through a pair of Michigan opponents for a layup. Morris scored 26 points, becoming the 21st player in the history of women's Jayhawk basketball to score 1000 career points.
“It’s been one of my dreams to go,” senior guard Sade Morris said.
After defeating Michigan State 77-66 Monday night, the 19th ranked Jayhawks head south this week for the Junkanoo Jam on Grand Bahama Island — a 12-team tournament that sets the stage for another matchup against No. 9 Xavier, Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
“We’ve got to be mature and understand that we’re going down there with a purpose,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
The last two times these teams met, home-court advantage was nothing but a myth. In the 2007-2008 season, Kansas marched into the Cintas Center in Cincinatti, Ohio and edged the Musketeers 62-60 with help from senior (then sophomore) guard Danielle McCray’s 24 points. In the 2006-2007 season at Allen Fieldhouse, senior (then freshman) guard LaChelda Jacobs led Kansas with 18 points but the team still fell to Xavier 72-63.
This time it’s a neutral setting for two highly ranked teams to prove their worth. The rankings are just numbers, but their meaning is not all forgotten.
“It’s kind of in the back our minds,” Jacobs said of Xavier’s lofty rank. “We’ve just got to keep the focus.”
Xavier coach Kevin McGuff boasts one of the finest front courts in the nation, led by junior forward Amber Harris and junior center Ta’Shia Phillips, a teammate of McCray’s on the USA National Team this summer and last year’s Atlantic 10 player of the year. The two bruisers post double-doubles regularly and should keep sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland and junior center Krysten Boogaard busy in the paint.
“We’ve got to be able to hold our own on the boards,” Henrickson said. “Krysten and Aishah are going to have to stay out of foul trouble.”
Yet Xavier’s backcourt is not to be overlooked simply because of the towers up front. Junior guard Special Jennings was a preseason Atlantic 10 third team selection and freshman guard Katie Rutan was just named Atlantic 10 rookie of the week after schooling Arizona State for 13 points and shooting 3-of-4 from three point range.
“Both teams will be trying to run,” Henrickson said of the game plan.
No. 9 Xavier is currently sitting at its highest ranking in the school’s history after taking the Atlantic 10 title (25-7, 13-1), leading the nation in field goal percentage and placing third in rebounding margin last year. This may be the toughest test for Kansas so far this season, and should serve as an ideal barometer as to how ready this team will be when Big 12 competition rolls around.
“If we are fortunate enough to beat them, we’ll know how good we can be,” Morris said.
Despite the high stakes, the team does still plan to have some fun in the tropics.
“I did hear we’ll get a chance to go on the beach and ride some jet skis,” Morris said.
Henrickson said, however, that she’ll be abstaining from the turkey.
“I think I’m getting chicken,” Henrickson said.
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— Edited by Abby Olcese
