Wildcat notebook

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jan 15, 2008

Stewart battles back

It was a case of back spasms that kept point guard Clent Stewart out of practice last week, not a flare-up of the hamstring injury he suffered in the preseason.

"His back just spasmed up on him," associated head coach Dalonte Hill said. "It's something we can't control, can't prepare for. But he fought through it. He's a tough kid."

Stewart scored nine points in Saturday's win against the Sooners and hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining. Afterward, coach Frank Martin revealed Stewart spent the week in traction and was in extreme pain during the team's pregame shootaround.

Beasley earns honor

Saturday, Michael Beasley won the battle on the court. Monday, he edged Oklahoma's Blake Griffin for the Big 12 player of the week award. He joined Jeremiah Massey as the only Wildcats to win the award twice in the same season, a feat Massey accomplished in 2004- 05.

Griffin's consolation prize was the Big 12 rookie of the week award.

K-State tip-ins

n ESPN's Joe Lunardi must have a sense of humor. In his latest NCAA Tournament projections, Lunardi pitted K-State against Bob Huggins and West Virginia in an 8/9 matchup.

n The Wildcats received one vote in the latest The Associated Press Top 25 Poll, released Monday. The Wildcats were ranked as high as No. 18 before dropping out of the poll following a loss to Oregon.

Still No. 3

KU remained No. 3 in both The Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches Top 25 Polls for the seventh consecutive week, behind No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Memphis. All three were unbeaten heading into Monday night.

KU No. 8 in Forbes

Kansas ranked No. 8 in Forbes Magazine's list of college basketball's most profitable programs, behind, in order, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona, Duke, Indiana and Illinois. Forbes valued Kansas hoops at $16 million, with a profit of $8.3 million. No. 1 North Carolina is valued at $26 million with a profit of $16.9 million.

Spotted at the Phog ...

... At midcourt, two rows up, ESPN personalities Scott Van Pelt, Neil Everett and Sean Salisbury attended Monday's game. Salisbury wore a shirt that read, "Cancer blows." The trio sat at midcourt in the second row. No signs of John Clayton ... In the second row, behind KU's bench Wayne Simien's parents Wayne Sr. and Margaret .. also behind the KU bench, Major League Baseball Fall of Famer George Brett ... Congressman Jerry Moran.

Free advertising

The Jayhawks weren't the only ones enjoying the spotlight provided by ESPN's Big Monday. Brian Miller, the head cook at the catering service Heavy Smoke BBQ, took advantage of his front row seat directly behind announcers Fran Fraschilla and Ron Franklin by sporting a blue T-shirt that read "www.heavysmokebbq.com". Miller said he recently launched the Web site and thought he could attract a few more visitors with the free advertising opportunity.

Scouted

Fifteen NBA scouts attended Monday's game, including Kevin Pritchard, the former Jayhawk who is now the general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers.

KCAC picks Pegram

Whitney Pegram, a McPherson College senior from Silver Lake, was named Kansas Conference women's player of the week.

Pegram averaged 14.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.7 blocked shots and 2.3 assists in three wins for McPherson (10-3, 3-2 KCAC). The 6- foot-4 center set a school single-game record with eight blocks against Saint Mary and in only 13 games has set a school season record with 53 blocks.

MIAA hands out honors

Nick Certa, of Truman State, was named MIAA men's player of the week and the women's honor was shared by Pittsburg State's Briana Buchanan and Southwest Baptist's Erika Souza. Certa, a 6-foot-6 senior, scored 39 points in Truman wins against Fort Hays State and Missouri Western.

Buchanan, a 5-8 junior, had 44 points and 18 rebounds as Pittsburg State won at Missouri Southern and and lost Emporia State. Souza, a 5-6 senior, scored an SBU-record 38 points in a win at Central Missouri and had 14 points and seven assists in a win against Fort Hays State.

From staff reports