Top 10 important sporting events this semester

Editors’ note: A lot has happened in the world of Kansas athletics since last fall. We sat down and decided which events were most important. Here they are.

A men’s

Basketball trip to the Elite Eight

The men’s basketball team advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2004 season. Kansas, the No. 1 seed in the West Region, lost to the No. 2-seeded UCLA Bruins 68-55. Guard Brandon Rush led the Jayhawks with 18 points and five rebounds.

Brandon Rush and Julian Wright declare for the NBA Draft

After successful sophomore seasons, guard Brandon Rush and forward Julian Wright declared for the NBA Draft. Wright had spent most of the season promising that he would return for his junior season. Brandon Rush waited until two days before the draft’s deadline to declare for the draft.

New contracts for Mangino, Self and Henrickson

Football coach Mark Mangino signed a five-year deal that more than doubled his salary to $1.5 million. Men’s basketball coach Bill Self also signed a five-year deal that is worth as much as $1.6 million per season. Last month, women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson reportedly signed a new five-year deal that includes a raise on her $750,000 salary.

Fourth-quarter football meltdowns.

It could have been one of the best seasons in Kansas football history. Instead, the season was like a never-ending nightmare. The Jayhawks blew late fourth-quarter leads in four games — including three contests seasons, one being a 36-35 defeat after giving up 19 points in the fourth quarter to Baylor in Waco.

Golfer Amanda Costner wins Big 12 individual title

Senior women’s golfer Costner was the first Jayhawk ever to win a conference individual title. In the final round, she shot a five-over-par 77 and had a total of 221. Kansas placed ninth as a team.

Women’s basketball

Defeating Kansas State and a surprise tourney run

For the first time in six years, Kansas defeated K-State 82-74 in double overtime in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas was led by freshman Danielle McCray with 25 points. Senior Shaquina Mosley sent the game into double overtime with a layup with seconds remaining. Mosely finished just shy of her first triple-double. In the Big 12 Tournament, the women defeated Oklahoma State 71-62 and then fell to Baylor 71-54 to end their season.

Men win 50th conference championship and 1,900 games

In front of a sell-out crowd, the men’s basketball team came from behind to defeat Kevin Durant and the Texas Longhorns 90-86. Kansas trailed by 12 at halftime, but rallied quickly out of the locker room to start the second half. Sophomore Mario Chalmers led the Jayhawks with 21 points. The victory gave Kansas its seventh Big 12 title, 50th conference title overall and also 1,900 victories.

Egor Agafonov wins national weight throw title

Agafonov won his first national title at the 2007 indoor national championships in Fayetville, Ark. Agafonov threw a career-best 77-05.25 feet. He defeated Cory Martin, a thrower for Auburn. Agafonov was the first Jayhawk to win an individual national championship title since the 2005 indoor season.

Kansas defeats No. 1 Florida in Las Vegas

During Thanksgiving break, Kansas traveled to Sin City to take on the defending national champion Florida Gators. After a sluggish victory against Ball State on Friday night, the Jayhawks came out ready to play Florida on Saturday by defeating the Gators 82-80 in overtime. Julian Wright scored a team-high 21 points and had 10 rebounds in the victory. In the last minute of overtime Brandon Rush scored a layup and Russell Robinson made a free throw to clinch the victory.

Kansas baseball can’t repeat fantastic 2006 campaign

After finishing the 2006 season with 43 victories, a return to the NCAA tournament and a Big 12 Tournament championship, the Jayhawk’s hopes were high for the 2007 campaign. But right now, the Jayhawks hold a losing record of 23-28, 8-15 Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks have only won one Big 12 series, but on the other hand have been swept only once. The way it looks right now, Kansas will be the first team in Big 12 history to win the tournament one season, then not return the next.