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Not even a homecoming of sorts could throw Julian Wright off today when the Jayhawks tip off against DePaul at 1 p.m. in Rosemont, Ill.
Both Wright, a sophomore forward, and freshman guard Sherron Collins will be playing their first collegiate games back where their hoop dreams all began. Wright, a Homewood-Flossmoor product, and Collins, a three-sport star at Crane, are without doubt excited for the challenge from a Big East foe.
But just like last weekend in Las Vegas, business comes first.
KU is riding high on momentum at this time, supplementing its 82-80 win over previously top-ranked Florida last weekend in Sin City with an 83-32 pasting of lowly Dartmouth Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Today's game looks to be a little more of a challenge. Even though DePaul's only two wins came over Eastern Illinois and Chaminade, Bill Self doesn't want his team fooled, as the lengthy duo of senior guard Sammy Mejia and sophomore forward Wilson Chandler will give KU a true test.
FIRST HALF
Sammy Mejia opened the game for DePaul by canning a three-pointer from the top of the key. DePaul threw a defensive wrinkle at KU by starting the game applying full-court pressure.
Julian Wright scored the first hoop for KU, but DePaul's Will Walker was quick to answer by driving the lane after crossing over Mario Chalmers, putting DePaul up 5-2.
After a DePaul offensive foul, Brandon Rush was authoritative in pulling up right up top and drilling a three-pointer to tie the game for KU.
Wilson Chandler, a player Bill Self pointed out as a potential problem for KU's defense all week, then hit a three-pointer from the left wing, and it was followed by a traveling call on KU.
KU will have the ball coming out of the first television timeout, trailing 8-5.
******
KU worked the ball to the low post out of the break, and Darrell Arthur scored his first points of the game on a baby hook from the left side of the hoop.
Both teams continued to struggle offensively for a series of possessions, but Julian Wright's defensive presence kept KU with some momentum, including a huge swat of DePaul's Wesley Green.
Will Walker finally broke the dry stretch with a three-pointer on the left side to give DePaul an 11-7 advantage.
KU's answer was again sparked by solid defense. First, Russell Robinson picked a ball clean in the Blue Demon backcourt and drew a foul on the fast break. He hit one of two free throws. After that came a Sasha Kaun open court slam on a feed from Brandon Rush, and then a Mario Chalmers three off of another Julian Wright blocked shot, putting KU ahead 13-11 with 11:15 to play in the first half.
Sammy Mejia scored a deuce for DePaul, making it a 13-13 game headed into another full timeout.
******
Sherron Collins scored out of the timeout after twisting around the arc, taking Walker with him the whole way, and exploding for an inside layin. Karron Clarke hit a fadeaway two for DePaul, though, after a Mario Chalmers turnover on the baseline.
Sasha Kaun followed his own miss to put KU up 17-15, but DePaul showed on its next possession that it is game for the challenge in the paint, as a five-second-long scrum for a loose ball led to another full timeout, with KU nursing a two-point lead.
******
KU awoke from the game's doldrums with just over five minutes to play, going back up 19-17 on a Russell Robinson to Darrell Arthur powerful alley-oop slam. It sparked some nice defensive pressure, and as KU brought the ball back up, Wright earned a trip to the line, hitting one of two to put KU up by three.
KU forced another turnover to head into the half's final television timeout leading 20-17 with 3:45 until the break.
******
Julian Wright drew a foul to put KU in the bonus, and he hit one of two attempts. After another defensive stand, Arthur scored again down low for KU on a turnaround 10-foot jumper along the right baseline.
DePaul then began hurting itself, this time with a Karron Clarke offensive foul. Chalmers responded with a three-pointer, to continue a 9-0 run for KU, and it sent KU into the half leading 26-17.
Mario Chalmers leads all scorers with eight points, and Darrell Arthur has chipped in six. Will Walker and Sammy Mejia each have five for DePaul, while Wilson Chandler has been held to just three points on 1-of-6 shooting.
SECOND HALF
Whereas KU ended the first half on a 9-0 run, DePaul did the scoring to start the second half via the free throw line. Sammy Mejia hit two of four attempts to start the half, but KU's defensive tenacity did not disappear with the break.
Julian Wright scored the first hoop of the half for KU, but it was answered by a Mejia second-chance two. Mario Chalmers quickly fired back with his third three-pointer of the game, putting KU up 31-21.
Russell Robinson then drove the paint with a tad of hesitation in the middle to score again, coming on the heels of a DePaul offensive foul.
******
Wilson Chandler threw down an aggressive lob pass from Jabari Currie out of the timeout, but Chalmers was again quick to shoot back by driving the lane and hitting a short floater. After a pair of bad DePaul misses, KU bumped its lead up to 37-23 on an inside two-handed slam from Julian Wright on a sweet dish from Brandon Rush.
Chandler though continued to come out of his shell on the offensive end by hitting a three-pointer on the wing, and it was followed by a Julian Wright offensive foul. Currie continued DePaul's surge with a tough inside two.
After a Brandon Rush missed three, Kansas missed a pair of point blank looks, first from Sherron Collins and then a follow attempt by Arthur. Draelon Burns hit a three-pointer to put DePaul within six points at 37-31 with 11:51 to play.
Out of a short timeout, Chalmers continued to be KU's offensive backbone, pump-faking inside and getting another easy two points. But DePaul's Draelon Burns scored again on an inside pair of his own, drawing a foul in the process. The Jayhawks lead 39-31 with just over 11 minutes to play.
******
Burns missed the free throw, and on the offensive end, Sherron Collins swished a three-pointer on the left side in front of the Jayhawk bench. Russell Robinson then answered a pair of Burns free throws with another three - a trade the Jayhawks would gladly take continuously - to put KU up 45-35.
Mejia hit a pair of free throws, but the same was done on the other end by Mejia. In fact, Mejia scored four more straight points for the Blue Demons, and almost made it six when Russell Robinson smacked his shot away in the open court.
Wilson Chandler then hit another pair of Blue Demon free throws, and another KU turnover got the DePaul crowd into it even more. Wright was then whistled for yet another foul, putting DePaul back at the line, trailing 47-43 with less than eight minutes to play.
******
KU got a window of opportunity when Jabari Currie missed two free throws out of the timeout, and on the rebound attempt, DePaul was whistled for a foul. It didn't calculate into offense for KU, though, as Rush missed an inside look which rolled slowly off the rim.
Currie then hit Marcus Heard inside to make it a 47-45 game just past the seven-minute mark.
Wright then missed a three, but Robinson rushed to the corner for the offensive board. He fed it back to a streaking Wright for a two-handed slam to get the Jayhawks awake one more time.
Rush then came in and threw another lob for Arthur after a DePaul traveling call to bring the thousands of KU fans on hand into the forefront of the atmosphere. It also pushed KU's lead back up a little bit at 51-45 with 5:20 to play.
Robinson helped KU get into the bonus, and hit two free throws to make it a 53-45 game, but then he fouled Karron Clarke at the other end while shooting a three-pointer, drawing the ire of the KU bench.
Clarke hit all three free throws to make it a 53-48 contest with 4:15 to go.
Collins missed a three on the offensive side, and Wilson Chandler took the long rebound all the way for two points, pulling DePaul back within three points at 53-50.
Arthur missed a two-pointer with the shot clock dripping towards zero out of a 20-second timeout, and Mejia's three-pointer made it a 53-53 game with less than three minutes to go.
Rush was fouled right before the game headed to its final television timeout with 2:38 to go.
******
Rush clanked the first free throw off of the front iron. The answer was another Mejia three to put DePaul up for the first time since leading 11-10 in the first half. A Wright miss on the other end was rebounded by Chandler with less than two minutes to play.
Mejia then pulled another magical spin move ont he right side to hit a turnaround mid-range jumper, putting DePaul up 58-53 with 1:18 to play. Mejia has scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half.
Robinson was fouled on the other end, and just like Rush missed the front end of a one-and-one, again giving the ball back to DePaul.
Marcus Heard hit one of two free throws on the other end to make it a 59-53 game. Chalmers drove the lane on the offensive side for KU but was hacked on the way up. He hit both free throws to pull KU within four points with 48.3 seconds to play.
KU fouled the wrong guy in the half-court set, sending Karron Clarke back to the free throw line. The same guy who drilled three straight off of a Robinson foul earlier sunk one of two to make it a five-point game at 60-55. Robinson missed a three on the other end, Chandler ripped the rebound and DePaul worked off nearly 12 seconds from the clock, until Heard was ultimately sent to the line with 18.3 seconds left.
Heard hit both free throws and that all but sealed KU's fate, down 62-55 with not much time to go. A Chalmers three missed badly, Arthur followed with two, but was left scrambling going into a timeout with 9.5 seconds remaining.
******
Burns hit two free throws after being fouled on the inbounds pass, Chalmers missed a deep three, and KU lost 64-57, marking DePaul's first win over a top-five team in seven years.
Mejia led all scorers with 23 points. Chalmers led KU with 17, while a big sore spot on the KU box score was Brandon Rush scoring just three points on 1-of-8 shooting. The 6-2 Jayhawks take on USC Monday at 8 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
Comments
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
So far - crappy offense. Looks like they have to slug it out again. Anybody recognize the "rat face" Coach for DePaul? Yep, he was the richmond coach that beat KU in Allen fieldhouse. Let's hope this is not another "let em stay close, until they start hitting 3 pointers to take the lead."
December 2, 2006 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
On the up side - we are playing good defense. If they get the chance in the 2nd half I hope we can blow "rat Face" team off the court. RUSH is a liability with the ball - so far.
December 2, 2006 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jimjones (anonymous) says...
I wish we could leave Bill Self in Chicago! We'll never progress until we get rid of the self monkey.
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December 2, 2006 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
couranna1 (anonymous) says...
jimjones get a clue Self is a very good coach
December 2, 2006 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moralebooster (anonymous) says...
No, Self is a good recruiter, he's NOT a good coach.
KU should have put him on probation (no raises or contract extensions) until he produces results in the NCAA tournament
December 2, 2006 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
press this team!! Turn up the defense - my God I am sick of this offense.
December 2, 2006 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockchalkjayhawkku (anonymous) says...
Why do I have a feeling that jimjones and moralebooster (and others) are the same person that used to go by the banned Username "phog"?
read their previous comments, they are always negative
http://www2.kusports.com/users/jimjon...
http://www2.kusports.com/users/morale...
December 2, 2006 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
killjoy (anonymous) says...
This game should have been sealed in the 1st quarter. Now we have a 2 pt. lead.
So much talent, but no coach.
Anyone heard who our new coach will be?
December 2, 2006 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Damian666 (anonymous) says...
I agree, Self couldn't win anything important,
DePaul isn't even ranked and the score is tied up.
December 2, 2006 at 2:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
13 straight points for DePaul?!?! WTF?
December 2, 2006 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kufan4004 (anonymous) says...
At least these guys will be sticking around another year.
December 2, 2006 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
naff (anonymous) says...
take their names off the jerseys
December 2, 2006 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
I bought a new Jayhawk hoodie last winter. I wore it the day of the Bradley loss and the day of the ORU loss. Basically, we were 0-2 when I wore it. I almost wore it during the Florida game, but decided that is a bad barometer since we will probably come up short in that game anyway. I decided to wear it today against a 2-4 DePaul team that has won against Chaminade and some crappy team with a direction in its name. And we are going to lose again. 0-3 in this damn sweatshirt. I'll never wear it again.
Don't blame Self or the players. I'll take the blame for this one. This hellspawn hoodie has got to go.
December 2, 2006 at 3:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
I would like to see us win one of these - but have no confidence it will happen. The other coach just had to point back to his richmond team for motivation. This team is not as good as richmond.
Who can we blame for this game? Post "fat contract depression" ? "teaching a lesson" ? "We are a young team" ? Fans need to back Bill Self and when they complain it does not help ... blah, blah, blah...
I will admit I wanted Turgeon from the start - but I didn't think he was ready for it. Now, I know I was wrong.
It's the way we lose that drives fans crazy and the opponents we lose to that drives people to question - Why is this happening?
December 2, 2006 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kawryan (anonymous) says...
Nice one Self, you earned that raise.
December 2, 2006 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youngitized (anonymous) says...
My God, they aren't going to win another game if they keep playing like that. I have seen sorry performances and this is the absolute worst! No NCAA this year.
December 2, 2006 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...
Here come the Self haters.
December 2, 2006 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
Outscored 17-4 at the end. Illinois is laughing.
December 2, 2006 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...
Listen, for all you who are going to say how Self should be fired, just shut up. He's signed an extension through 2011, as I'm sure most of you know. So don't tell us how he needs to go; it's not gonna happen.
December 2, 2006 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
I forgot to add that I quit watching this game at the 9 minute mark of the 2nd half - because I knew what was coming and I can't stand to watch it.
I left a game last year and they snapped out of it and won handily. I came back to this one with a minute left. I did everything I could to win this game. Another great win for Rat Face Wainwright over Bill Self.
December 2, 2006 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...
What a poor shooting performance.
Depending what site you look at for stats...
Rush -- 1/8
Collins -- 1/5 or 2/6
Robinson -- 3/9 or 2/7
They missed eight shots in the lane.
And I don't even want to mention miserable free throw shooting again.
December 2, 2006 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tsunami77 (anonymous) says...
As i stated in my comments before if we cant get by Depaul or USC or the other lack luster programs on our schedule then how are we going to be in the conference and the tournament? This is pathetic people and i think the extension for Bill self is not a smart move. He hasnt proven nothing here and so what if he has brought great recruits in he still hasnt won with consistency. Talent doesnt mean crap if you cant win games and especially if you cant coach talent to be consistent game in game out- Also i am getting tired of hearing all the excuse's jayhawks fans we shouldnt lose thats the point
December 2, 2006 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Speicher (Danny Speicher) says...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again... It is all about consistency. Consistency comes from work ethic. Unfortunately, no amount of head-hunting for a new coach will produce a work ethic in primadonnas. I point, once again, to Phil Jackson and the Kobe/Shaq Lakers. If he couldn't get THAT team to win, you've got to believe that the responsibility for consistency lies primarily in the players... Not the coach.
From all I've read and heard, Self has not been disillusioned... He has been all but using corporal punishment on his team since the ORU loss. All in all, my question to all of those who would play arm-chair coach... Exactly what would YOU do to make these kids play with more heart?
--Danny Speicher
December 2, 2006 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bone777 (anonymous) says...
WTF!!! You beat the 'best' team in the country and then you lay an egg against Depaul. I don't understand how KU can't seem to get up for average teams. My only complaint about Self is that his half time speeches must suck. His teams don't come out after half and play inspired ball.
P.S. Come on B. Rush.
December 2, 2006 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bankboy119 (anonymous) says...
Actually Danny who is calling the plays on the floor? Why are the Jayhawks going back to a slow offense and failing to press on defense? Self is the answer to both of those questions.
December 2, 2006 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
I've tried to be patient. I've tried to be reasonable. I've tired to allay irrationality with logic and common sense. But, this is unacceptable. I'm not so blinded with red and blue that I think we'll never lose, but time and time again it's how we lose and to whom we lose. Depaul was 2-4 with wins over Chaminade and someone like Southernmost Northwestern Eastern Arizona. You cannot lose to teams like this. Period.
So, which game now appears to be the fluke? ORU or Florida? I really thought we had turned the corner with Florida, but KU seems to harbor a British mentality. That is they didn't turn the corner so much as they are stuck on a round-a-bout.
I'm not jumping on the overloaded firing bandwagon because the axle is broken from the weight and it's not going anywhere, nor will I. But, something is wrong. You just don't lose to these kinds of teams when you have talent like we do. No excuses can be made for this one. We were up 8 points under 5 minutes and were outscored 17-4 down the stretch. Unacceptable plain and simple.
December 2, 2006 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...
Speicher...
Nice post.
The talent is obviously there, individually. What is missing is playing with heart, pride and passion...no matter who you are playing against.
It shouldn't matter if you are playing oru, umkc, ksu or Florida...the effort should be the same for each game. From my perspective the only way to MAYBE get the message across is to play some of the bench guys who don't take basketball for granted and bust their asses day in and day out at practice because they love the game and don't just view it as a step to the NBA.
Not trying to compare Self and Williams but I can remember a few occasions at KU and today in the NC game against Kentucky when Williams would pull all five starters out and insert a new five to spark a fire or whatever.
Don't take the game or your playing time for granted just because you were a McDonald's All-American!
December 2, 2006 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DueFan (anonymous) says...
KU players are some of the finest, nobody doubts how good self is when it comes to getting guys to play at KU. But, we need some coach who can really turn things around during a game, this coach can't!
I am not a KU hater, but come on guys. If any team wants to make history, then let them play KU.
Recent stats:
Nick Fazekas got his career highest at Allen Flied house
Thomas Gardner got his career highest against us in Mizzou
Bucknell made thier first NCAA shock against us and so did bradlley
ORU got their highest win against a ranked team in thier History (we were ranked 3)
and here comes DePaul,the list goes on...
December 2, 2006 at 3:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DueFan (anonymous) says...
not to mention breaking the winning streak with MU and K-state
December 2, 2006 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pjdeanwag (anonymous) says...
Are you kidding people? Either you are all KState or Mizzou fans, or just incredibly fair weather. Before you start freaking out like normal, ask yourself what you were like when you were a freshman or sophomore in college. I'm sure you were all poised, confident and incapable of making mistakes. These players are human and have to deal with so much pressure. Why don't you realize that? I'm so tired of hearing Bill Self this and Bill Self that. This guy has brought in the best recruiting class we perhaps have ever had, and has coached teams that shouldn't have done well in the past to great depths in the tournament. They were Big XII Champs last year. They played over their potential for much of the season. Give the youth of our team time to mature, chear your butts off and hope for the best. It's college basketball. Take the bad with the great.
December 2, 2006 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IceManMK (anonymous) says...
Bill Self = awesome recruiter, decent coach... there are coaches who are decent recruiters, awesome coaches... Mark Few @ Gonzaga to name one. Get used to the excitement of bringing in top names and getting decent results. We'll get the conference titles and have a good record, but we'll never get over the hump to win the whole thing.
December 2, 2006 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lylelarueb (anonymous) says...
Next Year............or maybe give Bill a million $ bonus for each game won and deduct two million $ for each loss.
The coach does make the difference and if you don't believe that just look at the win loss record five years from now under Coach Bill Self.
December 2, 2006 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigTamale (anonymous) says...
I had this ugly feeling in the 1st half that we were going to lose this game...
This feeling has hit my stomach on the following games:
Richmond
Bucknell
Bradley
ORU
DePaul
Maybe I should take Pepto before games against mid-majors!!!
December 2, 2006 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
janeyb (anonymous) says...
Didn't see any any top NBA recruits playing for Kansas today. Many of the guys may be around for their senior years. This team really does just get into the big games.
December 2, 2006 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
Pjdeanwag-
Time to mature? These guys are only here for two years and then gone to the NBA. Some are now 1/3 of the way into their second year. They are reaching the geriatric, centrum with silver, gum your liquid breakfast years of their college careers as we speak. How much more time do you need? How much maturing does it take to realize you have to crush far inferior competition.
As for remembering college...hmmm...let's see:
I could hit a jumpshot.
I could hit a free throw.
I could beat someone smaller, slower, and weaker than myself.
And, it's not making mistakes that grinds our patience into a fine paste, it's making the same mistakes over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
That's what's so annoying.
P.S. and over.
December 2, 2006 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
voygr1 (anonymous) says...
This game was turned around by Jim Burr and Ted Hillary!! This was undoubtedly the worst in a long time but shouldnt be a surprise as Jim Burrs ACC ties. You need to count how many fouls were called on one end of the court versus the KU end. Brandon Rush gets knocked to the floor and nothing. Yes Depaul had a couple good shots after they got the lead but stripes helped them get it. Come on Bill you need to speak up.
December 2, 2006 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joeaverage (anonymous) says...
Coaching? One thing I notice about this team is that the palyers are always blamed. Whose job is it to get these guys ready to play for every game? And if Rush is not hot can we not put in somebody that is willing to step up? I do not think this is a talent/skill issue, but this is lack of mental focus, and coaches have something to do with that.
December 2, 2006 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ibrown3 (anonymous) says...
Is Self the one shooting 1/8, 2/7 or 2/6 from the field? No. They are Rush, Collins and Robinson. I couldn't watch the game but from what it sounded like on the radio none of our guys could hit the jumpers from 15 feet and beyond or even hit lay ups or floaters from within 15 feet. I don't see how or why you guys always blame Self for these losses when KU shoots just over 40% from the field, and probably much worse than that if you only consider the second half when we blew our lead. Oh, and Free Throws. Self isn't the one going out and shooting Free Throws for us, so once again, that is the teams fault, not Self's. We actually weren't doing too bad at the line until the game was on the line and our players choked and could't hit a Free Throw or a jumper or a lay up for that matter. And our three point shooting was nothing to write home about. I'm not saying Selfs coaching had nothing to do with our loss, and i'm certainly not saying he's a great coach, but I am saying that it is just as much, if not more the players fault than Selfs. They were the ones missing the jumpers, lay ups and free throws during the last 4 minutes of the game when the shots mattered most, not Self.
December 2, 2006 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tsunami77 (anonymous) says...
Ok well i couldnt let this go. Ok Danny Speicher if you got to look this up. Phil won with Kobe and Shaq. How many championships was it? If you want to compare phil jackson and bill self-im sorry billy doesnt even come close to phil's status q.
I dont think it is punishment that leads to team success Danny-yea sure some of that is needed. But really we dont have the atitude that is needed to win game in game out. I am not playing arm chair coach and no i havent made an comment about how self should coach. I talk about the team as a whole. Really what stands out is that this team doesnt look like they are coached by a guy that is earning a whopping 1.5 million-
Also on another note Florida game doesnt mean crap as most of you all know.
My question is to all you(Danny)what bill self team is going to show up next against our next opponent??????????
GO ZAGS now that team has a good coach!!!!
December 2, 2006 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mangino_Maniac (anonymous) says...
After the Florida win, I thought the Oral Roberts loss was fluke... now after losing to DePaul, I'm wondering if the Florida win was a fluke.
December 2, 2006 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BunE (anonymous) says...
Ahem...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Oh yeah, that feels better.
December 2, 2006 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ibrown3 (anonymous) says...
tsunami77 -"GO ZAGS now that team has a good coach!!!!"
Gonzaga can actually hit shots (on a consistent, game-to-game basis), don't give all of the credit to the coach
December 2, 2006 at 4:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KWufan (anonymous) says...
Okay, just to get something straight. To all the Bill haters, he took Tulsa, yes I said Tulsa to the final 8 and lost on a last second shot to go to the final four. The dude can actually coach a little bit. As for what's going on with this team. Brandon Rush is actually only our FIFTH best player on the team right now. He has ability to be better but I don't see the want or desire to be a superstar. Who cares if all of your teamates hate you if you do something to win the game. I think he worked too hard on his left hand this summer and forgot to continue working on the rest of his game. If he decides he want's to be an NBA all star or just another guy barely getting by in the NBA, he either needs to become selfish or quite playing because it's hurting our team. Brandon I like ya, so sorry to say that, but your not mean enough. And stop whinning ppl, jesus, we're 6 and 2, not the other way around. Were we 6 and 2 at this point last yr? Exactly, things will turn around and we will all be Kansas fans again.
December 2, 2006 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whaskin (anonymous) says...
Bill Self is a great recruiter. Hard to coach a TEAM with guys who thought they should go pro after HS. On the bright side, they sure played good against Florida with all the scouts there. Maybe, just maybe, we'll be like Syracuse, and take it all with our rented "pro's of the future". Just not sure who they are at this point.
December 2, 2006 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pjdeanwag (anonymous) says...
tis4Tim--
Ever play college ball? Are you still in school at Kansas? Maybe you should suit up. Sounds like your frickin' awesome. While your at it. You should coach too.
December 2, 2006 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KWufan (anonymous) says...
One more point to make. Did Roy win a national championship here? I didn't think so, he had to coach Matt Doherty's recruits to do that. What about Bruce Webber at Illinois? He's a terrible coach and he almost won it all. I'd say those teams had Talent that eventually learned how to play ball. Coaches tell players to be in the right spots but they have to play up to their talent to win. Coaching vs Talent argument is a moot point.
December 2, 2006 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Amanda1600 (anonymous) says...
Ok I love KU a lot..... but if they keep losing like this then it's not even worth being a fan. When they play it looks like that they don't even want to be out there & I'm just really disappointed. What happened to playes like Hinrich, Collison, or Simien?
December 2, 2006 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wiltstilt (anonymous) says...
what these guys lack is pride. does anyone remember the 98-99 team with ryan robertson and t.j pugh? that team lost a lot of games because they were out-manned, but they damn sure didn't lose because they could only come up with a half-assed effort. you have to understand what it means to play at Kansas and bring your best effort every night... because your opponent certainly will.
this team seems to only bring that effort when they aren't expected to win. unfortunately, there was only one game on our schedule we shouldn't have been expected to win. if you can't beat average teams with any kind of consistency, you can't get out of the early stages of the ncaa tournament.
if bill can get these guys to grasp this, maybe he can quiet all his critics. otherwise, he better hope the coach k approach works... recruit so well you have the best team in the country 4 out of every 5 years and hope somewhere in that stretch, the talent wins a championship so no one realizes you do less with more than any coach in history.
December 2, 2006 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
afterONE (anonymous) says...
Let me just offer my 2 cents here. Many people were ecstatic that Bill Self's Jayhawks beat #1 Florida. That was one paramount win for the KU Basketball program.
I don't think Bill Self is doing a bad job whatsoever. The same people that sang his praises just a week ago are the same people who today are questioning his ability to coach a major basketball program.
I believe Bill Self will continue to do a great job at the University of Kansas. I believe that (just as has been stated before by MANY people) it is imperative that his players show up. Trust me, if the players don't show up you aren't going to win basketball games.
And please let me add something: you cannot blame bad shooting on coaching. Especially when they were on fire against Florida -- sometimes shots just don't fall. The reason why Kansas is a good basketball team and not a great one, is that when those shots don't fall, a GREAT time finds a way to win despite the adversity. KU is still looking for an identity. Rest assured, KU fans, we've got the right man at the helm to help them find it.
And this is for the record. Mark Few at Gonzaga was my choice to takeover the program when Roy Williams left. That man is a tremendous coach, who will one day, either make a major player out of Gonzaga, or make a huge college program very happy. His teams play fast, and consistent. Mark Few (I would venture out to say) is one of the top 2 coaches in college basketball. The other one? Well, I can't say it on here. :)
December 2, 2006 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Speicher (Danny Speicher) says...
Tsunami... So, was it Phil Jackson that caused Kobe and Shaq's heads to get so big that the two of them couldn't fit on the same court? See... It wasn't Jackson that changed. It was the players. I am not comparing Self to Jackson... I'm comparing the Lakers situation to ours.
I am not going to say that all of the players have egos. I believe that some of them (namely Julian Wright according to a couple of articles that highlighted his hallway "come to Jesus" meeting the night before the Florida game) that actually have a heart for the team and not just the seven figure contract that they get once they leave Kansas. However, there seems to be a lack of heart on the court. And, no matter who coaches a team with no heart... The results are still the same.
Sure, Self's offense is a slower one than Roy's. But, I remember days of watching the Jayhawks under Roy's control and saying on more than one occassion, "keep the stinkin' ball!! quit trying to rush it!" Stupid mistakes are made when teams try and do fast break offenses all the time. We would be having the same amount of issues if Roy were coaching this team... Just a different breed of issues.
We can blame coach all we want. But, it won't do a lick of difference to get any other coach in here. Where talent is, ego there lies also. The question is, can our boys overcome this issue when it counts?
--Danny Speicher
December 2, 2006 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
Pjdeanwag-
I was a member of the Nerf-trotters, and the wastepaper basketball travelling all-stars. I have a mean game of H-O-R-S-E too. I win by an average margin of 2.7 letters.
December 2, 2006 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joeaverage (anonymous) says...
Desire to win. One thing that makes sports so exciting is that teams with less talent win sometimes because they want it more. However, teams that are unbeatable are the teams that play with the same desire game in and game out and have the talent as well. We have the talent and if Self can find a way to keep the guys hungry they will win a lot on games this year. But is remains to be seen if that will be the case.
December 2, 2006 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
argentinehawk (anonymous) says...
I love KU, I was excited when we hired Bill Self, I think it's awesome that coach BS gets those kinds of top players to come and play for KU, but lets face it guys, he just can't coach. And yes, he wasn't the one out there missing the free throws and easy 15 foot shots, but he is the coach, and it doesn't matter that he does bring in the top players, players that roy never did, but if you can't coach, what does it matter.
and yes, he has taken 3 teams to the elite 8, but that was in the past. Sorry. he's just not the guy for the job.
December 2, 2006 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trngchiefgary (anonymous) says...
The best thing that could happen to this team right now is to be knocked out of the top 25, which probably should happen considering they have lost 2 games to unranked opponents.
Maybe then they'll get hungry and realize it takes focus each night out. Right now, these kids have not displayed the effort to wear the KANSAS jersey.
Also, when will AD's learn NOT to announce contract extensions during the season. First Mangino, flop; 2nd Pinkel, flop and now Self, FLOP.
To save face Perkins has to keep Self around for a few more years. It may be this team when they are Seniors at Kansas will be mature enough for Self to win it all. If they all stay and don't win it their Senior year, then Perkins needs to revaluate keeping Self.
December 2, 2006 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fabio (anonymous) says...
Chief Gary wants to fire Self because we lost to DePaul in December. Hey Chief why dont you cool down and sober up and then we will talk about the coach that led a bunch of freshmen to the Big 12 title last year.
I dont want to hear any crap about Mangino either. His first year we lost to KSU 62-0, this year we beat them 39-20. I wouldnt be suprised if you were one of the guys tearing down the goal post a couple weeks ago. Either that or you were one of the guys there wearing purple that was crying. That would explain quite a bit.
December 2, 2006 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fabio (anonymous) says...
I think it is halarious watching all you clowns freak out about DePaul on December 2d. If we lose to Mizzou in February or lose early in March then I will get fired up. Who really cares about today though. It wasnt a conference game, it wasnt a tournament game. KU needs to win the Big 12 and the National Championship. Let DePaul have it, we could learn a lesson from this.
December 2, 2006 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkaloogie (anonymous) says...
Hey tis4tim:
Aside from wearing the evil hoodie for a third time, you seem to be one of the few intelligent and reasonable people on this blog.
Since no one thinks I should blame Self or the players, I think I'll take up your offer and blame you.
December 2, 2006 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mom_of_three (anonymous) says...
Does Jim Burr curse us or what!! We lose every game he calls.
No, the team didn't do what it needed to, but what does it say that DePaul made more free throws than we got to shoot.
December 2, 2006 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nergie (anonymous) says...
Went to the game today, needless to say pathetic effort. Losing is part of getting better, heck Florida last year finished the conference 10-6 but they got it together for the tournament. What is disconcerting is that DePaul should not have been in that game. KU teams traditional put a team out of its misery when leading by 14. What did this team do, they chocked and played like a bunch on scared kids. There is no excuse for they way they played and the coaching staff should skin their hides for this. It is going to be tough listening to the U of I and DePaul grads and their crap Monday.
December 2, 2006 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...
IMO...
Two or three McDonald All-Americans are all you need on a team. Many more than that and you have to many "stars" who you have to try and appease.
Fill the rest fo the team with solid, fundamentally sound roleplayers. Ones who will fight for loose balls; ones who make strong, two-handed passes; ones who can play above average man-to-man defense and at least make the opposing player work for a shot; ones who can make free throws.
I agree with a previous poster...give me players like Ryan Robertson, T.J. Pugh sprinkled in with a few studs to round out a starting five or come off the bench. Richard Scott type to be a rebounding machine.
I think that is why mid-major teams are able to pull off upsets. They have players who hustle and fight, make free throws and generally play the game hard game in and game out.
I'm not bashing Self by any means. I have met and chatted briefly with him a couple of years ago during the exhibition tour in Canada and he is very personable and likeable man. I support him through the good and bad and am proud to be a KU fan...even after a loss. Disappointed? Yes. Ashamed? Never.
December 2, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkaloogie (anonymous) says...
hurleheyboy:
I am not ashamed to admit I have no idea what you're talking about
December 2, 2006 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...
Poorly played game. I watch on ESPN 500 or however many channels they have. But I noticed with 11 minutes to go in the second half that somehow Depaul was already in the 1 and 1. That slowed down the game and allowed them to get back into it.
Fouls stop the clock. I don't know how many were fair fouls, but the three point shot when Robinson barely touched the shooter after he released the ball was killer. To bad they didn't call that when Rush got hit hard enough on the elbow to send him to the floor. That call on Robinson swung Uncle Mo for good. Unlike the Florida game this was a Depaul crowd.
How can we only give up 17 points and Depaul gets 2 free throws in the first half, then playing the same type of defense we give up 47 the second half and Depaul gets 24 free throws? Easier to score more points when the game slows down for you and you get free shots.
I love coach Self, but his worse coaching mistake was leaving Illinois. At Illinois he didn't have Tradition, Expecatations, wasn't following a successful coach and didn't have any Monday morning coaches being "after the fact genius."
Last year Illinois was screwed in the tournament when Washington got 47 free throws to thier 10 or so. If Self was there he would of had Dee Brown and Julian Wright and who knows who else. He should have stayed and let KU fight among themselves. Unfortunetly he fell in love with KU to much when he was an assistant under Brown.
I saw a post that this was going to be a Ted Owens era. I agree because KU fans started complaining about Self before he coached his first game even. He'll never get his team around this distraction. He'll make a Final Four but eventually resign or get pushed out before his extended contract runs out.
December 2, 2006 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BrianR (anonymous) says...
Here's a theory that's just as plausible as any other posted here:
The Hawks lost because the game wasn't televised on it's regular channel. We had to listen to the radio, which isn't a bad thing it's just what without the picture, it's impossible to transmit an adequate amount of mojo to the team.
December 2, 2006 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Geekinout (anonymous) says...
Why would you give someone an extension and a raise only when he's done only part of his initial job? He hasn't shown anything that justifies this especially in the NCAA tourny, which has a lot more emphasis than the regular season. Wish I could get a raise in my line of work for sporadically doing well when it doesn't matter. What's the point? Oh wait, didn't KU's athletic director pretty much do the same? Good work KU, now I know why everything has been so inflated in prices just the past few years. Hopefully they earn it!
December 2, 2006 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Geekinout (anonymous) says...
One other thing, I'll guarantee we'd be close to undefeated if every one of our games was on a major network abc, nbc, cbs, or espn. NOT espn U. Seems like that's the only time KU decides to show up and play big, wonder why?
December 2, 2006 at 5:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trngchiefgary (anonymous) says...
Fabio I wasn't the one crying at the K-State game and I'm sober. Although I do try to live in the present and not the past. Sooner or later you have to realize that KU is middle of the pack in the Big 12 in all sports. We have a good team this year but not a great team and defintely not deserving of the high ranking we've been given.
I said to give Self two more years. I would think that most KU fans will want him gone if he gets knocked out in the first round of the NCAA for a third straight year. I can't imagine a program with the presitige of KU would allow him five straight years to exit early. Your logic sounds like Tiger fans.
December 2, 2006 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KURUSH1530 (anonymous) says...
Dear KU fans,
Don't worry too much, I have heard from inside sources that Bill Self and his team are trying to win a National Championship this year. They are well on the way to doing that and that is why I find solace in each minor defeat that occurs. I know we will lose at most, 4 more games this year. None of those will happen during the tournament and you just watch, Bill Self will climb the ladder, turn to the TV and smile, then proceed to cut down that last piece of the net. Then, my fellow fans, we can all rejoice and forget about those bad things you said about Bill Self.
Sincerely,
Anonymous
December 2, 2006 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
I know Wichita State will probably lose to Syracuse tonight. But, I would not count them out. KANSAS - they would have been blown out by 20 if they shot the way they did today at syracuse. i keep wanting to see the guy that will "jump off a cliff" for his team (KU) or coach (Self). I don't see it. I keep hoping that Brandon Rush will deliver with 3 point shots. It is not happening. It started to go sour with him last year.
Oh yeah WSU is ahead of syracuse at the Carrier Dome 17-11. i would bet that Turgeon would have recruited more than 1 person who could consistently hit a 3 point shot. Oops WSU 24-12 over Syracuse !!
December 2, 2006 at 6:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
The more I watch this game (WSU vs syracuse), i think I have found a motivation for KU. Move # 22 WSU up to about #10 in the country. They are only ahead 35-12 with 5:47 left in the first half. Drop KU to about #15. That ought to light a fire underneath our guys.
December 2, 2006 at 6:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
larkandtyler (anonymous) says...
If i hear someone say "its early in the season, this loss doesn't even matter, later in the season it will count more", I'm going to puke. It's called seating in this thing called the NCAA tournament in this month called March. Every loss means one less seed. We'll be lucky to get a 3 or 4 at this rate.
December 2, 2006 at 6:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
touringdriver (anonymous) says...
you win some and you lose some. suck it up and quit whining about the coach. it takes a team to play the other team, not a coach to play a coach. they got out played today by another team. p.s. who's watching the OU coach play the nebraska coach. the players are. i believe a true jayhawker would take the bad with the good. i have'nt read any good comments towards bill self when they kick a--. good luck with the rest of the season jayhawks and coach self.
December 2, 2006 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cornfed (anonymous) says...
One word-Turgeon. And this is sad because I truly like Self. But we aren't winning with him until the high-low is GONE. We are scoring what 60 points a game? We have to use the athletes we got and burn up the scoreboard. Run and Gun!
December 2, 2006 at 6:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FlaHawk (anonymous) says...
Self needs to do something about the consistency of his talent and his OSU half court offense. KU is NOT large without CJ and Sasha. The team is quick and talented. A half court offense plays to the underdog. This teams talent does not match up with the offensive flow. They can not shoot and are zoned to death. They need to increase defensive pressure and create more one on one opportunities. Self has never played this system. Look what Webber did at IU with Self talent. Webber does ntohave the coaching ability of Self but he changed the system to match the talent. Self needs to reevaluate his offensive and defensive schemas. He can winin the Big 12 with OSU ball, but how many championships have been won with OSU ball (got to go back to Kirkland and Iba in the early 50s). The game is based more on talent today and athleticism. KU has these attributes, but Self has not shown the ability to win consistently. ORU and DePaul will lose 25 games together this year. KU gets beat in the NCAAs by teams that have lost 25 games (total the last two years). There is a correlation. You can not win out inthe NCAAs play OSU ball unless you are very consistent. This team is NOT consistent and the schemes are not helping us.
December 2, 2006 at 6:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
myopinion (anonymous) says...
I have been watching KU play basketball for years, and I know they are going to have some bad games. Losing a hard-fought close game is one thing and blowing a game that should have been won is quite another. These guys are not that young. If wearing a jersey that says "KANSAS" on the front of it isn't enough motivation to come out every game and give it everything you have, then they don't deserve the opportunity.
December 2, 2006 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feefifofum (anonymous) says...
Self is not going to change his offense. I really hope that we can win with his approach. I hate say that I don't really think it is going to work here. I would love to see Turgeon coaching at KU, but I would hate the suffering that would have to happen for KU to change coaches.
DePaul is over. Get it together HAWKS - concentrate on winning the conference and let Self worry about the post season.
December 2, 2006 at 7:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fansincewilt (anonymous) says...
I think as soon as Kaun is ready to go, put him in and go a little bigger. I wonder how Brandon would do off the bench. Arthur is going to be one of our scorers. I think get Kaun ready and let Rush come off the bench. It will take guts to bench a presseason all American, but I'm tired of hearing how Rush has got to step up his game. I think he's proving beyond a reasonable doubt that he doesn't intend to or really not able to. I'm sure in practice he does much better. The pressure gets to him. Bring him off the bench and the pressure will be less. Get rid of all the hype and he will be a bigger asset to this team. I think Self has given him all the benefit of the doubt he needs.
December 2, 2006 at 7:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
filmhawk (anonymous) says...
holy crap!
great job boys.
everyone playing in the nba next year take a step forward...
not so fast mr. rush.
December 2, 2006 at 7:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Geekinout (anonymous) says...
Why does everyone want Turgeon here? Also, why would he want to come to KU when he's dominating the Missouri Valley? Same goes for the Zags coach Mark Few whoever mentioned that KU should go after him.
Both have turned and made their programs what they are today and probably would never leave. Some coaches are loyal to their programs unlike Self and Roy.
It will be a SAD day the day I see the Shockers be the best basketball team to come out of Kansas and ranked higher then KU.
Seeing WSU fans last year in Wichita wearing home-made Bradley shirts to spite KU last year has put them on a level of Mizzou and K-state hatred.
December 2, 2006 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...
Wow is this act old or what. Every Frickin time I get excited about Bill's teams they go pull some garbage like today. how do we only score 57 points? how do we blow a 13 point second half lead to depaul!!! There are no excuses for KU's performance today. The 5th ranked team cannot expect to score 57 points and expect to compete on the road, much less win. Our inability to finish games and our lack of a go-to scorer down the stretch will be the reason KU gets knocked out of the NCAA's once again.
December 2, 2006 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Geekinout (anonymous) says...
Agreed High-low blows for this type of personal!
December 2, 2006 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fabio (anonymous) says...
Here we go......seeding,seeding,seeding. What was our seed in 88 KU fans? It was not high. How many games did we lose in the regular season? It was a bunch. Nobody cared at the end of the season because they matured and won the national championship.
All those Roy Williams teams did great in the regular season and had great seeds but everybody remembers them choking in March.
I would think KU fans would get it by now. Who cares about your ranking before Christmas?
Seedings are over empasized.
December 2, 2006 at 8:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olmsted78 (anonymous) says...
wanted: Leader for storied basketball program.... Candidate must posess ability to create, not wait
December 2, 2006 at 8:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rationalanimal (anonymous) says...
I still believe. Rock Chalk Jayhawk
December 2, 2006 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )