Monday, December 17, 2007

Darnell not picky about role

By Gary Bedore

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Sprint Center new home away from home

Well, it wasn't Allen Fieldhouse, but consider it a new home away from home for the Kansas men's basketball team. Yesterday the Hawks played host to the visiting Ohio Bobcats at Kansas City's brand new Sprint Center.

Darnell Jackson, whose numbers are slightly better as a starter than a reliever, says he relishes both roles equally.

"My confidence is the same. I'm just having fun," Kansas University's 6-foot-8, 250-pound senior power forward said after scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds in Saturday's 88-51 rout of Ohio at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Jackson, who is shooting 64 percent on the season, has averaged 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds the past five games as a starter. Prior to that, he contributed 10.8 points and 5.6 boards as first big man off the bench.

"What I try to do is play hard and rebound, try to make no mistakes while I'm out there," said Jackson, a perfect 5-of-5 from the field versus Ohio.

He has shot 78.9 percent (15 of 19) in his last three games.

He has pulled down eight or more rebounds in each of his last four games and now ranks eighth in the Big 12 in rebounding at 7.0 boards per contest.

"All the guards are getting the big guys the ball. That's their job," Jackson said, crediting the backcourt players for much of his offensive success. "Our job is to make it easier on the guards to throw it to us inside. We can't stand flat-footed. We've got to move our feet. When they get us the ball our job is to make a move and finish the play.

"If teams dive down on us, we throw it out to our guards who knock down the threes."

Jackson and KU's other three big men - Darrell Arthur, Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich - have been sizzling of late.

"Their numbers were good against Ohio, 39 and 27, and against DePaul, 41 and 28," KU coach Bill Self said of combined points and rebounds versus the Bobcats and in an 84-66 rout of DePaul's Blue Demons.

"If we can get close to that type production, we'll be hard to guard. The biggest stat with big guys : you look at rebounds and strong post ups. We've had it the last two games."

Arthur, who had no rebounds but 13 points versus DePaul, totaled 14 points and eight boards Saturday. Kaun has had 23 points and 12 boards the past two games, while Aldrich has scored 12 points with seven boards in 18 minutes over the two games.

KU's big men helped the Jayhawks outrebound Ohio, 46-27. That's the same Ohio team that outboarded Maryland, 37-27, in Wednesday's big 61-55 road victory.

"Coach told us they had two post men who board their (butts) off," Arthur said. "We tried to box them out as hard as we could. They were smaller. We had to go after it."

The Jayhawks won by a sizable margin for the third straight game. KU has beaten Eastern Washington, DePaul and Ohio by 38, 18 and 37 points respectively.

"You've got to jump on teams from the tip and don't let up," Jackson said. "They were frustrated and pushing in the first half. We ran the score up and tried to come out the second half and do the same thing. They tried to slow it down. We kept fighting. Whoever we put in kept fighting and pushed the score up."

KU has shown killer instinct lately, demonstrating the ability to "squash 'em with a sledgehammer," Arthur said.

"That's 'Shady's' saying," Self said of Arthur. "Mine is 'foot on the throat.'"

KU (10-0) will travel to Georgia Tech for a 6 p.m. (Central time) game Tuesday.

The Yellowjackets, who will be playing their first game in 13 days, have defeated Tennessee State, Charlotte, Notre Dame and Georgia State and lost to UNC Greensboro, Winthrop, Indiana and Vanderbilt.

Georgia Tech will be playing its first game with Ra'Sean Dickey, a 6-9 senior from Clio, S.C., who was academically ineligible first semester. Dickey, who started 23 games last year, was Tech's fourth-leading scorer (8.1 points per game) and second leading rebounder (5.3 per game) while tying for the team lead in field goal percentage (59.6 pct.).

"Georgia Tech is very good. They have their best player eligible for the second semester - Ra'Sean Dickey - who is a big load inside," Self said. "And Miami (Ohio) : our fans won't know this, but everybody tells me they are really, really good. We need to keep getting better and hopefully we can finish up pre-Christmas on a good note."

KU will meet 4-4 Miami at noon Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, then break for Christmas and not play again until Dec. 29 versus Yale.

Comments

NH_JHawk (anonymous) says...

As long as we keep "the killer instinct" going and get this type production from the big men, we rout GaTech. If we win both games this week, we have a shot to move up considering Memphis is hosting Georgetown this week. go hawks!

December 17, 2007 at 7:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

I don't see us routing GT, but I can see us winning by 10 points. Maybe winning by as few as five points. We'll just have to wait and see.

December 17, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

I'm looking for a rout of GT too. Living here in the ATL, I've been able to see a lot of their games. They're NOT very good!!!! Look at their losses, especially Winthrop.

December 17, 2007 at 8 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

FYI...GT is not nearly as talented since Crittendon and Thaddeus left for the NBA.

December 17, 2007 at 8:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

I couldn't care less if we are rated #1 or #10 right now. The main thing is to get everybody healthy and on the same page. Then continue to make incremental improvement throughout the year so we're playing at the top of our game in March.

December 17, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

curlyqkm15 (anonymous) says...

Darnell is one of my favorite players. I am very excited to see this team play in the Big 12 this year. This team is fun to watch!

December 17, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

KU is probably being overlooked a little on the national level this year. This is a good thing, but it won't last much longer if they keep destroying teams. I would be completely happy staying in that #3 spot the rest of the year. Take care of business and get the #1 in the closest regional. That's all the regular season is for (and a Big XII championship). But, it's obviously beneficial to get a high #1 seed, since I think there are probably 5, maybe 6 six teams capable of taking it all this year. You don't want to be like KU was last year, getting a 1-seed, and having to play UCLA in CA. Can't do that again.

December 17, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Everyone and Jayhawkinatl: I am also going to the GT/KU game tomorrow night, but does anyone know where or what Hotel all the fans are staying? I don't get to see many KU fans living in Charlotte so having a place to hang out before and after the game would be sweet. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

December 17, 2007 at 10:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Anyone else hate the red unis? I think they make KU look like Nebraska or Iowa State or Texas Tech or Stanford or whatever... the red unis have to go.

Chalmers... the more I look at him, the more he looks like a cross between Danny Manning and Paul Pierce. I don't mean in style of play or stats or anything, I mean he literally looks like a blend of those two players from an aesthetic stand point. Kinda weird...

December 17, 2007 at 10:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

I don't think KU is being overlooked right now. I just think its early and most people around the nation are unsure of what we've got because we haven't really been 100% yet this year. Everybody knows that we have a really good team, but it's not clear how good we are yet.

The biggest thing for us this year is to get in front of Memphis. They have a pretty easy conference slate and have handled a very challenging non con sked. If Carolina and Duke are both highly ranked, we could be battling Memphis for the #1 in the closest region.

December 17, 2007 at 10:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

I don't like the red unis at all. Self indicated when we wore them earlier this year that he doesn't like them either! I think we only have to wear them twice a year per the contract. Hopefully we've seen the last of them...

I'll need to see a few more games before I'll start projecting in my own mind where I think this team can end up (need to see continued good post play). In any event, they are a fun team to watch, aren't they!

December 17, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

I love Darnell. All of our big guys are playing great. Keep up the good work!

December 17, 2007 at 10:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BannerforKirk (anonymous) says...

People worry way too much about the uniforms. I could care less what they wear, as long as they win. Red, trajan, black, whatever. Watch the ball if the uni's bother you that much.

December 17, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I agree with you Jayceph. I think they look good, but I like our blues because we're the only big 12 team wearing them.

I see that with Mario a little. I think both of those guys have a longer melon than him, though. Need to throw in someone with a little squishier head!

December 17, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Yeah, we need to bring back the green unis. Trivia time...when was the last time those were worn?

December 17, 2007 at 11:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

swjhawk (anonymous) says...

Darnell is the man! I so admire his work ethic and attitude.

The red unis are part of tradition and we should wear them, but no more then 2x a season :)

December 17, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rawkhawk (anonymous) says...

I like the red unis in that they seem to harken back to the pre-Roy Williams era, but it's sort of like paprika, a little goes a long way. Can't wait for the game tomorrow!

December 17, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

I don't mind the red uniforms at all, they are a nice change of pace--most of the people I was with on Saturday thought the same.

I would probably feel different if we wore them all the time, but they are fine twice a year. True, they are similar to other BigXII unis in that they are red, but KUs colors are crimson and blue so it is one of our main colors as well. So long as we don't bring them out more than we are now during the course of a season, I don't mind 'em one bit.

December 17, 2007 at 12:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

At least they don't crack out BLACK uniforms like Duke has been known to do. I like the red for a change of pace. Besides, we ARE the "crimson and blue", not the "blue and crimson"!

December 17, 2007 at 12:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

clavosnc (anonymous) says...

Well..Darn! I thought KU was wearing red and Ohio U green because they were playing in the Holiday Hoops.

December 17, 2007 at 1:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

It seems like the unis will always be a product of personal preference. So be it.

What I really don't like is when people say 'they could care less' when they really mean that they 'couldn't care less.'

I know its a small detail but a supremely annoying one at that. Its like using double negatives and misappropriated pronouns that have no precluding antecedent.

December 17, 2007 at 1:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

My pet peeve: when people think 'lose' is spelled 'loose'

December 17, 2007 at 1:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Yeah bmc...

I sometimes feel like I'm chatting with my 9 year old. Makes he hard to figure out what someone's trying to say

"We one won when we where lose, and we lost won when we where not. Now we our won and won."

December 17, 2007 at 2:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

heeheehee...

December 17, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

My favorite is when people write "prolly" when they mean "probably".

December 17, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Hey, kushaw...I received an email this morning from the KU Alumni contact here in ATL. She (Erica Smith) said that she didn't have any info regarding when the team will arrive in town or where they are staying. She did mention meeting up with other fans with tix at Front Page News before the game...I'm guessing the Midtown location (1104 Crescent Ave.) since it is close to GT's campus. Here's her email: esmith2224@hotmail.com
Good luck.

December 17, 2007 at 3:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

soapboxstew (anonymous) says...

The uniforms are Crimson (not Red). Crimson is a B-E-A-Utiful color. I like the uniforms, but a little does go a long way (Good call rawk, and good reference to paprika), we need only to bust those bad boys out 2 or 3 times a year.
Chalmers looks like the 3 time POY in Alaska that I always thought that he would be. Right now, he looks like our best pro prospect. He has unlimited range, and could you imagine a defender like him in the NBA? He's gonna average 26.3 steals a game. I see him as a Gilbert Areanas (sp?), scoring point guard, only Mario plays defense.
How 'bout this: The better Mario plays, the better the chances that he will be gone after this year. Conversely, the worse that DA plays, the better our chances are of retaining him for his Jr. year.
Last but not least, GT is not the best team on our schedule, but I was worried about this game from the beginning of this season. First because of the recent history we have had against the jackets. Second because it is far away from home in that strange time of the season when school is out. Third because it is not far removed from our last game (the closest two games in time in our season so far). Last, if we were to loose a non-conference game, I thought that this would be it.

December 17, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...

Is there any rule prohibiting a team from mixing colors on the uniforms? Why not crimson tops with blue bottoms ... or visa versa? Also, I'd like to see the red uniforms on our players at KSU. It would throw them a curve.

December 17, 2007 at 3:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Hey that's a little different Chicago_J... more like internet slang or an abbreviation. Kinda like usin "ya" instead of "you", addin an "a" instead of sayin "of" or leavin "g" off of words, ya know?

December 17, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

93jayhawk (anonymous) says...

"Supposably. Supposably? 'Did they go to the zoo?' 'Supposably.'"

At any rate, I love the crimson unis. I seem to remember the 'Hawks busting them out one time in Norman, which I thought was brilliant.

All that's ancient history, and I'm just looking forward to a beat-down of GT and most of the rest of KU's schedule.

Rock Chalk!

Michael

December 17, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Jackson is by far the most improved player KU has. It has been fun watching him improve so much over the years. I hope he continues to do well and gets a shot at the NBA.

Still have no love for Kaun though. A little advice for ya Sasha, you don't have to shoot the ball everytime you touch it!!

December 17, 2007 at 4:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

klong...

Sasha and the other post players are very active in the post and they are rightly rewarded when the guards dump it inside to them. Furthermore, when they score the opposing defense must make an adjustment and sag to help and this helps to open up the perimeter even more. No love for Sasha? A got a little advice for ya Sasha, ignore klong.

December 17, 2007 at 5:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Dont know how we got on to literary pet peeves, but mine is "would of" or "should of" instead of "would have" or "should have" respectively. Grrr!

December 17, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Sasha's shooting percentage is a ridiculous 78% right now. I don't think that means he's shooting everytime he touches it. In fact, it means the exact opposite. He's been very selective. Also, he's been the best shot blocker on the team. He has a great sense of the ball on the defensive end.

I've ragged on the guy in the past, but lay off him. He's played great ball the last few weeks.

December 17, 2007 at 5:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

sasha kaun = qwertyuiop

December 17, 2007 at 7:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NH_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Sasha definitely adds needed depth to the lineup for the bigs, an advantage for us especially when fouls become an issue. Still wouldn't want him on the line late in the game though, even though he did make 2 in a row recently when the USC game was at a tipping point.

December 17, 2007 at 8:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

boomrsoonr26 (anonymous) says...

qwertyutiop? Whats that have to do with Sasha?

qwertyuiop = Top line of the keyboard, also the first "word" ever e-mailed during the testing of the first networks.

December 17, 2007 at 9:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Thanks for the basketball lesson jross! I know how the game is played. If his percentage is that high it is because of the lobs that our great guards serve him up. He is a good shot blocker that is the only credit I will give him. Maybe i'm wrong but I don't like him!

December 17, 2007 at 10:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

I've been a Sasha basher until two games ago. He's found the handle. Coming off the bench a few times helped him. Coming in as a sub sometimes helps players, because they spend a few minutes watching other players who can do it and they can visualize about what they will do. Getting yanked and watching is just punishment. Guys who are yanked don't really watch the game. They just replay everything that got them yanked. My god, every time he gets the ball within 8 feet he should shoot it, else why throw it into the post.

December 17, 2007 at 11:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

Sasha Kaun = Top line of the keyboard, also the first "word" ever e-mailed during the testing of the first networks

December 17, 2007 at 11:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

period

December 17, 2007 at 11:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Klong...

Forget about the basketball lesson, youve got bigger fish to fry bro. How about a life lesson? Kinda ignorant not to like someone simply because they are not as good as Michael Jordan. Making this kinda personal arent ya klong? Sasha may have ups and downs but he's a good kid who works hard and represents himself and this institution well (pretty crazy that I have to lay out his credentials on a personal level but I guess that is what this has come to). hopefully you mean you dont like his style of play. At least in that case I could have solid footing to point out that Self, who has much more experience in this whole..."coaching"..."thing"..., feels comfortable enough to trust Sasha in crucial game situations to let him play. Look, everybody has ups and downs. But to "not like" someone? however you mean it, it's probably inappropriate as it relates to this kid.

I make no apologies for saying so.

December 18, 2007 at 1:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Klong...

I'm glad you qualified your statement with "I may be wrong", because YES, you are wrong. Not often I'll say that about someone's opinion... but I have to be honest, here. You say he should stop shooting because why? He's missing too much? You DO need a basketball lesson, and as jross put it, some life lessons. The statement about Kaun's FG % only coming from the guards great lobs is ridiculous. Our other bigs dont have that high of a FG%, so is Sasha the only one getting good lob passes? The fact is, Sasha's FG% is what it is strictly because he does not force low % shots. Self's concern with Sasha is his making himself more available to take MORE shots, not less. So sorry to burst your bubble.

Jaybate... on to a respectful discussion! As I'm sure you know where I stand about Sasha (kinda obvious by now!)... I don't feel coming off the bench hasn't really caused a revelation or epiphany for him... it's just made him more available, and put him in the lineup at those times where others have been getting to be the ones who provide that spark off the bench.

My concern remains that starting Jackson will cost us at some point in time because he'll be the one on the bench with 5 fouls at the end of the game. Those first few minutes of the game are when refs typically want to establish a clean game, so that is when the ticky-tack fouls come. Sasha wasn't able to avoid those. Even if Darnell is more successful at avoiding them, what will still eventually happen is someone with a strong post game is going to open up a game scoring a lot inside... if we collapse down, then it opens up their outside game. I don't believe we're immune to that.

December 18, 2007 at 12:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )