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Saturday, January 13, 2007

Image is everything

Robinson glad he kept his cool during last year's Iowa State visit

By Gary Bedore

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Ames, Iowa — Russell Robinson will defend himself if and when it is deemed necessary on the basketball court. The soft-spoken Kansas University basketball point guard, however, has a policy of never being one to instigate trouble.

"I am here at Kansas representing a lot more than myself. I'm representing the university," Robinson said.

He returns today to the scene of last year's trash-talking episode with former Iowa State guard Curtis Stinson, who has moved on and won't be playing (will he be watching in the stands?) when the Cyclones (11-5 overall, 2-0 Big 12 Conference) tangle with Robinson's Jayhawks (14-2, 1-0) at 1 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.

"That's not the image you want to give out, to give to the young kids watching and stuff," Robinson said of barking at opponents. "I'm the type of person who always lets the scoreboard do the talking."

Admittedly, Robinson was a bit puzzled when fellow New Yorker Stinson glared at him and barked, 'We'll see you in Lawrence,'" after Robinson scored 18 points and dished four assists in KU's 95-85 victory last Jan. 28 in Hilton Coliseum.

After the rematch in Lawrence - another KU victory (88-75) - Stinson, using an expletive, challenged Robinson to a summertime 1-on-1 game on the hardcourts of New York.

The two have yet to play that game.

Stinson, who left ISU after three seasons, signed to play professionally in Croatia after not being selected in the 2006 NBA Draft. He's since returned to the U.S. and reportedly is back in New York considering his future options in basketball.

"Nah, I haven't run into Stinson," Robinson said. "I heard he was overseas playing. I think that was an inner-city feud. (Also) we had a young team last year. It's the main thing that got to him ... losing to a whole bunch of young guys."

Robinson said he was never tempted to take a poke at Stinson.

"I'm just trying to be the bigger person. We had the game won. There's no reason for me to do anything," Robinson said. "I may have said my little thing back to him. The main thing I told him to do was look at the scoreboard. We were up by 20. I think that's the main thing that made him mad. He's a good kid, but you know ..."

Stinson's three-year backcourt partner, Will Blalock, also left ISU after three seasons. The last pick in the 2006 Draft, Blalock, who was never as chatty on the court as Stinson, is a contributing member of the Detroit Pistons.

photo

Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

Iowa State's Mike Taylor celebrates during the second half of the Cyclones' 71-62 victory over Nebraska. Taylor led the Cyclones with 22 points in that victory Wednesday in Ames, Iowa.

"No Stinson. No Blalock, which means they will be a lot hungrier," Robinson said of the current ISU team. "This is college basketball. A lot of guys are capable. You need to go out and do the things you need to do every night."

First-year coach Greg McDermott's Cyclones are led by two players he signed in April - junior college point guard Mike Taylor and small forward Wesley Johnson - who average 16.4 and 12.1 points per game, respectively.

Holdovers from last year's team - forward Jiri Hubalek and guard Rahshon Clark - average 9.5 and 8.7 tallies per contest.

"Iowa State has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the league," KU coach Bill Self said of a team that has opened Big 12 play with a win at Missouri and at home versus Nebraska.

"Greg is a terrific coach. He's proven it at the other stops he's been at (Northern Iowa, Wayne State, North Dakota State). They run a ton of stuff. Hilton Coliseum has been good to us at times and greeted Kansas very unfavorably at times. We know we'll have our hands full."

The Jayhawks, who are 17-18 all-time at Hilton, are 2-1 in Ames under Self, who this season brings a No. 6-rated squad to town to play an unranked foe.

"Kansas is playing extremely well right now," McDermott said. "Oklahoma State is an excellent team. What Kansas was able to accomplish against a very good team (an 87-57 victory Wednesday) was very impressive . They are talented across the board. They get everybody's best shot. That's why the scores are closer than you might guess in some of their games."

McDermott laughed when asked which co-Big 12 player of the year he feared most - Brandon Rush (13.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg) or Julian Wright (11.6, 7.9).

"You can flip a coin. They are both very talented," McDermott said. "Julian Wright has been so impressive in what he does defensively, how many positions he can guard - whether power forward or switches to point guard, he can be effective.

"Both can slash, are athletic, can score in different ways. They have many pieces around them and have so many guys coming off the bench, it's tough to provide help or you'll get burned in a different way. Both are talented players who will be playing at the next level at some point in time."

The Jayhawks will return home to meet rival Missouri at 8 p.m. Monday at Allen Fieldhouse. There's no chance of overlooking the Cyclones before then, Robinson says.

"I will definitely be fired up just because it's in Ames. We played well there last year. We'll try to do that again," Robinson said. "Everybody knows how important league play is. This league is a lot better than what we initially thought. Teams are good. We've got to go out and get better."

KU vs. Iowa State

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Comments

Jclarkson (anonymous) says...

"I am here at Kansas representing a lot more than myself. I'm representing the university," Robinson said.

Russell truly is someone who gets the bigger picture here. He's someone know knows how he represents more than himself. He's representing his team, university and everyone associated with it. Personally, Im glad he is still here. I know rumors circulated after his freshman year that he may have left, but whether or not they were substantiated is not important.

I'm looking forward to playing Iowa State. Should be a fun game. Conference play is always fun.

January 13, 2007 at 4:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mitch (anonymous) says...

Let's just hope they can get a win in Ames without suffering any casualties. Hilton will always be a tough place to play and the Cyclones wil throw everything at the Jayhawks in an attempt to make a statement in front of their fans that they intend to be a force in the conference this year. Robinson is right. Let the scoreboard do the talking. The Jayhawks are showing signs of improvement. A road win against a highly competitive Iowa State team would show they intend to continue to improve throughout the season. Go 'Hawks!

January 13, 2007 at 7:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Win over Florida? Scintillating! The pickups from USC squared (cali and carolina) and BC? We'll take em! And the win over OSU? Gave us joy in mudville.

Newsflash:
The party's over and it's back to business.

Sitting on our laurel wreaths won't win the game for us tonight. Yeah, yeah...some of you are thinking, "Why the admonishment. After all, this is Iowa State!" Hmm...okay. But did anybody tell that to DePaul or even ORU when they put it to us in the 'House (cause I think they missed the memo)? KU's big challenge this year has been not playing down to the competition.

To me this game is significant not only because it's a conference matchup and it's on the road, but because many of us are perhaps thinking that KU has turned the corner and shed the ways of the past semester (namely, the inconsistency). This afternoon's game puts that idea to the test. Have we come far enough to put it together against a team we should beat handily without having a letdown in performance? Will we jump out on ISU only to have them come back and make it interesting in the second half? Will we conquer the "big win hangover" and not be caught half-lifeless?

We shall soon see...

But I tell you what, this Iowa State game--contrary to a lot of peoples' notions going into it--will say a lot about where we are when the clock says 0:00:00.

go hawks!!!

January 13, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

Just like Kansas played up to Florida's level, many teams play at a higher level when they take on the Jayhawks. KU constantly plays with a target on its back and the higher in the polls the bigger the bullseye.

These kids are well aware of that and coach Self has continually reminded them of that. I don't believe they'll take anyone for granted, but if the other team gets hot and a couple of key players for KU have an off-day things can be dicey.

The 3-pt shot can be a great equalizer in this day and age. Unfortunately for Kansas, it's often the kid that couldn't hit the roof of his grandparents' barn that shoots lights-out against the 'Hawks.

I have faith the young Jayhawks will play at their best level today and the rest of the year. Rock Chalk!

January 13, 2007 at 10:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Taking exception if I may. Kansas did not "play up" to Florida's level. Putting it so implies we are the inferior team. The fact of the matter is we played up to our potential.

Also, the fact that Coach Self reminds players of things doesn't mean it translates to the game!!! How else do you explain his frustration in the first half of the season with the issues we had on the court. Were those issues things he never talked about? Certainly not! Im sure he reminded them of the problems then, and yet inconsistency plagued us. Im not saying we havent turned the corner, Im saying theres a hole in your logic. Just because players "know" something and/or are "reminded" of something doesn't mean, necessarily, that come gametime it will pan out the way we want it to.

I have faith in the Jayhawks as well. I like what Ive seen of late. I just want to see some sign that when theres a "drop off" in the level of competition that KU wont let up.

January 13, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rushlover22 (anonymous) says...

My main concern is the team looking forward to Missouri. I mean they play a big rival Monday so hopefully they can out off thinking about the Tigers till after this game. If they do what they did to OSU they should win. Ku just needs to play their game and let ISU try to keep up. Game time is coming up and I can't wait!! Rock Chalk Jayhawks!!!! Go get another win boys!

January 13, 2007 at 12:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )