Thursday, March 1, 2007

Jayhawks guaranteed share of Big 12 title

KU can claim crown outright with victory Saturday against Texas in Allen Fieldhouse

By Gary Bedore

Advertisement

Kansas University's men's basketball team has wrapped up at least a share of the school's 50th conference championship.

"Yes, we're excited about that, but our excitement is tempered. We have a chance to win it outright instead of share it three ways," KU coach Bill Self said late Wednesday night after he, his wife and two children watched on high-definition TV as Texas beat Texas A&M, 98-96, in double overtime.

The Longhorns' victory gave Kansas (13-2) a one-game lead in the standings over Texas (12-3) and Texas A&M (12-3) with each having one game left on the slate.

"We'll celebrate only if we take care of business Saturday," Self added.

KU will win the crown outright if it downs Texas in an 11 a.m. tipoff Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. A Texas victory would propel the Longhorns into a tie for the title. A KU loss and A&M victory over Missouri at 3 p.m. in College Station also would give the Aggies a share of the league prize.

"That was an unbelievably great game, about as good a game as I can remember watching," Self said of the Texas-Texas A&M thriller. "Certainly it topped the three-overtime game (between Texas and Oklahoma State) because of what was at stake. There was some high-level ball going on tonight.

"I was really hoping that game could go two more overtimes and have both those teams worn out," he cracked.

Make no mistake about it - KU is happy to earn a share of yet another league title.

Yet there won't be any wild celebrating at practice today.

"It's still incomplete. We have a game to play," Self said. "We said all along 13-3 would tie and 14-2 would win it outright. We said that before conference play. Now we have a great opportunity playing at home. We'll be playing a hungry team coming in with those young guys who play with no fear."

Self realizes the Jayhawks will certainly benefit from a loud crowd Saturday morning.

"The fieldhouse has to rock. I'm sure it will. It will be the best atmosphere with stakes so high," Self said.

He believes the KU students will bring their A-game for the early start.

"The game is at 11. I'm sure they'll go to bed early Friday," he quipped. "I'm sure that'll happen. Think back to the Georgia Tech game and how loud that was after New Year's Eve. Do you remember that crowd? It was a great crowd."

Indeed, the fans rocked the fieldhouse during a 70-68 overtime victory over Georgia Tech back on Jan. 1, 2005.

The game took place just 13 hours after the clock ticked midnight on New Year's Eve.

"Pure basketball fans will enjoy it because they have very good players and we do also. There will be some hard-rocking guys on the court. Anytime Texas and Kansas play the games have been fabulous," Self said.

¢ Honorees: KU sophomores Brandon Rush and Julian Wright were named to the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches District 12 first team Wednesday. They were joined by Nate Funk, Creighton; Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State; and Adam Haluska, Iowa.

Last year, Rush was named to the District 12 second team.

This year, Rush leads Kansas in scoring with a 13.7 points-per-game average while playing a team-high 32 minutes per game. Rush also ranks second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per game.

Julian Wright is tied for second on the team in scoring with Mario Chalmers at 11.8 ppg. He has grabbed a team-leading 8.0 rebounds per contest and is second in blocks with 44.

District 12 includes schools from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Dakota and South Dakota. The teams are selected by member coaches of the NABC. With their selection, Rush and Wright are now eligible for selection to the NABC's Division 1 All-American Teams.

¢ Robertson finalists: Freshmen Kevin Durant of Texas and Greg Oden of Ohio State are two of five finalists for the 2007 Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is awarded by the U.S. Basketball Writers Assn., to the country's top player. Other finalists: Wisconsin senior Alando Tucker, Florida junior Joakim Noah and North Carolina sophomore Tyler Hansbrough. The winner will be named at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast March 30 in Atlanta, site of the Final Four.

Comments

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

Gotta play tough, get this win and another conference title for coach Self and the boys. Pretty good so far. To all you Self haters.....What ya got to say now?

March 1, 2007 at 12:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lrahardja (anonymous) says...

Hope Self has good anti-dote for Durant and Augustin. Whatever they don't like, hope they won't learn it in 2 days.

March 1, 2007 at 1:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

indyhawk (anonymous) says...

Bill will have the guys ready to play --- They know whats at stake! The hawks have had all week so far to prepare for this game and now all they have to do is play to their potential on both sides of the ball. Texas isn't much past Durant and Augustin -- If the kittys down the road can beat them then we should too. It will be a tough one but a great one!

Rock Chalk!

March 1, 2007 at 2:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Brock (anonymous) says...

The Hawks need to play with more heart than they did against OU. They stunk in the second half of that game! The Horns won't quit.

Brock

March 1, 2007 at 5:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justinryman (anonymous) says...

Julian needs to be in beast mode, Momma Rush needs to tell her son to go hard to the basket, Mario needs to keep playing as he has the past two games, Russell needs to be Russell and Sheron and Shady need to step up like they did against K-State. Jackson, Kahn and the Bench Boys needs to add that spark and keep the energy high.
I know as a KU faithful the crowd will be awsomely loud, can't wait to see it on tv, here in Nebraska.

March 1, 2007 at 6:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ttoulouse (anonymous) says...

I'm predicting a suffocating defense on Saturday. Durant will have stars in his eyes when the Fieldhouse erupts and it's going to scare the poop out of him - a completely unfamiliar environment. I predict a slim KU victory with Durant getting 10pts off of free throws and garbage shots. There's no way he's shooting threes against us like he did against A&M last night. we have too much length.

March 1, 2007 at 6:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

MarcoPolo (anonymous) says...

I admit I have been harshly critical of Bill Self on a couple of occasions and have accused him of being outcoached -- most notably at home against A&M earlier this year (with bad free-throw shooters in the game late)and losing in the first round of the dance two years ago with a senior-laden team. But, he will never be outcoached by Rick Barnes in Texas.

I have always thought that Barnes got the least out of the most talent in the Big 12, but last night (despite the "lucky" win) he really showed his lack of coaching ability. Not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions he had a chance to foul when his team was up 3 points with just a few seconds to play. (Perhaps he or his coaching staff had never heard of Acie Law, so he allowed Law to SHOOT from beyond the arc and tie the game twice -- once in regulation and once in the first overtime Why? How absolutely stupid!

To win a game down 3 with very few seconds to go when you're at the foul line is almost impossible. (KU did pull it off at Missouri several years ago -- but it takes an absolute miracle to do so.)

Only by letting A&M inside the 3-point line and allowing them to make a nearly uncontested 2-point basket (fouling would have accomplished the same thing) was Texas able to pull out the game Barnes tried to give away twice!!

Make no mistake about it, both Texas and TAM are very talented basketball teams and KU needs to bring their "A" game on Saturday to defeat the Longhorns. Regardless of the outcome, the final result will not be because Barnes outcoaches Self -- it just won't happen!

March 1, 2007 at 6:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

MarcoPolo is correct. If KU brings its A game, it will win, if not, another shared championship. Stopping Durant is impossible, KU must out score him.

March 1, 2007 at 7:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

A BIG one...win and you're No. 1, lose and you're No. 3.

March 1, 2007 at 7:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

Acie Law makes me so mad. He can always hit the three when needed. He got over Durant to get them into over time and then like 20 seconds left he gets another for double over time!
Go hawks and good luck

March 1, 2007 at 7:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

austin5string (anonymous) says...

C'mon Hawks - you gotta BRING it on Saturday. I'm a born and raised Jayhawk living in Austin. I've got enough friends and coworkers that are huge UT fans that life always sucks just a little bit more down here when we lose to UT. UT has one of the most ego-ridden sports programs I've ever seen - they feel they're entitled to championships. Let's step up and crush the cows this weekend. While they're not a bad team, on an overall talent level we have them dominated. I'm predicting a KU win by 15+.

March 1, 2007 at 7:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

notabandwagonfan (anonymous) says...

i dont know marco polo, texas had some hard times getting the ball in bounds. I dont know if i'd intentionally give them free points when my players couldnt handle the press that a&m gave them, if i was barnes. Not saying he's a great coach, it just goes to show that billy gilespe can get the best out of everyone of his players. Billy will out-coach all but probably 5 coaches in America However, i do think that Self is in that top 5. And if there is a rematch, it wont happen twice!

March 1, 2007 at 8:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I was getting so pissed off last night watching that game. That was the worst clock management I've seen in a while. First off, Texas has horrible in-bounding after a made basket. Second, as a point guard, how do you get trapped 40 feet from the basket after you have already broken the press? UT surrendered multiple 4 point leads and a 7 point lead with a minute to go.

That said, Law is unbelieveable. Guy drives me crazy with that knuckleball he throws up there. I really hope they go far in the dance and this season wasn't all for not. That would piss me off even more.

Let's get it done Sat. I agree with Yates, you can't stop Durant. But you can make it difficult for him. You absolutely have to take away the three. If you do that he gets out of control. Even then, he makes a lot of circus shots. Can't do nuthin' 'bout that. Play smart and keep the intensity up and we'll be just fine. Out.

March 1, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

Funny, Marcopolo, what was Barnes number? I can't find him on the roster. Did it ever occur to you that you can tell your team, especially a bunch of freshmen, what you want them to do, and they don't execute? On one of the miracle threes, it appeared from Barnes reaction that he had told them to do it and they didn't get it done. I look at how a team, especially a young team, improves. Texas is so much better now than they were earlier in the season. I can't believe I'm holding up for UT and Barnes. If I had to choose between a good coach that can recruit the best talent, and a great game coach, I will take the first. Texas is loaded. Even without Durant next year, they will be contenders, as they usually are under Barnes.
I think the Jayhawks will play well Saturday. It is clear what is at stake... win and they are champions, lose and they are three-way co-champs and the three seed in Dallas. They have had time to rest and focus. No excuses. And I don't think they will need any.

March 1, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

one_time,
You have no frame of reference. We're all dumber after having read your comments.

March 1, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

If you really want to talk about overrated coaches, my vote goes to Jim Calhoun. Talk about a guy who can't develop talent. If his team is not completely superior athletically and with talent, you see what happens.

March 1, 2007 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

beebe1 (anonymous) says...

Texas should have won in the first OT. Obviously Durant can't guard Acie; and Rush backed off of him and let him score the winning basket against us. When you are down to 9 seconds, you have to change the game. My thoughts:

1. Double team Acie (in our case Durant this week.)

2. Put the other three defendants in a sort of zone, guarding the 3 point area. Let them score the two, and if you have to leave one guy free, make it a big guy who doesn't shoot from the perimeter.

3. DON'T pick up the ball after a made shot. Make the ref hand it to you.

4. Don't take the ball from the ref unless you have your team mates lined up for the inbounds.

5. Stay at the inbounds end, then send two running lickety split for the other end; inbound with a pass that drops in front of them and score the two. (Unless their defenders are way back in which case you could inbounds to your own guy about center court.)

6. Double team Acie (or Durant in our case) and guard the 3 pt area again, if you have to.

7. DON'T foul a 3 point shot!

8. Let them go free in the two point area, but don't let the guy in the 2 pt area pass out to the 3 area, or walk back out to the three area for another try.

It is surprising to me to see how poor all teams are at guarding the three point area in a clutch situation like that!

March 1, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ColfromColorado (anonymous) says...

Some fans are mighty indeed. If BS would just pay more attention to them, everything would be ok. Bill Self is an excellent coach and an excellent recruiter. His team has only four losses and is ranked 3rd in the Nation. Is there anything that would make you happy?

I respect Acie Law IV. He is an excellent player and will be playing at the next level. I got to watch him play OU in Norman. He's the biggest treat to remember from that game. He took the 2nd half over right from the start of the half. It was great to watch.

No, you might slow Durant down, you won't stop him. Like Acie, he is too good to stop. KU will need to outscore him and Augustine. And KU can. I expect KU to win on Saturday. I'll be rooting for them!!!

March 1, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTamale (anonymous) says...

I am so glad that Texas won last night...had A&M won the game, then i may have had to cheer for mizzou to beat the aggies!!!

Cheering for MIZZOU goes against everything I stand for...uhh, gross!!!

Would you guys have cheered for the Tigers to beat the Aggies on Saturday had A&M defeated Texas last night?

Let me know what you think...

March 1, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Hell yeah, but it wouldn't happen

March 1, 2007 at 8:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

beebe1 (anonymous) says...

Well, I got so excited watching the game last night, it took me about two and a half hours to fall asleep. I hope we start off well and maintain our intensity on Saturday!

March 1, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

We have a sad history of folding when the chips are on the line. We can put that behind us on Sat and give ourselves a real launch for Mch Madness. We have been handed an opportunity--we had better take it!!!

March 1, 2007 at 8:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

It will be good to have this "mini" test on Saturday to see how well we can play against a Top 15 team with the added pressure Big 12 tournament seeding on the line.

A win not only adds another big win to the resume but also gets the #1 seed. A loss drops us to a #3 seed and makes you wonder if that string of blowout victories against average teams was just that.

I think it all hinges on KU play the tough, aggressive defense we have seen them play before.

March 1, 2007 at 9:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

trvlronda (anonymous) says...

The Big 12 title is KU's to loose. Self and the team WILL bring their A game. In addition, WE all need to bring it on Saturday. I want everyone in the Fieldhouse to be on their feet and let their voices be heard all the way back to Texas. Rock Chalk Jayhawk GO KU!

March 1, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

MarcoPolo (anonymous) says...

For those of you old enough to remember when Sparky Anderson managed Detroit in the American League, he lived by one adage when his team played the Royals, "I will not let George Brett beat me." Consequently, he pitched around him on dozens of occasions.

Barnes (and Self too) could adapt that same philosophy when playing A&M in a tight game with Acie Law in the line-up -- just decide that someone else for A&M must take the pressure shot -- or let Law shoot 2 free-throws and find his team down one point with just a few seconds left.

'Ol Roy lost 100 games at KU and Self less than 30. Were they outcoached in all the losses? Of course not!

But it makes little difference whether you are No. 3 or No. 333, when you lose a game you could have won because of poor strategy or being outthought -- that's a bad loss. And I still contend that Barnes was lucky last night....

Bill Self is a far better recruiter and coach than Rick Barnes is (and he always will be).

March 1, 2007 at 9:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

r1ck_jayhawk (anonymous) says...

Big_tamale, you asked if I would root for the Black and Gold kittens... I would after the 11th of March this year (until football season starts). I will always root for the Big 8 after the Big 12 tourney. Unfortunately, it is looking like I won't have much of a chance for that this year. The only teams in contention from the Big 8 are us and K-state. As hard as it is, I would even root for the Chicken Abusers in the Big Dance.

Rock Chalk.

March 1, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmwskywalk (anonymous) says...

I've got news for you guys. A loss will NOT drop us to a 3 seed. Look at the difference between the top 8 teams in the nation. With that said, it won't matter. We'll win on Saturday.

March 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

If there is a 3-way tie for the regular season champion, I see the league reviewing their policies and changing some things that would give the title to a single team... outright. Not this season but in the future.

It would probably all come down to head-to-head match ups and then overall league wins v. losses and then maybe points for and against.

To have 3 co-champions is kind of flimsy and cheap. The league will fix that...

March 1, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

vmwskywalk, the 3 seed is in reference to the conference tourney.

March 1, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cellogrl (anonymous) says...

2 comments here. First Big Tamale, yes I would root for Mizzou to beat A & M and I still kind of will be just as a safety net for us.

Second, vmwskywalk, they are talking about a loss dropping us to a 3 seed in the big 12 tournament not the NCAAs. Just to clear that up. :)

March 1, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

EvanstonReader (anonymous) says...

I think people are refering to the Big 12 tourny seeding when it comes to a 3 or 1 seed.

March 1, 2007 at 10:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURUSH1530 (anonymous) says...

An exciting time is upon us..one more regular season game to go. Bill has done a great job down the stretch, despite the second half at OU..which I think was planned to scare all you hawk fans out there. Stop Augustin from driving to the hoop, close out on the rest of there guards and they won't do anything. Then, scramble like hell to stop this Durant MAN (he is a man, despite his age). Whoever said he'd get 10 points earlier in the message board must have been sleeping while he was typing, cause that was a dream. This MAN will get close to his average..but we've got too much in the tank and it's time to grab this big 12 championship by it's horns and take it.

March 1, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmwskywalk (anonymous) says...

My bad. I thought you were referring to the NCAA tourney.

On kind of a different note. Personally, in the past I have felt that teams that go far in the Big 12 tourney haven't faired very well in the NCAA. I don't believe that is the case this year or last year. Any thoughts?

March 1, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

MarcoPolo. I respectfully disagree with your entire thought process on a team's performance and how that invariably is based around a coach's ability to coach them.

I am drawing the conclusion that you think only bad coaching can allow a great team to be upset by a lesser one. You do not factor in that there's always going to be fluctuations in how well guys shoot the ball. This doesn't mean they choked. This doesn't mean they weren't prepared. There are always ups & downs in performance, no matter what the sport, no matter how good the competition. There's going to be emotional ups & downs, and one game NEVER tells you everything you need to know about a team as a whole.

You also continue to use the "why is sasha in the game at the 1:38 mark" argument about the A&M game. I'm tired of beating that dead horse. But that is just plain wrong. KU was up 3 with 1:38. You go do some research and see how many other great coaches take out any starter who is a 50% FT shooter in that situation. Not many. And even LESS intentionally foul when they are down only 3 with 1:38 left. I don't respect the argument that it was a bad coaching decision whatsoever.

There's also a problem I see with your solution of the game last night of fouling Law while up 3 with a few seconds to play. That gets them to cut it to 2 with the clock stopped. Then they still have adequate time to intentionally miss the 2nd shot and try for a rebound. Then they only need a two, or a three wins the game.

I'm not saying I have real strong convictions either way, but what I'm saying is, you're basing you criticism of coaching decisions strictly on hindsight. You can say every close game was won or lost because of a coaching move. You say Gillespie "outcoached" Self because a risky move worked out in his favor. That's all based on hindsight, which doesn't make you right. It makes you observant. You observed that a move cost us in a certain situation. That doesn't mean it was the wrong move. It means that was just one situation in which a player didn't execute. And there were TONS of those in that game down the stretch.

Another thing that goes into "coaching" that you dont' seem to consider, is that part of "coaching" is being able to sometimes sacrifice the best game-management decision in order to put a player in a situation so he can learn from it. What if we play A&M in the final four, it goes triple overtime, and Arthur, Jackson and practically everybody else has fouled out. And we HAVE to leave Kahn in, even down to the last seconds. Don't you think it's a valuable experience for him to have already been put in some late game pressure situations?

All I'm saying is, there's more that goes into coaching than just making sure the best possible lineup is on the floor for 40 minutes. Those that don't understand that should step back and just watch the game, take it in, savor it, and stop second-guessing.

March 1, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayloco (anonymous) says...

one time-that was a ridiculous post man. If we were on American Idol, I would be Randy Jackson telling you "It wasn't good dude. I wasn't feeling your post" Not sure what you are trying to say. If you are a true KU fan, you know nothing less than a Final Four appearance and Natl Title will please the KU Nation. To say we focus on just the conference title is a little ridiculous. As okjhok mentioned, not sure what your frame of reference is on your post. A conference title is a conference title, there is no "paper title" about it. I would rather win a regular season conference title that spans 16 games, than a tourney title that doesn't mean much anyway and if anything can hinder your team getting ready for the Big Dance.

I will be at the game on Saturday and I plan on not having a voice after that game is over. KU fans need to get loud and back the Hawks. Texas played great last night, but doing it on the road will be a far different task. I hope we play with intensity and seal the deal on another conference title.

March 1, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

I'm glad that KU won the Big 12 for the third straight year, but let's win it all to ourselves. I'm sick of sharing the title, as we did for the last two years. Let's win our first outright title for the first time since 2003!

March 1, 2007 at 11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

How is the Big XII title a "paper title". Nice boxing reference with the "paper champ" thing. "Paper" implies that the fans, media or NCAA awarded it to them without any competition. example: ksu fans are excited about their 2008 paper conference champions.

KU winning a conference title is big deal no matter what. ksu, mizzou, texas a&m etc, would be thrilled to win the Big XII title. Maybe this has diminished around here since KU has won HALF of the league titles they've been involved with in the last 100 years. Last time I checked, the NCAA titleless streak for basketball, was longer for every team in the BIG XII but Kansas.

March 1, 2007 at 11:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

goldlighting (anonymous) says...

Big Tamale, Mizzsuck would willingly lose to keep KU from winning another big 12 title. IMHO of course!
So funny how Mizzsuck goes crazy (remember the Bucknell t-shirts in Columbia?) when we lose in the big dance, and they do not even get invited. Talk about the need to get a life, when they start lining their walls with banners then maybe somebody would take their rants to heart rather than discard them merely has misguided musings from a unwanted step child.

March 1, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

bebee-sorry Durant and Rush and everyone else that has played A&M this year didnt do good enough guarding Law with time running out to impress you. Maybe you could try. The first 3 he hit in regulation two Texas defenders were in his face. He had to shoot it at a very high arc just so Durant wouldnt block it. Great defense, even better shot.

March 1, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I think if they share it this year, it's completely worthless in my opinion. Because they'd be sharing it with two teams that they lost to. I think the Conference tournament should be counted as part of the regular season, and in case of a tie, it goes to who went farthest in the tourney.

March 1, 2007 at 11:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawker_97 (anonymous) says...

as long as this game is not televised on espn, hawks is going to soar!!! trust me on this one!!! we'll beat them at least by 10 points!!!

March 1, 2007 at 11:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Jayloco,
I agree with everything you said about the BXII reg. season title. With this one, we best Kentucky by one to have the most conference titles ever which is quite an accomplishment. I have to respectfully disagree, though, with your statement that the tourney doesn't mean much, at least for this year. A poor showing in the tourney this year may lose us a #1 seed. I do agree with you in that I share the thought that giving your all in a conf. tourney burns you out for the NCAAs, but this year I think we need a strong showing in the BXII tourney if we want a #1 - consider it a necessary evil. I wish the tourneys didn't even exist, but unfortunately they do, so let's hope for another tourney title this year! Of course my entire argument about the tournament is likely null and void without a win Saturday - we MUST take care of business. go hawks beat durant!

March 1, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I'm going back to the 1 vs. 2 argument, and I'm not sure a 1-seed is the best thing for us. If we get the 1, I doubt it will be in STL. I think the Big Ten will get it, depending on what happens in the tournament.

March 1, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jbrownjib (anonymous) says...

I think the conference title needs perspective because the Big XII south is tremendously tougher than the North. We are lucky to hold the title. Texas A&M beat us on our home court and easily could have beaten Texas last night in Austin. Texas Tech is a serious rival as well. The conference tourney will be a big test of the quality of our team.

March 1, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkitup (anonymous) says...

I'm pretty sure we're going lay a smackdown on Texas this Saturday. Its sort of like last year when KU had all that confidence and then got smacked by Texas. I think it'll be the same way this year only flipped. Texas is soaring high after their win against A&M. However, I really think the Hawks are going to have a Red & Blue smackdown this Saturday.

rock chalk jayhawk go ku!!

March 1, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

couranna1 (anonymous) says...

Julian will step up and Durant will be shut down except towards the end when the game is decided

KU 84
Texas 67

Wrapping up the Big XII title and a #1 seed

rock chalk jayhawk! ku!!!

March 1, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

jbrownjib-coulda, woulda, shoulda. We could of beat A&M, but we didnt. A&M could of beat Tech but they didnt either time. They could of beaten Texas but they never lead in either overtime. We could of choked against Mizzou, ISU, or OU but we didnt. Whoever wins the conference on Saturday deserves to be called conference champions.

March 1, 2007 at 1:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

It's not our fault the BIG XII north sucks. The argument about the South being stronger thus A&M and Texas being more deserving would have more credance if:

a) KU wasn't undefeated in the North, (doing exactly what they were supposed to do).
b) Texas hadn't lost at home to KSU
c) A&M had beaten Texas Tech once this year, thus eliminating this as a discussion in the first place

Blame mizzou, isu, Nebraska, and Colorado. At least (and this is the least I will ever credit them with) KSU is trying to get better, bringing in Thuggins and some talent. The South sucked for years and things will probably go back-and-forth forever.

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

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Here's the thing.

There is more riding on a win on Saturday than just the regular season conference championship. A victory also gives us a win over a top-20 team. An impressive win makes a case for a legitimate number one seed. Kansas probably controls their seed fate, especially if we face A and M and/or Texas AGAIN in the Big XII tournament and win that/those game(s). It would sure be hard to deny them a number 1.

March 1, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

There is something else riding on the game: legitimacy. Kansas had an easier road to the regular season conference championship than Texas and Texas A/M. We played all the teams in the north twice. Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa State, and Kansas State. It is possible that NONE of these teams will appear in the NCAA tournament. The South, on the other hand, has Texas, Texas A and M, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma. It is possible that FOUR of those teams will go to the tournament.

What is my point? Texas and Texas A/M clearly had a tougher time in the conference schedule than did Kansas. To stake our claim--at least morally--we need to show we can beat Texas. Otherwise, we will have lost to the top teams of the South as we share in the conference title. Thats not the way Id like to win the conference. In pockets of the old black south, they'd call that "winning on a 'humbug'". Today's vernacular would say the title should come with an "asterisk". Either way, we need to win on Saturday for MANY reasons.

March 1, 2007 at 2:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Not only that but just because we can and should want to. If KU played Saturday's game like it were for the national championship, then we'd have a pretty good feel for how this team is going to 'show' during the big dance.

Anything less would really infuse a sense of doubt and concern in the minds of JayNation. We don't want to slip back into that pattern of inconsistency.

March 1, 2007 at 2:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

radrhett (anonymous) says...

I agree with jross's sentiment regarding the legitimacy of winning the conference title and not having beaten the top teams from the South. Let's hope our guys play with the intensity that Texas will certainly show on Saturday.

Outside of a general respect issue, I don't really see what difference it makes what we are seeded. Given the parity in college basketball this year, all the potential number ones are flawed and cases can be made for and against seeding any of them number one. The biggest knock against the Hawks is not a lack of talent, but a lack of consistent intensity for 40 minutes. The conference tournaments will determine the number one seeds, and if for some crazy reason KU is seeded a number 2 - we'll still face a tough but winnable road.

March 1, 2007 at 2:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

jross is right. If we lose Saturday then we truly are only the third best team in the conference, undisputed. If Both A&M and Texas came up here and beat us, plus the loss to Tech, then everyone would know that we dont deserve to be tied with A&M and Texas.
However, if we win, well thats another story. Biggest game of the regular season Saturday. KU has already lost two home games this year, I would be shocked if we lost again.

March 1, 2007 at 2:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

It's funny that everyone is arguing about why we should win Saturday. Like somewhere a KU fan is saying: "No, we should purposely lose. Beating Texas is a bad idea."
Other reasons KU should try to beat Texas Saturday:

1) The kids
2) Local T-Shirt companies
3) The price of beef is still insane
4) Greg Oden needs KU to hurt Durant's NBA stock
5) The Big XII doesn't want to pay the extra $20 to have Jayhawk Trophy correct the name on the trophy (it already says: "Kansas Jayhawks (insert year)"

Otherwise, winning might be good for NCAA Tournament seeding.

March 1, 2007 at 2:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

If there are KU fans that think we should lose on Saturday I strongly disagree for several reasons.
Hopefully, the KU players and Bill Self agree with me.

March 1, 2007 at 2:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

TheSychophant (anonymous) says...

jross1972 is right on point. YES, it is about our legitimacy. You are absolutely right. You articulated the point very clearly and succiently. Great post. Now, I want to hear all of you on my TV set Saturday morning. I wish I had tickets. Its gonna be a barnburner.

March 1, 2007 at 3:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

pilot100 (anonymous) says...

What's with Andy Katz,and Ricky Barnes. The two of them have the hawks buried and gone. See the article at ESPN. Katz sucks!!

March 1, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

It should come as no surprise that someone from ESPN has us buried and gone--the only two people that have any belief in Kansas to do anything this year are Jay Bilas, Doug Gottlieb, the team, and us--that's it and that's all we need. Let the "experts" sit in their hole in Bristol, connecticut try to downplay what we see out in KANSAS on a daily basis -- we know how good this team is, and therefore we have the power to say " I told ya so!!!!" in April!

March 1, 2007 at 4:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

And I realize Bilas and Gottlieb work for ESPN, but all the other basketball analysts that work for them seem to count us out for various ridiculous reasons

March 1, 2007 at 4:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

marcopolo....In regulation Barnes called a timeout. When no one fouled Law after the timeout and he hit the three ESPN replayed his reaction. He was mad because he wanted them to foul but his players didn't.

They fouled in overtime and are lucky it wasn't called a technical. Law is the type of guy you can foul and he will still hit the three pointer then you would second guess that decision.

Rick Barnes is a good coach who has already been to a Final Four. Lucky for us some of his best players have left early (Ford/ Aldridge). This is almost an all Freshmen team for Texas outside of AJ yet they were very close to winning the conference outright.

Durant will leave but Texas will be very good in the next few years. Imagine if Boggans doesn't hit a couple of miracle threes and if Martin for K-state hits one less three pointer. Then Texas would have only 1 Big 12 loss and would be in first with 7 Freshmen. Durant is unreal, but they have accomplished quite a bit this year. The only double digit losses for Texas were at Villanova and Texas A&M.

My brother used to rip Barnes and said that he did nothing with talent and sucked. Then during the tournament before Texas went to the Final Four I said Texas could win it all. My brother said no way because they have no great players. so which was it, all talent and no coach or no good players? They made the Final Four?

March 1, 2007 at 4:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

Fran Frashilla has been ok too. He was the one who called out Dick Vitale for not giving Sherron Collins any credit when he fawns over Tywon Lawson and D.J. Augustin. Though if he brings up Collins weight loss again, I might lose my mind.

March 1, 2007 at 4:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

Marco this is basketball....you can't pitch around A.C Law. You have to have your team playing good enough as a coach to even have a 3 point lead on A&M and have a chance to foul him.

A.C Law averages more points in the last 6 minutes than the opposing team. YOu can't foul him for 6 minutes. You think that one play decides the whole game? Your too analytical. You should stick to Chess and Texas Hold'em. That is why you are posting on here and Self and Barnes are making millions.

March 1, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Has anyone seen this efficiency rating?

http://phogblog.com/2007/02/26/effici...

I think Jaybate would love it.

March 1, 2007 at 4:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DrN (anonymous) says...

Looking forward to a great game Saturday. No question the title is 100% on the line - perfect for the big 'gamers.' If we win, Big 12 Champs. If we lose, I don't see how we claim a share of the title if we have a an 0-1 record against both A&M and UT. Every competitive player would want it all on the line and now we have it. LOVE IT!

March 1, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

I have to camp for this game at 8 a.m. tomorrow before class and it is completely worth it. I also have to camp from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow night, and that is also completely worth it. The students that are camping in the fieldhouse right now could already fill the student sections. We are going to be loud as always, but what I want is to have all of the fans loud. If you are going to the game and you are not a student, please do not just sit there and leave it up to us to make all of the noise. We have 16,300 seats and only about 5,000 of those are losing their voice. If we got every fan including those with season tickets and general admission to yell, we could deafen the Horns out of our house. We're ready, are you?

March 1, 2007 at 8:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

wish I could be there with you truefun. I know you guys will be awesome. Let the experts on the east coast think we suck. The experts didnt think Florida deserved to be in the championship game against Ohio State during football a couple months back. A bunch of those guys dont realize there is great college sports west of Philadelphia.
I think we can make them look just as stupid as Florida made em look a couple months ago.

"Florida hasnt played anyone in their non-conference schedule."
Lee Corso

March 1, 2007 at 10:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jsquared29 (anonymous) says...

North Carolina loses again, yet Dick Vitale and Joe Lunardi still say they should be number one seeds. 6 Losses for UNC, Virginia??? Virginia is your winner of the ACC, the ACC?? Virginia??? North Carolina will win one game in the ACC tournament to Miami and everyone will say they are back and they deserve a number 1 seed. While Kansas, arguably the hottest team in College Basketball if we lose to Texas or a first or second round game in the Big 12 tourny they'll bump us to a #2 seed no matter what. This is such bullspit.

March 1, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

JayCeph,

PhogBlog's efficiency stats are fascinating. :-)

Alas, he ranks conferences and refutes my anecdotal assessment that the B12 is going to prove to be the best conference. :-(

March 1, 2007 at 11:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

Texas has no chance Saturday, end of discussion.

I tend to focus on KU winning the Big 12 regular season and tourney, that way I'm usually happy that we had a successful season and don't have to be totally crushed in March. Technique only.

March 2, 2007 at 12:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

nice work, hawks. a hearty "suck it" to the self haters, killjoy/jimjonestool!!!!!!

March 2, 2007 at 12:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTrav (anonymous) says...

I just hope the game goes quadruple OT w/ KU coming out on top of course!

March 2, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

thetagger (anonymous) says...

finally, Lunardi on ESPN has KU as a 1 seed. About time someone showed the Beakers some respect.

March 2, 2007 at 12:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayhawkLite (anonymous) says...

Two players, no matter how good, do not a team make. KU has been proving that all year with its five in double figures and good bench scoring. Durall and Augustin are good, no doubt about it, but the talent tails off rapidly from there. Hawks by 15+.

March 2, 2007 at 1:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuerjr (anonymous) says...

if the big 12 north sucks so bad, why is Mizzou 4-1 against the south, and K-state 3-2 (about to go (4-2) against the south. The south has 2 great teams, 3 mediocre teams and one crap team. The north one great team, three mediocre teams and two crap teams. The south teams don't win at the north arenas any more than the other way around.

March 2, 2007 at 5:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jsquared29 (anonymous) says...

Kuerjr,
Those are great statistics but the 3 mediocre teams in the North I assume you mean are Nebraska, Kansas State, and Missouri or Iowa State instead of Nebraska. But look at the 3 mediocre teams in the South, Texas Tech (who has beaten A&M twice and almost a sure lock for a tournament bid), Oklahoma State (although shaky is still loaded with talent and always dangerous and has beaten Texas), and Oklahoma (gave our Hawks a scare and Texas A&M a scare). Now besides Kansas State, I think you really cant compare the 3 mediocre teams in the North to the three in the South because on a neutral court, (if they were to be paired by their record in the Big 12 the matchups would be Texas Tech vs. KState, OK State vs. Missouri, and Oklahoma against either Nebraska or Iowa State.) I would pick the South teams in all three of those games. The only close one I would say would be between KState and Tech. So really, the North doesnt suck but isn't very close to the level of competition in the South. Member, we get A&M and Texas at home, one game we already blew. A&M and Texas had to face each other twice.

March 2, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuerjr (anonymous) says...

Those aren't just stats, they are "scoreboard". Don't get me wrong, the south is better, but not by as much as most people are saying. If the mediocre teams all played home and home games, they would probably split. The KU OU game doesn't mean anything, because all teams have close games on the road. Even A&M had a close game with Baylor. We (KU) even went to overtime with ISU. K-State won at Texas, Mizzou at OSU, and Nebraska at TT which proves if these teams all had to play in the south they would have about the same record as they do now. Texas and A&M get one more difficult game then KU (against each other). I guess that is why we win the league by one game. You could say they have to play each other twice, but they only have to play KU once.

March 2, 2007 at 8:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )