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Thursday, March 15, 2007

His kind of town

Self OK with playing in Chicago

By Gary Bedore

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Chicago — Bill Self hopped off the team bus at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, heavy winds blowing and light hail - yes, hail - falling from the sky in front of the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel.

"Wow. They say it's the Windy City, don't they?" Self, Kansas University's basketball coach, gasped after escaping temperatures in the 30s by entering a hallway near the lobby.

"That's certainly the case today."

The wind didn't cause an hour-long delay in KU's travel plans - instead, it was a weight-distribution problem with the charter plane at Topeka's Forbes Field.

Regardless, the Jayhawks, who were bundled up as they exited the bus (Russell Robinson rubbed his hands together to try to generate heat), arrived safe and sound for today's practices and media sessions and Friday's 6:10 p.m. NCAA Tournament opener against Niagara at the United Center.

The squad's banged-up players - big men Sasha Kaun (bruised back) and Darrell Arthur (bruised pubic bone) - practiced Wednesday in Lawrence and are on track to be able to play Friday.

"We practiced well," Self said. "Sasha and 'Shady' were both able to go. Sasha is not quite 100 percent. At least he was able to practice and go through some contact. He won't do much tomorrow, probably. Shady was fine today.

"I doubt he does much tomorrow," Self added of Kaun, who may not go full speed at an early afternoon closed workout at Moody Bible College and open practice from 4:25 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. at the United Center.

"We'll see how sore he is. We wanted to test him today just in case he couldn't go back-to-back days. That way he can take tomorrow off if he has to."

Self was greeted by a batch of reporters at the team hotel, including one Chicago TV crew.

A TV personality had a gift for Self, a Chicago Sun-Times article with the headline, "This Bill's Due." It was referring to former Illinois coach Self being due for a long run in the tourney after his Jayhawks were ousted in the first round twice the past two seasons, and the coach himself coming close to the Final Four three times before.

He reached the Elite Eight at Illinois, KU and Tulsa.

photo

Photo by Nick Krug

KANSAS UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL COACH BILL SELF laughs with media members while holding a copy of the Chicago Sun-Times that includes the headline, "This Bill's Due." Self and the Jayhawks arrived at their team hotel in Chicago on Wednesday night in preparation for Friday's game against Niagara.

A massive photo of Self barking orders to his players - with his mouth wide open - accompanied the story.

"Do I ever have any pictures with my mouth shut?" the coach cracked. "Me personally, I love this city. I love to recruit here. Hopefully it'll be a more successful trip than we had in December."

That's when the Jayhawks lost to DePaul, 64-57, on Dec. 2 in All-State Arena in suburban Rosemont.

"We didn't play well at all. They whipped us," Self said. "It was a good thing Julian (Wright) and Sherron (Collins, both Chicago natives) came back the first time. Not that they didn't handle it well. They realize there are more distractions coming back home to play than they wouldn't have if it was their first trip. They will adjust and be very excited."

Self told the Illinois TV personality "it's pretty cool it's us and Illinois in the same region." The two teams could meet next week in third-round West Regional action in San Jose, Calif.

"I'd love to get a chance to play Illinois. They'd love to get a chance to play us. It means we'd both have won a couple games. We are really looking forward to playing the weekend here."

Self grinned when asked if there were still hard feelings that he left Illinois after three seasons for KU.

"When Roy (Williams) left Kansas, there were fans obviously upset. Even when Carolina doesn't do well, there's a contingent of fans that cheer (in Allen Fieldhouse)," Self said. "I'm sure the same thing happens in Assembly Hall (in Champaign, Ill.) when Kansas doesn't do well. It's the nature of the business, goes with the territory."

¢Tough 16 seed: Self remains impressed with Niagara (23-11) . The Purple Eagles rolled over Florida A&M, 77-69, in the NCAA's play-in game Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.

"Watching tape on them before the game last night, I was amazed at how easy they scored," Self said. "Last night they didn't shoot the ball well behind the arc (eight of 27) and they still scored pretty easy. They are a great offensive rebounding team.

NCAA Tournament

"Their 5-man makes five or six threes in a game, that's hard to guard," he added of 6-foot-7 Clif Brown, who cashed six threes and scored 32 points. "We'll have to be very good, especially on the defensive end.

Niagara will practice from 5:55 p.m. until 6:35 p.m. today at the United Center.

¢Recruiting: KU remains the favorite school of Willie Warren, a 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard from North Crowley High School in Texas, the alma mater of ex-Jayhawk standout Keith Langford.

Warren, the No. 13 player in the Class of 2008 and No. 3-rated shooting guard, has a list of KU, Arkansas, Arizona, Baylor, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M.

"I really love Kansas and that's pretty much all I can say about the Jayhawks," Warren told rivals.com. "Arkansas and Texas are tied for second right now."

He's visited KU and Arkansas and would like to visit Texas and hopefully pick a school sometime in June.

¢KU No. 1?: Ryan Menachof, a 21-year-old North Carolina senior history major and NCAA Tournament number-cruncher, tells the Raleigh News and Observer that KU will beat Texas A&M in the 2007 NCAA title game. He has North Carolina losing to A&M in one semifinal and Florida falling to KU in the other. Menachof uses extensive statistical data to come up with his picks.

¢One and done in the past?: KU junior Russell Robinson says he's not angry at hearing all the talk about KU's losses to Bradley and Bucknell in first-round NCAA Tournament play.

USA Today was the latest to run a feature story on KU's failures Wednesday.

"We dropped the first game two years in a row. For Kansas that's not something that you want," Robinson said. "We want to redeem ourselves. The only way to do that is come out and play well. We've got to prove we can win. We won the Big 12 two years in a row.

"This is what we prepare for all season, the NCAA Tournament. It's one thing we've got to prove, that we can win the NCAA. We'll leave it all on the court, do all we can to win."

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Comments

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Cannot wait... Beak 'Em, HAWKS. Anyone heard anything new in regard to tip on Sunday?

March 15, 2007 at 1:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kong (anonymous) says...

I don't understand why "Ryan Menachof" is mentioned. Can my final four be written about?

Kansas
Tennessee
Texas
UNLV

Kansas beats Tennessee for the championship, of course.

March 15, 2007 at 2:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Kong: You mean don't know who "Ryan Menachof" is? He's legendary! Yeah, I don't know who is either, but I also use extensive statistical data for my searches as well. It's called a nice cold "Coors Light". I actually like your final four Kong. It's different, but we'll see how smart we really are after this weekend. I actually like UNLV in this year's bracket. I've seen them play quite a bit and I have them going to the sweet 16 and elite 8 in most of my pools. Long Kruger will have that team ready to play, plus that squad is definitely flying under the radar. I'll either be a genius or a............

March 15, 2007 at 4:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BABBOY (anonymous) says...

I wonder how Menachof see the NFL draft playing out. I wonder this slightly less then I wonder why he was mentioned in this story.

March 15, 2007 at 7:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

kong, what are you smoking? Tennessee and UNLV in the Final Four? I'm falling out of my chair laughing at that one!

March 15, 2007 at 8:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabian_zimbabwe (anonymous) says...

Tip on Sunday is just past 4:00 p.m. (last I heard, at least).

Hey, LJW, headline suggestion for Saturday's edition: "Niagara Falls."

March 15, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

the78phoenix (anonymous) says...

Kong. Your picks aren't worth writing about.

March 15, 2007 at 9:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldvet (anonymous) says...

Niagara Falls!!! Slowly he turned, step by step, inch by inch...

March 15, 2007 at 9:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

kong,

I have not seen the Vols play, but you are not the only one hot on them. I will watch them play ASAP.

Regarding UNLV, people have forgotten that Unibrow, er, Lon Kruger is a fine coach. He kept KSU on the map once upon a time. He frankly finished the conversion of Florida to a good program and he returned the Illini to a respectable program from a shady one on the heels of Dubious Lou Henson's tenure. AND he improved it also. Self benefitted quite a bit from Unibrow's foundation built in Champaign-Urbana. They were already playing 70 possession take what they give us basketball when Self arrived. Kruger also had one Final Four team at Florida. Something happened at his last stop in Illinois that soured him on the college game and he jumped to the pros, where he had no experience as a player or coach. It was a dumb move on his part, but he probably made it for the money and, well, a guy with a family has to cash in some time, if he can't find long term happiness and security at a college. Tim Floyd did much the same thing. Bombed also and then settled out at USC, just as Kruger has settled out at UNLV. Neither place is a destination school, but at the same time both places offer the chance to fill the cupboard with players.

Also, Kruger is frankly one major heir (Self being the other) of this generation of coaches to the Iba-Parrot line of basketball. Eddie Sutton and Jack Hartman were arguably the two greatest coaching products of it in the previous generation. Eddie begat Bill. Jack begat Kruger.

Both Eddie and Jack produced mostly back court oriented teams. By this I mean, their teams were almost never without at least one, often two exceptional guards or wings, and they almost always ran the offense through them. Their front courts were rarely more than journeymen, though over the years Eddie tried and tried to drag in the bigs. Hartman largely never tried.

Eddie was a recruiting machine, who found exceptional talent and lots of it from his UArk days through UK and then at OSU, when no one else had been able to bring thoroughbreds to Stillwater since Iba (apologies to Coach Self).

Jack took an opposite path for whatever reason. He decided he only needed one or two good guards or a wing and he could (and did) make do with whomever else he could pick up with a minimum of suitcase time recruiting. The coaching job Hartman did year in and year out with these teams full of two good guards and a bunch of stiffs is one of the most amazing accomplishments in college basketball coaching history. Knight embraced Hartman, where he did not seem to embrace Eddie. Of course not. Eddie was a serious competitor for greatest coach of his generation. Knight got disillusioned with chasing big time players, just as Hartman did, and tried it Hartman's way for awhile, and he didn't do as well, in my opinion, as Hartman did.

March 15, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

All of which brings us to Self and Kruger. Self clearly falls into the load up with talent school the way Eddie did. He also seems to have learned another lesson from Eddie. Find a great school to coach at in a part of the country that you're part of. Eddie wasn't a southerner. UArk was not a great school and it was not home. He tried the big time at UK in the mid south. It wasn't home and the bottle bit him and he bombed. He appeared truly happy back at Stillwater on close to native soil and at his alma mater.

By coming to KU, Self made essentially the same choice Eddie made coming to OSU, but without the mistaken side trip to a big time program in a nonMidwestern local like UK. Illinois was Bill's UArk. It was just good fortune that KU was also a storied program too.

And then there's Kruger. Four years at KSU. Six at Florida. Four at Illinois. Two as head coach of the NBA Hawks. Now two or three years at UNLV.

Kruger likes alot of talent, too, which makes him more like Eddie and less like Hartman. I always thought the main reason Kruger left KSU (there was probably intrigue, money and politics involved as well, as there usually is) was because he didn't want to spend his career just getting by with a good player or two the way Hartman had done. He wanted to get to a place where he thought he could stock the cupboard full every year. Florida seemed that kind of place. Why he left Florida for Illinois, I will never understand, but he did, probably intrigues and politics. He couldn't have thought the Illini was like coming home to the midwest.

Whatever, at Florida and Illinois he put these programs on the map again, just as he's done at UNLV now. At Florida he built on the foundation of a good man in Don DeVoe and got most of the credit. At Illinois, Henson had had them playing well for along time, but they had been called major cheaters by Knight for as long as Henson had been there. Kruger seemed to clean that image up. I hope he stays put at UNLV, another place where he built on the hard work of a good man--Charlie Spoonhauer. Kruger is at least opportnunistic. FWIW, he's NEVER built a program from scratch the way Self did at ORU. But Self has been opportunistic too. At Tulsa he followed KU's Steve Robinson, who laid a good foundation and left for FSU. At Illinois, he followed Kruger. And at KU he followed Roy. Not bad for finding places with a good foundation.

March 15, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

I haven't seen Kruger's team this year yet. But the guy can obviously coach 70 possession take what they give us ball with the best of them.

The dual between Self and Gillispie was fascinating, because when both teams play this style and when both do it inevitably leads these teams to start dictating tempo at some point, because they are BOTH giving each other that option.

Watching Self and Kruger would be equally fascinating.

Wouldn't it be cool if this year or very soon, Self, Gillispie and Kruger all get to the Final Four with this style of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball philosophy with its very strong twist of Kansas influence? Eddie and Kruger of course are Kansas highschool basketball products. Hartman coached at KSU and so did Kruger. And now Self is taking it to another level at KU.

Talk about the Iba/Parrot/Eddie/Hartman school finally taking center stage!

March 15, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariot...

March 15, 2007 at 10:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cellogrl (anonymous) says...

Okay, two comments here. First jhwkfan1625 I totally agree with you! Kong is smoking something! Your comment made me laugh more than his picks though. :) Well stated.

Second, jaybate, I'm sure that your comments are wonderful and well thought out, but the last several days, they have been soooooo lloooooonnnnngggg that I haven't even bothered to read them because it would take too long! Can't you cut to the chase quicker? I would read it then.

March 15, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

jross1972,

how anyone can end a story with maybe his job can stop feeling like a nightmare and more of a dream job is negative hyperbole at its rankest. 30-4 is 30-4. The guy went to the elite eight his first year. IMO, he has no monkey on his back. He has two first round losses the last two years to avenge. this link is a good story until the guy goes ballistic on the one and out phenomenon. I was upset with one and out the last two years, because I felt the play against Bucknell and Bradley was just more of the problematic stuff I'd seen in the regular season. Self showed me he could get to the Elite Eight with Roy's boys. The question was could he play really excellent basketball with his own guys and except for a back stretch last season, I didn't feel that he had really proven he could. This season, well, he's just proven to me he's a fabulous coach.

Also, I think these people who say KU has the MOST talent of any team are full of crap. They are one of the mos talented. But they only go seven deep. No true two. No backup 5. Not very good FT shooting. They've got a ton of weaknesses that it has taken an exceptional coach to mask, as I keep harping on.

Self is an exceptional coach, whatever happens in this tourney. And if he can just survive a few more years at KU, I do believe he can change the culture of Kansas basketball a wee bit in the direction of his brand of ball and make us not just happy that its winning, but excited by the sophistication of it.

March 15, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

"how anyone can end a story with maybe his job can stop feeling like a nightmare and more of a dream job is negative hyperbole at its rankest. 30-4 is 30-4."

I agree completely. Just posted the story out of interest to Jayhawk fans everywhere.

"Also, I think these people who say KU has the MOST talent of any team are full of crap."

Debatable. Outside of two players in Wright and Rush, I certainly don't put any other of KU's players in the top ten by their position, but on average the talent of these players compares favorably against most teams in the nation. I think chemistry is as important as talent and Kansas certainly has that!

"Self is an exceptional coach, whatever happens in this tourney. And if he can just survive a few more years at KU, I do believe he can change the culture of Kansas basketball a wee bit in the direction of his brand of ball and make us not just happy that its winning, but excited by the sophistication of it."

Similar to Dick Vermeil's tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs, it took a while for Self's philosophy to gain tractioin with the players. I won't say Self's style is any better or worse than Williams', but Self did face the unenviable task of rewiring Kansas' players with a new philosophy of ball when he arrived. I think we are just now beginning to see his technique being effectually translated to the court. In future seasons it should be much easier to employ with veteran players already used to the style. And yes, he IS a great coach!

March 15, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

thank's for the article jross, I think Julian will be back since he clearly said he would. He seem's like the kind of guy that will stick to his commitment (not that he lacks the talent to move on). He said he would graduate in 3, I believe him (even though it took me 5 :) )

March 15, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I'd argue that Chalmers is most definately in the Top 10 shooting guards in the nation. Statistically? No. But again that is the curse of the Jayhawks' depth. You can't find 10 guards (any guards) in the nation who you can convince me are better than Chalmers. Him getting 3rd-team All Big 12 is a travesty.

I especially agree with your last paragraph jross... about the coaching style and how it just now has finally translated. Probably even more comparable to the Chiefs current situation with Herm Edwards. A new coach coming in with a whole different system, is essentially like having nothing but freshmen on the team. everyone is new to the system. Now, there will always be people on the team that know the system, and that makes learning more conducive for everyone.

March 15, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

elite 8 guarantee...

If Kansas does not make the Elite 8 I will shave my head bald and post pics to view.

Who will join me? Do you have confidence in the Hawks or not?

March 15, 2007 at 1:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

well, Ttech lost. We all agree the big 12 doesn't get enough respect, but when it comes down to it, this is the stage to earn respect. Big 12 needs to advance, I love the Jayhawks, so of course I want the big 12 to be respected. The Aggies are playing right now, I have confidence they will win, hopefully Durant will perform as well as he did against us and leave everybody speachless.

March 15, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Jaybate's comments very interesting analysis of Sutton-school. i really like the fact that Self has brought a nasty defense and taught the players you can still feed a transition break off of a turnover or a rebound--we have seen that philosophy work this season. At certain points late in games, a team may need a 'go to' player, and to our credit, instead of just feeding 1 player game after game to develop him to that level, we have let the game experiences build several key players, so now, we have Sherron and Brandon and Mario and maybe even Julian as 'go to' players--MUCH better as it is harder for an opposing defense to know who to try to shut down.
As an additional comment, I DO think Self is concerned about recruiting 'size'--look at the very athletic Sasha and the incoming Aldrich @ 6'11" (just named McD AAmerican). It does not seem to matter about having a distinction between 1 guard or 2 guard in this system, as we all have heard Self likes do-it-all 'combo' guards. Can't make it a headless team like TX whenever Augustin is on the bench. Any of our guards can run the offense or the break and score and play D, and they all possess a toughness that Jeff Hawkins did not display--and a size that a Hawkins-size guard does not possess. The only slight advantage a true 2-guard might possess would be maybe a 6'2"-6'5" height (at the D-I level), but then may give up some Mario/Russell/Sherron-like quickness, which in about every game is good for 3-5 steals. Maybe you could guard the 3 better? Maybe get another block or two, but we get a lot of blocks already...
KU lineup also lists Brandon as a 'guard', and he has proven very versatile, almost a roving fire brigade for blocks, rebounds, and a whole spectrum of offense. We are a matchup problem for most opponents. As far as big men go, I will take athletic big men that can move their feet and run the floor over players like Ostertag or Chenowith anyday--and I really liked Big-O.

March 15, 2007 at 4:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

raister, nice comments. Good news, the last I heard Aldrich is now a true 7'er. I agree about quick big men, after Ostertag left I think we were much better with quicker Scott Pollard (black nails and all). I would rather forget the Chenowith years, he always had that scared timid look about him-wasn't Jawhawk material. So big 12 is now 1-1, I really hope 2 remaining Texas teams can make big runs!

March 15, 2007 at 5:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CasperCorps (anonymous) says...

Go KU!! Rockem and Chalkem!

March 15, 2007 at 5:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

jross1972,

Now that is a challenge. I don't know if I'm up to it. You've called my bluff with this one. Wow, I'm going to have to stand in the mirror and do some soul searching.

March 15, 2007 at 6:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

jross, I am already balding and would rather not take any gambles with what little I have left. After seeing us loose to Arizona in 96 (or was it 97) I would have to say you just don't know.

March 15, 2007 at 6:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Lebowski,

Chalmers is in my opinion in the top ten guards in the country. He's got the gun. He can penetrate. He can shoot free throws. He's got the springs and long arms. But he's in this grey area of a one guard playing the two on a team with not one, not two, but three very good guards.

People say that all of ku's guards are combo guards and so there's no difference. I don't agree. When RR and Sherron are in they are usually doing very different things than Chalmers. RR and Sheron don't guard the other team's tall guard the way Chalmers has to (well, I suppose RR does). They bring the ball up court and initiate the offensive play most of the time, where as Chalmers mostly doesn't (even though he can and does occassionally). Sherron especially runs the show when he's in the way a classic one guard does. Chalmers has had to play out of position for both his years at KU "for the team." Chalmers doesn't score the big numbers, because KU spreads it around. All America teams never select guards for their steals, defense and rebounding.

If Chalmers were scoring 20 pts a game, he'd be a first team AA. He could easily do that, just as many of the guards ahead of him on the first and second team AA selections can do. What few of them can do is steal, defend, and board the way Chalmers can.

If he were playing the one and doing what Sherron has been doing lately, he would be first team AA now.

If Sherron keeps playing the one the way he has, he will be a first team AA next year or the year after.

I don't know, however, if Sherron will ever be the thief, human glue artist and boarder that Chalmers already is as a soph. I'm not cutting Sherron here, I'm saying Chalmers really is kind of extraordinary in these other dimensions than what AA guard awards are typically based on. Its also true that Mario's not the stellar slicer and dicer of the lane that Sherron is. For this team, Coach has'em in the right spots. But I really would like to see Mario play true point for awhile to see what he really could do.

March 15, 2007 at 6:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

jaybate, If Mario were on a Jack Hartman team, he'd probably be putting up Mitch Richmond or Rolando Blackman numbers, just as you said, he would be one of the two go-to guys.

When I watched Jack play Ted's teams I always said if they could team up, Ted doing the recruiting and Jack the coaching, Kansas would have been in the final four just about every year. Ted played that boring ball-control high-low post, with a decent fast break when the opportunity arose. Mokeski could throw strikes downcourt with the best of them.

The best game I ever saw was KU-ORU at the regional final in Tulsa '74. KU down 14 or 15 with 2:00 left and Ken Trickey's team didn't know how to play four corners. ORU continued to run down the court, KU would make the stop and run up the court and score, tying it at the buzzer and winning in OT 92-90.

I also think Self is an outstanding coach, who will hopefully end all the naysayers' jibes this year by going all the way. Anything less than a final four appearance by this team will probably keep some of these idiots on his case.

March 15, 2007 at 9:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

NavyHawk,

I felt the exactly the same about Jack and Ted; they should have been on the same staff.

And I was there for that '74 team. It was a team that fit together very well and went surprisingly far considering it had no NBA talent on board (Cook played briefly and inconsequentially in the L).

Cook, Knight, Suttle and VonMoore made us four-deep at bigs and the first three all had a good shooting touches.

Morningstar (with his beautiful jumper), Tommie Smith with his awesome springs, and Nino Samuels with his awesome but never realized promise made us three deep at the wings briefly until Samuel quit the team.

Kivisto with his deft ballhandling and dishing (but diminished scoring) and Greenlee with his deadly long shot gave us a good starting guard combo. Dale was short, but he was built kind of like John Stockton and could really get up in the air to take his stroke. We lacked a good backup, but Morningstar basically became a 6'6" back up with Smith or Samuels taking over if he had to play guard...if I recall correctly.

And it was really fun watching Tommie Smith occasionally seem to spring to the top of the backboard.

For the youngsters, Nino Samuel looked kind of like a Kansas Bo Jackson (heck, probably no one remembers Bo Jackson either, eh?). He was just an awesome body who played as a walk on, because of academic mysteries, and then quit the team part way through 73-74 He was from Salina and seemed destined for greatness, but never developed. I believe he wrecked a knee or something.

I remember them, as if they were playing tonight. I got to know Tom and Danny and Nino just a little through classes. I played in a couple pick up games with Dale and Morningstar in the offseason and I was stunned how good they were. I couldn't even get to them to foul them and they were just goofing off. I remember one time when Greenlee actually did do a real J--it felt like his knee caps were in my face. They probably actually were.

March 15, 2007 at 10:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

It was a sweet season and it saved Ted's butt for a few more years. I always recall the field house announcer reporting melodically "Basket by morningstarrrrrrrrrr." It was a great name for a good wing with a positively beautiful jump shot.

At the same time, I always kind of felt those guys did it inspite of Ted, not because o him. Greenlee and Morningstart just developed such thick skins that they completely ignored him on shot selection. I've never before or since seen a coach get POed about a shot as it was taken and watch him calm down when it went in. And Tom Kivisto, by the time Ted was done with him, he had literally ceased to have a true jumpshot. Ted had screwed with him to the point that this scoring pheenom from Illinois was lucky to get his bunnies and a few long half set shots. I remember that last year, it looked like Tom finally just began to ignore Ted too. Tom was the real coach that year. Ted was just the head yeller. Really that whole team just seemed to selectively listen to him. They ignored the tantrums and sifted the wheat from the chaff when he wasn't upset. Maybe I had a jaundiced view, but that was the way it seemed to me and I was at every game the year before and that year sitting four rows up from the court. You get a feel for the team doing that that you can never duplicate again from watching on TV as an alum.

Re: Mokeski's teams, I remember standing out by the swimming pool at the Towers with a friend when Mokeski heard he got drafted. I was actually kind of surprised he did. A friend of mine looked at Mokeski and then looked at us and said, well, that's proof that the world isn't fair. He was not a big Mokeski fan.

And speaking of Mokeski's teams, how about Herb Nobles? There was the best unorthodox, herky jerky, barely tamed, goofy player who ever played for KU. He was like a combination of valium and speed in sneakers. He had a muscular body with joints that seemed to be held together with rubber bands. He could do amazing things and then do the weirdest things all on the same trip down the floor.

Ah, I better stop the reminiscing. Now is far the better time, save for I am not able to go all night anymore burning brain cells, flirting with girls and trying to figure what I might do with my life. That WAS a yeasty combination of activities, at least for a couple years. All good things must come to an end.

Here's to hoping this tremendous KU team comes to an end with the championship.

March 15, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

Agreed, this is a far better time, except I didn't have to camp outside AFH to get a seat in those days. The place didn't always sell out but it still got loud!

March 15, 2007 at 10:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

warning: VitaleWatch...

Dick gave yet another slap in the face to KU in his All Solid Gold PTPers list by not mentioning a single Jayhawk on ANY of the first, second or third teams he picked!!

C'mon, Dickie Babyyyyy, you're beginning to look like a spoiled kid at Xmas who didn't get what he wanted and who has decided to pout through New Years.

Give the Jayhawks a little luv, Dickie!!! They're a 30-4 one seed with NBA scouts looking at Brandon and Julian and Mario (and Arthur and Sherron for the next year probably).

Let's look at your first team...

Kevin Durant, Texas
Alando Tucker, Wisconsin
Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Arron Afflalo, UCLA
Acie Law, Texas A&M

Brandon Rush held Durant to 12 of 30 shooting and still got his points and boards babyyyyyy. Oh and we beat Durant's Horns twice!

If Brandon Rush can hold Durant to 12-30, what do you think he would do to the vastly less talented Alando Tucker? Alando would be lucky to break 15, while Brandon would get his points and boards babyyyyy!

Fazekas would have a real problem scoring his average against Julian Wright and Julian would leave Nick in the dust. Give Julian some luv, Dickie!!!!!

Aarron Afflalo: Brandon Rush will shut down Afflalo and get his points and boards...AGAIN!!!

Acie Law is good and belongs on the team with Brandon and Julian.

March 15, 2007 at 11:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Now to your second team...

Greg Oden, Ohio State
Al Thornton, Florida State
Chris Lofton, Tennessee
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Jared Dudley, Boston College

First, Oden belongs on the first team you dermis-domed goof ball. He's turned his team into the Number One team in the country. KU doesn't have anyone who should replace Oden on the first team.

Al Thornton of FSU? Dickie, give me uh break, okay? Julian. Nuf said.

Chris Lofton? Don't know. Haven't seen him play.

Hansbrough? Julian as we'll soon see.

Jared Dudley? For cryin' out loud Dick!!! Brandon Rush held Dudley to 4 of 12 and got his points and rebs. Oh and we beat the waste matter out of BoCol.

Now, about that third team, Dick...

Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
Jeff Green, Georgetown
Al Horford, Florida
Aaron Brooks, Oregon
Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech

Aaron Gray deserves to be there, though Kaun would hold him under his average.

Jeff Green? Oh, for heaven's sakes, Dick, of course Julian is better.

Al Horford deserves a spot, though BOTH Julian and Arthur handled him. But what the heck are you doing leaving Noah off all three teams. Noah's better than Horford. Hell, Noah's better than anyone on your first team except Durant and maybe Acie. What did Noah do? Did he refuse to sign Robert Montgomery Knight Babyyyy's BHOF promo for you too?

Aaron Brooks? How about ANY one of KU's top four scorers.

Zabian Dowdell? Every guard KU has.

Dick, retire, before you pick Zabian Dowdell the greatest player of the first hundred years of basketball. Please Dick. You're humiliating yourself. If you'll retire, I promise I'll sign Robert Montgomery Knight Babyyyy's promo letter for you to get into the BHOF even though your judgements lately make me think you are not deserving of the luv, babyyyyy!

March 15, 2007 at 11:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

VitaleWatch Post Script:

I know everyone thinks I spend too much time on Vitale, but he is the most influential commentator in college basketball. He has to be answered when he does this preposterous sort of stunt.

March 15, 2007 at 11:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Vitale seems to be victim to his own emotions more and more as the years go by, as we all know many men can be in later years. A standing ovation for Collison (nice for KU fans, but inappropriate in his commentator capacity), then he was babbling about KU during a ACC conf game (for once...but odd timing), yet then he leaves our players off of all three lists, and there is a lot to be desired in those lists. He is all over the place! He sees some player turn in a gritty performance, and if it matches the stat sheet, he is convinced, and you (we) get to hear about that weeks 'greatest player'/'PTPer'/etc...It IS getting old. Give me Kevin Harlan, or someone else. I used to feel Dickie V's enthusiasm for the college game added a purity of emotion to the Madness, but lately it is a bit labored to listen to him, although I do think he truly loves the college game AND its players efforts. If I hear him say "kid out of Rice High School in New York City! A tough kid!..." one more time...(Russell is only a junior now...): Maybe if he watched us vs. TX and now in the Tourney, he could improve his KU knowledge and opinion of our players, hopefully.

March 16, 2007 at 12:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )