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Monday, August 18, 2008

Keegan

Keegan: Hmmm, good question

By Tom Keegan

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The question sounded easy enough, until, that is, it came time to answer it.

"Which team will be better this year," a marginal sports fan asked, "Kansas football or basketball?"

It's been so long since the answer automatically was basketball that the question threw me for a loop.

Which team will be better, Kansas football or Kansas basketball?

Let's see, the football team is coached by a man who was to national coach-of-the-year honors what Michael Phelps is to gold medals. The basketball team is coached by a man who has advanced as far as the Elite Eight five times at three different schools and is coming off of winning the national title.

Both teams have phenomenal sub-6-footers at quarterback. Mark Mangino wouldn't trade Todd Reesing for any QB in the country, and the same goes for Bill Self and Sherron Collins. Reesing and Sherron Collins share many qualities as athletes: bold, accurate, quick feet, excellent passers charged with running high-scoring offenses that constantly keep the defense in retreat mode.

Both teams will miss productive big bodies up front. Mangino must replace James McClinton, Anthony Collins and Cesar Rodriguez. Self must find a way to get it done without Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun.

Mangino has to replace five starters on offense, including the leading receiver, the leading rusher, plus an offensive tackle and tight end both chosen in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Self replaces five starters, period.

The football team finished the season ranked seventh in the nation, the basketball team first.

The basketball team boasts far greater tradition, the football team more experience, particularly on defense, where 20 of the top 22 on the depth chart return. It should be noted, though, that first-team All-American Aqib Talib and McClinton, a second-team All-American, are the two who won't be back.

Mangino lost defensive coordinator Bill Young, one of the most respected assistant coaches in college sports, from his staff. Self lost Ronnie Chalmers, Mario's dad.

Which team will be better, Kansas football or basketball?

Since the basketball team isn't on the football team's schedule the answer doesn't matter, but it's still worth pondering in the wake of a school year that featured a 49-4 combined record.

What defines better? A higher national ranking, for one. Postseason performance, for another. Ten schools get selected for BCS bowl games, so earning that distinction is roughly the same as advancing to the Elite Eight. Winning one of the four BCS bowl games, excluding the national title game, is roughly on the same level as making it to the Final Four but not the title game.

Enough stalling. Answer the question.

Which team be better, Kansas football or basketball?

Kansas football. Talent is a wonderful thing, but as the national champions showed throughout March, nothing trumps experienced talent. The football team has more of that than the basketball team.

Comments

TheTruth08 (anonymous) says...

It's still an easy question, basketball.

August 18, 2008 at 2:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mariochalmersfan15 (anonymous) says...

my pick is basketball

August 18, 2008 at 3:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

thomc6 (anonymous) says...

You might want to look a bit more closely at this year's football schedule vs 2007 ...

August 18, 2008 at 6:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

This is going to be tough year for KU fans. Let us hope they both have good seasons.

Basketball. By year's end it should be a relatively better team in relationship to its competitors than the football team.

August 18, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jason2007 (anonymous) says...

This is like comparing Apples and Oranges.

Success at any level is measured by post-season play and the BCS system is nothing like the March tourney.

In addition, BB plays 30-something games where FB only 12. If FB loses 1 or 2, they're at jeopardy of going to the Insight Bowl where if BB loses 10 games but gets a tourney invite, they have a shot at the national title just like everyone else.

Keegan is just writing a typical feel good piece that's devoid of real sports journalism.

August 18, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

A worthless article.

August 18, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

I like the question. I think it is far from worthless and addresses what many KU fans are going through... how will they split their attentions and what will they use as a measuring stick for "success"?

Seems like a fun exercise.

I fear the football team will actually lose more games than they are projected to and most of them will be at the hands of a strong conference opponent and the scores will be close. This will offer some minor consolation for those fans.

As for the BBall fans, the team will experience some wild games (win AND lose some close ones) but will be gelling at a decent time to make a minor amount of noise in the NCAA's.

In the end, both teams will have a 'successful' season but the real question is, will fans be happy with the ride?

August 18, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Big deal.

August 18, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Wow (troutsee), for someone filled with so much apathy and ambivalence, I'm surprised to see you sharing your opinion so vociferously.

August 18, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Apples and Oranges ... but still fun!

The basketball team lost a awful lot, so I'm going to say football.

August 18, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawks (anonymous) says...

WOW ! ! !

Mangino is the same as Michael Phelps. ? ? ? I would have never made that comparison. Hmmm... Stupid Comment.

August 18, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

It's football season. This is a football site. Let's talk football. That's my point.

August 18, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BannerforKirk (anonymous) says...

I agree with JayCeph here. This is an interesting question that is exactly what a local sports writer should be writing about. It should spark discussion (something more intelligent than that which is happening here thus far) and it keeps us busy until real games get started. Yes, the Michael Phelps comment is kinda lame and shows a lack of real imagination (how hard is it to compare people to the nations #1 headliner right now?), but overall, this is a fair topic.

Oh yeah, the answer is basketball. I love Mangino, but Self is a pretty good coach himself and the basketball team, by the end of the year, will be better. That's a luxury that a college basketball team has that a football team doesn't - they can lose a few while improving and still be a factor at the end of the year.

August 18, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

WilburNether (anonymous) says...

This is indeed a worthless article. The "apples and oranges" comment is right on target. This article is typical of the off-season filler material that journalists come up with to sell newspapers, advertising, and themselves, much like the early, nonsensical polls, which also are utterly worthless. Topics like this give journalists something to write and talk about, and should be taken as lightweight filler material.

I don't mean to single out Keegan; they all do it, in all forms of media.

August 18, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cstevenday (anonymous) says...

Mangino and Michael Phelps?????? I guess they both float really well if that counts for anything.

Football team will be 7-5 and basketball 20-10.

66% beats out 58%.

August 18, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

walkdog262 (anonymous) says...

troutsee: "This is a football site."
Really? Then what are all those links for at the top left of the page?
Don't like it, then don't read it. Simple.

August 18, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk909603 (anonymous) says...

For me, it's like picking your favorite kid. Why does it have to be a competition - who will be better (or worse)?
I've had to deal with that attitude for 22 years and it sucks. If you bleed crimson & blue like I do, you want both to kick a**.

August 18, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

5DecadeHawk (anonymous) says...

This is another blatant attempt to divide the KU fan base.

It's Lame. It's destructive. It hurts the community.

Both programs are on solid footing, and I'm ecstatic about it.

Instead of creating imaginary opponents, let's focus on the real opponents:

1. FIU (Win the first game, then worry about the others.)
2. Crappy LJW Sports department leadership.
3. Fans that don't make Memorial Stadium shriek with overpowering noise. If someone leaves a game with their vocal cords intact, their hands better be bleeding from repeatedly bashing them together!

(Be a real fan. Leave the stadium proudly with bleeding palms AND no voice.)

Who wants to be the official stat keeper? We should track how many times an opposing QB has to call timeout because of crowd noise. Let's set a benchmark measure fan noise for out future fan performance!

August 18, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Walkdog, I clicked on football. If I wanted to read about BB, I click on BB. Okay, I vote FB, but I agree with 7-year, it's apples to oranges.

August 18, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Eurekahwk (anonymous) says...

We still bring our football team back nearly intact. The ceiling for them is much higher this year than it is for basketball. Expect no less than 10 regular season wins this year. This is a no brainer. I can tell that KU people are definitely basketball homers.

August 18, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jahoward77 (anonymous) says...

7-5 = 66%

20-10 = 58%

????

LMAO, this puts the "Comments" section of LJW articles into perspective.

August 18, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jwliddell (anonymous) says...

Actually, jahoward... csteven just said that 66 beats the 58. His math was right. 7-5 = 58 and 20-10 = 66. He just said that basketball will have a better year.

So, your comment is the one that puts the "comments" section into perspective.

August 18, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cstevenday (anonymous) says...

Jahoward.......exactly. Read intelligently before you comment. My post was correct. Win percentage should tell who has the better season. Those are just my predictions.

August 18, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

It does depend on how you define better. In one case, I have to think that if the football team wins a bowl game and the basketball team has an early exit from the tourney then the football team was better and it doesn't matter what bowl game they played and who the basketball team lost to. But, if the basketball team wins the conference and the football team doesn't even win the division that makes things tough. If the football team makes a BCS game then I think the basketball team has to at least win the Big 12, or make the elite 8, or win 28 or 30 games. Realistically the basketball program still has to live with higher expectations, but the football team still gets hurt more with each loss.

I think the football team will be the better team, but that only due to my level of expectations for both programs. Our basketball team lives with high expectations every year. Losing 5 or more noncon games, and not winning the conference or conference tourney will lead the national media to determine this as a "down" year or a a "bad" KU team. Much like Duke last year. They were a solid team, but they weren't really competing for the national championship and so they were constantly overlooked. Our football team has high expectations too... that is to say they are high in terms of KU football. Having come off the best season in history they are still expected to lose 3 to 5 games, not win the Big 12 North, and struggle against the South division. So, if they do win the North, and win one or two games against the south the national media will label the season a success, maybe even a surprise. Really, many of them will label the season a success as long as we get to and win a bowl game. Whereas the basketball team to be a success has to either win the conference or make a deep run in March.

August 18, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I think the football team will be better. Boy.. returning a deep defense with a award-watch caliber lb and a stud qb... so what if the schedule is tougher... the team should be better, too. No reason we can't lose as few as 2 or 3 games.

I will find the basketball games just as exciting because we get to see so many new players' careers unfold.

There will be nothing to bitch about this year.... even if one program "disappoints"

August 18, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalk80 (anonymous) says...

lame article and question...but definitely consistent with what we expect from the local rag.

August 18, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubasketball0809 (anonymous) says...

thats bull it will be basketball easy, but dont get me wrong i like the football too but ku b-ball is where its at

August 18, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Football hands down.

The basketball team lost a ton and will go through some definite growing pains.

The only way this football team goes 7-5 is if there's a natural disaster. The sportswriters keep writing about them as if they lost most of the team.

We lost two tackles (and replaced them with even bigger tackles).

We lost a big strong runningback (and replaced him with a guy the same size and strength that is much faster).

We lost a 285 lb. James McClinton (and replaced him with 340 lb. behemoth Darius Parish).

We lost a tall fast receiver (take your pick of which of the 853 talented receivers will take his place: Fields, Pendleton, Briscoe, Wilson, Ingram, Herford, Harris Jr., Meier, Green, Patterson).

We lost Aqib Talib (yet have gotten deeper and more talented at CB than ever).

This year's team should be at least as talented, if not more talented than last years. Further, they will go into tough games expecting to win instead of just hoping to.

As surprised as people were last year it's amazing how many people are selling this year's team short.

August 19, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Which will be better: the KU kicking game or KU rebounding?
Which is the better place for watching swimming: KU Memorial Stadium or Allen Field House?
Which is better: Learned Hall or Potters Lake?
Which will be better: an apple or an orange?

Did Tom go to one of those spy conventions in DC where they had a panel on breaking down reader resistance to propaganda by using logical disconnects to desensitize them to double speak?

Lies are truth.

Ambiguity is clarity.

Nonsense is meaning.

Psy-ops rule.

August 19, 2008 at 1:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

For what I had in mind, Potters Lake. It took very little mind!

August 19, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mcrozb (anonymous) says...

Best year Ever !!! 49-4 is going to be hard to beat. having said that, the apples and oranges are both jayhawks. i doubt we will improve on 49-4, but, regardless, we're talking KU Sports, so let's support them both and if we lose a few games it won't be the end of the world or my support. Rock Chalk All the way, no matter what!!!!

August 19, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

WisconsinJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Basketball. I'll be accepting wagers.

...

August 19, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CarterFaucheaux (anonymous) says...

Which will be better: the KU kicking game or KU rebounding? Kicking. Rojas can kick as a last resort, and rebounding isn't looking good right now without any lookalikes down low.
Which is the better place for watching swimming: KU Memorial Stadium or Allen Field House? Memorial stadium. You can see the Chi Omega fountain with binoculars if you stand on top of the press box. Check it out at about 3 am with the nightvision.
Which is better: Learned Hall or Potters Lake? Potter's Lake. See above, but only if you dig hippie chicks.
Which will be better: an apple or an orange? Orange.

Did Tom go to one of those spy conventions in DC where they had a panel on breaking down reader resistance to propaganda by using logical disconnects to desensitize them to double speak? How do you get invited to those?

Lies are truth. What?

Ambiguity is clarity. Okay.

Nonsense is meaning. ...

Psy-ops rule. I'm not sure what that means.

August 23, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )