Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Keegan

Keegan: Can KU win ‘em all? Don’t ask Self

By Tom Keegan

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After less than 48 hours since the Jayhawks took the floor against Nebraska, they went against Oklahoma and looked to remain unbeaten on Monday night.

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2007-08 Jan. 14 KU-Oklahoma men's basketball

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As minds go, Bill Self's is about as quick as Mario Chalmers' first step when the guard pops into a passing lane. Self's always quick with a one-liner and is even quick to check his swing when he thinks the quip that popped into his head might come back to haunt him. He's quick to ask for a stranger's name, slow to forget it.

When there is a break in the action, he's not one of those coaches who burns half the timeout huddling with his assistants. He's on it instantly, never at a loss for words, forever convinced he'll choose the right ones.

That's why his initial reaction was so shocking when he finally was asked if any of his players talk about finishing the regular season undefeated. He was asked the question after Kansas destroyed Oklahoma, 85-55, in front of a jacked Allen Fieldhouse crowd Monday night.

"Uh-uh," Self answered calmly. "No."

Huh? Where was that look he gets when an unjust foul has been called, the expression that makes it seem as if he chugged a quart of prune juice? Where was the up-tick in volume, the sarcastic tone? One thousand one, one thousand two ...

The question had taken root.

"No!" Self revved it up. "God no! We've still got seven road games left and 14 total. We're not into that. Hey, let's just get better. If we're fortunate enough to play great for the next six weeks, we'll talk about it, but we're not even going to go there."

Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel didn't go there because he wasn't asked to, but he did have mighty strong words in praise of Kansas, the nation's third-ranked team. Capel's team lost to No. 2 Memphis, 63-53, Nov. 15.

"I think Kansas is better," Capel said. "They are the best team that we've played, and we have played some really good teams. They are so balanced. They shoot better than Memphis. They are bigger. They are probably equally as good in transition. They pass the ball better. I don't think it is close that they are the best team in the country."

No. 1 North Carolina, which went on a 25-point run on the way to a 43-13 first-half lead Saturday against North Carolina State, belongs in the conversation. Such arguments are fun to engage in, but mean little in January.

KU could lose a game or two in the Big 12, but conceit won't be the cause. An experienced team is a mature team, and a mature team knows conceit plus complacency equals disaster.

Kansas won its first two Big 12 games by an average margin of 25.5. A Saturday trip to Columbia, Mo., is up next.

"We won't be overconfident going to Columbia, I'll tell you that," Self said. "Missouri got everybody's attention in the league the way they handled Texas in the second half and dominated Texas. We just need to try to get better ever day because there is still a lot of room for improvement, a lot of room."

He's been saying that all year, and he has been right. Why doubt him now?

Likewise, Darnell Jackson has been saying he can improve. He keeps raising the bar. Jackson said it again after a 17-point, eight-rebound effort against Oklahoma. Don't doubt him. He also said he can play harder. Seeing that will be believing it. The guy is as active as a mosquito, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound mosquito.

Comments

KoolKeithFreeze (anonymous) says...

Do you guys have to all use the same quotes in each article? I get tired of reading the same ones over and over. Can't you do your interviews, then type out all of the quotes and draw straws for who gets to use which? Just a thought...

January 15, 2008 at 5:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mvjayhawk (anonymous) says...

it's just fodder to get the fans fired up. the headline says "can KU win 'em all?" in the article, it said Coach Self was asked if his players had TALKED about going undefeated. Two totally different things! so the headline is bunk.....Self wasn't asked if his team can "win 'em all." Of course the team CAN win them all....there isn't a team on our schedule that we can't defeat. But it's 14 more games...and we still have four tough road game coming....(mu, ksu, a&m, and UT). The odds are quite against us. Plus, it doesn't matter anywa....it's about playing game in and game out at a good, hard level. It really is about one game at a time...the cliche is reality. Go Jayhawks! Whip them Tiggers on Saturday!

January 15, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

1977kufan (anonymous) says...

Outstanding article, Tom and your question and insight are very good. I appreciate your articles and I read them as frequently as possible. What I get tired of are those individuals who somehow "get tired of reading the same [quotes] over and over." If they get tired of reading the articles, then they should read some articles on the Tigger's website (or other websites). If you happen to read the Tigger's website (not recommended though) in the evening you will know what a somnifacient is, i.e., you will be asleep before you get to the end of the article. rock chalk jayhawks!!! jayhawk basketball, love it!!!

January 15, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

It's waaaaaaaaaaaay too early for undefeated talk. I only care about six games in the spring time, anyway.

January 15, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kdeutch (anonymous) says...

The only win streak that is important is 6 games in a row and that comes at the end of March & beginning of April!

January 15, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lalawguy (anonymous) says...

Pat Forde of ESPN gives KU 16-1 odds it will finish the regular season undefeated. North Carolina is at 14-1 and Memphis has even odds. Personally, I would take those odds for KU, because I think the Jayhawks' chances of a perfect season (knock on wood) are even better than UNC's.

That's not to say that I don't appreciate Coach Self's approach. I think it is smart for this team to take it one game at a time.

January 15, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

I would love to go undefeated and all, but really I am just worried about beating the Tigers both times this season. I don't want to give them anything to talk about. I want to blow them out by 30.

January 15, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

I like Selfs focus.

We got Mizzou. Our whole season is this one game. When this one's over, our whole season is the next one. And so on...

We got Mizzou, lets prepare for them and ignore the hype.

January 15, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jprich (anonymous) says...

I hate how Keegan ends all of his articles: either entirely off-topic (Jackson and mosquitos?) or abruptly returning to the main point after delving off in another direction for about eight paragraphs. I think I'm going to just read about three-fourths of his articles from now on because I'm always disappointed when I get to the last few sentences, even though the rest of his articles are mostly decent.

January 15, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cobweb (anonymous) says...

As much as I liked Julian Wright, the Hawks are better without him, shooting better and playing as a team without the showboat stuff.

January 15, 2008 at 1 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Migady (anonymous) says...

Congratulations cobweb!
You have just made the dumbest comment ever on KUsports.com.
There is no possible way you can explain how KU is better off without their first round draft pick.
Thanks for making me feel intelligent.

January 15, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Migady: I don't actually see anything wrong with cobweb's statement. It some instances I also agree with him. Julian Wright is a talent that can't be replaced, but what can be replaced is effort and emotion. Darnell Jackson brings so much effort and emotion that the other players feed off that adrenaline. I think this is the type of player that KU has been missing for years. If Julian Wright sticks around, that means less playing time for Darnell. Sometimes a departure of a team can be good b/c it puts more responsibility on the returning players to pick up the slack. As for the dumbest comment on KUsports ever, I think that is pretty harsh, but cobweb is entitled to his opinion which I agree with for the most part. Chemistry and togetherness is probably a bigger ingredient to success than having 8 Mcdonald's all-americans on the same team.

January 15, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Well, since someone brought it up...

I can't find Vegas odds for an undefeated season. The only NCAA Basketball futures bet I can find is the national championship. Currently we are 4th:
ucla 7-2, unc 7-2, Memphis 6-1, KU 7-1. Always interesting to look at Vegas odds...

I agree with others in that an undefeated season means nothing to me right now. I just want to see us continue to play good, hard basketball and continue to improve.

One other note on odds, KU football currently has 50-1 odds to win the NC game next year. I took a bet for them to win the Big 12 championship at 60-1 odds at the beginning of this season. An eyelash away from a huge payday (okay, maybe a little more than an eyelash, but you get my point).....

January 15, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lee3022 (anonymous) says...

I am interested in Coach Capel's purpose for his statement that KU is the best in the country.

1. He would like to deflect attention from the drubbing OU just received.

2. He is a genuine admirer.

3. He would like to put a bigger target on KU's back for the rest of the league in order to improve OU's chances of finishing the year as league champion or at least tournament champion.

I think all of the above are true. Anyone think of another reason?

January 15, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Helps his RPI if KU is ranked higher... although that doesn't explain why he thinks we're better than Memphis since they played them as well.

I think he just saw a very good team beat the crap out of him. What else are you going to say to reporters post-game?

January 15, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Congratulations, Migady, you just showed what a complete moron you are.

It's one thing to say you disagree with cobweb. But it's absolutely ridiculous for you to say it's the dumbest comment ever on KUsports.com. Would you care to check how this year's team is doing compared to last year's team??? Do you think the reason this year's team has been better so far is because of the huge contributions of Cole Aldrich and Tyrel Reed, or might it have something to do with the fact that we lost a player who showed flashes of brilliance at times and was completely out of control at other times? I happen to believe the latter (and agree with cobweb), but even if you disagree with that statement, you certainly should be able to see why someone might feel that way. If you say that's the dumbest comment ever on this website, you either have the IQ of a zebra or have not looked at this website very much.

January 15, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

The bullseye on Kansas' back (within the league) can't get any bigger than it has been for the last 20 years. No other team can claim as many titles nor the best winning percentage. A few years back , the OU players were quoted in the Tulsa World about wanting to beat "the wicked witch of the North." I'd say that pretty much sums up the goal of every Big XII team, not just MU or KSU.

As for cobweb's statement, losing Julian was not a bad thing, with the rise of Darnell Jackson and the maturing this year of Darrell Arthur. Last year, Darrell sometimes seemed to shy away from commanding under the basket, as though he were afraid of getting in the way of Julian. Even when JW had an off-night (he wasn't always consistent), DA didn't seem to always step up his game. It looks like these guys feed off each other's plays under the basket and that really gets the whole team revved up.

Keep it up 'Hawks! Twist those tigers' tails!!!

January 15, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

I liked Julian Wright, but by losing an immature player who was NOT in 'beast mode' more times than he was in it, we also lost the team leader in turnovers. Look how far down our turnovers are. Better to lose Ju and further unshackle Shady and Rush and Darnell and even maybe Kaun, and 'voila!' you have what you see this season compared to last. We have bigs, always had smalls, and Ju gone cannot help but further develop Rush as a mid-sized swingman, and hopefully we are starting to see that now...I think Ju gone has been turned into a huge plus by the team and coaches.

January 15, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cap10d (anonymous) says...

I have to agree 100% ralster.

January 16, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Not only did Ju lead the team in turnovers, he also led the team in blown windmill dunk attempts and subsequent feigned injuries.

I loved Julian but he was frustratingly inconsistent, and like raister mentioned, his presence "shackled" our other bigs.

Now about an undefeated season? Please.

Keegan proved what a boner he is, just by bringing it up.

January 16, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Why is that so outrageous, KGphoto? There are only at the most 4 or 5 games that should be fairly tough, and even those teams can't compare in talent and depth to KU. Why is it such a ridiculous concept to think that KU could go undefeated? FYI, it's not like Keegan is the only one who's brought it up.

January 16, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )