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Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins, right, and guest John Lungstrum monitor video and statistics from their courtside seats during a Kansas University basketball game this season at Allen Fieldhouse. Statistics, highlights and out-of-town scores are displayed on TapStats monitors, developed by two information-technology professionals with Kansas Athletics Inc.
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Jeff Jacobson/Kansas Athletics Inc. Photo
Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins, right, and guest John Lungstrum monitor video and statistics from their courtside seats during a Kansas University basketball game this season at Allen Fieldhouse. Statistics, highlights and out-of-town scores are displayed on TapStats monitors, developed by two information-technology professionals with Kansas Athletics Inc.
Contributed Photo
A TapStats monitor shows team statistics, player results and an accounting of the final plays from KU's 85-62 victory over UMKC earlier this season at Allen Fieldhouse. The same system will be in use for tournament officials and media during the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, which starts today at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Big 12 Tournament
A statistics program and display package developed by two information-technology professionals in Kansas University's athletics department is getting its big shot this week in Kansas City, Mo.
Chris Schlemmer and Brad Bieker are taking their software and hardware - dubbed TapStats - to the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, which opens today at the Sprint Center. That's where commentators sitting courtside will rely upon the system's depictions of video, graphics and numbers to help translate action on the court to thousands of fans following the tournament on the Internet, TV or radio.
KU has been the guinea pig for the system and has used it during the football season and this basketball season.
The founders are hoping the tournament will be the next step toward getting their system used nationwide by the more than 2,000 NCAA member institutions.
Schools are responsible for tracking and providing statistical information. They already use basic statistics software to track points, rebounds and scores. TapStats takes those statistics and displays them on an interactive monitor - one that individuals can touch to see statistics in a more organized and user-friendly format. TapStats also provides video and out-of-town scores.
Schlemmer believes that schools would typically acquire five new monitors at $999 apiece to implement the system. A $30 monthly charge would cover service and support.
If 2,000 schools bought into the system that would translate to millions of dollars, a financial upgrade for guys whose regular jobs at KU have them tending to wireless phones, computers and other technology items and systems for Kansas Athletics Inc.
"It's an interesting concept we've come up with," said Schlemmer, whose own company, Schlemmer Consulting, owns and markets TapStats. "Once it's been done, there are so many possibilities."
It's quite an upgrade from the static, 1980s-era monitors used in many arenas, said Chris Theisen, an assistant athletics director who handles media relations of KU men's basketball. He put the TapStats system into use at Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium and is coordinating the stats crew for the Big 12 Tournament that starts today.
"Every school that comes in asks us, 'How do we get this?' - and that tells you how great it is," Theisen said. "It shows a real variety, more information than anyone will ever need. : These guys have worked incredibly hard, and spent a ton of time and resources to make it work.
"Hopefully it will be contagious and spread throughout the nation."
Rob Carolla, communications director for the Big 12, observed the system in Allen Fieldhouse earlier this season and is looking forward to seeing it work during the conference tournament.
He's certain the conference will consider buying its own TapStats monitors at some point, and that many schools also will consider buying in.
"It's very impressive," said Carolla, who worked for the Big East Conference before coming to the Big 12. "Honestly, it's the first thing I've ever seen that's anything like this."
Carolla said nearly 600 media members - radio and TV crews, online reporters and others from organizations ranging from local newspapers to the New York Times - had been granted credentials for the Big 12 tournament. Some will be peering at TapStats monitors and using the information they display for wide consumption.
Someday, Schlemmer said, TapStats might be plugged into arena suites and other seats, or perhaps connected to sports books in Las Vegas - anywhere, really, where customers might be expected to seek the latest raw, statistical information.
But relax, KU officials. Schlemmer and Bieker are still on the Kansas Athletics Inc. payroll and promise to give their employer a break on using the system that's been beta tested this academic year.
"They don't pay a monthly fee," Schlemmer said, "and never will."
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Comments
okjhok (anonymous) says…
So, if I go ahead and buy a monitor, do I get an alumni discount? And can the feed come through the phone line?
5DecadeHawk (anonymous) says…
If they can come up with an internet viewable version they could make big bucks.
The stat trackers that are available out there are always slow. If they can pump the info out there in pseudo real-time, it would be awesome.
I can envision a complete software package over the internet where someone can choose different feeds. For example, someone might take an ESPN360 video feed, the KU Radio Broadcast Audio feed, their statistics feed, a message board or chat utility of the viewers choice and create one seamless application. The key would be to get the timing to sync together on all the applications. With that kind of all in one application they could go after the millions of potential customers that enjoy sports.
Right now bits and pieces of all the applications exist, but many are not implemented very well or are slow.
When someone does it really right, everyone will stampede to the best application.
jaybate (anonymous) says…
headline: vitale bitch slaps ku...places no ku players on any of his six solid gold teams...
The question is: what KU fan will respond by hitting Vitale in the face with cow excrement cream pie on the next Game Day?
Just consider some of these stiffs on his 5th and 6th teams alone:
Fifth Team
C-Aleks Maric, Nebraska
F-Ryan Anderson, California
F-Chase Budinger, Arizona
G-AJ Abrams, Texas
G-Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
Sixth Team
C-AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt
F-Reggie Larry, Boise State
F-Jason Thompson, Rider
G-AJ Price, Connecticut
G-Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State
Our bigs held Marics scoreless, for deity's sake.
We beat Budhinger and Bayless without Rush.
None of these guards but Abrams merit the sweat off Chalmer's, RR's, and Sheron's gonads.
Ryan Anderson of Cal? He's not better than ANYONE on KU's top 8.
Reggie Larry, Boise State? Enema rain!
Jason Thompson, Rider? Cat fecal matter!!!
Did Dick make a deal with the devil to come back from throat surgery? Did he promise to lie, cheat and schill, if he could have his job back? Did Bill Self once again refuse to suck up to Dick? Oh, I hope so, Bill. I hope we all disrespect him from here on out.
Dick, when we take the ring in the Alamo Dome, I hope our fans abduct you and take you to a tatoo parlor near some west Texas AFB. I hope they have KU tatooed on your empty, bald head. This is the lowest you've ever slunk; this is lower than Bill Packer and I believe him to be sub-human.
You're getting old and demented, but not that old and demented. Go to confession, then come here and kiss my Allen Field House.