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Men's Basketball

Thursday, February 19, 2009

KU basketball notebook

By Gary Bedore

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KU overpowers ISU at Allen Fieldhouse

Kansas defeated Iowa State 72-55 and is now 21-5 overall. They are currently 10-1 in Big 12 play, one game behind conference leader Oklahoma.

Photo Gallery

KU vs. ISU

Audio clips

2009 KU-ISU Feb. 18

KU vs. ISU

Aldrich tribute

A “Phantom of the Phog” tribute video to Cole Aldrich was played on the videoboard in the second half.

Kansas University freshman Quintrell Thomas recently nicknamed Aldrich “Phantom of the Phog” because of the sophomore center’s Phantom of the Opera-like protective facemask.

“I heard about it. I didn’t quite see it. If anybody wants to send me a copy, I’d love to see it,” Aldrich said, laughing when a media type said it’d surely be on youtube.com today.

Das boot

Aldrich has been wearing a protective boot in response to a minor lower-left-leg injury.

“It’s a little lingering in the leg, a little wear and tear on the body,” Aldrich said.

He said his mask to protect his broken nose could be discarded at any time.

“It’s day to day,” he said.

Run, fellas, run

Aldrich, on coach Bill Self making the players run at the pregame afternoon shootaround Wednesday because of lack of energy.

“Every once in a while when coach sees we are a little more comfortable he puts the pressure back on. It’s what makes him such a great coach. It’s why he’s won so many games here, the pressure he puts on guys to perform,” Aldrich said of Self making the players run “a few down and backs.”

Clock ticking again

The old Longines clock up in the center, west side rafters of the fieldhouse is working again. KU officials said they never considered taking the clock down because of historical reasons. Instead they ordered parts and had it repaired. It’d been out of order most of the season.

Hamburger game

KU signees Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson were not selected to play in the 2009 McDonald’s All-America game, set for April 1 in Miami. Lance Stephenson, a 6-6 forward from Brooklyn, N.Y., who will visit KU this weekend, is a member of the East team with Kenny Boynton, Dominic Cheek, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, Milton Jennings, Ryan Kelly, Alex Oriakhi, Peyton Siva, Dexter Strickland, Dante Taylor and Maalik Wayns.

The West team: Avery Bradley, Abdul Gaddy, Keith Gallon, Xavier Henry, John Henson, Wally Judge, Tommy Mason-Griffin, Mason Plumlee, Renardo Sidney, Michael Snaer, David Wear and Travis Wear. Judge, a 6-9 forward from Landover, Md., will attend Kansas State.

Award

Self will receive the Abe Lemons/Paul Hansen Award for Sports Excellence at the annual Oklahoma City University Sports Spectacular dinner and auction at 6 p.m., April 8, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in OKC.

Quips

Self on Aldrich cracking that KU had returned from what the NBA calls a West Coast swing.

“I guess Manhattan is West,” Self said of KU playing K-State on Saturday in Manhattan.

Stats, facts

KU has won 38 straight games in Allen Fieldhouse. ... Brady Morningstar, who hit two of four threes, has made a league-best 47.2 percent from three. ... Iowa State shot 32.1 percent in becoming the 65th consecutive team to shoot under 50 percent versus KU. ... Morningstar tied a career high with four steals. ... ISU is the fifth team to make 10 three-point field goals (in 26 tries) in a game against the Jayhawks, which ties the season high for an opponent. Kansas is 5-0 in all five contests.

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Comments

pigskinballin (anonymous) says...

i thought the wear bros were not rated as high as thompson and johnson.

sounds very poitical

February 19, 2009 at 2:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"Kansas is 5-0 in all five contests."

As opposed, of course, to being 5-0 in three of the five contests.

February 19, 2009 at 5:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

memhawk (anonymous) says...

actorman - Don't be so hard on Gary. After all, he brought us that "hard-hitting" gut wrenching story about the clock that is working again! He can't be expected to come up with journalistic pearls evrey time out.

February 19, 2009 at 6:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkitup (anonymous) says...

Did I miss something? Why is John Wall not an McDonald's All-American? Does it have to do with the school he attends?

February 19, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

TaCityHawkFan (anonymous) says...

Wall is a 5th year senior and therefore ineligilble. The different scouting agencies rate players differently. For instance, Snaer is top 10 in Rivals, but 44th on ESPN. Johnson and Robinson are around 20 in Rivals but ranked around 50 or 60 on ESPN.

Not sure which tends to be more accurate, I generally pay attention to Rivals and occassionaly Scouts.com

February 19, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jakehillku (anonymous) says...

I think that the whole Mcdonalds All-American game is kind of a joke, but i do have to admit that it really blows that the mildcats have a recruit who will be playing in the game and we dont. How do you get charmed into going to that terrible town/school/ horse farm by Frank Martin? He is pure evil

February 19, 2009 at 8:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

47.2% from 3!!!!!!!!!!

BRADY is CLUTCH!

February 19, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

The McD's game is overrated. A lot of excellent players never played in it. I would not put too much stock in it. Something tells me the "east coast" college coaches, mostly ACC a la Coack K and ol' Roy, have a little something to do with the players selection.

February 19, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ESUjayhawk (anonymous) says...

TaCityHawkFan nailed it... They cant play in the game if they are a 5th year senior at a prep school... Im not 100% sure but I think the Morris twins went the same route also... Sometimes certain players cant play in the McD's game because they are still in their certain states championship tournaments

February 19, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kranny (anonymous) says...

I agree with ku98. Case in point-Micah Downs- very average player, for an over rated team playing in a mediocre conference. I remember him or his dad talking about a jump to the pros. Developmental league is in his future. Wonder how he would have turned out if he had stayed? For example, how would he have compared to Brady Morningstar at the 3 or maybe the 2 spot?

February 19, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

It's always nice to have a player in the McD's game because of the exposure for your school, but it doesn't necessarily mean that all the best players are in that game. Robinson should be playing, but it doesn't really matter to me.

February 19, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dnvrhawk (anonymous) says...

It was good that Downs transferred because he was and is too slow defensively. I don't think he would have seen the court had he stayed. The dude can shoot lights out but is always a half step behind whoever he is defending.

I noticed that Roy is only picking up 4 Mickey D's. Geeze, he's slipping.

February 19, 2009 at 2:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

dnvrhawk,

Roy does not pick up Mickey Ds.

He picks up Mickey D-lesses...as in defenselesses. :-)

February 19, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

"Self will receive the Abe Lemons/Paul Hansen Award for Sports Excellence..."

Now I get it! There's no such thing as Okie Ball. :-)

February 19, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

"Run, fellas, run"

Sorry, Cole, he's not making the team run, because they are too comfortable. He's making the team run, because Missouri proved the team is not yet in good enough condition.

February 19, 2009 at 2:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

So you're telling me that KState got a McD's player and we didn't? How in the world did that happen, especially after we just won it all.

February 19, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I think they've both had some injuries to deal with. It can be a good thing... brings em in here a little "slighted"... ready to prove em wrong.

Jaybate explains it perfectly. Roy and Coach K always rack up guys that are more offensively polished. Self picks up an amazing athlete and perhaps the best rebounder... because he knows he can coach the rest. We all know it's usually offense that earns All-american and all-star game honors.

February 19, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )