Stories for January 2009

Gary Bedore’s KU Basketball Notebook

KU guard Sherron Collins has made 27 consecutive free throws entering today’s game. Only two Jayhawks have had longer streaks — Calvin Thompson (33 in 1984-84) and Wayne Simien (34 in 2004-05).

Keegan: Football turning corner

Many a Kansas University football player through the years has said sitting in the Allen Fieldhouse crowd at a basketball game clinched his college choice. The atmosphere won them over.

Morris back for Kansas women

Junior’s return from concussion good news for reeling team

When Kansas University travels to Texas A&M, Sade Morris should be back after missing two games because of a concussion.

Broken nose won’t keep Aldrich out

Kansas center might sport protective mask for today’s matchup against Colorado

Born and raised in hockey country, Cole Aldrich would love to wear a bulky, colorful goalie mask to protect his broken nose in today’s 3 p.m. home game against Colorado.

Beisels Tampa-bound

Oskaloosa principal attending Super Bowl

The irony of his son’s current situation is not lost on Doug Beisel, principal at nearby Oskaloosa Junior/Senior High.

KU baseball player answers to charges related to incident outside Lawrence bar

A Kansas University baseball player will be placed on diversion for an incident outside a Lawrence bar, a city prosecutor said Friday.

Aldrich did break nose versus Nebraska

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self on Friday said sophomore center Cole Aldrich broke his nose in Wednesday’s game at Nebraska.

Mayer: Mid-range shot used too little

In college basketball, is the mid-range shot under-taught, under-used or under-demanded by coaches?

KU track and field names team captains

Kansas University track and field coach Stanley Redwine on Thursday announced his 2009 team captains: Lauren Bonds, Sha’Ray Butler, Kelsey Erb, and Charity Stowers will lead the women, while Jordan Scott, Ryan Hays and Eric Fattig will lead the men.

Magazine honors three KU soccer players

Kansas forward Emily Cressy was named a Freshman All-American, and was one of three Jayhawks named to the All-Central Region team by Soccer Buzz magazine on Thursday.

Feeding post a problem for KU

It’d be easy to heap all the blame on 6-foot-11 Kansas University center Cole Aldrich for failing to score in the first half of Wednesday’s game against under-sized Nebraska.It’d also be wrong to do so.

Kansas notebook

Kansas’ Cole Aldrich took a shot to his nose and had his left nostril plugged with cotton after the game. “I don’t know what it is. I’ll get it checked out tomorrow. It’s not anything that’s bothering me too much,” he said of his swollen nose. He refused to speculate on whether it was broken. “It’s a little runny. That’s all it is.”

KU scraps past NU

Little, Jayhawks dispute ‘soft’ tag

Mario Little, who grew up on the mean streets of Chicago, doesn’t appreciate being called one particularly nasty four-letter word. “Everybody has their own opinion of us that we’re soft,’’ Little, Kansas University’s junior forward, said after the Jayhawks out-slugged Nebraska, 68-62, on Wednesday night in Devaney Center.

Keegan: Morningstar, Reed help save day

Supposedly, size matters in basketball. OK, so why did Cole Aldrich and Markieff and Marcus Morris, all taller than Nebraska’s tallest player, enter the locker room at the half with a combined two points and zero rebounds?

Jayhawks senior swimmer honored

Kansas University swimmer Maria Mayrovich was named the Big 12 Swimmer of the Week on Wednesday afternoon. Mayrovich, a native of Novorossiysk, Russia, set a Robinson Natatorium record in the 100 freestyle in a double-dual against South Dakota and Northern Iowa.

Huskers lament loss

Henry bemoans errant late pass

With his team down three with 16 seconds remaining, Sek Henry said he was just trying to play it safe. The inbounds play called for the pass to go to Ade Dagunduro under the basket. “But the way the guy was defending me, when I was trying to pass the ball to him, I didn’t think it was open,” Henry said after Nebraska’s 68-62 loss to Kansas University on Wednesday. “Cookie (Miller) was my last option.”

FINAL: Collins’ late steal helps KU escape with 68-62 victory

Collins had a steal and four free throws in the final 29 seconds to help preserve KU’s victory.

K-State overcomes rare halftime deficit

Ashley Sweat scored 18 points and No. 14 Kansas State rallied from a halftime deficit to beat Nebraska.

Big 12 roundup: Abrams ties Boschee’s Big 12 record

UT guard hits 338th three-pointer in UT's 78-72 victory

Texas made it 23 consecutive victories over Baylor in the series Tuesday night, when A.J. Abrams scored 19 points while matching the Big 12 career record for three-pointers in a 78-72 victory over the Bears.

Pesky, scrappy Huskers await Kansas today

Sherron Collins, who is listed at 5-foot-11 on Kansas University’s basketball roster, will feel like a big man on campus tonight.

Keegan: Reed steadily maturing

Seventy years have passed since that first practice for the 1938-39 Kansas University freshman basketball team, yet every time Donn Mosser looks at the numeral sweater he earned, he remembers the words of coach Phog Allen as clearly as if they were delivered yesterday.

KU athletes set academic record

Kansas University’s student-athletes set an athletic department fall semester record with a combined 2.99 grade point average, it was announced Tuesday.

Heat-related lawsuit opens local eyes

A landmark lawsuit in Louisville, Ky., someday could have ramifications that impact Lawrence.

NU’s Sadler not surprised by KU’s record

University of Nebraska coach Doc Sadler says he’s not surprised Kansas University’s young basketball team takes a 15-4 record (4-0 in Big 12 play) into tonight’s game.

Opening Day almost here for KU softball

Senior Ellie Pottorf hasn’t played in almost a year, after recovering from an injury.

KSU athletic director Krause announces resignation

Less than a year after taking over as Kansas State’s athletics director, Bob Krause announced Tuesday that he is leaving that job to direct fundraising for a new K-State campus in Olathe.

OU survives Bedlam scare

Just when Oklahoma State looked like it might make a Bedlam comeback to remember, Oklahoma came back with a 1-2 punch that has been putting just about every opponent down for the count.

Big 12 honors Brackins

Iowa State’s Craig Brackins has been named Big 12 player of the week on the heels of one of the finest games in conference history. The 6-foot-10 junior scored a career-high 42 points in an 82-67 loss to Kansas on Saturday.

Self praises freshman Thomas’ attitude

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self singled out an unsung — some might say forgotten — freshman in the winner’s locker room Saturday at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum.

KU brings experience to field

Like any coach, Tracy Bunge will let the chips fall where they may. Yet it sounds like one of those chips already has landed. On her shoulder.

New tournament in works

A new men’s postseason basketball tournament has been scheduled in March by CollegeInsider.com for 16 teams not chosen for the NCAA and NIT tournaments.

Woodling: Curiosity about coaches

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, something unusual occurred on the sidelines in Saturday’s Kansas-Kansas State women’s basketball game.Neither K-State coach Deb Patterson nor KU coach Bonnie Henrickson had a male serving as a full-time assistant coach.

KU’s Morris battling concussion

Sade Morris hasn’t played since suffering a concussion against Texas Tech.

Sutherland a bright spot for Jayhawks

Aishah Sutherland knocked down nine points and 12 rebounds against K-State in Saturday’s losing effort.

Keegan: Little defines scorer

Some basketball players, such as Kansas University’s Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar, are shooters. They go to their spot on the floor, wait for the defense to collapse on the driving guard or the posting-up center and wait to step into a pass for an open shot. Their baskets tend to be swishes.

Oklahoma obliterates Longhorns

Courtney Paris saved her biggest game of the season for No. 3 Oklahoma’s fiercest rival. Paris had 23 points and a season-best 21 rebounds, and Danielle Robinson added 18 points and eight assists as No. 3 Oklahoma routed No. 14 Texas, 89-69, on Sunday to set up a showdown for first place in the Big 12.

Special Olympians relish KU hoops clinic

Self says Jayhawks benefit from annual drill and scrimmage session

More than 100 Special Olympians from Kansas and the Kansas City metro area attended the 25th-annual Wilt Chamberlain Clinic at Allen Fieldhouse.

Boathouse anchors rowing teams

Storage, meeting, medical facilities finally available in new home along Kaw

Kansas University senior Emily Martin is used to leaving practice filthy. Martin and other Kansas University rowing team members are used to carrying 200-pound boats through ankle-deep mud. They’re used to fixing dents in their boats after a night of hail. But this will soon become a distant memory once a new boathouse opens Feb. 6 in Burcham Park.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Kansas coach Bill Self again gushed about the performance of Iowa State’s Craig Brackins.

Keegan: Collins delivers big blow

Unlike in the movies, where the virtuous cowboy gets a few chairs broken over his head and takes a couple of clean punches to the jaw and then bounces back to beat up the guy wearing the black hat, in real life, the guy who lands the first punch almost always wins.

Little provides spark for KU

Not many college basketball players even attempt 14-foot turnaround fadeaways off one leg. The shot comes naturally for Mario Little. “I don’t work on it any more. I never really worked on it. I just did it a lot,” Little said. “It’s nothing I work on. I can make those all day.”

Ailing Morris eager to return for KU women

Basketball players suffer concussions about as often as desperation shots go through the net. Sade Morris certainly hadn’t had one before.

KU hoops notebook

Kansas University coach Bill Self was saddened to learn of the death of North Carolina State women’s coach Kay Yow, who had battled cancer for many years. Hall of Famer Yow, who won over 737 games in 38 years, was first diagnosed with cancer in 1987. She died Saturday. “She was unbelievable, incredible, an inspiration to a lot of people,” Self said.

Big numbers

Brackins gets 42; Collins goes over 1,000

Sherron Collins was having the half of his life and wanted his big brother to share in it. “He hit a couple threes, looked at me and shouted, ‘Woo woo.’ He was in a zone,” said Chicago native Steve Collins, who watched Sherron explode for 18 points in the first 12 minutes of Kansas University’s 82-67 basketball victory over Iowa State on Saturday in Hilton Coliseum.

ISU happy to lean on Brackins

Iowa State sophomore Craig Brackins, bound for first-team All-Big 12 honors, threatened the conference scoring record with 42 points Saturday in an 82-67 loss to Kansas University in Hilton Coliseum. Afterward, someone asked Cyclones coach Greg McDermott whether the team relies too heavily on Brackins.

Kansas women fall to Kansas State

Freshman Sutherland steps up in Jayhawks’ 59-50 setback

Kansas State beat Kansas, 59-50, Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse.

FINAL: Collins ties career-high with 26 points as Jayhawks take down Cyclones, 82-67

Kansas guard Sherron Collins scored 18 in the first half in KU’s second road win.

Experience stands out with new LB’s coach

Only seven days after being named linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator for the Kansas University football team — just a week since he arrived in Lawrence from his previous post at Louisville — Bill Miller was already bustling about the Anderson Family Football Complex with authority.

KU great Sayers to be honored

Former Kansas University All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers has been chosen for induction into the John McLendon Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame.

KU soccer player Cressy honored

Kansas University freshman soccer player Emily Cressy has been selected as the Female Athlete of the Year by the USA Deaf Sports Federation for 2008.

Cyclones offense struggling

Greg McDermott has had a full week to work on Iowa State’s biggest weakness: offense.

Kansas women get early start

Brunch with Bonnie I worked out nicely. But Brunch with Bonnie II looms as more difficult.

KU seeking to eliminate Hilton Magic

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self has had better luck than his mentor in Hilton Coliseum, home of the Iowa State Cyclones. So far, at least

Little poses new threat

Mario Little’s career-high 15-point scoring outburst against Texas A&M may have given Kansas University’s future basketball opponents something to think about.

W. Va. stuns G’town

A recap of men’s Top 25 basketball action.

Mayer: KU has many weapons

The Kansas basketball team is taking on the characteristics of a deluxe Swiss army knife. That’s good, because it can drive opposing coaches batty as they try to prepare defenses for the Jayhawks as the Big 12 season gets serious.

Taylor making an impact for KU

Tyshawn Taylor has been KU’s MVR: Most Valuable Rookie.

Missouri repels OSU rally

A recap of men’s Big 12 basketball action.

Jayhawk women tripped up

Kansas University junior Danielle McCray scored a career-high 30 points in the Jayhawks’ 67-58 women’s basketball loss to Nebraska on Wednesday in Devaney Center.

Morningstar different player in ‘09

Some Kansas University basketball fans questioned Bill Self’s judgment in offering former Free State High guard Brady Morningstar a scholarship back in September of 2005.

Welcome to Wall’s world

Top prospect faces tough task of living ordinary life

A request to interview John Wall is granted on one condition. “You’re going to ask (him) about the game, right?” Word of God Christian Academy athletic director Kevin Washington said of the country’s No. 1-ranked high school senior basketball player. “He won’t be answering any questions about his recruitment.”

Woodling: Few KU players coaching

Mark Turgeon’s appearance in Lawrence the other night made me wonder how many former Kansas University men’s basketball players are currently head coaches at the collegiate level. Answer: Not very many.

Baylor’s winning streak reaches 10

A recap of Big 12 women’s basketball action.

Jayhawks look to remain undefeated in conference play

KU travels to play Iowa State this weekend.

Wake Forest stumbles

A recap of men’s top 25 basketball action.

Johnson complementing Griffin well for Sooners

What Oklahoma has done now hardly seems fair.

Jayhawks excited about Obama

Tyshawn Taylor, who turned 18 last April, was eligible to vote in his first presidential election on Nov. 4.

Oklahoma’s Warren, KU’s Taylor highlight list of top 10 freshmen in Big 12

The Oklahoma men’s basketball team is 17-1 and off to its best start in 23 years. Undoubtedly, the driving force behind the Sooners’ stellar start is sophomore Blake Griffin, who averages 22 points and leads the country with 13.4 rebounds per game. But there’s a critical component of Oklahoma’s rotation that wasn’t around last year with Griffin.

Duke slams N.C. St.

No. 2 Blue Devils warm up, 73-56

A recap of Top 25 men’s basketball action.

Hobbled KU to face Nebraska

Maybe the law of averages is catching up with Bonnie Henrickson.

Raiders put end to skid

Mike Singletary scored 20 points, including Texas Tech’s final 12, and the Red Raiders snapped a three-game losing streak with a 63-55 victory over Colorado on Tuesday night.

Keegan: Woodland still has Hope

Thanks to the good side of modern technology — honest, there is a good side — fans of former Kansas University golfer and PGA tour rookie Gary Woodland can follow his every shot at pgatour.com.

Jayhawk softball team prepares for spring

The weather might not seem like prime softball temperatures, but that’s not stopping the Jayhawks from getting a head start on the spring.

Ex-KU coordinator Young headed to Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy announced the hiring of former KU defensive coordinator Bill Young as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Locklin named KU defensive line coach

Kerry Locklin will be the new Kansas defensive line coach, KU coach Mark Mangino announced Tuesday. With the hiring of Locklin, KU has completed its coaching staff for next season.

Fans, at least, kind to Turgeon

Mark Turgeon’s first trip back to Lawrence as a head coach was going splendidly until the game tipped off.

Marcus finds his spot

Freshman favors straight-on threes

Marcus Morris’ secret is out. “I like shooting from the top of the key — I don’t know why,” the freshman forward said. “It’s just straight on. I’ve got a better chance of making it.”

Kansas basketball notebook

News and notes from KU’s victory over the Aggies.

Little livin’ large

Forward dedicates performance to grandma

Mario Little wishes he could have attended his beloved grandmother Hazel’s 83rd birthday party Sunday at Rosemont Community Hospital on Chicago’s south side.

Keegan: Pieces falling in place

College basketball fans’ expectations lean heavily toward the optimistic in the offseason. The more players a fan base hasn’t seen, it seems, the higher the expectations soar.

Pitt roughs up Syracuse, 78-60

Pittsburgh went through more than half a season without losing, then faced the realistic possibility of losing twice in three days.

Morris’ status doubtful for Jayhawk women

Sade Morris, second-leading scorer on Kansas University’s women’s basketball team, is listed as day-to-day after suffering a concussion in Saturday night’s game against Texas Tech.

KU’s McCray on a cold streak

In three Big 12 games, Danielle McCray has hit only 14 of 48 shots.

FINAL: Little scores 15 as Jayhawks rout Aggies, 73-53

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich each added 16 points in KU’s win over Texas A&M.

KU looking into incident between Self, recruit

The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader alleged Monday that Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self might have had inappropriate contact over the weekend with John Wall, a 6-foot-4 point guard currently rated as the nation’s top high school recruit.

Taylor wins Big 12 rookie of the week

Kansas freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor was named Big 12 rookie of the week, the conference announced Monday.

Well, well, look who’s back

Ex-Jayhawk Turgeon returns to Allen — as foe

Former Kansas University player, graduate assistant and assistant coach Mark Turgeon will return to Allen Fieldhouse as coach of Texas A&M.

Texas prep WR taps KU

D.J. Beshears, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior wide receiver from Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, on Sunday orally committed to play football at Kansas University, according to Rivals.com.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Texas A&M has a brutal opening to its Big 12 schedule.

LHS/KU graduate new GM in Tampa

Mark Dominik proved this weekend that a prosperous playing career is not a prerequisite for running an NFL franchise.

Three OU double-doubles doom Texas A&M, 71-59

Danielle Robinson had 19 points and 10 assists, and two other Sooners also had double-doubles as No. 3 Oklahoma led all the way in a 71-59 victory over No. 8 Texas A&M on Sunday.

The Drive for January 18

Kansas basketball notebook

News and notes from KU’s victory over Colorado.

Baylor tops OSU in OT

A recap of Big 12 men’s basketball action.

K-State holds off Cyclones, 59-52

A recap of Big 12 women’s basketball action.

KU tops Nebraska

The Kansas University swimming and diving team defeated Nebraska, 161-139, Saturday to claim its sixth straight dual-meet victory.

Buffs bemoan their mistakes

Eighteen-year-old Trey Eckloff hasn’t played against many centers like Cole Aldrich.

Keegan: Marcus’ model: Darnell

Darnell Jackson averaged 2 points and 1.7 rebounds as a freshman at Kansas University. Four years later, LeBron James is his teammate.

Many happy returns

Ex-Jayhawk Jackson on hand for win

About 6,000 die-hard Kansas University basketball fans danced in the aisles during the final minutes of the Jayhawks’ 73-56 victory over Colorado on Saturday at crimson-and-blue-splattered Coors Events Center.

Texas Tech defeats Kansas women, 57-49

Texas Tech defeated the Kansas University women’s basketball team, 57-49, Saturday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

FINAL: KU picks up first road win with 73-56 victory over CU

Sherron Collins led Kansas with 18 points and five Jayhawks finished in double figures.

Gary Bedore’s KU Basketball Notebook

Colorado sophomore guard Cory Higgins broke the Big 12 and CU school record with 40-consecutive made free throws Jan. 5 at Southern Methodist University.

Kansas women seeking continuity

Still looking for its first women’s basketball victory over Texas Tech in the 21st century, Kansas hopes to stop the bleeding Saturday night.

KU-CU starting lineups, rosters

Here are the starting lineups and rosters for Kansas and Colorado.

Mizzou track tops KU

Victoria Howard and Keith Hayes were double winners, and Jordan Scott qualified for the NCAA Championships, but Kansas University’s track and field team fell to Missouri.

Kansas picked eighth in league softball poll

Big 12 coaches picked Kansas to finish eighth in the 10-team league race this spring.

KU support favorable in ‘Fieldhouse West’

A proud Kansas University graduate, Mark Randall has been on the lookout for Buffaloes all week.

Little might start again against Colorado

Kansas University junior Mario Little — who on Tuesday morning decided he was healthy enough to play second semester — started Tuesday night’s game against Kansas State. Considering Little played well in his first start at KU — and the man he replaced (Markieff Morris) had a productive night off the bench — it’s possible the Jayhawks may open the same way on Saturday at Colorado.

Mayer: Religion column causes stir

The recent discussion of sports and religiosity drew predictable rain. A lot of it was in agreement and laced with humor. My point was that too often jocks overdo the business of selfish prayer to icons and deities as they seek special, personalized father-son help from up above, or wherever those guys live.

Woodland three strokes back

Former KU golfer finishes with a 2-under par 68 in first round

Gary Woodland’s first shot as a PGA tour professional came to rest in the right rough, 333 yards from the tee on the 351-yard, par-4 No. 10 hole at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. He got up and down from there to start his career under par.

Keegan: Woodland living the dream

It took all of one swing from his playing partner that day for Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self to know that he was in for a treat.

Bradford’s return makes Red River even more intense

Sorrentino's lightning round

The return of Heisman quarterback Sam Bradford — who would have easily been a Top 10 NFL Draft pick — to Oklahoma was huge news on Wednesday for two reasons.

Withey’s welcome warm

Freshman praises Fieldhouse energy

All eyes, except those of Kansas State University’s basketball players and coaches, were glued to the Allen Fieldhouse videoboard prior to the introduction of Kansas University’s starting five Tuesday night.

Border beatdown

Bitter memory sparks KU victory over MU

That bus droning out of Manhattan on Saturday night took only about 90 minutes to reach Lawrence. Unless you were most of the passengers — members of Kansas University’s women’s basketball team.

Heisman winner Bradford stays at OU

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford wasn’t ready to give up the life of a college quarterback — not without a national championship. The third-year sophomore quarterback will return to Oklahoma next season.

FINAL: Sade Morris scores 20 points as KU women take down Mizzou, 75-58

Nicollette Smith adds 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting

Oklahoma, Texas early favorites in Big 12 hoops

The Big 12 is a young conference this season in men’s basketball. Of the 344 Division I schools, not a single Big 12 team ranks in the top 50 in experience level. But there’s still expectations of deep NCAA Tournament runs for a few of the conference’s finest. Here’s a preview of the Big 12 hoops season to get you amped for the crux of conference play:

KU, Mizzou to battle

Kansas University’s women’s basketball team will put its unbeaten home record on the line tonight when it plays host to rival Missouri.

Jayhawks’ Little takes one for team

There was one main reason Mario Little said he decided not to red-shirt. “The team,” the junior said after Kansas University’s 87-71 victory over Kansas State on Tuesday. “The team needed me.” Though the 6-foot-5 junior-college transfer still isn’t fully healed from a stress fracture in his left leg, he chose to play in Tuesday’s game fully knowing the consequences.

‘Just play’ pays off

Taylor heeds advice

Down in the dumps over his recent slump, Tyshawn Taylor sought the advice of some of his elders this week. Namely, he visited with veterans Sherron Collins, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed and Cole Aldrich. “I talked to Sherron about it. He went through it. I talked to Brady, Tyrel, Cole. They all went through it. It’s something I had to overcome,” Taylor, Kansas University’s freshman point guard said, referring to a sudden lack of confidence midway through his rookie season.

Kansas basketball notebook

Chicago natives Sherron Collins and Jacob Pullen talked to each other a lot during the game. Collins finished with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and four turnovers; Pullen had 13 points, two assists and no turnovers. “We were more making jokes than talking smack,” Collins said. “I hit the floor, he said, ‘Ah, he’s all right.’ He pulled my shirt. I pulled his shirt. No hard feelings. It’s fun.”

Keegan: Kansas could go 6-0

When talented young basketball players look bad, they can look really bad, and when they look good, they can look really good. Naturally, the tendency is to get too down on them when they look bad and to get too high on them when they look good.

K-State latest slow starter

Well, this is becoming a bit repetitive, isn’t it? Every week, it seems, some opposing coach stands perched in front of a group of media members in an underground tunnel at Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse and attempts to answer a dozen versions of the same question: Why, exactly, did your team come out so flat?

FINAL: Taylor’s 20 points spark KU in 87-71 win over KSU

Sherron Collins lead all scorers with 24 points Tuesday night as the Jayhawks took down Kansas State.

Little to play against Kansas State, will not red-shirt this season

Kansas junior Mario Little will play in Tuesday night’s Kansas-Kansas State game and will not take a medical red-shirt this season, KU coach Bill Self said Tuesday morning.

Keegan: Big 12 teams young

Did playing a game in East Lansing, Mich., Kansas University coach Bill Self was asked on Monday’s Big 12 conference call, get his players ready for what to expect in the Big 12?

Sooners snap six-game losing streak to Texas

Blake Griffin and Oklahoma finally had enough of losing to Texas. Griffin racked up his 14th double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the sixth-ranked Sooners to a 78-63 victory over the 11th-ranked Longhorns on Monday night

Little’s status to be decided today

KU will announce the status of junior Mario Little (stress fracture lower left leg) today.

Windy City showdown

Chicago natives Collins, Pullen playing for bragging rights

The leading scorers at both Kansas University and Kansas State were born and raised — and developed their games — on the mean streets of Chicago.

Baby Mangino bowls over the competition for 2008 Sports Human of the Year honor

At 8 months old, Bode Lubbers is already an Internet superstar. And all the young Wichitan had to do was let his mother put on an eyeliner mustache and a KU sweat suit. And, of course, channel his inner Mark Mangino.

Withey ready for fresh start

Jeff Withey on Sunday night jammed as much stuff as he could into a pair of suitcases. “I’m really excited. I’m packing right now. I’ll be in Lawrence tomorrow,” Withey said in a phone conversation from Tucson, Ariz.

Keegan: His own worst critic

Taylor’s approach changing

Bill Self’s “think about the next play” command isn’t easily learned by emotional young athletes just out of high school.

Sunday sports trivia

When was the last time the Kansas State men’s basketball team beat KU in Lawrence?

Spikes still a work in progress

To hear Kansas University red-shirt freshman Jeff Spikes talk about what it was like manning the left tackle position early in the season is to picture a youth basketball player learning the proper mechanics of shooting a layup.

KU regroups after Michigan State loss

The Spartans beat the Jayhawks 75-62 Saturday.

A&M too much for MU

A recap of Big 12 women’s basketball action.

Huskers hold off Missouri, 56-51

A recap of Big 12 men’s basketball action.

Keegan: Rookie big men struggling

Timing is everything in life, and on the topic of the Kansas University basketball team’s frontcourt, the timing shapes up as less than perfect.

KU’s Gockel ties for 34th

Kansas University junior golfer Meghan Gockel tied for 34th in the Harder Hall Invitational on Saturday.

MSU key: Collins

Spartans aimed to stall ‘engine’

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had a plan to stop Kansas University’s offense: Put six different eyes on Sherron Collins.

Wildcats wallop Jayhawks

As far as Kansas University women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson was concerned, there wasn’t too much to say Saturday night after her team’s matchup with rival Kansas State.

Down for the count

No. 8 Spartans clobber Collins, Kansas

The Jayhawks (11-4), who led 7-1 and 11-6 before getting outscored, 31-7, to close the half, talked more about the future than the horrid stretch in which they missed 11 of 14 shots and committed 10 turnovers the final 15 minutes of the first half.

KU football hires new co-defensive coordinator

Bill Miller, former defensive coordinator at Louisville University, has been named linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator of the Kansas University football team, KU announced Saturday.

Kansas basketball notebook

News and notes from KU’s loss to Michigan State.

K-State women trounce KU

Taking on host Kansas State in the Big 12 conference opener for both teams, the Kansas University women’s basketball team fell behind early and couldn’t recover, falling 72-39 to drop to 11-3 (0-1 in conference play) this season.

Louisville assistant named KU co-defensive coordinator

Bill Miller, who spent the past season as the defensive coordinator at the University of Louisville, has been named linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator of the Kansas University football team, the school announced Saturday.

FINAL: Strong 1st half pushes MSU to 75-62 win

Michigan State outscores KU, 37-18, in opening 20 minutes.

Ex-Husker hit with DUI

Former Nebraska football player Hunter Teafatiller has been sentenced to 10 days in jail and fined $500 for a second drunken-driving offense.

Kansas swimming routs Florida International

Kansas lost just one event in a 178-78 rout of Florida International.

Gators in prime position for repeat

Florida coach Urban Meyer wrapped both hands around the crystal football Friday, started to lift it off its stand and then nearly fumbled the whole trophy. He might have an easier time holding on to the championship next year.

Loud and proud ‘Izzone’ ready for KU

Teams that venture into Michigan State’s Breslin Center not only have to contend with the traditionally tough Spartans. They must also try to overcome MSU’s raucous student section — which wraps around more than three-fourths of the 14,759-seat arena’s bottom tier.

Gary Bedore’s KU Basketball Notebook

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was asked this week about his No. 8-ranked Spartans trying for a “marquee win” against the defending national champs.

KU’s Self recognized as Kansan of Year

A group promoting Kansas history is honoring Kansas University men’s basketball coach Bill Self as one of two Kansans of the Year.

KU women seek ‘signature win’

Jayhawks have closed the gap on Kansas State recently

Kansas University will open Big 12 play Saturday at undefeated Kansas State.

Tech WR Crabtree entering NFL Draft

Michael Crabtree’s father says the Texas Tech receiver is going to the NFL.

KU track shines at Arkansas Invitational

KU claimed six individual titles at the Arkansas Track Invitational.

KU golfer Gockel in 26th at tournament

KU’s Meghan Gockel shot 155 over the first two rounds of the Harder Hall Women’s Invitational.

Keegan: Marcus faces challenge

Marcus Morris, the Kansas University basketball player who has the most untapped potential, has identified the problem. Finding the cure presents a greater challenge.

KU ready for Spartans

KU takes on top 10-ranked Michigan State today.

DE Young re-commits to Kansas

The recruiting process of Olathe North High defensive end Kevin Young has taken some interesting turns, but ultimately has led to the University of Kansas.

MU’s Maclin makes decision to go pro

The two-time All-American announced his widely expected decision to turn pro Friday — but not before breaking down in tears at the microphone before a crowd of reporters, grateful teammates and coaches.

Little’s status still up in air

Red-shirt decision will be made before Tuesday’s KSU game

As of noon, Thursday, Mario Little needed to score about 20 tickets for Saturday’s Kansas University-Michigan State basketball game in East Lansing, Mich.

National chomps

Tebow leads Gators to BCS title

Tim Tebow gave Florida the jolt it needed to become a national champion. But all his efforts in a sloppy, choppy BCS championship game likely did little to quiet fans of Utah, Southern California and Texas, all of whom already claimed the top spot.

Mayer: Who does Jesus cheer for?

In those days when Notre Dame and Southern Methodist both were prominent on the college football scene, they often drew attention because of team prayers before games. This caused columnist Dan Jenkins to ask: “OK, which gang does God favor, the Catholics or Protestants?”

KU-KSU watch party to benefit agencies

GaDuGi SafeCenter, Douglas County’s Rape Victim and Survivor Service Center, will play host to a basketball watch party Tuesday. The Kansas University and Kansas State University basketball game in Manhattan will be shown at 7 p.m. at Maceli’s, 1031 N.H. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Bradford comes up short in QB matchup

Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy with some of the most impressive statistics ever put up by a college quarterback. But in the biggest game of his career, he and Oklahoma’s high-powered offense looked ordinary.

Florida-OU should settle it … or not

Florida and Oklahoma will play for the BCS title, but it might not be the true — or only — national football championship.

Keegan: Football closing talent gap

Quietly, football coach Mark Mangino and his fleet of hard-working assistants are assembling a recruiting class that could enable Kansas University to shrink the talent disadvantage against the trio of Big 12 South teams Mangino hasn’t yet beaten.

Marcus Morris on rise

Freshman wants to be full-game player

Marcus Morris had a good first half against Siena and hopes to put two good halves together.

Kansas AD’s salary No. 2 in nation

Kansas University athletic director Lew Perkins makes $900,000 a year, making him the second-highest-paid AD in the country, according to Bloomberg.com.

Billy Self, not the KU coach Bill Self, is in Douglas County Jail

Coach’s namesake is in jail facing misdemeanor charges

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Kansas University coach Bill Self during an 810-AM radio interview Wednesday was asked about the consistent play of sophomore wing Brady Morningstar, who averages 7.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds a game. “Kansas won a national championship with a guy named (Jeff) Gueldner. To me, Brady is a lot like Jeff … makes shots when he’s open, guards the other team’s best perimeter player for most of the time,” Self said.

A grand outing

McCray joins 1,000-point club

Danielle McCray scored a team-high 16 points, helping the Kansas women defeat Fairfield, 80-60, in the Jayhawks’ final non-conference game.

Faculty, athletics department evaluating how faculty receive football season tickets

A committee at Kansas University is studying ways to institute a faculty football ticket policy that could allocate seats in a similar fashion to the faculty basketball seats.

Keegan: Aldrich prevents ORU II

Marchello Vealy appeared Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse in the body of Siena’s Clarence Jackson, and suddenly the game that was in the bag became the game that threatened the long homecourt winning streak.

Disappearing ‘D’

Saints score at will, throw scare into KU

Unranked Siena simply shredded Kansas University’s always-proud defense on Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

Saints done in by big run

First-half surge dooms Siena to 91-84 setback

For 31⁄2 minutes of Tuesday’s road matchup with Kansas University, the Siena men’s basketball team looked like a world-beater.

Kansas basketball notebook

News and notes from KU’s victory over Siena.

Oklahoma State crushes Centenary

Andrea Riley scored 31 points to lead Oklahoma State.

Reed finds range

Sophomore scores career-high 14

Even when he was slumping, Tyrel Reed wasn’t bumming.

Heart-to-heart talk helps KU’s Sutherland

Not long after her Kansas University women’s basketball team returned from winter break, coach Bonnie Henrickson decided it was probably a good time to have a talk with forward Aishah Sutherland.

Spartans’ streak hits 8

Michigan State stops Ohio State

A recap of Top 25 men’s basketball action.

Texas falls to Arkansas

A recap of Big 12 men’s basketball action.

FINAL: Aldrich scores 24 as KU holds on for 91-84 victory over Siena

Sophomore center adds 13 rebounds, 4 blocks

Texas edges Ohio State

Colt McCoy got the best of Ohio State this time. The savvy McCoy of 2009, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, is no comparison to the player of three years ago.

Oklahoma rolls again

A recap of Big 12 men’s action.

Irish top Hoyas

Luke Harangody had 31 points and 11 rebounds and No. 13 Notre Dame shot 45 percent against No. 9 Georgetown in a 73-67 victory Monday night that ended a five-game losing streak to the Hoyas.

Woodling: Reveling in being right

Six months or so ago, I ranted about the NBA Draft, pontificating that the annual pro basketball meat market was a joke.

Weighty issues

Guard Collins is at his lowest weight as a Jayhawk

Sherron Collins has won his own, personal Battle of the Bulge.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Pete Iorizzo’s blog in the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union details a trip that started with boarding a commercial flight at 5:45 a.m., Eastern time in Albany, and ended with touchdown at 4:30 p.m., at Kansas City International.

Top 10 teams tumble

No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 8 Texas both upset

A recap of Big 12 women’s basketball action.

Challenges ahead for KU before conference play begins

The Jayhawks play Siena, then no. 8 Michigan State, before Big 12 play begins.

KU’s Sutherland has break-out game

Aishah Sutherland had played 32 minutes and scored four points in KU’s first seven games. On Sunday against New Mexico, she played 16 minutes, logging six points, four boards and two assists.

Collins wins Big 12 player of the week

Kansas University guard Sherron Collins was named the Big 12 player of the week, the conference announced Monday.

Longhorns motivated by bowl snub

Texas still has a shot at the national football championship, but it’s a long shot — and the Longhorns have to take care of Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Hey, ma! This dunk’s for you

Taylor’s mother on hand for son's slams in UT victory

Mother Jeanell Taylor and other relatives of Kansas University’s Tyshawn Taylor watched as the Jayhawks slammed Tennessee, 92-85.

Two prep wideouts commit to KU

Erick McGriff of Tampa, Fla., and Chris Omigie of Arlington, Texas, gave Kansas University’s football team nonbindingn oral commitments.

Who’s backing up this batch of ’backers?

Departing seniors Holt, Rivera, Mortensen say: Don’t worry; new wave of talent ready to take over

Senior linebackers James Holt, Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen said their position will be in good hands in the immediate future.

Keegan: Utah worthy of No. 1

Tom Keegan makes the case that it’s hard to ignore Utah when talk turns to picking the national football champion.

Jayhawk women rout Aggies of New Mexico

Katie Smith has hand in victory

Seldom-used senior captain Katie Smith had career highs in points and rebounds in Kansas University’s 91-49 rout of New Mexico State.

Jayhawks hope for another award: best mascot

Big Jay and Baby Jay are hoping to live up to the expectations of KU athletics in a mascot competition.

Mayer: Mangino reminds of LHS great

Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino and former Lawrence High coach Al Woolard share many characteristics.

No kidding: KU leads Big 12 in threes

League’s best long-range bombers — at least for now — to play host to New Mexico State today

Kansas University’s women’s basketball team, leading the Big 12 in three-point accuracy, will play host to struggling New Mexico State.

Kansas basketball notebook

Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-6 junior forward from Ames (Iowa) High School, attended on an unofficial recruiting visit and sat behind KU’s bench. Before the game, Barnes left his seat to shake hands with Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, who had wandered to KU’s side of the court to visit with the Jayhawk coaches. KU and Tennessee are on Barnes’ list of schools, with Duke, Iowa, North Carolina and others.

Keegan: Crowd, guard fired up

Sherron Collins dribbled out of the tunnel, teammates bouncing behind him, and Allen Fieldhouse erupted in a way it hadn’t yet this season. The outburst itself didn’t provide the first clue that the Allen Fieldhouse streak would grow Saturday afternoon. The way the Tennessee players reacted to it did. They all flashed huge grins, bounced up and down with a little something extra. They came off so self-conscious in doing it. It looked so affected.

Slow start dooms Volunteers

Tennessee dug 25-9 hole by second TV timeout

Rocky Top encountered a rocky stop on the road Saturday afternoon. The 14th-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball team, traveling to a crammed and rowdy Allen Fieldhouse, surrendered more points to an opponent than in any game this season in a 92-85 loss against Kansas University.

Little falls short

Junior makes debut — with drawers

Markieff Morris noticed something funny about Mario Little as Little, Kansas University’s junior-college transfer, was about to leave the locker room for pregame warm-ups. “He put his compression shorts on. He put his sneaks on and was on his way walking out. I was like, ‘’Rio, where you going without your shorts?’” Markieff said with a laugh. “He was like, ‘Oh.’” In his first game as a Jayhawk, Little had forgotten one of the essentials.

KU licks Volunteers

Collins sparks KU win

Unable to sleep, Sherron Collins cell-phoned a loved one at 1:15 a.m. Saturday for some soothing words of wisdom: 22-year-old big brother Steve Collins, in Chicago. “I told him I couldn’t stop thinking about the game,” Sherron Collins, Kansas University’s emotional point guard, said. “He said, ‘You will be all right. You’ll do good. You live for these games.’

FINAL: Collins’ 26 points, 9 assists lead KU to 92-85 win over No. 14 Tennessee

Cole Aldrich adds 22 points, 10 rebounds

Little might play today vs. Tennessee

Mario Little does not want to red-shirt this season. “I came here to play,” said Little, last year’s top-ranked junior college player out of Chipola (Fla.) College.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Tennessee forward Wayne Chism, who was taken off the court on a stretcher after banging his head and back on the court after going up for a blocked shot in the Volunteers’ last game, practiced Friday and is expected to play today.

Keegan: Brady finding his role

In both the Temple and Arizona games, Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self gave sophomore Brady Morningstar the most difficult defensive assignment and simplified it for him.

Mississippi shocks Texas Tech, 47-34

There were backflips across midfield, 50-yard dashes carrying oversized flags and a team-wide sprint to the student section. Ole Miss waited five years to feel this good and the Rebels were going to enjoy every second of it.

Pearl radiates energy on court

Bruce Pearl most likely will be decked out in a dapper black suit and orange tie for today’s Kansas-Tennessee nonconference basketball clash in Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas women look to take down New Mexico State

The Kansas women’s basketball team will take on New Mexico State on Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Thriving overseas, Simien keeps close tabs on Jayhawks

Former Jayhawk Wayne Simien keeps a close eye on the Jayhawks from Spain, where he’s averaging 16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds a game in the country’s top pro basketball league.

KU football future looks bright

Kansas University’s football players and coaches can’t help but be excited about next season.

Shamed Red Raiders drop SFA

Pat Knight knows he can always turn to his famous father to talk about coaching.

KU plays host to 300 area youngsters

The Kansas University women’s basketball team hosted the annual Bonnie Henrickson Holiday Hoops Clinic Thursday.

KU looking to Aldrich for leadership

The Jayhawks welcome No. 14 Tennessee to Lawrence on Saturday.

No surprise: KU is the star of 2008’s top sports stories

Two bowl victories and a national basketball championship make the Jayhawks the number one sports story of the year.

K-State QB expected to enter NFL draft

Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman was expected to announce that he’s skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. A person with knowledge of Freeman’s decision Thursday told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, the school planned to make a formal announcement Friday.

Game balls & gassers

Heroes and goats from Tempe.

Dugan Arnett’s quick hits

Quick hits from Tempe.

Gophers easy prey for Hawks

It wasn’t the Orange Bowl, but in dominating Minnesota 42-21 Wednesday night in the Insight Bowl played at Sun Devil Stadium, Kansas University’s football team looked worthy of a BCS bowl game.

Reesing, Briscoe spark historic win

In the aftermath of the Kansas University football team’s historic 42-21 Insight Bowl victory over Minnesota — which long will be remembered as the day Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing and receiver Dezmon Briscoe essentially were unstoppable — the two players made their way to a news conference at Sun Devil Stadium, where dozens of reporters wanted to know how, exactly, they had managed to do what they had just done.

Keegan: KU defense turns grimace to grin

Just moments earlier, Kansas University had won its third bowl game in four years, 42-21, Wednesday night against Minnesota in the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen was sporting that signature grin, the one that lights up his whole face, the one that had been replaced by a clenched jaw in the early stages of the Big 12 season.

Former quarterback tosses and catches touchdowns in KU victory

Kerry Meier wasn’t going to back down. The Kansas University receiver said he refused to remain silent after a wide-receiver pass was added to the playbook a month ago.

KU football notebook

News and notes from KU’s Insight Bowl victory.

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