Gary Bedore's KU notebook: Jeff Withey close to triple-double

Kansas center Jeff Withey fights for a rebound against Long Beach State during the first half Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

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KU vs. Long Beach State

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Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews

KU coach Bill Self

Kansas coach Bill Self talks to reporters following the Jayhawks' 88-80 victory over Long Beach State on Dec. 6, 2011.

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KU vs. Long Beach State

KU defeated Long Beach State, 88-80, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

KU vs. LBSU

• KU’s carelessness has Self steaming

• Keegan: Teahan plays big for Jayhawks

• KU’s Thomas Robinson ready for OSU’s Sullinger

• LBSU’s gamble on Thomas Robinson backfires

• The Keegan Ratings

• Box Score

Kansas University junior center Jeff Withey came close to a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks in 31 minutes.

“Of course, it would have been great to have,” Withey said of a triple-double, which would have been the second official triple-double in KU history. Cole Aldrich had one versus Dayton in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

“I didn’t realize I was that close until toward the end of the game. I guess I’ll just have to try for another one. I definitely wanted it, but it’s not something that’s always on my mind.”

His nine-block effort ranks second in KU history. Aldrich had 10 versus Dayton.

Withey suffered a cut lip in the second half when he was elbowed in the face.

“We are going to punch Jeff in the mouth before every game,” KU’s Thomas Robinson joked.

Robinson, by the way, actually cramped up at the press table in the interview room, cutting his postgame session a bit short.

Player stats

Withey’s 13 rebounds and nine blocks were career highs. ... Tyshawn Taylor started the second half, but not the first. It snapped a string of 12 straight starts. Self said it was because the team didn’t know if it would have Taylor for the game after he “tweaked” his right knee at practice Monday. Self said the injury is not serious. ... Robinson’s 26 points were the most by a Jayhawk this season and most since Marcus Morris scored 27 against Oklahoma State on Feb. 21 of last season. Robinson set a career high with 10 field goals. ... Conner Teahan scored a career-high 14 points, connecting on four three-point field goals, which was also a career best.

Team stats

KU’s 22 turnovers were the most committed by the team this season and most since turning the ball over 24 times at Missouri last season. ... The Jayhawks’ 25 fouls matched the most committed by KU this season. ... KU’s three steals were a season low. .. Long Beach State’s 15 steals were the most by a Jayhawk opponent since UCLA recorded 15 steals in the 2007 NCAA Tournament game. ... Long Beach State’s 80 points were the most by a KU opponent in Allen Fieldhouse since Missouri scored 86 against the Jayhawks on Feb. 7 last season (a 103-86 KU win). ... Kansas outrebounded LBSU 41-24, giving the Jayhawks a plus-17 rebounding margin. Over the last four games, KU is plus-51 on the glass.

Memories

KU coach Bill Self remembers coaching against Long Beach State’s Dan Monson before.

Monson’s Gonzaga team clobbered Self’s Tulsa squad, 78-40, in a first-round Top of the World Classic contest on Nov. 22, 1997 in Fairbanks, Alaska.

“We go there and the only tape we had on them was an exhibition game against one of the premier beer-drinking outlets in all of Spokane,” Self quipped on his Hawk Talk radio show. “They (exhibition contest foes) were awful. You couldn’t tell anything by the tape, they beat them so bad.

“Gonzaga had us down, 34-8, to start the game. I was going, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It was probably the worst beatdown a coach’s team has ever given me. We had to make two free throws to get to 10 at halftime.”

Dan Monson’s dad is former Oregon coach Don Monson.

“He was a long-time Div. I coach and really good guy, just like Dan,” Self said. “We played against Dan’s teams at Minnesota (when Self was at Illinois). He probably has a better team now than what he had at Minnesota a majority of years. He has a team (in Long Beach State) that probably could do well in our league.”

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Bangkok_Jayhawk 1 year, 5 months ago

Jeff Withey for Heisman!

mpann1818 1 year, 5 months ago

Withey is showing that promise now that he is eligible, healthy, and getting minutes. I have been very impressed with his passing ability. His blocking ability ain't too shabby either.

memhawk 1 year, 5 months ago

Wow, so many career highs in one game while there was a season high in fouls and turnovers for the team! And, we only won by 8, go figure! If HCBS just hadn't taken time out yesterday to go meet with Obama, maybe things would have been different. Yeah, that's it...it was Obama's presence in the state that made this game so weird!

Timmay97 1 year, 5 months ago

No complaints with Withey's play with the exception of him bringing the ball down and trying to bounce every time he gets it in the post. He's 7 foot......keep the ball above your head where nobody can reach it.

bridg137 1 year, 5 months ago

^^^^ this.

rothe31 1 year, 5 months ago

I scream at the TV every time they hit him on the low post and before the double team hits him he does the same "power dribble" and turns only to get the ball stripped or rejected! TURN AND POP it in big man! I would LOVE to have been that tall, NOW USE it to your advantage!!

AsadZ 1 year, 5 months ago

Withey was our best player last night. He was a force especially on D. His presence in the paint saved use many points. It is great to see development in his game and he is getting confident. He was last night's Hawk to Rock. Great Job Big Fella.

drgnslayr 1 year, 5 months ago

I kept track of Jeff's numbers when it looked like he was headed into triple-double country and was screaming at the TV at the end for Jeff to get one more block. Darn!

So close....

Jeff is coming on big. He seems to be learning how to not foul while still bringing aggressive shot-blocking efforts. And how about his post moves? I noticed that both Jeff and TRob turned to face the basket when out in mid-range territory... often creating the easy mid-range jumper. If they both can keep nailing that shot, defenses will have to adjust by playing tight and giving up the drive. That would especially favor TRob, and Jeff is not far behind in that area as he learns to handle the ball in the paint....

Both Jeff and TRob had great games and you could see improvement in their post decision-making. Thank you, Coach Manning!

johnsont1 1 year, 5 months ago

^^^ proves that a triple-double is meaning-less

Displayhawk 1 year, 5 months ago

Don't forget Withey stepping up and knocking down free throws when he got fouled. He was our best player last night. As far as Tyshawn, .......well, the boy is just a very athletically-gifted idiot. Whatever God gave him in athletic talent, he must have taken away in brains.

rothe31 1 year, 5 months ago

That is the most brilliant term ever for Tyshawn! "Athletically-gifted idiot".........classic and true! Those turn overs hurt worse then anything else, except for maybe stupid fouls. What happened to the art of playing defense with your feet and not your hands?

swoodberry 1 year, 5 months ago

Why no Tharpe? Is he injured?

kerbyd 1 year, 5 months ago

It hasn't too long ago since a lot of folks were saying what a liability Withey would be this season.

REHawk 1 year, 5 months ago

Tharpe has not yet proved to the coaching staff that he is up to the level of Div. I play. That end-of-first-half dribble drive turnover vs. USF Saturday probably cost him dearly in his progression toward gleaning more minutes. Is really too bad, because this is a season when a steady relief guard who could step up dependably would benefit this squad tremendously. Frick and Frack are becoming nightmares for the Jayhawk Nation.

iamjayhawk 1 year, 5 months ago

Hello all - Throwing this out there for your thoughts on Cameron Ridley. He has committed to Texas but has not signed a letter of intent yet. There are rumors that he may be open for recruitment. I think this would be a good opportunity for Self to recruit him to KS. Thoughts?

ClydeTurnbuckle 1 year, 5 months ago

I don't have any information on his recruitment, but I think that he would be a big banger inside that would really compliment Perry Ellis' finesse game.

ajhk 1 year, 5 months ago

I think we have heard the last of the ChenoWithey comments. I hope the offending morons are at least bright enough to be embarrassed by their ignorance. Love your game Withey! I wonder where the ceiling is? Stay healthy!

TexasHawk44 1 year, 5 months ago

Taylor is the worst starting point guard at KU in the past 10 years. His carelessness with the ball is simply abysmal. EJ wasn't much better last night. KU's backcourt is a huge liability this year. He is scoring more this season but I would guess he is costing KU nearly as many points as he is earning them with scoring.

I was hopeful that TT would finally pull his head out and step up for his Senior season, but it appears it is more of the same. Shame, because they really need his leadership this year. I imagine that Self's head is about to explode. But what to do? No options...

mikendal 1 year, 5 months ago

Just think--- what happens if Jeff Withey does not transfer to KU? JW has really improved from last year and the sky is the limit for him. Hey wait--- he is in the sky!!! Big fella---don't bring the ball down to Earth. Keep it high and dry. Rock Chalk, Jeff--and keep improving!

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