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Kansas forward Kevin Young celebrates a bucket by the Jayhawks against Colorado during the first half on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.
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KU basketball v. Colorado
Images from Saturday's game against Colorado at Allen Fieldhouse.
Podcast episode
Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews
KU coach Bill Self talks after win over Colorado
KU coach Bill Self talks after the Jayhawks' 90-54 victory over Colorado on Dec. 8, 2012.
Podcast episode
Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews
Travis Releford, Kevin Young and Ben McLemore
Kansas players Travis Releford, Kevin Young and Ben McLemore talk after the Jayhawks' 90-54 victory over Colorado on Dec. 8, 2012.
Box score
About 100 University of Colorado students made a lot of noise while waving a Buffaloes banner Saturday afternoon in the northwest corner/general admission seating area of Allen Fieldhouse.
The fans — on hand to support the new and improved (7-2) Buffs of the Pac-12 Conference — were drowned out by Kansas University students situated in the north end zone, KU’s basketball players observing the proceedings during pre-game stretches and drills.
“They (KU fans) started singing the (Rock Chalk) chant early on, during warmups. I looked at Jeff and said, ‘Uh, oh, time to go,’'" KU senior forward Kevin Young said of his conversation with senior center Jeff Withey.
Taking a cue from their fired-up fans, the full-court pressing (7-1) Jayhawks pulverized Colorado, 90-54, the rout resembling an 89-63 KU victory when the Buffs last came to town — two seasons ago as a member of the Big 12.
“Coach (Bill Self) was talking about it in the locker room. They just weren’t ready for the pressure,” said Young, point man on KU’s man-to-man press who was assigned to harass the in-bounds man. “We are all athletic and we all can play that way, and we love to do it. I enjoy it a lot because I’m long,” added the 6-foot-8, 190-pounder. “Most of the time teams don’t expect it so they are going to try to throw it in quick. I can get there really fast.”
The pressing Jayhawks forced 12 turnovers while committing just two in blazing to a 43-22 halftime lead. Young — he had eight points at half — finished with a KU-career-high 16 points off 8-of-9 shooting. He scored 27 points versus St. Mary’s during his sophomore season at Loyola Marymount.
“Kevin was having fun today. That may have been the best game he’s played since he’s been here,” KU coach Bill Self said of Young, who had eight rebounds and two steals on a day Ben McLemore led the way with 24 points, 17 the first half. “He was terrific last year against Ohio State (14 points, four rebounds in KU’s 78-67 win last Dec. 10) in a pressure-packed game.
“What did he do that wasn’t anything except effort?” Self added. “He just ran. He jumped. He went after the ball. He didn’t make any shots that were hard shots. He turned it over once where he tried to make a great play. Other than that he played within himself and just played so hard.”
Young ran and ran and ran Saturday ... with a smile on his face much of his 20-minute stint.
“It’s just there,” he said of his energy, acknowledging his two years of cross country and track at Perris (Calif.) High School also may have helped his stamina. “I ran the mile, 4x4, the 400 and 800,” he said, indicating he was clocked at 49 seconds in the 400 and 1:59 in the 800.
Also ... “I sat out two years ago (after leaving Loyola Marymount and not playing for a year before transferring to KU),” Young noted. “I’ve just been waiting. But you’ve just got to play hard every time you get out there, because you don’t know when the next time you’ll get out there is.”
Young scored six points in a 9-0 surge that gave KU a 38-18 lead with four minutes left in the first half. The Buffs, who had cut KU’s early 17-point lead to 11, never threatened in the final half.
“Kevin means a lot to the team,” said senior Travis Releford, who scored 10 points with six assists. “He brings all the energy or most of it. I try to keep up with him as much as I can. We encourage Jeff (Withey, five blocks, eight points), Elijah (Johnson, 11 points, four rebounds, three assists) and everybody else to do the same. I feel if we keep up with his energy as much as he does the whole game, we’d be a tough team to beat.”
KU is always a tough team for Colorado to beat. The Jayhawks, who return the trip to Boulder next season, won their 19th straight game overall versus CU and 29th straight versus the Buffs in Allen.
“They (TV analysts) had us on ‘upset alert.’ That had us on edge and ready for the game,” Releford said.
The fans also deserved a mention for preparing the Jayhawks.
“It’s so much fun to play in here. It’s hard not to have fun in here,” Young stated.
The Jayhawks, who will be taking final exams this week, will next meet Belmont at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15 in Allen.
KU coach Bill Self talks about signing of Andrew Wiggins May 14, 2013
Ben McLemore interview March 28, 2013
360 QTR of Cowboy Stadium March 28, 2013
Jayhawks arrive in Dallas March 27, 2013
Jeff Withey talks about the team staying loose March 23, 2013
Comments
RockTheChalk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
It was a great day, a great game. Loved every minute of the game.
Loved Tyshawn tweeting re Trav's dunk. Loved Tyler making the final basket and the reaction from the bench.
KUGrad1983andTrueBlueFan 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Just loved that game, especially after the national experts singled us out as one of the three most overrated, they made them look pretty misinformed if not downright stupid!
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
I didn't hear that this year but I remembered hearing it after we lost to Kentucky early last season. Every team coached by HCBS is almost unrecognizable come tournament time from where they started. This year's team has a lot of underclassmen with huge potential and I'm sure when March Madness begins we will be somewhere in or near the top 10.
Too many "experts" base their opinions on a small sample of games early in the season. Does anyone really think that Kentucky is not a top 25 team? And does it really matter what they think in December? The only time I really worry about the rankings is when they are seeding the NCAA tournament.
BoulderHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
As a Jayhawk loving living in Boulder you are pathetic.
jackdavid 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Your still pathetic - regardless of who you feel what about. Get a grip and quit embarrassing yourself and the Jayhawks.
pepper_bar 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Low class rant there, Jayhawk470. Definition of a bad winner.
JHWKDW 5 months, 2 weeks ago
:-(
westtexjayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
BoulderHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
The anonymity of the internet allows bullies who cant back it up to bravely challenge everyone. You were once the jr. high bully and now the pathetic ranting drunk at the bar.
westtexjayhawk 5 months, 1 week ago
Can't back it up?
jkilgore 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Dropping the F bomb on any KU fans is unacceptable. After you've gained some perspective, maybe you'll see this. The fact that you equate manliness with watching someone else play sports is hilarious to me.
To me, sports is fun, it's athletic competition. When I want to feel hatred and aggression, I think about real stuff, like the Middle East. I love sports to get away from hatred.
JHWKDW 5 months, 2 weeks ago
First off I am a proud KU Jayhawk fan. A fan of all KU sports.
Jayhawk470 your comment about the Pac-12 shows how ignorant you are.Are you aware of how big their footprint is compared to the Big 12 is? They are even trying to get their footprint in Asia. Did you know that? How are we expanding like that? we are not. We are just lucky to have everyone in this conference get along which is pathetic. Big 12 Backstabbers? Really how about how the Texas Longhorn A-Holes stabbed everyone in the back by not sharing the revenue like other conferences do.Where were you when Texas was robbing all of us blind?Pac-12, Big 10, and SEC do. You say you are proud to be a Jayhawk fan, but you sound like a Texas apologist.Maybe you ought to look at the History of the SWC, and see Texas was strongly responsible for destroying it.
Did you know the Pac-12, SEC and Big 10 do not have a penalty for exiting? You know why? Because they treat all their teams with respect unlike the Big 12-2 only listen to Texas and Texas alone.
All three of those conferences have a network or will soon yet all we want to do is bicker amongst ourselves or even bring in ACC Egotistical idiots. Ive talked to alot of fans from those 4 schools, and they hated to leave, especially Nebraska, Colorado, and even some from Missouri and A&M. But you know the thing they all said in common was Texas was the problem, and guess what they have a equal say, and equal money coming to them. They did not want to leave, but when you have a bully thug like Texas, who wont listen, and wont give you a equal vote, guess what you do? You vote with your feet? I think you must believe that stupid advertisement with the mascots saying there is a strong new Big 12 conference. There is no new Big 12 Conference. Do not drink the Burnt Orange Kool Aid.
KUGrad1983andTrueBlueFan 5 months, 2 weeks ago
You should really stop and realize it wasnt Texas preventing equal revenue sharing, they conceded to that a couple of years earlier and it was Nebraska who stood in the way. Thats fact and reality, not apologizing for the Longhorns in anyway to be accurate instead of repeating the Mizzou inspired blame game.
JHWKDW 5 months, 1 week ago
Hey just do a internet search on Texas destroying the SWC. Yeah to a point alot of those schools were screwed up in the SWC,and did some bad things, but still the biggest culprit still in the SWC destruction was Texas As the wise old saying goes, "Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it". You talk to any of the 4 schools who left, and ask them why they will say 1 team Texas. .It is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship run by Texas. I am A Kansas Fan, I do not care about this dictatorship known as the Big 12. I nor Kansas left the Big 12, it left all of us along time ago.
You know that the ACC, Big 12, and Big East are the only major conferences who have penalties for leaving their conference? Hmmm the SEC, Big10, and Pac-12 do not have a penalty like that for leaving hmm you know why? Because people are happy, equal revenue, and a equal voice in matters. Why do people get so bent out of shape about the truth about the Big 12? Why in the world would you want to leave a conference that treats you with respect?
JHWKDW 5 months, 1 week ago
Oh you may want to thank Mr T Boone Pickens for straightening Texas out.
Hell he had to after A&M and Missouri left afte Texas tried to pull this stunt on Texas Tech football this year in football. You still think Texas is a misunderstood Angel after reading this link?
http://www.statesman.com/news/sports/college-football/tech-nixes-longhorn-networks-airing-of-texas-state/nRpfB/
http://amarillo.com/blog-post/jon-mark-beilue/2011-08-08/tech-says-no-longhorn-network
westtexjayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
OMG. PAC 12 = just another conference. Go back to your daycare. You come here to fight, but your PAC 12 is softer than your cheesy argument. Give it up!
jkilgore 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Are you this abrasive in real life?
dagger108 5 months, 2 weeks ago
At least they've had the good sense to hire a Jayhawk to turn around their BB program.They were even saying that they are getting good crowds without KU coming to town. The few that get in will just have to sing The Chant all the louder.
Congrats and good luck til next year.
texashawk10 5 months, 1 week ago
Ripping a team coached by a Jayhawk is poor taste. Rip the administrators for making the move, rip the students for being entitle a-holes, but leave the team coached by a JAYHAWK out of it. Root against them when they're playing KU, but the better Colorado does, the better it reflects on KU since that's where Boyle learned the game.
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
I understand the rant about Colorado's athletic department but not the rest.
Keep it classy.
HighEliteMajor 5 months, 2 weeks ago
This was Kevin Young's day. No doubt. What an absolutely impressive performance in all aspects of the game. Please, no one call him "glue guy." That is undervaluing what this guy did, and can do.
Perry Ellis sleepwalked through his time on the court. 17 of the most underwhelming minutes yet from him. While a lot of us, me included, expect(ed) Ellis to displace Young as the starter .. I'm not so sure now. Four seniors, a stud freshman -- that's a potent starting five. It's the subs that need to step up. Starting with Ellis. Heck, Traylor wasn't much better -- but he gives us what we should expect.
The sub that will bring the skill we need more than anything is Andrew White. To say we're a poor 3 point shooting team is simply stating the obvious. This team is missing a penetrating point guard and a true scorer on the block. We need a true three point shooter. White's skill set deserves 15 minutes. He will reward us. He will provide us the 3 gun that will be needed on a cold night in Ames, or in a rough one at home vs. Okie St., or trying to get by a mid-major to advance to the sweet 16. We have to commit to getting this guy in, getting him in the flow, getting him ready to contribute when our season is on the line and we bump up against a UNI or VCU .. where we need a 5-8 from from 3 from someone. Self said after the OSU game that White played well. But then the very next game he gets zero minutes in the first 3/4 of the game. Self has to find minutes for him. It isn't hard. 15 minutes are there.
In the biggest let down of the day .. but the most predictable .. all of the talk about Tharpe and Adams, and other point guard stuff, never materialized. Adams' time on the court was a disaster. He went behind his back for no reason. Tharpe was first in. Tharpe stayed in with EJ. The talk was cheap. Self clearly isn't sold on Tharpe. But in the last three recruiting seasons, our only "point guard" score was Tharpe -- that's who he's got.
Terrific performance today -- and I realized I didn't even mention the best freshman in the country, Ben McLemore. Not one of the best. The best. This team will get even better.
Boouk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Agreed. If we're going back to the Final 4, White's going to have to be our first guard off the bench. I thought he looked much better than he did vs. OSU on both ends of the floor. As for Ellis, I think he'll have it figured out by conference play. I can see him having a breakthrough performance against Belmont. Once he stops thinking so much and gains some confidence he'll establish himself as our best big off the bench.
Lulufulu85 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah, I hope Ben Mac stays around another year. We're gonna need him. It seemed to me throughout the game that Travis was our best point man. Hard to argue with 6assts vs 0 turns. EJ played better but still left things to be desired. It seeme like EJ was playing better off the ball.
KULA 5 months, 2 weeks ago
It looks like Bill is going with Naadir as his backup point. At least for the time being. He was first off the bench and played the most minutes. AW and Rio didn't even get in til mop up time. Looks like Naadir is getting better--decent play, hit a couple shots and played pretty well, despite the 4 to's. Today looked like Bill's settling in on his rotation.
KUinFL2 5 months, 2 weeks ago
We looked like the 2008 team. Guards were swatting away balls, we were getting out on the break, and Young finally found his sweet spot. We were sensational yesterday.
texashawk10 5 months, 1 week ago
It would be nice to see White play a little bit more, but where do those 15 minutes come from though? Do you really want to take away minutes from Releford and lower the quality of the defense. Unfortunately, there's only about 17 minutes of playing time available at the 3 spot and EJ gets a lot of those minutes when Tharpe comes in a plays and EJ moves to the 2 and McLemore or Releford at the 3. Self probably made the judgement that it's more important to develop Tharpe and have a competent PG for next year in case Frankamp isn't good enough to be the lead PG next year. I agree that it would nice to get White more minutes, but there's really only 17 minutes available for him in a game right now and EJ is realistically taking most of those minutes so White may be SOL this year.
HEM, to point out something you might appreciate, of the two players ranked close to where White was the Self has landed, one played quite a bit as a freshmen (Markieff Morris) and one did not play very much as a freshmen (Darnell Jackson) so it was a coin flip about whether or not White was going to a contributor based on his ranking. If he could play some 4 against teams that have smaller 4's, he could get some more minutes that way, but for now, he's stuck behind a position that's more important to develop for next year (PG) and a couple of seniors and the best freshman in the country.
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
There has to be a reason that Coach Self isn't giving White more minutes and I'm guessing its defense. Pure speculation on my part but if you're not playing good defense, you're not getting much PT on a Bill Self team.
Hopefully, White will get the message and will start playing quality minutes when the game is still in question. White has the ability to hit the three consistently, maybe more than any other player on the team and I agree completely that he brings the skill we need most.
HawkKlaw 5 months, 1 week ago
You're right, HEM. Self is clearly not sold on Tharpe, but he's clearly even less-sold on Adams.
After watching Adams on Saturday, it's very clear to me why Self is going with Naadir. It's all about experience. Rio doesn't have it, and playing him over Naadir right now would be a giant leap backwards at the backup PG spot. He might be slightly better than Naadir on defense right now (that is debatable), but he's not even close to Naadir when comparing their ability to run the point on offense.
Naadir didn't play great on Saturday (notably the 4 TO's), but he did hit a nice 3-pointer, had a couple assists and even had a steal. He was what I'll call "almost adequate," especially for a bench player (he was far more adequate than Perry Ellis in his backup role, to be sure). Bill Self obviously thinks Naadir is the closest thing to a backup PG that we've got.
Boouk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
This was probably the second best team in PAC 12 that we just destroyed.
mdfraz 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Um, 'Zona???
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
UCLA
KULA 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I have a feeling we could beat half the teams in the PAC 12 with 4 players on the court
Iandhi 5 months, 1 week ago
Haven't we done that already? '10?
NavyHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
More than a "glue" guy, Kevin was the accelerator on Kansas's engine today. That accelerator was floored from the start and he never let up. A most impressive game for the kid with the BIG smile!
Ben is such a talented freshman (sophomore). It will be surprising if he stays beyond this year, but he is such a grounded individual he may give it another year.
Glad to see EJ push the ball more and make some moves inside. The more he does, the more free throws he's going to be making. (hopefully -and one's)
Travis was just solid and seems to be getting so much more confident with every minute he's on the court.
Jeff just keeps proving why Bill Self is the best at recruiting talent that other coaches either don't see or they misuse. Then Coach Self and his staff work incredible magic with that talent.
Naadir and Rio need to let the coaches teach them, because it seems, especially with Rio, that he reverts to his old ways when he gets on the court. (trying to prove he can be a stud)
lawerencejayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
HighEliteMajor YOU SHOULD BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
Of basketball operations or coach. Your post are informative and factional. Always a good read. Thanks I agree with your statement on Andrew White, a 6' 6" skilled 3 point shooter. Today AWIII scored 8 points in 8 minutes, 2 for 3 from 3 pt land. Very efficent. Needs more minutes. Kevin Young played great. No longer a secret weapon. With consistant point gaurd play this team could make a final four run.
JayDogger 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Agree re: HEM and the rest.
DevilHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Lesson of the day: the best coach and teacher is Self.
nuleafjhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm glad I checked the box score - I would have sworn that we got out-rebounded. But that was a really fun game to watch. High energy, very few mistakes and a lot of guys got a lot of minutes!
If only Bill Self knew how to recruit we could improve on that 95 wins out of the last 96 home games.
ohjayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Interesting you should put that last sentence in there, because I was just thinking how much wailing and gnashing of teeth there was when we signed Kevin Young. How we could stoop so low to sign a transfer from a "mid-major" type of stuff. Seems to be working out pretty well, I'd say.
MoralVictory 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I assume that Charlie had the FB recruits at the game. They had to be impressed.
bradh 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Nice picture. I think my favorite part of the game was when Kevin turned around with that big grin on his face.
REHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
HEM has made a very solid case for the addition of AW3 to a 15 minute share of the game minutes. This team currently ranks 240th nationally in 3 pt. percentage! That's the biggest glaring weakness I can find in team stats. Ej is shooting 38,5% from the 3; Ben, 31.4%; Andrew, 40% (coming off the bench cold for iffy minutes while on a short leash). AW3 has scored 21 pts. in 39 minutes of play; EJ, 81 pts in 233 minutes. Andrew's stroke represents a facet sorely missing from current Jayhawk play.
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
Solid breakdown (minutes played and points scored) but White is often playing against weaker opponents after the game has already been decided. Still, I agree with you and HEM..
We need the deep threat to open the interior and White is the one who has the stroke to do it.
Great post.
JayDogger 5 months, 2 weeks ago
During the middle of conference play last year I said Kevin Young would barely see the court this year. Boy, do I look stupid! He's certainly earned his starting minutes.
I think KYoung has had and made for himself a very smart college basketball career. After a successful two years at a mid--major program close to home he decided (or was forced?) to leave to get his academics in order. But instead of imediately transferring to another school he chose to go to a junior/community college strictly to take classes while working out to keep up physically. And to keep in touch with hoops, he volunteered as a coach for a small school (maybe for a women's team?). After that year and with his grades/classes in good shape he looked at the landscape for the right fit with a team to play for.
San Diego State was an obviously good choice due to its location, program quality and coach, so he tentatively picked the Aztecs. But because of NCAA rules he was never bound to them so he could keep his options open. Due to some recruitment whiffs KU had an open scholly and possible playing time at the 4. I'm sure KYoung wondered how his skill level and tweener size would translate to such a program in a power conference, but he rolled the dice and signed on.
He only got about half the minutes last year as he did at Loyola-Marymount but they were on a much bigger stage, including a Final Four run that he had previously probably only dreamed about. And now during his senior year he is a starter on a contending team. I wonder if he envisioned this when he started his career as a freshman? Think about all the players who transfer who don't really improve their situation. Or all the mid-major guys who stay in the mid-majors. KYoung sure seems to have, as they say, "maximized his potential."
I also thought it was cool that he tried out for the Peurto Rican Olympic team--their loss for not choosing him, IMHO.
(continued)
JayDogger 5 months, 2 weeks ago
(continuing)
I'm not guaranteeing I have all the biographical facts 100% correct and am certainly not trying to read his mind. I'm just trying to point out his unusual basketball career that has certainly worked out well. It seems to me that he made several smart decisions that lead to great benefits, including an overseas trip to Switzerland and Paris this past summer and, of course, playing in the AFH, the absolute best venue for college hoops.
I'm not sure what KYoung's future plans entail. Does he think he can make it in the NBA? Overseas? The D-League for a while? I'm sure many people do not expect much out of him at the pro level.
Regardless of his future playing days, I do not doubt that choosing to take a year off to get school in order before transferring, and then picking the best and most competitive program available, was a great move. And if he stays in basketball/sports in some other capacity, having KU hoops on his resume and Bill Self as a reference would likely pay higher dividends than other roads traveled.
Might he get into coaching? Didn't HCBS reference that not too long ago? I hope he uses this senior year to develop his leadership abilities. I'm sure he's taking the oppurtunity to study Coach Self, who is obvisouly a master at his profession. In short, KYoung has done what it takes to make his future quite bright indeed.
Redlandsjhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
If you think that's stupid, Last year I predicted that Travis would be the first starter to lose his job. DUH
How about everyone else. Anyone make a prediction that has totally blown up in your face? Be honest this could be pretty entertaining.
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
I thought Selby was the missing piece who would get us into the Final 4...
nuleafjhawk 5 months, 1 week ago
I thought "we" made a mistake in hiring Bill Self. Whoops.
plasticJHawk 5 months, 1 week ago
I thought Justin Wesley would be a difference maker
BoulderHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I thought that Ellis would have a much bigger impact early than he actually has made.
Alohahawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I realize there is a lot of season yet to play, and anything could happen (injury, Ellis reaching his potential, or whatever). But if KY keeps up his intensity and keeps producing at the level he exhibited against Colorado, there's no reason to believe that an NBA team wouldn't take a chance on him. Probably not in the first round, but I could foresee him being chosen in the second round. IMHO, I think that however KU ends up this season (National Championship on down to just a Final Four or Elite Eight), it could equate to what happens to KY's future. For obvious reasons, it would benefit the entire Jayhawk sports program: BB recruiting with another Jayhawk in the NBA, and even the football team recruiting which benefits from the national exposure (Everyone likes/wants to be associated with a winner.)
BayHawkaholic 5 months, 1 week ago
I can't imagine him banging at power forward in the NBA. So he'd have to play the wing. I don't see his 3-pt shot making a strong enough case for NBA small forward. And then, defensively he's probably not quick enough.
I love KY, but I think the long season will expose him for what he is - a long, light, bouncy, guy not afraid of picking up garbage or scoring in an ugly play. A blue collar scrappy rebounder and heads up kid with awareness and anticipation. A guy whose contagious energy may well push this team to their maximum capability.
But we can dream, can't we?
wrwlumpy 5 months, 2 weeks ago
The good announcer FF, was right in saying that KU's returning starters are too quiet. Having the smiling Pogo stick starting has certainly made all the difference in the world for this years team. Playing without a cast on his hand, he has gone from an energy guy to an energy guy who can now finish at the rim. The whole team is different with KY in the game.
That was the defense we've been waiting for. If EJ can stay healthy, and Naadir comes in to just run the offense and not dribble off his foot like he's done in the last two games, we will go very far this year. Ellis is a true Freshman and a very good one and his minutes are where they should be right now. How he and AW do in practices that we are unable to watch, should tell us to let Bill be the coach, and agree with him when all is sorted out. I thought that Ellis played his best game on defense and when AW can handle the speed and slide his feet better we will have the assasin from 3 that we've been waiting for.
jaybate 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I only saw the last 15 minutes live, then watched the first 25.
Its fair to say Self's latest solution to the scoring problem is to play better defense. :-)
Defense is to Bill Self, what bailing wire was to my grand father, who owned a small grain elevator and farmed 1100 acres of land in Kansas.
Threshing machine acting up? Bailing wire.
Tractor acting up. Bailing wire.
Ford truck acting up? Bailing wire.
Conveyor belts acting up? BAILING WIRE!!!
Bill Self puts his head in his hands late in a game and secretly prays to the basketball god: "Lord, deliver me from these children and their lights not yet on. Give me the strength not send in my letter of resignation and bolt with Cin to Bali."
The basketball lord replies to Bill Self something like this: "My son, have you considered going long at point? Playing shooting forwards and power forwards at the point?"
Bill winces, his head sinking into his shoulders, his mouth pursing as if he just sucked on alum rock dipped in lemon.
"Okay, lord, okay," Self says trying to hurry out of the unexpected response.
"Bill," the basketball god says.
Self returns to praying position on the sideline as one of his trey shooters bricks another one.
"Yes, lord."
"Bill, have you considered playing Andrew White the Third. I sent him to you, because you preyed for it. You said that if you received a 6-6 inch shooting guard that could run the floor, you would never again utter profanities about jaybate asking if you were wearing zoysia plugs on your head."
Bill looks away, face corkscrewed, trembling, eyes pinched as tight as if crimped by can lidding machines in a paint factory.
"Er, uh, well..."
"His trey percentage is better than anyone elses right now," the basketball god thunders.
"But, but, but, but, uh, well, I, I...have...but, but, but..."
"But what?!" the basketball lord says.
"He...struggles...on...defense, lord. Its not that he's not going to be a very fine player and make an impact on the program. Its not that at all. And its not that I am not grateful, because I am. But...he...struggles...on...de-de-de-de-defense."
JayDogger 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Love the bailing wire analagy. Bailing wire = duct tape.
jaybate 5 months, 1 week ago
Yep, between bailing wire and duct tape any obstacle can be temporarily surmounted.
jhawk7782 5 months, 1 week ago
jb, you left out the WD-40. Added to the baling wire and duct tape and you have yourself a prepper's emergency toolkit for the apocalypse.
BayHawkaholic 5 months, 1 week ago
Don't underestimate the power and versatility of #4: DENTAL FLOSS. I've temporarily tied up a loose car bumper on a camping trip, substituted it for a bicycle cable, and sewn up a ripped sail on a 34' self-captained boat in the Caribbean
And #5 would be: BEER. Even if you forget the milk, Bisquick and Coronas make for really fine pancakes on a camp stove or houseboat excursion.
jaybate 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Self starts to come up out of his kneel.
"Not so fast, Bill."
Self returns to his kneel and puts his forehead back in his palm, as one of his guards picks up his dribble to soon and then throws the ball into an opponents hands.
Self starts gnashing his teeth and whipping his head back and forth in coaching agony.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOOOOOO!!" Self screams half in tongues. "Not another T-U-R-N O-V-E-R! THAT WILL MAKE JAYBATE USE THE P-WORD..."
"The what?"
"Poptart!!!! Eveyrtime my players make a turnover he writes my players were baking pop tarts; that they were going Pillsbury!! Do you have any idea what seeing a player make turnover does to me, lord? And then having to suffer that stupid jaybate calling attention to it for days afterwards?"
"Yes, my son, I do. And I have a seat in purgatory waiting for him," the lord says.
"You do?" Self brightens noticeably.
"Yes, it is a seat in Missouri's arena in the middle of The Antlers watching Missouri endlessly play Princeton teams. It is as close as hell can be emulated in purgatory, I can assure yo and it awaits jaybate as surely as hell itself awaits serial aliases."
"Oh, yay, yay, yay! You are a just and wise basketball god," Self palming his hands together and interlocking several fingers together in joy and reciting, "Here's the field house and here's the steeple, open the doors and there's all the people...but no jaybate."
The basketball god clears his throat and says, "Now Bill, I have given you advice, but I have also given you free will. It is up to you to make your own decision about how to deal with the team."
Self still does not look up, but glances shiftily from side to side.
"Really?" Self says.
"Yes, my son."
So Self guts it out through the game, comes home happy as a clam after a very poor win, and says, "C'mon Cin, baby, let's go out tonight. Anywhere you want, baby."
"But the team didn't protect, honey," Cin says, "And you know how you are when they don't protect."
"Not to worry, baby, I'm in good with the basketball lord this time."
jaybate 5 months, 2 weeks ago
So out they go and even seeing the team bar hopping after a bad performance down Mass Street doesn't dampen Bill's spirits.
"But that was Tyler with the Colt 45, Bill! And AWhite3 with the Colorado Coolaid, and Perry with the MD 20/20! You remember what that did to you back in Stillwater that one night after your coach had been riding your butt too hard. It just made you disgusting!!!"
"Not to worry, Cin, baby, their just being freshman. Everything's going to be alright. Trust ol'Billy."
So: Monday at practice, Bill comes in and says in perfunctory fashion, "This may surprise some of you, but I'm going to have Travis play point for a little while, then Kevin. And while they're playing some point, Andrew, you run first string with them and shoot a three every time you touch the ball." The players all look stunned. "Just do it and don't ask a lot questions, okay?"
They run the sets as instructed.
"Okay," Self says, clapping hands, and smiling cheerfully, "Now, let's work on defense for the next two hours!! I've got some great ideas about how to stop these suckers from scoring the ball on us, so we don't have to worry about figuring out how to score more."
The players look at each other and nod, and realize things are back to normal.
A week later they whip the snot out Colorado.
Self walks in to the lockerroom after the win and slaps everyone on the back, then goes into his office and closes the door, pulls the blinds, and starts hopping around clapping his hands and saying, "Yipppeeeee, yippeeeeee, yippeeee, I just love defense. Its like bailing wire. It fixes everything."
But then a voice thunders down.
"Now, about Andrew..."
REHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Scary to look ahead to 2013-14, what with current outlook for pt. guard stability. I wager that Self and Co. are keeping an eye open to jr.cllg. guards, someone like Pierre Jackson, with experience to come in and resolve that glaring issue. Won't surprise me one whit to see Releford or Young bring the ball upcourt occasionally in the next few contests. If EJ should go down and is lost for a few games...YIKES!
JayDogger 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I know what you mean re: PG for next year, but we have four options: Tharpe, Frankamp, Mason and Adams. My guess would be Tharpe as starter, backed-up by Adams or Frankamp. None are ideal options (esp. freshman), but Self should be able to make it work. I'm just expecting a PG that doesn't dominate but instead is more distributor/fascilator.
Let's not give up on Tharpe just yet. He's made strides over last year and has gotten better during the current year (I think). I know Self is far from 100% behind him but he seems to be the best option at back-up this year, which means he'll probably be the best option as starter for next year. Fortunately, we'll have other players to rely on to dominate.
You're probably correct in saying HCBS is looking at JC PGs, but I doubt there are any that would be ready to fit into the system next year better than all four other options. I think he's just doing what he can to make Tharpe the best PG he can be, which includes giving other PGs a try and pushing Tharpe to get better. If he keeps improving we'll be fine; if he's close to his physical ceiling then we can reach for the panic button, aka looking at Adams and the incoming freshmen.
jkilgore 5 months, 1 week ago
I'm thinking that Self has already made up his mind about Frankamp starting from Day One, but that may not be right at all.
texashawk10 5 months, 1 week ago
Guaranteed Self hasn't made up his mind about that yet. Who actually thought KY would be the better starting option over Ellis at the 4 at this point in the year?
BayHawkaholic 5 months, 1 week ago
Me. But I admit to having a KY fan-crush.
And I was also in hawk-love with Tyshawn from Junior year on.
mpann1818 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I love watching Kevin an Ben play...they love every second. They play hard, are crafty, and when they run down court smiling I get a smile too...corny sounding...sure, but it reminds me that this is a beautiful game, and these guys are living the dream. They know it too.
flyingfinn 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Great win and great play from our starters....still a little concerned with our bench play especially Perry Ellis, 17 minutes with 2 points and 1 rebound. He just does not look confortable out there.
mpann1818 5 months, 2 weeks ago
He will be fine. Too much talent not to work it all out in due time
mpann1818 5 months, 2 weeks ago
How cool was that to see Tyler get the last points...
dynamitehawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I woke up yesterday AM, realized the game was at 1:00, checked stubhub, slapped down way more than I should have for section 18 row 5 seats, grabbed a friend, and headed to Larry. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome decision. Most fun I've had in a long time, and while I missed the live blog and coverage, nothing compares to game day at The Phog. Young's lob dunk was unreal. We had several beautiful basketball possessions - seven to eight passes to find a big for an easy bucket. Stole several possessions on loose/jump balls, and the defense was spectacular. I'm happy to state that Allen Field House has more good looking women age 20 - 60 than I've ever seen in my life. Free State Brews afterwards. Hell yes it was a good day.
Theme song 2013:
http://youtu.be/HXLCOIcb41Y
Hawk90 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I missed most of the game. I see that B mac went to the line 11 times, and I love that. But how did he get there? Did he have his hands on the ball and drive past people? Or were they because of a good cut, catch and then got hacked?
KULA 5 months, 2 weeks ago
You can certainly see why Steve Fisher was so teed off that KU snagged Kevin Young away from San Diego State. He would probably be All League in their league.
jkilgore 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I have a few questions for more knowledgeable fans. TRob and Tyshawn are barely on the radar on their respective teams? Will this change?
Secondly, I'm trying to get this year's video on Joel E. from a Gainesville Internet paper and can't find anything at all. Thanks in advance.
Hawk90 5 months, 2 weeks ago
It might take a couple years for T rob to get major PT, TT is behind D williams, So I doubt he will get a lot of PT unless Joe Johnson leaves.
drgnslayr 5 months, 2 weeks ago
"I feel if we keep up with his energy as much as he does the whole game, we’d be a tough team to beat.”
We'd be an impossible team to beat!
Great to see Kevin's energy (as usual) and great to see the team try to step up and match it!
Rock Chalk
jgkojak 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Young is going to be the key to us getting back to the FF - if he plays like that every time out in the big games, we're going to be really tough.
REHawk 5 months, 1 week ago
Woa! I just read on Yahoo Sports that the UCLA/Texas game yesterday at 43,000 seat Reliant Colisseum drew only 2797 fans. Holy Moly! How will the Bruins ever rebuild that fanbase? Heck, the Jayhawks would best that attendance if our 3rd string walk-ons scrimmaged a local Lawrence h.s. team.
texashawk10 5 months, 1 week ago
There were 1,500 there max. I have a feeling the 2797 might have been tickets sold which is still pathetic, but UT fans really don't give a crap about basketball especially when their team sucks. I'm hopeful to make it over to Austin for the game and I'm fulling expecting there to be a very healthy contingency of Jayhawk fans at the game and for that to be one of two sellouts for UT this year along with the UNC game on the 19th.
BayHawkaholic 5 months, 1 week ago
Hopefully Julius Randle takes note.
lighthawk 5 months, 1 week ago
able to take my 6 yr old grandson to the game, mid way thru 2nd half he asked if we had to stay for all 4 quarters, it was such a beat down. I shared you are in luck we play halfs in college unlike biddy ball. I said we don 't leave until the end as the last couple minutes we send all the visiting teams out with the chant. Part of the memory.
I showed him the banners ask him to count how many FF and how many nationals. He said what is the MVC ? Then we discussed conferences and leagues. He ask how many total players we have including those on the bench. At one point he looked at me and said it must take a "large staff to run this place" I think he has a future in operations.
Loved getting the reserves some meaningful time. How fortunate we are to have Coach.
RCJHGKU
jkilgore 5 months, 1 week ago
Just think how many years from now he'll remember that game. When I was only six years old, an English teacher at our high school opened up the gymnasium up for his son and I in 1966 on a snowy afternoon in the southwest part of the state. I still remember it to this day.
GBJayhawk 5 months, 1 week ago
I love Kevin Young's energy and that fabulous grin!! He looks like a big kid in a toy store after it's closed, playing with every toy he's ever wanted! And the way he run/hops down the court looks like he's on a giant pogo stick!
I'd never heard about his HS track career. “I ran the mile, 4x4, the 400 and 800,” he said, indicating he was clocked at 49 seconds in the 400 and 1:59 in the 800."
NO Wonder he can fly like that. Might be good for the whole team to do a little more running in the off-season and throw in some volleyball games, too, with Withey coaching!! Swat that thing outta here!
Rock Chalk, Kev Hawks!!
gimmetheclaw78 5 months, 1 week ago
Nickname suggestion: K-You.
jhawks1510 5 months, 1 week ago
Clever!
jhawks1510 5 months, 1 week ago
Just like the last time we played them in football we {blanked} the Buffaloes up the {blank}. Always good to {blank} a former Big 12 team. No good {blankety-blanks}.
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