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Kansas University seniors Kevin Young, left, and Travis Releford joke around during the annual men's basketball media day on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Allen Fieldhouse.
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Kevin Young, who flat-out loves to run, just might help wake up Kansas University’s sleepy offense Tuesday night.
At least, that’s the hope of the Jayhawks, who welcomed the 6-foot-8 senior string bean to practice Saturday and are elated he has been cleared to make his season debut against Michigan State on Tuesday in Atlanta (6 p.m., Georgia Dome).
“I hate not having Kevin on the court,” KU senior point guard Elijah Johnson said Sunday. Young missed KU’s two exhibition games and Friday’s regular-season opener against SE Missouri State after breaking a bone in his right hand at practice on Oct. 25.
“When Kevin is on the court, it’s somebody I feel I try to keep up with,” Johnson added. “He’s so far ahead of the game. He just never stops. Whenever Kevin is on the court, that gives me extra momentum.”
Freshman guard Ben McLemore also enjoys running the court with Young, who averaged 3.4 points and 3.0 boards off the bench last season, his first since transferring from Loyola Marymount.
“I think it’ll mean a lot to get Kevin back,” McLemore said. “Definitely the energy on the floor will change. I think that’s the big thing. He brings us aggression on the defensive end and offensively.”
KU’s offense accounted for 88 points against Emporia State on Oct. 30, then sputtered to 62 points on Nov. 5 vs. Washburn and 74 on Friday vs. SE Missouri State.
“This sounds weird ... Kevin’s our best talker,” Self said, who said Young’s presence had been missed. “He can direct traffic from talking. We’re the quietest team. That’s going to get us beat, just how quiet we are. He’s also the most active. He’s the most energetic guy we have by far and the best talker. Talking automatically brings energy as well.
“I’m sure he’s going to help us. Now, physically, he only weighs 210 pounds or whatever, but he tries so hard.”
Young, who will be wearing a padded glove to protect his hand (it resembles a weightlifter’s glove, with the fingertips cut off), says he has been “focusing on keeping our energy up the whole game. I do run a lot and I do talk a lot. I think it’ll be pretty easy to help the team push the energy level up.”
Young explained how he hurt his hand.
“In practice, Drew (Andrew White III) was running toward the rim for a rebound. It was a long rebound. I started to run behind him and put my hand up. He ran into it,” Young said.
Of his hand, he said: “It feels pretty good. Pretty good. I have to get to feeling comfortable with the glove on and make sure it doesn’t get hit.”
Good for the soul: The Jayhawks practiced in their practice facility adjacent to Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon, then flew to Atlanta, where they will practice today.
“We’re going to a soul-food restaurant,” Self said of Sunday night reservations at Paschal’s in downtown Atlanta.
Red-shirt: Barring any change of heart, freshman power forward Landen Lucas will red-shirt this season.
“(It’s) just what I mentioned. We’re planning on red-shirting him unless something changes in the next week or two,” Self said Sunday. “Injuries (to big men) would dictate that. That’s what we are planning on doing.”
Freshman forward Zach Peters, who has not practiced all season because of a rotator cuff injury, also is a likely red shirt since he still has not been cleared to practice.
Finger’s fine: KU freshman Jamari Traylor, who suffered a bloodied finger in Friday’s victory over SE Missouri, is fine. “I thought he ripped a nail off. He got a hangnail, little difference,” Self said. “He’ll tape it up and be fine.”
MSU update: Michigan State sophomore reserve guard Travis Trice suffered a possible concussion in Friday’s 66-62 season-opening loss to Connecticut in Germany, the Lansing State Journal reported. Trice, 6-foot from Huber Heights, Ohio, was hit in the nose on an apparently inadvertent head butt by Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier in the second half. MSU coach Tom Izzo told the paper Trice may have a “bad concussion.” ... The No. 14-ranked Spartans were to fly to Atlanta today after returning to Michigan from Germany on Saturday. “There’s been people that say practice right away and at least get an hour in, an hour and a half to get the jet lag out of you and then come back later that day,” Izzo said. “I’m still calling some teams that have recently gone (overseas) in the last year or two in the NBA to see what they’ve done. But as far as prep work, it’ll be all done on the plane (an eight-hour flight) and when we get back.”
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
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
Glad to see KY gonna be ready for Tuesday. Well need him for a lot of reasons. Energy. Experience. Rebounding. He's probably the best or second best rebounder on the team. Bmac's been impressive crashing the glass lately, though.
kufaninmo 6 months, 1 week ago
This kid can definitely play, he might be our 'glue' this season. so glad he's finally out there.
OakvilleJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Maybe we should nickname him "Elmers"!!
BayHawkaholic 6 months, 1 week ago
Elmers or KY . . . definitely want to choose one or the other.
BayHawkaholic 6 months, 1 week ago
“He can direct traffic from talking. We’re the quietest team. That’s going to get us beat, just how quiet we are."
Makes me think that Tyshawn was underrated / under-appreciated in the talking category.
babyphog 6 months, 1 week ago
Ty was under appreciated in several categories including getting to the rim, defense, improved three point shooting etc.
milehighhawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Tough not to root for him-Young embodies Hustle!
bradynsdad 6 months, 1 week ago
If I'm not mistaken isn't Joel embiid supposed to announce this week?
HighEliteMajor 6 months, 1 week ago
Nov. 15 I think.
Brock 6 months, 1 week ago
Meh.
Boouk 6 months, 1 week ago
Huge upgrade over Jamari Traylor. Great to get Kevin back for MSU.
hawk316 6 months, 1 week ago
Considering how little basketball Jamari has actually played (a couple of years or so?), he may yet develop into quite a force before he's done. In the meantime, I'm glad we have KY available to deliver lots of energy.
BayHawkaholic 6 months, 1 week ago
Give him the hair, Bill.
Hustle > Hair.
It's a win-win.
Alohahawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Delilah cut Sampson's hair, and look at what happened. If Young's hair adds to his game, let him wear it long. Having lost their 1st game to an unranked UConn, Izzo will have his team fired up. KU will need anything and everything to beat MSU. Even if it's by a hair. :>)
Welcome back, KY.
chriz 6 months, 1 week ago
So Kevin Young seems to be the "gel guy" this year. That would make him the KY gel, right? :) (Sorry, I couldn't let that one go.)
jayhawkcole 6 months, 1 week ago
gee...how many times has this joke been said now?
OakvilleJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
34..I've been counting!!
mouseclicker 6 months, 1 week ago
I'm just surprised I haven't see any KY Jelly jokes yet...
jayhawkcole 6 months, 1 week ago
I do believe crhiz was referring to this. hence the KY gel...
icthawkfan316 6 months, 1 week ago
Glad to have him back. I've been wondering how the rotation will look with him back. Still might not know Tuesday, as I'm not sure how much he'll play. The thinking going into the season was that he would start opposite Withey in the post. After two exhibition games and the regular season opener, I think it will be hard to keep Perry out of the games. So...does KY spell both of them, and perhaps even Releford at the 3, to get his minutes? How many minutes are we thinking from him once healthy? 20? 25? Traylor's minutes might take the biggest hit, but I've actually been pretty impressed with him as well. Should be interesting.
ralster 6 months, 1 week ago
Good to have you back, ict. I personally think since KYo played last season with Withey, Relef, EJ, there will be a chemistry there. And he can score as a secondary role. His primary role is rbds + energy. So, to me, he is a natural to sub for Ellis ("skilled 4") position. Traylor subs for Withey (rbds+energy). An INTERESTING wrinkle would be Ellis at 4 and KYo at 5. 2 inside/out bigs that can still play high/low, but emphasis on speed & quickness. Self's version of small-ball could be very dangerous, as the perimeter of Relef+EJ+BMac would be a dangerous complement to KYo+Ellis. We are 8 or 9 deep this season if we count Tharpe, Traylor, KYo off bench, and add AW3. 10 if you add A2. Dangerous team come conf play. But Self wants Izzo bad this time around, so we will see what his early ace cards are. No doubt some sandbagging going on. Self's "piece of meat" rhetoric was priceless. And rather revealing, as I've never heard him say that in public.
drgnslayr 6 months, 1 week ago
Bring back the juice, KY!
OakvilleJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Among his many positive attribute, Kevin doesn't attempt trifectas often. That will be an added plus after our opening game performance.
5% is nice for a beer..it sucks for a shooting percentage!! The scary thing was that 5% was at home in Allen....shooting in a dome on the road is always just a tad bit harder.
I guess we can asssume Landon is not playing again. Too bad about Zach because he would be just the "enforcer" we'll need against Ratso's DefCon defense!!
Dogbert579 6 months, 1 week ago
It was still abysmal, but we actually shot 9%... Did you tune out before the second, late three?
STOOPS 6 months, 1 week ago
Interesting to hear Self make a comment on someones hair
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
I don't think it's any kind of secret that Self likes guys with clean cut hair. Just look at the hair that's played for him over the years. Kevin's fro is probably the wildest hair Self has ever allowed.
plasticJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Sasha Kaun played with a military style cut for 3 years, and his Senior year he came out with curly locks looking like a wild-man.
Sherron had some wild styles during his junior year.
Withey just plays much better when his hair is out of his eyes.
I wonder if any players have pushed Self to repeal his headband ban since Tyshawn's sophomore season?
plasticJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
I didn't read anything about Self commenting on Young's hair yet, what did he say?
REHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Haircut did not seem to help Rio Adams from first to second exhibition game. I think I would leave KY's hair be. Wouldn't wish to take a chance that he suffer the Samson Syndrome. He has developed the classic UCLA look from back in Wooden's Dynasty Days. Am happy to see him return to the lineup as the squad can use his energy and example.
ralster 6 months, 1 week ago
Obviously, considering my avatar, I am NOT going to be too critical of Self, but I personally have no problems with a kid's hairdo, as long as it isnt a weekly-changing side-circus like Dennis Rodman. If Rio wanted to keep his moHawk, I thought it cool. If KYo, who wears a fro effortlessly, does so all season, I would love it. It actually brings back a retro-70s-basketball vibe. KYo+Fro=coolest player in Div1. Set him up with some lob dunks, and get that smile on ESPNtop10 yesterday!!!
bradynsdad 6 months, 1 week ago
Really good to see Mannings Tulsa squad kill again last night. Seems to have that team headed in a good direction.
REHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Dan the Man and Larry Brown both got off to winning beginnings in C-USA. I'd like to have a ringside seat for their eventual head to head.
sniper60 6 months, 1 week ago
Be an interesting year if we redshirt Lucas and Peters............2 big bodies 6'9 and 6'10 with really no heigth on the bench (everyone else is 6'8 or shorter) if Withey goes down or in fowl trouble.............
Will make for a REALLY solid team next year though!
plasticJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Withey just needs to stay away from the fowl then. He really should stick to red-meat this year anyway.
REHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Foulest of the fowl>the Mighty JAYHAWK!
sniper60 6 months, 1 week ago
LOl........did not catch it.....just goes to show you that I am an avid waterfowl hunter!
OakvilleJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Don't worry..Jeff isn't a chicken and he won't be hen-pecked. even if he lays an egg in a game or two, He'll be talkin' turkey over all the positive things he will do, yet he won't duck any questions. We'll all be able to take a gander at his senior year which may give us goose bumps when all is said and done. The last thing we should do is pidgeon-hole his abilities...let your imaginations take off and fly.
There will be no swan dive by the Jayhawks this year!!!
BayHawkaholic 6 months, 1 week ago
nice squawk, Oak Hawk. (Hope you didn't ruffle any feathers.)
Alohahawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Nice one, Oakville.
We all hope the Jayhawks will be at the top of the pecking order come April. Let the opposition all eat crow, and may each go home to roost with a lose.
And then there's the old standby bumper sticker: "Honk if you root for the Jayhawks." Or, "Honk if you are a Jayhawk." HOONNNKKK!!!
KEITHMILES05 6 months, 1 week ago
Peters is done for the year. Our big situation is critical with only an injury away.
OakvilleJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Maybe only five fouls away would be an even more appropriate apprehension!!
jhawk7782 6 months, 1 week ago
That was easily worth a thumbs up. Five fouls would be enough to most likely take us out of a game...at least early in the season. I remember Wayne's shoulders never seemed to fully heal and probably cost him a lucrative NBA career. Fortunately, money is not where his priorities lie.
I think redshirting Peters is the best decision for the long run but will make things just a little harder this year.
texashawk10 6 months, 1 week ago
I don't think the situation in the front court is that critical. Lucas clearly wasn't a significant part of the plan this year otherwise he wouldn't redshirt this year. KU still has 5 players in the front court with Withey, Ellis, Young, Traylor, and Wesley. Self's never gone more than 4 deep in the front court once he's gotten his rotation set so Lucas wasn't going to play anything but garbage minutes this year anyway. Besides, if there's a long term injury in the front court, Self always has the option to burn the Lucas' redshirt to fill the void.
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
Just a quick heads up, I've got some sources now indicating that Embiid is in fact going to commit to KU this week thanks to the work of Norm Roberts. I won't call this a done deal just yet, but I'm thinking there is something like a 70% chance this is the gonna be the case. He was supposed to watch Florida this weekend, but canceled on them and has purportedly been in contact with Roberts. I'll let you know if I get a more solid confirmation than that or we'll see when the end of the week arrives.
OakvilleJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Thx, kD..you've proved to be a pretty reliable source...hope you're right!!!
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
To be fair Oakville, my own prognostications are about on the level of Dick Morris'. However, when I've had the benefit of insider sources, they've been pretty good to me. I feel pretty confident in this one, but just to be clear, this isn't a prediction from me personally, so it's more than likely right.
texashawk10 6 months, 1 week ago
Embiid did have KU at the top of his list after his visit to Late Night and nothing has come out from anybody associated with him since then that should've led people to believe otherwise. I will say though that I'm very glad that he's committing now and not the spring because I don't KU could land him if he was a spring commitment with as many games as Billy Donovan likely would've gone to if Embiid was an option.
Alohahawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Agree. Mahalo for the heads up, kD. If Embiid really did cancel his Florida visit, and if he still plans to announce this Thursday, it seems logical that Florida, whom I thought would be KU's biggest hurdle, has been eliminated. If so, can you imagine the crowd in AFH chanting the name "Jo Jo" once again?
It also poses a huge question: What's the possibility that one of the remaining top bigs for 2013 will still consider signing on? Could work either way: They may see this Jayhawk class as something special and want to be a part of it, or it may scare them away because playing time will be at a premium. Either way, I see Embiid choosing KU as a "no lose situation" for KU.
texashawk10 6 months, 1 week ago
If Embiid does commit to KU as expected, it really doesn't change that much as far as recruiting an elite big man goes. Embiid is the only player signing in the fall that KU has a chance with, I think most people would be shocked if Tyler Roberson committed anywhere but Villanova at this point, and players like Wiggins, Randle, and Gordon are all signing in the spring. With the rest of the elite bigs that have KU on their list signing in the spring, roster situations will be clearer and KU will probably have a better shot at landing someone because of that. Even if KU doesn't have the scholarship at the time, there's ways around it such as someone not in the rotation transferring somewhere they can get more PT (Lucas), or rescinding Frank Mason's offer. What happens in the spring is all speculation at this point until we get to the end of the season and know who goes and who stays.
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
I'd put the chances of Mason's offer being rescinded at slim to none. I've literally never known of a case where an offer was signed, then rescinded simply because a coach over-signed talent. It always comes out of current players on the roster. Someone transfers unless someone goes pro. In our case, I think if BMac has the kind of season he appears to be capable of and he finishes projecting in the lottery, it's no problem. However, if yet another big man signs in addition to Embiid, I think at very least Lucas is going to cut his losses and move on.
I wouldn't be surprised, either, if an Embiid announcement doesn't prompt Lucas to transfer mid-season, since he's going to be red-shirted anyway. Tulsa has scholarships open and Lucas would undoubtedly be the best player on that team. Being the team star and having the opportunity to develop with Manning may be a better deal in the long run for him than spending 5 years as a role-player KU. If he's willing to stick it out, that's admirable and I think he could be a solid player, but Embiid has more upside, as do Peters and Traylor, and Perry is automatically going to command PT. That's a lot to beat out for a guy that just isn't all that athletic at the end of the day. Whatever happens, I wish him well, but that's how I see things playing out right now.
dylans 6 months, 1 week ago
Does anyone have access to jayhawk slant? There is a new article about Tyler Roberson and his recruitment. Looks like something is happening, which may be nothing. A KU coach is supposed to be heading to NJ today...
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
The article has been up since last Thursday. I don't know that anything has come of it. I still think he's 'Nova bound, but he could surprise us.
dylans 6 months, 1 week ago
oh, not very pressing then.
HawkKlaw 6 months, 1 week ago
This is great news! Good to have KY back. We sorely need his energy off the bench.
konkeyDong 6 months, 1 week ago
In further Embiid news, now it looks like he's going to announce tomorrow. Originally, his announcement was scheduled for Thursday. This gives me further confidence that we're going to land him. We should know for sure tomorrow afternoon.
Alohahawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Maybe Coach Self gave a little nudge to Embiid that if he wants to be a Jayhawk, he better not wait too long? If any of the other bigs Self has been recruiting has been serious about signing on, the dominoes could start falling for them. Doesn't sound like Self is willing to take chances and wait, only to lose out like last year. "A bird in the hand...", as they say.
drgnslayr 6 months, 1 week ago
I've wondered if the Landen red shirt has something to do with signing Joel.
plasticJHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Hey, I must have missed Self's comments about KY's 'fro, somebody please fill me in!
nostradavid 6 months, 1 week ago
Bill just said that "his hair is too long", with a smile.
nostradavid 6 months, 1 week ago
Maybe Kevin is getting some 70's nostalgia. He could be channeling Rick Suttle.
nostradavid 6 months, 1 week ago
Old folks telling me my hair was too long always made me feel great!
HighEliteMajor 6 months, 1 week ago
kD is earning his pay today. Good stuff from kD, Aloha, and Texas above.
It will be interesting if the move might prompt a midseason transfer by Lucas. He'd be eligible after first semester next season. Perfect timing. All of the logic kD stated above for a transfer fits like a glove. And to be a further "yes" man, slim to none that Mason decommits.
Bagging Embiid paves the way for a run at a Randle, Johnson, etc. in the spring. Lucas has to be looking at that, too. It also means Roberson is out .. of course, unless something unexpected happens, like a Mason decommit.
mikehawk 6 months, 1 week ago
Kevin Young brings something with the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. The parts include a very active body, short memory when he gets chewed out for a dumb move or foul, is fearless, plays his best in big games, doesn't seem to have an ego, and apparently, he talks a lot on a quiet team. Sounds like his teammates may look to him for leadership in some ways, also. He has "6th man" written all over him.
REHawk 6 months, 1 week ago
If Kevin is not hampered with the hand injury, I look to see him gaining attention as one of the best 6th men in the nation. He is a very promising insert at the 3 or 4 position, and can even relieve Jeff when Self sees the need to play shorter and faster.
drgnslayr 6 months, 1 week ago
I'm with you on that. Kevin's energy impact will make a big difference with this young team... or should I say "Young's team?"
That is bound to get some attention!
eku757 6 months, 1 week ago
Mr. Young is just trying to put a little weight on with the hair.
dylans 6 months, 1 week ago
and height!
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