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Kansas players Travis Releford (24) and Kevin Young go wild after a 360 jam by teammate Ben McLemore against Texas during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 at Allen Fieldhouse.
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Kevin Young, who has been rail-thin since his days as a cross country runner at Perris (Calif.) High, says he has discovered the secret to putting on weight his second and final season at Kansas University.
“I just let my ’fro grow,” joked the 6-foot-8 senior basketball power forward, who is listed at 190 pounds but in actuality may tip the scales 10 to 15 pounds below that standard.
Somewhat shy around the media, even in this, his senior year, the man with the expansive afro was in a jolly mood after Saturday’s 73-47 home rout of Texas. It marked the Jayhawks’ second straight victory after three consecutive defeats.
Young gladly discussed his role in production of KU’s “Harlem Shake” video, which was filmed in KU’s locker room Friday, and since being posted on YouTube has had more than 450,000 views.
“Oh my gosh. I got prepared for that video. I think I bought almost everybody’s costumes,” Young said of wacky costumes and props, such as guitars and hats.
“When they told me we were going to do it,” Young added of organizer Justin Wesley, “I watched a couple (Harlem Shake) videos. I’d never seen it before. I said, ‘If we’re going to do this, we’ve got to go all-out. We can’t just do a little half version of it. We’ve got to do it the best we can.’”
The Jayhawks’ version of the Shake includes a starring role from coach Bill Self, who begins the video by writing the words “Harlem Shake” on the chalkboard.
“I have no idea,” Self said, asked how filming dance videos helps a team. “The guys told me Thursday, ‘Coach, we need you in the locker room at 2 o’clock.’ They wanted me to dance, and that wasn’t going to happen.
“Of course, if I knew I could wear a chicken head (like Ben McLemore in video) and nobody knew who I was, I might have done it. I didn’t know what the Harlem Shake was. They asked me to do whatever I did, which I’m sure added a lot of value,” Self added with a laugh.
“I do think it kind of shows team unity, and the other thing (is), I think our fans like seeing that our guys are real. I think that’s as much as anything it does for us.”
Of course, other dance videos have appeared featuring the Jayhawks in the locker room, such as one filmed after the Ohio State victory and available at http://bit.ly/Vy5ovz
“It’s huge,” Self said of the importance of players having fun. “There’s not a team in America that has fun every time they go play. You go through ruts and lose your personality through the course of the season, at least every team we’ve had. Ours (funk) came at an inopportune time. We were duds three games. I think we got our personality back. When we play with energy, we are good. When we don’t, we get average fast. That’s the thing we have to learn.”
The Jayhawks this past weekend received a jolt of energy from past Jayhawks on hand for the Texas game. They included NBA players Mario Chalmers, Marcus and Markieff Morris, Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor, Nick Collison and Xavier Henry, as well as Jeff Graves, Mario Little, Conner Teahan, Brady Morningstar, Jeff Hawkins and Wayne Simien.
“They text us every now and then,” senior center Jeff Withey said. “The older guys don’t give us a pep talk or anything. We know what we’ve got to do, but it’s definitely good to have them back. They are our old teammates. You want to perform for those guys.”
Seeing them, “gives you a good feeling that shoots through your body,” noted senior Elijah Johnson. “In the locker room, you can’t deny it.”
Noted senior Young: “They let us know we’ve got to come out and do what Kansas does. They did it before us. It’s our time now. It’s more a support thing. They didn’t put pressure on us. At the end of the day, we’re all Kansas.”
Self loves when former players return to town for games.
“These are kids they grew up with,” Self said. “Thomas ... he was a roommate with (Johnson) for three years, and Tyshawn kind of mentored him. The twins, Mario Little, Brady … all of them care about these kids. I text Tyshawn the other day after he had 12 (points for NBA’s Brooklyn Nets). He texts me back. I said, ‘We’ve got to get Elijah going.’ He said, ‘I know, coach. I’m talking to him.’ These guys stay in contact. I think having those guys back will help him a little bit.”
KU will meet Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
Randle visit: Julius Randle, a 6-9 senior from Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, who arrived for his campus visit Saturday, remained in town Sunday. Randle, who has a final list of KU, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, N.C. State and Oklahoma, could be added to the roster of the McDonald’s All-America game if he shows he’s healthy in the next few weeks, zagsblog.net reports. He has returned to action from a foot fracture. Randle scored 19 points while playing just 20 minutes in his Senior Day game at Prestonwood on Friday.
“What we’ll certainly do with Julius — one of the great players in the country, no question, a legitimate four-year man — we’ll take a real good look and see how he comes back physically,” Morgan Wootten of the McDonald’s game told SNY.tv. “That’s the key. Everybody knows he can play. It’s just a question of whether he’s physically sound or not.”
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
GBJayhawk 3 months ago
Hey, I want one of those chicken head masks, too!!
Good to see the guys having fun, and playing like a team that knows how to run and make things happen on BOTH ends of the floor!!
Also LOVE the alums coming back and showing their love and support for their team. They may be gone from AFH but they are Jayhawks forever!! Having a bunch of them around during the summers, playing with each other and the current team members in those unofficial games at AFH, etc... Pure gold for the ongoing team growth year-round.
As always, ROCK CHALK!!!
nostradavid 3 months ago
You can find the chicken head mask here. Cardinal, pigeon, duck, squirrel, horse, unicorn and others are also available. Read the ad copy for each one, it's always funny. http://mcphee.com/shop/chicken-head-mask.html#Details
Fits most adult heads. Practice clucking, strutting and pecking for grain. Take caution near foxes and carnival geeks.
You know you want this mask. Go ahead, buy it. Come on... what are you, chicken?
jackdavid 3 months ago
Nostra > What a great last line!!! Hope you get a commission as a result of what I'm sure will be a huge run on Chicken Head masks > knowing just how wild and crazy we Jayhawkers can be.
KULA 3 months ago
Great to see the Jayhawks get back into their groove, but I don't see how this game helps recruiting at all, especially with Randle. First off, he's expressed a strong desire to win a championship in his almost guaranteed one year sojourn. Kansas will lose all five starters and return only minimally game-experienced players. Check with Texas and Kentucky on how that's working out for them.
Speaking of minimal game experience, what's up with the "one and done" (one mistake and you're done for the day) treatment of Rio? Especially with a comfortable lead most of the second half. Was Bill really afraid that Texas' team of freshmen and sophomores was going to make a serious run if one of our young players got a few minutes experience?
Add to that the Ellis/Peters effect. Both players whose game I'm sure Randle is quite familiar with, who have struggled (though Perry did have a decent game) or have just had bad luck at Kansas. I don't see how that can have a positive affect on Randle's decision.
And finally, having to watch a handful of coach's kids get PT while Rio rides the pine for one mistake. It's the same basic problem I've had with Bill's coaching for the last few years--you've got players you know you're going to need next year, but you can't get them any game experience even though you're blowing teams out by 20. And I still say that treatment is the reason we've never seen EJ live up to the expectations we had for him when he first came here.
Anyway, don't be surprised to see Randle take his game elsewhere.
KansasComet 3 months ago
KULA,
I am not a big fan of the public undressing of Rio Adams, especially on such a big stage. However, he did turn the ball over the only time he brought the ball up the court. I would have liked to have seen him back in the game.
Now, if Coach Self puts him in the game at the end, it would have been for "scrub minutes", which may have been an even greater embarrassment to Rio Adams. Rio Adams will be key player on this team in the future. Rio, like Frankamp and Frank Mason also dropped 50 points in a game in High School, so the potential is there, he just needs to get used to the speed of the game (which of course can only come through game experience, go figure?). Tharpe went through a similar treatment last year, and he seems to have come through it fine. Recently Mario Chalmers talked about not being able to get the ball across the half court stripe in his first game. We may not always agree with what Coach Self does, but his system does appear to work. It has been said that "In order to lead, you must prove that you can follow". We are always in the discussion for a National Championship every year since he has been here. So I can appreciate that.
As far as EJ living up to the expectations we had for him when he first came here...he has met mine. He stayed four years, will more than likely earn his degree, and is always seeking self improvement. Basketball is a game, this young man is ready for life. He knows he can play better and he will. He is a winner, it looked like he toyed with Texas in the lane the last game, we will need more of that going forward. Sooner or later, his jump shot has to fall. As long as he can still shoot in domes, I am good with it.
If Randle decides to go to another school, that's on him and family. I hope he chooses the school that is the best fit for him. If it is KU fine, if not that's fine too.
Next year's team will be fine, you only need to look at this year's team to recognize that. Losing Robinson, Taylor, Teahan, and eventually Peters, not to mention Lucas not playing this year, we are still a top ten team. Kansas always seems to find a way to get it done. My guess is Ellis improves much like Markieff Morris did after his Freshman Year, Lucas comes on strong after his redshirt year somewhere in between McLemore and Traylor. Rio turns on the jets and has a good year, and at least two Freshmen show up ready to play at the college level. Top 10 again next year. Go Jayhawks!
khuff80 3 months ago
not to mention we're gonig to see a LOT more of White III next year I suspect.
Might FINALLY have that dependable 3-pt. marksman we've been looking for, for years.
hawken 3 months ago
McLemore is hitting 43% from 3. I think it's even higher in Big 12 play.
jayhawkinATL 3 months ago
Looks like Frankamp may be a dependable trey-shooter next year.
mdalesh 3 months ago
Would someone send a copy of Darnell Jackson's Letter to KU fans to Randle? With a 7' Freshman coming up he would be great addition. Matter of fact Jackson's letter should be sent to any recruit with KU in their choices.
jhawk7782 3 months ago
HCBS has been pretty consistent in how he treats freshman after making careless mistakes. The good ones handle it and the others look elsewhere.
KULA 3 months ago
To KansasComet & Ralster below, I'll agree that scrub minutes would do no good for Rio. But my argument is and has been since the 09-10 season, why can't some of these players, who you know you're going to need in the future, get some meaningful development minutes during the course of the game. Especially in games that you had control of. And there were plenty of those games in the '10 and '11 season. I expected to see (and was always disappointed not to see) EJ and Jeff and TRob get a few minutes with the starters in some of those games.
The reason I expected this is because Bill used such a rotation masterfully in the '08 season to bring Cole along. I still recall the regular rotation of Cole coming in at the 12 minute mark of each half and playing for four minutes with the big guys. And we all marveled at how that regular season experience paid off in the tournament, when Cole made a monkey out of Tyler Hansbrough.
I still daydream about what a difference a spot 3pt shooter or a 7ft shot blocker might have made in the '10 and '11 tournaments. And I think of all those blowouts we played in those seasons when EJ and Jeff didn't get off the bench and think, "What a waste."
And I look at our 3 game slump this year, and I dread a relapse of that kind of play in the tournament, because Rio and AW probably won't be ready to contribute. There's nothing like real game minutes to get over real game jitters. Jitters like Mario had in his first game. But he still ended up being part of the regular rotation that same season.
And I'll agree that Kansas basketball will be fine no matter what Randle decides. My point was that based on what he and I saw Saturday, I won't be surprised if he chooses elsewhere.
jhawk7782 3 months ago
This goes back a lot further than the 09-10 season. Russell Robinson was pulled often in his freshman season. Same with Micah Downs, Galindo, Cole Aldrich and Tyrel Reed. Even the Morris Twins and TRob were yanked, although to a lesser degree.
As I stated above, the good ones made it and the not so good players left.
RockkChalkk 3 months ago
Wow - such a negative post. Why not highlight any of the positives to bringing his talents to Lawrence? There isn't enough room on this forum to go through them all. To hit on a few... KU has made the NCAA tourny each of the past 23 years (current longest streak in NCAA), has had a winning season each of the last 30 years (current longest streak in NCAA), has the most winning seasons (94) in NCAA history, and the most division championships in Div 1 history (55). No other school has had more First Team All Americans in Division 1. Not to mention we have an elite Head Coach, some of the best fans you can get, are in the mix for the national championship every year, and this is Big Man U... Personally, I can't see why he would want to go anywhere else!
jhox 3 months ago
Regarding the check with Texas and Kentucky comment, it worked out pretty well for Kentucky last year, didn't it? It's all about having the right guys and the right coach. Calipari has gotten caught up in recruiting top 10 kids, some of whom have come in to the program as very selfish players and with this year's team, he's not been able to break them of those habits. Self would never allow guys like that to get 2/3 of the way through the season still playing selfish ball. Also, one of the things that has made Self great is his ability to put teams together with good chemistry. If a guy comes in for a visit and the players don't like him, Self backs away and stops recruiting them. He's even done that with blue chippers.
I have a feeling we'll be very good next year. It may take a month or two, but by mid season we will be very good.
JHawk74 3 months ago
KULA,
We have had young teams in the past and they have always been good. Maybe we don't compete for a National Championship next year but I guarentee we will be in the hunt for another Big 12 title. I believe Ellis, Traylor, Tharpe, White, Lucas and Adams will be better players next year. Bill Self doesn't play freshman players very much unless he is forced too or they are exceptionally good (NBA type talent as a freshman). Next year will be one of those years that the true freshman will be required to play significant minutes. I'm sure Adams and White know their roles and are happy to be the best players on the scout team this year. McLemore was the best player on the scout team last year and now he is one of the best players in the country. Bill Self has a good system of developing young players. Withey was very raw when he came to Kansas, now he is one of the best defensive players in the country. Thomas Robinson and Morris Twins did not play very much their freshman years and they are now in the NBA. Bill Self has a proven track record and we need to let it play out. You shouldn't be predicting the future anyway. Would your perspective change if McLemore decided to stay 1 more year?
khuff80 3 months ago
I agree with the Rio statement - ESPECIALLY when on replay it didn't look so much of a steal as a kicked ball by Holland (the UT defender) that he got away with.
JayDocMD 3 months ago
agree - looked like a kicked ball to me too
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
didn't look like a kicked ball to me, looked like Rio dribbled it off of the defenders leg.
NavyHawk 3 months ago
If it's an inadvertent dribble off an opponent's foot it doesn't constitute being a "kicked ball." Whether a pass goes off a defender's foot or leg, the only time the ref's call a "kicked ball" is when the defender intentionally puts his leg in a position to deflect a pass. It's highly unusual for someone to try to get their foot under a dribbled ball (I don't recall ever seeing it happen except when attempting to impede a ball handler's forward progress), but blocking passes with one's leg/foot is common.
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
KULA,
Thanks for the heads up. I now see that I've been lying to myself thinking that having Robinson, Marcus. Markieff, Cole, Arthur, Jackson, Kaun, and Simien all drafted to the NBA made for a good recruiting pitch to post players.
Now I see that Bill Self can't recruit.
jgkojak 3 months ago
This has to do with him doing what he's asked to do by the coach.
He got out there and did a hotdog move (unnecessary behind the back crossover) when he could have pushed the ball up the court simply. I have a feeling that's the kind of stuff HCBS is trying to eliminate. And isn't this the 3rd or 4th time in a row he's come in and immediately turned it over?
ancient_hawk 3 months ago
It's not just dribbling the ball off of your foot. It's standing there watching your man pick up the ball for a run-out dunk. That will get you the pine every time when you play for Self.
iamakufan 3 months ago
Coach is a teacher. I have no doubt there is dialog between him and Rio, something about if you do this, you come out. Pushing him to get better. Yes, it's tough love. But look at history. Robinson, both Thomas and Russell. His method works. That's why he gets the big bucks. Give it time and we'll likely see a much improved Rio Adams.
jjinks 3 months ago
Damn the neighsayers! What was everyone expecting from this team last year? OK what was everybody expecting from this team a week ago? If they had all the players to win the Championship why play it? Get real we never know what Bill Self is going to get out of his players but you can guarantee it will be all that there is. How many times have people said next year won't be as good and then they come out fighting and winning. Just enjoy the ride that;s what it's all about, just watching young kids develop into men before your eyes. Of course some forget that as you could tell from the comments after they lost a few games.
ralster 3 months ago
KULA, I agree with KansasComet's point: More embarrassing to Rio Adams to give him "scrub" minutes at the end. Notice Self didnt put Evan, Niko, Tyler, Christian in at the end of the 1st half. Rio Adams has potential all over him, which is exactly why you are miffed he got yanked. Forget about meaningful help in March from a frosh guard, other than spot-roles--> You dang well know frosh are on a ridiculous learning curve with all of our set plays to learn. Wish that fact didnt exist, but it does. Tyshawn started as a frosh (like Marcus) out of PURE necessity. EJ and Tharpe are in front of Rio on the experience curve, plain and simple. Rio SAT to learn a lesson-->it proves Self has big expectations of him. He wouldnt waste doghouse investment time trying to get a kid better if he didnt see all the upside. Rio Adams will be a stud for us, if he has the mental fortitude to learn while in the toughening box. Regarding Randle, if after that perfect display from team, 7 active NBA players in attendance 10ft from him, and the h-u-g-e love from the student section...he choses someone else...then it just wasnt meant to be, my friend. We get bigmen to the next level, many go lotto-level...thats all he needs to know. And if, perchance, he is looking for a bigger pix, F.O.E. type of environment, what additional can KU alum bigmen say that hasnt already been shown to be true? Im not worried about Randle--he comes or he doesn't. Our machine will grind on.
jackdavid 3 months ago
I doubt anyone will be surprised if Randle decides "to take his game elsewhere". Even though I truly believe Kansas University is the premier college basketball program > success on the court + great young men off the court + number of players having success in the NBA following their KU playing days > tradition > past and present Head Coaches, etc > we face an uphill battle in the recruiting of 1,2,3 star - one-and-done kids. And, as we all know, that is due in large part to the East Coast media "bias" > more print and TV eyeballs + the even more egregious fact that everyone "Back East" obviously flunked Geography because they think the Mississippi River is the West Coast of the US.
Robbk1066 3 months ago
Kulu you miss on most points here. Randle winning a championship, do any of the teams on his list sound like sure things, no, so this is a non issue. Rio - he made 3 mistakes, he was not mentally ready to play, he made the cardnial mistake of driving into the pressure instead of away from it and his most glarring one, his body langauge after he turned it over. He looked right over to the bench like he was not sure of what to do. It is then that Self pulls him out, almost to late. You sit him for the game to teach him the lesson of being ready. Randle again - this kid does not need anyone to help him, he is like BMAC, he will be able to play his game the way he wants, he does not care how Self treats someone who is not prepared, he is only about his game and how he fits in with the team. So if he goes to another school it wont be due to what happened on Sat. In fact look at what he saw, Gameday, player jersey retired, a blowout of Texas, 10+ NBA players behind bench, best strength coach in country featured. So you seem off base on all your points.
KUFan90 3 months ago
Maybe this Morgan Wootten joker from the McDonalds game can tell us why Connor Francamp didn't make the cut?
thephog88 3 months ago
Morgan Wootten is the former coach at prennial power DeMatha High, where he won more basketball games than any coach at any level, ever I wouldn't call him a joker.
Brock 3 months ago
One evaluation (which I don't agree with) is ESPN's: They list Conner Francamp as their #10 point guard. End of story.
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
That's because he's from the Midwest. If he was from New York, he'd be #1.
KUsmitty4 3 months ago
If he was in NY, he wouldn't be putting up the numbers he does in Wichita KS
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
Why is that? Do the NY'ers play a better brand of defense too?
KUsmitty4 3 months ago
considering he probably wouldn't be the ONLY scoring option on his team like he is now.
KUsmitty4 3 months ago
.
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
“I watched a couple (Harlem Shake) videos. I’d never seen it before. I said, ‘If we’re going to do this, we’ve got to go all-out. We can’t just do a little half version of it. We’ve got to do it the best we can.’”
KansasComet 3 months ago
Jayhawks Shake Funk when they win a couple of road games, exact revenge on TCU, and reclaim sole possession of 1st place in Big XII. Much too early to celebrate, long way to go. I am happy we are winning again, losing sucks!
wrwlumpy 3 months ago
“These are kids they grew up with,” Self said. “Thomas ... he was a roommate with (Johnson) for three years, and Tyshawn kind of mentored him. The twins, Mario Little, Brady … all of them care about these kids. I text Tyshawn the other day after he had 12 (points for NBA’s Brooklyn Nets). He texts me back. I said, ‘We’ve got to get Elijah going.’ He said, ‘I know, coach. I’m talking to him.’ These guys stay in contact. I think having those guys back will help him a little bit.”
This is FAMILY. There is no difference in this communication and that of a father talking with his older son about his younger brother, to help him, talk to him.
Basketball is a game, but at Kansas it is a metaphor for life. Thses "Games" are seen by millions and the Kansas fanbase around the world who live and die with the Jayhawks. The pressure is incredible. Winning offers joy, losing offers lessons in life.
Jay Bilas, who I respect, during the game thinks Bill Self the best coach in the country. Wecome to the club Jay.
Parents of recruits, read the Self quote above.
FearlessJayhawk 3 months ago
I hope Randle saw the special segment on Saturday Game Day about Andrea Hudy. If he has physical problems, she is exactly what he needs. If he is serious about having a long term career, he better wise up and take advantage of her skills to get him in good physical condition.
jaybate 3 months ago
"The Case of the Defunct Funk"
When you have eliminated all other possibilities, the remaining possibility, no matter how improbable, must be the answer. --Sherbate Holmes
Who, or what, is responsible for a team not playing remotely like itself for three games, then resuming as good as ever?
THE POSSIBILITIES:
Flu Made them do it--this seemed probable for a time, because one player, Jeff Withey, was admitted to have had flu at the beginning of the funk, and appeared sick. But no one else has appeared sick. Not.
EJ's knee made them do it--Self finally copped to the knee injury, and EJ's face looked puffy the way taking prednisone to reduce inflammation can do. But they looked awful when Naadir ran the team, too. Not.
Internal dissension made them do it--this often happens on teams, but none ever surfaced. Not.
Troubles of the heart made them do it--players (or coachs') troubles with ladies have broken teams' concentrations. Not even rumors of this have occurred. Not.
Coach leaving made them do it--no sign. Not.
Manning effect accumulated and made them do it--Manning showing for KSU coincided with end of funk, but KU started playing a little better against OU with out Manning. Not.
Offensive scheme made them do it--seemed plausible, but they are running same stuff after slump. Not.
Gamblers made them do it--lotsa dinero to be made by insiders knowing a top team will take 3 straight dives, as top teams usually bounce back to beat the spread, but my KU is a paragon of virtue and would never do this. Not. Never.
Self getting them a loss to keep them humble has it cascade made them do it--coaches too clever by half--have been known to let their teams take a beating they can afford to blood them for a stretch run. Confidence gets shaken. Chemistry gets lost. Inept stretch. Not Self's style. Has always preferred a bad W to a good L. Not.
REMAINING POSSIBILITY:
Elementary, Watson
nostradavid 3 months ago
Please keep it elementary, Sherbate. Statistical analysis makes my head hurt. Slumps don't need a trigger; they just envelop a team like a mayonnaise malaise. Reaction time slows, thought processes bog down - and the tortoise sprints right on by. (A random virus or two, and the unknown reactions to meds trying to mask the symptoms, could have easily contributed.) The weighted coin is a good metaphor - even when it's dropping into the Monte Carlo number generator.
Playing KState is a surefire cure for whatever ails a Jayhawk this time of year. You knew that game would break the streak.
Now the only worry our players have is: what to wear in the next nutty dance video. Here's what I would wear:
Hello! ma baby by nostradavid
jaybate 3 months ago
Randle's estimated height in KU inches? 6-10 1/2
Therefore: Randle should come to KU for the height bump, because it will get him drafted higher and make him more money. :-)
kellerman411 3 months ago
lol are you kidding? Randle is a footer on a KU roster.
jhawkrulz 3 months ago
I'm very positive about our season, I know we struggled and am nervous about going on the road. However, what I think is the best, even during our big long winning streak (17-18 games), we were just coasting by (winning by a bucket here and there). The past two games were clear who was the better team. If we continue to get better in the second half of conference play, we'll be right where we want to be come tournament time.
drgnslayr 3 months ago
I'm with you, jhawkrulz. The timing of our "dud moment" should be positive. There isn't enough time left in the year for us to bolt to #1, even if we win out (and that is a good thing). This team needs to fight as underdogs.
Seems our teams that finish best in March go through hardship during the year that helps them bear down on the big prize.
I still think we need to find more offense somewhere. When we come with defense, we are a tough team to beat, but I'd like to see our margin of victories increase because it only takes a bad half of basketball in March to be sent packing for home. We can't always count on BMac nailing 3s every game.
I like what we are seeing in Tharpe. He brings something that other teams will struggle to prepare for... unless they have a speeding bullet on their team to practice with!
It feels like they are developing more as a team now... January they coasted through and didn't improve at the clip they should have.
I believe this team can go on the uptick from here on out! They certainly have a huge window of improvement to grow into. This game is all about timing... and the teams that get hot at the end of the season land on the podium in March. This team should do it!
jaybate 3 months ago
Hypothesis: the team video broke Self out of HIS slump, not the players' slump.
Self was experiencing some middle age burn out and grieving not being young anymore. His effervescent optimism gave way to his perfectionist streak. He kept getting harder and more scathing till he wasn't fun anymore. His players finally quit playing for him, because no matter what they did he was negative. Cin probably talked to Norm and said the team ought do something fun to shake him out of it. Norm mentioned it to Justin. Justin got it together. This has a woman's insight to it. Sometimes youth is the only antidote to old age, and vice versa. Some times men save women and sometimes women save men. This is why we all need each other.
Note: this could be thought of as a more intuitive, less Sherbative approach to the issue. :-)
drgnslayr 3 months ago
I'm on with this, JB. During our slump I posted about the disconnect CS had with his team. It seemed obvious to me because that TCU game couldn't have gone that way without some real negative energy floating around the team. "Negative" doesn't always mean "hate"... it can just mean being lost or lack of leadership (from the very top) or lack of motivation...
I can't really say I've ever seen a Jayhawk team come with so little energy to a game before... and it showed in the results.
And through all of it no one pointed responsibility to the top. I don't think that is a healthy environment... even CS is human.
Kansas basketball has been changing over the past couple of years. Development of the program has been scaled upwards through a defensive reaction to the events happening in the B12.
There is talk around college basketball... and the talk is about separating a handful of teams away from the rest of the pack (more so than in the past). These teams will gain monopolistic advantages moving forward... and we definitely want to be one of those teams, regardless of what happens to the B12.
Just look at our bench. From Basketball Operations all the way down the bench are ex-head coaches capable to coach respectable programs anywhere.
The top tier of teams surely include: Kansas, NC, Kentucky, Duke... then... UConn, Florida, UCLA, Indiana, Michigan State... then... Louisville, Syracuse, Michigan, NC State, maybe Maryland and Georgetown...
I'm pretty sure CS is feeling the pressure this year. And I wonder if it is felt all the way down the bench. The pressure is to make sure Kansas is in that top tier of 4 teams.
Keeping our string of B12 titles has become extremely important because it reflects on where we fit in these tiers. Our long string has definitely given us clout to say we belong in the top 4. We always have a fight on our hands because we are located in the dust bowl of America... while major media outlets are collected near the coasts, especially the east coast.
This pressure pushes down the chain... all the way to BMac. BMac represents the concept of having a positive OAD story for KU. Everyone is pushing for it. I hope it all turns out well for everyone... but especially for BMac. Whatever needs to happen for him to lead a positive life is what I'm for.
zabudda 3 months ago
If Zubarity, who always seemed to be one step ahead of Sherbate, as the attacker usually has the edge. It is simply that this team can be inept offensively for long periods. Sherbate exclaims, "Come Watson, the game is afoot."
ralster 3 months ago
Great thoughts jaybate and drgn...But me personally, I just think those early open looks at TCU that we got by running the offense, but just happened to miss a "few" early shots, then caused the infectious "pucker" factor after lowly-lowest-low TCU gets a double-digit lead on us in the first half. Then, in-game psyche for both teams kicks in, and KU players are a step late in everything, wondering how these TCU'ers can run with us...While TCU'ers are realizing with a HUGE boost that, "hey! We can run with Kansas". A repeat psychological dynamic of UNI and VCU, but with totally different KU players. I dont think it is Bill, as a coaching flaw would have such a loss happen MORE than 3 times in 4 years, eh? The only thing I think Self could have done in any of those games is sit all 5 like Roy, and put in 5 benchwarmers for 3 minutes. Bench guys get slaughtered and starters readjust mentally. But Self isnt doing that, as he likes continuity of chemistry, and subbing only tired or fouled guys. That's his M.O., and frankly very few coaches ever pull the Roy sub-all-5 at once. Ive seen Self sub 4 at a time, but that was the Champ08 guys, when he had 4 starter-level guys on the bench, didn't he? TCU happened. It will happen again someday in a year or three to KU. Game psyche complex interplay.
drgnslayr 3 months ago
"...a legitimate four-year man...,” Morgan Wootten of the McDonald’s game told SNY.tv."
? Unless Julius' health is off, why would he be a 4-year man? He's got an NBA-body now and plays with NBA aggression. What a dream it would be to have him at KU for 4 years, but I see him more as a one or two-year guy.
raprichard 3 months ago
I didn't understand that comment, either. I think he may have meant that he has been a top of the class guy for all four years in high school, so he is a definite blue-chip, McD's AA caliber kid and would be a great addition to the game roster.
icthawkfan316 3 months ago
I think it means he's been legitimately productive and deserving of McD's AA status based on his 4-year high school career. I can't imagine why he'd be speculating as to how much time any player would spend in college.
justinryman 3 months ago
I think as far back as I can remember KU has had a funk, well malybe not 97 until the AZ game(sorry for the bad memories).
Last year it was the Puke game in Maui and the mizzlose game on the road. The year before that the funk was Thomas Robinsons family and the hell he went through.
It's not so much how you got yourself into the funk, but how you get yourself out of the funk. This team tried a 3 hour meeting with the coaches and film, didn't work. They had a players only meeting, didn't work. They took things too serious for a game. When they loosened up, got a little funk-aayyy with it they started playing to win games and not to lose the Conference title, not to lose at home, they played to win.
Now that our funk and been funktified, watch out here comes KU!!
Rock Chalk
JayDocMD 3 months ago
Heading into the w/e I was optimistic with our chances for Randle. I was, however, hoping we would hear a comment from Randle about his visit by now - even if only the typical recruit-speak of "had a great time" or whatever. As far as I've seen, nothing on Twitter or anywhere else.
Its next to impossible to know whats going on or get a read on where we stand, but the impression from afar seems less than favorable. I mean if after experiencing AFH you can't tweet about it, why have Twitter?
OakvilleJHawk 3 months ago
I think we pretty much screwed up our recruiting effort with Julius by just how bad Texas is. Julius knows that he is better than anyone they have RIGHT NOW and that he will get 40 minutes on the court, play where and however he wants and be a hero in his home state and never have to buy a lunch or a beer again!! :)
kellerman411 3 months ago
^^^ What this guy said... it's true.
RockkChalkk 3 months ago
One would think he would have interest in WINNING something though, no? Even with Kevin Durant the best Texas could do is 3rd in the B12 and lose early in the NCAA tourny.
JayDocMD 3 months ago
I'd be shocked if he goes to TX, but what do I know
TexasRockChalk 3 months ago
Apparently a lot...that is if you're an actual M.D. :)
dehawk 3 months ago
Forgetting two things. First, one man can't carry the team. Second, Baksetball is not big in Texas. It will always be football. So unless he is another KD, I don't expect free lunch for life.
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
It's not big in Texas because they stink at it.
texashawk10 3 months ago
Even when UT made the Final Four 10 years ago, they only sold out when KU or another elite program came to town.
MoonwalkMafia66 3 months ago
Here's my opinion on all of this. Randle, as any number of recruits, has been told he's the man the past couple years. However, at the game on Saturday, he was sitting next to seven NBA players, watching the potential number 1 pick playing, as well as a few others. He's an unproven high school player, who is currently injured. He may be the man at Prestonwood, but it's not the same as any number of those guys. That's a humbling thing, and maybe Randle doesn't want to be around that. You never know with recruits. Like Mario said, playing in front of 16,3 is one of the greatest feelings there is. But not everyone wants that. Look at Lebryan Nash. Nash is probably more comfortable playing in front of 3,000 people with no pressure on him where he can develop his game to his benefit, rather than playing in front of a packed house at AFH with a ton of pressure on him every game. I thought the situation could not have been better for Randle to commit, but I'll say this, if you can go into AFH, on a day like Saturday, and not commit, you don't belong here. That is what makes me think that our chances are diminishing with Randle. Who knows though. I hope he does commit. RCJH.
khuff80 3 months ago
You've probably scrolled down below & seen. But he didn't even leave 'til like mid-day today. Wouldn't surprise me if being with the 'rents they told him to put his phone away! :) lol
kerbyd 3 months ago
I was just thinking of the analogy of CS as "father" of this team. It would be very tough to adopt a new family every year the way he has to. When I was 16 my father was dumber than dirt. By the time I reached 30 I was amazed at how smart he had become. However, it was not my dad who had changed, it was me. Sometimes maybe CS just forgets he has a new set of "kids" he needs to teach his "stuff".
HighEliteMajor 3 months ago
An ESPN article from Dave Telep .. Randle is supposedly staying on his visit through today. Telep said he had swapped texts. No other info. Just talks about that he will be a high impact signing for whoever gets him.
Regarding Frank Mason, this article also states that post grad players were not included in the ESPN 100, and Telep says that Mason is the kind of player that can attack off of ball screens, and should pair nicely with Frankamp. Suggests he's one of five post grad guys to follow next season.
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/8959296/nba-all-stars-back-day-more-recruiting-news
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
Some love for Frank Mason, but he still is just #134 according to Rivals. Does Rivals give Prep Schoolers the Juco treatment? Self doesn't have much expereince coaching Juco transfers at KU, but Appleton and Little didn't give us what we thought we were going to get.
My expectations remain low.
konkeyDong 3 months ago
Appleton, no, but Little won us at least 2 games his Sr. year (UCLA and OSU in the Big 12 tourney), and maybe more. I say we got our money's worth out of Rio.
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
Little probably would have been a lot better for us if he had taken the medical redshirt during his first year and then played two full years at KU. Instead played half a year at less than 100%.
I expected more from the #1 rated JUCO player in the country. Appleton I believe was the #3 JUCO player that year.
Now I know that whether freshman or JUCO transfer no one reaches their ceiling in their first year in Coach Self's program. In the post Xavier and post Selby era I've learned to temper my expectations for newcomers.
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
Where do they have to be ranked on Rivals in order to be KU-worthy?
McLemore was ranked #34, I believe.
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
you're trying to trap me.
You know as well as I do that there's a difference between the #34 player and the #134 player in the rankings. Unless of course the #134 player does not get scouted because he's a post-high school recruit.
That said that NBA drafts 60 players every year. The simplest accounting would say that hypothetically, if those 60 draftees were all added to their NBA rosters, that 60 players would have to be removed from rosters each year as well. Thus the flux is that 60 high school players a year are eventual NBA players... so recruiting from the top 60 High School players seems like a pretty good start.
We all know that Bill Self generally recruits the best players first, and when they are no longer available he moves to the next best options. Self didn't initially target Mason, or Tharpe for that matter, not being neither of them were in the Top 60, but because niether of them were in the top 5 at their position in their class. So he recruited them late because he saw skill and he saw potential, and we all know that he's as good a judge of talent as he is a developer of talent. So when he brings in guys like Mason I expect him to be a guy that either will be developed or will leave the program, because he wasn't someone who was anywhere near the top of Self's 2013 recruiting list back in 2011, or even 2010 when Self really began recruiting the class of 2012 hard.
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
plastic - i'm seriously not trying to trap you, I was just asking a question. My feeling is that if Bill Self deems them worthy of bringing to KU they have something going for them regardless of their Rival's ranking.
I'm a basketball fan and not a guru, I don't know what to look for in these guys, but I'm very, very glad that Bill Self does. He obviously looks for character and other intangibles that make for a complete college basketball player.
phogphan2000 3 months ago
This news seems Harlem Shake worthy HEM
konkeyDong 3 months ago
If it's true that he's prolonged his visit, that's pretty huge news. Most guys aren't going to just stick around unless they want to see more, like attending practice, maybe getting in a weight training session (if they're allowed. I have no idea), or whatever. Long and short, you don't stick around unless you have genuine interest.
nuleafjhawk 3 months ago
I'm really bored today - just for something to talk about, does anyone have any idea how all these young guys pay for their tattoos? The last one I got was $550 - it's about the size of the one pictured on Travis' left shoulder. There must be a million dollars worth of ink on any basketball court in America on a given night.
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
yikes. I had no idea those things were so expensive. I guess college students can get bank loans for things like that right?
Hopefully these guys aren't selling memorabilia for tattoos. I'm guessing that someone gives them a HUGE discount... I'm sure that Bill Self has looked into the legality of such tattoo purchases.
plasticJHawk 3 months ago
I'm not a tattoo guy myself, but I always find it interesting what the players choose to display in body ink, Is there website location when the KU guys have shown their tattoos? Preferably one that doesn't have any NSFW content.
MoonwalkMafia66 3 months ago
They get them for free.
texashawk10 3 months ago
If you get a tattoo done by a friend or somebody just learning how to tattoo, you can get really good deals on tattoos. I also have a feeling that tattoos may be one of those things the NCAA pretty much turns a blind eye to unless someone is being incredibly stupid about it like the OSU players were.
SCHNBALL 3 months ago
Anyone know the song for the music they play for the decibel level before the start of the game and before the 2nd half?
Jaylark 3 months ago
All that I can say is thank goodness that KU recruits don't make their decision based on reading the postings on this website.
The key factors for Randle to make his decision are where will he get the best coaching, where will he develop the most physicially, where will he find the best fit in teammates, and where will he get the most exposure.
Considering those factors, KU has as good a chance as any school at securing his commitment.
AsadZ 3 months ago
Big game on Wed, winner to take sole possession of 1st place.
From D standpoint key to this game will be on stopping Marcus Smart. I am wondering who will be assigned on him? Can EJ/Tharpe contain him?
khuff80 3 months ago
Might need to shake things up and have Rely on him & Mc on M.Brown. Would leave EJ/Tharpe on whoever else is in the backcourt - P.Forte?
texashawk10 3 months ago
The winner won't take sole possession of 1st place unless KSU loses to WVU tonight.
oldalum 3 months ago
As long as K-State keeps winning we will still be tied with them even if we beat OSU. Edit: Sorry, Texashawk. We must have posted at the same time.
HAWKS1 3 months ago
I agree....I would put Releford on him. He is our best on-ball defender and his height advantage will be helpful. Of course, he will need some help occasionally, but I still think he is our best bet. Mc is getting better at D and could switch up with Rely some. EJ may be able to handle him for short periods also. Tharpe is just too small.....Smart would eat him up imho RCJH
JayhawkFanInMinnesota 3 months ago
I would be shocked to see Randle commit to Kansas, it not going to happen. Don't get me wrong, I would love for it to happen but I just don't see it. I think we may have a better chance of getting Wiggins than we do Randle.
OakvilleJHawk 3 months ago
I want to amend my previous post, now that I think about it. Julius also saw who was coming back for Kansas and realized he was better now than anyone!! He is both the missing piece for the returnees and for the 2013 Recruiting Class.
Question for the ages and don't rush to an answer. Who has more influence over a recruit's decison..his mother or his AAU Coach??!!
I think we hava a chance, but I've got a feeling we are going to be, once again, the second last hat left on the table!! :(
JayDogger 3 months ago
My impression of AAU coaches is that they would be pimps if they could dress better. I'm sure some are good, but many seem to be questionable characters who aren't good enough to coach for college or pro teams and too uneducated to coach in high school. Am I worng? And what do they do for the other nine months of the year???
JayhawkFanInMinnesota 3 months ago
Kansas would be a great fit for either Wiggins or Randle (especially next year). Either one would be the center piece of a young but well coached Kansas team. Hopefully, we can benefit from what BMac is doing this year as a freshmen. Meaning, it may convince Randle or Wiggins, they too can come in and do the same.
TexasRockChalk 3 months ago
Man, my new job is cutting into my KUSports.com time ! :)
Seeing Kevin's awesome fro reminds me of the greatness of Starsky & Hutch and Shaft from back in the day. Sure do miss the late 70s and 80s!
JayDogger 3 months ago
Thre's no way Randle is going to decide before April. As someone said last year, "Randle will spend twice as long on his college recruitment than he will ever spend actually playing college basketball."
Staying until today is a good sign. I can't imagine him playing for UT or OK if he is serious about winning an NC. He's got plenty of reasons to pick Fla or UK and appartently he's quite fond of NC St. I wonder if he has already decided? Time will tell, but Randle won't until April.
AZHawk72 3 months ago
I'd bet on Wiggins settling with his "first love," Florida-State. Besides, he's Canadian and probably just wants to check out the states, eh. And this recruiting class, great that it is, already has a bit of a "Wing U" feel about it.
Now, if Arthur had also returned with the crew and sang his rendition of "I had too much to dream last night," we'd probably already have our sixth and final recruit.
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