Friday, February 29, 2008

ESPN crew rolls in

Self hopes Jayhawks avoid distractions

By Gary Bedore

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ESPN's College GameDay crew rolls into Lawrence for the third time in four years today - the cast of Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis, Rece Davis and Digger Phelps preparing for Saturday's pair of shows (10-11 a.m. and 7-8 p.m.) in Allen Fieldhouse.

"It's a 12-hour infomercial for your school," KU coach Bill Self said, ready to extend hospitality to the cable network's on-air personalities, including Erin Andrews, Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale, who will work Saturday's Kansas-Kansas State game, set for an 8 p.m. tipoff.

"It's a great exposure for your school, but it's also a very long day," Self added. "The more our players can keep a normal routine and the K-State players can keep a normal routine will probably bode well for performance that night because you can get too hyped up. It's kind of like the NCAA Tournament. You play the 9 o'clock game, and all you want to do is watch games all day long. Not sure that's the best thing you can do. So we're going to try to keep a normal routine."

Senior Sasha Kaun is looking forward to the experience.

"This place is going to be unbelievable, especially with GameDay," Kaun said. "I just can't wait to see what happens. It's definitely going to be a great atmosphere."

KU is 1-1 with GameDay in town. The Jayhawks clubbed Texas, 90-65, on Jan. 29, 2005, then lost to Texas A&M, 69-66, last season.

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No gimmicks: Michael Beasley and Bill Walker had 25 and 22 points respectively in KSU's 84-75 victory over KU on Jan. 30 in Bramlage Coliseum.

Self was asked if the Jayhawks might simply try to do what has helped them to an 18-0 home record this year rather than simply try to slow the Wildcat dynamic duo.

"That's what we're always trying to do, just be the best team we can be and (do) what our strengths are. I'm not saying we won't do (things) a little bit differently, but we're not going to change who we are in two days," the coach said.

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Jackson, Stewart return: KU senior Darnell Jackson had a busy Thursday. He flew to Oklahoma City in the morning for his cousin's funeral, then returned to Lawrence for a 6 p.m. practice. Travel delays had him about 15 minutes late for the workout.

Rodrick Stewart, who spent three days in Seattle for his brother's funeral, was back on campus for class Thursday and practiced Thursday night as well.

Kaun, who hurt his back on Tuesday lifting weights, said his back was feeling better Thursday. Shrugging off back pain, he had eight points, three blocks and two rebounds in 16 productive minutes in Wednesday's 75-64 victory at Iowa State.

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Colorful quote: Beasley was asked Thursday about his predicting a sweep over KU this season.

"I mean what I say. I say what I mean," he told the Salina Journal.

Before the first KU-KSU game, he said, "We're gonna beat KU at home. We're gonna beat 'em at their house. We're gonna beat 'em in Africa. Wherever we play we're gonna beat 'em."

He was asked where he'd like to play KU besides Africa.

"I'd probably take it to Europe or Australia. I like kangaroos."

Comments

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Everyone else getting tired of the Africa quote? Once KU hands Beasley and the Wildcats a loss at home then we can plan on meeting on a neutral court in the semi's of the Big 12 tournament. Going 2-1 against the Beasleycats will be a good feeling.

February 29, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Timmay97 (anonymous) says...

All I can say is enjoy it while you can K-State.....it's gonna be a different year for you next year. Bye bye Beasley! And just like we did against Durant AT HOME last year (and once in the Big 12 tourney), we'll do it again to Beasley and his bunch.

KU will play this game like it's their last. They are pissed and want revenge! I think we'll get up early on them and NEVER look back.

KU by 20 (minimum).

February 29, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

OwenJarvisIII (anonymous) says...

While beating K-State is definitely the most important task for Saturday night, the more coverage we can see of Erin Andrews, the better off we'll all be...

Rock Chalk Erin Andrews...

February 29, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

why is it their freshman guards play but ours sit on the bench. are ours better recruits than theirs??

February 29, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

ditto Timmay97.

When it comes to Michael Beasley, we need to do exactly what we did last year against Durant, let him have his 25-30 points and shut down the rest of the team. Double & tripple teaming Beasley was a big mistake last time.

This game & the A&M game will be great practice for the tournament. Let's go out there & get another W, Rock Chalk Jayhawk GO KU!!!!

February 29, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...

ESPN - Welcome to the best basketball venue in the world.

Mildcats - We can probably take up a collection and send Measley to see the kangaroos. He might enjoy some one-on-one with a kangaroo. I'd, of course, root for the marsupial. Oh, wait, maybe he got confused and meant he'd like to play UMKC.

Or, maybe he is a kangaroo. Afterall, a kangaroo is a member of the Macropodidae family. Macropodidae translates to "large foot". Maybe, just maybe, he's put his large foot in his mouth this time.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

February 29, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

speedy, speedy, speedy........Our freshmen guards (I presume you mean Reed) sit on the bench because we have upperclassmen that have more experience. KSU's freshman guard (Pullen) plays because they don't have any depth.

I don't know if I would say ours (Reed) is a better player than theirs (Pullen) anyway.

But I do wish we would have gotten Reed in the game some when we had the big lead on ISU Wednesday. My concern is that Collins' health is going to continue to go downhill, and when we need Reed he's not going to have the game experience to step up.

Collins just looks awful out there right now.

February 29, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

gotcha ku lol

February 29, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Z8RR8's KU hoops tribute video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPpcqK...

February 29, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

mmmmmmmmmmmm. Erin Andrews. I think I am in love.

February 29, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

nocaljayhawk (anonymous) says...

f---ing Vitale calling the game...great, I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Heard Erin A. saying last night that she tied one on in Madison, WI, the other night and that she didn't think she looked good during the UW-MSU game. yeah.....

February 29, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

I think I will just mute the TV and listen to Bob call the game on the radio. Dickie V just drives me crazy. Ooh, I just threw up a little too. Damn. Fruity pebbles. Huh, still tastes good!!

February 29, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhawkerman (anonymous) says...

All I want to hear out of Vitale is him telling KSU Coaches to "Get a TO baby this one getting away" ..
Rock Chalk Jayhawks

February 29, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

digitalkookie (anonymous) says...

jhawkerman........DITTO!!!!!!!!

February 29, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Timmay97 (anonymous) says...

First of all......take a look at K-State's home record compared to road record. They are AWFUL on the road. This doesn't bode well for them being they are about to play in the most hostile environment imaginable. Remember, these kids are still young so you know they are going into this game with a lot of fear.

KU needs to take advantage of the above and jump on them early. Simple as that.

I know some people don't like Vitale, but I think the guy is great. He does so much for college basketball.....makes it exciting for those who don't normally watch college BBall. We all know he's going to talk a lot about Beasley and Walker....hopefully, he will be talking about how they got shut down.

The one thing that will kill KU in this game (and it seems every game lately) is the three ball. GUARD THE PERIMETER! And let's just hope we are making our outside jumpers....

Lastly.....note to Rush!........ DRIVE THE FREAKIN' BALL TO THE BASKET! Don't hover the three point line. You're too good for that.

February 29, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku_phog (anonymous) says...

I don't want to say much about Beasley and The KSU kitty cats, but beasley and the "Kitty Cats" might want to start worrying about there season rather than stupid predictions. After KU kicks there butt, the Kitty cats will be on I believe a five or six game losing streak. If they lose one of there final two games after a lose to KU they might be on the outside looking in during March. Personally I think it would be absolutely hilarious if the kitty cats fail to miss the NCAA tournament when they have the best player in the nation. It would be a colossal meltdown for the ages.

Moving on I was very happy with the Hawks performance against Iowa State on Wednesday. We brought energy from the very beginning of the game. You could tell that our players were not going to allow us to lose. If we can continue to play with energy we will be playing a long way into March and early April. Hopefully we can look back at the Iowa State game as the take off for a great rest of the season and a national championship.

Rock Chalk

February 29, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Some of you guys give Rush too much credit. He's really not all that. Offensively, he can shoot a jump shot. Whoopee! There are a lot of 6' guys that can shoot jump shots. He can't drive at all to the left. He can bounce the ball up to three times to the right, but he goes laterally instead of to the hole, so he doesn't ever get by anybody. He's not very accurate off the dribble. He does a terrible job of getting to the line. He's not a great offensive rebounder because he's rarely close enough to the hoop to reach one; most of his rebounds are on the defensive end. He's not particularly good at creating shots for his teammates.

He's a good defensive player, but he was better before the injury. He's a pretty good defensive rebounder.

If he can score 15 a night from the perimeter down the stretch, I'll take it. I'm tired of expecting him to "step up". It's just not in his nature to do more than he's doing.

February 29, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

...fail to make, ku_phog. That would be interesting no doubt.

February 29, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"While beating K-State is definitely the most important task for Saturday night, the more coverage we can see of Erin Andrews, the better off we'll all be..."

I don't know about you, but personally I'd prefer to see less "coverage" of Erin Andrews.

"Personally I think it would be absolutely hilarious if the kitty cats fail to miss the NCAA tournament ..."

I think it would be even more hilarious if they failed to MAKE the NCAA tournament.

I agree with those who are tired of Vitale. It's an old, tired act. Like a lot of people, I found him amusing and somewhat entertaining at the beginning, but I'm really sick of him at this point and would much rather have someone as an analyst who doesn't scream at me through the entire game.

February 29, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

I agree Vitale has done a lot for college basketball, but I would rather have my wife nagging me to take out the trash, or just being a nag period than listen to 2 hours of Vitale and his antics.

I am looking forward to how hard and focused to come to play tonight. I miss the way we used to play. I truly believe that they will turn it on come tournament time. I am predicting a big 12 tournament championship, then off to the final 4. I just hope our coaching staff comes together, and talks about opening up the offense a little. Keep the bigs on the block and have our guards set screens and use screens. We all know BR will not create his own shot, so lets set a ton of screens for him and allow him to be aggressive and do what he does best, shoot without the dribble. We can still go through DA, but we need to get our best shooter open.

February 29, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

I don't know about you, but personally I'd prefer to see less "coverage" of Erin Andrews.

I 2nd that.

I have come to accept the fact that Rush will not be the player we want him to be, but lets let him do what he is best at, and create an offense where we set screens for him. If Mario is setting screens, that will open him up because his man will have to help on Rush, then you get the best of everything. We rely too much on the dribble. I would just like to see more screens. Just my opinion. Agree or Disagree?

February 29, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

I don't see Rush being effective running off screens and shooting. He's best when he's got his feet set and he receives the ball and shoots. Wheeling off screens, squaring and shooting isn't his forte.

I don't think we rely too much on dribble penetration; we just take it too far into the lane with no plan. They need to go under control so they can see whether to dish or pull up and shoot a tear-drop at 8 feet. Part of the problem with the guards trying to go all the way to the hole is that it's not our style to clear the lane; we usually have 2 bigs on the block and that means there are at least 2 defenders. The lane is clogged. Many of our opponents (Duke is the best at this) clear out the lane and let guards dribble all the way to the hole and it's essentially one-on-one.

February 29, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jahawkdave (anonymous) says...

I thought Cole did a good job of defending Beasley the few minutes he was mon him in Sadhattan. Beasley had a hard time shooting over Cole and I'm not sure if he actually scored on him. I doubt he is going to hit the threes he did last time. I say give Cole somemore minutes on Beasley and use up some of those 4 fouls on him as well. No need tiring Jackson or Arthur out on Beasley since he is going to get his 20 or so.

February 29, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

I do agree with the guards going too far in the lane with no plan. Whatever happened the the good ole fashioned jump stop, ball fake, then dish? I see your point with the bigs. It just seems like we don't spread teams out very much. We allow the defense to remain compact. I think if we are going to set on ball screens, they need to be done at the top of the key, and the guard sets up and dictates direction.

February 29, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NH_JHawk (anonymous) says...

I'll 3rd that about Erin Andrews (hot as she is).

Seems like all the network tv channels these days, whether it's ESPN or something like the Weather Channel, try to add too much fluff to the broadcast. I'm not watching basketball to see Erin Andrews (reiterate: hot as she is) and I'm not watching the Weather Channel to see "When Weather Changed History."

With that being said, I do like the fact that ESPN College Gameday chose to give KU a "12 hour infomercial." Gives us valuable visibility for future recruits.

February 29, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkfan (anonymous) says...

Honestly I meant less coverage like less clothing. But I understand your point.

February 29, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Dick Vitale is a good part of what is right with college basketball.

Passion, respect and genuine love of the game.

February 29, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

MILFdestroyer (anonymous) says...

Erin is andrews is fine, I don't know what you clowns are talking about, I don't mind seeing her at all compared to the other swamp beasts they have on there like Holly Rowe..ha We are going to have to contain Pullen the pg from Chi city, he is very very good. No one beats us in the phog lets go hawks.

February 29, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mcrozb (anonymous) says...

The thing about DV is he runs his mouth the whole game and half the time what he's saying has nothing to do with the game."I remember when......................

February 29, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcmostwanted (anonymous) says...

If Beasley liked Kangaroo's that much he should have went to UMKC......

Vitale annoys the heck out of me too.. just watch, he's going to spend 1/2 the game talking about the ACC/Duke/UNC

And then the other 1/2 he's going to talk about The general

February 29, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

digitalkookie (anonymous) says...

vitale used to care about the game...the pruities, the competition, the passion and love

now he is just into promotion...whether it be self promotion (which he has mastered) , promoting big east hoops or his beloved blue devils...all of which make me ill...

i, for one, do not care to hear his outlandishly biased comments for two hours saturday night...just my opinion...take it or leave it...makes no difference to me

February 29, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ChicagoHawkMatt (anonymous) says...

Vitale - what a tool.

You guys in Kansas should feel happy, you can mute him and turn on the radio. No alternative radio stations up here in Chicago to listen too. I'm stuck listening to that fool.

February 29, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

...should have went? Really?

February 29, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

digitalkookie (anonymous) says...

hey chicagohawkmatt...i'm in the city too and stuck listening to vitale as he continually spews his verbal diarrhea...

February 29, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Verbal diarrhea sums it up perfectly. Excellent analogy, digital.

As for tomorrow, just remember, "Nobody comes into OUR HOUSE and pushes us around."

February 29, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Beasley has, apparently, said recently that he is not sure if he will leave college after this year. He stated that he is not sure if he's mature enough for all that comes with NBA superstardom, and wants to be irresponsible in college for a little while longer. I'm about 98% sure he'll go, but I thought that was an interesting statement. If they don't make the tournament, could we see the presumed number 1 draft pick stick around another year?

Of course, that would give us a couple more chances to kick his arse..........

February 29, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )