and 12 others
Advertisement
Advertisement
Posted
by Jesse Newell
January 24, 2013 at 10:10 a.m.
Rio Adams dances the sideline at KSU; KU No. 1 in two power rankings
A few links to start off your Thursday ...
• We'll start with the Kansas-Kansas State highlights from KU Athletics following the Jayhawks' 59-55 victory.
The best part of the video is actually a shot of the bench 45 seconds in, as KU freshman guard Rio Adams becomes the latest Jayhawk to show off his dancing skills, this time on the KU bench.
This clip comes a month after Ben McLemore received national attention for his dance moves in the KU locker room following a road win over Ohio State.
Anyone have an official term for the dance move Adams is doing? I only know that I am not capable of it.
• SI.com's Luke Winn released his weekly Power Ratings, and the Jayhawks have moved to the No. 1 spot.
In the column, Winn updates his Jeff Withey shot-block chart, commenting that according to his logs, KU has retained possession on 72 percent of the senior's blocks. That's an astounding number if you think about it.
Winn wasn't the only national writer to bump KU up to No. 1, as FoxSports.com's Ken Davis also has the Jayhawks in the top spot (and both of these rankings came out before Duke's loss Wednesday night.
• In a chat with readers, ESPN.com's Chad Ford calls McLemore the best player I've watched in college this season."
Ford's response comes about one-fifth of the way down the page. When he's asked if McLemore has a chance to go No. 1 overall, Ford responds, in part, by saying:
I do. In fact he's strongly trending in that direction. I spoke with five different GMs this week who told me they'd take him No. 1.
• I retweeted this Wednesday (shameless plug: @jessenewell), but if you haven't seen Thomas Heying's photo of KSU's Thomas Gipson putting Withey in a chokehold during Tuesday's game from the Wichita Eagle, then it's definitely worth checking out.
• ESPN.com's Jason King had a short video interview with KU guard Elijah Johnson following the KSU victory. Johnson says the win meant a lot because he didn't want to finish with a career .500 record at Bramlage Coliseum.
• KU basketball signee Wayne Selden shows off his athleticism with a couple of exhibition dunks to start this video. Twice, Selden throws the ball off the gym wall, lets it bounce once, then elevates to slam it in.
• Here's a first-person account of Hall of Fame basketball coach Tex Winter meeting with the KU basketball team on Tuesday morning from Larry Weigel in the Manhattan Mercury.
• Kansas State forward Shane Southwell had an interesting way of describing Withey, telling FoxSports.com's Sean Keeler, "He's like the best goalie in the country."
• Ken Pomeroy wrote a well-thought-out blog post Thursday morning about the importance of margin of victory and why Butler coach Brad Stevens didn't go crazy after his team pulled off a remarkable, last-second comeback against Gonzaga last week.
I really liked this quote from Pomeroy:
It would be in any analyst’s best interest to understand this and not parrot the cliché that said team (not naming names!) just “knows how to win”. The teams that truly know how to win are the ones that have a cushion at the end of the game. They aren’t at the mercy of wacky officiating, whimsical replay reviews, or half-court heaves.
It's something to keep in mind with KU this year (and the reason the Jayhawks are still seventh in the KenPom statistical rankings). While it's beneficial to have a team play well in tight-game situations, the best teams are the ones that can build up enough of a lead (especially against marginal competition ... I'm looking at you, Texas) to avoid those scenarios altogether.
• And finally, CBSsports.com senior blogger Matt Norlander looks at the success of the three Div. I teams in the state of Kansas. Norlander reported before Tuesday's games that during the last 3 1/2 seasons, KU, KSU and Wichita State were a combined 303-72 — good for an 81-percent winning percentage.
Comments
clevelandjayhawker 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Selden hightlights are great, the picture of Withey being choked describes that whole game (refs let a lot of stuff go) and Rio's dance is great to watch, gald he is excited and not getting down on himself for not getting a ton of PT.
Rock Chalk
hawk316 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Yeah, I think if Rio exercises the patience, hard work, and good attitude that Russell Robinson demonstrated several years ago, his moment will come. He's obviously a good athlete, but like most young players, just needs time to mature and adjust to the college game.
KGphoto 4 months, 3 weeks ago
If you go back to the Withey photo and scroll to picture #6 you will also see Kevin Young getting his face smashed in. I'm sure those two photos will make some sort of KSU highlight montage.
drgnslayr 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Rio just has to wait his time... it will come and he'll earn his legend status. You can't teach other players what he has naturally built in.
Phoghorn 4 months, 3 weeks ago
How about a video of the KSU students throwing live chickens on the floor? Oh, wait, they don't do that anymore...
If a game happens in Manhattan and there are no chickens around to see it...
HawkKlaw 4 months, 3 weeks ago
That's the dance from that guy on Chappelle's Show!
nuleafjhawk 4 months, 3 weeks ago
• And finally, CBSsports.com senior blogger Matt Norlander looks at the success of the three Div. I teams in the state of Kansas. Norlander reported before Tuesday's games that during the last 3 1/2 seasons, KU, KSU and Wichita State were a combined 303-72 — good for an 81-percent winning percentage.
Kansas' record during that time (past full 3 seasons, plus 18 games this season) - 117 - 14.
K-state's record - 89-33
WIchita State - 98-26
and just for kicks -
Kentucky - 114-20
canuckhawk 4 months, 2 weeks ago
How many of those are wins and losses within the Kansas schools? Pull out all of KU's wins over KSU and the % goes up (maybe 1 percentage point).
mom_of_three 4 months, 3 weeks ago
I think they need to send that pic to the refs with a note "I think you missed one". Not sure how they missed a chokehold, but hey, they couldn't see moving screens either.
fearthephog512 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Rio's my favorite off the bench personality. Dude is funny, and a good dancer!
mejayhawk 4 months, 3 weeks ago
That dance is called the disarticulated chicken. Many experts believe it is a hybrid of the funky chicken and the chicken dance commonly performed at wedding receptions.
hawkfan4life 4 months, 3 weeks ago
That is exactly what I love about Rio! Dude is buried on the bench...getting no PT at all. But everytime I see him, he's as happy as can be. Looks like he's having the time of his life! You can tell he's a great teammate because he's backing the guys on the floor 110%. That spirit will pay off big for him here in the future.
lewstinks 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Naa also has awesome Robot dance moves!! : )
twhite44 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks, Jesse, for another great post.
drgnslayr 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Jesse... I'm not sure what your number is, but I suggest we hang your jersey in AFH for what you bring to the Jayhawk Nation!
I read plenty of sports media beyond Lawrence, and no one can match your work. Thanks so much!
Lulufulu85 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Nice! ps. Thx Jesse for graciously signing my ticket stub at the Richmond game
GoHawkYourself 4 months, 3 weeks ago
How do you forget the Naadirbot?
http://i.minus.com/i28pNT9f0yUnD.gif
ralster 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Travis with good dance moves at LateNight also. Many of these guys get quite self-conscious doing "dance" moves in front of big crowds, some have real ability. Naadir was ridiculous (good) during the circle portion of the group dance at LateNight when each one would go to the center for a few seconds of solo moves. Nice to see some actual rhythmic ability. Not everybody can dance, eventhough we always Dance come March (23yrs straight...). Some of the Lady Jayhawks can dance quite well, and that is a treat--see their "Call Me Maybe" video, while others are shy and not dancers. Love to see these other facets of these players we root so hard for and follow so closely! Awesome. RCJH (Shake them tail feathers!)
Commenting has been disabled for this item.