It’s Christmastime, baby!
Oops, that’s Dick Vitale’s line. Sorry, don’t want to be accused of plagiarism, so I’ll drop that greeting right now.
It’s Christmastime, dearies! It’s Christmastime, dudes and dude-ettes! It’s Christmastime, people!
Christmas – How can you not love this holiday? Aside from celebrating the best birthday of all on X-mas day, one must consider all the great gift possibilities awaiting you on the 25th.
Feel free to send me any and all gifts. I will accept all.
Just kidding.
A writer accepting a gift is a major violation of NCAA rules. Or some sort of rules – the National Association of Media Against Bribes or some such group I’m sure.
All drivel aside, here are a few gifts I’d like to give the Jayhawks if NCAA rules allowed.
Roy Williams – A letter-opener.
Nick Collison – A guaranteed NBA contract – Kirk Hinrich too – after this season. They deserve it after returning for their final seasons.
Keith Langford – A Charles Barkley-like campus talk show to host. Like Drew Gooden, he has the gift of gab.
Aaron Miles – A home and home series with Portland so he can go back home next year and get another chance to play in his home state.
Kirk Hinrich – Gift certificates for a semester’s worth of back massages at Images.
Mike Lee – Eight years of eligibility so he can play football after his basketball career ends. He showed some great tackling ability in downing the Tulsa mascot the other night. Just kidding. He didn’t mean to devour the mascot. It was an accident.
Moulaye Niang – Tickets to the next World Cup. Moulaye loves soccer and loves the Senegalese team.
Bryant Nash – Eight years of eligibility so he can high jump and long jump in track after his hoops career is over. Kidding again. He and Lee are into basketball first and foremost.
Wayne Simien – A WWF contract after his playing days are over. He already has the body.
Jeff Hawkins – Chiefs and Royals season tickets.
Jeff Graves – Jim Ryun’s guide to track. He needs some pointers for next year’s 12-minute run.
Stephen Vinson, Christian Moody, Brett Olson – Blowouts in games, not their automobile’s tires, so they can log minutes at the end of games.
OK, here are some holiday – not to be confused with Joe Holladay – questions and my answers. Enjoy these or don’t.
Q: What do you think of KU’s chances against UCLA Saturday? Is Jason Kapono the real deal? Thanks, rawhide.
A: Well I think Jason Kapono is definitely a great player. He’s averaging almost 19 points a game. It’s good for college basketball he returned for his senior year and didn’t enter the NBA Draft.
Too bad Drew didn’t stay at KU but like Dr. Evil says, it’s hard to turn down one million dollars!
Make that nine gazillion dollars or whatever the Grizz are paying Gooden.
Several Bruin players who beat KU, 87-77, last year at Pauley Pavilion will be here Saturday. Bozeman, Thompson, Young, Cummings, Kapono to name some. These guys can all play ball. And Andre Patterson is back after missing a few games because of eligibility woes.
UCLA has a lot of potential, though the Bruins are off to a mediocre 2-2 start heading into tonight’s game against Northern Zona.
Q: Gary, are you surprised KU is off to such a (expletive deleted) start this season? What the (expletive deleted) is going on? I thought we were going to win all but two of our games – Texas and at Missouri – for gosh sakes!! Signed, Mad in Topeka.
A: Take a deep breath, Mr. Mad, and exhale. Deep, deep breathing…
There, feel better??
I wish I could say I predicted KU’s early struggles, but like everybody else I bought all the hype regarding KU’s starting five. In the back of my mind, especially after reading Jeff Boschee’s book in which he described in detail his sophomore slump/funk, I wondered a bit about KU’s three sophomore starters – whether they, like Boschee, might slump as sophs.
Aaron Miles definitely slumped in KU’s three early losses, but showed signs of returning to his freshman form in KU’s victory at Tulsa.
Wayne Simien’s tender ankle has hurt his productivity some, especially in the Carolina game, the one in which he twisted his ankle twice.
Turning one’s ankle isn’t exactly the cure for tendinitis.
Add to that Kirk Hinrich’s back problems and the lack of production off the bench and you get a lousy beginning to the 2002-03 season.
I just wish I’d had the foresight to predict some of this in the preseason.
There really are a lot of things that must go right for this KU team to be a top five team and thus far none of those things have taken place.
KU must stay healthy (that hasn’t happened). The Jayhawks must get incredible contributions out of the three soph starters (Aaron struggled some early and Wayne has not been 100 percent physically, while Keith has been strong except from the line) and the bench just MUST contribute. The bench stunk in the three early losses and remains a big question mark.
Q: Gary, what’s wrong with Jeff Hawkins? I thought you said he reminded you of Jamaal Tinsley?? He looks lost when he is awarded his scraps of playing time? Signed, Kansas Citian at large.
A: Jeff Hawkins thus far hasn’t taken care of the basketball very well. He’s also shot poorly early on and as you noted hasn’t played much.
I still think he can play.
He’s just a red-shirt freshman with 3 1/2 seasons remaining.
I’ve heard he’s shot well at practice from 3-point land and he swished a three versus Emporia State the other night. He can shoot the basketball. He just hasn’t shown it yet.
I will admit my Tinsley comments look silly right now, but I am not ready to give up on Hawkins. I said he wouldn’t be Tinsley right away, but down the road.
Remember, Kirk Hinrich shot poorly to begin last season, then got on a roll. So we shall see. Roy has said he hasn’t given up on Hawkins or any of the bench guys.
Q: Gary, why is the bench so frickin’ thin to use a word Roy uses? I mean my gosh where are the players? Signed, Bart.
A: Of the current bench candidates …
Moulaye Niang is raw, having played soccer as a youth, not basketball. He just hasn’t played enough basketball to be comfortable in big games.
Moulaye can shoot the ball and Roy likes the way he moves his feet.
He’s just very young and inexperienced. He’s got a chance to be a solid player some day, perhaps not this season.
Mike Lee played well in his outings at Oregon and Tulsa and again against Emporia State. KU fans are crossing their fingers he’s now the real bench deal.
Jeff Hawkins (see above). Meanwhile, Jeff Graves reported out of shape and just now is rounding into form. He’s not scored much, but grabbed a lot of rebounds of late, which is a start.
Roy says Bryant Nash simply can’t relax during games. He needs to relax and let his natural skills take over.
As far as what the bench could have been, well Hassan Adams, Andre Igoudala, Brad Buckman, Kevin Bookout, Bernard Cote, Josh Childress, Devin Smith among others picked other schools. KU tried to get those guys, but didn’t. Stuff happens in recruiting.
KU could use Devin’s Smith outside shooting about now. Hassan also would look good in a Jayhawk jersey and at one point Roy thought KU would get Smith. KU didn’t, but not because the staff didn’t try.
Don’t forget Drew Gooden and DeShawn Stevenson turned pro and that also hurt the squad’s potential depth.
I don’t think anybody’s ready to give up on the bench players.
We shall see what kind of improvements they make as the season progresses.
Q: What are the considerations a coach makes when “red-shirting” a player? How is the conference involved in the process? Is there a limited number per year? My question is limited to basketball!
A: If Roy is thinking about red-shirting a player, he usually is up front and tells the player in the recruiting process, i.e. Hawkins and Jeff Carey, that he’d like the player to red-shirt.
The scholarship offer in fact can be contingent on the player agreeing to red-shirt.
The only other scenario is if a player comes to Roy before the season and asks for a red-shirt.
A coach can red-shirt as many players as he wants.
Moulaye had hinted he would ask for a red-shirt during the recruiting process, but that idea went out the window when Jeff Graves reported out of shape.
Q: Gary I like your stories on players’ families. Keith Langford’s mom sounds like a wonderful lady. It’s nice to see KU kids have good parental support that helps them accomplish their goals. Do you have email addresses of the parents or phone numbers so I can contact them? Kendall from Ct.
A: Thanks for the comment. I don’t think I can help you out with the e-mails or phone numbers. I’m sure you are a good person, but I don’t think I should be giving out personal info like that without permission.
Keith’s mom is great because she is smart, talkative, and also willing to speak her mind, not just utter cliches. She is willing to express her opinions – to inquisitive reporters and on the phog.net message board – with a nice splash of humor in there.
The biggest and best point I was trying to make in my recent, “Mom is Langford’s biggest fan” story was how neat it is to have mom and son express love for each other openly, Keith saying mom is his best friend and Mom relating stories about Keith leaving nice cell phone messages, etc.
I like parent/child success stories. That was meant to be a feel-good Xmastime story.
I do hope it came out that way. I’ve gotten some positive e-mails about the story saying it’s easy to see where Keith gets his backbone and his upbringing could be why he’s such a top-notch guy.
And yes all the parents, not only KLM, are nice. I’ve talked to many of them and they definitely are top-notch.
Q: Gary, In response to an “Ask Gary” question, a good place to watch KU in Houston is at SRO on Cutten Rd. & FM 1960 (NW side of town & by Willowbrook Mall). Jeff
A: Thanks for the info. Have fun watching the games.
Q: Hi Gary – Great work that you do covering the ‘Hawks. Thanks so much. So what is the scoop about why Duncan left the football team? I think fans deserve more than a ‘no comment’ approach. RCJ GKU, duke.
A: I really don’t know what to tell you. I don’t regularly cover football (how’s that for passing the buck?) and don’t have the answer for you. I do know Mangino refused to answer our reporter’s questions about the matter. He won’t discuss personnel matters and Duncan declined comment also.
I think fans deserve a lot of explanations that coaches like Mangino refuse to give, but I could write an essay on that topic and won’t bore you now.
Q: Am I the only one who thinks that Gooden leaving is a blessing in disguise. Yes he was a great player but I think Simien is going to be more of a force in the coming years than Drew. Now, it is not Drew Gooden and “those other guys” it is more of a team now. One more thing, mark my words, Moulaye Niang is going to be an All-American by the time he graduates. After seeing him for the first time in the exhibition game, I have no problem making this prediction. Thanks Matt.
A: I disagree about Drew. His leaving hurt KU a lot. I don’t think people saw last year’s team as “Drew’s team” or “Drew and the Miracles.”
People realized Collison and Hinrich were key contributors as well as the freshmen.
So I think the loss of Drew was major, major, especially with the bench not providing much offense this season.
With Drew, I think KU would be undefeated right now, and with next year’s recruiting class coming in, things would be mighty peachy for some time to come.
Without Drew it looks like this team is gonna have to earn everything it gets, so to speak. As far as Moulaye, we’ll have to wait and see. He has a long way to go and a long time to get there. He’s just a rookie.
Q: I was hoping you could post this e-mail so i could find other Jayhawk fans in Columbia, MO. I know it wont be easy, but i have met a few people and were going to meet a local bar to watch all the games. ColumbiaJayhawk (todd@jppromotions.com)
A: Email this person if you live in Columbia and want to go to meet and watch the games. Sounds like fun. Contact the KU Alumni Association for information about “watch parties.”
Q: Who are the two guys who watch the KU basketball games from the room with a window just above the big clock at the top of the west stands in Allen Fieldhouse? What is their purpose? > KU FAN from LAKE QUIVIRA
A: Those guys run the messages on the scoreboard. Dat’s what they do.
Q: Hi, I was wondering where I need to go in order to find the team pictures and biographies of last year’s basketball team.sara.
A: I’d say you need to buy a 2001-02 media guide from last year. I’d call KU media relations at 785-864-3417. They may have some left over. They usually cost 10 or 15 bucks.
Q: Haven’t heard an explanation as to why Keith Wooden is going to Arizona State. There is nothing wrong with his decision but it does intrigue me. With so few Division 1 recruits coming out of Kansas, and as Coach points out, the difficulty in recruiting from such a small population base, I cannot help but wonder why Keith Wooden escaped from our own back yard. The lack of discussion on this makes me speculate that there was more to the story then we were told. Thanks for the informative and humorous look at KU Basketball. David.
A: Thanks for the praise about my humor. I do try to crack the occasional joke. Your line about “nothing being wrong with his decision” reminds me of that Seinfeld episode. You know … “there’s nothing wrong with that.”
As far as Keith Wooden, KU recruited him some but he obviously was not a top priority recruit.
Keith said he did talk to the coaches last summer and again some first semester.
Roy got four guys he wanted, including a big guy in Padgett.
With KU showing minimal interest and Arizona State showing a lot of interest, Wooden fell in love with ASU. He visited the ASU campus and liked the players a lot so he felt there was no need to wait.
So the explanation you seek is Wooden simply liked Arizona State a lot. He didn’t want to wait on a possible KU offer which may have been contingent on who else KU would sign.
Good luck to Keith. He’s a nice guy and hopefully will lead Free State to greatness this season.
Q: This is actually a comment, not a question. I noted a lot of questions about getting Jayhawks on TV. Your answer was Direct TV. However, last year I was able to get the ESPN Full Court Press package on Time Warner Cabe in Durham, NC (Digital cable) and this year, I’m able to get it on Adelphia Cable in Hobe Sound, Fl. I would assume that if digital cable is available in a given market, they may also offer the ESPN package. John
A: Hey thanks for the info. I think most fans have this TV thing down pat since the season is well underway, but it’s always nice to get this type of info.
Q: Where is a web site that I can listen to KU Basketball? Mary
A: Go to kuathletics.com and follow their instructions to get the package on Yahoo. Good luck.
Editor’s note: Gary seems oblivious to the fact that his very own website, KUSports.com, publicizes not only the link to KU’s webcast (subscription required), but also links to the webcasts provided by each opponent school (usually free). Additionally, KJHK webcasts all KU home games.
Q: Now that Michigan has forfeited those games from the “1990s” does KU get one more win or one less loss on its all-time record? How about the championship trophy from the Dec. 92 Hawaii tourney? Lander
A: Glad you asked. KU will not be credited an official victory or one less loss. I’ve been told the NCAA only recognizes what happens on the court. So Roy and KU get no extra victory there. As far as the trophy, that also stays in Michigan unless the Wolverines want to voluntarily ship it to KU.
Q: Gary, I know this isn’t your department, but I have a feeling you are the best source for the best answer (I’ve tried the KU ticket office and didn’t get anywhere). What is the best way to get tickets for KU road games – and why doesn’t KU make more of an effort to get KU fans in the same part of the arena at road games?
A: I’ve been told KU gets very few tickets to distribute for road games and most of those tickets go to players’ families, etc. So call the opposing school’s ticket office. KU just doesn’t get a lot of tickets. I have been told KU gets 100 tickets for Big 12 road games with 25 behind the bench and the rest wherever the other team wants to put the fans.
Q: I live on in California, and KU usually makes at least one appearance here (or in a nearby state) per year. I usually just order tickets from tickets.com. I get good seats, but notice that KU people always seem to be spread out all over the area, so it doesn’t seem like we have much of a presence, even though a lot of us are there. I’m sure it will be this way at the Pete Newell Challenge in Oakland. It seems like other schools, especially Kentucky, are able to get nearly all of their fans in the same area in the arenas for road games. Why can’t KU do that? It’s pretty impressive as a recruiting tool, also, to have such a presence at road games. By the way, I’m not a high roller/big donor to the school or bigshot alumni, but I can afford decent seats for my one or two chances to see KU each year. Thanks, Fred
A: Good question. I know in Oregon a lot of the KU fans were sitting together. And I know a few years ago in San Diego a lot of the KU fans were sitting together. Did you go to that game? Let me look into this some more for you. Email me personally and I’ll send you the answer as soon as I get it and I’ll also post it on the web in the next Ask Gary which probably will come out on the next holiday — New Year’s or V-tines day.
Gary,
In case someone did not send you the answer to the following question, here is a link which has all of the radio stations in the Jayhawk network. www.kuathletics.com/audio_video/radio.html Rock Chalk! Terry
That original question was: “Which Wichita radio station is broadcasting KU games this year?”
Terry, Thanks for the link.
Q: Hi I’m a big Jayhawk Fan overseas in Korea.
Since we don’t have ESPN I really don’t get to see any games.
So I was watching some of the video clips and I saw a guy wearing #25. Found out it was Michael Lee. Correct me if i’m wrong but didn’t we retire Danny Manning’s number? I thought we did that a couple years ago.
A: This question comes up quite a bit. KU retires jerseys not numbers. So the number 25 is still out there for Michael Lee to wear. Manning’s 25 jersey is up in the rafters.
Q: How healthy is Wayne? Should the KU fans be worried? Paul
A: Well, I think he’s as fine as you can be with tendinitis in an ankle.
Roy says it probably will bother Simien some all season.
Wayne says he’s OK and he can play with pain so we shall see.
I think like Kirk’s back it’ll be a nagging problem. Wayne is pretty tough, however, and figures to play. He says he was all dressed and ready to go in the one exhibition game he missed, Roy telling him to take off his jersey and put on his suit to sit it out for precautionary reasons.
As far as being worried, well I guess that’s your choice. He ain’t 100 percent, that’s for sure.
Q: I am a big fan of the starting five for KU but I am curious if you have thoughts on who should be coming off of the bench and when. I was thinking that Michael Lee and Bryant Nash have put in good minutes but that has not translated into more court time. I am sure Roy has his reasons. Thanks.
A: I’d say the way Mike Lee is playing, keep playing him. He’s looking mighty good on the backboards.
I think Jeff Graves has also proven he can grab rebounds. It’d be nice if both could score, but Roy mostly wants the bench to “help us by not hurting us.”
Maybe Roy should play Nash 40 minutes some night just to have him get rid of the jitters. That might work. He’d be so tired playing 40 minutes he’d forget about nervousness or whatever plagues him during games.
Nash is a good “standstill jump shooter” according to Roy and could conceivably hit some threes. He’s been known to light it up at practice but it’s more difficult with 16,300 in the yard.
Q: Would it be a good idea on next year’s late night to play a game according to Naismith’s original rules, using real peach baskets and a soccer ball? I think you’d see a few national cameras there. Lee
A: I’d say that’s a good idea, but the answer is no. It’d take too long to put the baskets back up after slam jams.
Q: With Boone going to doggie land, who’s next. Do you think Coach is going to use the last scholarship with another Blue Chip to make this perhaps his most impressive class or will he go for a role player?
A: I think Roy will save the fifth scholarship unless he comes across somebody he feels he must have. You never know who he might find out there on the recruiting trail while looking at juniors like Kalen Grimes, Darnell Jackson, Kevin Langford, Jason Horton, Stephen Hill, Marvin Williams, Daniel Gibson, Jason Horton, et. all.
Q: Did J.R. Giddens sign with K.U.? Fact never published. Al
A: Yep, Giddens signed. He waited until the day before the end of the signing period to sign at a school assembly, so we ran the fact in a “notes story” after a KU game.
I don’t know if it made our Website or not. You might have not checked the notes story or maybe it didn’t get online for some reason.
Giddens is 6-5 from Oklahoma City John Marshall High and known as a great athlete.
Editor’s note: Yes, everything the newspaper publishes goes on the KUSports.com website. Here is the direct link to the recruiting page: www.kusports.com/news/kurecruiting/.
Q: This should be a testament to Roy Williams as the nation’s best college basketball coach…If Hinrich and Collison are named 1st Team All-Americans, all three of Roy’s recruits for the 1999-2000 season will be 1st team All-Americans. Has this ever happened before in NCAA history? Remember, Collison was the only McDonald’s All-American of the three. What was this recruiting class ranked going into the 1999-2000 season? Thom.
A: I’ve been told by one reliable source this would be a first but somebody else told me Duke might have had gone 3-3 one year. I will continue to check it out.
This KU class was considered a Top Ten class by the analysts. After all, along with Nick, Kirk Hinrich played in some all-star games, as did Drew Gooden.
I actually covered the Dada Prep All Star Classic in which Hinrich and Gooden played. It was at Pauley Pavilion and both KU guys excelled.
At that game, the halftime guest performed so long, game officialls literally had to kick the guy off the court. He was a rap artist who wouldn’t stop rapping.
It was a 45 minute halftime show at least. I’ve never seen anything like it.
They needed one of those hooks that used to pull guys off the stage during old-time comedies in the 50s.
Q: Realizing that recruiting can’t be talked about by the staff, has the rumor mill indicated just how successful the football staff is being received?
A: It appears Mark Mangino and his staff are being well received particularly on the juco front. KU already has 11 football verbal commitments at this point in time, six jucos.
That info comes to you courtesy of the J-W’s David Mitchell and of course Jon Kirby the recruiting guru from rivals.com.
The problem KU has in football recruiting is a problem K-State has in basketball recruiting. KU football coaches have trouble (actually it’s an impossibility) recruiting top 50-100 players, the speedy athletes who pick Florida, Florida State, Miami, ND, etc.
KSU can’t sign the top 50 basketball players in the country – ones that consider KU, Duke, Carolina, Kentucky, etc.
The good news is there are tons of football players out there who are good enough to lead KU to a bowl. The key is to find and sign, them, even if they aren’t listed in the top 100.
Q: Where are the two new recruits that KU has signed for next year from in Oklahoma and what are their names? Harriett.
A: J.R. Giddens is 6-5 from Oklahoma City John Marshall, while Jeremy Case is 6-1 from McAlester, Okla. Case is a great shooter; Giddens a great dunker, slasher, who also can shoot from the outside. He was one of the top players at the recent KMOX Shootout in St. Looie, impressing everybody despite taking a shot to the shoulder, which bothered him.
Q: Gary, could you tell me what our current win streak in Manhattan is? Have we been beaten in Bramlage, or does it go back into Ahearn? Dietrich.
A: KU has won 24 in a row versus the Cats; 19 in a row in Manhattan. KU is undefeated in Bramlage. What are the odds we writers write about those streaks before the KU-KSU games this year?
Uh, 1-1. 100 percent. It will happen. You will hear about the streaks.
Q: Why is it that year after year, no matter how good a team we field, the national media never gather behind KU the way they do AZ, Duke or UK? Is it the lack of a recent National Championship? Toby.
A: I think the national press gives KU fair coverage.
But if you want a reason for what you perceive to be snobbery or snubbery, it could be KU’s location in the middle of the country. Teams on the coasts get more pub usually. I don’t think Kentucky gets any more pub than KU though.
Q: I don’t think there’s any doubt that we miss Drew, not only for his scoring and rebounding but nearly as much for his wildness and disorganized passion. Nick is a great player but does not seem willing or able to get “effectively excited.”
However, having said that, I think we miss Jeff Boschee even more. Aaron is giving us nothing and that is allowing the other team to gang up on our four guys who are trying to carry the load of five. Keith is replacing some of Drew’s points but last year we had those points and Keith and Wayne were coming in to add theirs to Boschee’s and Drew’s. My question is, is there something the matter with Miles or is he just going through a sophomore jinx? If he can’t get it together quickly somebody else needs to or we are going to be in deep trouble. Your thoughts please. Joseph.
A: I wouldn’t say KU is getting nothing from Miles. He hasn’t played well in KU’s losses, but he’ll be all right. Remember it’s still early. It’s not like Aaron is a stiff. His assist to error ratio last year was legendary.
I disagree with your comment about Nick.
I don’t know what you mean by “effectively excited.” Drew showed a lot of emotion on the court, but so did Nick last year. And he will this year when KU wins some big games.
I think the loss of Boschee is huge like you said. KU simply must hit some threes, especially in answer to those teams that hit eight or more versus KU. You need some outside firepower in big games, firepower that Boschee provided.
Q: How can I see the spread on my hawks, so I know what the national view is on our chances? And what sites do you recommend outside of KUSports to read about the Hawks. Seattle grad adam
A: Well, we run the latest line odds in our paper every day, and is updated on our webiste. Check the daily paper in your town. Most do run the point spreads.
I hate to list all the websites that cover KU lest I forget one but there’s kusports.com which is No. 1. There’s kuathletics.com and kansas.rivals.com which is Jayhawk Slant, plus phog.net and rockchalk.com. There are other newspapers that cover KU you can read off ESPN Insider.
I answered this in better detail in a past Ask Gary which should be in the archives. Good luck following the Hawks.
Q: My favorite player in the NBA is Paul Pierce. In college who was better Paul Pierce or Drew Gooden? And was Paul one of the best players KU has ever had? And did Coach Williams like him a lot?
A: Well, it’s hard to pick between Paul and Drew. They both were incredible at KU. If you go by total points, Paul is fifth in KU history in total points, while and Drew is 12th . Drew grabbed more boards. If I had to pick, I guess I’d pick Pierce in a photo finish.
And yes, Roy liked both Paul and Drew a lot, a real lot.
Q: Why doesn’t Coach Williams introduce #11 to #4 and tell #11 to throw the ball to #4 because they are both on the same team, I am a diehard KU B-ball fan since 1941-42 Charlie Black, Ray Evans, Otto Schnellbacker.
A: Obviously you sent this question in an irritated state after one of KU’s losses. I think No. 4 knows No. 11 and vice versa. No introductions are needed.
Q: During the pre-season NIT, Dick Vitale stated that Kansas had one of the top three recruiting classes coming in next year. Would you elaborate on that class coming in. Thanks, Bill from Clarks Summit, PA
A: KU has outside shooting coming iin Omar Wilkes, 6-4 from Los Angeles and Jeremy Case, 6-1 of McAlester, Okla. KU has a quick athlete in JR Giddens, 6-5, from Okie City and a tall power forward in David Padgett, 6-11 from Reno, Nev.
All these guys can play some ball.
Q: We are coming from Houston, Tx to the Jan 2 BB games. I was wanted to know if we are going to be able to meet some of the players. My son is a Big KU fan. Nick.
A: Well, I’d suggest waiting in front of the KU locker room in the roped off area in the northwest corner of the fieldhouse. The Jayhawks usually sign autographs for 15 minutes or so after the game. That’d probably be your only hope of meeting a player or getting an autograph unless you see ’em walking around campus or downtown.
Q: I dont have a question but a statement. I was just reading the article about coach williams getting all of the hate mail because of the 3-3 start. Don’t these people realize what he has done for the KU program? These idiots will not realize what a great coach he is until he leaves then they will be the first ones wanting him back. All the man does is win 20 games or more a year. How many schools do you see doing that every year? Not many. I am not sure if you speak to Coach Williams Gary but if you do please tell him that these idiots dont speak for all of the KU fans. Especially this die hard hawks fan in Buffalo NY.
A: Nice comments. I’d agree folks are mighty spoiled around here. Roy really hasn’t had a bad year at KU, yet.
Q: I don’t have a question, but I do have a comment. I am sorry that Coach Williams is being fragged with bad mail by his own alleged fans. I certainly don’t blame him for not wanting to read any more mail. He needs to know that we don’t all feel “livid” over the team’s record. I’m still proud to be a Jayhawk. I think he is a coach with character who can see beyond just the W’s and L’s. He does right by his team, and he should keep doing so and ignore all the pinheads who are writing him! Laura.
A: I agree. If a letter is unsigned, throw it away. That’s what I do when I get unsigned hate mail. I mean if it’s unsigned it means nothing to me. If it’s signed, that’s a different story.
Q: My main question is this: Are KU fans suddenly so whiney and impatient that they can’t stand for their team to lose some early games against tough opponents? We lost an NBA lottery pick (Drew Gooden) and a fabulous 3-point shooter and underrated defensive player (Jeff Boschee). Fans shouldn’t be shocked that this team is having to search for its own winning formula. I hope we have not descended to the same level as spoiled-rotten Texas football fans. I hate to point fingers at a sports writer (I have a journalism degree from KU), but I think the sarcastic, know-it-all comments from Chuck Woodling are a big negative. Chuck’s cliche-ridden columns remind me of junk I could have read back in the 1960s or before. Fact: We miss Boschee’s 3-point shooting. Fact: Keith Langford isn’t hogging the ball – he’s just trying to make something happen, because other options have been stymied. Fact: Wayne Simien and Kirk Hinrich aren’t at full speed, and we haven’t been able to overcome that against a good opponent. Fact: Aaron Miles is a good point guard and will be just fine, if we don’t wear him down with petty, pointless criticism. Fact: Nick Collison misses Drew Gooden, but he will figure it out. Closing question: Does Chuck Woodling still truly believe that the loss of Gooden isn’t that big a deal? Unlike the gutless critics who wrote to Roy Williams anonymously, I will sign what I write. Steve, loyal KU fan in Austin, Texas.
A: Great letter, Steve. You make some tremendous tremendous comments. I don’t think Chuck’s columns have been bad though. That one after the Oregon game was really good I thought. The one about lack of a bench pretty much tried to explain why KU’s bench is thin because of losses in recruiting.
Thanks for the note. Good comments.
Q: Gary what do you think about the devastation of KU’s program reported on the Internet when KU was in New York. What was that all about?
A: That was all bogus.
I first heard about that in New York and it actually was responsible for ruining my first night in the Big Apple because there was no news to track down, yet I wasted three hours looking into it.
Apparently somebody started a rumor somewhere on the Internet that KU’s program would be devastated in within 48 hours. A radio station picked up the rumor and reported it, too.
Normally sane Jayhawk fans basically freaked out, jamming the Internet message boards and phoning news outlets for info.
One radio reporter called David Padgett’s dad and shocked the family by asking if all was well witih son David. Pete Padgett told reliable Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com to put out word that nothing was wrong in Reno.
It was all stupid and silly.
This kind of stuff happens when people can call talk shows and post stuff on the Internet in anonymity. Someday maybe Internet sites will make all their posters post their real names and addresses.
Newspapers won’t run unsigned letters to the editor. Internet message boards and talk shows should require full disclosure, also. And yes I realize the J-W also has a message board that allows monikers and doesn’t require real names with posts.
I’m surprised fans of other schools don’t plant rumors weekly and watch the Jayhawk fans panic. Cause lots of fans do panic when unsubstantiated rumors come to light.
I’m not superstitious but that “devastation rumor” might have been a self fulfilling prophecy. Kirk went down and hurt his back and 48 hours after the rumor started there was some devastation in KU’s program – Kirk indeed was hurt.
Pardon my rant.
Q: Can you update us on the status of construction on the new strength and conditioning center? Also, can you give us some backround on the workout schedule for the football and basketball teams? I’ve heard Roy doesn’t allow his players to lift weights during the season but I would think they work on things to improve their vertical and quickness. Not looking for a total breakdown of their workout but some basics on when Coach Mangino’s and Coach Williams players hit the weights. JB jmcnaughton
A: Actually the Jayhawk men do lift before practice during the season. The new strength center is right on schedule and I’m told should be ready in May. On Monday, the guys lifted a half hour and practiced two hours.
Q: Wrote earlier about this, if you answered already, I don’t know where to look for it…do you send to my email? The last time KU played CMSU there was a jewelry theft in locker room-do you have story?
A: Actually you are right. There was a robbery back in 1991 or 1993 or so when KU played CMSU at Allen Fieldhouse, but I do not have the story available to copy and paste for you.
Somebody snuck into the visitor’s locker room and stole CMSU’s players’ valuables. It was quite the heist. Everybody was amazed it could happen at Allen.
The guy responsible was caught later and I believe the robber died not too long after in an unrelated incident. I am pretty sure it was pretty much masterminded by one guy.
The incident led to teams putting their valuables in a locked bag or briefcase taken out to the bench area during games.
Some of those CMSU guys lost a lot of loot and jewelry.
Q: I was a KU student 67-71. I was also one of very few student trainers to do road trips with Ted Owens Basketball Teams. Deaner recommended me as a freshman trainer. Where is Ted Owens now? thanks!
A: Ted lives in Tulsa now and is in the financial field. I quoted him back in October when he returned for a dinner honoring Roy in KC.
Q: I would like to know which sport between basketball and football brings in the most revenue to KU.
A: I’ve been told football brings in a bit more. I think basketball makes about $5 mill though. Too bad the players get none of the loot.
Thanks for your questions. Hey do me a favor and send me an email answering these questions.
a.) How long does it take you to read an edition of Ask Gary? Be precise in minutes and seconds.
b.) What will KU’s final record be?
c.) Will KU win the Big 12?
d.) Will KU reach the Final Four?
e.) Do you follow recruiting?
f.) Do you believe all rumors surrounding KU hoops?
g.) Do you wish all of mankind a Merry Christmas as I do?
Goodbye and happy holidays.
