Olympic champion Maurice Greene answered questions from KUsports.com readers Friday, just a day before he took part in the 2005 Kansas Relays.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with Maurice Greene in just a few moments. Thanks to Maurice and our readers for their time today.
Toby, Independence: Good luck in the 100M dash. I’m glad you decided to run it! Despite your placing in the 100M in the 2004 Olympics, do you still consider yourself the G.O.A.T.?
Maurice Greene: Yes I do! Until someone else comes along and accomplishes what I have, I will claim that title.
Shawn, Goodland: What has been the highlight of your track career?
Maurice Greene: The 2000 Olympics in Sydney. It was my first Olympic Games which is something I had dreamed about for a very long time. It was very exciting.
Zach, Wellsville: Maurice, I have a lot of respect for you as a runner, and I was wanting to ask, did you have to work really hard as a kid to become so quick, or did your speed just come naturally? Keep it up.
Maurice Greene: Even though I had a lot of success when I was younger, I had to work very hard. My coaches were always there to push me.
Zack, Omaha: Maurice, watching you run is one of my favorite things in sports. Does finishing second in the 4X100 relay in Athens provide any extra incentive for the 2008 games?
Maurice Greene: Well, not finishing how I would like always pushes me. It helps me build towards the next compeition.
Vin, Kansas City: Maurice, congratulations on representing Kansas City in such a fine way over the years. It seems to be becoming more and more acceptable for track and field athletes to skip college and go straight to professional competition. In retrospect, do you feel that not competing collegiately hindered you in any way? And how do you see the decisions of young stars like Alyson Felix and LaShawn Merritt to skip most (or all) of college affecting the sport in the future?
Maurice Greene: Competition is different for everyone. My decision was the right one for me. You can never tell what is going to work. Allyson is having much success with her career at this time, and we will have to see what LaShawn does.
Randy, Lawrence: Maurice, how do the KU Relays compare to other track and field events in which you’ve participated throughout the USA and other countries? Thanks for being a part of the KU Relays! I look forward to watching you run this week!
Maurice Greene: The Kansas Relays is my home. Every meet is different, especially meets in other countries. Overseas, track is more widely known and the stadiums are full of energy.
Colin Greaser, Troy,: How does it feel to be an Olympic champion?
Maurice Greene: It feels great. I will always have a mark in the history books now. That is something no one can ever take away from me.
Moderator: That will end our chat with Maurice Greene. Thanks again to him and our readers for their time just a one day before competiting at the 2005 Kansas Relays.
Moderator: Our chat with Gary and Tom will begin shortly. Thanks to both writers and our readers for their time on such a busy day.
Grant, Wilmington DE): Which do you think is the most difficult match-up for each team?
Tom Housenick: There’s no doubt that they don’t have an answer for Wayne Simien. They don’t have a physical presence with the athletic ability and skill who can handle him one-on-one.
Gary Bedore: Probably the fact that Bucknell has a 6-foot-9 and 6-11 player so KU will have to make sure to avoid foul trouble with its big guys.
Brian, Haysville: I’ve read that Bucknell played against high level opponents on the road (Iowa State, St. Joseph’s’s, Pittsburgh, and Villanova) winning at Pittsburgh and St. Joseph’s. I also read that they would not be feel intimidated by having to play against the Jayhawks. My question is this: Has Bucknell played in a facility like the one on Oklahoma City and if that could be a factor for them on offense??
Tom Housenick: There’s no question that there’s going to be some intimidation, simply because this isn’t a nonconference game in November. This is win or be done. It will be like a home game for Kansas and I think that definitely will be a factor, especially if Kansas gets out to a fast start.
Travis, Raymond: Will Keith Langford play? I know that’s the BIG question! I hope so. GO KU!!!!
Gary Bedore: I haven’t seen him today because I’m at the arena, and the Jayhawks aren’t meeting with the media until after game time. I expect that unless he had a bad night with the stomach flu last night, he should be able to go because he’s adamant about playing.
Beau, Warrensburg, Mo.: Gary, thanks for all of your hard work this year covering the Jayhawks. The time and effort you put in your job does not go unnoticed. What do you feel was the biggest Kansas storyline this season?
Gary Bedore: Probably the stunning three-game losing streak that caught everybody off-guard, and the fact that they dropped five of their last eight games. Four of those losses came with guys out with injuries, but it was still a confusing part of the season.
Steven, Amarillo: Mr. Housenick, just wanted to see what your thoughts were on Bucknell and its mindset and how the team is reacting to the tournament atmosphere?
Tom Housenick: After speaking to their captains and their coach yesterday, they don’t seem any different than they were last week for the Patriot League tournament. This is a loose group. They have a lot of self-confidence and I think that will help carry them. I think it will help offset the fact that they’re the last game of the first round and have had to sit around all day and night today.
Mike, Troy, MI: Does Bucknell play much zone defense?
Tom Housenick: They’re primarily a man-to-man team, but have shown a lot of match-up zone, especially late in the season. I think you’ll see a heck of a lot more of it tonight than the regular season, especially given the match-up problems KU poses.
John, Austin, TX: It seems KU is beat at the line by number of attempts on a regular basis. Any thoughts as to why we don’t do more driving to get our guys to the line more often?
Gary Bedore: One of the starters, Giddens, doesn’t really drive that much, so he doesn’t ever get to the foul line. And Aaron doesn’t take it to the hole that much. So that leaves Wayne, who does get fouled a lot. The freshmen big men aren’t very smooth yet. That leaves Keith, who does blast to the hole, but his free-throw form has been off this year.
You’re right. It’s not a strength of the team, going to the hole.
Jeff, Lawrence: What’s mood back in Pennsylvania about Bucknell’s trip to the tournament?
Tom Housenick: It’s primarily a high school area, so there’s not the overwhelming town and area support you might expect for the smaller schools. However, Bucknell and the city of Lewisburg have shown great support. What has not helped the Bucknell community is that they are on spring break this week, so there has not been a lot of hoopla on campus this week.
Jacob, Meriden: Are KU’s hopes for a national title realistic this year? I mean, we have the team, the players, the coaches. But I don’t think there has been a week where they have played in national champion form. What do you think?
Gary Bedore: Yeah, it’s still realistic. The seniors appear to really want it, which is a great sign. However, as you know, this regional is very very tough and KU is only going to win it all by playing their best ball of the year. But, if Keith is OK, the goals should be the same as on October 15th – winning it all.
Jay, Liberty, MO: Who is the most famous alum from Bucknell?
Tom Housenick: For those who are older than 17, it’s probably Christy Mathewson, the great baseball pitcher. The football stadium at Bucknell is named after him. For those who are younger, it’s probably Jay Wright, who is the coach at Villanova. He was a teammate of Pat Flannery for a year.
KB, Prairie Village: Gary, I’m wondering how the freshman have practiced this week with the spot light and added excitement and pressure of the big dance?
Gary Bedore: They seem to be pretty loose. Galindo and C.J. Giles insist they want to send the seniors out on a strong note. But from the one practice we were allowed to see, the freshmen appear to be doing fine.
Pat, Lawrence: How is the Bucknell’s overall health going into tonight’s game?
Tom Housenick: John Clark, who’s from Tulsa, has a severe foot injury and they’re not sure if he’s going to be able to play again. His career is in question. Basically, one bone is broken into two at the base of his foot and as the season’s gone on the wear and tear have made him a non-factor. He’s the only one, in terms of health, who’s affected at this point. Doctors have told him that if he has the surgery to fix it, he’ll never play basketball again.
Chris, Lawrence: Gary, you are such a fantastic writer and valuable asset to your newspaper, as well as to KU fans everywhere. Thank you for your dedication to covering the Jayhawks. As an expert who has covered KU for almost two decades, what is your honest assessment of how far this team can go? Also, what will it take for KU to beat UCONN if they end up meeting in the Sweet 16?
Gary Bedore: Well, I honestly think they will go to the Final Four, because of the seniors, most notably Simien, who seems to want to carry the team on his back like Manning did in ’88.
Don’t forget that UCONN and Carolina could get upset before meeting KU. But, if they play UCONN, KU faces a major challenge on the boards.
Overall, I’d say the odds are good of making the Final Four at least.
Gary Bedore: Thanks for participating and make sure to watch the game tonight.
Moderator: That will end our chat with Gary Bedore and Tom Housenick. Thanks again to both of them and our readers for their time just a few hours before the game.
Kansas University men’s basketball coach Bill Self answered questions from KUsports.com readers for 20 minutes Tuesday morning. Self discussed Russell Robinson, J.R. Giddens and KU’s big-man rotation, among other topics.
Moderator: Our chat with coach Self will begin in just a few moments. We’d like to thank coach and our readers for their time this morning.
Matt – Bethlehem, PA: Coach Self, Have you ever played or coached at Rupp Arena before?
Coach Self: My first year at Tulsa we went there and played Kentucky the year they won the national championship. I think they ended up winning by 20, but we were actually ahead at halftime. It’s one of the great venues in college basketball.
NE Jayhawk: Is a deep bench a problem or a blessing?
Coach Self: You’d always rather have too much than not enough. I think a deep bench is a blessing because you never know what could happen with injuries or foul problems. Though you may not play everybody, you certainly want capable guys who can come off the bench.
Mel W Lawrence: I was proud of the team for not giving up during the hard struggle with Georgia Tech. Were you at all surprised at their determination?
Coach Self: No, I wasn’t surprised. I knew that we would play hard to the end. The thing that was most pleasing to me was that when things weren’t going well it could have been worse if we hadn’t played hard. These guys did that because they rebounded. For us to outrebound them without Wayne and guard them the way we did was pretty special. I knew we had the heart, but we hadn’t guarded that well for 45 minutes rather than just in spurts.
Ira – Topeka: With his apparent athletic ability why doesn’t Giddens drive to the hoop more often? Is it the system or his style to shoot the 3 rather than drive the lane?
Coach Self: It’s certainly not the system. That’s something we work on each and every day – working on his handles to drive it. He’s getting better at it. He made some nice moves against Georgia Tech, but that’s certainly not the system. It’s something he needs to get better at, but that’s not his game right now. He’s gotten much better at it but he still has a ways to go.
Neiha: What did you see in Moody that others haven’t? I feel he is doing a great job for KU
Coach Self: I don’t know if I’ve seen anything in him that others haven’t. I know our staff has a lot of confidence and trust in him, but the big thing about Christian is that he’s a good player. You take away his walk-on tag and no one would think twice about him starting at Kansas. He’s just a good player. I believe in him and trust him, and I think this team would have no shot at being undefeated if he weren’t a part of it. In Canada, I’d say he was our fourth or fifth best big guy, but once we got into more practices and more structured, I think he’s definitely elevated his game and he certainly deserves everything he’s getting.
Jon – Atlanta: Great job with the crew this year. How hard to you consider the task of keeping the team focused on the immediate future in light of some of the big games later (e.g. tomorrow vs. Sunday)? Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Coach Self: I think that our players should be, and I know we’re promoting it this way – this is the start of our second season. We have goals in conference, and we’re playing a team that’s undefeated. From our perspective, we have to take them one at a time. And this is a bigger game than nonconference games because it affects our goals more. In all honesty, we hope the Georgia Tech and Kentucky games prepare us for the conference and that’s what we’ve been selling to the players all along.
Greg – Lenexa: As a coach of 4th grade boys what are the most important things we can be teaching the kids?
Coach Self: I’ve never coached fourth grade before, but I have a son who’s been there and the things I always try to stress to him are the basic fundamentals – how to shoot and pass the ball. I think the biggest problem kids don’t understand is spacing. Keeping floor spacing would put kids way ahead of the game at an early age.
Kristin – Mission: Being the start of a new year, I’m thinking about resolutions. At the beginning of basketball season, do you write down any specific goals for the players (besides winning the championship)?
Coach Self: We’ve talked about a lot of things – being undefeated at home, outrebounding our opponents, where our turnovers should be, and a lot of things. I’ve done that just about every year with our guys, and we’ve done it as a group. Sometimes those work out, and sometimes they don’t. You just have to adjust on the fly, but we have individual and team goals, no doubt about that. We’ve had speakers come in and talk to our team about personal goals and stuff like that. My goal, and I think the players’ goal, is just to be as good as we possibly can be and then everything else just takes care of itself.
Kevin – Wichita: What is going on with Micah Downs? Is he going straight to the NBA and if so, is there any plans for a replacement?
Coach Self: Micah and his family made a statement that he planned on going to the league, which caught us way off guard because we didn’t think he was in a position to make that decision yet, and to be honest he’s not – and his parents know that. He’s certainly been told from some people that he has NBA-type potential, and we agree wholeheartedly – but he’s still a ways away and needs a great senior year to seriously consider leaving from high school. I guess that’s always a possibility, but I don’t think that’s something we need to seriously worry about. If he comes to Kansas we’ll all be happy, but if he doesn’t then hopefully they’ve made an informed decision that he can afford to skip college. I don’t think they intended their statement the way it came out.
Mel – Liberal: Congratulations on a great win against Georgia Tech, Coach! Do you see any of the freshman big guys making significant progress toward filling Wayne Simien’s spot until he returns, or will it be more by committee?
Coach Self: It’ll be more by committee. We’re going to start C.J., but I think they all did well. I think Sasha did more good things than he’s done, and I think there were some good things that happened. Alex obviously did some good things, but I think it’s going to be by committee. Even when Wayne comes back I think it might be by committee with the other slot, but those big guys are doing fine.
Paul – Overland Park: Do you see Robinson eventually maturing into an Aaron Miles?
Coach Self: I think Russell’s going to be a terrific player. I don’t see him being the same type player as Aaron. I hope Russell can mature to play off the ball because he’s a combo guard who can play the 1 or the 2. And Mario’s very similar, so those two will play very well together. I see Russell as being one of the very good guards to play here.
Thomas – Denver: Would you prefer to schedule more non-conference road games in the future than we have this season?
Coach Self: What I think a perfect schedule for KU would be, depending on NCAA rules, would be to play two big nonconference games like we are this year, and then an exempt tournament. That’s what the majority of other teams from power conferences are trying to do, and I think that’s a pretty good schedule as long as it’s quality competition.
Moderator: That does it for our chat. Thanks again to coach Self and our readers for their time this morning, and good luck to the Jayhawks tomorrow against Texas A&M.
Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino chatted with KUsports.com readers for about 15 minutes Friday, answering questions about who will replace Gabe Toomey, the KU-OU game in Arrowhead Stadium and the Jayhawks’ depth, among other topics.
Moderator: Our chat with coach Mangino will start in just a few minutes. Thanks to coach and our readers for their time today.
Riley, Baldwin: Do you think Charles Gordon could become a shut-down corner on Sundays?
Coach Mangino: I think Charles Gordon has unlimited potential; however, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves talking about what he’ll be able to do on Sundays. I think Charles is more focused on what he can do to help KU football more than anything at this point.
Dave, Overland Park: What is your focus for the 2005 season and beyond?
Coach Mangino: Obviously we have great expectations for ourselves for 2005. However, there is much work to be done before we get to next season. Next year’s success will greatly depend upon the work that we do in the offseason.
Roger, Lawrence: Is there a possibility that Todd Haselhorst will be moved to offensive line next season, or is he firmly in place at defensive tackle?
Coach Mangino: Todd is coming off a good freshman season as a defensive tackle. As it stands right now, it is our intent to go into spring ball with Todd on the defensive line. However, we will continue to study all our personnel and make any moves necessary that will strengthen our football team. But, Todd right now is at defensive tackle and has proven to be very versatile.
Thad, Washington: What are your feelings on the Oklahoma game being played in Kansas City?
Coach Mangino: Our players are looking forward to playing the Sooners at Arrowhead Stadium. We believe KU fans will pack Arrowhead. It also may be a match-up where we are playing the defending national champions, which would really make it exciting for our team. We are confident that our fans will turn out in big numbers for this game.
Larry, Wichita: With the large number of QBs, any chance some will be shifted to other positions? Perhaps wide receiver?
Coach Mangino: It is too early to tell whether we will make any personnel changes on our team. Our coaching staff has been busy recruiting for the last month and are not really focused on personnel changes at this time. Those issues won’t come to the table until at least February and in some cases into spring ball.
Wacky, Overland Park: Will Rivera be an inside backer with the absence of Toomey in the middle?
Coach Mangino: Mike Rivera plays prominently in our linebacking corps for next season. He is a very talented young man, with great football instincts, and he certainly will help our linebackers in a big way.
Tim, Shawnee: Has there been any update on the chance John McCoy could be back for this coming season?
Coach Mangino: We have no idea when John’s tour of duty will be completed. When John finishes his tour and gets back stateside, he and I will talk about his future as a player. If he is up to competing, he certainly will play, I know that. If he is not up to it, we will pay for the rest of his education.
Chris, Hays: Hey Coach, I was wondering how the depth of your team is evolving. I was hoping you could elaborate on what percentage of depth the team has at the level you expect, and how much deeper you hope to develop the team in coming years through recruiting to establish your program among the top notch elite.
Coach Mangino: We are starting to get some depth at a few positions on the field, but we still are not a solid two-deep at every position. If some of the players in this recruiting class live up to expectations, that will help us in a lot of ways. But we’re still a couple years from being a solid two deep at every position on the field. Therefore, we have some players we refer to as “swing players” who can play more than one position to create depth for us.
John, Hays: What is your preference, a run-pass quarterback like Bill Whittimore, or more pass-oriented like the last few OU quarterbacks?
Coach Mangino: Our system and our program at this point and time prefers a quarterback who throws well but has great mobility. We don’t have the luxury at being two-deep at every offensive position and we are still developing our offensive line, which we think will be very good this season, but we still need a quarterback with very good mobility to keep the quarterback off balance.
Coach Mangino: In closing, I’d like to wish all of our loyal KU football fans a happy and safe holiday season. Thanks for your support.
Moderator: That wraps up our chat with coach Mangino. Thanks again to coach and our readers for their time today. Our next chat will be with men’s basketball coach Bill Self at 10 a.m. Jan. 4.
Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino took time from his busy schedule to answer questions from kusports.com readers Friday. Coach Mangino discussed Kevin Kane, Jason Swanson and the team’s progress, among many other topics during his 10-minute chat.
Moderator: Our chat with coach Mangino will begin in just a few minutes. Thanks to coach and our readers for their time this morning.
Moderator: Coach Mangino will be ready in about five minutes. Thank you for your patience.
Michael, Overland Park: Coach, I am sure that you are already getting tired of answering questions about the “quarterback controversy”, but could you describe the progression that Swanson has made in practice over the last several weeks in order to put himself into position for playing time and a possible start.
Coach Mangino: He is progressing very well. I’m very comfortable with Jason. He as a good grasp of our offense and is getting better every day.
Tony Budetti, Overland Park: Coach, great game Saturday! You have obviously closed the gap with the other teams in the Big 12 North. What can the alumni do to help you take this program to another level?
Coach Mangino: The fans and alumni have been great and just need to keep cheering loud, supporting the players and showing up to games.
Bob, Denver: Coach, like all alums, I’ve been so pleased with the improvement of the team. It seems to me, as an outsider, that the biggest problem I see to overcome is penalties-especially false starts and offsides. Am I imagining the problem, and, if not, what steps can the staff take to help the team overcome this tendency?
Coach Mangino: We’re working hard to get that corrected. We just have to work hard and coach them to not commit penalties and bring them to their attention on the practice field so they don’t commit these infractions on the game field.
Jim, Liberal: Coach, congratulations on last Saturday’s win. Do you consider the program ahead of schedule in terms of where you thought you would be in year 3 of your tenure?
Coach Mangino: I feel like we’re right on track and we’re making the kind of progress I had hoped for. We strive to get better every day on the practice field and the game field, and I feel we are. We just need to continue improving at this pace.
Catherine, Manhattan: What has been the single most important ingredient to your success in improving the team?
Coach Mangino: There really have been many reasons, probably too numerous to put a finger on. Our team has a really good work ethic and care about their performance and the performance of the team. It’s really been the attitude of the kids that has made us successful more than anything to this point.
Mike, Lawrence: Coach, what is the main thing that has made the defense so much better this year, and how big of a part is Kevin Kane playing in that improvement?
Coach Mangino: Kevin is playing a large role in our success on defense. He has been very reliable and made a lot of plays for us. He’s a very smart player who knows how to get to the ball. He’s played a very large role in our success on defense.
Drew, Overland Park: Coach, great job so far. My question regards our offense on first down. It just seems that we have not had much success running the shotgun on first down. I was wondering if you had been considering operating in the I-formation w/ a fullback more. Thanks and good luck at OU.
Coach Mangino: The shotgun on first down has been good to us over the years. We’re always looking for ways to get better on first-and-10 so we don’t get into long third-down situations, but actually the shotgun has been a good play for us on first down over the years.
Pat Haley, Topeka: How is recruiting going for next year? I know you can’t provide specifics, but in general, are you seeing benefits from last season and this season?
Coach Mangino: I think recruiting is going well. There are a lot of doors open for us, a lot of prospects being receptive throughout the region and country. We just need to do a good job of getting on the right kids and recruiting the right players.
Matt, Lawrence: Congrats on the KSU win, coach! It’s amazing to me how the morale of our team stays constant and focused after disappointing losses (NU, TT). How have you accomplished that?
Coach Mangino: We just try to stay on track and learn from and build on those experiences so that it makes us better and stronger. We just stay in our system and keep working, and we’re firm believers that good things will happen.
Elwin Plank Andover: First of all, congratulations on beating K-State!!!!! Before the game you had some concern about how the offensive line had played recently. How do you feel that group of men played on Saturday against the Wildcats?
Coach Mangino: I think those young men are improving every week and working hard to get better. I’m really proud of their effort and how they’re handling themselves. Each week they’re getting better and better.
Lou, Kansas City: Great win last weekend, Coach. I loved the split backfield with Green and Randle. Can we plan on seeing more of that? Thanks and good luck!
Coach Mangino: From time to time you’ll see it. It’s part of our package. We don’t use it exclusively, but it is something we like to do – putting Clark and Jon in the backfield at the same time.
Spencer, Concordia: Coach, what’s the best thing about being associated with KU?
Coach Mangino: It’s a great university and it stands for academic excellence, and it’s provided an opportunity for all of us to build a great football program. It’s a great university to be affiliated with.
Moderator: That does it for our chat with coach Mangino. Thanks again to him for taking some time out of his busy schedule, and to our readers for their time this morning.
Just a week before Late Night in the Phog, Kansas University men’s basketball coach Bill Self chatted with kusports.com readers. Coach Self discussed possible redshirts, recruiting foreign players and his ideal rotation, among other topics.
Moderator: Our chat with coach Self will begin in just a few minutes. Thanks to coach and our readers for their time this morning.
Dirk – Lawrence: Coach, do you think your young big men are going to be good enough to take some of the pressure off Wayne that the other teams are going to put on him?
Coach Self: I do believe our three freshmen are going to be good enough to play next to Wayne and relieve some pressure, but regardless of who we have in there, defenses will be set up to stop Wayne first. What they need to do is be good rebounders, take pressure off him by defending the other team’s best player, and other things like that to help Wayne, and I think we’ll be just as good last year as our two big men – Wayne and David – were collectively.
Scott – KU Student: Coach, with all the returning talent and the freshman that we have coming in this season how are you going to keep everyone happy with playing time?
Coach Self: I think everybody’s happy, I really do. I think our freshmen are really talented guys. They know they’re all going to play. There will be situations where foul problems present themselves, and I think they know that. It seems to me that guys are fighting for that fifth perimeter spot if everyone is healthy, and some minutes at the sixth perimeter position. I think everyone knows we have some talented guys returning. I don’t see playing time being as much of an issue as on some other teams I’ve had.
Randy – Kearney, Nebraska: Coach Self, which is more of a challenge – teaching an offense or teaching a defense?
Coach Self: I personally think coaching offense. It usually takes time, timing and really understanding how to play out of it, knowing where your shots come from and understanding your teammates. I’ve always said recruit guys who can score and we’ll teach them how to guard, as opposed to great defensive players who we have to teach to score. But great teams have to do both very, very well.
Dylan – Kansas City: Awesome job recruiting coach! Will you please share some of the keys to your recruiting success?
Coach Self: Recruiting certainly is an inexact science, and so much of it is timing – is luck – but the biggest part of it when you’re at the University of Kansas is product. And we’re selling a fabulous product that people are interested in. And when you start looking at recruits needs and wants, can we fulfill some of those expectations. So much of it after that, comes to relationships, and do individuals have a comfort level with your staff, your players and your environment. Recruiting is never easy at any location, but it sure is nice having Kansas across your chest when you walk into their home.
David – Lawrence: Do you see Christian Moody as being an important contributor to the team this year?
Coach Self: I think Christian has to be an important contributor. We as a staff really feel Christian can be an excellent player. I see him being a guy who could fight for a starting spot, but I also see him likely as a guy who can replace Wayne and play next to Wayne at various times of the game. He can defend a perimeter 4 and a low-post 5, and I think his versatility can really help us.
George – Kansas City, KS: During recruiting, fans hear a lot of reasons of why guys chose a school over another – many times the facilities. How does Allen Field House effect your recruiting? Would you like to see any changes to AFH?
Coach Self: I’d like to see a lot of changes to the Fieldhouse, but not structurally. I just want the renovations to occur that are going to occur. The Hall of Fame will be a nice addition, and the changes to the concourse will be nice to the eye. Keeping the same look of the windows, but replacing the windows. Just making an old building look new. I also think we need a new scoreboard, which I think will occur. The key changes to Allen Fieldhouse, which is one of the great places to play or watch a game, are ones that are going to happen. But with the ongoing facilities war that’s happening across the nation, we don’t need to be left behind. And if we don’t do some things to Allen and our facilities, people who walk in during the summer when it’s empty may go somewhere else and think “Wow, this is great.” We need to make Allen a little more visual when recruits are visiting.
Jim – Overland Park, KS: How will you get your players to ignore the hype and just play ball.
Coach Self: I think our players understand that there are 15 schools out there getting a lot of hype right now. I also think that having four veterans will certainly do wonders in keeping guys grounded. These guys have been around hype and played in so many important games, I think they’ll be more grounded than individuals who are in this situation for the first time. As coaches it’s our job to make sure they can’t be caught up in anything that doesn’t have to do with winning games and that is the hype that surrounds college basketball season.
Steve – Overland Park: How do you plan to use Russell Robinson this season?
Coach Self: At least on paper, he has a great chance to be our back-up point guard and a guard who’s going to be on the court with Aaron sometimes. He’s probably the one freshman who’s performed best to date. I see him being a guy who impacts each and every game we play.
Mel Williams – Kansas City, Mo.: Will this years team be more physical than the squad you had last year? And will they push the ball on offense?
Coach Self: Of course we’ll push it on offense. We have more depth, and I think we can score a little quicker. Sure, I think we’ll play fast offensively. Last year we didn’t play slow, we just didn’t play as fast as the past two years. I hope this team is more physical. Last year our numbers defensively were great and I think we were a decent rebounding team, but I think this team has the potential to be more aggressive and play more physical and carry ourselves with more of a presence.
Dylan – Kansas City: In a perfect scheme (no foul trouble or injuries) how many players do you prefer to play in a game? How does that plan effect the players outside that rotation or how many redshirt players do you envision this year?
Coach Self: I believe that we have two strong possibilities in redshirting – Jeremy Case and Matt Kleinmann. I have talked to others about it, but they wanted to wait and see how things turned out. I don’t know, especially if Aaron or Russell were either to go down or have foul trouble. I think the perfect number is nine, with a five-man perimeter rotation and a four-man post rotation, but there will probably be some games we go with 10. The guys who aren’t part of that rotation know they have to play well to get in there. I think the competition will be stiff, and I like where we are. The players know it’s their job to crack that top nine.
Glenn – Lenexa, KS: You only have one scholarship for next year. What can you do if two super players want to commit? Thank you
Coach Self: On paper, we have one scholarship to give, so we’re going to take, hopefully, one more. There’s no guarantee we’ll get anyone. But certainly we are going to try to sign one more this fall and then continue to recruit guys in case anything unexpected happens like last fall. I hope nothing like that happens, but the percentage play is that something will because of how college athletics are these days. I think you always recruit to expect the unexpected.
Chris – Lawrence: What is your biggest concern heading into the first practice?
Coach Self: I really don’t have any concerns. I may have a lot after practice 5 or 10, but heading into the first practice I’m enthused and anxious. I guess if we did have a concern it would be health. After five practices or 10, we may figure out that we have a lot of deficiencies that cause concern. I’m sure that will happen, but I haven’t gotten to the point where I can determine that until I’m able to evaluate it.
Michael – Omaha, Nebraska: How did your newcomers respond to boot camp? Did they do better than you had anticipated since they were playing high school basketball just several months ago?
Coach Self: I would say that CJ, Russell and Sasha all did better than I thought they would. I thought Darnell and Alex need to get in better shape. Both are coming off surgeries, and I think both those guys need to get in better shape. Matt Kleinmann did great, also. I think all the guys did well, but those three guys – CJ, Russell and Sasha – stood out.
Jacob – Norman, OK: Coach Self,
I am a transplanted Jayhawk, so don’t let my hometown confuse you. My question is about Super Soph JR Giddens, how do you see his role with the team expanding this year and what are your expectations of him?
Coach Self: We expect JR to be one of the best perimeter players around. He had a good freshman season, and I think he has a chance to have a great season. But this team has a lot of balance so I wouldn’t expect anyone’s numbers to go up dramatically. I think my expectations would be for him to improve his passing, rebounding, defense, mid-range shooting and ball handling. He made improvements in all those areas, and if he continues that he’ll be great. What this team needs him to do is make shots, and he does that about as well as anybody.
Richard – Augusta, KS: Do you see it becoming a trend to recruit the foreign basketball player more now than in the years past?
Coach Self: I think that there is certainly a trend, for a lot of reasons. The international game has picked up so much that people are starting to tap into it. But, the NCAA has made it more difficult to go get those guys. There are so many hoops you have to go through to make sure a guy’s eligible, which is the right thing to do. International recruiting is at an all-time high, but NBA international recruiting is at an all-time high, as well. It’s not that the only path to get to the NBA is through college anymore. Some of these guys now think that best way to get on that path is to play pro over there or stay over there. Many of those guys will not play college ball because they’ve found other avenues to get to the NBA.
Moderator: That does it for our chat with coach Self today. Thanks again to coach and our readers for their time.
Less than two weeks before the Kansas University football team starts its season against Tulsa, head coach Mark Mangino answered questions from kusports.com readers Thursday. Mangino discussed the Jayhawks’ secondary, defensive line, special teams and many other topics during the 15-minute chat.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with coach Mark Mangino in just a few moments. Thanks to both coach and our readers for their time this afternoon.
Tim, Overland Park: Can we expect to see more carries from John Randle this year?
Coach Mangino: John Randle and Clark Green compliment each other very well. With John Randle having a year of experience under his belt you will likely see him have more carries than he did in 2003.
Beau, Denver: Hello coach! My favorite players the past few years have been Donnie and Ronnie Amadi. Could you talk a bit about their progress and the defensive backfield in general (Gordon, Baines, Harris, Fowler, Thompson)? Thanks!
Coach Mangino: Ronnie and Donnie Amadi are two extremely hard-working players. They have a great attitude and come to the practice field every day with a business-like demeanor. That is why they are two highly improved players and will have an impact on our team this season.
The rest of the secondary is coming around, but it will still be a couple of days before we decide who will be starting back there. There are a lot of talented guys back there, especially at the cornerback position. I think we’re going to be very much improved in the secondary this season.
Dan, Derby: Hi Coach, I was wondering how the Derby Guys are doing this year? There was a nice article on Travis Watkins but I have not heard much on Nick Reid. Is Nick having a good fall?
Coach Mangino: Nick Reid is having a very good fall. He’s a very solid, dependable player. We’ll rely on him a great deal this season.
Travis Watkins is healthier than anytime since I’ve been at KU and we’re looking for him to have a big, big season at KU.
Kenn, Lawrence: What are your expectations for our defensive line this year?
Coach Mangino: I have high expectations for our defensive line. I think with our returners and some newcomers, the defensive line will be better than any other time since I’ve arrived. I’m really excited about the players we have their now, and I think we’re much more athletic and much more physical than we have been.
Michelle, Shawnee: It looks like Kevin Kane is getting a lot of work at middle linebacker. Where are he and Gabe Toomey on the depth chart at this point?
Coach Mangino: Kevin Kane and Gabe Toomey have really developed into very good players for us and helped strengthen our linebacking corps. Gabe has looked good lately and Kevin has developed into a very consistent player. They are both going to be out there playing a lot.
Mark, Wichita: Great job with the football program. How happy are you with the progress of Adam Barmann learning your system? And where has he shown the most improvement?
Coach Mangino: Adam has had a very good training camp. He gets better nearly every day. He is really learning out system inside and out and is really getting a feel for the looks and covers the defense bring. I’m really comfortable with him and I look for him to put up some very good numbers.
Randy, Strong City: What goals have you set for the team going into the season as far as regular season win/loss records & postseason accomplishments? At the end of the season, where would you like this team to be in developing the KU football program?
Coach Mangino: I always have high expectations for our team. We believe that if we are to be a very good football team, we have to beat very good football teams. I’m not into predictions, and I don’t have a crystal ball — and if I could I wouldn’t be coaching, I’d be out making money on the lottery and making predictions about things — but what I can promise you is that we’ll have a very intense, hard-nosed football team on the field each Saturday and they’ll play very, very well.
Randy, Lawrence: Coach Mangino, there’s been lots of press lately about how well stacked the team is when it comes to kickers & punters. How do you plan to use each of your kickers going into the season?! Thanks! Good luck this year!
Coach Mangino: We have had very intense competition at the place kicker position, and we’ll head into the season with Johnny Beck as the No. 1 kicker and Scott Webb a very close second. Both are very capable.
We’ve also had very good competition at the punting position. Right now it’s too close to call and I’ll make a decision early next week.
Todd, Lenexa: Hey Coach, Now that you are going into your third season as a collegiate head coach, what has been the most difficult part of your job?
Coach Mangino: The coaching aspect of the position is a lot of fun, and that’s what I enjoy the most. It’s all of the things you have to deal with outside of football that take up your time and energy, but that’s all part of being a head coach. You have to be able to multi-task. Being a head football coach at the collegiate level is not for a person who likes to focus on one issue at a time. If you’re too focused on one issue, the rest will get away from you. You have to be able to focus on multiple issues at a time, and I’m comfortable doing that.
Matt, Omaha: How early does the coaching staff begin to evaluate potential recruits?
Coach Mangino: As far as evaluations are concerned, we look at kids as early as their sophomore season. Recruiting now is a 12-month-a-year job, and the recruiting classes actually overlap each other. It’s not uncommon for us to be recruiting seniors now, but also looking at juniors and sophomores. You’re always recruiting. It’s a constant stream. It never ends.
Kirk, Overland Park: Coach Mangino: What are your biggest concerns for the team as you head into the season?
Coach Mangino: Every coach goes into a season with concerns, whether you’re ranked No. 1 in the nation or you’re trying to be ranked in the top 25, and I’m no different. I’m looking for our team to improve greatly in the special teams area. I think we’ve made progress ever year and I want to be very efficient in special teams because I think that gives us an edge in close games. Also, we have a lot of young players who need to step up but haven’t had a lot of playing experience in the past. I’m not worried about those areas, but those are things that we need to improve in and will have an impact in our program.
Michael, Olathe: How big of a role do you see the Heaggans brothers having this season? Do you anticipate them stepping up and contributing?
Coach Mangino: Gary is one of our most improved receivers. I look for him to make a contribution this year. He and Greg play on a lot of our special teams as key players and we’re counting on them to have a big year. We’re certainly happy with the progress of Gary. He’s made great strides and should have an impact.
Moderator: That does it for today’s chat with coach Mangino. Again, thanks to coach and our readers for their time today.
Former KU track and field star and current Olympian Charlie Gruber answered questions from kusports.com readers across the country Friday, just a week before the opening ceremonies. He discussed his training regimen, how it feels to represent the United States and many other topics.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with Charlie Gruber in just a few moments. Thanks to Charlie and our readers for their time today.
Dan, Kansas City: What’s your secret to being able to build the speed to run 1:46 in the 800 after training to make a world cross country team in the winter?
Charlie Gruber: I focus on speed all year and then work on endurance towards the end.
Tim, Michigan: What are your expectations going into the heats of the 1500 in Athens and do you have a specific race tactic that you feel will help you to advance? Good luck in Athens
Charlie Gruber: I am going with the expectation of making the finals. I really haven’t thought about the heats, since they haven’t been posted, but will sit with my coach, Doug Clark, to figure out a plan that would involve getting in good position in the start not leaving a finishing 200 meter kick.
Paul, Lawrence: What are your feelings as you represent your country in the Olympics?
Charlie Gruber: It is a great honor and when I represent my country, school, and the city of Lawrence. I use the support as a benefit to push me, and don’t view it as a weight on my shoulders.
Paul, Lawrence: Are there any landmark workouts that you have completed that have helped you know you were capable of running so fast this summer?
Charlie Gruber: Once, I did a 2×800 meter workout with 10 minutes rest in between. I went 1:49 and 1:53 by myself without a pace setter.
Scott, Pittsburgh: Alan Webb seems to have started a trend of not completing college eligibility and going pro early. Please comment on your experiences with the collegiate system and if Webb, Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, and Allyson Felix would have benefitted or been brought down by this system.
Charlie Gruber: I think multiple plans work for different people. If your goal is to be an elite athlete, leaving could be good. I wanted the education and to be a part of a team.
Steve, Aurora CO: We’ve discussed this before, but your answer to this question is invaluable to me and I think important to other people reading this. In making the big step from being a formidible NCAA runner to now an Olympian, what was the biggest realization about yourself that helped you emerge as one of the best and brightest USA distance runners?
Charlie Gruber: I realized that I can be a happy person with or witout track. That relieved pressure and made it easier to compete.
Charlie Gruber: By the way, hello to the boys at 19th Terrace.
Cal, Colorado: Do you expect an international field to be more physical than the US trials where you did nearly stumble.
Charlie Gruber: Definetly. At the same time, I will be more physical and prepared for International/European type of racing.
Toby, Independence: Do you prepare for a major event like the Olympics any different that you prepare for other events?
Charlie Gruber: Physically I will taper my training leading up to the meet. Mentally the Olympics is no different than any other race, so I will prepare the same as any other race.
David, Lawrence: Now that you’re in a class with Jim Ryun, Billy Mills, Wes Santee and Glenn Cunningham (KU’s Olympic distance runners) what will it be like to run in front of the home fans at Kansas Relays after Athens?
Charlie Gruber: I am not sure I am in that group yet, but I am excited to come back and continue the KU tradition. I hope I can uphold the distance tradition and inspire the current KU guys as well.
A Michigan runner: Charlie, I was really pulling for you and hoping that you’d make it to Athens. You deserved it. What was it like running with Hicham El Guerrouj and Medhi Baala in Belgium a week ago, and what type of strategies will you use to defeat them this summer?
Charlie Gruber: It was an honor to run with the current record-holder, but I made it a point not to star gaze and be awwed, they are my competitors and I need to focus on me and my race, not who else is in the race.
Angie, Baldwin: My question is, are your parents and coach Clark be able to watch you race at the Olympics in person?
Charlie Gruber: Their tickets are booked, along with my brother, girlfriend and college buddies.
Mike, KC: How beneficial has it been training with the current KU guys, even though they probably can’t push you as well as someone at your level?
Charlie Gruber: Real beneficial. I don’t meet with them everyday, but it is good to get the synergy going with them several times a week.
Allison, Kansas City: When you were in high school, were the Olympics part of your future goals? Good luck!
Charlie Gruber: No. When I came to college my goals were to be an All-American and be under 4 minutes. It was a thought, but I never truly considered it.
Andy: Do you feel that the race in Life was a good learning experience? Did McGinn circle your name?
Charlie Gruber: Every day was a learning experience, but life was especially a learning experience because I saw Andy Tate cross finish line in front of me. I don’t know who circled my name.
Jerry, Lawrence: Have you been able to find partners to run with for work outs and off days.
Charlie Gruber: Not really for work outs, but I have found some people for off days. Sometimes the guys from the team are around. I enjoy working out by myself and feel that I don’t need a partner to have a good workout.
Cal, Colorado: If you have time, what other events/venues are you looking forward to watching in Athens?
Charlie Gruber: I probably won’t watch any other events. If it works out, I would like to watch other distance events.
Matthew, Watertown, WI.: How many rest days to take in a week and what is your nutrition focus on?
Charlie Gruber: I do 2-3 workouts and a long run each week and the rest of the week is recovery. I try to have a general healty balanced diet and don’t stress over small details or count calories.
Melaney, Dodge City: Are you originally from Kansas?
Charlie Gruber: I am originally from Arvada, Colorado. It’s a suburd of Denver.
Briana, Ohio: Will you be staying in the athlete village at the games?
Charlie Gruber: Yes. I am in Munich now and then will travel to Crete for training and to the Village a few days before my race.
Jerry, Lawrence: FYI Happy Birthday Charlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charlie Gruber: Thank you. The big 2-6.
Tom, Boston: Do you do any hill work?
Charlie Gruber: Yes. Lots actually. More in the fall, but I try to keep in contact with that all year.
Matt, Lawrence: How many miles are you running in a typical week right now with multiple races to concentrate on?
Charlie Gruber: I am doing high 40s to low 50s with multiple races.
Scott, Greenville, SC: Regardless of how you do at the Olympics, do you think your exposure puts you in a position to help grow the sport here in the U.S.? In other words, would you be willing to take on a role as a spokesman for USATF and other T&F organizations here stateside after the Olympics?
Charlie Gruber: Sure, I enjoy doing things to promote the sport.
McGinn, New York: Every runner’s first dream is obviously the Olympics, but a secondary one for many of us would be to experience the atmosphere of running in the European Grand Prix meets. How would you compare running in Stockholm with meets like Drake/Trials?
Charlie Gruber: Both meets such as Drake and the Trials are great, but European fans are much more involved in the meet and bring a higher excitement level than fans the states.
Matt, Lawrence: With your win in the 4k at Nationals, do you feel you’ll start to race longer distances after the Olympics?
Charlie Gruber: Not this season, but next season I might try a 3k indoors and a 5k outdoors in the early part of the season.
SFBay, Lawrence.: How many prelims do you have to do to get to the finals?
Charlie Gruber: Two. The 20th and the 22nd. The finals are on the 24th.
Julie, Lawrence: What was the advantage to competing in Europe to achieve the qualifying time? Was it simply the timing and frequency of the events or some other factor?
Charlie Gruber: The competition was high and the fact the leaders went out in a fast tempo.
Peter, Salina: I think you have a great coach to work with in KU’s Doug Clark – can you talk about what role he plays in your training and success.
Charlie Gruber: He writes my work outs, but more importantly makes me believe great things are possible and has helped me eliminate limits.
Charlie Gruber: I want to say thanks to everyone for all of their encouragement and support throughout the year. I really appreciate it.
Moderator: That does it for our chat with former Jayhawk and current Olympian Charlie Gruber. Thanks again to Charlie and our readers for all their time this afternoon, and good luck to Charlie in the Olympics.
KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self answered questions from KUsports.com readers Tuesday. Self discussed recruiting, three-point shooting and the KU-UK series, among other topics.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with coach Self in just a few moments. Thanks to both him and our readers for their time this morning.
Chris; Marietta, OH: First off, congratulations coach on a fine first year! I was just wondering what your thoughts are on the possible resumption of the series with Kentucky. Thanks.
Coach Self: We’re very hopeful that we can begin that series. I think it’s very important that potential powers can play. I think it’s a series Kentucky has dominated in win-loss record, but we’d like to put ourselves in a position to change that, and I think a game between KU and Kentucky would be great for the fans of both institutions.
Matt, Shawnee: Are all the players with end of the year injuries back to full strength?
Coach Self: No. Keith, J.R. and Wayne, none have been released to play, and probably Wayne has a chance to be released in the next few weeks. He’s doing much better and he’s close to being back to 100 percent, but he’s still not there yet. Keith will probably be the first of July before he starts working out, and J.R. will probably be the first of June.
Aaron, Wichita: Coach Self,
Great job this year, I think you were the perfect man for the job. I know you can’t comment on potential recruits, but do you anticipate getting any commitments from the class of 2005 soon? Do you think it’s important to get a couple guys committed before next fall to set the table for the rest of your recruiting class? Thanks and keep up the good work!
Coach Self: I think it’s always important to get a couple guys to jump on board early, but I don’t know if it’s imperative. It’s important because you narrowed your pool of recruits. We’d like to get as much done as soon as possible, but we’re not going to take somebody just to take somebody. Some recruits don’t want to do anything until the fall, but we’re hopeful some of the guys we’re recruiting will want to do something before that.
Matt, Shawnee: Why not play Kentucky at AFH this year? Why did it end up with KU traveling to Rupp?
Coach Self: It really fits better for our schedule and their schedule with what we’re trying to do with our home schedule. It’s not confirmed yet, but I think it’s a better balance if we do go on the road first, because right now we’re only playing two true road games in the nonconference: Kentucky and Villanova.
Stephven, Overland Park: Coach, do you feel that the quality of college basketball will decline with so many kids jumping straight to the N.B.A. out of high school? If the trend continues with the top high school kids going league, will you cater your recruitment to kids who will most likely stay at Kansas for 4 years?
Coach Self: I think that the times have seen teams like the Fab Five, like the Kansas team in the mid-90s with Raef, Paul, Jacque and Scott, I think those days probably won’t exist much longer. Not because those type players will go to college, but because they won’t stay. I really believe that that will occur, but I dont’ think that the enthusiasm or the interest in our college game will decline at all. No matter what, the NCAA Tournament I believe is the most-watched sporting event of the year and I don’t believe anything like that will change. To fans and sometimes coaches it’s frustrating, but I’m a big believer in recruiting the best kids you can. You want to win, and I think good players will recruit other good players as well.
Sue, Lawrence: Coach, we are SO happy to have you in Lawrence and at KU. Over the last year, what have you liked about Lawrence/KU the most, and what have you liked the least?
Coach Self: There’s really no anything I don’t like about the community. I like the weather, I love the town, the people have been very, very nice to my family and there are lots of activities for my children. The thing that makes it for us, and everywhere we’ve been, is the job. When you have players like we do and fans who support us like ours do, how can anyone in our position not like what’s going on in the community?
David, Chicago: As a graduate of KU and living in Chicago among numerous KU grads, we’re obviously very excited to see KU take on some Big Ten match ups that will bring the Hawks closer to home. Any hope in the near future of seeing you guys in or near Chicago? Vs. Illinois, Northwestern, MSU, MU, IU?
Coach Self: We go back to Michigan State next year, and right now that’s the only Big 10 we’re contracted with. We’re going to try to recruit the Midwest, so I’m not against trying to schedule in the Midwest. I’m not sure I’m ready to play Illinois yet when all the guys we recruited are still there because I think there’d be too much of a distraction, but I do think we’re always going to try to play in the Midwest.
Bryce, Hutchinson: Coach Self — When considering whom to hire as an assistant coach, which is more important to you, a X’s and O’s coach or a coach that excels at recruiting?
Coach Self: I would say both. What you do in hiring coaches is you try to hire somebody who brings something to your staff. You may have a staff who’s strong in a certain area of recruiting, so you’d want somebody who’s stronger in another area. We’ve always tried to hire somebody who brings something to the table and makes us who are already here better. Regardless of where you coach, you’ll be a better coach with good players. Hire good coaches, hire guys who are good ambassadors to your program, but they have to be very skilled in recruiting as well.
John, Hutchinson, KS: Coach, with commitments from top recruits being made earlier and earlier, at what point do you start evaluating and actively recruiting young players.
Coach Self: I would say we do have a freshman list, but the summer before their sophomore year is where we’ll try to identify to get a core list we can begin getting to know the coach and begin pursuing it through those avenues. Then, just about everybody we’re going to recruit we’ll know about before his junior year. We may get a core list going into the sophomore year, and sometimes that core list changes, but we’ll know who we want to recruit for the most part by their junior year.
Nick, Great Bend, KS: What is assessment on depth at each position next year? What do you plan on doing differently to adjust to any potential depth issues?
Coach Self: Hopefully we’ll address our depth issues through recruiting and some of our young guys will develop and give us some additional playing time through strength or experience. I really hope we’re two-deep at every position. I hope we can play 10 comfortably, knowing that I may not play 10 each and every game. I think having a rotation of eight, with a ninth player as a wild-card guy is the perfect answer for success. Looking at our stats, I think playing eight for large numbers of minutes and playing a ninth for fewer minutes would be our core group.
Scott, Lawrence: First of all, thanks for all of the hard work for our university and the program. What kinds of things will Moulaye be working on this summer? Will Danny be able to work with him one-on-one?
Coach Self: No, coaches can’t work with guys once school’s out. Moulaye will be working on what he’s been working on, being in the locker room and such. He just needs to play and get more experience. Moulaye’s improved, and he just needs to get stronger and have a good summer, which I anticipate him having.
Katie, Tulsa: Coach Self, how has the end to the 5 and 8 rule changed the way you are recruiting for this coming year and next year?
Coach Self: I don’t think it’s affected the year after next, but for this upcoming year. Initially we have a chance to recruit two instead of one, and that’s how it could affect us in the short run. In the long run, with the four seniors we have and if anything unforseen happens, we know we can look to sign five. Basically, in the next two years, this rule will probably allow us to have two more scholarship players on our team. Doesn’t mean we’ll fill those scholarships, but we’ll be have the opportunity to.
Matt, Rochester MN: Coach Self, I am excited to have you as our coach at the University of Kansas. I appreciate the class that you and your staff bring to the basketball program and University. My question is about our team’s perimeter shooting. Is Russell Robinson a player that you think will contribute right away with the outside shot, and are the other guys working this summer with the “Gun” to get a lot of repetition in from the outside?
Coach Self: We do have a “Gun” (a shooting machine) and it is available to our players, but right now when you really look at it, you have Aaron, Mike, Jeremy and Jeff Hawkins as the guys who are on scholarship and are healthy. A lot of our perimeter shooting will come from Keith and J.R. and they haven’t been able to work out. But there’s no question our guys will spend a lot of time in the gym and work on their shot development. As good as J.R. shot last year, I think he can be better, and I think Keith, Aaron and Mike can be more consistent. As good as we can be, adding another player to this recruiting class could help. Russell will be a good shooter. He had a bit of an off-year last season and needs to spend some time in the gym, but I think he has the potential to be an excellent shooter as well.
BigGlo, Lawrence: I know you can’t comment on recruits but it looks like you are doing a great job for the class of 2005. Looks like you have lots of choices, a great problem to have. Can you briefly explain how you and the staff decide on which players to pursue, offer and sign?
Coach Self: We break it down to explosiveness, athletic ability, if they can shoot and/or score and how tough they can be. For next year’s class we need to attempt to replace Wayne and attempt to replace our perimeter who’s graduating, so that will be our emphasis.
Dan, St. Louis: If you weren’t in coaching, what do you anticipate you would be doing?
Coach Self: I don’t know what it would be, but it would probably be something in sales. I like people and trying to work with people and I also like pushing a product. That’s kind of what recruiting is.
Moderator: That concludes our chat. Again, thanks to coach Self and our readers for their time this morning.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with coach Henrickson in just a few minutes.
Corey, Iowa City: Welcome, coach! We’re really happy to have you. Other than winning, what are your ideas about how to increase attendance at women’s games?
Coach Henrickson: I think the most important thing is to have a quality project. Also, to get out in the community and have a lot of face-to-face meetings with our fans, especially on campus and in Lawrence and then to spread our wings to Topeka and Kansas City and everywhere there are Jayhawk fans.
Greg, Eudora: Is the 3-Point shot an integral part of your offensive scheme? It seems the Final Four Teams this year relied on it a lot to pull the defenses out of the middle and create operating room.
Coach Henrickson: Very observant, particularly with the University of Connecticut. And that’s what you have to respect — the three, and the ability to catch and shoot. Whether it’s from the three or right inside the three, it makes defenses extend themselves. We will work on making the current players shoot it more and more effectively, and we’ll recruit young women who can knock it down.
Tom, Hillsboro KS: What do you see as the biggest challenge in recruiting coming from the more populous east coast to the plains of Kansas? Is the overall quality of high school basketball at the same levels in this area as it is on the east coast and how realistic is it to find enough players in this area to be competitive in the Big XII?
Coach Henrickson: I think it’s very realistic, and what’s been obvious right now is the number of talented players in the state of Kansas. Believe it or not, there were very, very good players in the state of Virginia, but it appears that the depth of the talent in the state of Kansas appears to be right now and down the road a little bit higher. Trust me, there’s plenty of talent to me to cultivate, and regionally and nationally, to compete in the Big 12. You can get to a lot of very, very good players.
Bruce, Promise City, Iowa: How are your current players adjusting to you and your staff’s coaching philosophy, on and off the court? Thanks
Coach Henrickson: It’s been very, very pleasing and exciting with how much the players have embraced change, on and off the court. There’s a tremendous amount of dialogue on how we carry ourselves on and off the court. The intensity has been very, very good. Most people are proud of how hard they work and we want to take advantage of that with this group. It’s a daily conversation on how we work in the weight room. We all represent each other. When you mess up, you’re embarrassing yourself, your family, your teammates, your coaches and your university and that won’t be tolerated.
Kevin, Overland Park: Hi Coach Henrickson welcome to KU. Well since your taking over a struggling program can you give us an estimate on a time before were out of the basement.
Coach Henrickson: I didn’t pack my crystal ball, and I understand the question and it’s fair, but it’s impossible for me to put a date on it. We’re working on taking baby steps and we want to take great strides, but our more important thing is to learn right now and get the word out about our change and the goal and philosophy here at Kansas. As much as we’ve made progress, there’s no way I can put a number on wins and losses, but we’ll work very hard with our returning players, but right now it’s baby steps and as long as we’re moving forward, the faster the better for everyone, certainly.
Chris, Hays: Hey Coach Henrickson, I just want to congratulate you on landing Jamie Boyd and wish you luck on the upcoming season. I was wondering about the number of your own recruits you are hoping to have for next season in addition to Jamie.
Coach Henrickson: We have a healthy of number, because we’re still bringing another recruit to campus so our numbers aren’t definite yet, but we have a possibility of five. Our recruiting list is very, very talented, it’s large because of the numbers we need, and we’re excited about possibly bringing a big group of players in here, but it’ll be a talented, big group.
DC: Wichita: Coach: Coach: Do you think the Big 12 Conference will be tougher than the Big East? Also, it seems that some of KU teams in the past have been lacking toughness, is that something you look for when recruiting?
Coach Henrickson: Between the two leagues, they are both very good leagues. I’d have to go through every senior in each league in my head, and with the departure of Virigina Tech and Miami changes the way the Big East looks, and I’d have to give the nod to the Big 12. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the coaches in this league for how they recruit and how they coach.
For the recruiting, I think toughness is very important. Your desire to improve… some players have great potential, such as Jamie Boyd. We made sure in the recruiting process to tell her how good she was, but we also pointed out that here was a place where she could improve as well. There’s a mental and a physical toughness and they’re both important in recruiting, along with a number of other things as well.
Wacky, Overland Park: Congratulations on your first recruit. Can you please tell me what areas do you see the current team needing to develop and/or weakness that need to be addressed (i.e. outside shooting, guard penetration, passing, rebounding,….etc….)
Coach Henrickson: We need to get bigger. We need to address our size and depth in the post. I think we need to recruit a shooter and a quality point guard — that’s where it all starts. Our athleticism is pretty good, but we’re pretty small. I’d like to see our size and length get better in terms of the directions we need to go.
Scott, Kansas City: What are the three things that you feel separate a good program from a great program?
Coach Henrickson: If your program, overall top to bottom, the quality of the players in the program, the quality of the coaches, the resources surrounding the players, the commitment from the administration. There’s a large shadow that is around an athlete, and there are a lot of people who help support them in that shadow, and that’s one of the things we’re excited about here at Kansas, the support staff for the athletes. There are no quick fixes; we’re here to get it done over the long haul and have sustained success, like we did where we came from. Our continued success which we walked away from was something we were very, very proud of.
Kelly, Shawnee: how did you become interested in basketball as a young person?
Coach Henrickson: I played against my brothers and sister and my father. We used to play back in the day when kids went to the park and played and got away from computers. I got to play organized basketball in elementary school, and my dad used to drive me to school at 6 a.m. so I could play with boys. My dad and brothers played around me and I always had a ball around. I remember doing a lot of ball-handling in the driveway. We played a lot. We played a ton, but not organized. They didn’t have AAUs or big recruiting events. I went to a few camps, but as much as anything just playing pickup and playing with guys.
Moderator: That does it for our chat with coach Henrickson. Thanks to her and our readers for their time this morning. Be sure to log on to KUsports.com on Tuesday for our chat with Bill Self at 10 a.m.
Kansas University football head coach Mark Mangino answered questions from KUsports.com readers Tuesday, discussing the team’s junior college transfers, the quarterback competition and what the future holds for Bill Whittemore.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with coach Mangino in just a few minutes. Thanks to both coach and our readers for their time this evening.
Bob, KC: Coach, who is battling to replace Curtis Ansel at punter?
Coach Mangino: Right now, the front-runner this spring is Chris Tyrell, and he will compete with Kyle Tucker in the fall.
James: Are you still looking to add more defensive lineman? Do you think James McClinton can start next year?
Coach Mangino: We will not be adding any more defensive players or defensive linemen this year. Whether James McClinton can play as a true freshman or not remains to be seen when he arrives this fall, but it would be unfair to put that kind of pressure on a young man. We’ll just wait and see what happens.
David, Lawrence: How’s the offensive line coming along? Have Cesar Rodriguez and Matt Thompson won the starting jobs?
Coach Mangino: The offensive line is progressing very well this spring. It has the potential to be the most physical group of offensive linemen we’ve had. We are making great strides in the run game and the pass game, but I am especially impressed with our improvement of blocking in the run game. Cesar Rodriguez and Matt Thompson are the front-runners for the offensive tackle positions at this point and time.
Shane: Coach, can you give us any information on what the future holds for Bill Whittemore?
Coach Mangino: Bill has been talking to some NFL clubs, as well as Canadian teams. I have had about a half a dozen teams call me in regards to Bill, and I’m hoping that one of them will give him an opportunity. He is a winner, and I believe he can help an NFL team. There’s no doubt in my mind.
Karl,: With respect to the safety positions, who do you see stepping up, and can you comment on the progress of Jerome Kemp?
Coach Mangino: Jerome Kemp is having a very good spring. He is playing his run responsibilities very well, and is making steady improvements in his pass responsibilities. We have a lot of competition in the secondary this fall, and the safety position has a lot of candidates for starting spots, including newcomer Rodney Harris, who is having a big spring. Although he is not very big in stature, he hits like a Mack truck and has excellent speed. We think he will enhance our secondary as well. And Tony Stubbs, who’s coming back, really looks sharp.
Ryan: Coach, how is Travis Watkins looking this spring?
Coach Mangino: Travis has really made some of his biggest strides this spring. We have not had Travis on the field for any length of time without injury until this spring, and he’s pretty close to 100%. He’s bigger and stronger than he’s ever been, and we’re looking for him to have a very, very big 2004 season.
Ryan: Congratulations on a great 2003 season. Has either Jason Swanson or Adam Barmaan have a tiny edge on one another?
Coach Mangino: Adam has had a slight edge only because he is familiar with our system, and Jason is just learning the whole thing right now. But the competition is keen, and Brian Luke has had a very good spring and is throwing the ball as well as he has since we’ve been here. We’re hoping that very soon we can get those guys in some particular order, and I would think it will go into August for sure.
Wacky: Being a neighbor of Todd Haselhorst I’d like to thank you and congratulate you for signing him. Do you have any better idea yet on whether he’ll play O-line or D-line?
Coach Mangino: We have talked to Todd — we recruited him because he’s a good football player period — we have talked to him about playing defensive line because he is a very athletic guy. He has said he’ll do whatever it takes to help the team, and we’ll probably try him out on the defensive line. We think he’s capable of playing either side of the ball.
Bill: With the tougher schedule that we will face this year, is it possible that this team will be better and yet have a worse record than last year?
Coach Mangino: I suppose there are several different scenarios that are possible for next season. There is no doubt that the schedule is much more competitive than it was last year, just because of the way the conference is aligned. Plus, we’re adding more bowl teams in the nonconference schedule. However, I think we have a chance to be a better team next year than we were in 2003, so I guess we’ll just have to line them up, play them one at a time and see what happens.
Wade: Will Charles Gordon and John Randle to switch back to full time offense?
Coach Mangino: John Randle will stay on offense. He has had an outstanding spring and is progressing very well. Charles, we’re not absolutely sure. A lot depends on the development of our cornerback positions. As of right now, we haven’t made a decision, and probably won’t until see how our corner position develops. If they develop the way we’d like them to, there’s a good chance Charles will play just offense. But it’s possible Charles is our best corner right now, so we have to make the decision that’s best for the team and that Charles is comfortable with as well.
Mike: Extra points and field goals were a major headache last season. Has anyone really moved to the forefront to grab the job?
Coach Mangino: I would say that right now, Johnny Beck and Scott Webb are competing for that position, along with Jerod Brooks. There’s no doubt we’re improved there, but we must still get more consistent and I’m sure that will happen by Sept. 4.
Chris – Wichita: How about academics? How are the players performing in the classroom?
Coach Mangino: Our players are working very hard in the classroom. They know that we expect them to perform well in the classroom, just as we expect them to perform well in the field. Paul Buskirk, associate athletic director for academics, and his staff give us a daily report on the progress of our classroom work, and for the most part it has been very positive.
Matt: How is progress in the weight room this year?
Coach Mangino: Coach Dawson and his staff have done a great job this winter of getting our players ready physically. We’re strong than ever since we’ve arrived as coaches, and we’re probably quicker than we’ve ever been. Overall, our team is much bigger physically than since we’ve arrived. It’s been a big winter in the weight room and we’re looking forward to a big summer as well.
Matt: Please give an update on the progress of the JUCO transfers.
Coach Mangino: Theo Baines is competing for a starting position at one of our corner spots and I’m really impressed with him. He’s a physical player and a good cover corner, too. I think he’s really going to help us. Rodney Harris is also having a really good spring. He has a good quickness about him. Jermail Ashley is doing a really good job. He’s learning the system and how to adjust to playing against Big 12-caliber offensive line play. And Jason Swanson’s working hard every day to learn our system. His head is spinning right now trying to absorb our offense but he’ll be fine.
Moderator: That concludes our chat. Again, thanks to coach Mangino and our readers for their time this evening. Be sure to log on at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning for our chat with KU track legend Wes Santee.
Kansas University linebacker Nick Reid discussed KU’s linebacking corps, spring practice and many other topics during a 15-minute chat Thursday on KUsports.com.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with Nick Reid in just a moment. Thanks to both Nick and our readers for their time this afternoon.
Wacky: I’ve really enjoyed watching you play these last two years. Please explain what worked so well against MU defensively. They were such a good offensive team that you all really shut down.
Nick Reid: The coaches just put together a great game plan, and we executed it to a T.
Woody: Nick, how do you see this year’s defense compared to last year’s?
Nick Reid: So far this spring I see the defense many strides ahead of where we were at the end of last season. With the new guys coming in and the people returning we should be pretty good.
Dave: How is Kevin Kane doing subbing for Gabe Toomey and how is the linebacker depth in general?
Nick Reid: Out of the three starting linebackers so far, Kevin’s probably had the best spring ball. He’s been making plays left and right. This is probably the best depth we’ve had so far. We have a lot of young guys come in and play real well.
Jodi: Congratulations on a great season last year! Your Derby fans know what a great quarterback you were in high school and have watched you turn into one of the best linebackers in the Big XII. What were some of the toughest adjustments going from a high school quarterback to a D-1 linebacker?
Nick Reid: First of all, thank you very much. That’s very flattering to hear. The biggest change, especially at D-I, is just the speed and intensity of the game. And instead of being hit, I’m now doing the hitting, which is a lot more fun.
Dustin: Is the KU defense closer to having its own identity and, if so, what is it?
Nick Reid: We can pressure or we can play back. If the team we’re playing doesn’t handle pressure well, we’ll bring blitzes. And if the game plan calls for us to keep the ball in front of us and come up and make plays, that’s what we’ll do.
Jeremy: I was wondering how much you guys are working on a 3-4 defense. If you are working on it much, how’s it coming along and which defense do you prefer?
Nick Reid: We really don’t have a 3-4 defense in the game plan yet. We’ve still been playing the old 4-3 and it’s been working pretty good for us this spring.
John: What is the defensive strategy on 3rd and long? Are you going to put some heat on people or sit back and hope for the best? Are you guys emphasizing 3rd downs during Spring Ball.
Nick Reid: Our third down defense last year was pretty awful. We just never capitalized and forced turnovers or punts, so we’ve been focusing on that a lot this spring. We’re both going to heat things up with blitzes and drop people back into coverage.
Jon: I know neither Mike Rivera nor Joe Mortensen has practiced yet, but do you think either of them will get playing time this year with KU being pretty stocked at linebacker?
Nick Reid: If they come into summer workouts and the fall with good workouts and good heads on their shoulders and prove they should be on the field, they’ll be on the field.
Kevin: Hi Nick good luck this season. Well my question is with the loss of Bill Whittemore will the team have the same results this season as last season.
Nick Reid: Thanks for the compliments on last season. I’m sure whoever we have at quarterback will do just fine. They’re going to fill in great for Bill.
James: Will KU be good enough this year to come into Lincoln and not be intimidated by the Husker atmosphere and tradition?
Nick Reid: It can be a pretty intimidating place to play, but with them having a new coach and probably a new system it should be a pretty different team than what we’re used to seeing.
Ken: What’s good about spring practice? What’s not to like about spring practice?
Nick Reid: So far this spring everything’s been great. Everybody’s getting after it. The defense is stepping up, the offense is playing well and the special teams are coming around. It’s been a good spring so far.
Beep: Is the overall team speed and size improved from last year?
Nick Reid: Coach Dawson and our strength coaches have done a great job in the offseason in the weight room. Everyone’s getting bigger, faster and stronger, and we’re going to continue working hard through the summer and into next season.
Moderator: That’s the end of our chat today. Again, thanks to both Nick Reid and our readers for their time this afternoon. Make sure to take part in our chat with coach Mark Mangino at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Lawrence Journal-World basketball writer Gary Bedore and Birmingham News basketball writer Toraine Norris answered questions from KUSports.com readers Friday, just a few hours before Kansas and Alabama-Birmingham face off in the Sweet 16.
Moderator: We’ll get started with our chat in just a few minutes. Thanks again to Gary Bedore, Toraine Norris and our readers for their time.
Kane: Do you think with all of this talk about UAB’s press, something has been overlooked? What other factors may contribute to UAB pulling off a win?
Toraine Norris: There has been a lot of talk about the press and mainly their shooting. The ability to shoot the ball has been overlooked in all the talk about their press. I don’t have any stats in front of me, but they’ve been shooting particularly well through the first two games of this tournament.
Robert: Gary, how is the Jayhawk’s current health situation for tonight’s game?
Gary Bedore: It’s really the same as it’s been the past couple weeks. Keith has a bad knee, but practiced yesterday. Wayne has a bad groin, but he practiced yesterday. Giddens has a bad foot, but he practiced. Hawkins has a bad back, but he practiced. Ditto Padgett with his bad foot, and Nash with his bad foot. Everybody practiced yesterday, but the team is definitely not 100 percent healthy, but adreneline should kick in like last weekend and everybody should be fine for the game.
Randy: Toraine, Do you think that UAB’s ‘defense’ will prevent KU from scoring over 70 points, since they are undefeated when scoring 70 points?
Toraine Norris: I really can’t answer that question – I haven’t seen that much of KU. They haven’t held anyone under 70 points in the first two games of this tournament but the key to UAB’s defense number one is the pressure, and what the pressure does aside from forcing turnovers is it tries to force teams to make quick decisions with the basketball. As Mike Anderson puts it, they try to get players to make basketball decisions quickly. Another fact that’s been overlooked about their defense is that they’re very good at defending the three-point shot. Not many teams have shot the three well off of them, and those that have, have usually won the game.
Kane: How important do you think it is for Jeff Graves to have a big game against UAB?
Gary Bedore: Very important. He needs to play like he did last weekend. If he continues to play like the Jeff Graves of last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks are a different team and could easily win the national title.
Tom: Gary, do you think Kansas will beat UAB? If so why?
Gary Bedore: Yes, because KU is well-prepared for the press, where as Kentucky wasn’t. The game is in St. Louis and there will be thousands of KU fans here. Also, the Jayhawks have tournament experience while the Blazers don’t. However, nothing is guaranteed. Just ask Kentucky.
Kyle: Toraine, does UAB have a go-to guy who they will look to if the game is on the line?
Toraine Norris: Absolutely. That is senior guard Mo Finley. He hit the shot that beat Kentucky and he’s the first option in the clutch, in the final minutes for UAB. He’s averaging about 13 points per game, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but he’s actually sharing the ball more with his teammates, not taking on so much of a scoring role this year because UAB has more weapons. Last year, he averaged 18 points per game. As far as this year, his best game was a 38-point effort at Mississippi State. So, that should give you some idea of what he’s capable of on any given night.
Jodi: What will be KU’s biggest challenge in tonight’s game?
Gary Bedore: The biggest challenge will be getting used to UAB’s style of play. It will probably take KU a few possessions to be ready for that press. Everybody seems to think conditioning could be a factor since the Jayhawks are banged up and will be forced to play at a fast pace tonight. KU likes to run as well, so it could be a matchup the Jayhawks end up enjoying.
Connor: Do you think UAB will be able to handle KU’s big men and will KU be able to keep up with the high-tempo offense of UAB?
Toraine Norris: That is actually the weak area for UAB. They have struggled with bigger teams, particularly on the boards. Mississippi State’s Lawrence Roberts had a big game against them, and LSU’s Lloreda also had a big game. Both of those were early in the season. Again, as I said, that’s their weak area because UAB’s not very big. Actually, when people think of high-tempo with UAB, they’re not so much a running team as much as they’re a team that likes to score off of turnovers. Actually, UAB in the last couple of games – probably since early February – has run their half-court offense very well, but naturally they like to run.
Gary Bedore: KU’s big men have a great advantage against UAB in terms of size, so that could be a big factor. Yes, they should be able to keep up with the tempo, but it can’t all be Aaron Miles. Other guys are going to have to handle the ball and pass out of traps. They are well prepared to do so after going against a simulated press all week.
Kane: Last week Mike Lee really stepped up and played well. Can you see that happening again, especially against a team where the guards really have to be on their toes?
Gary Bedore: Yes, he is fired up for the postseason, and I could definitely see him having two more big games in St. Louis. He was solid at the free throw line in Kansas City and is focused to make his third straight Final Four.
Jeff: Do you think UAB’s pressure defense leaves them open to allowing quick, easy layups and dunks from quick players like Aaron Miles and Keith Langford (who loves slashing towards the basket on a breakaway?)
Toraine Norris: You can if you can break the pressure. You can find some holes at time in their defense. I didn’t know Miles could dunk.
Moderator: Thanks again to Gary, Toranie and our readers for their time this morning. Good luck to both teams tonight.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with coach Mangino in a minute or two. Thanks to both coach and our readers for their time this afternoon.
Woody: What goals do you have for winter and spring training in preparation for next fall?
Coach Mangino: First of all, we want to become a more physical football team and we’re working hard on our strength and conditioning program to do that. We need to get much stronger and physical at the line of scrimmage. And also, by the end of spring ball we’d like to have a good idea of who most of the two-deep roster will be, though that might not happen until fall.
Bruce: What would you like to see improved and or changed for KU football facilities?
Coach Mangino: We need to upgrade in nearly every area. Our stadium looks good, and our press box represents our program very well. But KU football needs to have its own facility, like most of its competitors in the Big 12. Currently, with the exception of the stadium and press box, KU football has very little else that it calls its own.
Coach Mangino: I am very proud of our new weight facility that Dana Anderson and his family have provided for us. That facility is state of the art. And even though the stadium is ours, we still share that with track events.
Scott: Hey coach, how do you feel about the depth on the defensive line, mainly at the tackle position? And could Anthony Collins play at defensive tackle?
Coach Mangino: Our defensive line must improve for our defense to improve overall. I think this spring will tell the tale on which veterans are going to line up in the fall, or if we’re going to rely mostly on newcomers. Anthony Collins is a possibility, but I’m not thinking in those terms right now.
Tim: With the addition of some fine recruits, a bowl caliber team and fan support is there more pressure on you and your staff?
Coach Mangino: Absolutely not. We put ourselves in a position to succeed. We see that as a positive for the future, not as a negative. KU fans who truly understand the history of KU football know that we are moving in the right direction and are pleased with our progress. I’m not talented enough to orchestrate a turn-around in just two seasons. We have to keep working at it and good things will come.
Dane: How important is it to lock up the state of Kansas during recruiting?
Coach Mangino: Kansas players and Kansas City players continue to be our top-ranked recruiting priority. I’m not sure what “lock up the state” means, but we are sure doing our best to recruit Kansas talent.
John: Great job recruiting as always. I believe in Green and McClinton you just may have found they guys who will lead us to the promised land. What are your thoughts on these two players?
Coach Mangino: Gary Green is an outstanding player. He has a great attitude and work ethic, and is a young man who will leave his mark on KU football. James McClinton is a guy who plays with great leverage and quickness, he’s powerful and he can run to the ball. He certainly think he’s going to be a fine player for us as well. As far as going to the promised land, where is that?
Ward: Congratulations on a great season this year. How much did the bowl appearance this year help with recruiting?
Coach Mangino: Competing in a bowl game always helps your program. It gives you more practices, it gives you more exposure and it gives your players and opportunity to see how the top teams in the country spend their Decembers. It also opens doors in recruiting, which also enhances our program for the future.
Jeff: Will John Randle and Charles Gordon play offense or defense next year?
Coach Mangino: We will have a better idea after spring ball is completed.
DBAhawk: A healthy Travis Watkins would be a real boost this fall. How is he doing, and is there any chance he will be held out or limited in spring ball to make sure he gets back to 100% by August?
Coach Mangino: Travis Watkins has the potential to be a very fine player in our program, however I have not seen Travis play very much since I’ve been the head coach at Kansas because of his injuries. Travis will be 100 percent this spring, and he will practice the entire spring. If his injuries slow him down in the spring, which I don’t think they will, I find it unlikely that he could be a major contributor in the fall. But as of right now, he looks good, is moving around very well and we have high hopes for him.
Beau: Coach, can we expect to see any more signings or a possible late signing or are you done with this recruiting class?
Coach Mangino: The possibility always exists for a late signing. That’s part of our overall recruiting philosophy.
Pritchard: What can you tell us about the progress of Tony King and Zach Mims, two players who redshirted last year?
Coach Mangino: As is the case with most of our redshirted players, Tony King needs to continue to have a great winter conditioning and spring ball. He is very talented and must mature physically and emotionally, as is the case with a lot of our young guys, so that he can contribute this fall. Zach Mims has gotten stronger and more physical. We look for him to contribute to the improvement of our defense.
Kane: How’s the kicking game looking for the next few years at KU?
Coach Mangino: We believe we’ve improved ourselves in the kicking game in this recruiting class and we’re very confident that is an area we’ll get better in. No question about that.
Michael: The question I have is what do you think of the national trend of putting your best athletes on defense? Is this a trend or are athletes just getting better across the board?
Coach Mangino: Today’s athletes are bigger, stronger and faster at nearly every position on the field. Part of building a successful program is getting the right players in the right places. That’s something we evaluate on a daily basis at KU. We’ve put our best players where they fit in best to help our ball club.
Kenny: Coach how do you see the QB position shaping up. Having to replace Bill can’t be easy. Is the starting position still up in the air?
Coach Mangino: I can’t make any comments on the quarterback position without watching our players work on the practice field this spring. I’m very confident that will continue to be a strong position for us, and I am confident in all of the young guys competing at that position. After using seven quarterbacks in my first two seasons here at KU, I realize there is no such thing as too many good quarterbacks.
Moderator: That does it for our chat with coach Mangino. Again, thanks to coach and our readers for their time this afternoon.
KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self chatted with KUsports.com readers Thursday, answering questions about the team’s rebounding, David Padgett’s health and other topics.
Moderator: We will begin our chat with coach Self in a few minutes. Thanks to coach and our readers for their time this afternoon.
Brandon: Is there anything special you will do to prepare your players as you approach tougher conference games this season?
Coach Self: We prepare basically the same way for each and every game. The one thing we will do when we get into February is spend more time on scouting reports and less time on physical workouts, to make sure our legs are as fresh as they can be.
Dan: Obviously, you’ve been pleasantly surprised with Moody’s play this season. Do you see his playing time increasing, or do you see him more as a role player?
Coach Self: I see all players as role players because everyone is. Certainly, Christian’s role could change, but I don’t see his playing time going down. When we get all our pieces back I see him probably as the fourth big guy, but that could change a bit if the other guy has a perimeter four-man.
Parker: Coach, just wondering how David Padgett is doing and when you expect him at full health.
Coach Self: I think there’s a chance he’s at full health now. We’re going to practice him at full speed tomorrow, so we’ll know a lot more after that. If it is the case he’s pain free, he will play against Richmond. It may not be a lot of minutes, but he will play in short spurts against them and then hopefully be at full speed where the doctors will release him to play Sunday.
Todd: Great first half of the season! I’m impressed with the way you have brought this team together after so many changes. What improvements are you looking for out of the guys as the second half of the season progresses?
Coach Self: I think there are two key things we can do things that we can control without having to make shots. I think we can become a much better, and potentially great, rebounding team. And after we become that I think we can do a real good job of scoring easy baskets. Right now, when we run and have the opportunities to we’ve been efficient since Christmas, but we haven’t had many opportunities to run. I think you’ll see more transition baskets after we become a better defensive rebounding club.
Dan: Coach, I notice during you like to throw a soft trap at a team during various parts of the game. Any plans to incorporate a full court trap to maybe throw the opponent completely out of sync?
Coach Self: We could do that. Basically, we’ll use that as a catch-up defense. We could periodically do that, and we do have a press in, though we haven’t spent a ton of time on it. When you press, you have to get more out of it than you put in, and I don’t like spreading the floor and creating numbers for the other team in the half court. And when you don’t have a lot of depth in the inside, it opens your big men to foul problems. We will do it some, but I’m not a big proponent of that.
Jamie: In watching the game Saturday, it looked like we got our hands on a lot of rebounds, but couldn’t bring the ball in. Is this lack of position or lack of desire?
Coach Self: I think some of it is a lack of a position. I wouldn’t say a lack of desire, just a total lack of aggressiveness in attacking each ball with two hands and reacting to the best of our ability. Whether or not that’s effort or just focus or energy or whatever, we certainly have to do a much better job in that area.
Paul: Coach, did you expect this job to carry as much heightened pressure from the fans/community as it does? What do you do to relax?
Coach Self: I’m sure there is a lot of pressure, at least perceived pressure, from people outside. I don’t think the pressures have affected or changed me, because I don’t think other people can put as much pressure on me as I put on myself. I know fans love Kansas basketball, but I can’t get hung up on pleasing everybody. There are pressures with the job, but I haven’t felt more here than at other places because I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself to perform at a high level.
Benton: It seems like every player has had a game where he’s played great, but there haven’t been many games where each and every player is playing to his potential. Do you think the team is close to firing on all cylinders?
Coach Self: I think we’re closer than we were, but I also think against Michigan State we were a very good team, borderline great team. We’ve had so many things we’ve been dealing with, be it injuries or sickness, that I think it’s been tough for the guys to get to that magic level coaches want them to. We’ve had different things going throughout, but I think we’re about ready to be whole and hopefully that will occur sometime later this week.
Carter: This schedule is driving us fans crazy. With 8 days off at the end of December and 9 days off at the beginning of January, the players must be getting tired of practice. Do you think this has been a problem?
Coach Self: I think from that standpoint, the schedule has been pretty frustrating. I’m happy we got Richmond in there or we would have had another break like that. I think practice has been good, but it’s time for school to start and us to get back to playing two games on a weekly basis. Saturday-Monday games are tougher for us because we’ve been nicked up a little bit, but I’m really looking forward to getting in a routine because this team hasn’t been in a routine as far as the schedule for quite a long time.
Chris: Wayne Simien has had some marvelous games this year, and yet at other times it seems like he’s gotten lost. Why is that and what plans do you have for getting Simien more involved heading into March?
Coach Self: I think we’ve done a much better job of feeding the post, but I also think Wayne’s health hasn’t been really great. You can certainly tell how that goes by him chasing down balls and doing a great job by being aggressive all the time. I think his health has had a lot to do with that and we had a time where we weren’t getting the ball into the post and forgetting what we were trying to accomplish, but I really do think we’re doing a better job of that.
Peter: After only three Big 12 conference games it may be difficult to pinpoint, but what is the biggest difference between conference play in the Big 12 versus the Big 10?
Coach Self: I think it’s a little early to tell. I really believe the Big 12 is faster. I do think the Big 10 will have more half-court possession games, especially the second half of the conference season. There is a lot of athletic ability and open-court play in the Big 12. Other than that it’s pretty similar. I think they’re both great coaches leagues, and the home crowds have been comparable at both places, I think because when you’re Kansas, wherever you go you’re going to have a great crowd. I think there’s certainly passion in both leagues.
Chris: I imagine KU will see zone from a bunch of teams in conference play this season. Can you explain generally how you would like the team to attack a 2-3 zone in the high-low offense?
Coach Self: Ninety-five percent of all teams when you play zone will have to keep the high and low post filled. Attacking a zone has principles, and however you get to it you want to accomplish the same things. We run a lot of what we call “zone motion” and what we call “stationary,” but the bottom line is that we will see a lot of zones. We’ve done better against zones lately, and I think we’re shooting the ball much better than we were before. Hopefully getting Mike Lee back will be a big asset in that regard.
Mike: It seemed to me at the beginning of the season the players had some difficulty making the transition to the new offence. Do you now see them becoming comfortable and fully adjusted to your system?
Coach Self: I think that he transition term has been way overused. By now, it’s not because of a transition that we don’t play well. It’s because we miss shots or don’t execute well or whatever. I do think the guys have a much better understanding of what we were trying to do than before, but they still have to execute. I’d say when we struggle most is when we don’t pay attention to detail, and when one or two guys aren’t on the same page it doesn’t look very good. I think the guys are doing better, but we have to pay more attention to detail on both ends.
Moderator: That was our final question for coach Self. Again, thanks to him and our readers for their time today.
Orlando ? Welcome to our online chat with KU football writer David Mitchell.
The chat took place on Monday, December 22, at 12:00 PM and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.
Moderator: Thanks for joining us. We’re chatting with David Mitchell, sports writer for the Lawrence Journal-World.
Dave: Who does NC State’s offense most resemble in the Big 12?
David: I would say they are really different than most teams in the Big 12 because a lot of the teams in the Big 12 have quarterbacks who are threats to run or pass, and Phillip Rivers is really more of a pocket-passer. He stays behind his linemen as long as he can. NC State throws the ball a lot more than any conference team KU saw this year.
Nachoman: What is to become of KU’s defense with the loss of Weekley and Jones?
David: Chuck hadn’t played in the last four games and probably wouldn’t have played if he made the trip, so that’s not a big loss. They both have been in and out of the lineup and inconsistent and if they can’t get their acts together, it’s better not to have them in the locker room no matter how much potential they might have had.
James: What’s more important in your mind – getting some early pressure on Phillip Rivers, or early success against T.A. McLendon?
David: I guess I would say Rivers. McLendon is kind of an unknown since he’s had so many problems on and off the field this year.
Hawkman: David, any last-minute reports on whether defensive tackle Travis Watkins is going to start?
David: Coach made it sound like that would be a gametime decision based on how well Travis was feeling. I think he will play a lot regardless of whether he starts or not. Travis told me that if it was up to him, Sid Bachmann would start because Sid’s a senior and he’s been in the lineup most of the year.
KUfan: With all the distractions of going to Orlando, do you think the players are as focused on the game as they would normally be?
David: I think the coaching staff has done a good job of balancing the fun and the work. They practiced every day until yesterday, and their curfew has gotten earlier every night.
Mark: I just don’t see how KU’s defense can be expected to stop N.C. State. What do you think needs to happen for KU to pull this upset?
David: Like most people, I could easily see it being a shootout similar to the Colorado game. KU needs to make the most of every offensive opportunity. They can’t have any turnovers or special teams break down. If the offense plays the way that it’s capable of and the special teams play mistake-free, KU will have a chance to stay in the game.
Bob: Do we still have a basketball team at Kansas? The Bill Whittemore fueled football team is much more fun to watch these days than the Hi-Slow Bill Self offense.
David: Just remember last year’s basketball team started off 3-3. Don’t panic. When you have freshmen playing starting roles, you’re going to have an up and down team, especially early in the season.
James: What do you think the Jayhawks secondary can do to slow down the passing attack of Phillip Rivers and NC State?
David: I would say it’s more a question of whether the defensive line can put any pressure on Rivers. If the defensive line gives him all day to throw, the defensive backs don’t stand a chance.
Sean: So what are Whittemore’s chances at going pro?
David: Coach Mangino said that several teams have inquired about getting video tapes so they can evaluate him and there are supposed to be scouts from the NFL, CFL and the arena league at today’s game. I think that Bill has a lot of skill and could play somewhere on the professional level if he can find a team willing to overlook the fact that he’s only 6-foot.
mrclutch: Is Charles Gordon and John Randle getting the start at cornerback? Do you think they will play the majority of the time on defense?
David: Coach Mangino told us that Charles would start at one cornerback and Remuise Johnson would start at the other. I would expect to see Charles and John play both ways in addition to their duties on special teams.
Will: Can KU overcome losing its senior class and put together a solid (and bowl-worthy) football team next season?
David: I would say that KU already has some players in place to replace some of their more vital seniors, including Adam Barrmann and Cesar Rodriguez. KU has already signed five junior-college playeres for next season and has several high school players who have orally committed. The biggest challenge for KU will be a much more difficult schedule when the Big 12 rotates its schedule next season. KU will play Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas instead of Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.
Mo: Do the boys believe they can win this one?
David: These guys have believed in themselves all season long, even when other people did not. If they had settled for the expectations other people tried to set for them, they wouldn’t be here in a bowl game.
Moderator: Thanks for joining us for our chat with David Mitchell. Be sure to come back to KUSports.com for continuing Tangerine Bowl coverage. The game starts at 4:30 p.m.
KU football coach Mark Mangino answered questions from KUsports.com readers Friday. Mangino discussed the team’s first bowl game in eight years, NC State quarterback Philip Rivers and building on this year’s progress.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat with coach Mangino in just a moment. Thanks to both him and our readers for their time today.
Bill: How does it feel to go to your first bowl as a Head Coach?
Coach Mangino: I’m very pleased for our players and our fans that we’re going to a bowl game. Our players have worked hard and have earned the opportunity to go to the Tangerine Bowl, so more than anything I’m very happy for our players.
VJ: Looking at next season, what is your No. 1 priority for building on this year’s progress?
Coach Mangino: Right now I’m more interested in focusing on the bowl game, but we will continue to build our program by continuing the same path that we have used to this point. We are constantly evaluating ourselves and always looking to improve ourselves. We just need to keep showing improvement on a daily basis.
Jhawk: How will you keep the team focused on playing football and not fall prey to the distractions of a bowl game?
Coach Mangino: Our players realize that going to a bowl game is a lot of fun, but the most fun you can have is winning the game, and I believe our players are mature enough and smart enough to know when it is time to have fun and leisure and when it’s time to take care of business.
Brad: What is practice going to be like for the coming weeks? Will it be entirely 100% focused on preparing for NC State? Or will there be some more general preparation for next season as well?
Coach Mangino: We’re at the point now where the next two practices will be devoted to general team development, and then all the rest will be devoted to preparation for North Carolina State.
Rick: How do you plan stopping NC State’s quarterback?
Coach Mangino: Nobody has really stopped Philip Rivers this year, but there are some people who have done a good job of containing him, not allowing him to make too many big plays where he can hurt you. We’re not going to stop him, but we feel like we can do some things to possibly disrupt his rhythm and give him some different looks. He’s an awfully good player; no one’s going to stop him.
Brad: The personnel on this 6-6 bowl team and last year’s 2-10 team is very similar. In your mind, what has been the key difference between the two teams?
Coach Mangino: I think that there some similarities to last year’s team, but there are significant differences. When you look at the big picture, our team is more confident, has a better understanding of our philosophy, they’re bigger, faster and stronger than they were a year ago, and we have a good compliment of players who were in our program and developed and some key newcomers who have played a role in our success as well.
Marcus: How much of a role do quality “citizens” play in your success?
Coach Mangino: When we go out to recruit, we not only look for quality football players, but players who are going to be quality citizens and have great work ethic in the classroom. Sometimes we stub our toe, but I haven’t been involved with a program that doesn’t from time to time. I will spend more time with my players, for about seven to eight months of the year, than I will with my own family, so I want to be surrounded by great kids everyday, not just guys who can play football.
Curt: Is there a possibility we can get Travis Watkins ready for the game?
Coach Mangino: I don’t know. Hopefully he will be, but I just don’t know.
Jeff: Where is Charles Gordon’s future on the team? Offense, Defense or Slash?
Coach Mangino: Charles has a great future with our team. If it were up to him, he’d play in all three phases of the game, but we’re going to evaluate his situation and decide what’s best for him and the team collectively. Charles has a great attitude and will do anything he can to make our football team better.
Chad: Which Big 12 team most resembles the Wolfpack offense?
Coach Mangino: They really don’t resemble any one team in the Big 12 Conference, but I do see elements that resemble Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Texas Tech. They really don’t resemble any one team top to bottom in the Big 12.
Moderator: We have time for one or two more questions for coach Mangino.
Brad: How important is this first bowl game berth, under your watch, for the future of the program?
Coach Mangino: I think it’s always important to make progress when you take a new program. Basically this bowl game is just a landmark of progress for our program. It is not a goal that has been set that we believe tells us we have arrived. We just see it as another rung in the ladder as we climb toward excellence.
Moderator: Again, thanks to coach Mangino and our readers for their time this afternoon, and good luck to the Jayhawks in the Tangerine Bowl.
Kansas University wide receiver Mark Simmons answered questions from KUsports.com readers during an online chat Thursday. Simmons discussed the Jayhawks’ talented receiving corps, his pregame rituals and his favorite routes to run, among other topics.
Moderator: We’ll begin out chat in just a minute or two. Thanks to Mark Simmons and our readers for their time today.
Peter: Have you enjoyed your time in Lawrence so far? Would you recommend KU to other recruits?
Mark Simmons: Lawrence is a beautiful town to go to college in. I like the fans and all the people in town. I would definitely tell recruits to come here. We’re doing something with this program, going in the right direction and expecting big things for the future.
Andy: Is there a team this year that you have played against that is similar to NC State?
Mark Simmons: I feel that Oklahoma State did the same thing. Their offense is the same. They like the throw the ball a lot, but also have a good tailback and their defense plays a lot of man coverage. I think Oklahoma State and NC State have a lot of similarities on both offense and defense.
Young Jedi: Mark, how good can this Jayhawk receiving corps be? The trio of yourself, Gordan, and Rideau were great this year. Can you top it in the bowl game and next season?
Mark Simmons: With me, Charles and Brandon it was great this season, but it wasn’t what we expected. We expect more of our ourselves, and in the bowl game we’re going to try to do even more and next year we’re going to try to be the best receiving corps in the nation.
Ross: What is the thought process and practice routine for the receiver group to recognize and react when the quarterback is forced to scramble? Are there set bailout locations to run to, do you just start blocking, how does that work?
Mark Simmons: When the quarterback scrambles, you have to have good whereabouts of where he wants you to be. We like to have one guy deep, one guy short and one guy sprint to the sideline. You just have to have good recognition of the quarterback so he knows where you’re going to be. And with Bill, he obviously likes to throw the deep ball.
Larry: Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals?
Mark Simmons: For the pregame I always tape my wrists and I have to have two wristbands on. I don’t know why, but I feel that makes me play better. I always have to dress nice, because I feel that if I look good when I play, I play good. And right before I come out of the locker room I always say a prayer to the Lord.
Brad: Describe the feeling of catching a pass in full stride and sprinting through the open field to the end zone. It occurs to me that that’s a feeling I’ll never know (at least, not outside of a two-hand-touch or flag football game with my friends). That must be an amazing feeling to be able to do it in a Divison I atmosphere.
Mark Simmons: When you catch a deep pass like a post and you catch it in stride, it’s a great feeling. All you can think about is running your fastest so you don’t get caught, because if you do everyone’s going to laugh at you. When you hit the end zone that’s a great feeling because everything you did cashed in for you and now it’s time to go celebrate with your teammates.
Brad: What made you choose KU?
Mark Simmons: Choosing KU was a hard decision for me. It came down to KU or Oklahoma State, and I had committed to OSU earlier, but I felt Lawrence was the right place for me to be. I like the player and the coaching staff knew what they wanted and were going in the right direction. I felt that it would be a better situation for me in the long run.
Brad: What’s your favorite pass route to run? Do you like trying to beat the other guy deep on a fly route or a deep post, or do you prefer quick, short routes like slants and screens?
Mark Simmons: My favorite pass play to run is either the go route or the post route, because if you catch either one you have a step on them and if you break a tackle or make a guy miss, you’re going to the house. The fans like the big play and I like to give them the big play.
Brad: What is your favorite memory from this past season?
Mark Simmons: I guess my favorite memory from this past season was when the clock hit zero and we realized we had beaten Missouri and the fans rushed the field. We were on TV and let all the fans know where our program was headed and what we’d done.
Brad: In your opinion, what was the biggest difference between last season’s 2-10 team and this season’s 6-6 team?
Mark Simmons: The difference between this year’s team and last year’s team is more confidence. We have confidence in our abilities to go out and compete with everyone we play. We think we can win every game, and that’s how we approach everything. We think anyone we face we should be able to beat. It gives us more confidence and we when face teams people think should beat us we come out on top or we put up a good fight and never give up. We fight until the end.
Troy: How does it feel to be playing in your first Bowl Game.
Mark Simmons: Playing in my first bowl game is going to be something special. Everyone watches when you play in a bowl. You get to play a team that you’ll probably never play again. unless you face them in another bowl. It’s going to be a great experience. We’re going to go down to Orlando, have a lot of fun and hopefully come out with a victory. It’s not going to be as much fun if we go down there and lose. We want to win and have more fun.
Brad: Talk a little bit about the toughness and leadership of Bill Whittemore. How badly do you think the team will miss his leadership and presence next season? Do you think Adam Barmann will be able to fill Bill’s shoes?
Mark Simmons: Bill Whittemore is just a great guy to be around and to play with, and overall. His toughness is incredible. Most people with his injury would have been out for at least two more weeks, but Bill came back to play his last game as a senior. Adam Barmann is going to be a great quarterback. He’s not the same has Bill; he’s going to fill his own shoes. After he leaves, people are going to ask who’ll fill his shoes. It’s about making your own mark, and I think that’s what he’s going to do.
Moderator: Again, we’d like to thank Mark and our readers for their time today. We have time for one more question.
Jamie: How will the extra practice time help prepare the team for next year?
Mark Simmons: The practice time will help us tremendously. With a bowl game and more practice we’re getting more reps in so it’s like another spring ball. It gives the younger players more time to develop so they’re ready to help us get another winning season next year.
Moderator: That finishes our chat with KU’s Mark Simmons. Be sure to log on to KUsports.com at 1 p.m. Friday for our chat with head coach Mark Mangino.
KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self chatted with KUsports.com readers for 20 minutes Tuesday, discussing Friday’s opening game against Tennessee-Chattanooga, zone defense and the national respect KU receives.
Moderator: We will begin our chat with coach Self in just a few moments. We’d like to thank both coach and our readers for their time this afternoon.
Tom: Will you incorporate zones with man-to-man defense, and will you use any type of full-court pressure?
Coach Self: I believe that we’ll play a little zone this year, and I don’t anticipate us playing a lot early because we haven’t had time to work on it. We will utilize some various full-court pressure, whether it be man or a zone press, but probably not as much early as you’ll see late.
Richard: Who will be your starting five?
Coach Self: I can’t tell you who will start on Friday, but I can say five of the players will come from the seven of Wayne Simien, Jeff Graves, David Padgett, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford, Jeff Hawkins and Michael Lee. That’s what we’re toward right now.
Michael: How do you emphasize conditioning in practice? It seemed that Kansas during the past three years had one of the best conditioned teams, which could outrun nearly any opponent.
Coach Self: I think one reason Kansas has been so well-conditioned that they played so fast. We try to do some of the same things, but we like to work on conditioning with the ball, but we have done some things lately after practice to try to push our guys to get in better running condition than we were maybe 10 days ago, but I really feel like we’ll be in a team that will be in really good condition and be even better as we go on.
Kevin: On ESPN.com no one picked KU to win it all this year. Do you feel that the program is not getting enough respect in general coming off a 2nd place finish?
Coach Self: I’m not familiar with what ESPN.com said or who the votes were coming from, but I think KU is getting an awfully large amount of respect since both polls have us in the top six after losing two lottery picks. I think that the program’s reputation has garnered more respect than many would even after losing two players after a runner-up finish.
Mike: I am glad to hear about the focus on defensive intensity. Just wondering, though, will the team still run off of “made baskets?”
Coach Self: I think this team is most comfortable playing in the open court and playing fast. Sure we’ll run off of made baskets, I just don’t want there to be too many opportunities to do that.
Kevin: Hi Coach! Do you fear teams will play zone against you? Will the Hi-Low offense be successful against say a 2-3?
Coach Self: The way we run offense, and fans haven’t really had a chance to see it and we haven’t shown it yet, I believe against any zone the majority of coaches will try to attack it in the high and low posts areas, but that’s not our offense. To have success against a zone you have to keep the high and low posts filled. Though it’s not the same offense, those are principles will use to attack the zone.
Mark: How has the reception from other Big 12 coaches been?
Coach Self: When you get into competition, I think the reception from the other coaches has been fine, but no other league coach is going around worried about making Bill Self comfortable. That’s not the way it works in this business. I’m looking forward to playing everybody.
Kathy: Where would you say the team is now in comparison to where they were prior to the first and second exhibition games?
Coach Self: We’re a lot further along, we’re a lot more comfortable, we’re thinking less and reacting more because through repetition things are becoming more natural. We’re not where we need to be, but I think we’ve made great progress and great improvement over the past couple weeks.
Oklahoma Jayhawk: With all the time you have to spend coaching, recruiting, and running the KU basketball office, how do you find time to relax and spend time with your family?
Coach Self: I don’t spend as much time, as most spouses or parents, I don’t spend as much time as I should, but I can’t blame that on the job. Sometimes we get so carried up with our work, that sometimes we don’t spend as much time as home as we should. But basketball has sometimes allowed us some opportunities to spend more time together. I think my family understands, and if I were home more often I think my wife wouldn’t like it. I’m not great at spending the time that I need to, but I’m far better than I used to be in that regard.
Mark: What do you think of the changes being made to the future seating policy in Allen Fieldhouse?
Coach Self: I don’t understand, personally, all the changes that are taking place, but I have great confidence in our leadership and believe that there are some things that have to be done in order to give us the best chance to compete, not only in basketball but in all sports. One thing we have to do is generate revenue, but it is not intended to be done to people who have been very supportive of and loyal to the university, but policies have to be put in place to generate as much money as possible and also to take into consideration the generosity of fans over time.
Jayfan: What has been the biggest surprise to you since you’ve been here?
Coach Self: I don’t know if there have been a ton of surprises because I feel like I came here with my eyes open. But the one thing that continues to amaze me is the passion and interest level of our fans.
Andy: When might we see the red uniforms?
Coach Self: We don’t even have them yet. Nike hasn’t gotten them to us yet, and I’m not sure when we’ll use them, but when we do it will probably be a surprise. A lot of places are doing this and we definitely have three different school colors and we will use the red on various occasions, but don’t expect us to wear the red very often. I’m a pretty superstitious guy, so don’t expect that to be a common occurrence. That’s something that will be done a couple times a year, probably.
Moderator: Coach Self has time for one or two more questions. We’d again like to thank him and our readers for their time.
Andy: How excited, nervous are you to start the season Friday night?
Coach Self: I’m both. I’m not nervous in the sense that the job or wanting to get off to a great start. I’m nervous because I don’t know what to expect. When you’ve had guys before and you’ve been able to coach them, you pretty much know what strengths and weaknesses are. I’m kind of nervous and excited to see how we react. I thought the exhibition games had mixed reviews — some parts good, some parts not so good. Obviously, I’m very excited to get it going. Every coach this time of year wishes he had one more week, so we’re all operating under the same umbrella. I certainly feel much more comfortable now about playing than maybe two weeks ago.
Andy: How is it having an office on Naismith Drive?
Coach Self: it’s great. It’s humbling. Every time I walk into the office I have to walk past Dr. Naismith, Dr. Allen, Dick Harp, coach Owens, coach Brown and coach Williams. Those photos are on the hallway to my office. It’s been great. Certainly having a chance to practice in Allen every day and drive down Naismith every day is great and something I don’t take for granted and hope I never do.
Moderator: Again, thanks to both coach Self and our readers. Keep logged on for complete coverage of the Jayhawks and future chats with coaches and players.
KU mens’ basketball coach Bill Self chatted with KUsports.com readers Monday, answering questions about the starting lineup, his future at KU and Danny Manning’s duties.
Moderator: We’d like to thank Coach Self and our readers for their time this morning. We’ll start our chat in just a moment.
Bob: What kind of welcome have you received here in Lawrence?
Coach Self: It’s been a relatively smooth transition and one of the big reasons is because my family and myself have felt so welcome here in town. I know a lot of time people don’t like change, and change can cause you to be uncomfortable, but in this situation the transition has been relatively smooth because people have welcomed us so well.
Krista: Do you plan on keeping the skits during Late Night, or do you plan on putting your own little spin on the event?
Coach Self: I think we’ll put our own spin on Late Night, but I think the players do enjoy the skits. We probably won’t do as many of them, but we have some other things planned that I think will be more fun for the general audience. I think it will seem very similar to the past, but it may not have the same feel as Late Nights under the previous regime.
Justin: Coach, welcome to KU and good luck with the season. I know it’s early, but can you give us a prediction on who the starting five will be this year?
Coach Self: I would say that right now, based on what I know, Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles and Keith Langford have a great chance to start, obviously. David Padgett has looked good so far, and if he stays healthy he’ll challenge for a spot. And the perimeter spot could come from a lot of people. It could be a young guy like Case or Giddens, or it could be a veteran like Michael Lee. There’s a lot of guys fighting for a couple spots.
Mohawk: What did you say to the four freshman that made them want to honor their commitment to KU?
Coach Self: I really didn’t have to say much. I knew three of the four, and Omar was the only one I didn’t know, and really all they wanted to know was, “Coach, am I still going to be a wanted piece to the puzzle?” Of course, the obvious answer was “yes,” and the way we play certainly fits the players who were recruited. I think we probably got more credit than we deserved on that deal because I feel all the players really wanted to be here.
Adam: Well, coach, you’ve had quite a busy schedule since joining the Jayhawks. I would imagine you’re very eager to begin the season. What have been your most pleasant surprises at Kansas and with the team thus far? Good luck this season!
Coach Self: There have been several pleasant surprises. Of the returning players, I don’t think they really care who you recruit from a competition standpoint. I don’t think they care about anything from what gives us the best chance to win. I’ve been real pleased with that. For the most part, guys have been buying into the “we instead of me” philosophy. I’m also very impressed with the fraternity of past players. There are past players who certainly care and want to give back as much as possible to the guys who came after them. And lastly, the interest level in KU basketball is ever more than I thought looking in. I think people’s passion they feel for the Jayhawks is even more than I thought coming in.
Teri: We’re really excited to have you as our coach. How are the freshmen adjusting to college life and college basketball?
Coach Self: I think they’re doing great. I think that Jeremy and J.R. are close enough that homesickness is always a factor but not as big of one. David’s adjusted very well, and Omar is doing very well, even though all guys from outside your area go through some homesickness. I think they’ve all done well.
Mike: First off, Coach congrats to you and your staff on an excellent recruiting class. Is the staff still looking to continue recruiting players for the 2004 class or is the book closed and the staff looking at kids for 2005 now? Thanks and GO HAWKS!
Coach Self: I think in today’s time, recruiting is a never-ending process. Our focus is 2005, but certainly we’re going to continue to monitor, recruit and keep in contact with our 2004 class because something could break lose that you’re not prepared for. There are a lot of things that could possibly happen, and if you’re caught unprepared it could be devastating for your program. We hope everything stays status quo, but the chances of something unforseen happening are far greater today than in times past.
Dave: Coach, our former HC had a philosophy that were the Hawks to play their game he did not care about what the opponent did. What is your philosophy about knowing the opponent and trying to force them to do the things with which they are not comfortable.
Coach Self: I agree with the original statement, but the better your players are the more other teams have to worry about you. The less-talented teams have to worry about taking away what other teams can do. We have our principles and that’s how we are and how we play, but we will tweak things to give us the best chance on both ends of the court.
Bob: Do you feel much pressure to establish your own legacy at KU?
Coach Self: I don’t feel pressure to produce a legacy. I feel pressure to put the best product we can possibly have at the University of Kansas on the floor. I think the alumni and fans deserve that from their coach, but I’d feel that wherever I am. If you really take it as pressure your players will see it as pressure and probably not perform as well. As far as me personally, I can only be who I am and I can only try so hard and give my best, and hopefully my best will be good enough.
Dave: Coach, are you in it for the “long haul” like you were at Illinois?
Coach Self: I think at the press conference at Illinois, because I’ve been reminded many times since then, I think the question was asked if I was in the for the long term, and I said I was in it for the “long haul”, and I certainly meant that. And I still meant March 1 and every step of the way until the Kansas position became available. It was a poor choice of words, but things change, and I know that statement has been felt by some at Illinois, and I’m certain I’m going to say some things here at Kansas that I believe in but later won’t be as big of a deal as I felt initially. I’m going to tell players I’m not happy with their effort and the next day I’ll be pleased with it. We’ve all said things in the past that were felt, and over time a circumstance may change how you feel on that situation. The unexpected opening at Kansas certainly created that, in this situation. I’ve learned a valuable lesson. You never know what the future holds, but we certainly hope our future’s in Lawrence.
Ed: Has Danny Manning’s role been more defined yet?
Coach Self: Danny’s role has been defined, and he is director of our student-athlete development. He is a basketball manager, in that he performs a lot of the managerial duties that our managers do. The reason for the title is because at this point and time in his career he is not ready to pursue a career in coaching, and this lets him get in on the ground floor and see if he wants to do this in the future. Danny is not a coach. Danny is a mentor to the students in our program.
Rod: Coach Self, Welcome back to Kansas. Mizzou fans were really rubbing it in our faces when Roy left. Then, when you were announced as KU’s head coach, their exuberance died out quickly. I think you were the only coach Mizzou fans feared as a replacement to Roy. Thats when I knew you were the man for the job. Your thoughts about the KU -MU rivalry….
Coach Self: Missouri-Kansas is obviously one of the most storied rivalries in America, and we experienced it somewhat when we were at Illinois. It’s a great rivalry there, Missouri-Illinois, as well, but playing in the league takes it to another level. They’ve got great players, and I feel like our players are good and it should make for some heated contests. I like the rivalry. I think that’s why you come to Kansas, to play in games like this.
Todd: Coach will you continue to recruit California in addition to your strongholds? You sure have made us proud with your first class coming in.
Coach Self: We’ll continue to recruit the West Coast, as we’ll get more into the Southwest now, and certainly in the Midwest where we have ties and the East where we have ties. We want to go where the best players are. The past staff did such a good job on the West Coast we don’t want to stop, and I certainly expect us to be involved with some of the best players on the West Coast in the future.
Moderator: Coach Self has time for about two more questions. We’d like to again thank him and our readers for their time this morning.
Roger: My question is this: is there a particular team (or teams) that you’d be interested in kindling an in-season rivalry with through home-and-home series?
Coach Self: I do think our schedule will look somewhat different in the future, in that we will continue to play top-flight competition, but hopefully our home-and-aways will be national exposure. I’d love to play traditional powers such as Kentucky, Duke, Syracuse, Connecticut, something like that. I think this will be something fans want to see, and games players will want to play in. We won’t play all those teams, but I do feel that four or five of our games in the future will be against that caliber of opponents.
Brian: What are the positives of playing a high powered team like Michigan State so early in the season?
Coach Self: The advantage of playing a team like Michigan State that early, is that it forces your workouts between Oct. 18 and that game date to be very, very serious toward preparation to get your team ready. We open up with Tennessee-Chattanooga, who swichtes defenses and will force us to be quick, and then we play Michigan State. With a new staff and four new players who are basically starting Oct. 18 from scratch, it definitely puts pressure on us to prepare even harder to be ready for an opponent like that.
Moderator: Again, we’d like to thank Coach Self for his time this morning, and our readers for their time and their questions. We hope you all have fun at Late Night In The Phog.
KU linebacker Gabriel Toomey chatted with KUsports.com readers for about 15 minutes Friday afternoon. He answered questions about why he came to KU, the Jayhawks’ off week and beating Missouri.
Moderator: We’ll begin our chat in just a few moments. We’d like to thank KU linebacker Gabriel Toomey for his time and our KUsports.com readers for their questions.
Brad: What was the biggest factor in your decision to choose KU? Was it the location? Was it coach Mangino? Was it one of the assistants? Was it the chance to play in the Big XII? Was it something else?
Gabriel Toomey: I’d say the biggest factor to choose KU was coach Mangino and the coaching staff are great guys. They were straight up with me and told me what they expected and so far everything’s going very well. The atmosphere is great. I’d say the coaching staff, and coach Doeren is a great coach, too.
Larry: What did you think when you saw that the stands were filled for the KU-MU game?
Gabriel Toomey: When I came out for warm-ups and it was full, it was just an unbelievable feeling. It jus showed a lot of emotion from the crowd. A lot of true fans were there and it was a great experience. I hope a lot of Saturdays are like that because we get pumped from the crowd. It was just a great experience and a great feeling.
Matt: My question is how do you plan to prevent Colorado’s rushing attack?
Gabriel Toomey: We had an extra week to watch films and see what their running tendencies are, and we just need to continue to improve every week and stay assignment sound and follow our duties on the field. It’s a simple plan, but it’s about execution.
Dave: What has the team worked on and accomplished during the off week?
Gabriel Toomey: We’ve been getting after it in practice. We’ve had a lot of really good practices and getting a lot of hours in the film room and basically just studying Colorado.
Charhawk: Are you surprised with how the linebacking group is playing despite your short time together as a unit?
Gabriel Toomey: I’ m not really surprised by it. That we’re playing together so well so soon is really good for the defense and the team. I think we click really good on the field and off the field. All the linebackers are really good friends and that carries a lot onto the field, which really helps us play so well together so soon.
Brad: Is there a different feeling in the locker room and all week during practice leading up to a rivalry game like Mizzou?
Gabriel Toomey: We take every game seriously. Especially with a rivalry game like Missouri, all week was really intense, everyone was getting after it and being really serious because of the rivalry and all the years we’ve played. It was a very, very serious week around the KU locker room and on the practice field. The coaches and everybody really got after it.
Brad: When you were a kid, what football players did you try to emulate and model yourself after the most?
Gabriel Toomey: I never really modeled myself after any pro football players, but I always had my favorites growing up. I played offense and defense, so on offense I wanted to be like Walter Payton. On defense, I wanted to be like Lawrence Taylor — he played with emotion and played recklessly.
Captain Kirk: How do you feel about being only two wins away from a bowl game?
Gabriel Toomey: It feels really good to be two wins from a bowl game, but you still have to take it week by week. You can’t take any game lightly. You’ve got to prepare and not lose focus of what’s been getting you to where you are.
Brad: What has been your best football memory so far in your playing career?
Gabriel Toomey: Definitely the MU-KU game last week. It was a great game to be involved in, and a win always makes it better, but you get a really good feel for the Big 12 and a big-time football game.
Moderator: We have time for one more question, and we’d again like to thank Toomey and our readers.
Matt: How does it feel to be a newcomer to KU and be a fan favorite and leader of a much improved Jayhawk defense?
Gabriel Toomey: It feels really good and I love the fans and the fact that they like me. It’s better than the alternative. It feels really good to be looked at like that. I think everybody on the defense steps up at certain times to be leaders when they need to, but it feels really good to be accepted.
Moderator: Again, thanks to Gabriel Toomey and our readers for their time this afternoon. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
KU football coach Mark Mangino chatted with KUsports.com readers for 15 minutes Thursday afternoon. He answered questions about Colorado, Travis Watkins and a new local delicacy.
Glenn Porzelt: It appears that KU’s defense is making great strides in both reducing total yardage and, more importantly, reducing scoring. What do you attribute this improvement to?
Coach Mangino: We’ve just progressively gotten better through repetitions in practice and game experience. Our kids who are contributing feel more comfortable with the system and we’re developing that confidence you need to play good defense. Our thing is that we need to keep it going.
Washington DC: How is Travis Watkins doing? I noticed he was on crutches last week. Any chance he’ll be back for the Colorado game?
Coach Mangino: Travis is progressing very well. He will not be ready for Colorado, and we’re going to continue to monitor his progress and see if he is available for Baylor. Our medical staff has not informed me yet if he will be available for Baylor.
Jason Perez: What do you see as a bigger challenge as your prepare to play Colorado — KU’s offense’s ability to move the ball down the field against them, or the defense’s ability to stop Colorado’s normally run-oriented offense (which has struggled recently)?
Coach Mangino: We can’t depend on just one side of the ball playing well against Colorado. We have to play assignment-sound, fundamental football and continue to improve in that area. But we must also be able to move the ball and put points on the board. I think we have to be successful on both sides of the ball to be successful in Boulder.
dean: How will the team respond to the national attention that it has received this week?
Coach Mangino: Our players know that they must keep everything in prospective. We became 4-1 this season because we have focused on the task at hand each and every week and have prepared well for each and every opponent. We have to be careful about praise. Sometimes, it can be as harmful as criticism.
Dave: What do you think about Quinton’s naming a sandwich after you, and have you had one?
Coach Mangino: I think it’s funny, but you know you’ve arrived if they name a street after you. I haven’t had one.
David: Coach, does an off week like this one help you and your assistants with recruiting?
Coach Mangino: Sure it helps. We have developed a good portion of this week to recruiting. This week our focus is improving fundamentals, recruiting and some preparation for Colorado.
Kenny Short: Will the absence of Bobby Purify from Colorado’s lineup change the focus of the defense any or will they still key on the run?
Coach Mangino: We won’t change our game plan if Bobby Purify doesn’t play because they have other quality backs in their program, and we have to be a good run-stopping team no matter who plays. We have to be prepared no matter who’s in their backfield.
Kent Myers: Austine Nwabuisi made some incredible blocks leading the way for some big yards. Do you see his role as a ball carrier and receiver expanding down the road?
Coach Mangino: We plan to use our fullback position as much as we can within the system that we have. Our system only calls for a fullback a low percentage of times. But when the fullback is in the game, we expect that to be a very productive position for us, both in the pass and run game.
Colorado Jay: How impressed are you with the fan support? It has got to feel great to look up and see a sea of blue bleeding for the Hawks. The Colorado Jayhawks will be there in two weeks full throat hungry for another win. Rock Chalk and keep up the great work.
Coach Mangino: I’m very pleased with our fans. They’ve been great. The atmosphere Saturday was exciting. Our players enjoyed it, and our players are working hard because they want to keep our fans happy and don’t want to disappoint them. But we truly appreciate all of our fan support.
Moderator: We’d like to thank Coach Mangino for his time and our readers for their questions. Make sure to log on to KUsports.com at 1:30 p.m. Friday for our chat with linebacker Gabe Toomey.
6Sports anchor James Sido took about 30 minutes during the afternoon before the KU’s national title game against Syracuse to answer visitors questions about the Jayhawks, the Orangemen and the chances of Roy Williams leaving for UNC.
Moderator: We’ll be starting in just a moment. Thanks to James Sido for his time and all our visitors for their time and questions.
Bennie Simecka: You picked Syracuse, have you changed your mind since Saturday?
James Sido: Well, given their opponent tonight, I have in fact changed my mind. KU by three and I’d take the over (that’s if I encouraged gambling, which I don’t). That selection of Syracuse was made pre-tournament and was based on its proximity to the hometown of Tom Glavine.
Todd Ohlemeier: Has Syracuse met any team this season that could possibly compare to the style of offense they’re about to face tonight? If not, do you think it is even possible for a team to prepare for that in the short amount of time the pace of a tourney allows??
James Sido: Last part first — we saw with the Marquette game and with Tom Crean’s post-game comments, that it is virtually impossible for other teams to simulate the speed and precision on KU’s transition offense, passing ability and secondary break.
Offensively, they haven’t played anyone that really resembles what KU does. The closest may be Mizzou (but it’s not the same at all) the only reason I say them is because of their inside presence and dynamic players from the wing.
Rich Herrmann: What do you see the rotation as being next year?
James Sido: i think the starting five will be Miles, Langford, Giddens, Simien and Graves. Padgett will start the season coming off the bench, but could be starting by conference play.
Mike in Wichita: How the heck are we going to play Carmello Anthony? And who will match up with him. He presents such a mismatch that I believe we will need to double down on him.
James Sido: Roy hates doubling down with a passion — it leaves the perimeter too open for his liking. Langford starts on Anthony, Lee plays him and so does Hinrich. Anthony will score; KU has to worry about McNamara and Warrick getting off.
PJ Meitl: Is Al Bohl going to be fored at the end of the season because of his apparent chilly relationship with Williams and Mangino? If so, who are candidtaes to replace him. Does Coach Williams basically get to pick the AD if he stays?
James Sido: I think there will be a change of leadership very soon after the tournament — this IS a gut feeling and this is not from some source within the athletic dept. I’d rather not speculate on the man’s job, but if a change is made then I think Richard Konzem will be elevated to the post.
Jenny: Have you heard what time the team might get back to town tomorrow and if/when there will be a “Welcome Back” celebration at the stadium?
James Sido: The team will have a welcome back celebration at Memorial Stadium (weather permitting) if the weather is poor, it will be moved to Allen Fieldhouse. the event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be aired live on channel 6 in lawrence
Andrew: What will Roy’s strategy against the 2-3 zone be tonight?
James Sido: Utilize Collison-Graves in the high-low scheme — got to get a threat near the free-throw line and work from there. Also Langford, Miles, Hinrich penetrating and dumping off or kicking out
Chad Speakar: no John Chaney, no Jalen Rose, how did you make it through this tournament? please predict for me the unpredictable event that will play into the outcome tonight.
James Sido: Believe me, the lack of those two in the tourney has had me a little emotional at times. I made it through with a lot of support from friends and family, but it was hard, real hard.
Event to decide the game — Hakim Warrick may dislocate both shoulders when trying to dunk a little too hard — that means more minutes for Forth and that seals the deal for KU.
Brian Wiedower: Assuming KU wins, who is your thought for Final Four MVP. As much as I enjoy Hinrich and Collison and all that they bring to the game, Langford has been very, very solid. Does he have any chance of claiming the award?
James Sido: Langford does have a chance for it, but he’d have to go over 20 again tonight and Collison or Hinrich would have to foul out or just play horribly to not get full consideration — and I don’t see that happening
Bill Menezes: Jeff Graves showed Saturday he still has a tendency to pick up the dumb foul. Any idea whether he’s more likely to do so against the Orangemen than he did against Arizona?
James Sido: Unfortunately for KU, he is just as likely to do so tonight. both teams feature rangy, athletic big men and that gives him fits.
Rob Bauer: Can you tell us about Padgett? What kind of player will he be? Similar to Collison or should we look for him to be more of a wing player?
James Sido: The comparison has long been to Nick Collison, but Padgett is arriving on campus at 240 lbs and is a legit 6’11”, two inches taller than Nick. Padgett was two blocks short of averaging a triple double as a senior in Reno — that’s pretty damn solid. He runs the court extremely well AND he can get physical. He does have range, but is not a wing player.
Craig: It appears that Kansas has been fortuante to play teams the game AFTER their best game (Duke, Arizona and Marquette), do you think we have done that again with Syracuse?
James Sido: Yep, although from the second half of their Oklahoma St. game on to right now, Syracuse has played like one of the two best teams in the tourney, hence their appearance tonight. That said, KU by three.
Jeff in Indianapolis: Coach Williams could have ended the UNC talk with a quick, “I’m not interested”…but he hasn’t and certaintly he has to be. Is it possible for him to pass up the job twice? If not, any possible replacements…maybe Doherty (a Williams prodigy)?
James Sido: Yes, he could have ended the talk by saying that. But Roy calls himself “corny” and claims his focus is 100 percent on KU basketball at this time and that he hasn’t given the UNC job one second of thought. I think he may have given it an actual second, but not much more than that. He is the kind of guy that won’t discuss any job unless an offer is made and until his initial task is complete — he’ll comment within three days of returning. I think he’ll stay. If he goes, look for Bill Self on speed dial.
Moderator: We have time for a couple more questions as we promised Sido this would take about 30 minutes.
Kevin: What are some of the match-up problems besides to obvious Carmellow Anthony match-up, and what are some of Syracuses weaknesses.
James Sido: Warrick-Graves couild be problematic for KU; can they get back to back solid efforts from Graves? Also keep an eye on Mcnamara-Miles — Miles locked up Deiner and will do the same to Gerry tonight.
Jason W.: If KU starts tonight the same way it did against Marquette, does Syracuse abandon the zone? Are they able to play any other defense?
James Sido: They play man-to-man about as often as Brando turns down éclairs, which is to say never. They can extend their zone and make adjustments, but they don’t abandon it.
Moderator: Sorry, but that’s all the time we have today. Thanks to Sido and everyone who took part in the chat. Sorry we couldn’t get to all your questions, but hopefully we answer whatever questions you have during next year’s Final Four.
Journal-World assistant sports editor and KU men’s basketball writer Gary Bedore took about 30 minutes during the afternoon before the KU-Marquette game to answer visitors questions about the Jayhawks, the Golden Eagles and the chances of Roy Williams leaving for UNC.
Moderator: Ok, we’ll be getting started in just a minute. Thanks for all the questions and we’ll try to get to them all, but we’ve also promised Gary that this will be about 30 minutes long.
William Hoffman: Do you and the LJW stand behind reports printed earlier in the week regarding Omar Wilkes, as well as, other recruits comments’ regarding Coach Williams staying at KU? Wilkes indicated, “I’m not worried about Coach leaving” (paraphrase). Enjoy the game. Thank you.
Gary Bedore: I don’t know what you mean by “stand behind,” but Omar told me that he wasn’t worried about this, he’s still coming to KU and laughed when he said it. That means he’s not worried about it and he’s still coming to KU.
Piotr: What will Kansas have to do to win this game? Will they try to concentrate on stopping Wade?
Gary Bedore: Yeah, I think Hinrich will guard Wade to start with, and Lee and Langford probably will guard him some. A key is Hinrich not getting into foul trouble while guarding Wade. They won’t focus their whole defense on him, I don’t think; KU doesn’t usually do that. He’s got to be the focus, but they’re worried about Diener and those big inside players, too.
Brock Funke: Is Marquette good enough to run with KU’s transition game? Can they handle the pace?
Gary Bedore: They had 30 turnovers against UAB, but after that game they haven’t had many problems turning it over. I would say considering they beat Kentucky by 15 points, they probably feel that they can run with KU or at least will try it for a while.
Shay: GB, How do the Hawks look? Are they ready for tonight?
Gary Bedore: They’re probably just as ready as they have been for any game. They held a short practice that was really more of a stretching exercise so you can’t really tell, but mentally I think they’re a lot like Maryland was last year. They know they have two great seniors who want to win it all, so mentally they’re probably in top form.
Jake: Gary, I notice you have a lot of recruiting information. Where does it all come from?
Gary Bedore: It comes from making calls on my own, talking to guys like Shay and Kirby who follow it everyday. Shay is a great man and does a great job since he covers it 24/7 I might as well talk to somebody who does that. Mike Sullivan is a great man, too, as well as some other recruiting gurus.
Roman: gary, do you think coach williams refusal to come right out and say he is not interested in the UNC job is affecting the players focus today?
Gary Bedore: No, last week it was the same deal with UCLA. Tell me one difference. It’s the same situation. He didn’t say a word about UCLA. It’s going to be a game played on the court. If anybody thinks any of that stuff matters, they are wrong. This is the Final Four. Again, last week it was the same deal with UCLA. It didn’t affect anybody.
Steve: Gary, what is your gut feeling about coach Williams. Three years ago he said he would retire as a Jayhawk. Do you think he will honor his word?
Gary Bedore: I haven’t looked up the transcript from three years ago, so I don’t know if that was his exact quote, but I don’t think he will leave. He said he stayed for the players last time. He’s still coaching players. He’s one of the few coaches in America who can’t disappoint his players, past and present, like that, or his future players. People can’t accept the fact that he does not comment about jobs until there’s something to comment on. If he leaves, he leaves, but I do not expect him to leave, for one reason only — his players!
Rodney White: Gary, Do you Think now that KU is the Favorite to WIN. Will that have any effect on they way they look at marquette?
Gary Bedore: That is a great question. It is unusual for them, this season, to be the favorite, except in the preseason NIT and we all know what happened there. I don’t think it will matter, but that is a possibility, moreso than the Roy stuff. This favorite-underdog stuff sometimes does have an effect on basketball games. I do think the fact that KU has two seniors in Collison and Kirk should nullify most of the mental negativisim. I’m pretty sure they will be ready to play and the game will be decided by performance issues only.
Jason Stimits: How much is a Kansas win contingent on the play of Jeff Graves?
Gary Bedore: Probably a lot, but sometimes he gets in foul trouble and KU still wins. But those are the games Lee and Nash combine for about 14 points. If Collison goes for 33 again, seriously it probably doesn’t matter what Graves does. But I know what you mean. If he grabs 15 rebounds again, it’s probably over in KU’s favor. I just don’t think he’s going to determine the outcome, but I could be wrong.
Alex: I know this question will be asked a lot, but how do you feel about the jayhawks, and what they have acomplished this year. They have came so far, i know a lot of people weren’t counting on them to come this far in the tourney.
Gary Bedore: It’s probably been their best effort in a long time, to win without Wayne and to battle back from the 3-3 craziness. It really wouldn’t ruin the season if they lost today, but I think these guys really want to win it all. They’ve beaten Arizona and Duke to get here, to go with the league title without Wayne, which is pretty impressive when you think about it. Win or lose it’s been a good year.
Jason – Los Angeles: We have heard throughtout the week available candidates for the North Carolina job. In the event the “unthinkable” happens and Coach Williams becomes the next Tar Heel coach, what candidates would be at the top of KU’s list?
Gary Bedore: I seriously do not think anybody at KU who would make such a decision has thought about that at all. So, you’re asking my opinion — if he ever left I would assume they would check the logical list of candidates, in Bill Self, Mark Turgeon, Tom Crean, Montgomery — all the great coaches in college today. And probably also some of the guys Roy has mentored throughout the years. There really is no logical successor to Williams. If he sticks around another 10 years or so, maybe they will develop a logical successor from one of the guys he’s groomed. Kevin Stallings and Steve Robinson are probably the closest to being considered on the Roy coaching tree. They’ve had a lot of experience. But again, I can tell you that no one in KU leadership has thought of that, because nobody thinks Williams is going to leave.
Casey Osburn: Gary, I am angry that Coach Williams and his players are subjected to North Carolina rumors when they are trying to focus on winning a championship…a chance that doesn’t come along too often. Besides, how many times does Roy need to say “no” before North Carolina (and the media, for that matter) realize he isn’t leaving? Also, why does the national media seem to WANT him to go to UNC? Thanks, Casey Osburn, Hutchinson, KS.
Gary Bedore: You have to remember that North Carolina got rid of a coach this week. It’s on them. When a school like that has an opening, it becomes a major story. And since last time Williams was their only candidate, it comes back to him again and everyone has to ask him about it. The problem that most media in the country realize is that Williams does not comment about rumors. He never has and never will. He hasn’t been contacted by anybody officially. He’s got nothing to say right now, but everyone has to ask him repeatedly in case he’s changed his mind and wants to say something. It’s bad timing, but it’s completely Carolina’s fault for firing Matt this week. It has nothing to do with KU. It’s all about them firing a coach while KU’s still playing.
Gary Bedore: I don’t think the media necessarily wants him to go. They don’t work that way. Nobody really cares about creating a story. They just go from candidate to candidate and thus far Williams hasn’t eliminated himself. They don’t care one way or another.
Kristy: how do the players feels about playing in the final four two strait years? especially the seniors how do they feel about it?
Gary Bedore: The seniors are happy to be here, and pumped up. Nick says his career won’t be complete if he doesn’t win a title, but he said it still would be a good career. They walked Burbon Street a little bit, but mainly hung around the hotel, I guess.
Victor Mitchell & Booty Neal: Who would guard Steve Novak? Is that a potential mismatch for KU? Does Novak remind you of Boddicker from Texas?
Gary Bedore: Yes, he does remind me of Boddicker. Yes, it probably will be a mismatch, because the KU camp insists Keith will guard him.
Tyke Peacock: Is there any opponent that KU has had this year that Marquette reminds you of?
Gary Bedore: Not really, because this team is one of the few teams that has guys who can shoot, several big guys and even mid-range size guys. They seemingly have players at every position and height. I can’t actually think of any team they remind me of. Not Arizona because Marquette’s big guys are beefier. This is a good question, but I just can’t think of anybody right now.
Larry: I saw yesterday that they install new rims and they are usually tight, which may cause some problems. What about the shooting background in a large facility like the Superdome?
Gary Bedore: It’s bad. The shooting background is bad. That could concievably affect guys. Once again, we have to blame this on the networks and the billion dollar contract because they’re going to hold these events in the domes and it really looks different from Allen Fieldhouse or regular college buildings. The only thing is, it’s the same for both teams. As for the rims, it could be bad if they are new and hard. Roy claims that guys shoot for the center anyway, so that shouldn’t matter.
Ryan: I agree with Coach Williams in that we can all worry about his decision (if he should be offered the position) about UNC later. There’s still a game to be played tonight. Marquette has shown several different weapons throughout the season/tournament. For all the predictions that are running around, it seems like all of Marquette’s goods outweigh Kansas’. What’s your take on the game tonight?
Gary Bedore: My take is that once again Kirk or Collison will explode and score enough for two people combined. Just because Marquette has all the goods doesn’t mean that each guy is going to score 15. I think KU’s experience from last year is going to help immensely. It usually does in these settings. If Wade has another triple-double, I guess Marquette could beat anybody. If he goes off like that again, they’ll probably win it all.
Moderator: This will be our final question. We’d like to thank Gary for his time and our visitors for their questions.
Kerry Boagni: How does this KU team compare with the other Final 4 teams you have covered. (86,88, 91, 93, 02)
Gary Bedore: Well, the 88 team had the best player in the country and rode that player all the way to the title. This team may have the best player in Collison, but Marquette may have the best player. This team isn’t very deep, let’s face it, so I would say it’s probably as tough or any tougher than any Final Four team KU has had, but maybe has the least depth. I’d have to study all the rosters to give a good answer, because now that I think about it the 88 team wasn’t that deep, either. Let’s just say this team is pretty darn good and could play with anybody, especially if it had Wayne.
Moderator: Again, we’d like to thank Gary for his time on this busy day. Thanks again also to our visitors for their questions. Everybody enjoy the game tonight.
Welcome to our online chat with Gary Bedore and Frank Dascenzo.
The chat took place Thursday, March 27, at 1 p.m. and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.
Moderator: Welcome to today’s live chat with Lawrence Journal-World KU basketball writer Gary Bedore and Durham Herald-Sun sports columnist Frank Dascenzo.
Moderator: Guys, thanks so much for joining us before today’s Sweet 16 match-up between two of the most storied college basketball programs in the country.
Moderator: Let’s take our first questions …
Victor Mitchell & Booty Neal: What kind of tempo do you think this game will be? If Duke doesn’t slow it down and play a half-court game, with many three pointers, do they have a chance?
Gary Bedore: Yeah, because Duke is a high-scoring team, too. I think it will be a fast-tempo game, I really do. I don’t know what Frank thinks, but Duke doesn’t need to devise any weird strategies like a small school might. This is a No. 2 vs. No. 3 game.
Frank Dascenzo: I think Duke will have to shoot well from the perimeter to have a chance to win this game. And they can do that with J. J. Redick and Daniel Ewing, and also Chris Duhon, who will not be asked to shoot much, but can shoot well. But I think the biggest challenge Duke will have will be limiting Kirk Hinrich on the perimeter. In the Duke locker room yesterday, that seemed to be the theme for the three guards I talked to. They need to stop Hinrich’s penetration.
perminator: Frank, I remember how Grant Hill took out Big Dog Robinson a few years ago in the tournament, to everyone’s surprise. Any secret plan by Coach K to do the same for Collison? Gary, your reax, too.
Frank Dascenzo: That’s a good question. I was at that game, and Grant Hill held the Big Dog to a season-low 13 points. I don’t see anybody on Duke’s team totally putting a blanket on Collison the way Grant Hill did to Glen Robinson that day. That was one of the greatest Duke defensive efforts I’ve ever seen, and it was reminiscent of Billy King’s defense on Temple’s Mark Macon in 1988.
Gary Bedore: No secret plans are needed. Collison might face some interesting match-ups tonight if they decide to put a quicker guy on him, but this is a big-time game. Duke won the ACC tournament; they don’t need gimmicks.
Frank Dascenzo: Duke is not a gimmick team, and never has been in the Mike K. era. The last thing I see tonight is Duke coming up with a trick. You don’t fool Roy Williams at this stage of the season.
Randy: This is for both writers — what kind of looks is redick gonna get with hinrich on him?
Gary Bedore: Hinrich is really playing great defense right now. Duke is going to do the old cliche “penetrate and dish” effectively, because Hinrich’s defense has been really, really good the past 10 games. You’re talking about a freshman who really has his work cut out for him. Hinrich’s offense has been off sometimes, but his defense has always been on.
Frank Dascenzo: I think Redick will get some pretty good looks. One of the things that took place in the ACC tournament championship game was, Duke ran a lot of baseline screens for him against NC State, where in the final 10 minutes he was like an inferno, scoring 23 of his 30 points. The problem with Redick, for any defense, is he doesn’t need a whole lot of time to set up and shoot. So I think Redick will get plenty of good looks. The question is, can he knock them down. Yesterday in practice, Duke assistant coach Johnny Dawkins stood like an erect statue, staring at the perimeter shooting of Redick. So Kansas fans will take a deep breath, I’m sure, any time Redick touches the basketball.
Scott Hedges: Gary — do u believe this game will keep us on the edge of our seats the whole game like the Utah State game??
Gary Bedore: Yeah, I do. I think it’s going to be a close game. I don’t think KU is going to blow anybody out the first half. I would be pretty surprised if it was double-digits at halftime. I think it should be really close.
tim: I’d like both writers’ thoughts on this: Duke’s defense on the perimeter and 3-point shooting ability concerns me. What does KU do to offset those capabilites.
Frank Dascenzo: Well, I think that you kind of have to get a hand in somebody’s face and deny them the best look. While Hinrich is a good defensive player, the problem for Kansas is Duke doesn’t just have one good perimeter shooter, but they have three, and if you count Dante Jones, who is more of a slasher, then that’s four. So it’s like Roy Williams said yesterday, “I don’t want to see it raining threes.” So Kansas is going to have to be waving hands like never before.
Gary Bedore: Offensively, KU has to be well-rounded with Langford having to be able to slash along with Graves and Collison hooking up on those high-low buckets. Kansas must stay in front of their men on defense and watch the dribble penetration or it’s going to be wide-open threes.
Dave Solomon: What do you think the mental state of these two teams is? Particularly Duke with so many vital freshmen?
Gary Bedore: I think KU is really anxious to play. I’m sure they’ll have a hard time sitting around all day on a beautiful day in LA. They had their scare against Utah State, and they just want to get back to the Final Four. That was a big theme yesterday.
Frank Dascenzo: It’s really unique for Duke, because Duke is an underdog for a change. And Duke will not be wearing white uniforms for a change. Just how Duke reacts to this is a mystery right now. But Duke has a stomach, and a tough
stomach for the month of March. And that’s why they’re usually at least in the Sweet 16. On the other hand, there seems to be pressure on Kansas to win the game, because Kansas does have more experience, and Kansas, if you buy into this, seems to be due or overdue to finally beat Duke. Kansas is 1-6 against the Blue Devils, and if Williams is ever going to beat Duke, this is probably going to be the year.
kyle curfman: Gary: why does jeff graves go for a steal every defensive possession? over half of his fouls are from reaching in. when we play duke and possibly other good teams how can we afford to still let him do that?
Gary Bedore: That is a great question. He does have quick feet for a big guy, and he’s had a lot of steals, so speaking for him I think he probably thinks he can do it every time, which is ill-advised, especially tonight. He’s got to pick his spots, but as you’ve noticed, he does anticipate that pass pretty well and has a lot of steals as of late. I really think he probably will need to
be a little more cautious tonight. But as to how to prevent that, I don’t know. I guess the coaches would have to drum it into his head, but they don’t want to take away his aggressiveness.
Heelfan: Frank: Of the remaining teams, which do you believe has the most swagger?
Frank Dascenzo: Well, you’d have to say Kentucky #1. It seems to be Kentucky’s tournament to win. I did not see much of a swagger at all in Arizona out in Salt Lake City. They certainly escaped a very well-coached Gonzaga team. This Duke team does not swagger. It has a hard time finding its way out of the locker room and onto the court because it’s so young. But I think the best-kept secret in this NCAA tournament might be Pittsburgh.
Kevin: If Kansas or Duke were to get blown out by one or the other, would the winning team have the intensity to win the national championship, or have the energy to compete with teams such as Arizona or Kentucky?
Frank Dascenzo: Well, first of all, I don’t think it’ll be a blowout. But if it is a blowout, I think the team that wins will have an awful lot of confidence to go on and take it all.
Gary Bedore: Yeah, they would have the energy. That Elite 8 game kind of takes care of itself in terms of energy and emotion. You’re taking care of trying to cut down the nets. I can see what you’re saying — an emotional blowout might tax their energy — but that doesn’t matter in an Elite 8 game, especially with the long time-outs.
Steve: Guys, Which is the better arena: Allen or that place in N.C.?
Frank Dascenzo: Well, I’ve been to both places countless times. They both have tradition. But, for my money, there’s no better place to watch a basketball game than Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Gary Bedore: Actually, I’ve never seen a game at Duke, but I have been in the building. We went down there in the summer of 2000 during the Roy-Carolina watch. It’s kind of neat to see the “Krzyzewskiville” sign outside the building. I can’t imagine how loud it is in there, but it must be incredible. Allen Fieldhouse speaks for itself. It’s really, really loud in there, especially for a big game. Allen’s the best arena in the Big 12 by far.
Randy: For both writers: If (or should I say when) the game goes to the wire — which I believe it will — which team will have the edge? Kansas’ expercience, or Duke’s Long distance Dialers?
Gary Bedore: It depends. If Duke’s hitting the three, you’d have to go with the three-point shooters, but don’t count out Hinrich and Collison when the game’s on the line. Those two guys really want it badly.
Frank Dascenzo: Well, there’s nothing like experience, and that’s one area where Duke is a bit vulnerable. And I would tend to lean with experience. I think Hinrich and Collison, assuming both are still on the floor, and assuming it does go to the wire, might have the better edge. And that’s why you kinda have to favor Kansas.
Kahn: What kind of role do you expect Keith Langford to play versus Duke? He has the experience from last year, and it seems to me that he is the most underrated player in America and I think he should asume a bigger shooting role and continue to penetrate (slash left), hang in the air, or finish with a “typical” 3 point play. Do you think we’ll see a bigger role for Keith with Duke focusing on the 2 seniors, Collison and Hinrich?
Gary Bedore: Yeah, I think Langford will play the way he’s played in the past NCAA Tournament games — offensive-minded, 12 to 16 shots. I think he will play a major role.
Frank Dascenzo: That’s a good question. A lot of times in big games like this, when marquee players have their names mentioned repeatedly, it’s sometimes another player, like a Langford, who steps up. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a key factor for the Jayhawks.
Dave Solomon: Do either of you have any behind the scenes info of what K and Williams might be doing to psych their teams up and get them mentally prepared?
Gary Bedore: No. To show you how focused the Jayhawks are, the players declined a trip to Disneyland on Wednesday. They really don’t seem to be interested in superstitious stuff as of yet. I think if KU beats Duke, Roy might have the guys rub something somewhere for good luck before the game on Saturday. The first game tends to be more of an intense thing where the guys really want game time to arrive.
Frank Dascenzo: Well, first of all, I don’t think this is a psyche kind of game. Nor do I think gimmicks will be employed. I think both players realize the tradition of the letters on the other team’s uniforms. And certainly it’s no surprise that Duke and Kansas are playing in the Sweet 16. I think Coach K’s biggest fear is how his young players are going to react at the start of
this game, because while Salt Lake City was a first- and second-round battle, it did not have near the drama that this region will have at the Arrowhead Pond. I was talking to Billy Packer yesterday during practices, and we both agreed this has a Final Four feel to it, with these four teams here.
Curfman: How much of a realistic chance do the Jayhawks have of winning it all without the inside presence of Wayne Simien, especially when Kansas tends to get into foul trouble with no help off the bench?
Frank Dascenzo: I’m not sure this Kansas team is good enough to win the national championship, but I think it’s certainly good enough to beat Duke and give the winner of the Notre Dame/Arizona game a heck of a game. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kansas in the Final Four, but I would be surprised to see Kansas win the national championship.
Gary Bedore: You keep thinking that Wayne’s abscence will doom the Jayhawks, but here they are in the Sweet 16 without him, and are actually favored to beat Duke. So who knows. Maybe they’ll actually be able to get it done without Wayne, which is hard to believe since he’s so good. I’ve been wondering the same thing — how long can they ride this wave without one of the top five power forwards in the country. Now you know why the media voted for Roy as coach of the year in the Big 12.
Deevil Kneevil: For both guys, is there really anything to this Roy-is-a-proxy-for-Dean stuff? I’ve read the JW stories in The Herald-Sun and Williams really seems to have a thing for Duke that’s really a UNC deal rather than a KU thing, even factoring in 1991.
Frank Dascenzo: There’s no rivalry like the Duke/North Carolina basketball rivalry. They just don’t like each other. And because the two programs have been so successful, and because they’re geographically so close to each other (separated by about 10 miles), they are constantly compared with one another. And they share the same media (i.e., newspapers, TV and radio). We often get feedback at the Herald-Sun as to which team appears “above the fold” more than the other. I honestly don’t think Roy likes Duke, but I do know that he respects them.
Gary Bedore: I’d say it’s a little of both. He went to Carolina and obviously has a big hatred for Duke because it’s like KU’s most rabid fans’ feelings about Missouri. But he also remembers KU’s three losses to Duke since he’s been at KU. He can’t help but have strong feelings against Duke considering he went to Carolina.
Moderator: We promised both writers that we would try to limit this chat to around 30 minutes, so we are going to begin to wrap things up. We will have one more submitted question.
Rob: Honest predictions — setting all “favoritism” aside, both of you — who will advance to meet ‘Zona?
Frank Dascenzo: I like Kansas to win the game, for two reasons. Number 1, I really think Hinrich will have an excellent game against the Duke perimeter. And I subscribe to the simplistic theory that if you beat your head against a brick wall long enough, you’ll eventually loosen that brick. Roy is finally due, and Kansas is finally due, to beat Duke.
Gary Bedore: I knew KU was going to pound Arizona State. I don’t know what will happen tonight, but I guess I would have to pick the Colly-Hinrich duo over Duke, 87-86. If Duke was to win, I certainly would not be surprised.
Moderator: Guys, are there any other insights or thoughts you can add or want to throw out before you go?
Gary Bedore: No. I am going to go read a book by the pool. Or maybe I won’t. Game time is still a long time away, and I’m not in a mood to ride the wicked rollercoaster at Disneyland.
Frank Dascenzo: I guess I’d just like to throw this out. I don’t know the words to “Rock Chalk Jayhawk,” but by the end of tonight, I probably will.
Moderator: Frank and Gary, thanks so much for joining us today. We’ve never had as many questions submitted for a chat as we did today.
Moderator: And to all of those who submitted questions, whether we got to them or not, thanks so much! Good luck to both teams.
Gary Bedore, the assistant sports editor and KU men’s basketball writer for the Lawrence Journal-World, and Jeff Hunter, lead college hoops reporter for the Logan (Utah) Herald Journal, were kind enough to chat with KUsports.com visitors Thursday afternoon. Here is the transcript of their chat.
Crystal: This question is for Jeff — What does your team have to do to stop KU?
Jeff Hunter: They’re primarily concerned with Kansas’ transition game. They haven’t faced anyone this year who gets up and down the court as quickly, and it sounds like, easily, as the Jayhawks. The Aggies have done a very good job all year of controlling the tempo with teams, and that’s why their scores are so much lower than what Kansas’ have been this year. And I think they simply need to make some shots. If there are a lot of long rebounds, those kinds of things, that lead to quick transitions, the Aggies will really struggle.
Me: Gary, I remember the Holy Cross game last season, but does KU really have a chance of losing this game?
Gary: Very slim. That’s just my personal opinion, but after watching both practice, Kansas has a much more athletic team.
Richard: How far do you think KU will go in the tournament?
Gary: It’s hard to say, but you would think with Kirk and Nick ultra-inspired the Jayhawks will march to the Elite 8 where they will play Arizona in a thriller. Anyone could win that game. If I had to bet the house on it, I regretfully would have to pick Arizona in a thriller.
Jennie: Jeff, What are the strengths and weaknesses of Utah State?
Jeff Hunter: They’re very well disciplined. They take good shots. They don’t normally take shots outside of Couch Morrill’s set offense. They rebound very well, and they’re very determined defensively, whether in man or in zone.
Their biggest definiciency is probably a consistent perimeter threat. They lost the school’s all-time leading three-point shooter, Tony Brown, after last season, and they haven’t replaced him.
Sally: Gary, can Jeff Graves keep up his good play from the Big 12 Tournament?
Gary: Jeff Graves has a problem that all people in America should support him with. His dad, Robert, may have to go to Iraq soon, and Jeff, quite frankly, is emotionally affected right now, indicating he can break down and cry at any moment. For that reason, it is difficult to asses his basketball ability in coming games. Hopefully his dad will be fine, because his safety is more important than basketball, and rightfully so.
Billy: Gary, can KU sustain an injury in this tournament like Hinrich’s last year?
Gary: Good question. Probably only in the first or second game. You make a good point; KU is periously thin, and an injury like that probably would doom the Jayhawks to a Sweet 16 defeat. Knock on wood that it doesn’t happen.
bob: Jeff — Who are your team’s stars?
Jeff Hunter: Desmond Penigar, the senior power forward averaging about 15 points and 6.5 rebounds. He’s athletic, strong, with a good medium-range jumper. He’s also been shooting very well from three-point range recently. He can score in bunches, when he gets rolling.
The second leading scorer on the team is Spencer Nelson. He’s just a sophomore, but he’s an old sophomore, after serving a two-year LDS church mission, and having to sit out last year with a knee injury. He plays center but should really probably be a power forward. He’s very energetic, very good on the glass. Picks up a lot of garbage baskets underneath. He also handles the ball very well: He played a lot of point guard in high school.
The wildcard right now is shooting guard Cardell Butler. He played us his best three games of the year during the Big West tournament, averaging about 16 points a game, which opened things up extensively for Utah State. If he can maintain that level of play, they might be able to hang with the Jayhawks.
Harold: Gary, What is the best part of covering the NCAA tournament? And the worst?
Gary: The best part would be watching the Jayhawks end a long physically and mentally demanding season in a single-elimination tournament. Many of their true personalities start to come out with so much on the line. You get to see what these Jayhawks are truely made of. Also, you get a good seat at important games.
Gary: The worst thing would be the fact that it is difficult to get interviews with so many people pushing and shoving for position, and no real one-on-one access with the head coach because of podium-interview formats. But I have no complaints.
Tom: Gary, can a lack of pressure on KU (because of Simien’s injury, a No. 2 seed, etc.) help them this tournament?
Gary: Yes, it can. The “us against the world” mentality always helps a basketball team. KU’s perceived snub at No. 2 could help the Jayhawks maintain an aggressive attitude throughout, and they definitely would like to win it for Wayne, also.
Moderator: Jeff, we’ve read that the Utah State team (and fans) were disappointed with their seed. Is that going to affect how the team goes into this game, either positively negatively?
Jeff Hunter: I don’t think the team is too bothered by it. Neither is coach Morrill. During Utah State’s two previous trips to the NCAA tournament, they were much more disappointed. They realize this time around that the Big West conference has fallen off rather dramatically the last couple of years, and that 15th seed was left for no matter who won the conference tournament.
Jazmin: This question is for both writers … What is the national media’s take on this game? Is it typical David vs. Goliath? Or is it two teams scorned? Or is the attention focused on the War, or something else?
Jeff Hunter: I think it’s definitely David vs. Goliath. Obviously, though, all these games will be affected somewhat by the war. It puts things in a little different perspective. I think Kansas will be talking about their seeding much much longer than Utah State will be talking about theirs.
Gary: I would have to go with the David vs. Goliath, with a lot of concern about the war and safety in the building. There hasn’t been a lot of talk about about USU upset.
Johnny: Gary, how are the fans back in Lawrence reacting to this year’s tournament? Do they think this is the year that Roy gets the monkey off his back, or was last year the season that should have ridded Roy of that stigma?
Gary: I would say people are very optimistic about a return trip to the Final Four, but the loss of Wayne to injury has KU’s knowledgable fans realizing it’s going to be tough to win it all. But there’s definite hope that the two seniors are good enough to get the Jayhawks to at least the Elite Eight and a meeting with Arizona People aren’t dumb; they realize Wayne’s loss was major.
jHawkgrrl: Jeff, what are the fans in Logan thinking about this year’s Utah State team? Do they think the Aggies can get past the Jayhawks?
Jeff Hunter: I don’t think there are a whole lot of brackets filled out in Logan with that in mind. During Utah State’s two previous trips, however, that was the case, and the Aggies rewarded their fans with a victory over Ohio State in 2001. I’m sure they’re hopeful, but most are also realistic. They know of Kansas’ history and of the talent level of their starters this year. And I think most of them will be happy if the Aggies just compete for most of the game.
Jazmin: Gary, are there many Jayhawk fans in Oklahoma City for the games?
Gary: There were about a 1,000 at the practice, which is quite a few. I don’t really know, though, because this tournament was sold out a long time ago. I’d really be surprised if there were more than 2,000. However, the OU fans probably will cheer for KU, unless it’s a close game when people usually cheer for the 15 seed.
Jazmin: Same question for Jeff — did many Utah State fans make the trip?
Jeff Hunter: Not many. There was a huge difference yesterday between KU’s practice and USU’s practice. It dropped from a couple of thousand to a couple of dozen at the most. It was a tough, expensive flight from Salt Lake out to here.
Brian: How do you see KU matching up with Memphis in the second round?
Gary: First of all, Arizona State might win that game. Ike Digu is one great freshman. But, if Memphis does win, I think the Jayhawks still have an advantage in big-game experience and should be 10-point favorites. I haven’t studied all the match-ups yet. It might be difficult to stop the incredible Chris Massie, their only starter averaging more than 12 points per game. I like KU’s chances against Memphis.
BJ: It seems that when Miles plays poorly, Ku suffers. If there a plan if he gets off to a bad start, lots of turnovers, poor shooting? (Colorado, Missouri) games come to mind.
Gary: No. I think Roy is committed to letting Miles run the point. Yet, if Aaron is having a truly horrible game, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kirk run the point more than usual. It all really is up to Aaron. If he is playing average to above-average, expect him to log his usual 30 minutes or so.
DaffyH: Jeff, is the storyline for Utah State going to be its questionable defense against KU’s potent offense?
Jeff Hunter: I don’t think their defense is questionable. I think it’ll be a big challenge for them to hold KU down. The Jayhawks are obviously much more talented than what the Aggies have seen in the Big West the last couple of months. I think probably the bigger question may be: Can the Aggies score consistently against the Jayhawks?
Johnny: This is for both writers — the 15-point spread. Do I take the points?
Jeff Hunter: Heheh. I’d like to think it’d be a little closer than 15. But it could get away from the Aggies down the stretch.
Gary: I’m sorry, but I don’t feel it’s my place to talk about gambling because, quite frankly, the issue of gambling in college sports is a major, major concern of coaches and administrators. Not that I work for them — I don’t — but I don’t think it’s my place to talk about point spreads. If you think I’m wrong, feel free to e-mail me, but I don’t feel comfortable talking about gambling.
Moderator: We’ve got time for maybe one or two more questions, but then we need to let Gary and Jeff get back to preparing for tonight’s game.
Johnny: Gary, your story in the Journal-World said the Jayhawks aren’t taking this game lightly. Is that true, or just lip-service?
Gary: It’s definitely true, because Nick was scared last year by the nail-biter against Holy Cross. He and Kirk are demanding full concentration for this one. Don’t underestimate those two guys’ competitiveness, intelligence and leadership.
Johnny: Jeff, do you think the Utah State players are ready and up for the game?
Jeff Hunter: They’re definitely up. They’re excited, and actually quite confident after winning five straight games to end the season. It’s hard to tell, however, if they’re ready for the limelight. Three years ago, when Utah State went, they were a little overwhelmed by the whole experience. Then, the following year, they were very prepared, came in with a more businesslike attitude, and managed to upset Ohio State. Unfortunately for them, most of the team is new to this experience, so they don’t have a whole lot of previous experience in the NCAAs to draw upon.
Moderator: Well, that’s about all the time we have. Do either of you have any last-second thoughts or words of wisdom of Jayhawk and Aggie fans?
Jeff Hunter: Not really.
Gary: Kansas fans are the greatest in the country. I have seen many, many fans, but none are as smart or enthusiastic as Kansas basketball fans. Let’s hope the war will end soon, and let’s pray for all of our great Americans and allies overseas.
Moderator: We’d like to thank both Gary and Jeff for their time. It was an honor to have some of your time and knowledge. And good luck to both the teams and their fans from KUsports.com
