How long has it been since the Kansas University football team has been able to take heat off the basketball operation? The footballers can do that by getting bowl-eligible with a defeat of Iowa State here today. That could alleviate at least some of the disenchantment about basketball. Bill Self’s erratic Kiddie Korps must shed its training wheels in a hurry.
Usually, it’s basketball bailing out football.
The last banner football year at KU was the 10-2 in 1995. The Jayhawks walloped UCLA in the Aloha Bowl while coach Glen Mason diddled around with the Georgia job. Basketball didn’t need shoring up in ’95-96. Roy Williams’ guys went 29-5, were conference champions and finished 3-1 in NCAA play.
Next time, ’96-97, football suffered a 4-7 nosedive while Mason prepped for his Minnesota hegira; basketball again was the designated messiah. KU with perhaps the best team in school history rang up a 34-2 mark – two league titles and a Maui Invitational trophy before falling to Arizona in the NCAA third round.
Again, KU had deteriorated to a “basketball school,” and that’s pretty much how it’s gone since. A football loss to I-State would put both football and basketball spirits in the dumper for now. KU will take any bowl game it can get. That could produce a rare 7-5 record, help recruiting and allow the Jayhawks extended practice time to help prepare for next fall.
Meanwhile, basketball’s Bill Self has massive tutoring to do. His players must look into the mirror, convince themselves they’re better than 2-2 and do some hasty growing up.
How many third and fourth shots did Arizona get in the Maui Mangling? Why does KU still fool around on the rim, a la last season’s Perimeter Waltz, instead of taking off the tuxedos, driving and drawing more fouls? More aggressive ‘Zona and Arkansas had 23-7 and 10-2 free-throw advantages. KU’s ball-handlers looked like wandering sausages with their torturous turnovers.
KU has a point-guard problem. Fifth-year senior Jeff Hawkins should be a lot better than he is. How much more “experience” can he gain? Can KU be a solid Big 12 Conference challenger without a major metamorphosis by the ballyhooed Hawkins?
Freshman Mario Chalmers learned it’s a lot different advancing the ball against the talent of Arizona than overpowering the kids at Ketchikan Vocational High. Russell Robinson can do many things but hasn’t done enough of them well.
Do you install Chalmers and Robinson as the starters, let them gain from the lumps and bring in Hawkins for spot duty? KU seems to have only three guys who “could” handle point guard. Can they? Or will a Sasha Kaun, C.J. Giles and Julian Wright frontline emerge with Brandon Rush the shooting guard and Chalmers and Robinson the key point men? If Hawkins would finally measure up to expectations, a lot could change.
We keep hearing things will improve when Darnell Jackson has paid his penance for illegal aid and Rod Stewart joins at the semester. Why not get good enough right away so those two have to work their way into the rotation rather than showing up as alleged messiahs? The door is wide open.
Lots of youth, but this team from Hawkins on down should be playing a lot better than it has been. Fab Frosh, Super Sophs? Prove it!
