KU spent after emotional weekend

By Gary Bedore     Mar 14, 2006

Kansas University’s basketball players and coaches expended a lot of energy in winning the Big 12 Conference tournament last weekend in Dallas.

“We’re so tired right now I don’t even know who is in anybody else’s region but ours,” KU coach Bill Self said Monday on the weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference.

A weary Self, who joked that he “slept in” Monday, is familiar only with the Oakland Regional.

Fourth-seeded KU (25-7) will play No. 13 Bradley (20-10) approximately 8:30 p.m. Central Time Friday at The Palace of Auburn Hills, just north of Detroit. The winner will meet either No. 5 Pitt or No. 12 Kent State at 11 a.m. Sunday, with the survivor moving on to the Sweet 16 the following week in Oakland, Calif.

The Jayhawks will practice today and Wednesday in Lawrence and hold a practice session (open to the public) from 5:10 to 5:50 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“I always have had the approach to try to be loose,” Self said, asked of his team’s mental state. “Last year (when KU lost to Bucknell in opening round) was probably as tight as we’ve been going into a tournament, and I think a lot of it was we weren’t playing as well, and Keith (Langford) was hurt.

“I just want our guys to not be content, to be focused, to play with unbelievable energy, but to play loose and have fun as well. We’ll prepare like it’s a time to enjoy and think about positive things as opposed to thinking about the ‘one and done’ mentality.”

Rush honored: KU frosh Brandon Rush was named to the Sporting News all-freshman team Monday with Dominic James, Marquette; Tyrus Thomas, LSU; Shawne Williams, Memphis and Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina.

Les speaks: Bradley coach Jim Les was a guest on ESPN radio Monday night, right after Bucknell coach Pat Flannery.

“I wanted more substance. I had my pen and paper out,” Les quipped of learning how to beat KU from Flannery. “There’s no question that was a heck of a win for a program for Bucknell. It put mid-majors on the map in terms of respect. Every year it’s a quest to gain respect.”

Bradley last participated in the NCAAs in 1996, losing to Stanford, 66-58, at Providence, R.I. Bradley last won an NCAA Tournament game in 1986, with current coach Les playing point guard for the Braves in an 83-65 victory over UTEP.

Bradley last played a game in Detroit in 1988. Former Bradley great Hersey Hawkins scored 63 points in a Braves victory, which still stands as a school and Missouri Valley Conference scoring record.

All systems go: The Jayhawks were back in Lawrence at 10 p.m. Sunday, and Self was relieved to see his house wasn’t harmed by damaging winds in Lawrence.

“I don’t believe any other coaches had damage as well,” Self said. “There were 18,000 homes without electricity yesterday so there was a lot of damage to a lot of places in Lawrence.”

Allen Fieldhouse apparently escaped unscathed as well.

“The lights are on in Allen,” Self said. “We’ve got lights and we’ve got basketballs. We can certainly practice.”

Tapes galore: Self has a lot of tape on Bradley, thanks to staff member Brett Ballard, who handles taping of games during the season with KU hoops having access to “all the dishes.”

“We got back last night and we had five of Bradley’s last six games,” Self said on his Hawk Talk radio show. “We also had 12 Kent State and 12 Pittsburgh games on tape. It helps us get a head start.”

Talented town: Self knows all about Peoria, Ill., home of the Braves.

“When I was at Illinois, three of our five starters were from Peoria – (Marcus) Griffin, (Sergio) McClain and Frank Williams,” Self said. “Peoria basketball has been great for many, many years. They are tough kids, very good players.”

Three players from Peoria are on Bradley’s current roster – Marcellus Sommerville, Daniel Ruffin and Brian Lavin.

Say what?: According to the Dallas Morning News, KU players in the locker room on Sunday said, “they wanted it more than the Longhorns.” No reporters from Kansas recalled receiving those type of quotes from the Jayhawks.

“I’m glad they said something like that,” UT coach Rick Barnes said. “I’ll be using that for the next few years. I guess we wanted it more during the regular season since we beat them and came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed. I won’t doubt my players’ desire one bit.”

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