Sore back: Sasha Kaun scored eight points and grabbed two rebounds with three blocked shots in 16 minutes. Not bad for a guy with a bad back.
“I hurt it lifting weights this week,” Kaun said. “It hurt a little bit, but it was all right.”
Coach Bill Self said: “He hurt it picking up a weight this week. He wasn’t 100 percent, but he played well.”
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Next up is KSU: KU’s players will turn their focus immediately to Saturday’s 8 p.m. home game against Kansas State. The Wildcats beat KU, 84-75, on Jan. 30 in Manhattan.
“I don’t guarantee victory. It’ll be a hard-fought game,” KU’s Mario Chalmers said, asked if he’d copy KSU’s Michael Beasley, who guaranteed a win in the first meeting and backed up his boasts.
“I’m not going to guarantee anything. We’re going to bring it more than we did at K-State,” KU’s Brandon Rush said. “We let their crowd get in our heads at K-State.”
Self expects a great game.
“I think our guys will be as excited to play as they have all year,” he said. “I hope not too excited. K-State’s guys will be excited to play the game. The bottom line is, they handled us the first time. Our players know they handled us. I hope from a competitive standpoint that will be great motivation for us. I also believe you have to play. We may not play great. Who knows? I’d be totally disappointed if it was not an unbelievable effort game from us.”
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Self on Jacob Pullen, who scored 20 versus KU in Manhattan: “If you go back and watch the tape, he made eight free throws in the last two minutes. Even though he got 20, he played well, he was the best guard in the game, without question. And I think we have better players than that (in committing silly fouls), and hopefully we will do a better job trying to contain him, but it’s kind of a unique situation, watching tape for the next two days. Teams have struggled playing them one way. They have had success playing them the same way. Teams have had success guarding them one way. Then if you guard Beasley and (Bill) Walker one-on-one, they can go for 75. There’s going to be some thinking going on how is the best way to defend them.”
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Jackson’s plans: Darnell Jackson was to fly to Oklahoma City today for his cousin’s funeral and was to return to KU tonight. KU officials said the NCAA allows schools to pay for, and make arrangements for, players’ trips home for funerals. Rodrick Stewart attended his brother’s funeral Wednesday and was to return to campus today.
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Hot from three: Rush hit three of four threes after going 4-for-18 his last four games.
“Every day the guards have been shooting extra. We’ve been shooting 15, 20 minutes after practice, 50 threes, 100 threes,” Rush said. “We started about two weeks ago.”
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Notes: Mario Chalmers moved into a tie for third on KU’s all-time steals list with Danny Manning when he collected his 250th theft. … Russell Robinson had a career-high 10 rebounds. His previous high was eight on Jan. 16, 2006 at Missouri. … Rush tied a season-high with 37 minutes played. … ISU had eight turnovers, tying a KU opponent season-low.
Kansas University junior forward Sasha Kaun will return to practice today on a limited basis. He has missed KU’s first three games because of a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee suffered Oct. 30.
“He is doing all the non-contact stuff we do. The doctors feel very good about his progress. He will practice (today). I don’t know to what extent, how many reps,” coach Bill Self said.
“I still don’t know about his availability this week. I anticipate next week for sure if he has no setbacks.”
KU plays Tennessee State on Tuesday in Allen Fieldhouse, then Ball State and Florida on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas.
“We’re going to play teams a lot better, and we’re going to play teams a lot bigger, stronger and tougher. Getting Sasha back soon will help us,” Self said after Sunday’s 87-61 rout of Towson.
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Tennessee State falls: KU’s foe on Tuesday, Tennessee State, fell to Western Kentucky, 87-69, Sunday at WKU. It was Tennessee State’s first game of the season.
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Case is back: KU junior guard Jeremy Case played for the first time in a game this season. He had three assists and two steals in eight minutes, missing two threes. He had been slowed by a groin injury.
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Easing the pain a bit: Mario Chalmers, who scored 15 points and had four assists, was happy the squad bounced back after Wednesday’s loss to Oral Roberts.
“We needed it big time,” he said. “A couple guys were getting down on themselves. This will bring them up. I was kind of getting down. We’ve got to keep fighting hard and not let it happen again.”
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Downs out for season: Gonzaga officials announced Sunday that former KU guard Micah Downs had a pin inserted in his injured foot and would miss the entire season. Downs transferred from Kansas last season and was not eligible to play until December. He injured his foot during preseason practice. Downs was a McDonald’s All-American at Juanita High School in Seattle.
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This, that: KU hit six of 12 threes the first half and none in six tries the second. : KU forced 24 turnovers and had 31 fast-break points. KU turned Towson turnovers into 23 first-half points, while Towson did not score following a KU bobble. : Russell Robinson had eight assists, missing his career high by one. He had nine versus Baylor last season. : Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur scored KU’s first 17 points. Rush had nine and Arthur eight. : Matt Kleinmann scored his first points of the season on a second-half layin.
Bill Self on Wednesday afternoon received a signed letter of intent from Tyrel Reed, a 6-foot-3 senior from Burlington High.
Reed, who averaged 23.6 points a game last year, will play both point guard and shooting guard at KU.
“He is a 6-3 combo guard that can play both on the ball and off the ball because he is an excellent shooter,” Self said of Reed, who chose KU over Oklahoma, Missouri, Stanford, Missouri State and others.
Self elected to make a last-minute scholarship offer to Reed after losing wing players Kyle Singler and James Anderson to Duke and Oklahoma State.
“We’ve been recruiting Tyrel for the past three years, and because of our limited scholarship situation had been encouraging him to sign in the spring. We felt there would be a scholarship available then. Since we did not sign a wing in the fall, we did everything we could to try to convince Tyrel to sign now. This is a great signing for us, an exciting day for Tyrel, his family and everyone that supports Kansas basketball.”
Reed and Cole Aldrich, 6-11 from Bloomington, Minn., are KU’s early signees. The Jayhawks currently are one over their 12-man scholarship limit for next year, though KU can put off its NCAA penalty a year if it so desires. It’s expected Brandon Rush will turn pro after the season, which would cut KU back to 12.
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Bechard ill: Sophomore walk-on Brennan Bechard did not attend the game because of a bout with the flu.
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Guarantee: ORU not only won, but received guarantee money of $65,000 for playing the Jayhawks.
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Liberty played at WSU: Oral Roberts point guard Adam Liberty, who scored 12 points with eight turnovers, was a teammate of former KU player J.R. Giddens on Oklahoma City John Marshall High’s 2003 Class 5A state championship team.
Liberty played two seasons at Wichita State, then transferred to ORU, where he has taken over as starting point guard for his cousin, Jonathan Bluitt, who finished last season as the second-leading assist man in ORU history.
Bluitt is still with the team as a student assistant.
“It really wasn’t my style (of play),” said Liberty, who averaged 2.4 points and 2.9 assists per game his sophomore season at WSU.
“I’m used to getting up and down. Coach (Mark) Turgeon wanted the point guard to stay out front and run the offense. I didn’t have anything against him, but it didn’t fit me. Over here, I’m free to play my style.”
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Big game for J.R.: Ex-Jayhawk Giddens, who erupted for 25 points off 11-of-19 shooting with nine rebounds in New Mexico’s 106-65 rout of Colorado on Monday night, was asked by reporters about his days at KU.
“Kansas what? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Giddens told an Albuquerque Journal reporter while tapping his sneakers together. “I’m going to click my heels. I’m not in Kansas anymore.”
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Excitement: ORU senior Ken Tutt fired the ball high into the air, the ball landing in the stands after the final horn.
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Amazing Green: ORU senior Caleb Green, who burned KU for 20 points and eight assists with five steals, is one of 50 preseason candidates for the 2006-07 Wooden Award, given annually to the country’s top college basketball player. KU’s Rush and Julian Wright are also on the list. The midseason top 30 will be named in January. On March 27, the 10-player Wooden All-American team will be announced. The Wooden Award recipient will be announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on April 7.
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Praise of Self: Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton on KU’s Self, who started his career at ORU: “He is very well thought-of. You realize what type of job he did here and what type of coach he is. He’s a terrific coach and person. He’ll always be well thought-of on our campus. He took over a program that was in bad shape. In four years he was able to get us to the NIT and put us back on the map.”
There will be no more talk of possibly red-shirting Kansas University freshman Brady Morningstar.
Morningstar had three rebounds, two points and two steals while playing well defensively on Northern Arizona sharpshoter Steve Sir on Saturday night.
“I think Brady can help us,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Tonight he was one of the best defenders in the game, the way he guarded Sir.”
Morningstar lofted an alley oop, which freshman Darrell Arthur put home for a vicious one-handed dunk.
“Brady made a good pass,” Self said, adding, jokingly, “We work with Darrell on that. That’s coaching, teaching a guy to go up that high.”
Of Arthur, who had 12 points, six boards and three blocks in his debut, Self said: “He is just a natural. He does need to rebound, do some things better.”
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Substitutions: Self was asked why he put Brandon Rush and Julian Wright back in the game in the final few minutes of a blowout.
“The reason is, we subbed with 13 minutes left. We can’t let them (reserves) play 13 straight minutes,” Self said. “We subbed them out to get a blow. We don’t have enough guys not to sub with 13 minutes left. Obviously, we didn’t run it up. Look at the numbers. Those guys can’t play 13, 14 minutes (straight).”
Rush said: “I was getting stiff over there. I wanted to get some easy baskets, feed off the audience and hear the little cheer they do at the end,” he quipped of the Rock Chalk Chant.
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Ouch: Sherron Collins left the game for a couple of minutes in the first half after getting kneed in the left thigh. “It stiffened up. I’m fine,” said Collins, who finished with 14 points and three assists in 23 minutes.
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Recruit in house: Tyrel Reed, a senior guard from Burlington High, who is considering KU, North Carolina and many other schools, attended the game.
“I’m just still waiting around. I’m not really in a hurry,” said Reed, who was accompanied by three friends from his school. He likely will not sign a letter of intent in the early signing period.
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Taking responsibility: KU’s Mario Chalmers missed a dunk in the second half, then minutes later made one. He didn’t blame his sore left toe for the one that clanged.
“I think the one I missed, I just messed it up. It was a good pass from Russell (Robinson),” he said. “The second one, I didn’t know how high I could go. I went up soft.”
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The foe: Northern Arizona received guarantee money of $55,000 for playing the Jayhawks : NAU senior Lucas Gabriel’s dad, Mike, played for former KU player and assistant coach Jerry Waugh at Chico State in California. Gabriel, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard, scored six points while playing in six games a year ago. : Ruben Boykin Jr., a 6-7 senior from Los Angeles, is the brother of Duke sophomore Jamal Boykin.
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Highlights: Arthur had a one-handed slam off a high lob from Morningstar. : Wright raced in for a breakaway dunk but lost control of the ball, regrouped, and went up for a simple two-handed slam :. Jackson had a nifty left-handed bank shot off a feed from Arthur. : Robinson, like an alert defensive back, stole an inbounds pass and hit an uncontested layup. : Robinson swished a three from the corner off a great pass from Wright.
Kansas University sophomore C.J. Giles has been slowed by a groin pull.
“I did it a few weeks ago. I’m fine,” Giles said.
“He’ll be OK,” coach Bill Self said. “Playing three days in a row (at Big 12 tourney) probably is not the easiest thing for someone who has one of those.”
¢ Morningstar in town: KU signee Brady Morningstar shot on the side on his own in Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday. He’s on spring break from New Hampton (N.H.) Prep School.
“I’m going to go up to Michigan (for Friday’s game). My sister lives there,” Morningstar said. “It’s a pretty exciting time. They are playing well as a team. It’s a whole different team from the beginning of the year.”
Morningstar said he averaged between 20 and 21 points a game for New Hampton, which had a 24-10 record.
“I feel I held my own against everybody we played,” the 6-foot-3, 170-pound former Free State High player said. “I shot the ball well. I worked on a quick release shooting and a high release point and my ballhandling.”
He said he’d hit the weights hard the rest of the spring and summer.
¢ More on flap: Texas coach Rick Barnes said the Longhorns next year would use as motivation KU players saying they “wanted it more than the Longhorns” after Sunday’s Big 12 tournament title victory in Dallas.
One reporter’s tape has KU’s Hawkins simply saying, “I think we did,” when asked if Kansas wanted it more than UT.
“They can use it as motivation if they want to,” Hawkins said, adding the Jayhawks were upset UT was able to celebrate with the regular-season trophy after its clinching victory over Oklahoma, while the Jayhawks were denied after they clinched by beating K-State. “We didn’t appreciate them holding up the trophy. If they want to use that as motivation, they can. That’s over.”
¢ This ‘n’ that: The Jayhawks are slated to leave Allen Fieldhouse via bus between 2 and 2:30 p.m. today and fly out of Forbes Field in Topeka to Detroit. Their hotel is the Auburn Hilton Suites. KU will hold its open practice from 5:10-5:50 p.m. Thursday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. : KU sophomore Sasha Kaun roomed with Bradley 7-footer Patrick O’Bryant at last summer’s Pete Newell Big Man camp in Las Vegas. “He’s really a good guy,” Kaun said. : Vinson on heading to cold, snowy Detroit: “I saw all those nice tropical locations we could have gone to. They put us in Detroit,” he said. “I heard there’s snow on the ground. That’s not my kind of weather, but it’s better than tornadoes.” : Self was asked if Bradley’s fans would embrace him. “Will the Bradley fans embrace me? Not if they’re Illini fans they won’t, but I don’t have any idea,” he said, noting Peoria was about a 90-minute drive from Champaign, Ill., where he worked three years as U of I coach.
Mike Yoder/Journal-World PhotoFreshmen solid: Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino praised a handful of freshmen — linemen James McClinton and Todd Haselhorst, quarterback Marcus Herford, running back Gary Green II and receiver Dexton Fields — for their efforts in summer workouts and said he expected a few of the newcomers to play this fall.
“We still have to recruit quality kids that can make an instant impact,” said Mangino, who is entering his third season at KU. “With this year’s recruiting class, I don’t know how many there will be. There will be some true freshmen that end up playing and contributing if we feel like — and they feel like — they’re ready.”
“If somebody jumped out and did a great job at that corner position, we’d get Charles down on offense,” Mangino said of Gordon, who led the team with 57 receptions for 769 yards. “He’s a very good cornerback, and believe it or not he’s an even better wide receiver. He can match up with receivers in this conference and a do a great job, but he’s a big playmaker for us on offense. He can catch a ball, make you miss, and you’ve got six points just like that.”
Gordon, who also returns punts for the Jayhawks, seems destined for defense unless another KU corner can step up during camp.
“I haven’t slammed the door on offense,” Mangino said. “But he’s not going to play both ways the whole game. We can’t do that to him.”
Of course, if none of those kickers pans out …
“I hate to throw this out there, but you know Charles Gordon kicked in high school,” Mangino said with a laugh. “He told me one day, ‘You know, coach, I can kick.’ So we talked about it in a meeting. I said, ‘We’re going to go to jail for child abuse if we make a guy do this many things.'”
“I watched it and tried to learn from it,” he said. “We play both schools. I wasn’t cheering much. I’m proud to have been associated with both.”
Schools located far from major airports, such as Kansas State, claim the rule would put them at an unfair disadvantage because it would make it harder for recruits to reach Manhattan than more metropolitan schools such as Colorado.
KU associate athletic director Larry Keating said there were other problems with the proposal that would affect all schools. Under current rules, Kansas could fly a small plane into a small airport and pick up a player who lives in a rural area — such as Garden City — and return to the Lawrence airport.
That plan wouldn’t fly if the proposed rule passes.
“Sometimes a kid has to drive a long way to a major airport,” Keating said. “You have kids all over the country that are a significant distance from an airport. The rule is hard to argue against because the perception is that it’s an extravagance. I think it’s a basic need. We don’t use it to make an impression. We use it when it’s necessary because it’s expensive. We don’t use it on every kid just because you want to show off.”
Kansas sophomore guard Keith Langford phoned his mother, Charlene Taylor, Saturday after hearing of the tragedy involving the Columbia Space Shuttle.
Taylor lives in suburban Fort Worth, Texas.
“My mom said some of it (shuttle debris) landed in Dallas/Fort Worth area,” Langford said after scoring 17 points off 7-of-15 shooting. He grabbed seven boards, had four turnovers and one assist.
“She said (sonic explosion) shook the house. My heart goes out to the people who were killed and their families. It’s a terrible thing.”
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Collison’s honors: KU senior Nick Collison, who had 14 points off 6-of-16 shooting with nine rebounds, passed Paul Pierce for fifth place on KU’s all-time scoring list.
Collison had four blocks and passed Danny Manning for fourth on the all-time blocks list.
Collison iced his left ankle after the game. He sprained it in Monday’s victory over Texas.
“It’s fine,” he said.
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Stats, facts: Aaron Miles had an impressive line with 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. He came within four boards of a triple-double, the closest a KU player has come to a triple-double since Hinrich was two assists shy against UMKC on Dec. 8, 2001. … Michael Lee had five points and seven boards in a career-high 22 minutes. … Bryant Nash tied a career-high with six field-goal attempts. He hit two, good for five points. … KU attempted a season-high 72 shots. KU tied a season high with 21 offensive rebounds. … Kirk Hinrich, who had 17 points, passed Wilt Chamberlain for 17th on KU’s all-time scoring list.
UCLA (2-4) is struggling this season. The Bruins bickered a bit against the Jayhawks in an 87-70 loss to Kansas University on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“When teams start arguing with each other and we’re having fun, we know things are going well,” KU sophomore Keith Langford said.
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Mum on J.R.: Kansas coach Roy Williams continued his no-comment policy regarding signee J.R. Giddens, who was arrested in Oklahoma City earlier this week. “I have no comment to make,” Williams said. “If I don’t know enough about something, it’s better to not say anything.”
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Oops: Williams joked about a mixup on the postgame stat sheet that initially had UCLA’s Jason Kapono grabbing no offensive rebounds.
“Whoever made this stat sheet is drunk,” Williams said. “Kapono had no offensive rebounds? You better go tell Keith Langford. I chewed his butt that he was getting rebounds and putting it back. The statistics people had the same night as we did on the offensive boards.”
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Stats, facts: The Jayhawks, who have won three straight games, will break for Christmas and gather in Oakland, Calif., for practice the night of Dec. 26. Moulaye Niang, KU’s freshman forward from Senegal, will eat Christmas dinner at Williams’ house and spend time with fellow KU students from Senegal. … KU has won 21 straight games at home. … Nick Collison passed Jeff Boschee for ninth place on KU’s all-time scoring list. Wayne Simien, who had a big day with 19 points and 10 boards, has five double-doubles this year, nine in his career. … Kirk Hinrich hit five threes to tie a career high. He scored 27 points. … Collison’s four steals marked a career high. … UCLA shot just six free throws, making five. KU hit 19 of 28. … Steve Lavin coached his 200th game for UCLA.
KU officials estimated the crowd at 34,000, only 500 less than the listed attendance for last Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado. Perhaps as many as 1,000 were maroon-clad Texas A&M followers.
Zach Dyer opened at free safety, his first start since the season-opener at Iowa State when he was the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback. Regular free safety Johnny McCoy moved to strong safety in place of Jake Letourneau. Dyer finished with a dozen tackles.
While playing on the punt coverage team late in the first half, McCoy ran full-speed into an A&M blocker. The collision knocked McCoy’s left shoe off. Nevertheless, McCoy retrieved the shoe and continued.
Brock Teddleton, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound junior, made his first start at nose tackle. Red-shirt freshman Tim Allen had started the first seven games.
For the first time in a month, the Jayhawks did not fall behind by two touchdowns in the first quarter. However, Texas A&M scored three times in the first five minutes of the second quarter to grab a 21-0 lead.
In the first half, KU penetrated Texas A&M territory just once, and that was only to the Aggies’ 49-yard line. KU accumulated only 58 yards of offense, including minus-two yards rushing, before intermission.
KU cornerback Remuise Johnson picked off a Dustin Long pass early in the third quarter his sixth interception of the season. That’s the most thefts by a KU defender since Jeff Colter stole six passes during the 1983 season.
KU place-kicker Johnny Beck’s woes continued. Beck had apparently booted a 35-yard field goal with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter, but the Jayhawks were flagged for illegal procedure, wiping it out. So Beck kicked again from 40 yards. However, his second attempt was partially blocked and Beck’s string of missed field goals grew to six.
Bill Whittemore recorded his first reception as a Jayhawk when the Kansas quarterback caught a pass from fullback Dan Coke on a late-third-quarter gadget play. After three straight games of compiling more than 300 yards of offense, Whittemore settled for 230 all-purpose yards Saturday 187 passing, 27 rushing and 16 receiving. Whittemore was sacked five times.
 For more coverage on the game, including post game audio and game pictures, visit KUSports.com |
On a day when the KU secondary was burned to a crisp, middle linebacker Greg Cole had a team-high 14 tackles, four for losses, and his first career interception.
Bright note: Kansas scored three of the four times it reached the red zone. KU is 27 for 34 in red-zone scoring this season.
KU punter Curtis Ansel continued to impress, averaging 45.4 yards on a season-high 10 kicks.
Tom Ahlers of Des Moines was the referee in charge of the Big 12 Conference officiating crew.
Kickoff temperature was 54 degrees under bright sunny skies with an 11 mph wind out of the north.
Compiled by Chuck Woodling
Stats, facts: KU is 3-2 all time in NCAA tournament play in Atlanta. The Jayhawks’ 33-4 record was the team’s best mark since 35-4 in 1997-98. KU’s 20-point deficit with over six minutes left was KU’s largest deficit in a game all year. Previous deficit was 15 at UCLA. Steve Blake tied an opponent high with 11 assists. T.J. Ford of Texas also had 11. . The crowd of 53,378 was second largest in KU history. Gooden pulled down his 900th rebound. Aaron Miles has 252 assists, passing Ryan Robertson for second place on KU’s all-time single season assist charts. Miles set career highs in free throws made (10) and attempts (12). Boschee finished in ninth place on KU’s all-time career scoring list (1,560), passing Calvin Thompson and Kenny Gregory.
Ex-Jayhawks in attendance: Some former KU players in the crowd Saturday: Scot Pollard, Jacque Vaughn, Eric Pauley, Milt Newton, Greg Gurley, T.J. Pugh, Billy Thomas, Sean Pearson, Bud Stallworth, Ron Franz, Bob Kenney, Roger Morningstar, Al Kelley, Bill Hougland. Former KU coach Ted Owens also attended.
Parents in the crowd: Floyd and Rosann Boschee; Ray and Suzan Carey; Jim and Nancy Hinrich; Ulla Lear (Drew Gooden’s mom); Andrew Gooden II; Dave and Judy Collison; Bryant Nash, Sr., and Grendia Forshee (Bryant Nash); Wayne and Margaret Simien; Andre Langford and Charlene Taylor (Keith Langford); Mark and Arnella Miles; John Lee, Sr.; Larry and Barb Ballard; Frank and Cecelia Harrison; Ron and Shelley Zerbe.
Jordan loves Roy: Former Jayhawk point guard Adonis Jordan, who reached the Final Four in both 1991 and ’93, of course has been rooting for KU coach Roy Williams to win his first national championship.
Jordan, you recall, signed with Kansas in 1989, despite the fact KU was facing probation. Williams has never forgotten the loyalty Jordan showed in honoring a commitment, trusting Williams the probation would not be severe.
“You have to get away from it or in my case play for other coaches to see the difference, to see how good he is,” Jordan said. “If you take all the ingredients you want in a coach, he’d be close to perfect.”
Stats, facts: KU is 3-2 all time in NCAA tournament play in Atlanta. The Jayhawks’ 33-4 record was the team’s best mark since 35-4 in 1997-98. KU’s 20-point deficit with over six minutes left was KU’s largest deficit in a game all year. Previous deficit was 15 at UCLA. Steve Blake tied an opponent high with 11 assists. T.J. Ford of Texas also had 11. . The crowd of 53,378 was second largest in KU history. Gooden pulled down his 900th rebound. Aaron Miles has 252 assists, passing Ryan Robertson for second place on KU’s all-time single season assist charts. Miles set career highs in free throws made (10) and attempts (12). Boschee finished in ninth place on KU’s all-time career scoring list (1,560), passing Calvin Thompson and Kenny Gregory.
Ex-Jayhawks in attendance: Some former KU players in the crowd Saturday: Scot Pollard, Jacque Vaughn, Eric Pauley, Milt Newton, Greg Gurley, T.J. Pugh, Billy Thomas, Sean Pearson, Bud Stallworth, Ron Franz, Bob Kenney, Roger Morningstar, Al Kelley, Bill Hougland. Former KU coach Ted Owens also attended.
Parents in the crowd: Floyd and Rosann Boschee; Ray and Suzan Carey; Jim and Nancy Hinrich; Ulla Lear (Drew Gooden’s mom); Andrew Gooden II; Dave and Judy Collison; Bryant Nash, Sr., and Grendia Forshee (Bryant Nash); Wayne and Margaret Simien; Andre Langford and Charlene Taylor (Keith Langford); Mark and Arnella Miles; John Lee, Sr.; Larry and Barb Ballard; Frank and Cecelia Harrison; Ron and Shelley Zerbe.
Jordan loves Roy: Former Jayhawk point guard Adonis Jordan, who reached the Final Four in both 1991 and ’93, of course has been rooting for KU coach Roy Williams to win his first national championship.
Jordan, you recall, signed with Kansas in 1989, despite the fact KU was facing probation. Williams has never forgotten the loyalty Jordan showed in honoring a commitment, trusting Williams the probation would not be severe.
“You have to get away from it or in my case play for other coaches to see the difference, to see how good he is,” Jordan said. “If you take all the ingredients you want in a coach, he’d be close to perfect.”
Stats, facts: KU is 3-2 all time in NCAA tournament play in Atlanta. The Jayhawks’ 33-4 record was the team’s best mark since 35-4 in 1997-98. KU’s 20-point deficit with over six minutes left was KU’s largest deficit in a game all year. Previous deficit was 15 at UCLA. Steve Blake tied an opponent high with 11 assists. T.J. Ford of Texas also had 11. . The crowd of 53,378 was second largest in KU history. Gooden pulled down his 900th rebound. Aaron Miles has 252 assists, passing Ryan Robertson for second place on KU’s all-time single season assist charts. Miles set career highs in free throws made (10) and attempts (12). Boschee finished in ninth place on KU’s all-time career scoring list (1,560), passing Calvin Thompson and Kenny Gregory.
Ex-Jayhawks in attendance: Some former KU players in the crowd Saturday: Scot Pollard, Jacque Vaughn, Eric Pauley, Milt Newton, Greg Gurley, T.J. Pugh, Billy Thomas, Sean Pearson, Bud Stallworth, Ron Franz, Bob Kenney, Roger Morningstar, Al Kelley, Bill Hougland. Former KU coach Ted Owens also attended.
Parents in the crowd: Floyd and Rosann Boschee; Ray and Suzan Carey; Jim and Nancy Hinrich; Ulla Lear (Drew Gooden’s mom); Andrew Gooden II; Dave and Judy Collison; Bryant Nash, Sr., and Grendia Forshee (Bryant Nash); Wayne and Margaret Simien; Andre Langford and Charlene Taylor (Keith Langford); Mark and Arnella Miles; John Lee, Sr.; Larry and Barb Ballard; Frank and Cecelia Harrison; Ron and Shelley Zerbe.
Jordan loves Roy: Former Jayhawk point guard Adonis Jordan, who reached the Final Four in both 1991 and ’93, of course has been rooting for KU coach Roy Williams to win his first national championship.
Jordan, you recall, signed with Kansas in 1989, despite the fact KU was facing probation. Williams has never forgotten the loyalty Jordan showed in honoring a commitment, trusting Williams the probation would not be severe.
“You have to get away from it or in my case play for other coaches to see the difference, to see how good he is,” Jordan said. “If you take all the ingredients you want in a coach, he’d be close to perfect.”
Stats, facts: KU is 3-2 all time in NCAA tournament play in Atlanta. The Jayhawks’ 33-4 record was the team’s best mark since 35-4 in 1997-98. KU’s 20-point deficit with over six minutes left was KU’s largest deficit in a game all year. Previous deficit was 15 at UCLA. Steve Blake tied an opponent high with 11 assists. T.J. Ford of Texas also had 11. . The crowd of 53,378 was second largest in KU history. Gooden pulled down his 900th rebound. Aaron Miles has 252 assists, passing Ryan Robertson for second place on KU’s all-time single season assist charts. Miles set career highs in free throws made (10) and attempts (12). Boschee finished in ninth place on KU’s all-time career scoring list (1,560), passing Calvin Thompson and Kenny Gregory.
Ex-Jayhawks in attendance: Some former KU players in the crowd Saturday: Scot Pollard, Jacque Vaughn, Eric Pauley, Milt Newton, Greg Gurley, T.J. Pugh, Billy Thomas, Sean Pearson, Bud Stallworth, Ron Franz, Bob Kenney, Roger Morningstar, Al Kelley, Bill Hougland. Former KU coach Ted Owens also attended.
Parents in the crowd: Floyd and Rosann Boschee; Ray and Suzan Carey; Jim and Nancy Hinrich; Ulla Lear (Drew Gooden’s mom); Andrew Gooden II; Dave and Judy Collison; Bryant Nash, Sr., and Grendia Forshee (Bryant Nash); Wayne and Margaret Simien; Andre Langford and Charlene Taylor (Keith Langford); Mark and Arnella Miles; John Lee, Sr.; Larry and Barb Ballard; Frank and Cecelia Harrison; Ron and Shelley Zerbe.
Jordan loves Roy: Former Jayhawk point guard Adonis Jordan, who reached the Final Four in both 1991 and ’93, of course has been rooting for KU coach Roy Williams to win his first national championship.
Jordan, you recall, signed with Kansas in 1989, despite the fact KU was facing probation. Williams has never forgotten the loyalty Jordan showed in honoring a commitment, trusting Williams the probation would not be severe.
“You have to get away from it or in my case play for other coaches to see the difference, to see how good he is,” Jordan said. “If you take all the ingredients you want in a coach, he’d be close to perfect.”
Nice contribution: KU senior Jeff Carey had a big bucket and foul shot to give KU a 24-20 lead with 7:09 left in the first half. He had three points and a rebound in six minutes.
“I just tried to provide some energy and do what I could. With Nick and Kirk in foul trouble tonight a lot of guys had to step up,” Carey said. “It definitely feels good to beat Illinois after losing to them last year and more importantly move on.”
Movin’ on: KU advances to its first Elite Eight since 1996 when KU fell to Syracuse. It’s KU coach Roy Williams’ first No. 1 seeded team to reach the Elite Eight in five tries.
“I told the kids they deserve all the credit,” Williams said. “We are not caught up in the past except when you guys bring it up. Tonight was a team victory. It was not a comfortable feeling as a coach having Nick and Kirk sit over with me as assistant coaches. I’d rather have them in the game.”
Call him confident Keith Langford: “People questioned our toughness. This should answer everybody’s questions,” Langford said. “This is not Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce, great players like that. It’s Keith Langford 2002,” he added with a big grin.
Aide silent: Kansas assistant Neil Dougherty had no comment on reports he’s been offered the TCU coaching position.
“Nothing like that will be addressed until after the season,” Dougherty said. “I am thinking about stuff like this,” he added, pointing to a happy locker room.
Wyoming coach Steve McClain turned down the Horned Frogs’ offer on Friday.
KU in mix for Andre: Kansas is back in the running for a prize basketball prospect. Andre Iguodala, a 6-6 guard/forward from Springfield (Ill.) Lanphier has been granted a release from his letter-of-intent to Arkansas. He is no longer interested in UA following the dismissal of coach Nolan Richardson.
Iguodala’s mother, Linda Shanklin, told the Springfield State-Journal Iguodala will likely choose either KU or Arizona. He’s also considering Boston College and Maryland, who were on his original list.
KU not tough enough?: Madison Capital Times columnist Todd Finkelmeyer may have helped the Jayhawks’ cause by giving KU some pre-game bulletin board fodder. He wrote, “If the referees let ’em play, we’ll pick Illinois to upset Kansas in a bruising battle. The Jayhawks have the talent edge, but Kansas’ Achilles Heel may be its unwillingness to get down and dirty in a physical game. Add in the fact Illinois will enjoy a home court advantage and it won’t be a surprise if Illinois moves to the Elite Eight.”
Nice contribution: KU senior Jeff Carey had a big bucket and foul shot to give KU a 24-20 lead with 7:09 left in the first half. He had three points and a rebound in six minutes.
“I just tried to provide some energy and do what I could. With Nick and Kirk in foul trouble tonight a lot of guys had to step up,” Carey said. “It definitely feels good to beat Illinois after losing to them last year and more importantly move on.”
Movin’ on: KU advances to its first Elite Eight since 1996 when KU fell to Syracuse. It’s KU coach Roy Williams’ first No. 1 seeded team to reach the Elite Eight in five tries.
“I told the kids they deserve all the credit,” Williams said. “We are not caught up in the past except when you guys bring it up. Tonight was a team victory. It was not a comfortable feeling as a coach having Nick and Kirk sit over with me as assistant coaches. I’d rather have them in the game.”
Call him confident Keith Langford: “People questioned our toughness. This should answer everybody’s questions,” Langford said. “This is not Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce, great players like that. It’s Keith Langford 2002,” he added with a big grin.
Aide silent: Kansas assistant Neil Dougherty had no comment on reports he’s been offered the TCU coaching position.
“Nothing like that will be addressed until after the season,” Dougherty said. “I am thinking about stuff like this,” he added, pointing to a happy locker room.
Wyoming coach Steve McClain turned down the Horned Frogs’ offer on Friday.
KU in mix for Andre: Kansas is back in the running for a prize basketball prospect. Andre Iguodala, a 6-6 guard/forward from Springfield (Ill.) Lanphier has been granted a release from his letter-of-intent to Arkansas. He is no longer interested in UA following the dismissal of coach Nolan Richardson.
Iguodala’s mother, Linda Shanklin, told the Springfield State-Journal Iguodala will likely choose either KU or Arizona. He’s also considering Boston College and Maryland, who were on his original list.
KU not tough enough?: Madison Capital Times columnist Todd Finkelmeyer may have helped the Jayhawks’ cause by giving KU some pre-game bulletin board fodder. He wrote, “If the referees let ’em play, we’ll pick Illinois to upset Kansas in a bruising battle. The Jayhawks have the talent edge, but Kansas’ Achilles Heel may be its unwillingness to get down and dirty in a physical game. Add in the fact Illinois will enjoy a home court advantage and it won’t be a surprise if Illinois moves to the Elite Eight.”
Nice contribution: KU senior Jeff Carey had a big bucket and foul shot to give KU a 24-20 lead with 7:09 left in the first half. He had three points and a rebound in six minutes.
“I just tried to provide some energy and do what I could. With Nick and Kirk in foul trouble tonight a lot of guys had to step up,” Carey said. “It definitely feels good to beat Illinois after losing to them last year and more importantly move on.”
Movin’ on: KU advances to its first Elite Eight since 1996 when KU fell to Syracuse. It’s KU coach Roy Williams’ first No. 1 seeded team to reach the Elite Eight in five tries.
“I told the kids they deserve all the credit,” Williams said. “We are not caught up in the past except when you guys bring it up. Tonight was a team victory. It was not a comfortable feeling as a coach having Nick and Kirk sit over with me as assistant coaches. I’d rather have them in the game.”
Call him confident Keith Langford: “People questioned our toughness. This should answer everybody’s questions,” Langford said. “This is not Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce, great players like that. It’s Keith Langford 2002,” he added with a big grin.
Aide silent: Kansas assistant Neil Dougherty had no comment on reports he’s been offered the TCU coaching position.
“Nothing like that will be addressed until after the season,” Dougherty said. “I am thinking about stuff like this,” he added, pointing to a happy locker room.
Wyoming coach Steve McClain turned down the Horned Frogs’ offer on Friday.
KU in mix for Andre: Kansas is back in the running for a prize basketball prospect. Andre Iguodala, a 6-6 guard/forward from Springfield (Ill.) Lanphier has been granted a release from his letter-of-intent to Arkansas. He is no longer interested in UA following the dismissal of coach Nolan Richardson.
Iguodala’s mother, Linda Shanklin, told the Springfield State-Journal Iguodala will likely choose either KU or Arizona. He’s also considering Boston College and Maryland, who were on his original list.
KU not tough enough?: Madison Capital Times columnist Todd Finkelmeyer may have helped the Jayhawks’ cause by giving KU some pre-game bulletin board fodder. He wrote, “If the referees let ’em play, we’ll pick Illinois to upset Kansas in a bruising battle. The Jayhawks have the talent edge, but Kansas’ Achilles Heel may be its unwillingness to get down and dirty in a physical game. Add in the fact Illinois will enjoy a home court advantage and it won’t be a surprise if Illinois moves to the Elite Eight.”
Nice contribution: KU senior Jeff Carey had a big bucket and foul shot to give KU a 24-20 lead with 7:09 left in the first half. He had three points and a rebound in six minutes.
“I just tried to provide some energy and do what I could. With Nick and Kirk in foul trouble tonight a lot of guys had to step up,” Carey said. “It definitely feels good to beat Illinois after losing to them last year and more importantly move on.”
Movin’ on: KU advances to its first Elite Eight since 1996 when KU fell to Syracuse. It’s KU coach Roy Williams’ first No. 1 seeded team to reach the Elite Eight in five tries.
“I told the kids they deserve all the credit,” Williams said. “We are not caught up in the past except when you guys bring it up. Tonight was a team victory. It was not a comfortable feeling as a coach having Nick and Kirk sit over with me as assistant coaches. I’d rather have them in the game.”
Call him confident Keith Langford: “People questioned our toughness. This should answer everybody’s questions,” Langford said. “This is not Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce, great players like that. It’s Keith Langford 2002,” he added with a big grin.
Aide silent: Kansas assistant Neil Dougherty had no comment on reports he’s been offered the TCU coaching position.
“Nothing like that will be addressed until after the season,” Dougherty said. “I am thinking about stuff like this,” he added, pointing to a happy locker room.
Wyoming coach Steve McClain turned down the Horned Frogs’ offer on Friday.
KU in mix for Andre: Kansas is back in the running for a prize basketball prospect. Andre Iguodala, a 6-6 guard/forward from Springfield (Ill.) Lanphier has been granted a release from his letter-of-intent to Arkansas. He is no longer interested in UA following the dismissal of coach Nolan Richardson.
Iguodala’s mother, Linda Shanklin, told the Springfield State-Journal Iguodala will likely choose either KU or Arizona. He’s also considering Boston College and Maryland, who were on his original list.
KU not tough enough?: Madison Capital Times columnist Todd Finkelmeyer may have helped the Jayhawks’ cause by giving KU some pre-game bulletin board fodder. He wrote, “If the referees let ’em play, we’ll pick Illinois to upset Kansas in a bruising battle. The Jayhawks have the talent edge, but Kansas’ Achilles Heel may be its unwillingness to get down and dirty in a physical game. Add in the fact Illinois will enjoy a home court advantage and it won’t be a surprise if Illinois moves to the Elite Eight.”
Superstition
So far, the Jayhawks haven’t spit in Lake Mendota or Lake Monona, which grace this picturesque Big Ten city. Last week, the Jayhawks spit in the Mississippi River for good luck before beating Stanford.
“I assigned my managers to find out what people here think is good luck,” Williams said. “If it’s not something completely off the wall and good luck, I’ll do it. If it’s something almost completely off the wall, I’ll do it, and maybe if it’s off the wall, I’ll do it. I haven’t found that yet.”
The freshmen also have been asked to find good luck charms, Ballard said.
“Coach hasn’t said anything yet except he’d put the freshmen in charge of finding something good luck in Wisconsin,” Ballard said. “We joke around about superstition, but it’s not a huge factor. We’re concentrating on the court.”
“My way of finding luck,” freshman Langford said simply, “is finding a way to win.”
More on Hinrich health
KU junior Kirk Hinrich played well at the Jayhawks’ 50-minute practice Thursday at Kohl Center. He drew cheers from the 2,000 or so fans by coming off a screen and hitting a three-pointer during drills that followed a harder practice at a Madison community college.
He wore a brace on his sprained left ankle at practice and will wear it tonight.
“I can’t go anywhere without it now, I guess,” Hinrich said.
He begged off questioners who asked him what percentage he’d be playing at today.
“I’m not good at math,” he joked. “It feels better. I think I can play. I think I can contribute to the team.”
Matchups
Look for Aaron Miles to open defensively on Illinois point guard standout Frank Williams, with Hinrich on Cory Bradford and Jeff Boschee on Luther Head.
But things could, and probably will, change throughout.
“I think all our guards will match up on him,” Langford said of Williams. “He’s a great player. I’m sure he’s used to teams throwing a lot of people at him.”
“Normally Kirk is a great defender, but he is a step slow with the injury, so he may not be on him at all times,” KU’s Nick Collison said. “We’ve got three guards and different matchups with our three little guys.”
Illinois forward Lucas Johnson wouldn’t be surprised if Williams repeated his 30-point performance of a year ago versus the Jayhawks.
“I think you guys are in for a show. He is so determined, so focused. He will not make us lose,” Johnson said.
Johnson, by the way, has a painful hip pointer.
“It’s a bad bruise on my hipbone and it hurts a lot,” he said. “I’m wearing a big pad on my right hip. Once you get in the game and get the adrenaline going, it’s no big deal.”
Practice time
KU’s practice in Kohl Center was pretty uneventful. The Jayhawks stretched for about 10 minutes, ran some noncontact layup drills and had about 10 minutes worth of scrimmage plays.
Langford went down in a heap after a foul by Bryant Nash, but bounced back up. Boschee swished a couple of threes and appeared to enjoy the background of the arena.
“I don’t think it’s much different than a dome. It’s still a court with the rims the same,” Boschee said, comparing the 17,142-seat Kohl Center to the massive Edward Jones Dome KU played in last weekend. “I think it’s all mental. You just concentrate on the game, not the place the game is played.”
Also at the short practice, Ballard drew oohs and ahs for his out-of-bounds lob to Jeff Carey for a layup.
Prep released from letter
The University of Arkansas has released 6-6 Springfield, Ill., high school player Andre Iguodala from his letter of intent. Iguodala is now free to pick another school. His other finalists from first semester were Kansas, Arizona, Boston College and Maryland.
Unless Iguodala wins an appeal from the Collegiate Commissioners Assn., he’d have to sit out a full season and lose a year of eligibility.
It’s believed KU, which has two scholarships to give, will re-recruit Iguodala since KU has a need at the small forward slot.
Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoBrett Ballard sank one of the biggest baskets in Kansas University’s hard-earned 94-82 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday night at United Spirit Arena.
Yep, Brett Ballard KU’s walk-on guard out of Hutchinson Community College who drained a three-pointer with 13:23 left, giving the Jayhawks a 63-51 lead.
Ballard’s three, which followed a tap-out rebound by Luke Axtell, came during a 12-0 spurt that upped a 55-51 lead to 16 points.
“He made a good pass to me and I stepped up and shot without hesitation,” said Ballard, who has three threes in four attempts. “That’s the big thing coach wants to shoot without hesitating.”
Ballard entered as a replacement after KU coach Roy Williams pulled Kenny Gregory and Jeff Boschee for failure to hustle for a loose ball.
Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo“I think coach wanted us to pick up the intensity,” Ballard said of the lineup of Drew Gooden, Luke Axtell, Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich and Ballard. “That’s one thing he talked about at halftime, coming out and making it tougher on them the second half.”
The Jayhawks, who led, 42-38, at halftime, rolled 52-44 the final half.
Williams suffered one of his dizzy spells early in the second half Saturday. He screamed at one of the refs after Axtell was called for an offensive foul and Williams had to compose himself in a crouched position before standing and returning to KU’s bench.
“I got a little dizzy,” Williams said. He’s had several dizzy spells in his 13 seasons at KU, one at practice last season.
“I’ve never worried about it. Screaming, ranting and raving at the officials is what it was. I got up from a crouched position, blood rushes to the head or whatever it was. It’s been doing it since I was a catcher in (youth) baseball.”
Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoGregory took off his right shoe on the bench in the second half, making some wonder if he was having problems with the stress fracture in that foot. Nope. He had a problem with a toe nail rubbing into a toe.
Roy Williams went with a lineup of Gooden, Eric Chenowith, Boschee, Hinrich and Gregory. Collison was the big man to come off the bench this game.
“Like I said I’ll probably rotate them and not be married to one lineup. I thought all three big men played well,” Williams said.
Axtell, who is a native of Austin, hit three three-pointers while playing in his home state. “It’s just good to be back here,” said Axtell, whose grandparents were in attendance along with his parents. “It’s always big to win a conference game. It was important to win our conference opener.”
Jamal Brown’s nine assists mark a season high by a KU opponent and are the most by a KU foe since Doug Gottlieb of Oklahoma State had nine assists on March 10, 2000. … Gooden has scored in double figures in all 13 games this season. … Kirk Hinrich tied a career high with three steals. … Luke Axtell tied a career high with three threes. … KU won its 10th straight conference opener and its fifth straight conference opener on the road. … KU is 11-1 versus Texas Tech. …KU had zero blocks for the first time since December, 1998, against Pepperdine.
