Not about to leave his cozy apartment on a bitterly cold, snowy Wednesday evening, Russell Robinson chose to watch a marquee college basketball game on TV.
Not a Big 12 battle between Missouri and Iowa State, but an ACC clash between No. 1 North Carolina and upset-minded Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
“That was definitely a nailbiter,” Robinson, Kansas University’s senior guard, said of Carolina’s 83-82 victory, one that will keep the Tar Heels ahead of No. 2 Memphis and No. 3 KU in the polls. “That was a tough one to watch.”
“Tough” because Robinson and his KU teammates naturally hope to ascend to No. 1 sooner rather than later.
“They do get a lot of national attention. I’m not going to lie about that,” Robinson said of the Heels. “I wish we could have a little bit of it. I talked to a reporter the other day. He said the only way you can tell who is better is if the game is played (between KU and UNC). We’ve got to handle our business and hopefully that game will be played.”
Robinson said he’s been “dreaming of it (KU-UNC) for a while now. We’ve got the tools to do it this year. We’ve got to take it one game at a time. Hopefully the end result (is) we’ll be on top.”
Senior Darnell Jackson also had his TV tuned into UNC-Tech.
“I was rooting for Georgia Tech to pull a victory out. It didn’t happen that way.” I can’t predict the future,” Jackson said of a KU-UNC meeting in the NCAA Tournament. “If it happens, it happens. I think it’d be a great game.”
¢ Antlers on prowl? It’s the week of the KU-Missouri game in Columbia (7 p.m., Saturday), which means the Jayhawks can expect some phone calls from students in MU’s cheering section, The Antlers.
“I’ve been getting some weird numbers (appearing on cellphone),” Robinson said. “I don’t know the area code out there, but I’m sure they are (calling). I’m not good at answering the phone for family and friends. I’m not going to worry about answering the phone from The Antlers. I will not let anything distract me from the game.”
Freshman Cole Aldrich said he was looking forward to seeing The Antlers in action.
“I’ve been told they’ll find out things that possibly you didn’t even know about,” Aldrich said. “People yelling at you, saying obscene things makes the game even more fun.”
Aldrich remembers getting heckled while playing for Jefferson High in Bloomington, Minn.
“One time one kid had a big ol’ Halloween afro. He gets on another kid’s shoulders. He’s about 7-2 now. He says, ‘Aldrich, c’mon I want to play some 1-on-1.’ It was always a fun thing having fans heckle you.”
¢ MU viewer: KU coach Bill Self, who has to devise a game plan, tuned into ISU’s 72-67 victory over MU in Ames, Iowa.
“I thought it was a typical Big 12 game … and we’ll have a lot of them,” Self said. “Both teams played well enough to win.”
¢ Juco recruit: Tyrone Appleton, a 6-3 sophomore guard from Midland (Texas) Community College told Rivals.com he will attend next Saturday’s KU-Nebraska game as part of an official recruiting trip. Appleton is considering KU, Kentucky, Texas and Iowa State. The Gary, Ind., native originally committed to West Virginia before heading to junior college. He’s averaging just under 13 points a game with six assists and four steals.
¢ Twins snowed out: KU practiced at 7 a.m. Thursday to allow Self to travel to Philadelphia to watch future KU players Marcus and Markieff Morris play for APEX Academies. The contest was called because of bad weather.
¢ One of the best: Self was asked if this was his best KU team: “I would say on this date it is. We’ll see how it plays out. Certainly this could be as good a team as I’ve ever had.”
¢ Rush ‘better prepared’ for pros: Self on what pro scouts must think of junior Brandon Rush 7 1/2 months after ACL surgery: “If I was in their shoes I would be more impressed with him this year than last because he’s taken another step to show his maturity, responsibility, work ethic and natural athletic ability. A lot depends who comes out (for draft) and all that stuff. I think he’s better prepared to be a better pro today than he was at this point last year.”
¢ Good break: KU accomplished a lot during break between semesters. “I do think we got better. I really appreciate our guys’ attitudes … not very often are college students excited for school to start. I bet our guys are excited. Being a month away from friends and family, I’m sure it becomes quite monotonous, hanging around me all the time.”
“He’s right about that,” Jackson said. “Having practice every day, seeing coach Self walk in the gym. He’s jacked up, ready to go, yelling all the time. Now class has started it gives us a little break. We can worry about class and worry about coach Self later.”
¢ Football revisited: Will KU be trying to atone for the Jayahwks’ loss to MU in football?
“We’ve got school pride going,” Robinson said. “I watched that game (36-28 MU win in K.C.). It was tough to watch. We’ve got to do something, try to get payback. We’ve got to go out and handle business against a good team. I’m expecting the best Missouri team I’ve seen.”
