Stories for March 2009

Calipari headed to Kentucky

John Calipari agreed Tuesday to leave Memphis and the dominant program he built and take on the challenge — and riches — of returning Kentucky to college basketball glory.

Mike Anderson has agreed to a new seven-year contract and will remain Missouri's men's basketball coach. The announcement Tuesday night caps a whirlwind couple of days for the school and Anderson, who had been mentioned for coaching vacancies at Georgia and Memphis.

Jeremy Case lands assistant coaching job at Southeast Missouri State

Former Kansas University basketball guard Jeremy Case has landed a job as assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State University.

KU's Danielle McCray named honorable mention All-America

Kansas junior Danielle McCray was chosen as an honorable mention All-America selection, the Associated Press announced Tuesday.

KU men’s golf in 16th

Seniors Walt Koelbel and Andrew Storm led the Kansas University men’s golf team to 16th place after two rounds at the Western Intercollegiate. Koelbel and Storm each carded a 76 on Monday. Koelbel enters today’s final round tied for 22nd place, while Storm is tied for 27th place. Fresno State enters the final round with a four-stroke lead.

KU fields questions about master plan

‘Olympic Village’ still in preliminary stage

About 30 people listened as university and athletics officials described a Kansas University Athletic Department that was strong but had areas for improvement. A town hall meeting Monday afternoon in the Kansas Union focused on an internal report completed by KU and its athletic department.

Griffin leads AP All-America team

Hansbrough, Blair, Harden, Curry also on first team

Blake Griffin and Tyler Hansbrough spent a lot of time together on the court last weekend and were back together Monday as the top vote-getters on the Associated Press’ All-America team.

KU women advance to WNIT semifinals for first time in school history

Jayhawks take road victory over New Mexico, 78-69

Danielle McCray scored 32 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping the Kansas women's basketball team to a 78-69 victory over New Mexico in the WNIT on Monday night in Albuquerque, N.M.

Collins a third team All-America selection

Aldrich an honorable mention

Kansas junior guard Sherron Collins is a third-team All-America selection, the Associated Press announced Monday. Sophomore center Cole Aldrich was tapped honorable mention. Collins also has been named second-team All-America by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and third-team by CBSsportsline.com and the Sporting News. He also was first-team All-Big 12 and All-NABC District Eight.

Surging KU women hope to end road woes

Kansas University's women's basketball team will try to claim just its second road win since Christmas when it faces New Mexico in the Elite Eight of the Women's NIT.

KU to address equality of women’s sports venues

The Kansas University Athletics Department is undertaking several facility improvements after external reports showed the university’s men’s and women’s facilities were unequal. Jim Marchiony, associate athletic director, said the university annually undergoes an external review for Title IX issues related to gender equity in all facets of its program.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

CBSsportsline.com has listed Kansas University assistant Joe Dooley as one of the candidates for the vacant Virginia Commonwealth head coaching job. Others on the list: VCU assistant Tony Pujol, Texas assistant Russell Springman, Florida assistant Shaka Smart, Wake Forest assistant Jeff Battle, Ohio State assistant Archie Miller as well as head coaches Jeff Lebo of Auburn and Billy Lange of Navy.

Region honors Aldrich

Kansas University sophomore center Cole Aldrich on Sunday was named to the NCAA Tournament All-Midwest Regional team. Michigan State’s Goran Suton, Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton and Louisville’s Earl Clark also were voted to the squad by media members covering the tournament.

KU women’s golf last

KU's women's golf team placed 18th of 18 teams at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic.

KU baseball falls, 6-5

Kansas University's baseball team fell to Texas A&M, 6-5, in the final game of a three-game series.

College hoops dynasties are history

Dynasties can’t exist in college basketball, not anymore. You have Florida, with its back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, now working on a two-year streak of NIT trips. You have UCLA, with three straight Final Four appearances snapped this year, but no titles. ou have Kentucky (no Final Fours since 1998), you have Duke (no Final Fours since 2005), and you have a mishmash of everyone else.

Kansas tennis wins

Kansas University's tennis team beat Oklahoma State, 4-3.

KU men’s golf 16th

KU's men's golf team was 16th after the first day of the Western Intercollegiate.

North Carolina leaves Oklahoma behind 72-60

Blake Griffin might be the nation's best player. North Carolina brushed him aside with a total team effort. Ty Lawson scored 19 points and Danny Green added 18 to lead the top-seeded Tar Heels to a 72-60 win over Griffin and Oklahoma on Sunday in the South Regional final.

Michigan St beats No. 1 seed Louisville 64-52

Michigan State is marching on to Motown. The Spartans gave the Final Four a hometown feel, stopping overall No. 1 seed Louisville 64-52 Sunday to win the Midwest Regional.

KU women must travel to New Mexico for Elite Eight

When it comes to WNIT basketball, money talks, and everything else more or less walks.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

Draftexpress.com has KU junior guard Sherron Collins and KU sophomore center Cole Aldrich returning to college for the 2009-10 season. The Web site lists Aldrich as the No. 5 overall pick (of Minnesota) in the 2010 Draft and Collins the No. 21 overall pick (of Utah) also in ’10.

3 steps to ruling Big 12 and contending for No. 1 seed

Three things transpire and the 2009-2010 Kansas University basketball team strikes out the Big 12 competition, wins the conference title and contends for a No. 1 seed in next year’s NCAA Tournament.

Unfinished business

Jayhawks leave Indianapolis wanting a return trip in 2010

Kansas University’s basketball players and coaches boarded the team bus at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the downtown Indianapolis Omni Severin Hotel, hoping they’d be back in Hoosier Country sooner rather than later.

Rowing opener canceled

The Kansas University rowing team had its season opener for today canceled due to weather conditions between Wichita and Oklahoma City.

Missouri Relays canceled

Inclement weather canceled Saturday’s events at the Missouri Relays.

Women's golf delayed

For the second straight day, the Kansas University women’s golf team will have to wait to begin play at the 37th annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, which was delayed Saturday due to rain.

KU soccer called off

Inclement weather forced the Kansas University soccer team to cancel its exhibition game against Creighton on Saturday. No makeup has been announced.

KU baseball's rally not enough

Kansas University’s baseball team rallied from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning, but couldn’t close it out against Texas A&M.

It's 'Nova over Pitt 78-76 in East Region

It was physical. It was defensive. It was just the way they like it in the Big East. With bodies clogging the lane and 3-pointers clanging off the rim, Scottie Reynolds made a half-court dash for a last-second basket to give Villanova 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh and send the Wildcats to their first Final Four since the 1985 team made its stunning run to the NCAA championship.

Top-seeded UConn outlasts Missouri 82-75

Connecticut is making another trip from the desert to the Final Four. The wait goes on for Missouri.

KU men's basketball returns home to Allen Fieldhouse

Bad weather across Kansas forced the Kansas men's basketball team's flight back from Indianapolis to be diverted again, this time to Kansas City International Airport. They arrived in Lawrence a little after 2 p.m. Saturday.

KU men's basketball team scheduled to arrive in Topeka at 11:30 a.m. Saturday

The latest plans for the Kansas men's basketball team are to arrive at Forbes Field in Topeka at approximately 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Jayhawks two deep, too shallow

Pin it on Sherron Collins. That’s the easy way to go. He even begged for it in the wake of Michigan State’s come-from-behind, 67-62 Friday night knockout punch of Kansas University in Lucas Oil Stadium. “I don’t want to hear anybody talking about the young fellas, putting anything on them,” Collins said from a seat in front of his locker. “I can take whatever anybody wants to give me, but don’t dish it on them. Dish it all on me.”

Lucas 'got lucky'

Guard carries Spartans late

Kalin Lucas wasn’t planning his move. With the game tied, a minute left, and the shot clock winding down, he instead turned to instinct.

Down go the champs

In the end, a two-deep Kansas basketball team proved too shallow to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

KU softball called off

sts for snow and cold prompted Kansas University to postpone its scheduled weekend softball series with Texas A&M.

Honors court: Forgotten memorabilia reflects basketball founder James Naismith’s commitment to faith

In a forgotten little room in Allen Fieldhouse, Michael Zogry felt he’d seen a ghost.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich addressed the NBA question numerous times after Friday’s season-ending loss to Michigan State.

Bitter sweet 16

Michigan State 67, Kansas 62

Sherron Collins spoke in hushed tones, his eyes staring holes in the carpet in a somber Lucas Oil Stadium locker room.

KU women to play at New Mexico

Kansas University’s women’s basketball team will travel to New Mexico on Monday for a WNIT quarterfinal game. Tipoff is 8 p.m. (CDT).

Meier getting more work as receiver

During a four-year career in which he has been unseated as Kansas University’s starting quarterback and subsequently reinvented himself as a viable collegiate receiver, junior Kerry Meier has developed a reputation as the consummate team-first player.

North Carolina rolls past Gonzaga 98-77

Ty Lawson sat on the sideline with both feet propped up on a chair, shooting an occasional glance toward the court as his left ankle was re-taped. He went back in the game a few moments later, but there was no rush. North Carolina had this one well under control.

Oklahoma downs Syracuse 84-71, advances to final

Blake Griffin saw 6-foot Jonny Flynn plant his feet near the basket, trying to draw a charge near the end of the first half. So Oklahoma's bullish power forward changed his plans. Oh, he still drove through Flynn, flattening the point guard. The change came as Griffin switched from another thundering dunk to a simple layup — and when a blocking foul was called, he got the added bonus of a free throw.

Louisville dominates Arizona in 103-64 victory

Rick Pitino enjoyed watching Friday night's game almost as much as his Louisville players enjoyed celebrating. Fun-loving forward Terrence Williams danced on the sideline. Guard Edgar Sosa posed for the television camera. Even backup Kyle Kuric dunked. For the top-seeded team in the NCAA tournament, this was more fun than a team scrimmage or a pickup game.

Briscoe, Greene suspended for spring practice

Dezmon Briscoe, who earned second-team all-Big 12 honors after an historic sophomore season in 2008, has been suspended from the team indefinitely after violating unspecified team rules.

FINAL: Michigan State uses late comeback to take down KU, 67-62

The Spartans finished the game on a 12-2 run, ending the Jayhawks' season in the Sweet 16.

KU football practice moved inside, will be closed to public

Weekend softball series with A&M also called off

The Kansas football team's scheduled open practice today has been moved indoors and, because of construction around the Anschutz Sports Pavilion, will be closed to the public.

KU likes Indy stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 63,000 for football, just under 40,000 for hoops, has an elevated basketball court in the center of the massive facility.

KU regatta delayed

Kansas University's scheduled regatta at Oklahoma City was postponed a day.

Ready for rematch

Jayhawks expecting physical matchup

Kansas University basketball big-man coach Danny Manning met with walk-on center Matt Kleinmann prior to Tuesday’s practice in Allen Fieldhouse.

Gary Bedore’s Kansas basketball notebook

Kansas University guard Brady Morningstar enters having hit nine of his last 35 shots over seven games, including six of 25 threes.

Born first to triple double

B.H. Born unofficially recorded Kansas University's first triple-double, long before Cole Aldrich made it offical.

Collins keeping Spartan up at night

For a typical game, Travis Walton watches three full game tapes of the player he’s defending. This week, he’s says he’s going to make it to five.

Supporting actors need to step up

The talk du jour around the Kansas basketball team centers on the need for better performances from supporting actors, none of whom joined Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich in producing a double-figures scoring effort in either of the victories in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament played in Minneapolis.

Villanova knocks Duke from NCAA tournament 77-54

No team has erased more chalk from the NCAA tournament than Villanova. The third-seeded Wildcats beat Duke for the first time in more than 50 years on Thursday night, getting 14 points and 11 rebounds from Dante Cunningham to win 77-54 and advance to the East regional final. It was Villanova's 14th NCAA victory over a higher-seeded team — the most in tournament history.

Tiller leads Missouri past Memphis 102-91 in West

A career night by J.T. Tiller put Missouri one win away from its first trip to the Final Four. Memphis' 27-game winning streak, meanwhile, is history. Tiller scored a career-high 23 points — 15 more than his season average — and Missouri held off Memphis' frantic rally for a 102-91 win Thursday night in the semifinals of the West Regional.

UConn defeats Purdue 72-60 in NCAA West semifinals

Connecticut hardly needed Hasheem Thabeet as it romped through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. That all changed against a gritty Purdue team. The Boilermakers seemed to have an answer for everything the Huskies threw at them — except for the 7-foot-3 Thabeet.

Fields' baskets send Pitt past Xavier 60-55

Levance Fields pointed Pittsburgh in the right direction just in time — as usual. For the second straight game, the orchestrator of the offense took the big shots himself, hitting a 3-pointer with 50.9 seconds left, then scoring off his steal as the top-seeded Panthers reached the regional finals for the first time in 35 years with a 60-55 win over Xavier on Thursday night.

McCray, Morris lead KU to win

Those candies are tasty — they melt in your mouth, not in your hands — but Kansas University’s M&Ms may be even better.

KU fans look to make good memories of games in Indianapolis

Mike Earhart is back for some redemption. The last time he came to Indianapolis to cheer on the Kansas Jayhawks was 1991. That didn’t turn out so well, as KU lost to Duke, 72-65, in the national championship game.

As Sweet 16 looms, some superstitious fans take special measures

It’s do or die for the Kansas men’s basketball team. As the Jayhawks head to Indianapolis for their Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan State on Friday, it’s prompting superstitious fans to pull out their strange traditions.

UConn will review report

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said he and the university are looking into a Yahoo! Sports report claiming the school broke NCAA rules during the recruitment of former basketball player Nate Miles, but added Miles is not at UConn and his team remains focused on the NCAA Tournament.

KU softball team drops doubleheader

Val George paused to ponder one final post-game question before stepping off the softball field, and it seemed to throw her for a loop following a long Wednesday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.

WIU player enjoys trip home

Not long after Western Illinois first baseman Tyler Metcalf had battered the Kansas University pitching staff for two home runs in a losing effort Tuesday, the cell phones of the Jayhawks’ coaching staff began blinking with text messages.

Izzo fires up MSU

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has issued a challenge to his 2008-09 Spartans. That is: To “Become Legendary.” The Detroit Free Press reported that MSU’s video coordinators created a highlight video to share with the team prior to last Sunday’s second-round NCAA Tournament victory over Southern Cal in Minneapolis.

Jayhawks soak up Sweet 16 in Indy

Police sirens blared at 6 p.m. on Wednesday as Kansas University’s basketball team bus pulled up to the front door of the Omni Severin Hotel.

KU hoping to get rare second win in WNIT

Ivana Catic wants to do something no Kansas University women’s basketball player has ever done. “I want to play in April,” said Catic, the Jayhawks’ senior point guard, “but I know you can’t look ahead.” Two victories ahead, in fact. Kansas would need to defeat Arkansas tonight, then win one more game in order to reach the early-April semifinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

Chalmers comfortable, confident in starting role

Mario Chalmers might be a rookie, but he sure doesn’t act like one. Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley has seen it all in the locker room: Mario walking over to knock off a teammate’s headphones. Mario getting up to kick a teammate’s shoes to the side.

After slow start in NBA, Rush making major strides

Brandon Rush had the ball in the right corner and Dwyane Wade, one of the world’s best basketball players, was guarding him early in the first quarter. Rush pump-faked, Wade bit, and the rookie from Kansas drove around him. He passed the ball to the top of the key, ran to the left corner, caught a pass, and hit that jumper of his that comes right out of the West Point textbook. Swish.

Kansas St. snubbed out of NCAAs? Beasley says no

Former Kansas State player Michael Beasley wasn’t afraid to share his opinion on whether the Wildcats deserved to make the NCAA Tournament this season.

Sooners preparing to face zone

A zone defense doesn’t seem all that menacing to Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, even if it is the one Jim Boeheim has used in leading Syracuse to such great success all these years.

MSU guard adds toughness

Travis Walton strolled onto Michigan State’s practice court shortly after midnight with a McDonald’s cup in one hand and a basketball in another.

As usual, Sweet 16 has familiar look

Thanks for stopping by, Western Kentucky.

Jayhawks depart for Sweet 16

Family helps send off team to Indianapolis

Maria Graves nearly tripped as she sprinted to her parents and sister, pink hat clutched in her hands, the black scrawl of Tyrone Appleton’s signature barely legible on the bill.

Jayhawks' first-round foes back in North Dakota battling flooding river

After battling the Kansas Jayhawks, members of the North Dakota State men’s basketball team returned to campus and found themselves taking on another challenge: fighting the threat of flooding.

Jayhawk still alive among top 10 'pet' mascots

An online site ranks Kansas University’s Jayhawk as the No. 10 mascot in this year’s NCAA Tournament field, but the mythical bird already has survived longer than four higher-ranked animals — including the pre-tournament No. 1, Dubs the Husky from the University of Washington.

KU Athletics releases report that includes plans for $24.6 million Olympic Village

The Kansas University Athletic Department released a draft of a self study Wednesday detailing information on budgets, master plans and many other aspects of its operation.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

Cole Aldrich needs eight blocks to pass Greg Ostertag as KU’s single-season block leader. “I’m just going to go out and play the same game I played all year, try to block shots, rebound, get opportunities to score,” said Aldrich, who has 90 blocks.

Rematch looks promising

Few things make a sports columnist feel cheesier than writing nice words about the local coach, especially one as celebrated as Bill Self. So when it’s unavoidable to do so, the easy route involves stepping out of the way to let the numbers do the talking.

Twists, turns leave KU's Taylor happy

Tyshawn Taylor let the red and blue practice jersey dangle from his fingers as he sat on top of a vacant concession stand inside Allen Fieldhouse and reflected on the year that had just passed. He wasn’t supposed to be here, inside the home of one of the most storied programs in college basketball. He was supposed to be 600 miles northeast.

Former Firebirds reunite in Jayhawks’ win

Robby Price and Brett Lisher found a familiar face staring back at them Tuesday when they stepped to the plate during Kansas University’s matchup with visiting Western Illinois. For the first time since leading Free State High to the 2006 Class 6A state championship, they found themselves on the same field as former prep teammate John Sneegas, a junior pitcher at WIU making just his third Division-I start against the Jayhawks.

Bears advance to semifinals of NIT

The Baylor Bears made big baskets, grabbed timely rebounds and dodged a few bullets. Apparently, they’re getting the postseason formula down pretty well.

KU softball hammered

The softball mercy rule in college is set up to serve one purpose — to avoid any further humiliation by the losing team when the game clearly has become out of reach. The rule states that a game ends when one team holds an eight-run lead after any inning beyond the fourth.

Mangino honored in Pittsburgh

Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was inducted into the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at the group’s 23rd annual awards and scholarship banquet on Sunday.

Fieldhouse will be closed to public

Allen Fieldhouse will be closed to the public once the Kansas University men’s and women’s basketball seasons end.

One-on-one challenge

Self holds individual talks with Taylor, Morris twins

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self summoned three Jayhawks to his office on Monday afternoon. His message to Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris during one-on-one chit-chats? That they ought to be loose, carefree and primed to produce top-quality minutes in Friday’s Sweet 16 battle against Michigan State (approximately 8:37 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis).

Tourney suffers without Cinderella

Way to strip a lot of the fun and intrigue from this season’s March Madness, NCAA Tournament selection committee. Not only did it give some of the major conferences too many invites to the Big Dance, but the committee left some very good mid-majors on the sidelines. Now we have a Sweet 16 that’s not as appealing as it has been in recent years, thanks to you.

Jayhawks basking in glow

Self relishes exposure of another Sweet 16

Bill Self gave his Sweet 16-bound Kansas University basketball players a well deserved day off Monday. It was business as usual for KU’s sixth-year coach, however. Of course, he spent time working on his game plan for Friday’s foe, Michigan State, while also making the rounds on ESPN’s First Take TV and Doug Gottlieb radio shows.

Kansas NCAA Q&A

Everything you wanted to know about Kansas University men’s basketball, but were so mind-numbed by the repetitive CBS commercials you forgot to ask …

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Kansas University coach Bill Self remains impressed with Cole Aldrich’s triple-double in Sunday’s 60-43 victory against Dayton. The sophomore big man had a school-record 10 blocked shots to go with 20 rebounds and 13 points.

KU women top Creighton in WNIT

Her name contains 16 letters, but it really takes a 17th to describe Aishah Sutherland. “She’s our X-factor,” teammate Ivana Catic said. “It’s no secret that when she plays well, we play well.” Sutherland scored a career-high 15 points and matched her career-high with 12 rebounds to help Kansas spill Creighton, 79-64, in a WNIT basketball game Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

Commissioner Hack drops proposal to rename part of Missouri Street after coach Fambrough

City commissioners won’t debate, after all, whether a portion of Missouri Street should be renamed in honor of a former Kansas University football coach.

Basketball writers group gives Self national coach of the year award

The U.S. Basketball Writers' Association today gave Bill Self its national coach of the year award.

KU softball falls to Oklahoma State, 6-2

KU fell to Oklahoma State, 6-2, in Big 12 Conference softball.

KU women face familiar foe: Creighton

Kansas University's women's basketball team will open the Women's NIT witih a familiar foe: Creighton.

Next up for Kansas: Michigan State

An unexpected scoring binge from the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year propelled Michigan State to a familiar place. Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points to lift the second-seeded Spartans to a victory over 10th-seeded USC in the Midwest Regional, putting Michigan State in the round of 16 for the eighth time in 12 years. MSU (28-6) advanced to the regional semifinals more times in the last dozen years than any team besides Duke.

Kansas tennis falls to Missouri, 5-2

Coach Amy Hall-Holt wasn’t all that thrilled with the performance of her Kansas University tennis team in its 5-2 loss to Missouri on Sunday at First Serve Tennis Center. But at least she’s finally starting to reap some rewards, however small they may be, on her doubles pairing plan — one finally based more on personal preference than necessity.

English sparks MU to Sweet 16 berth

Four unbelievable minutes. Two gargantuan free throws. Freshman Kim English came off the bench to “pinch shoot” for the hurting J.T. Tiller and made two free throws with 5.5 seconds left Sunday to give Missouri the go-ahead points in an 83-79 victory over Marquette. It was quite an encore for English, who had an out-of-body 41⁄2-minute shooting spree in the first half, scoring 15 points and helping third-seeded Mizzou (30-6) turn a six-point deficit into a 16-point lead.

NCAA to blame for empty seats

With just over a minute to play, a chant of joy came out of the postage-stamp section of Arizona fans. “Sweet 16! Sweet 16! Sweet 16!” It was then a NCAA official looked to the empty upper deck in AmericanAirlines Arena and said, “Listen. Hear the echo?”

Triple-double sweet!

Aldrich shines as KU advances to Sweet 16

Saving the most dominant basketball weekend of his college career for his hometown fans, Cole Aldrich led Kansas University into the Sweet 16 by registering the first official triple-double in school history Sunday in the Metrodome.

Triple delight

Aldrich records rare triple-double

Walter Aldrich adjusted his glasses. His vision was blurred Sunday afternoon as he attempted to watch a CBS-TV reporter interview the star of Kansas University’s 60-43 second-round NCAA Tournament victory over Dayton. That would be his son — hometown hero Cole Aldrich. “Grown men aren’t supposed to cry,” Walter Aldrich said, his eyes welling with tears as he stood in front of his fifth-row seat in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Yet he couldn’t help but be gripped by emotion on on a day his son recorded the first official triple-double in KU history.

Collins provides plenty to love

For some fans of Kansas University, watching Sherron Collins play basketball can amount to a hate-love relationship with their television sets. When he makes his defender look like a klutz and finishes with a bucket at the hoop, you scream “Wow!” at your TV. Then you scream “Bad shot!” Then “Wow!” Then, “Bad turnover!” Then, “Wow!” Then, “Bad shot!” Then, “Wow!”

Flyers in awe of mountainous Aldrich

Dayton impressed by Jayhawks’ shot-blocking center

One of Dayton’s greatest strengths this season had been attacking the basket. It didn’t work Sunday against Kansas University and center Cole Aldrich. “You get past the first guy and you look up and there is a mountain in the middle of the lane,” Dayton forward Charles Little said after his team’s 60-43 loss. Aldrich recorded 10 blocks against the Flyers, which tied for the second-most in NCAA Tournament history.

Kansas basketball notebook

Kansas University’s 60-43 victory over Dayton put a smile on the face of junior guard Tyrone Appleton, who has been mourning the loss of his buddy Dennis Williams, who was murdered late last week in Gary, Ind. “It’s been tough, real tough,” Appleton said after scoring one point versus the Flyers.

Louisville 79, Siena 72

At Dayton, Ohio, Terrence Williams had 24 points and 15 rebounds as Louisville, the overall No. 1 seed, reached the round of 16 for the second straight year. Louisville (30-5) will play 12th-seeded Arizona on Friday in Indianapolis. Siena (27-8) overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half and led 63-59 with 7:20 left.

Michigan State 74, Southern California 69

At Minneapolis, Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points and second-seeded Michigan State made it into the round of 16 for the eighth time in 12 years. Durell Summers added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans (28-6), who have reached the regional semifinals more times in the last dozen years than any team except Duke. Dwight Lewis scored 19 points and DeMar DeRozan added 18 for USC (22-13).

KU baseball sweeps No. 1 Texas

In the aftermath of the Kansas University baseball team’s weekend performance against top-ranked Texas, it was hard to ignore the novelty of it all. It was a series of firsts for the Jayhawks: The first victory over a No. 1 opponent since 1993; the first series victory over a ranked opponent since 2006; the first sweep of the Longhorns in school history.

Xavier outlasts Wisconsin 60-49

B.J. Raymond scored 15 points and Xavier finally broke through Wisconsin's defense midway through the second half, pulling away to a 60-49 victory Sunday in the second round of the East Regional. The Musketeers (27-7) struggled as the Badgers controlled the pace for the first 30 minutes, before Xavier pulled away with a 13-4 run and hung onto the lead from the foul line.

Pittsburgh downs Oklahoma State 84-76

Pittsburgh powered its way to a familiar place. Sam Young, the Panthers' poet in motion, scored 32 points and DeJuan Blair added another double-double as top-seeded Pittsburgh advanced to the round of 16 for the fifth time in eight years with an 84-76 win over Oklahoma State on Sunday.

No. 12-seeded Arizona beats Cleveland St 71-57

The new role as long shots seems to suit the Arizona Wildcats fine. Seeded only 12th, the NCAA tournament perennials took an early 14-point lead Sunday and advanced to the round of 16 by beating upstart Cleveland State 71-57.

KU men's basketball scheduled to arrive in Topeka at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The Kansas University men's basketball team will fly out of Minneapolis at 6 p.m. Sunday. The team is scheduled to arrive at about 7:30 p.m. at Forbes Field in Topeka.

Devendorf delivers for Syracuse

With Syracuse's season on the cusp of slipping away, Eric Devendorf picked the perfect time to be at his best.

FINAL: Aldrich gets first "official" triple-double in school history, helps KU to 60-43 victory

The KU center had 13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks as the Jayhawks advanced to the Sweet 16, where they will play Michigan State.

OSU shuts out KU

Senior Dougie McCaulley and sophomore Liz Kocon tallied the Kansas University softball team’s only hits in the Jayhawks’ 2-0 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday evening in their Big 12 Conference opener.

Baylor cruises in NIT

Kevin Rogers and Curtis Jerrells scored 16 points apiece to lead Baylor past Virginia Tech, 84-66, on Saturday in the second round of the NIT.

Dayton’s Perry familiar with KU

Flyers’ junior guard faced Collins in Chicago high school games

Mickey Perry says his journey to today began on April 7, 2008. He was at coach Brian Gregory’s house with his Dayton teammates. And he couldn’t take his eyes off Kansas’ Sherron Collins.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

Dayton’s basketball team is quick and athletic. The Flyers of the Atlantic 10 Conference, who play pressure man-to-man defense, resemble three teams the Jayhawks have met this season: Tennessee, Missouri and Michigan State.

Appleton attends funeral in Indiana

Kansas University junior guard Tyrone Appleton, as reported in Saturday’s Journal-World, attended the funeral of his buddy, Dennis Williams, on Saturday in Gary, Ind. Appleton will be back for today’s game against Dayton.

Don't overlook Dayton's Wright

It didn’t take a 27-point, 10-rebound game against West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self to appreciate the talent of Dayton’s 6-foot-8, 226-pound sophomore Chris Wright.

His time to lead

Spotlight shines bright on Collins in NCAA Tournament

Sherron Collins, who is well on his way to becoming the most accomplished basketball alumnus of Chicago’s Crane Tech High School, learned the tricks of the point-guard trade from his idol, fellow Crane graduate Will Bynum.

KU golf team takes fourth place

Nate Barbee's fifth-place finish helped propel the Kansas University men's golf team to a fourth-place finish Saturday at the Desert Shootout.

KU swimmer places 19th; diver takes 17th

Kansas University swimmer Maria Mayrovich placed 19th in the preliminaries of the 100 yard freestyle Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

KU baseball takes down No. 1 Texas for second straight day in 4-3 win

Kansas junior Robby Price delivered the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, helping the Jayhawks to a come-from-behind, 4-3 victory over No. 1 Texas on Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Griffin, Oklahoma overpower Michigan, 73-63

Michigan bumped Blake Griffin around, knocked him to the floor, even bloodied his nose. There were no wrestling takedowns, but the Wolverines still gave it to him pretty good. Nothing worked.

Henderson leads Duke past Texas

Jon Scheyer was falling out of bounds when he made a heady play to keep one loose ball alive. David McClure tipped another one to a teammate to deny Texas a last chance.

Gonzaga defeats Western Kentucky on last-second shot

Gonzaga's rowdy celebration spilled into the locker room, where the team watched a replay of freshman Demetri Goodson's game-winner and got to cheer again and again.

Tar Heels beat Tigers

No one has ever doubted Ty Lawson's talent, speed or ability to take over a game for North Carolina. Maybe now Lawson won't hear so many questions about whether he's tough enough, too.

Purdue outlasts Washington

Purdue was teetering. Desperate Washington was roaring back. The Huskies' close-to-home crowd was screaming. And the stifling intensity that makes the NCAA tournament so popular blanketed the court.

Evans leads Memphis to easy 89-70 win over Terps

Memphis' Antonio Anderson said the Tigers had never paid attention to what Vasquez said. "We're in Conference USA and love it," he said. "That's our conference, and we represent for the rest of the teams who didn't make the tournament."

Calhoun, UConn beat Texas A&M 92-66

Jim Calhoun returned to his regular seat on the bench and led Connecticut to a familiar spot in the round of 16. A.J. Price scored 27 points, Jeff Adrien had 23 and Connecticut dominated Texas A&M from the opening tip in a 92-66 victory on Saturday, putting the Huskies in the round of 16 for the 12th time under their Hall of Fame coach.

'Nova reaches round of 16 with 89-69 win over UCLA

Rollie Massimino sat on the edge of his seat, rooting on his former team from behind the bench. By the end, he was leaning back in his chair and soaking it in. No need to sweat this one out, Coach. The Wildcats had it all the way.

jayhawk4life1 leads bracket challenge after first round

The first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament is in the books, and jayhawk4life1 leads all contestants in the KUSports.com Bracket Challenge.

Bison bounced; Flyers next up

For every blue shirt in the Metrodome on Friday, there were about six gold ones in what felt like a road game for third-seeded Kansas University and a home game for No. 14 seed North Dakota State University. The Kansas basketball team survived that atmosphere and a 37-point effort from standout Bison guard Ben Woodside to advance, 84-74, to Sunday’s second-round game against Dayton, upset winner against West Virginia.

Kansas notebook

Kansas University junior guard Tyrone Appleton, who guarded Ben Woodside two minutes the first half and four the second, was mighty impressed with the Bison guard, who scored 37 points. “I didn’t realize how good he was until today,” Appleton said.

K-State falls to San Diego State in NIT

Kyle Spain scored 16 points, and Richie Williams added 14 as the pair keyed a second-half surge to lead San Diego State to a 70-52 victory over Kansas State in the second round of the NIT on Friday night.

Tragedy amid triumph

Some 438 miles and one world away from Gary, Ind., 6-foot-2 Kansas University junior guard Tyrone Appleton, warming a seat on the bench per usual, thought he might have heard his name called inside the Metrodome. He wasn’t really sure until he heard it again.

KU aide Townsend impressed by Dayton

Kansas University assistant basketball coach Kurtis Townsend is not surprised the Jayhawks will be playing No. 11 seed Dayton, not No. 6 West Virginia, in Sunday’s second-round NCAA Midwest Regional game in the Metrodome.

Bison: KU just played better

North Dakota State coach Saul Phillips couldn’t fault his players’ effort. He couldn’t fault their execution, either. That might have been why Friday’s 84-74 loss to Kansas University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament seemed disappointing but not discouraging for the coach and his players. “I will have a hard time looking at this any other way than (KU) played well enough to win this game,” Phillips said.

’Dome wreckers

Aldrich, Collins lift KU

Bill Self congratulated his Kansas University basketball players as they filed into a Metrodome locker room after Friday’s hard-earned, 84-74, first-round NCAA Midwest Regional victory over North Dakota State. “Great road win. Great road win,” Self, KU’s sixth-year coach, said.

KU tennis drops match

Julie Svistun and Maria Martinez pulled out wins in singles action, but it wasn't enough to overcome the No. 60 Colorado Buffaloes as the Kansas University tennis team fell, 5-2, Friday at First Serve Tennis Center.

KU softball heads to Oklahoma State

Weariness shouldn’t be a factor when Kansas University begins the Big 12 Conference portion of its softball schedule tonight.

Two KU swimmers break school records

Kansas University swimmers Maria Mayrovich and Iuliia Kuzhil each placed 21st in the preliminaries of their respective events Friday afternoon at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in College Station, Texas.

KU golf in fourth

Walt Koelbel and Nate Barbee both fired 5-under-par rounds Friday to lead the Kansas men's golf team to fourth place after two rounds of the Desert Shootout.

Hughes comes up big in Badgers' 61-59 win over FSU

Trevon Hughes had no problem getting his nose dirty, especially with a payoff like this. After spending all night doing the grunt work on defense, the Wisconsin guard got to play a more glamorous role at the end. He got to take the crazy, spinning, highlight-reel bank shot with 2 seconds left in overtime and the season on the line.

Michigan State overpowers Robert Morris, 77-62

When Michigan State arrived in Minneapolis for the NCAA tournament, Raymar Morgan said he was ready to "show the world what they have been missing for a while." Those who watched the Spartans' dominating victory over Robert Morris in the first round on Friday night got a pretty good glimpse of what Morgan and the rest of the Spartans can do when they are healthy.

Siena beats Ohio State in double overtime, 74-72

Siena strikes again. Ronald Moore hit a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime — from the identical spot he made one at the end of the first OT — as the Saints beat eighth-seeded Ohio State 74-72 on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Cleveland St shocks Wake Forest 84-69

The Cleveland State Vikings remain unbeaten in first-round NCAA tournament games. They've played two of them, 23 years apart, and notched two upsets. The latest victim: one-time top-ranked Wake Forest.

KU Alumni Association to host pep rally

The KU Alumni Association will host a pep rally in Minneapolis on Sunday for the Jayhawks.

Xavier rolls over Portland State, 77-59

Xavier countered Portland State's usual barrage of 3-pointers with a much more efficient attack. The Musketeers shot 54 percent from the field and were 8-for-19 from 3-point range while rolling past Portland State 77-59 Friday in the opening round of the East Regional.

Wise gets 21 in 2nd half, Arizona beats Utah 84-71

Nic Wise held an ice pack to his lip. Chase Budinger had one on his left shin. Jordan Hill's was strapped atop his left ankle. Arizona's three stars may have been bruised — but not beaten. And so much for that notion the Wildcats didn't belong in the NCAA tournament.

Gibson's 10-for-10 sends USC past BC 72-55

In Southern California, good looks mean a lot. Well, Taj Gibson was a perfect 10 for the Trojans, and way out of Boston College's league. Gibson had 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting from the field, sending the 10th-seeded Trojans to a 72-55 victory over Boston College in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday night.

No. 1 Louisville beats Morehead St., 74-54

Go ahead, Louisville. Dance away for yet another day. The NCAA tournament's top team pulled off a few dance moves at midcourt during warmups Friday, then stumbled through a few early missteps. Louisville's full-court press — the thing that makes the Cardinals so dangerous — took over in the second half, setting up a 74-54 victory over Morehead State that completed 25 years of perfection by No. 1 seeds.

KU baseball knocks off No. 1 Texas, 5-4

Considering that the Kansas University baseball team had dropped four of its past five heading into a three-game series with Texas, and considering that Texas happens to be the nation’s No. 1 team according to Baseball America, Friday’s series-opening matchup with the Longhorns at Hoglund Ballpark didn’t exactly look a recipe for success.

KU overcomes 'best guard we've played' in advancing to second round

For every blue shirt in the Metrodome there were about 10 gold ones in what felt like a road game Friday for No. 3 seed Kansas University and a home one for No. 14 seed North Dakota State University.

Sloppy Pitt survives ETSU, 72-62

Pittsburgh had an ugly — and scary — first game as a No. 1. Pitt's massive center DeJuan Blair bullied his way inside for 27 points and 16 rebounds as the Panthers, playing their first game as a top seed in the NCAA tournament, survived a frightful 40 minutes from No. 16 seed East Tennessee State and advanced with a 72-62 win on Friday in the East Regional.

Wright, Dayton fly past West Virginia 68-60

Dayton is haunted by Bob Huggins no longer. Chris Wright scored a career-high 27 points to lead the 11th-seeded Flyers to a 68-60 win over sixth-seeded West Virginia on Friday in the Midwest Regional, their first victory in the NCAA tournament in 19 years.

Strong second half lifts Mizzou over Cornell 78-59

Once Missouri started moving, the buckets started falling for DeMarre Carroll and the rest of the Tigers. Carroll, the coach's nephew, scored all but two of his 13 points in the second half Friday to help third-seeded Missouri pull away from Cornell for a 78-59 victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Working fans manage (mostly) to watch KU victory on the job

While many Lawrence residents headed to their favorite bar or restaurant to watch Kansas University play North Dakota State Friday morning, it was business as usual for those who had to work.

Harden's lone basket helps ASU beat Temple 66-57

James Harden made only one field goal Friday for Arizona State, and it was a big one. The Sun Devils' scoring leader struggled most of the game but sank a 3-pointer with 4:02 left to help hold off Temple, and Arizona State won 66-57 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Marquette holds off Utah State in first round

Lazar Hayward scored 26 points and Marquette made 10 straight free throws down the stretch to hold off Utah State 58-57 Friday in the first round of the West Regional. The Golden Eagles blew a 14-point lead, then rallied from a six-point deficit to win.

Eaton's shot leads Oklahoma St. over Tennessee

Looking at the thicket of bodies clogging the middle of the floor, Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton wasn't sure how he'd create his final shot. So, he kept dribbling. Stunningly, after 40 minutes of give-no-ground basketball, everything opened up right in front of him.

Syracuse rolls over Stephen F. Austin 59-44

Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris stood in the Syracuse locker room before tip-off, imploring teammates to dash Stephen F. Austin's upset hopes before they could even begin. As usual, the Orange listened to their leaders — then went out and won their first NCAA tournament game in exactly five years.

Commissioner: Proposal to rename Missouri Street ‘petty and childish’

Highberger says Don Fambrough should be honored in another way

There’s just something about Missouri that puts everybody on edge here. City commissioners on Tuesday will take up a proposal to change the name of a portion of Missouri Street to Fambrough Drive, in honor of former Kansas University football coach and eternal Missouri hater Don Fambrough.

FINAL: Bison have no answer for Aldrich in KU's 84-74 victory; Jayhawks to meet Dayton Flyers Sunday afternoon

Cole Aldrich posted 23 points and 13 rebounds in the Jayhawks' first-round victory.

Tourney thrilling in Vegas

There’s a place where seeds don’t matter nearly as much as scores, and “madness” isn’t nearly strong enough to describe the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament experience.

Aldrich has fond memories of Metrodome

A batch of reporters from Cole Aldrich’s home state of Minnesota huddled in front of, and to the side of, the 6-foot-11 Kansas University center, who was seated comfortably Thursday afternoon in the Minnesota Twins’ spacious locker room.

Cavaliers recall Jackson

The Cleveland Cavaliers recalled rookie forward Darnell Jackson from Erie of the NBA Development League on Thursday. Jackson, a Kansas University product, has averaged just 1.0 point and 1.2 rebounds in 37 games for the Cavaliers.

KU golfers in sixth at Desert Shootout

Two top-20 performances by Jayhawk golfers helped the Kansas University men’s golf team shoot a 282 on Thursday to finish in sixth place after day one at the Desert Shootout.

KU's Mertz seventh in NCAA diving

Kansas University sophomore Erin Mertz earned All-American status with her seventh-place finish on the one-meter board Thursday night at the NCAA swimming and diving championships. Mertz scored 298.40 points.

Bison players look up to Boschee

Former Jayhawk shooting guard admired in his native North Dakota

North Dakota State center Lucas Moormann had to smile when talking about the jersey he wore 10 years ago in his hometown of Dickinson, N.D.

NDSU’s Woodside not all that different from Collins

One point guard came from the same playgrounds of Chicago where so many college basketball superstars battled. Everybody wanted him to sign on the dotted line. The other came from Albert Lea, Minn., where the lake freezes over and it seems as if stress is on a permanent vacation. His only Div. I scholarship offers came from South Dakota State and North Dakota State.

Time to dance

Jayhawks’ younger players nervous for tourney debut

Sherron Collins remembers being frozen in fear before his first NCAA Tournament game. “My palms were sweaty. I could hardly grip the ball,” Collins, Kansas University’s junior point guard, said of his emotions before KU’s 107-67 victory over Niagara on March 16, 2007, in his hometown of Chicago.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

Kansas University junior guard Sherron Collins today will be matched against N.D. State guard Ben Woodside, a 5-foot-11 senior who averages 22.8 points and 6.3 assists a game.

Griffin leads Sooners to easy win over Morgan State

An inadvertent blow to the jaw last month left Blake Griffin with a concussion and sent Oklahoma stumbling into the NCAA tournament. In the first round of the South Regional, Griffin got flipped over the back of a Morgan State player and landed hard on the court in an ugly incident that earned the other guy an ejection.

Scheyer, Duke rout Binghamton 86-62

The efficient Duke offense that lit up Florida State for a season-high 12 3-pointers in the ACC tournament championship game re-emerged against the Bearcats' high-pressure defense.

12-seed W Kentucky upsets 5-seed Illinois, 76-72

Whether they were relieved, tired or expecting it all along, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers didn't wildly celebrate their latest NCAA tournament upset. A.J. Slaughter was the most demonstrative, pumping his fist a few times after 12th-seeded Western Kentucky held off a late charge to beat fifth-seeded Illinois 76-72 on Thursday night in the South Regional.

Shipp, Holiday lead UCLA over VCU

A long way from home, UCLA fiercely defended its turf and its hopes of a fourth straight trip to the Final Four. Darren Collison refused to yield in the final seconds, pressuring VCU's Eric Maynor into a missed a 17-footer at the buzzer to give the Bruins a 65-64 victory over the Rams on Thursday night in the opening round of the East Regional.

Villanova survives scare to beat American

Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham each scored 25 points, and Villanova rallied back from a 14-point hole to beat upset-minded American 80-67 in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday night. The third-seeded Wildcats (27-7) lost their home-court advantage and nearly lost the game, needing a late 19-2 run in the East Regional to fend off the Patriot League champions.

Pondexter sends Washington past Mississippi State

Team captain Jon Brockman had a broken nose and a seat on the bench because of fouls. Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon weren't fulfilling their roles as Washington's top two scorers in the biggest game of the season. As usual, everyone forgot about Quincy Pondexter.

Gonzaga rallies past Akron 77-64

Staring at a third straight first-round flop, Gonzaga responded like the talented and NCAA tournament-tested team it is. Josh Heytvelt scored 22 points — seven during a decisive late run — and the Bulldogs rallied to get past rugged, determined but ultimately overwhelmed Akron 77-64 on Thursday night in the South Regional.

Michigan hangs on to beat Clemson 62-59

Shot after shot clanged off the rim, if they hit anything at all. Jumpers, 3-pointers, layups — didn't matter. Clemson just couldn't figure out Michigan's zone defense. Michigan stymied Clemson with its 1-3-1 defense and survived a late scare in its first NCAA tournament game in 11 years, beating the Tigers 62-59 in the first round of South Regional on Thursday night.

Texas beats Minnesota 76-62 in NCAA opening round

Once A.J. Abrams found his shot, Texas was ready to leave its recent struggles behind and move on in the NCAA tournament. Abrams hit eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help Texas beat Minnesota 76-62 in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday.

Moore, Purdue hold off Northern Iowa 61-56

The Purdue Boilermakers were beat up but smiling. Fifth-seeded Purdue held off a late charge by 12th-seeded Northern Iowa for a 61-56 victory Thursday in a rugged first-round game, and showed it afterward.

UConn thrashes No. 16 Chattanooga

With their coach in the hospital, A.J. Price and Hasheem Thabeet scored 20 points apiece to lead top-seeded Connecticut to a 103-47 rout over Chattanooga on Thursday for its first postseason win in three years. UConn coach Jim Calhoun missed the game because he wasn't feeling well and was hospitalized for tests. He will be kept overnight for observation.

KU men's basketball team ranks as fifth most valuable on Forbes list

Riding the wave of a National Championship, Kansas University’s men’s basketball team has been ranked the fifth most valuable in the nation by Forbes magazine.

Maryland stymies Cal's shooters in first round

Maryland never let California get going from long range. Now the Terps are back in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Grievis Vasquez had 27 points and Maryland shut down the nation's best 3-point shooting team in an 84-71 victory over Cal in the first round of the West Regional on Thursday.

Tar Heels roll past Radford 101-58 in NCAA opener

Tyler Hansbrough took quick care of his latest record pursuit, then helped North Carolina advance in the NCAA tournament without one of its star playmakers. Hansbrough set the Atlantic Coast Conference career scoring mark in the opening minutes and finished with 22 points to help the Tar Heels beat Radford 101-58 on Thursday, giving the South Region's top seed another easy tournament opener in their home state.

Darrell Arthur's high school used cage fights to help students settle differences

Workers at a high school staged cage fights among troubled students, making them settle their differences with bare-knuckled brawls in a steel utility cage inside a boys locker room, school district documents show.

Thornton leads LSU past Butler 75-71

Butler has put together quite a few upsets in recent NCAA tournaments. Marcus Thornton kept LSU off that list. Thornton scored 30 points and the hot-shooting Tigers held off a late rally to beat Butler 75-71 on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Memphis powers past underdog Cal State-Northridge

After overcoming heartbreak and tragedy just to get to the NCAA tournament, the Matadors of Cal State-Northridge could not get past the greatest game of Roburt Sallie's life. Sallie, averaging 4.5 points all year for Memphis, scored 35 and the second-seeded Tigers beat the plucky Matadors 81-70 Thursday, dodging what would have been one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

Bryan Davis leads Texas A&M over BYU, 79-66

Bryan Davis drove to the basket, drew a foul and tossed the ball up over his head with his back to the net. Like most of his higher-percentage shots, it went in. With Davis leading the way, Texas A&M beat Brigham Young 79-66 in the first round of the West Regional on Thursday.

Midwest Region, a breakdown: One man’s look at how the region shakes out

Here’s who and what to look for in the Midwest Regional.

Pinch-hit walkoff dooms Jayhawks in 9-8 loss

Guy Willeford's pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted San Diego State to a 9-8 triumph over the Kansas University baseball team on Wednesday evening and completed a two-game sweep of the Jayhawks at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Afenir, Faunce up for awards

Two members of the Kansas University baseball team — senior catcher Buck Afenir and senior outfielder Nick Faunce — are in the running for national awards.

KU softball to make up game on Tuesday

The Kansas University softball team, which had its game against Missouri State canceled last Thursday because of cold temperatures, will make up the game at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Arrocha Ballpark.

Landing on his feet

Ex-Missouri State coach glad to be reunited with KU’s Self

Nobody involved with the Kansas University athletic department has looked forward to this week with more enthusiasm than Barry Hinson, director of external relations for the school’s basketball program.

What to look for on first day of NCAAs

When the NCAA Tournament tips off in Greensboro, Butler and Louisiana State will begin to answer the season’s age-old question: Would the Bulldogs have been even better in the SEC?

KU needs Collins at his best

It’s D-Day-, Battle of the Bulge- and Iwo Jima-time for Gen. Sherron Collins. As he goes, so, probably, will the Kansas basketball team go in the NCAA Tournament.

KU history filled with dynamic duos

This season’s Kansas basketball team has easily one of the best 1-2 punches in the Jayhawks’ illustrious court history. Ultimately it might even lay claim to being the best. Guard Sherron Collins and center Cole Aldrich can measure up to about any KU Dynamic Duos you can name. Fortunately, they’ll have even more chances to cement their potent-pair reputation as the 2009 Jayhawks try to defend their 2008 NCAA championship.

NDSU’s fun short-lived

To hear North Dakota State University men’s basketball coach Saul Phillips tell it, his excitement at earning the first NCAA Tournament bid of his head-coaching career lasted all of a couple of nanoseconds.

Collins, Aldrich key duo for Kansas

Bill Self knew early-on there was one way — and only one way — for Kansas University’s basketball team to survive the loss of five starters from the 2008 national title team. Quite simply, it was for junior guard Sherron Collins and sophomore center Cole Aldrich to combine for monster seasons both on the court and in the locker room in 2008-09.

Morrises inseparable: Twins Marcus, Markieff rarely apart

Early last week, in the bowels of Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse, Marcus and Markieff Morris were busy agreeing with each other. This was not exactly breaking news. Marcus and Markieff, identical twins and KU freshman basketball players, are pretty much in agreement on everything. They agree on favorite historical figure (Martin Luther King, Jr.) and what school subject is the most interesting (math) and how best to prepare for an upcoming basketball game (listening to music).

Despite losses, KU improved quickly

Jayhawks of ’08-09 behind national title team, but not by much

Kansas University’s loyal basketball fans were sure their beloved Jayhawks would earn a 2009 NCAA Tournament berth, despite the fact the Jayhawks lost all five starters off last year’s national championship team. Some national pundits weren’t as certain. Remember, KU was considered a “bubble team” as late as Jan. 10 when the Jayhawks returned from a 75-62 loss at Michigan State with an 11-4 record.

Tandem terrors rare among titlists

Searching 40 years of mental archives from watching NCAA title games — 39 on television, one in person — doesn’t lead to many national champions remembered most for featuring two terrific players. The last three national champs — Kansas and Florida twice — featured balanced teams that could survive and advance if a couple of starters had off nights.

Jayhawks arrive in Minneapolis

Cole Aldrich was the first Kansas University basketball player to hop off the team bus and head into the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis hotel early Wednesday evening.

Jayhawks head to Minneapolis in quest to repeat NCAA national championship

The Kansas University Jayhawks began their road Wednesday afternoon to defend the 2008 NCAA championship.

KU's D-Line coach motivated

Sims looking to fill gaps on defense

Tom Sims’ entrance into the coaching world came, quite by accident, during the fall of 1990.

Gary Bedore's KU Basketball Notebook

KU coach Bill Self said sophomore Cole Aldrich (stress reaction left ankle) practiced full speed Monday and Tuesday and will practice again today in preparation for the N.D. State game.

KU stats reveal youth

Walt Michaels, once the coach of the New York Jets, didn’t help his job security by using a most insensitive analogy about statistics. It certainly is neither worth repeating nor even googling, and he deserved the consequences of his poor judgment, but his basic premise, that numbers can be twisted, was accurate.

Upsetology: KU vulnerable

The Wall Street Journal has pegged KU as the three seed most vulnerable to a first-round upset.

SDSU shuts out KU

Kansas University freshman Lee Ridenhour pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on three hits, but the Jayhawks offense couldn't score.

Boschee’s allegiance firmly with Jayhawks

N. Dakota native not going for upset

Native North Dakotan Jeff Boschee is thrilled North Dakota State University has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in its first year of Div. I postseason eligibility.

Extra rest doesn't always translate to NCAA Tournament success

Kansas University’s early Big 12 tournament exit last week ruled out the possibility of the Jayhawks sweeping the regular and postseason conference men’s basketball titles. The sudden departure from Oklahoma City did, however, provide the Jayhawks with plenty of rest before their first-round tilt in the NCAA Tournament with North Dakota State. Will the added rest make a difference?

Homers propel Jayhawks, 9-4

Sara Ramirez may not be Irish, but she wasn’t taking any chances on St. Patrick’s Day.

Ex-Bison coach has Lawrence ties

Miles thrilled with North Dakota State’s NCAA Tournament invite

Before the 2008-09 season, second-year Colorado State University head basketball coach Tim Miles was plenty familiar with Lawrence, but knew little about the town that is home to one of college basketball’s most storied programs.

Difficult draw

NDSU guard presents plethora of challenges

Steven Davis, who worked as a Kansas University basketball team manager from 2002-05, just completed his first season as the radio play-by-play voice of UMKC’s Kangaroos. As such ... he worked a pair of North Dakota State’s basketball games: UMKC’s 65-60 overtime loss to the Bison on Jan. 17 in Kansas City and the Roos’ 87-49 blowout defeat in the rematch on Feb. 12 in Fargo, N.D

What Keegan says

Trades don’t take place in college basketball, but that doesn’t mean they can’t behind the scenes.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Kansas University junior guard Sherron Collins on Monday was named second-team All-America by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin was a first-teamer with DeJuan Blair (Pitt), Stephen Curry (Davidson), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) and James Harden (Arizona State).

Jayhawks taking baby steps

Let’s talk about some positives for Kansas University’s women’s basketball team. And why not?

KU left out of NCAAs, to play in WNIT

For the ninth year in a row, Kansas University’s women’s basketball team failed to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

KU scores high academic marks in assessment

Though Kansas University’s basketball success has yet to be determined in the tournament field this year, it has already achieved some academic victories in the classroom. An annual study released Monday by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports at the University of Central Florida examined the academic performance of all 65 teams in the 2009 NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament.

Despite record, Big 12 feels it gets no respect

After fuming for years that an East Coast bias hurts their league, Big 12 Conference coaches have picked up a credible ally. Jeff Capel, who played at Duke and coached in Virginia before becoming head coach at Oklahoma, says they’re right.

Aldrich’s high school coach might cut class

Jeff Evens plans to take a long lunch on Friday. “I’m not supposed to tell, but I may try to sneak out of school. There’s a game in the morning. I may get to that. Our principal knows my intentions as well,” Evens, boys basketball coach at Bloomington (Minn.) Jefferson High, said with a laugh. He desperately wants to support one of his former Jaguars — Kansas University center Cole Aldrich, who played for him for four years at the school located 10 miles from the Metrodome, site of Friday’s 11:30 a.m. first-round NCAA Tournament game between KU and North Dakota State.

Five teams to watch in women’s NCAAs

Detroit Free Press sports writer Mick McCabe picks his five favorite teams to cut down the nets at the Final Four in St. Louis.

KU women will get first-round bye in WNIT

The Kansas women's basketball team will meet the winner of Saturday's Creighton-UC Riverside game at 7 p.m. Monday at Allen Fieldhouse in the WNIT

Collins named second-team All-America by USBWA

Kansas guard Sherron Collins was named second-team All-America by the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Kansas moves to No. 13 in latest ESPN poll, No. 14 in AP

With a loss to Baylor in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament, the Kansas Jayhawks fell from No. 11 to No. 13 in the latest coaches' poll out Monday afternoon.

Minneapolis it is

Jayhawks land No. 3 seed in Midwest

Cole Aldrich’s cell phone started ringing in the Naismith Room of Allen Fieldhouse late Sunday afternoon — just seconds after CBS-TV revealed that Kansas University’s basketball team would be playing North Dakota State at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Metrodome, located in Aldrich’s beloved home state of Minnesota.

Former Kansas AD fondly recalls process

Frederick: Serving on committee ‘highlight of my professional career’

Bob Frederick knew the NCAA Tournament selection committee couldn’t please everyone after it revealed the men’s basketball bracket Sunday night. He probably knows better than anyone. Frederick, Kansas University’s athletic director from 1987-2001, served as chairman of the NCAA selection committee in 1995 and 1996.

KU diver qualifies for NCAAs

Erin Mertz placed seventh on the platform at the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships.

Kansas baseball falls, 12-10

Robby Price and Tony Thompson each had three hits, and senior Nick Faunce hit a grand slam to help Kansas University nearly erase an eight-run deficit, but the Jayhawks ultimately suffered a 12-10 setback to No. 4-ranked Arizona State in nonconference baseball on Sunday.

Kansas has no chance

If we’ve learned anything about this Kansas University basketball team, it’s that it plays its best basketball when it has an edge to it, when it feels slighted about something, real or imagined. The team that can say to itself, “Nobody believes in us,” always has the intangible factor in its favor.

Analyzing the tournament, region by region

This could be renamed the Top-Heavy Region. With No. 1 seed Connecticut and second-seed Memphis, the power rests square at the top of the West Region. For UConn, there’s an encouraging precedent. In both of the Huskies’ national championship seasons, they came out of the West to win.

Big East snares record three No. 1 seeds

Built for basketball, the Big East is a big hit in March yet again. Louisville, Pittsburgh and Connecticut helped the league that was created decades ago for hoops become the first conference to earn three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Kansas University basketball fans may need to drive to Minneapolis in droves if the Jayhawk faithful are to rival North Dakota State’s legion of fans in Friday’s 11:30 a.m. NCAA opener at the Metrodome. It’s a 31⁄2-hour drive from Fargo, N.D., home of N.D. State, to the Metrodome. It’s about a seven-hour drive from Lawrence.

Bison’s decision paying off

The success or failure of a college basketball team sometimes can hinge on a single decision, and in months leading up to the 2004-05 season, a group of North Dakota State coaches made one that eventually would prove to be as important as any other in the program’s history.

Bears topple A&M for second Big 12 women's title

With her knee mangled and just starting to heal, there was nothing Jhasmin Player could do but watch as Baylor struggled its way to a short-lived postseason a year ago.

KU will play North Dakota State at 11:30 a.m. Friday

Kansas will play North Dakota State at 11:30 a.m. Friday, the NCAA announced Sunday night.

Get ready for KUSports.com Bracket Contest (and an opportunity to win a 50" flat screen TV)

So KU's bracket is out and surely you've got your eye on a few upsets already, right?

Jayhawks fly high as No. 3 seed in Midwest

First NCAA opponent: N.D. State

For the Kansas Jayhawks, the Road to the Final Four leads 480 miles to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. And plenty of fans will be joining Bill Self’s defending national champions for the ride. “Alumni always flock to wherever the team will be playing, and this year will be no different,” said Jennifer Sanner, senior vice president for the Kansas University Alumni Association.

Big 12 logjam madness

Surely, the term March Madness originated when NCAA Tournament selection committee members tried to sort out seeds for three college basketball schools with such equal resumes as the Big 12’s best teams. They twisted the numbers this way and that until they reached the brink of madness, and then they settled it with rocks, paper, scissors, and the term March Madness was born.

Kansas’ NCAA fate: Hurry up, wait

Cole Aldrich isn’t dreaming of a triumphant return to his home state of Minnesota for the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. “I’d rather be in Kansas City,” Aldrich, Kansas University’s 6-foot-11 center, said Saturday. Most pundits believe the Jayhawks (25-7) either will open the NCAAs on Thursday at Kansas City’s Sprint Center or Friday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, which is located about 10 miles from Aldrich’s hometown of Bloomington.

KU divers advance

The Kansas University diving team competed in the one-meter event Saturday at the NCAA Zone Diving meet in Columbia, Mo.

Picking field not easy

Picking the 65-team field for the NCAA Tournament is never easy, and this year is no exception.

Tourney tickets plentiful this year

Bob Donohoe had not even considered trying to get tickets to this year’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Those are usually handed down like family heirlooms.

KU tennis wins

For the 31st straight time, the Kansas women's tennis team defeated Iowa State. KU won, 5-2, at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center Saturday afternoon. KU is now 34-1 all-time vs. ISU.

KU upsets ASU, 3-2

Kansas University senior Buck Afenir's RBI single with two outs in the top of the seventh broke a tie and lifted the Jayhawks baseball team to a 3-2 triumph over No. 4 Arizona State in a non-conference game Saturday evening at Surprise Stadium.

Jayhawks endure tough practices

Kansas University’s basketball players paid the price at practice Friday afternoon and Saturday morning for losing Thursday’s Big 12 quarterfinal contest against Baylor.

No. 14 Mizzou beats Baylor for first Big 12 title

DeMarre Carroll scored 20 points and No. 14 Missouri ended Baylor's surprising run through the Big 12 tournament, grinding down the Bears 73-60 to win their first postseason conference title in 16 years. Matt Lawrence added 13 points and his hot shooting helped the third-seeded Tigers (28-6) pull away early in the second half to spoil what would have been an unprecedented run to the title for Baylor.

At least one bracket has KU in K.C.

There’s still hope for Kansas University basketball fans who hope to watch the Jayhawks play one or two NCAA Tournament games in Kansas City, Mo., next week. One prominent “bracketologist” — ESPN’s Joe Lunardi — as of Friday night had the Jayhawks placed as a No. 2 seed in K.C.’s Sprint Center, even after Thursday’s Big 12 quarterfinal loss to Baylor.

Missouri slides into title game

Zaire Taylor and No. 14 Missouri continue to show that playing fast doesn’t necessarily mean playing pretty. The Tigers will take the wins any way they come. Taylor scored a season-high 19 points, Leo Lyons added 12 of his 15 points in the second half and the Tigers were the first to break through in an off night for offense, beating Oklahoma State, 67-59, to move on to today’s 5 p.m. Big 12 championship game against Baylor.

Stuck on the bubble

Jayhawks await NCAA fate

Oklahoma senior center Courtney Paris brought recent national attention to women’s college basketball with a scholarship-money-back guarantee if the Sooners don’t win the national title. On Thursday morning/afternoon, Paris showed the stuff that makes her so confident in leading her team to a 76-59 victory against Kansas University to advance to the women’s basketball Big 12 Tournament semifinals at Cox Center.

Baylor ousts UT to reach finals

Scott Drew watched his Baylor team fall apart with a midseason swoon that wiped away some newfound high expectations in his program.

‘March Madness’ special available On Demand

Sunflower Broadband subscribers can view "The Best of March Madness" On Demand.

Kansas vaulter Scott third at NCAAs

Kansas' Jordan Scott placed third at the NCAA Indoor.

KU tennis falls

Kansas University fell to Nebraska, 6-1, to open the Big 12 tennis season.

Kansas diver 12th

KU's Hannah McMacken was 12th at the NCAA 'D' Diving Zones.

KU baseball's win streak snapped at 7

Fourth-ranked Arizona State scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to upend the Kansas University baseball team, 9-4, on Friday night at Surprise Stadium. KU sophomore Tony Thompson went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run to extend his hitting streak to 21 straight games. Thompson’s streak is tied for the second-longest in KU history with Ryan Baty.

FINAL: Courtney Paris leads OU women to 76-59 victory over KU

OU forward contributed 27 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in top-seeded Sooners' victory.

Jayhawks rally past Cornhuskers

Big 12 tournament victory earns KU matchup with Oklahoma; might an NCAA bid follow?

Sade Morris scored 24 points, while Danielle McCray added 22 as the eighth-seeded Kansas women's basketball team took a 61-56 victory over ninth-seeded Nebraska in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

One and done

Top-seeded KU stunned by Bears

Sherron Collins’ head was bowed as he mumbled responses to a batch of reporters’ questions Thursday afternoon in a somber Ford Center locker room. “This hurts … bad,” Collins, Kansas University’s junior point guard, said after the Jayhawks’ 71-64 Big 12 tournament quarterfinal loss to Baylor. “I’m not shocked, just upset,” Collins added after feeling the pain of “one and done” in the postseason for the first time in his college career.

Kansas regressed in tourney opener

Saying that the Kansas University basketball team regressed to playing playground basketball Wednesday in the Ford Center would be giving the team too much credit. The game they played did come straight from the playground, but it was called keep-away. Cole Aldrich was it.

Loss likely cost KU trip to K.C.

Bill Self is a basketball coach, not a member of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. So he doesn’t know if Kansas University fell from a possible 2 seed, to a 3 seed or even a 4 seed by losing to Baylor, 71-64, in a Big 12 quarterfinal game on Thursday at Ford Center. He is positive of one thing, however.

Kansas basketball notebook

Kansas University’s Sherron Collins said he banged his left leg in the second half. “I didn’t adjust to a screen, and we (he and an unnamed Bears player) ran into each other. It didn’t bother me. It didn’t have an effect on the outcome,” Collins said. “It’s the time of season you don’t have your legs under you all the time. I’m all right.”

Missouri to pay $2 million

The University of Missouri will pay $2 million to the family of a former reserve linebacker who collapsed on the field and then died during a 2005 preseason workout.

Collins a Wooden candidate

Kansas Unversity’s Sherron Collins is among the finalists for the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball’s player of the year. The final ballot was announced Thursday.

Bears’ Rogers called it … sort of

Baylor’s Kevin Rogers was either being forgetful or humble. After his team’s 71-64 Big 12 tournament basketball victory over top-seeded Kansas University on Thursday, the forward said he didn’t remember making the prediction Wednesday that his team would beat the Jayhawks. “I said we would try, and fortunately for us, we were able to,” Rogers said. “I don’t make guarantees, because you never know what could happen. I never make guarantees.”

Anderson's FTs lift Oklahoma State past Oklahoma

Griffin and Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel both said there was contact on Griffin's final shot, although no foul was called. Harris had 13 points and Obi Muonelo had 12 as the Cowboys won despite being outrebounded 39-29. Warren and Austin Johnson each scored 13 points for Oklahoma, but the Sooners committed 19 turnovers and went 3-of-19 from 3-point range.

Kansas Senate resolves: No more "B" schools for KU basketball team in March

The Kansas Senate on Thursday adopted a resolution that says the Kansas University men’s basketball team should no longer play teams that start with the letter “B” in March.

Pittman dominates again as Texas beats Kansas St.

Dexter Pittman dominated inside for a second straight game, finishing with 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds as Texas beat Kansas State 61-58 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament.

FINAL: Dunn's 24 points lead Baylor to upset over top-seeded KU, 71-64

Baylor guard made 6 of 11 threes to help the Bears knock Kansas out of Big 12 Tournament.

Ex-players can help recruiting

College sports coaches often cite the need for glitzy facilities to help them procure the best athletes.

Kansas lacks balance

Henrickson: Players need to step up

Danielle McCray can’t do it all.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

KU coach Bill Self on Wednesday was named Sporting News Coach of the Year.

Jayhawks, part 3

KU starts third portion of season today

The 2008-09 college basketball season is two-thirds over as far as Kansas University coach Bill Self is concerned.

KU softball game scrapped

Forecasts for snow and sub-freezing temperatures in Springfield, Mo., prompted postponement of today’s scheduled Kansas-Missouri State softball doubleheader.

KU golf's Gockel honored

Golf World has selected Kansas junior Meghan Gockel as one of its college players of the week for the period between March 2-8.

Shockers shut out

Shaeffer Hall threw a no-hitter in sunny skies three weeks ago for Kansas University’s baseball team against Air Force.

Singletary's 43 points lead Texas Tech to upset over A&M, 88-83

Mike Singletary single-handedly led the biggest comeback in Big 12 tournament history, scoring all 29 of Texas Tech's points during a second-half surge that pushed the Red Raiders to a 88-83 win against Texas A&M on Wednesday night.

Moses, Muonelo lift Cowboys past Iowa St., 81-67

Marshall Moses matched his career high with 18 points and provided a much-needed inside threat as Oklahoma State held off scrappy Iowa State 81-67 on Wednesday night in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament.

Texas sends Colorado to record-setting 22nd loss

Dexter Pittman dominated inside with a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, leading Texas past Colorado 67-56 Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. At 6-foot-10 and about 300 pounds, the oversized Pittman had his way against Colorado's interior defense. He started out 9-for-10 from the field with four dunks and even hit his first five free throws.

KU football adds linebacker commit

A month after securing it's top-rated recruiting class of the Mark Mangino era, the Jayhawks this week earned a late commitment from linebacker Jon Watts, a recent graduate of Oroville Butte Community College in California, according to Rivals.com

KU open practice postponed

The Kansas University football team has postponed its open open today due to cold weather.

Baylor advances past Huskers, will face KU

Rebounding, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler says, has been the Cornhuskers' Achilles heel in the latter stages of this basketball season. Baylor took advantage of that in a big way on Wednesday. Led by a career-high 20 rebounds from Kevin Rogers, the Bears posted a 43-18 advantage on the boards en route to a 65-49 win over Nebraska in the opening game of the Big 12 tournament.

Self earns Sporting News national coach of the year

Kansas coach Bill Self has been honored as the Sporting News' National Coach of the Year, the publication released Wednesday.

Golfweek.com honors Kansas women’s team

Kansas University’s women's golf team has been selected as the Golfweek.com women's team of the week.

Aldrich looks past minor injuries

Kansas University center Cole Aldrich’s production has tailed off the past two games, but he doesn’t sound worried that the rigors of a long college basketball season are breaking him down at the worst possible time.

Shortstop leads KU past Missouri Valley

Ritch Price had to dig a little deeper for son Robby’s Kansas University tuition this year.

Big 12 tourney open race

Jayhawks looking for fourth straight crown

The Big 12 tournament, which begins today in Oklahoma City, will feature teams with different outlooks on the bigger picture. In just four days, the nominating committee will set the field of 65 for the NCAA Tournament.

Several Jayhawks trying to impress at pro day

Just two months after their collegiate careers drew to a close, a handful of former Kansas University football players are trying to convince professional scouts they’ve got the requisite tools to play at the next level.

Collins, Aldrich named to All-District team

Kansas University’s Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich were named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association 2008-09 All-District Six Team on Tuesday.

MU settles with player's family

The University of Missouri has reached a settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of a former reserve linebacker who collapsed on the field during a 2005 preseason workout.

Tigers name coordinator

Missouri linebackers coach Dave Steckel has been promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Matt Eberflus. The promotion came Tuesday. Steckel has been head coach Gary Pinkel’s linebackers coach all eight seasons at Missouri. Eberflus, the defensive coordinator the past eight seasons, took a job as an assistant coach with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns last month.

KU golf takes ninth; Koelbel finishes in third

Kansas University golfer Walt Koelbel fired a final round 73 at the Louisiana Classics to tie for third place and record the top finish of his career.

Dead end for name change?

As Sue Hack’s days as a city commissioner dwindle down to a precious few, she has established one notable lame-duck priority.

Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

Kansas University center Cole Aldrich worked hard for his 12 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s victory over Texas.

Fam loyalty

To the editor: Don Fambrough came to Lawrence with his bride, Del, just after serving in World War II. He was captain of the football team and was All Big Six while leading the Jayhawks to a trip to the Orange Bowl. Fam turned down offers to play in the NFL so he could pursue coaching at his alma mater.

Finish in Big 12 tourney key to landing in K.C.

No need to debate whether Kansas University’s basketball team benefits more from winning the Big 12 tournament or getting extra rest by not making it to Saturday’s conference tourney title game in Oklahoma City.

Sooners’ Capel challenges Jayhawks

OU coach: Let’s see Kansas play us

Oklahoma basketball coach Jeff Capel grew a bit defensive when asked about the Sooners’ recent slump, which has included three losses in five games. He reminded reporters that Blake Griffin missed half of a 73-68 setback at Texas and all of a 87-78 home loss to Kansas University because of injury.

KU baseball team to play makeup game

The Kansas University baseball team will make up one of the games it lost to the weather with a nonconference contest against Missouri Valley College 3 p.m. today at Hoglund Ballpark.

KU senior in second; golf team in 10th

Walt Koelbel shot back-to-back under-par rounds to lead the Kansas University men’s golf team on Monday during Day One at the Louisiana Classics at Oakbourne Country Club.

McCray wins second straight Big 12 player of the week award

KU junior Danielle McCray earned the Big 12 player of the week award, the conference announced Monday. The 5-foot-11 guard/forward shared the award with Kansas State's Shalee Lehning.

KU falls two spots to No. 11 in both polls

The Kansas men's basketball team, following a 1-1 week, fell two spots to No. 11 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls.

In good company

McCray named to All-Big 12 first team

Kansas junior forward/guard Danielle McCray was one of 10 players selected for first-team Big 12 honors, the conference announced Monday.

Start time changed for KU women's Big 12 opener on Thursday

Big 12 Conference officials have shifted the starting time for Thursday’s first-round game between Kansas and Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference women’s basketball tournament in Oklahoma City.

Big 12 loaded after all

It took filling out an All-Big 12 ballot for the Associated Press to realize that the conference might just be pretty good, even with all the talent lost in the NBA Draft and with such young rosters facing each other on a nightly basis.

Clark helps Kansas to split in softball

Kansas University's softball team beat North Dakota State, 12-1, but fell to Northern Iowa, 9-6.

KU women’s golf takes title

Kansas' Meghan Gockel won the individual title, and the KU women's golf team won the team crown at the Duramed Collegiate Invitational.

KU baseball thumps Wildcats

Kansas University's baseball team muscled up to pound Northwestern, 10-1.

Jayhawks well-represented on coaches' Big 12 teams

Self wins coach of the year; Marcus Morris, Taylor named to All-Rookie team

The Kansas men's basketball team picked up seven more honors with the release of the All-Big 12 team selected by the conference coaches Sunday.

Self wins AP Big 12 coach of year

KU's Aldrich, Collins make conference's first team

Bill Self of Kansas, who lost every starter from last year’s NCAA championship team but still molded the young Jayhawks into surprising regular-season champions, outpolled Missouri’s Mike Anderson for Big 12 coach of the year.

Texas laments easy misses

‘We were right where we needed to be’

The breakdown at the conclusion of the first half? That didn’t help. The second-half foul trouble that plagued standout Damion James? Could have done without that, too. But when it came down to it, Texas men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes pinpointed something else entirely in describing his team’s downfall Saturday against host Kansas University.

Kansas softball splits

No Kansas University softball player was happier Saturday than Amanda Jobe. “I finally started hitting like I can,” Jobe said with a smile. Jobe entered this weekend’s KU Invitational with a forgettable .174 batting average, but she tripled and homered as the Jayhawks clipped Eastern Illinois, 4-2, at Arrocha Ballpark.

ISU women rout Kansas

Iowa State led wire-to-wire in a 59-49 victory over Kansas.

Brady perfect symbol

Just as every preseason basketball magazine predicted months ago, third-year sophomore Brady Morningstar played a huge role in Kansas University making its fifth consecutive Big 12 title an outright one Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse. Hold on a minute. A closer look at the preseason basketball mags reveals Oklahoma and Texas were supposed to contend for the conference title, and the last prominent mention of a Morningstar playing for Kansas came more than 30 years ago, first name Roger.

KU’s Taylor rises to challenge

Tyshawn Taylor didn’t start the second half of Kansas University’s 83-73 victory over Texas on Saturday. He understood why, too. “I was kind of out of it. I had three turnovers in the first half,” the freshman guard said. “I’ve just got to play better. Coach told me, ‘I’m challenging you. I’m challenging you. What’re you going to do?’” Taylor responded by sparking the Jayhawks once he received his chance in the second half.

Kansas notebook

Per tradition, Kansas University seniors Brennan Bechard and Matt Kleinmann spoke to the fans after Saturday’s home finale versus Texas. They were introduced by Hall of Fame KU announcer Max Falkenstien. “I tried to convince Max to read Sherron’s accolades (instead of Bechard’s),” senior walk-on guard Bechard joked of teammate Sherron Collins.

Take five!

KU men snare fifth straight Big 12 title

Matt Kleinmann started to work on a second draft of his Senior Day speech Saturday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse. “It was going to go from, ‘Thank you all,’ to, ‘Man I wish we would have won that game,’’’ Kleinmann, Kansas University’s fifth-year senior center, said after the Jayhawks’ thrilling 83-73, come-from-behind victory over Texas.

KU tennis falls, 6-1

On a windy day at First Serve Tennis Center, the Kansas University women's tennis team dropped its second match of the weekend to No. 32 Tulsa, 6-1.

KU women's golf in lead

For the second day in a row, the Kansas University women’s golf team sat atop the leaderboard at the Duramed Collegiate Invitational. The Jayhawks shot a 295 Saturday to extend their lead to 20 strokes heading into today’s final round.

Wissel leads KU track

Kansas University track and field senior Colby Wissel improved on his provisional-qualifying time in the 3,000 meters and finished fourth on Saturday at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind.

KU baseball postponed

Kansas University’s baseball game against Northwestern Saturday night was postponed in the bottom of the third inning because of inclement weather in the area.

FINAL: Collins' 21 points help KU rally for 83-73 victory

After trailing by as many as 14 in the first half, the Jayhawks secured the outright Big 12 championship with the win.

Gary Bedore’s KU Basketball Notebook

Kansas coach Bill Self said he’ll start senior walk-ons Brennan Bechard and Matt Kleinmann in today’s 3 p.m. Senior Day game against Texas.

Rush was top X factor

Two good Big 12 basketball teams meet today for a 3 p.m. tipoff in a regular-season finale. If each team could take one player from last year’s team and add it to this year’s roster, two great teams would be squaring off today.

KU softball buffaloed by Bison

Kansas University's softball team fell to North Dakota State, 5-4. “We try to concentrate on the positives,” senior pitcher Val George said. Accentuating the good things was difficult, however, after North Dakota State rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning and spoiled KU’s home opener Friday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.

Kansas baseball rallies, sweeps

Kansas University's baseball team swept Northwestern, 9-8 and 7-3.

Diligent Kleinmann ready for final home game

Matt Kleinmann, who will graduate with a degree in architecture in May, sometimes has to stay awake studying — and preparing class projects in his chosen field — for days on end.

Jayhawks trying to keep win streak alive and well

Hilton Coliseum has a history of greeting visitors with closed arms.

Position battles highlight spring football

Ah, the signs of a forthcoming spring. The sunshine. The blossoming plant life. The opportunity to fiddle endlessly with one’s depth chart in an effort to maximize positional talent.

KU tennis falls, 4-3

In its first outdoor match of the season, the Kansas University women’s tennis team lost, 4-3, to No. 61 BYU Friday at First Serve Tennis Center.

KU women’s golf holds lead in Arizona

Four top-10 performances by KU golfers helped the Jayhawks climb to the top of the leaderboard after day one at the Duramed Collegiate Invitational at Rio Verde on Friday.

Dugan Arnett’s KU football notebook

While he didn’t exactly open his defensive playbook to reporters during an afternoon press conference Friday, the Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino did divulge the basics of how he plans to approach the linebacker position this season.

Longtime Jayhawk fan, 96, cherishes her game days

‘Ms. Steady’ recalls memories of stellar players, ‘Phog’ Allen

While fans sat on the edge of their seats for the better part of yesterday’s game, one remained calm, ever confident in the Jayhawks’ ability. She’s been watching them play for 68 years, after all. Marjorie “Marge” Smith may not be the loudest KU fan, but at 96 years old, she’s arguably the most dedicated.

KU softball to make home debut

During four weekends on the road, Tracy Bunge witnessed a disturbing trend in her Kansas University softball team. “We played very well against ranked opponents,” Bunge said, “but not well against teams not ranked. It’s very frustrating.”

Sign creators ‘motivated to do something huge’

One of the things that Andrew Stanley — co-creator of the John Brown poster that surfaced recently at Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse — has learned in his career as an amateur sign-maker is that, on many occasions, bigger is indeed better.

It’s all about money

The legendary Deep Throat told the Woodward-Bernstein Watergate bloodhounds to “follow the money” and they brought down the Dick Nixon presidency. Incredible, isn’t it, how tracing the treasure can explain so many things?

Senior walk-ons to share spotlight

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self says, yes indeed, senior walk-ons Brennan Bechard and Matt Kleinmann will be in the starting lineup for Saturday’s Senior Day contest against Texas.

Ex-Jayhawk Gooden joins Spurs

Drew Gooden arrived at his sixth team in seven years Thursday with the hope that he finally found a permanent home.

Mayrovich, Kuzhil qualify for NCAAs

Kansas University swimmers senior Maria Mayrovich and sophomore Iuliia Kuzhil will represent the Kansas swimming and diving team at the 2009 NCAA Championships on March 19-21 in College Station, Texas.

Five Jayhawks named to academic team

Kansas University women’s basketball players Ivana Catic, Rebecca Feickert, Kelly Kohn, Katie Smith, and Marija Zinic were named to the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 team, the conference office announced Thursday.

Aldrich, Taylor cleared to practice after sustaining minor injuries at Texas Tech

Kansas University’s Cole Aldrich and Tyshawn Taylor, who sustained minor injuries in Wednesday night’s loss at Texas Tech, have been cleared to practice on Friday, coach Bill Self said Thursday night.

Kansas basketball notebook

Kansas freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor fell to the floor in the final two minutes and limped off the court. “I jammed my left big toe when I hit the floor. It’s fine,” said Taylor, who scored 11 points in 28 minutes. Cole Aldrich, who has been wearing a boot on his left foot of late, sprained his right ankle late. “It’s fine. It’s another little thing. I’ll get treatment and be back on it,” Aldrich said.

Unhappy champs

Despite loss, KU nabs title

Heads bowed as they exited their United Spirit Arena locker room, Kansas University’s basketball players boarded their team bus late Wednesday night as five-time Big 12 champions. “Yeah, I’m ecstatic,” KU coach Bill Self said sarcastically after the No. 9-ranked Jayhawks’ 84-65 blowout loss to a Texas Tech team that entered an apparent mismatch with a 12-17 record, 2-12 in league play.

Jayhawks upside down

From now on, the sun sets in the east and rises in the west. Rain falls from blue skies. High temperatures make water freeze. Vegetables taste phenomenal, and doctors and dentists alike recommend a steady diet of candy bars and doughnuts. How else can such a shocking pair of college basketball results occur on the same night, involving the same school, 663 miles apart?

Raiders fired up

Collins’ comments inspiring

Texas Tech’s Alan Voskuil and his teammates read the newspapers. “We came in and we saw (Kansas University’s Sherron) Collins said he couldn’t wait to celebrate in our locker room — winning the Big 12 championship. We weren’t going to let that happen,” Voskuil said after his team’s 84-65 victory over KU on Wednesday at United Spirit Arena. “That just kind of fired us up, and then we said right from there, ‘We’re going to win this game.’”

Jayhawks show glimpse of power

Apparently, Tony Thompson had grown a bit tired of the locker-room ridicule bestowed upon him in recent days.

KU women defeat No. 5 Baylor, 69-45

Danielle McCray scores 35 points

The Kansas women's basketball pulled off perhaps the biggest victory in the Bonnie Henrickson era, as the Jayhawks defeated No. 5 Baylor, 69-45, at Allen Fieldhouse.

FINAL: Voskuil's 35 points lead Texas Tech to 84-65 upset

The Red Raiders guard made nine of his 14 threes to lead his team to a 19-point victory over No. 9 KU.

City Commission will take up renaming Missouri Street north of Memorial Stadium

Maybe it was Sunday’s thrashing of Missouri on the hardwoods that brought up this idea again. City commissioners may soon consider renaming a portion of Missouri Street to honor former Kansas University football coach and eternal Missouri-hater Don Fambrough.

OSU holds off K-State

Oklahoma St. 77, Kansas St. 71

The trademark of Byron Eaton’s four years at Oklahoma State has been an uncanny ability to impose his will in a close game and guide the Cowboys to victory. After his last chance to leave his mark in Gallagher-Iba Arena, Eaton told his teammates in the locker room: “It’s never felt so good.” That’s because his latest heroics could mean his first ever trip to the NCAA tournament.

Backup safety departs NU

Backup safety Major Culbert is no longer on the Nebraska football team. Coach Bo Pelini confirmed Culbert’s departure Tuesday through an athletic department spokesman. Pelini did not give a reason.

Self coach-of-year finalist

Kansas University men’s basketball coach Bill Self is among 10 finalists for the 2009 Jim Phelan national coach of the year award. The other finalists: Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), Trent Johnson (LSU), Darrin Horn (South Carolina), Jim Calhoun (Connecticut), John Calipari (Memphis), Lorenzo Romar (Washington), Brad Stevens (Butler), Bruce Weber (Illinois) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).

Gooden to sign with Spurs

Barring an unforeseen snag, Drew Gooden will be joining the San Antonio Spurs later this week, according to NBA front-office sources. Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Gooden — waived Sunday by the Sacramento Kings before the midnight deadline to be eligibile to play in the playoffs with another team — has made known his intent to sign with San Antonio after clearing waivers Wednesday.

Small-ball works for KU in 8-2 victory

Over the past few months, Kansas University baseball coach Ritch Price has been busy retooling a team that — faced with the loss of a large majority of its power — would need to take a new approach in order to be successful in 2009.

Iowa State trips Tigers

No. 23 Iowa State 62, Missouri 47

Heather Ezell scored 19 points, hitting five of Iowa State’s 11 three-pointers, in a victory over Missouri. Amanda Nisleit added 17 points and Kelsey Bolte had 15 for Iowa State (22-7, 10-5 Big 12), which has held seven conference teams under 50 points this season. Jessra Johnson scored 10 points to lead Missouri (13-15, 4-11).

Big 12 crown within reach

Kleinmann amazed at thought of fifth conference title

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self and one of his favorites, fifth-year senior center Matt Kleinmann, had a nice chat at the airport last summer as they embarked on the Jayhawks’ Labor Day weekend trip to Canada.

Knight: Red Raiders haven’t given up

Texas Tech basketball coach Pat Knight, who dabbles in mixed martial arts, knows what to do when he gets knocked down.

Appleton doesn't make trip to Lubbock because of sickness

Kansas University junior guard Tyrone Appleton came down with flu-like symptoms on Tuesday and did not make the trip to Lubbock for Wednesday's game against Texas Tech.

Kansas baseball alters weekend schedule

Due to the Kansas men’s basketball game scheduled for Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, the Kansas baseball team has made changes to its four-game weekend series with Northwestern.

Marian noticeably absent

Over the weekend, while celebrating 40 years of women in sports at Kansas University, a woman named Marlene Mawson was introduced as the “Mother of KU Women’s Athletics.”

KU guard Collins honored by Big 12

Sherron Collins was unaware he had been named Big 12 player of the week — for the second straight week — until a media member mentioned it to him Monday afternoon.

No surprise here

Jayhawks’ success doesn’t shock Big 12 coaches

Kansas University’s Big 12 rivals never bought into that talk about a rebuilding season.

Longhorns rout Baylor

Justin Mason helped spark Texas to a 73-57 rout of Baylor. The junior guard was the aggressive catalyst for the Longhorns early, pushing them to a big lead in the first half before Texas cruised to a 73-57 victory Monday night that guaranteed the Longhorns a winning season in the Big 12. Two days after going scoreless in the loss, Mason finished with 14 points and four assists.

Butler named Female Athlete of the Year

Kansas track & field senior Sha’Ray Butler has been honored with the 2009 Marlene Mawson Female Athlete of the Year Award, it was announced Saturday night during the KU-Nebraska women’s basketball game.

Kansas Relays tickets now on sale

Ticket sales for the Kansas Relays began Monday, meet director Milan Donley announced.

UConn men back at No. 1

Connecticut returned to No. 1 in the Associated Press’ college basketball poll Monday after one week out of the top spot. The Huskies (27-2) had their three-week stint at No. 1 end with a loss to Pittsburgh. The Huskies received 67 first-place votes from the 72-member national media panel.

49ers re-sign ex-Jayhawk

The San Francisco 49ers re-signed fullback Moran Norris to a three-year contract Monday, welcoming back the burly run-blocker after releasing him last summer. Norris, an eight-year NFL veteran and Kansas University product, played for the 49ers from 2006-07. He was the lead blocker for Frank Gore when the running back led the NFC in rushing with 1,695 yards in 2006, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Assaulting a ref may draw higher penalty in Missouri

Unruly fans or athletes could face stiffer penalties if they attack a sports official under a bill being considered in the Missouri House. The legislation would create a new crime for those who assault a referee or coach at any sporting event in the state, from youth leagues to professional games.

Self named finalist for USBWA coach of the year

Kansas coach Bill Self is one of ten finalists for the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Henry Iba Award, given annually to the association's choice for coach of the year.

Danielle McCray earns conference player of the week

Kansas women's basketball guard/forward Danielle McCray was named Big 12 player of the week, the Big 12 announced Monday.

KU moves to 9th in latest rankings

In the ESPN/USA Today poll out this afternoon, KU moves from No. 15 to No. 9. Their rankings in the Associated Press is expected later this afternoon.

Collins, Taylor sweep Big 12 awards

KU's Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor were named this week's Big 12 player and rookie of the week, the Big 12 announced Monday.

KU beat Mizzou at own game

When Mike Anderson took over as coach of the Missouri University men’s basketball team three years ago, he brought with him a style of play known affectionately as “40 minutes of hell.” It is a system built on constant motion, a controlled chaos, the objective of which is to apply constant pressure, push the pace at all times and attempt to translate that into as many easy baskets as possible.

Reed has big game in front of hero

Tyrel Reed remembers the day in high school when he took a recruiting trip to Kansas State. Just a few feet in front of him, mega-recruit Michael Beasley received a loud ovation from the Wildcat students while walking across the Bill Snyder Family Stadium turf. Reed, meanwhile, was the recipient of a smattering of boos as he moved toward his seat.

KU notebook

Kirk Hinrich stood in the fabled northwest tunnel of Allen Fieldhouse at halftime of Sunday’s Kansas University-Missouri game. He craned his neck to watch a highlight video of his storied KU basketball career playing on the center scoreboard.

Sacramento waives ex-Jayhawk Gooden

The Sacramento Kings waived Drew Gooden on Sunday night, freeing the recently acquired forward to join a contending team for the playoff run.

KU softball run-rules Harvard, 10-1

The Kansas University softball team produced a 10-1 run-rule victory over Harvard on Sunday at the North Texas Invite.

How did KU get this good, this fast?

The secret to the remarkable success of the Kansas University basketball program under coach Bill Self isn’t much of a secret at all. The players improve so much during the course of a season that it stands to reason the team would, too.

Unrivaled rout

Jayhawks exact revenge on MU

Tough taskmasker Bill Self turned into a softie Sunday afternoon in discussing his 2008-09 Kansas University basketball team. “I’m falling in love with this team,” KU’s sixth-year coach said after his Jayhawks pounded Missouri, 90-65, in Allen Fieldhouse. “They try hard, and they are getting more and more aggressive all the time.”

KU tennis sweeps UMKC

The Kansas University women’s tennis team swept UMKC, 7-0, at First Serve Tennis on Sunday.

FINAL: Collins scores 25 as Jayhawks rout Tigers, 90-65

Cole Aldrich added 19 points and 14 rebounds as KU took down No. 11 Missouri.

KU softball drops two games

Despite two hits from Val Chapple and Liz Kocon, the Kansas University softball team fell to North Texas, 5-2, at the North Texas Invite.

KU dedicates boathouse just in time to celebrate 40-year athletic legacy

Kansas University rowing captain Emily Martin and her teammates in the past have often left a practice on the Kansas River muddy, freezing and tired. Thanks to the recent completion of a $6 million boathouse at Burcham Park, the team now has locker rooms, a place to work out inside and much space to store their boats. “You come here, and you can go home clean after practice,” said Martin, a Wellington senior.

Catic lifts KU women to 70-57 win

Jayhawks winners of three straight conference games for first time in nine years

The Kansas University women's basketball team defeated Nebraska, 70-57, on Saturday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

MU bus involved in wreck

A 19-year-old Overland Park man was hospitalized after a three-vehicle accident involving the the University of Missouri men’s basketball team’s charter bus on K-10 near DeSoto, according to Kansas Highway Patrol reports.

KU swimming places 4th at Big 12’s

Kansas University’s swimming and diving team finished in fourth place at the 2009 Big Championships at the Mizzou Aquatics Center on Saturday.

Morbid memories

Mizzou Arena defeat motivates Jayhawks for round two

Mario Little and his Kansas University basketball teammates have been haunted by memories of a 62-60 loss to border rival Missouri on Feb. 9 at Mizzou Arena.

Depth key vs. Mizzou

Smokin’ Joe Frazier had a way of working the body, working the body, working the body, until his opponent’s aggressive ways gave way to his survival instincts.

Bonds sets KU track record at Big 12's

Kansas University’s Lauren Bonds set a school record in the women’s 1,000 meters and Charity Stowers ran a top 10 national time in the women’s 600 yards on Saturday at the 2009 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Hinrich’s toughness stood out

Kirk Hinrich not only is one of the best point guard/shooting guards to play basketball at Kansas University, but also one of the toughest competitors to ever wear the Crimson and Blue. Hinrich — his jersey No. 10 today will be hung in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse at halftime of the 1 p.m. KU-Missouri game — once played 31 minutes against Florida in the 2002 Preseason NIT consolation finals after severely wrenching his back in the semis against North Carolina.

News

Tuesday, March 31

‘Olympic Village’ still in preliminary stage

Hansbrough, Blair, Harden, Curry also on first team

Monday, March 30

Jayhawks take road victory over New Mexico, 78-69

Aldrich an honorable mention

Sunday, March 29

Jayhawks leave Indianapolis wanting a return trip in 2010

Saturday, March 28

Guard carries Spartans late

Michigan State 67, Kansas 62

Friday, March 27

Weekend softball series with A&M also called off

Jayhawks expecting physical matchup

Thursday, March 26

Wednesday, March 25

Family helps send off team to Indianapolis

Self holds individual talks with Taylor, Morris twins

Tuesday, March 24

Self relishes exposure of another Sweet 16

Monday, March 23

Aldrich shines as KU advances to Sweet 16

Aldrich records rare triple-double

Dayton impressed by Jayhawks’ shot-blocking center

Sunday, March 22

Flyers’ junior guard faced Collins in Chicago high school games

Spotlight shines bright on Collins in NCAA Tournament