Howard University’s 34 points scored were the fewest by a Kansas University opponent since Alcorn State totaled 31 in KU’s 98-31 win on Dec. 2, 2009, in Allen Fieldhouse.
It marked the third-fewest points allowed in the Bill Self era. Dartmouth scored 32 points in a 83-32 loss to KU on Nov. 28, 2006, in Allen.
Kansas held Howard to 13 points in the first half. It was the second-straight game that KU has held its opponent to 13 points in the first half, the other at USC. It marked the first time the Jayhawks have held back-to-back opponents under 20 points in a half since the 2007 season (Washburn, 18; Northern Arizona, 10).
The 81 points allowed by KU over the last two games mark the fewest in a two-game stretch since before the 1988-89 season.
Howard’s 22.2 percent shooting (12 of 54 overall, 3 of 18 from three) was lowest by a KU opponent since Dayton shot the same percentage in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Howard’s 12 total field goals were fewest by a KU opponent since Alcorn State had 12 in a game on Dec. 2, 2009. Howard also set a season-low by a KU opponent in free throws (seven) and three-point field-goal percentage (16.7).
More team stats
KU’s 55-point victory was largest since a 98-41 victory over Ohio on Nov. 26, 2010. … The Bison’s 24 turnovers and 16 offensive rebounds were season-highs by a Jayhawk opponent.
In the house
“Saturday Night Live”/big-screen actor Jason Sudeikis attended with his date, actress Olivia Wilde. Sudeikis wore a KU baseball cap and Wilde a KU stocking cap. … Future KU guard Conner Frankamp, a 6-1 junior point guard from Wichita North, attended and sat behind KU’s bench. Frankamp orally committed to KU in July following an unofficial campus visit on June 30.
Allerik Freeman, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior-to-be from Olympic High in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday received a scholarship offer from Kansas University.
Freeman, who is rated No. 44 in the Class of 2013, tells jayhawkslant.com he will make an unofficial visit to KU for the Oct. 14 Late Night in the Phog.
The shooting guard with 20 scholarship offers has KU, North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Memphis, Texas, Georgetown, Kansas State, North Carolina State, Villanova and many others on his list of prospective schools.
“I’m going to cut it to seven or 10 right before basketball season,” Freeman told gopowercat.com.
Ellis to visit four
Wichita Heights senior forward Perry Ellis has decided to visit KU, Kentucky, Duke and Kansas State this summer and fall. Sources close to the family said Ellis, Rivals.com’s No. 19-rated recruit, has not eliminated Oklahoma and Wichita State.
Shabazz attends SC workout
Shabazz Muhammad, a 6-6 senior forward from Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High, attended one of University of Southern California’s pre-Brazil-trip practices Sunday.
The Los Angeles Times noted that 100 “booster-types” also were in the stands. They sat on one side of the Galen Center and Muhammad on the other with compliance officers on hand to make sure no rules were broken.
Muhammad, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2012, currently has a list of KU, Arizona, Duke, Kentucky, Memphis, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, UNLV and USC.
KU all-star game in works?
KU is reportedly looking into playing host to an “NBA alumni weekend,” which would bring the Jayhawks’ NBA players back to Allen Fieldhouse for an exhibition game in September.
“It’s something we’ve talked about. That’s certainly something we’d consider doing,” KU coach Bill Self said Monday. “We have talked about a lot of things, and that is one of them. It’s certainly an option.”
KU’s players in the NBA are: Cole Aldrich (Oklahoma City), Darrell Arthur (Memphis), Mario Chalmers (Miami), Nick Collison (OKC), Drew Gooden (Milwaukee), Xavier Henry (Memphis), Kirk Hinrich (Atlanta), Darnell Jackson (Sacramento), Marcus Morris (Houston), Markieff Morris (Phoenix), Paul Pierce (Boston), Brandon Rush (Indiana), Josh Selby (Memphis) and Julian Wright (Toronto).
Details are expected to be announced in the near future if the proposed game becomes reality. The current Jayhawks would not be allowed to participate in the game, with practice not allowed to start until Oct. 14.
Former Kansas University basketball guard Brady Morningstar likely will be playing for a professional team in Greece during the 2011-12 season.
Morningstar acknowledged Sunday that Internet reports tying him to the top league in Greece were correct. He said nothing had been finalized yet, thus had no details to disclose.
The former Free State High standout averaged 7.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds a game last season for 35-3 KU.
Robinson lauded
KU junior forward Thomas Robinson was unstoppable Saturday at the Adidas Nations Global Experience in Los Angeles, according to Jonathan Givony of draftexpress.com.
“Robinson again was too explosive for any big man to stop off the dribble. Confident enough to do whatever he pleases in this setting,” Givony wrote on Twitter.
NBAdraft.net’s Aran Smith also offered his take: “Robinson appears to be working to become a combo forward. He displayed some solid ball handling and blow-by ability, but other times he got out of control fumbling the ball, turning it over on drives. Despite the fact that he appears to be small for the PF position at 6-8, with a long wingspan and broad shoulders, he would likely be best served working solely on his post moves and becoming a more polished post player.”
Weber speaks
Current University of Illinois coach Bruce Weber praised former Illini coaches Bill Self and Lon Kruger during a speech to the fans at Saturday night’s Alumni Game at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill.
Self had been in town Friday for a reunion honoring his 2000-01 and 01-02 Big Ten championship teams.
The Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports that Weber told the fans to admire the school’s five title banners from 1998 to 2005.
“We haven’t had any since,” Weber said. “We’ve got to get this thing going. We’ve got to get some more banners up there because that’s what it’s all about.”
Recruiting
KU coach Bill Self was asked if his six-man recruiting class might grow to seven on Monday during an appearance on 810 radio’s Border Patrol:
“I don’t want to say positively we’re done. We’re not actively pursuing anybody right now at all,” Self said. “Things happen in recruiting where things kind of fall your way. Brandon (Rush) fell to us in August. Certainly if we can get a player of that caliber, we wouldn’t shy off that. As of right now, that’s not the case.”
The father of former Vanderbilt player Andre Walker said Sunday that his son, a 6-8 forward, would visit KU this week.
“I really like our recruiting class,” Self said of guards Ben McLemore and Naadir Tharpe and forwards Braeden Anderson, Merv Lindsay, Jamari Traylor and Kevin Young. Young and Lindsay joined the team just this month.
“There was a lot of speculation the Daniels young man (DeAndre, UConn) would possibly be a Jayhawk. We worked on that for a long time. That didn’t work out, but it’s amazing how other things kind of fall this way because Kevin (former Loyola Marymount player) is a good player. He has a shot to make the Puerto Rican national team. Merv should be a high school senior (he’s 17). He’s a great student, already graduated. He was probably going to go to prep school (before exploding on AAU scene). Merv in our opinion is a top-30 player in the 2012 class. We got him a year early. He can really shoot it. He and Conner Teahan would be the two best shooters on our team.”
Self confessed: “To be quite honest, I was disappointed in our class up until about two weeks ago. Our class is really good. Jamari and Braeden … those are good players, and Naadir is better than anybody knows, and Ben is as good a wing prospect or big guard prospect as there is in the country. I’m really excited about the class and think it will be a fun class to coach.”
Robinson shines at camp
KU junior Thomas Robinson drew rave reviews from ESPN.com for his play at last week’s Amar’e Stoudemire camp in Chicago.
“The Jayhawk flew down the court, challenged shots at the rim, finished inside rebounds and low-post moves with strength and athleticism, and threw down the indisputable dunk of the day — a cocked one-handed fast break alley-oop that caused plenty of stone-faced NBA scouts in attendance to cast each other knowingly excited glances,” wrote ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan.
Same numbers
There were Internet rumors that Justin Wesley might ask Jeff Withey to switch jersey numbers this year. Wesley wears No. 4; Withey wears Langford’s old number, 5.
“We decided to keep it the same,” Wesley said. “I thought about it. That is kind of Keith’s number. I am just going to try to build my own legacy. We are going to stay with 4 and 5.”
Happy for city
Wesley may not be an active Mavs fan, but he is happy for his home state. He moved to Houston when in the eighth grade.
“I mean, this is our first championship. I am actually very excited we’ve actually got a championship in Dallas now,” Wesley said. “I wish I could be back there to celebrate.”
New name in recruiting
Ryan Taylor, a 6-6, 185-pound small forward from Louisville’s Western High, may take an unofficial recruiting visit to KU this weekend, CBSsports.com reports.
Taylor’s high school coach/uncle Paul Handley told CBSsports.com that KU on Monday offered Taylor a scholarship.
Taylor, Rivals.com’s No. 132-rated player in the Class of 2011, committed to Louisville before reopening his recruiting. Taylor reportedly has offers from West Virginia, Indiana and South Carolina.
Handley told CBS that Taylor is a couple of points shy on his standardized test. Taylor, who attended Lawrence North in Indianapolis for three years before heading to Western, took the test last weekend. If he qualifies, he’ll be eligible to play this season.
“He still loves Louisville, but I don’t know if they have a scholarship now,” Handley told CBS.
Lindsay update
Merv Lindsay, a 6-7 guard/forward from Canyon Springs High in Moreno Valley, Calif., who visited KU last weekend, will complete a visit to Marquette today. Eligible to play this upcoming season, Lindsay is expected to choose between KU and Marquette later this week.
Kansas University video coordinator Kyle Keller will join Billy Kennedy’s Texas A&M staff as an assistant coach, Jeff Goodman of CBSsports.com reported Sunday.
The hiring is expected to be announced by A&M in coming days. Keller was unavailable for comment Sunday.
Keller, a native of Dallas, joined KU’s program in August of 2008 after serving nine years on Oklahoma State’s basketball staff under coaches Eddie Sutton and Sean Sutton. He worked as assistant coach and director of basketball operations at Oklahoma State.
Former Memphis assistant Glynn Cyprien, who worked with Keller at OSU, is also a new member of the A&M staff.
No. 11 rated player to visit
Kaleb Tarczewski, a 7-foot, 220-pound senior-to-be from St. Mark’s High in Southborough, Mass., will take an unofficial visit to KU in June, according to ESPN.com. Rivals.com’s No. 11-rated player tells ESPN that KU, Arizona and North Carolina are high up on his list of schools.
Anything can happen
Former KU forward Markieff Morris, who worked out for the Utah Jazz on Sunday, was asked about the 2011 NBA Draft by the Salt Lake Tribune. “Anything can happen. I’m hearing early lottery, late lottery, that area,” Morris said.
The lottery consists of the first 14 picks.
Title town
KU basketball players Jeff Withey and Jordan Juenemann’s Athletes in Action team beat Poland to win an international tournament Saturday in Macedonia. Kansas State’s Will Spradling reported on Twitter he scored 16 in the title game and was named MVP. No other information on the title game has been made available.
Former Kansas University basketball center Cole Aldrich of the Oklahoma City Thunder will hold a basketball camp for youths kindergarden through eighth grade from June 27-30 at Olathe Northwest High School. Aldrich will be assisted by former KU players Jeff Gueldner, Tyrel Reed and Mark Randall.
Registration forms are available at www.colealdrich.com/camp_2011.pdf
Clark speaks
Two-time Olympic bronze medalist diver Mary Ellen Clark was featured speaker at Friday’s Midwest Sports Performance Conference at KU’s Wagnon Student Athlete Center.
Clark is diving coach at Amherst (Mass.) College and Mount Holyoke College and also works with high school divers.
“It is a huge invitation for professionals like me to come in and see how they do it here,” Clark said. “Let me tell you, how they do it (weight, flexibility training) here is pretty amazing. I just saw a facility that blew me away because there are machines here that I have never seen before and I am in the business.”
Guest speakers Friday and today include Dr. William Kraemer, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at UConn; Jerry Martin, the strength and conditioning coordinator at UConn; Andrew Fry, chair of KU’s department of health, sport and exercise sciences and K-State director of strength and conditioning Chris Dawson.
“I think everybody just brings so much to the table,” Clark said. “It is the variety of people that are in this room that is making this conference a big deal.”
Aggies’ opening
Colorado basketball coach/former KU guard Tad Boyle is not interested in the head coaching vacancy at Texas A&M, the Boulder Daily Camera reports.
The Aggies have contacted NBA TV analyst Jeff Van Gundy about the position. Van Gundy is a former Providence and Rutgers assistant who has coached the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He’s from Houston.
“I enjoyed my three years in college coaching very much but it’s been a long time,” Van Gundy told 1050The Game in Houston. “A lot has changed. The AAU basketball circuit has changed. The proliferation of agents involved in college recruiting has changed, so there’s a lot of things that have really changed incredibly since the last time I coached in college.”
He told Texags.com Friday he’s no longer a candidate.
Basketball school big for Turg
Former KU basketball manager Ann Turgeon, the wife of new Maryland coach/former KU guard Mark Turgeon had this to say at Mark’s introductory news conference at Maryland.
“This is a basketball school, that’s first and foremost,” she said in an article in the College Station Eagle. “We’ve been in great areas. We have a great group of kids we left behind at A&M and a phenomenal university. But he was really attracted to the idea of being at a basketball-minded school.”
ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that Turgeon on Friday interviewed K-State assistant Dalonte Hill for a spot on his UM staff. KSU coach Frank Martin told Katz he isn’t sure Hill will take the job if offered. Hill is from the D.C. area.
Recruiting
Trevor Lacey, a 6-3 senior guard from Butler High in Huntsville, Ala., will choose either KU, Kentucky, Alabama or Auburn on Wednesday, the last day of the spring signing period.
As to DeAndre Daniels’ plans … nobody knows. Daniels, 6-8 senior from IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., has yet to say whether he’ll sign with KU, Duke or Texas on Wednesday. Players do not have to sign letters-of-intent. They can report to school and sign financial aid agreements at that time.
“After speaking with a few people, I’ve settled on the phrase ‘paralysis by analysis.’ To be clear, I have no hard-hitting inside knowledge,” said ESPN’s Dave Telep. “Frankly, I can’t even tell who is really in the mix. Could it be Texas? Duke? Kansas? Someone we’ve never heard of? All of the above are possibilities.”
One college assistant coach told Telep he did not think Daniels would sign with a school Wednesday.
“It’s as bizarre as a decision as I’ve ever seen. It could change on an hourly basis,” the assistant told Telep.
Jamari Traylor, 6-8 from IMG, who is considering KU, Indiana, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, also has not announced his plans for signing day.
Stayin’ alive: Morris twins help Kansas bury Illini
Keegan: What a sweet day for KU athletics
Tulsa, Okla. ? Big winner
Tyrel Reed has passed Sherron Collins as winningest four-year player in Kansas University history.
Reed has been part of 131 victories against 16 losses. Collins went 130-19 from 2007 to 2010.
“Being a Kansas kid … words can’t describe how proud I am. Being the winningest player in Kansas history is a big honor,” Reed, a senior from Burlington, said after scoring six points off 1-of-7 shooting (1-for-5 from three) in Sunday’s 73-59 Round of 32 victory over Illinois.
KU coach Bill Self informed the team of the milestone in a happy locker room after the game.
“He said, ‘It’s a cool thing Tyrel had done,”‘ Reed said.
The NCAA record for most wins in a four year span is 133 by Duke’s Shane Battier from 1998-2001.
Self respect
Self and Illinois coach Bruce Weber passed each other quickly in the handshake line, with Weber telling Self good luck the rest of the way.
Self seemed surprised when asked about the handshake in his postgame media session.
“We are not close by any means, but that didn’t have anything to do with anything,” Self said, adding that he respects Weber as a coach and the job he’s done at Illinois.
Not a shot!
Marcus Morris banged a pass off the backboard to his brother, Markieff, who couldn’t complete a highlight-reel dunk.
“I’m glad you guys noticed that wasn’t a shot. I would never take a bad shot like that,” Marcus said. “We kind of did it in practice when coach wasn’t looking, so we said we’d do it in the game because they both bit on our fade screen perfectly. It just slipped off Kieff’s hand when he missed it.
“But I had to take the blame for it. I shoulda never done it, but I’ll do it again,” he added, laughing.
Self’s take: “That was one of those deals they’ve laid around talking and figured out that would be a highlight play. Marcus said it was a good pass, and Kieff just missed it. I thought it was a crap pass, and nobody could have caught it. We’ll talk about that when moving forward. But those guys are pretty creative. They are great passers. But that wasn’t the time or place (with KU up 28-20 in first half) to try that one, I didn’t think.”
Big numbers
KU will be heavily favored to advance to the Final Four. The top-seeded Jayhawks will meet No. 12 Richmond at 6:27 p.m. Friday in San Antonio, then if victorious meet either No. 10-seed Florida State or No. 11 VCU on Sunday.
“Ten, 11 and 12 are left, but it’s not seeds, it’s matchups,” Self said.
“All the teams left in this tournament are good teams,” Brady Morningstar noted.
San Antonio is where KU won the 2008 national title.
“We’ll try to make new memories,” Self said.
Hinson loves Tulsa
Kansas University director of basketball operations Barry Hinson had a great time rekindling some old friendships over the weekend in Tulsa.
Hinson worked four years as an assistant coach and two as head coach at Oral Roberts (1993-99) after working six years as head coach at Tulsa Bishop Kelley High School.
“Somebody asked me today, did I have family that lives here. I said, ‘Yeah, about 6,000,”‘ Hinson said. “No relatives but a lot of friends. I came down a day early to do the pre-stuff before we travel and got to see a lot of friends.
“My wife and I considered this may be the place we retire,” Hinson added. “Tulsa has literally everything you’d want. We raised our kids here. We’d love the opportunity to come back.”
The best thing about Tulsa?
“No question, it’s the people. No matter where you go in Tulsa, somebody will say hi, help you out,” Hinson said. “It’s one of the friendliest places there is, a big city with a small town atmosphere.”
Hinson pinpointed the biggest wins he’d been involved with in Tulsa prior to last weekend’s NCAA games.
“That would have been with coach (Self). We beat Arkansas at ORU,” Hinson said. “The biggest win is what got me into college coaching. My team at Bishop Kelley beat Oklahoma City Star Spencer when they were No. 1 in the country. We were the underdog. We beat the big dog that day.”
Recruiting
Stan Simpson, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound forward from Logan Junior College in Chicago, tweeted that KU has offered him a scholarship for next season. Simpson spent two years at the University of Illinois, one year as a red-shirt before transferring to Logan. He averaged about 14 points and 10 rebounds per game for Logan. Kentucky is reportedly his leader, with Memphis, UConn, KU, DePaul, Cincinnati, Tennessee and others hot on his trail. Simpson attended Chicago’s Simeon High.
‘Turg’ here tonight
Fourth-year Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon is 0-5 versus his alma mater, Kansas. His Aggies fell to KU, 73-53, on Jan. 19, 2009, in his only coaching appearance in Allen Fieldhouse.
Turgeon believes this year’s challenge may be the toughest, yet.
“They are scoring so well. They have so many guys who can score,” Turgeon said of the Jayhawks. “The Morris twins are off the charts now the way they are playing.
“You’ve got to do it on both ends. You have to try to slow them down. You have to have a great defensive game plan and hope it works. There really isn’t a game plan for them. They can do so many things offensively. You’ve got to take care of the ball and get good shots.”
Turgeon, who played at KU from 1984-87, knows the fieldhouse will be full of electricity tonight.
“It will be exciting in there for Senior Night, loud,” Turgeon said. “They are still playing for the conference championship now. We’ve got to be good on both ends and be efficient offensively, which we haven’t been. You can’t go in and try to play a 100-point game, that’s for sure.”
Of the fieldhouse, Turgeon said: “It’s a special place. There’s tremendous confidence in the building among the coaches, players and fans. It’s an intimidating place for opposing teams to play.”
About the Aggies
A&M enters 22-6 overall and 9-5 in the Big 12. The Aggies, who average 69.4 points per game and allow 60.5, lead the league in defensive rebounds at 29.5 boards per game and have a +7.3 rebound margin.
Khris Middleton averages a team-leading 14.6 points per game. David Loubeau is next at 11.2 ppg.
“They’re well coached. Turg and his staff have done a great job. They don’t beat themselves. They don’t give up easy baskets,” Self said. “They’ve had a couple players really mature and become terrific players. I think (David) Loubeau may have a chance to be an all-league player, and (Khris) Middleton may have a chance to be an all-league player this year, and that’s just as a sophomore. Those two are terrific.”
The series
KU leads the overall series 16-1 and has won the last five meetings. … Prior to Texas ending KU’s school-record 69 home-game winning streak earlier this season, Texas A&M handed Kansas its previous home loss on Feb. 3, 2007. … Kansas is 6-1 against Texas A&M in Allen Fieldhouse.
Senior Night
KU seniors Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed and Mario Little will be introduced with family members amid a shower of flowers before the game. The three will speak to the fans after the contest. Self has said speeches will be limited to four minutes apiece.
“There’s going to be a lot of emotions and it’s going to be fun to look back on some of the experiences and games I’ve played here,” Reed said. “I’m sure if I see somebody else tearing up, I will. I’m an emotional guy deep down at the core.”
Growing up in Burlington as a KU fan, he’s heard lots of Senior Night speeches. His favorite?
“I don’t think I could pick one. I’ve loved hearing from everybody,” Reed said. “The first one I remember is Ryan Robertson. I thought that was a pretty cool one.”
Chicagoan Little said “you never know,” when asked if he’d shed a tear. “Sherron (Collins) was saying last year he didn’t know what he was going to do and he did (cry a lot). He didn’t have a speech ready but when the time came he gave a great speech.”
Of his last home game, Little said: “Every good thing comes to an end. It’s all good. I’m going to try to make the best of it and cherish my last home moment.”
Title on the line
A victory tonight would assure KU at least a tie for its seventh straight Big 12 title. It is believed a Big 12 trophy will be in the house to be given to the Jayhawks in case of a victory. It is not known whether a presentation would be made. KU has one game remaining in the regular season, Saturday at Missouri.
Self uses break to teach Morris twins a lesson
The magic touch: Massage from mom helps Selby rebound
Johnson’s minor matter
The website of the Douglas County sheriff’s office indicated Kansas University sophomore Elijah Johnson was arrested Saturday night for failure to appear in Douglas County District Court. An item on the website said Johnson paid a $100 fine.
KU coach Bill Self said Johnson hadn’t done anything wrong. KU officials said the situation was a minor matter.
Associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Johnson went to KU’s police department on his own Saturday after being made aware of the matter.
“He had an unpaid traffic ticket from a long time ago,” Self said. “He took care of it months ago through an attorney. I don’t know what happened since then. That all will be rectified by tomorrow morning.
“It (ticket) was paid. I don’t know if it was clerical. He handled it through his attorney a while ago. I’m sure Elijah will talk to him (attorney) about it because it was handled months ago. He hasn’t done anything wrong,” Self noted.
Self on new AD
“We’re going to have a new boss, aren’t we?” he said of former Illinois State AD Sheahon Zenger. “I do not know him personally, but I have spent a lot of time on the phone with him in the last couple of months. I’m very impressed. Everyone is going to be overly impressed when they hear him speak. He’s a solid guy. Jank (Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich) loves him, and he won’t steer us wrong. He said he (Zenger) is almost too good to be true, with the way he can motivate and lead, and just be a normal guy, too. I’m really excited about Sheahon and his family coming in, and they will do a great job.I know he has a ton of energy, which is important as he leads us at this time of so much opportunity.”
Withey starts
Jeff Withey started his first game of the season. Other starters: Josh Selby, Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor and Tyrel Reed.
Game time set
The game time has been set for Sunday’s KU-Michigan game. It’ll tip off at 3:30 p.m. Central Time on CBS.
Keegan: Jayhawks lucky to survive off night
Little’s free throw helps KU escape
Fran says …
ESPN-TV color announcer Fran Fraschilla provided the Journal-World with his take on the most crucial call of the college basketball season to date — UCLA’s foul of Mario Little with seven-tenths of a second left in the Jayhawks’ 77-76 victory over the Bruins on Thursday in Allen Fieldhouse.
The foul sent Little to the line for a tie-breaking, game-winning free throw.
“I think the replay showed there was a foul (by Malcolm Lee), and I’ve always felt as a coach that the referees need to call a foul the same way in the first minute as they do in the last minute,” former St. John’s coach Fraschilla said.
“While it was a very tough break for UCLA, it looked like it was a foul. To me, it looked like although he (Little) was fading when he got fouled, he started his shooting motion and was smart enough to continue his shooting motion, so the referees gave him the two shots. Remember, UCLA was in the two-shot bonus. It was going to be a two-shot foul anyway so it didn’t matter.”
The officials went to the monitor before sending Little to the line with a chance to break the 76-76 tie.
“The rule is you have to go to the clock to make sure the foul didn’t take place after there’s triple zeros on the clock. It was clear the foul took place before the clock got to triple zero,” Fraschilla said. “Again, it’s a very tough break for the team that gets the foul called on ’em, but it’s part of basketball. When I hear people say, ‘Let the players decide it, not the officials’ … a UCLA player decided it unfortunately by fouling,” Fraschilla stated.
Recruiting
DeAndre Daniels, a 6-foot-8, 180-pound senior forward from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., attended the game as part of his official visit to KU. Daniels, who decommitted from Texas in mid-August, also has UCLA on his list of schools that still includes Texas, Florida, Kentucky and Oregon. He’s Rivals.com’s No. 9-rated player nationally. His visit will last until Saturday.
Leaving for Vegas
The Jayhawks were to fly to Las Vegas today for the Las Vegas Invitational so Thanksgiving would not be a travel day.
“We’re staying at a non-gaming casino,” KU coach Bill Self said of team headquarters, the Renaissance. “Every time we go out there we stay at the same spot, a non-gaming deal. Guys won’t get much free time. We will have all day Thanksgiving there as a group. We’ll eat, practice, watch tape and get ready to play Friday and Saturday.”
KU will meet Ohio at 7 p.m. Friday and Arizona at 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Orleans Arena.
KU freshman Josh Selby cannot make the trip. He’s ineligible until the USC game on Dec. 18. NCAA rules prohibit ineligible players from traveling. Selby’s mom, Maeshon Witherspoon, attended Tuesday’s game and is in town with her son for the holiday.
Streaks
KU’s 63-game homecourt win streak is the longest active streak in the country. Xavier is second at 26 games.
Stats, facts
KU is 4-0 for the third time in four years and for the fourth time overall under Self. … KU is 1-0 versus A&M-Corpus Christi and 3-0 versus Southland Conference opponents. … Self is 206-43 at KU and 413-148 for his career. … KU is 655-106 all-time in Allen, including 117-6 under Self. … KU is 2,007-796 all-time, keeping KU and North Carolina tied for second-most wins in NCAA history. … KU used the starting line-up of Tyshawn Taylor, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris for the second-straight game. … KU had eight dunks by five players during the first half, including three within a one minute stretch. … During an 11-minute stretch in the first half, KU made nine-straight shots and 11-of-12 during a 25-9 run. KU also had runs of 14-0 and 18-0. … The 17 first-half points scored by Texas A&M CC tie the lowest point total KU has allowed an opponent all season. Valparaiso also scored 17 in the first half. … Morningstar tied his career high with four steals, which he has done three previous times and two games in a row. … Taylor recorded nine assists, which was two shy of a career high. Coming into the night, he ranked second in the Big 12 with 7.0 assists per game … KU had 10 blocks by six different players, including two by Jeff Withey and Mario Little, equaling career highs. The last time KU had double-digits in blocked shots was against Lehigh during last year’s opening round of the NCAA tournament with 11. … Elijah Johnson had a had a season-high seven assists, which was two shy of his career high of nine. … Travis Releford logged a career high with 11 points, besting his previous total of nine. … The two free throws made by Texas A&M CC are the fewest by a KU opponent since Winston-Salem State made just one in a game on Dec. 19, 2006. … The Islanders’ six free-throw attempts were the fewest by a KU opponent since Northern Arizona had the same amount on Nov. 21, 2007. … The 41 points Texas A&M CC scored were the fewest an opponent has scored in the fieldhouse since the 31 Alcorn State scored on Dec. 2, 2009.
Jayhawks pay heed: Wary KU rips Valpo
McLemore won’t sign, but …
Prize basketball recruit Ben McLemore, a 6-foot-5 senior guard from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., said Monday night he will not sign a letter-of-intent during the early signing period.
However, McLemore, who is Rivals.com’s No. 17-rated player, told the Journal-World in a phone interview he will orally commit to either Kansas University or Missouri on Saturday.
At the urging of his mother, he will return to his hometown of St. Louis on Friday to discuss his college options. It’s also Thanksgiving break for Oak Hill.
“KU is still the favorite,” McLemore said from his dorm room Monday night. “I’ll go home Friday and commit to a school Saturday. It’s why I’m going home, to talk to my mom and hopefully make a decision.”
McLemore had a two-hour phone conversation with his mother Sunday night.
“It’s not that reason,” McLemore said, asked to comment on rumors his mom won’t let him choose the Jayhawks over the Tigers. “We had a good conversation yesterday. She wants me to come home and talk face-to-face with the family (including his uncle).”
Asked if he wanted to attend KU, he said: “It’s still up in the air.”
McLemore, who had planned to concentrate solely on academics and basketball second semester, was asked if it was difficult not to sign in the early period, which concludes Wednesday.
“A little bit,” he said. “I’ll be OK. All the seniors who have signed, I’ll congratulate them. I will not be mad. I would like to sign, but I’ll be able to handle doing it this way.”
Tharpe official
KU on Monday announced the signing of Naadir Tharpe, a 6-foot senior point guard from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.
Tharpe, who is Rivals.com’s No. 91-rated player, had signed his letter-of-intent Wednesday, the first day of the weeklong signing period. He chose KU over Oklahoma, Minnesota, St. John’s, UCLA, North Carolina State and others.
“We are all very excited about Naadir. We feel so fortunate that we were able to sign him,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Even though we got involved recruiting him late, we saw him play a ton over the last couple of summers. He reminds me so much of Aaron Miles. He’s a good, solid point guard, quick, athletic and has become a very good shooter. I really believe he will be a great addition to our program.”
Tharpe averaged 13 points and six assists a game last season for 35-5 national prep champion Brewster, then had a big spring and summer competing for the New England Playaz AAU team.
Originally from Worcester, Mass., Tharpe was a standout at St. Peter-Marian High before heading to Brewster two years ago.
“He comes out of a program at Brewster, much like we got with Tyshawn Taylor, in that Brewster won the national championship last year like Tyshawn’s team did his senior year at Saint Anthony’s,” Self said. “To have two players in our program that have won national championships will be great for us.
“(Brewster coach) Jason Smith is one of the best coaches out there and to have another young man out of his program is great for us as Thomas Robinson was Naadir’s teammate during Naadir’s sophomore season,” Self noted. “Naadir is a true point guard, and the better players you have around him, the better he will play.”
On the bench
Sophomore Elijah Johnson did not play Monday. He has been held out of the first two games for disciplinary reasons. Self said he believed Johnson would play in Friday’s game against North Texas. … Self said there was no update on Josh Selby’s eligibility case, only indicating he felt the NCAA would be deciding upon the matter “soon.”
Stats, facts
Tyrel Reed’s three threes moved him ahead of Paul Pierce on KU’s all-time three-point list. Reed is 16th in school history with 109. … Valpo’s 17 second-half points were fewest by a foe since Alcorn State scored 12 in the first half on Dec. 2, 2009.
Woolridge scores 22
Incoming Kansas University freshman guard Royce Woolridge scored 22 points off 9-of-14 shooting in the United States’ 67-66 loss to France on Sunday at the Schweitzer Games in Mannheim, Germany.
Woolridge, who fouled out, had two rebounds and a steal while playing 32 minutes.
The U.S. (1-1) will meet Argentina today in pool play.
KU vs. Butler, Duke
Butler will tangle with Duke in today’s 8:21 p.m. national title game in Indianapolis. KU is 0-0 all-time versus Butler, 2-6 all-time versus Duke. The Blue Devils beat KU, 72-65, in the 1991 NCAA finals in Indianapolis. Duke also beat KU, 71-67, in the 1986 Final Four semifinals in Dallas and 69-64 in the second round of the 2000 NCAAs in Winston-Salem, N.C.
KU beat Duke, 66-59, in the 1988 Final Four semifinals in Kansas City and beat the Devils, 69-65, in a Sweet 16 game in Anaheim, Calif.
Turner wins Naismith Award
Ohio State’s Evan Turner on Sunday won the Naismith Trophy, presented annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top player in college basketball. Turner beat out KU’s Sherron Collins, Kentucky’s John Wall and Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson. Collins received an NABC Senior Achievement Award Sunday at the NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show. Collins, Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds, Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez were honored for their “play on the court and leadership and loyalty as they all played for their universities for four seasons.”
My bad
Cole Aldrich said he wasn’t trying to swing his elbows into Damion James’ face after Aldrich grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled by James with 3:48 left in Monday’s game.
That action cost Aldrich a technical foul, since the contact came after the whistle had blown.
“I got the rebound, turned to outlet and accidentally hit him,” Aldrich said. “I tried to apologize. There was no intention at all.”
James smacked at Aldrich’s hand as KU’s big man tried to apologize. The two talked about the play calmly in the handshake line after the game.
“I apologized. I said, ‘I didn’t mean to hit you,”’ Aldrich said. “He knows I didn’t do it intentionally. He accepted my apology.”
KU coach Bill Self said the ref made the correct call since Aldrich’s contact came after the whistle.
Crazy free-throw miss
Aldrich’s technical foul caused him to foul out, leading to one of the wackiest plays of this or any season.
Self chose Brady Morningstar to shoot Aldrich’s free throw.
The ball slipped out of Morningstar’s hands, and he horsed up a jump shot from the line, which had no chance of going in.
“My sub was smart. That’ll be an ESPN Not Top 10 for the next six months,” Self said with a laugh. “He said the ball was wet, and it slipped out of his hands.”
Morningstar confirmed that explanation.
“The ball was wet. It slipped on the way up. I was so confused. I could have caught it and came down with it, but I’d have stepped on the line. I tried to shoot a little jump shot so I didn’t cross the line,” Morningstar said.
“I looked pretty stupid there,” he added. “We laughed about it in the locker room just now.”
Milestone possibility
Self has a chance to claim his 400th victory as a head coach Saturday when the Jayhawks meet Iowa State in a 7 p.m. tipoff in Allen Fieldhouse. He’s 399-146 overall in 17 seasons.
“It means we’ve had good players and assistant coaches,” Self said.
Stats, facts
Sherron Collins moved up a spot to No. 10 on the KU career scoring list. He had 15 points and has 1,704 for his career becoming the 10th player in KU history to score 1,700 points. Collins has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 13 games. … Aldrich recorded six blocks, one shy of his season high, to move up to No. 4 on the KU career blocked shots list with 218 career rejections along with Scot Pollard (1994-97). He fouled out for the first time in his career. … KU won its third straight against Texas and is 17-6 versus UT all-time. … The win marked Kansas’ first win in Austin since Feb. 11, 2002, snapping a three-game skid at the Erwin Center. …KU converted 17 Longhorn turnovers into 27 points, its most points off turnovers in Big 12 play this season. … The Jayhawks held Texas to 37.3 percent shooting. KU has held 18 of 24 opponents to under 40 percent shooting. … UT’s 24 points in the first half were the second-fewest points scored by a KU opponent during conference play this season. Texas Tech had 18 points in the first half on Jan. 16. … Marcus Morris has shot 50 percent or better in four of his last six games. … Collins tied a career high with four steals and dished five assists and has 16 dimes in the last three games. … Markieff Morris pulled down nine rebounds to lead KU for just the second time this season. He also had three blocked shots for the second straight game, one shy of his career high.
Big name, big game?
The Big 12 Conference may find out tonight if Nebraska freshman Christian Standhardinger is for real.
The 6-foot-8, 210-pounder from Munich, Germany, who was ineligible the first 15 games, scored a team-high 13 points off 4-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in Saturday’s 64-53 loss at Texas A&M.
Tonight, he’ll try to propel the Cornhuskers (12-4, 0-1) to a victory against No. 3-ranked Kansas (14-1, 0-0) and prove his debut was no fluke.
“They’ve got a guy eligible that may have the longest name in college basketball,” KU coach Bill Self said with a smile, “but he is good. I asked coach Dooley (Joe, KU assistant) who he reminded him of, and he said the guy who plays for the Houston Rockets, (Luis) Scola, with long floppy hair and a high motor.”
Standhardinger averaged 22.2 points and 8.5 boards a game for German club Ehingen a year ago.
“He’s going to be a nice player,” NU coach Doc Sadler said. “By no means is he all of a sudden going to be the difference maker in Nebraska basketball, but he is a guy that can score points, shoot out on the floor and make a tough matchup.”
Looking back
Sherron Collins scored 17 points, including four free throws in the last minute, in helping KU overcome a 13-point first-half deficit in last year’s 68-62 victory over the Huskers in Lincoln. KU’s Cole Aldrich, who came in averaging 15.4 points and 9.8 rebounds, was held scoreless and had no rebounds in the first half. He finished with eight points.
Tempers flared in last year’s game at NU. Cookie Miller, who has since transferred, tied up the basketball and tried to yank it away from KU’s Mario Little with two hands. Miller kept grabbing and pulling and yelling things in the process that fired up the Jayhawks, who went on a 15-7 run to grab a 59-51 lead with four minutes left.
“Cookie,” KU’s Collins said with a smile. “It’s always tough to play there. Their crowd is always great. They’ll be ready to play.”
Bus tweet
The Jayhawks rode a charter bus to Lincoln on Tuesday afternoon. Here’s Self’s twitter account “tweet” of the trip: “Good workout, nice meal, on bus to Lincoln, coach (Kurtis) Townsend picked out movie ‘The Hangover,’ his fav Dumb and Dumber was sold out.”
This, that
Big 12 teams are 114-1 at home entering tonight’s action. Iowa State lost to Northern Iowa at home in early December. … NU allows just 58.6 ppg to KU’s 59.8. … KU leads the all-time series 166-71. KU is 17-16 in the Devaney Center. … KU has won 13 straight against Nebraska and 22 of the last 23 dating to the 1998-99 season. The last Nebraska victory in the series was a 74-55 decision on Feb. 15, 2004, in Lincoln, Self’s first season at KU and his only loss to Nebraska. The previous NU win was 64-59 on Feb. 10, 1999, in Lawrence.
Strong start
Tennessee, which has outscored its opponents 81.9 points to 63.6, has lost to Purdue and Southern California and defeated Memphis, Wyoming, North Carolina A&T, Middle Tennessee, East Tennessee State, College of Charleston, DePaul, East Carolina, UNC Asheville, Austin Peay and Charlotte.
“It is a game that could go either way,” Kansas University coach Bill Self said. “They have a lot of talent. We got them last year, and I’m sure this is a sellout, which is 24,000. It will be a good atmosphere and one where we really need to play well away from home to start developing an identity.”
UT vs. No. 1
Tennessee is 1-2 against No. 1-rated teams under fifth-year coach Bruce Pearl. The Volunteers beat Memphis in 2008 and lost to Ohio State and Florida in 2007.
The Vols are 3-10 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams. This is the first time UT has played host to a No. 1 in Thompson-Boling Arena.
This, that
Tennessee, 35-2 in nonconference home games under Pearl, has won seven such games in a row. … UT leads the SEC in assists per game (17.3) and turnover margin (+6.6) while ranking second in the league in three-point percentage defense (28.9), steals (9.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.28) … Tennessee is seeking its first home crowd of at least 20,000 this season. Thompson-Boling Arena seats 21,678. .. Pearl is 18-11 vs. ranked teams at UT and 68-6 when the Vols score 80 or more points … Senior J.P. Prince has drawn a team-high 13 charges. … UT had a school-record 34 assists against Asheville on Nov. 17.
Last year revisited
Sherron Collins scored 26 points off 7-of-14 shooting and 10-of-14 free throwing and Cole Aldrich contributed 22 points off 10-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds in KU’s victory over UT last year. Brady Morningstar and Tyshawn Taylor added 12 points apiece. Wayne Chism scored 17 points, Bobby Maze 14 and Scotty Hopson 11 for the Vols.
“It was a fun one, probably one of the most fun ones to play in the fieldhouse last year,” Aldrich said. “We had a great crowd and played well. Now the tables are turned. We’re at their place. They are starting to play real well. It’ll be another fun game.”
Collins, who was unable to sleep the night before last year’s game until he cell-phoned his brother, Steve, in Chicago for some soothing words, recalled: “It was very crucial. It was our first test of the season. They came in scrappy like they’ve always been.”
Collins believes UT will seek revenge today.
“It’s the largest crowd we’ll play before so far. It’ll be loud,” Collins said. “There will be a lot of orange. We’ve got to be ready.
Black jerseys?
Former Vols’ player Tyler Smith, who was booted off the team Friday, wanted UT to wear black uniforms today, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
Coach Pearl told the paper if Tennessee was going to wear alternate color black, he’d lean toward wearing the color at home.
“When we go on the road, I want people everywhere to see the Big Orange,” Pearl said.
UT has not ordered jerseys in any other colors than orange and white, a UT administrator told the paper.
Expanded role
Tennessee’s Renaldo Woolridge scored 10 points and had seven rebounds while playing 27 minutes against Charlotte on Wednesday. For the year Woolridge averages 9.8 minutes a game.
“We all told Renaldo, there’s no more time for a soft Renaldo,” Chism told the AP after the game.
“We had so much excitement going into the game just sticking together and knowing that this was our opportunity. We all fed off each other,” Woolridge said. “Coach put me in the spot Tyler was in, starting in the 4 position, and I definitely had to step my game up.”
Cal will be stern test
California enters tonight’s game with a 6-3 record. All of Cal’s losses have been to Top-25 teams: Syracuse (95-73), Ohio State (76-70) and New Mexico (86-78). The Bears have beaten Murray State (75-70), Detroit (95-61), Jacksonville (79-47), Princeton (81-60), Iowa State (82-63) and Pacific (79-54).
“This is the best team we’ve played so far,” Kansas University coach Bill Self said. “They could easily win the Pac-10.”
Jerome Randle, a 5-foot-10, 172-pound senior point guard from Chicago, averages 19.6 points and 5.1 assists.
“He’s somebody I played against in high school,” KU senior Sherron Collins said. Collins attended Crane High; Randle attended Hales Franciscan.
“We played on the same AAU team a little bit. We beat ’em in high school so right now I’ve got one on him. This is for a little bragging rights.”
Long-range excellence
Cal has made 61 of 160 threes for 38.1 percent. The Bears led the country in three-point percentage last year at 42.7 percent. Randle has made 23 of 59 (39.0 percent), senior guard Patrick Christopher 17 of 49 (34.7), sophomore guard Jorge Gutierrez 10 of 17 (58.8) and senior forward Theo Robertson, who is back from injury, four of seven.
“They are a very good shooting team,” Collins said. “It’ll be a tough challenge.”
Roberts remembered
KU’s Self and staff member Barry Hinson attended a memorial service for Oral Roberts on Monday afternoon in Tulsa, Okla. Self and Hinson both served as head basketball coaches at Oral Roberts University.
“He was very respected, controversial and all those things, but I absolutely loved being around him. He had the biggest presence of anybody I’ve ever met with the exception of maybe Bill Clinton,” Self said. “He had an unbelievable way with people. What a great way to celebrate a life of somebody who has given so much to so many.”
California coach Mike Montgomery
• On playing No. 1 KU: “You’re on the road against a good team. I think rankings this time of year are erroneous a little but. But there’s no question they’re a high-quality team with very good personnel, tremendous tradition, tough place to play.”
• On Cole Aldrich: “They go to him. He is very big. He’s got great hands, and they use him. They play a lot of high-low basketball with their wings spaced very well. It makes it effective.”
• On Xavier Henry: “To come into a program like Kansas and start … he’s strong, he’s aggressive, he can shoot the ball. He’s a big wing player. He was very highly touted coming into the program, and he must be plenty good.”
• On coaching vs. KU: “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve played Kansas before but never in Phog Allen.”
This, that
Cal is 3-14 all-time vs. KU and has not beaten the Jayhawks since a 65-62 win in Kansas City on Dec. 29, 1954. … Cal has dropped its past three matchups with No. 1 teams, losing twice to Arizona during the 2002-03 season and once to Stanford (then coached by Montgomery) during the 2000-01 season. … Cal’s record against No. 1 ranked teams, dating to 1950, is 2-23. That includes 1-18 against UCLA. Cal beat UCLA, 85-70, on Jan. 30, 1994 and Cincinnati, 77-69, on March 17, 1960.
Collins sick
KU point guard Sherron Collins became ill at halftime. He didn’t score and had just one assist while playing 12 minutes the second half.
“He was throwing up, nauseated. Then he fell wrong the second half,” coach Bill Self said.
Collins banged his side and applied ice the final five minutes of the game while sitting on the bench.
“Sherron got kneed about three weeks ago, and he’s still not 100 percent, but he’s not gimping around, and he has never complained once,” Self said. “You can just see the maturity in certain guys and their leadership has been good.”
Cole’s still sick
Tyrel Reed confirmed his roommate, Cole Aldrich, hasn’t been feeling well.
“I don’t think he’s 100 percent, definitely. I know that he’s been battling the flu and all that good jazz. Most people can’t ever tell he’s sick because he has a good attitude. He’ll get through it, and he’ll be fine,” Reed said.
Dunks
Xavier Henry flushed three alley-oop passes from Collins.
“When I see him go like that, I know I’m about to dunk,” Henry said, referring to Collins pointing a finger in the air.
Henry was asked if there’s anything better than an alley-oop dunk.
“Maybe hitting a buzzer-beater or a halfcourt shot or something,” Henry said. “It was fun. Sherron makes great passes, and Cole sets great screens, so if you add those together that’s what happens.”
Stats, facts
Collins had seven assists, making him the 13th player in KU history to have 400 or more assists. … Marcus Morris scored a career-best 19 points. His previous career high was 15.
Kansas University senior Mario Little and sophomore Travis Releford will red-shirt this season, KU coach Bill Self said after Friday’s victory over Hofstra.
“Unless something unforeseen happens. I guess we can always pull them out,” Self said of removing the red shirt if players in the current rotation are injured.
He said both juco transfer Little and true sophomore Releford should benefit from practicing and not playing in games.
“Juco guys rarely graduate in two years because all the hours don’t transfer,” Self said. “Mario still has an outside chance to do that still (this year), but the extra year will guarantee him graduating. I think that’s pretty significant, pretty important.
“I also feel that with him not playing (much) last year and everything (because of injury), he could do some things to improve his perimeter play if he sits. He gives us an experienced guy next year, depending on who we lose (to NBA).
“With Travis … I think he will be a starter here. It’ll be very difficult for him to get a lot of minutes this year. So substituting age 23 for age 19 I think is pretty much a no-brainer for him,” Self added.
Little said though it was “hard to watch” from the sidelines Friday, he’s pleased with his decision to red-shirt.
“Myself, my family, a lot of people close to me thought I should red-shirt,” he said. “It was a tough decision. I did it. Hopefully in the long run it’ll pay off.
“I didn’t red-shirt because of Harrison Barnes (not choosing KU) or Xavier (Henry, perhaps turning pro after one year). I red-shirted because I felt I needed to work more on my game because last year I didn’t get to work at the guard spot.”
Proud of frosh teammate
Sherron Collins, who was outscored by Henry 27 points to 23, grinned when asked if he gave the freshman grief for finishing with more points. Collins led the team in scoring in 27 of 35 games a year ago.
“Nah, I didn’t get on him for that. I try to get the ball to him and encourage him to shoot, score. It’ll help us win,” Collins said. “I’m proud of him. He works hard at practice, doesn’t pout or anything like that.”
Good shooting
KU hit 50.8 percent of its shots, including 11 of 27 threes against Hofstra’s zone defense.
“It was a weird zone, kind of a matchup. We got the ball where we wanted to the second half,” Self said.
“I think Xavier was feeling it (five of eight threes), and even though Sherron only shot 4-of-10, he was 1-of-5 in the first and 3-of-5 in the second. He was feeling it a little bit, and they didn’t really guard us. If they don’t guard, sometimes it turns into a H-O-R-S-E contest, and they were hoping we’d miss. Fortunately we knocked them down.”
Freshman update
Henry exploded for 27 points and five rebounds. Thomas Robinson had five points off 1-of-5 shooting and 3-of-8 free throwing with five rebounds. Elijah Johnson scored eight points off 4-of-5 shooting with four rebounds and two assists.
“We’ve got a long way to go. We had some freshmen not play nearly as well as they did in the exhibition games,” Self said. “We certainly expect that, but there were some guys that did some good things out there.”
Stats, facts
Hofstra received a guarantee of $75,000 for playing KU. … Tyrel Reed and Conner Teahan, who are not necessarily known for their shot-blocking, had two crowd-pleasing rejections. Robinson had a vicious block off the backboard, but was called for goal-tending. … KU won its eighth straight season opener and has won 18 of its last 19 openers. … KU stretched the nation’s longest homecourt win streak to 42 games.
Teahan won’t red-shirt
Kansas University junior guard Conner Teahan will not red-shirt this season. He scored seven points while playing 15 minutes in Tuesday’s 103-45 rout of Pittsburg State in Allen Fieldhouse.
“It looks like Travis and Mario are both going to red-shirt,” Teahan said of Travis Releford and Mario Little, who did not play in the game. “Even if Travis doesn’t, it looks like the best decision for me. We’ll see what happens, maybe possibly red-shirt in the future.
He said he might be needed in games, “if we need a 3 (small forward) or if ‘X’ (Xavier Henry) gets in foul trouble or if I play well (and make rotation).”
KU coach Bill Self said indeed it looked as if senior Little and sophomore Releford likely would red-shirt, but the decision has not been finalized.
“I think that’s probably the percentage play with both of them even though we’ll sleep on it a couple nights,” Self said. “I think the likelihood is Mario will red-shirt. Travis … I think that is definitely the strongest possibility. Even if you announce a guy is red-shirting, if next week a guy sprains his ankle, you can bring him out of it.”
Robinson excels
Freshman forward Thomas Robinson scored 17 points and had seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals in 23 minutes.
“I still have a long ways to go, getting better guarding the post, knowing our offense and defense and getting used to the program,” Robinson said. “I’m better than when I first got here. There’s still work to be done.”
He was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a vicious dunk.
“Freshman mistake,” Robinson said.
Bruises
Self said Sherron Collins, who wore a wrap on his left knee, is “fine.” Collins scored 13 points with five assists and four steals in 20 minutes. … Tyrel Reed, who sprained his right ankle last weekend at practice, had three points and two assists in nine minutes. … Freshman C.J. Henry, who is day-to-day due to a swollen right knee, did not suit up.
Signing day
Royce Woolridge will sign a national letter of intent with KU today on the first day of the weeklong signing period.
Woolridge, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Sunnyslope High in Phoenix, orally committed to KU in May of 2008.
“It’s a big deal around here,” Kenny Mullins, coach of Woolridge’s Arizona Magic AAU team said of a noon CST signing ceremony at the high school to be attended by several of Woolridge’s family members, teammates, coaches and friends.
“You’ve got a big-name player in the Phoenix area signing with the No. 1 team in the nation. He’s excited. We’re all excited.”
Meanwhile, Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-8 forward from Ames (Iowa) High, will announce for either KU, North Carolina, Duke, Oklahoma, UCLA or Iowa State in a 3 p.m. news conference Friday. The announcement will be aired at 3:10 p.m. on ESPNU.
Three other players who visited KU this semester likely will wait until the spring according to Rivals.com.
They are: Brandon Knight, 6-3 point guard from Pine Crest High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Josh Selby, a 6-2 point guard from Lake Clifton High in Baltimore; and Doron Lamb, 6-4 shooting guard from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.
Stats, facts
KU’s 58-point margin of victory was sixth largest in exhibition history and largest since a 120-51 victory over Emporia State in 2000. KU has won 35 straight exhibitions and is 8-0 versus Pitt State all-time.
Kansas University junior walk-on guard Conner Teahan did not play Tuesday. He’s considering a possible red-shirt season. If he had played, he would not have been able to red-shirt. Only freshmen and first-year junior-college transfers can play in exhibitions and still be red-shirted.
“My situation depends on what Mario and Travis end up doing,” Teahan said of Mario Little and Travis Releford, who will decide by Tuesday’s exhibition against Pittsburg State whether they will red-shirt. “If they both red-shirt, I probably won’t. If one of them doesn’t red-shirt, I probably will (red-shirt). That’s kind of what the situation is.”
Teahan said he wants eventually to contribute in the rotation at KU and would red-shirt if that helps him attain his goal.
“We’ll wait and evaluate before the next exhibition game,” KU coach Bill Self said.
•
Buford doesn’t enter game: Walk-on Chase Buford dressed, but did not enter the blowout. He was not injured.
“That was my decision,” Self said. He did not say anything else about the decision — whether it had anything to do with the fact Buford was arrested in July on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence.
•
One Henry sits: C.J. Henry (sore knee) did not suit up for the game. Self said he’s listed day-to-day.
•
Xavier shines: Xavier Henry hit his only shot attempt of the first half, a three. He finished with 14 points off 3-of-7 shooting (6-of-8 free-throwing) in 20 minutes.
“He likes scoring,” Self said. “He has a knack for scoring. I thought he played fine. He is a good rebounder. He only got one tonight. Defensively he got spun around a couple times. That will happen. He will be a nice player. He is definitely a weapon we didn’t have last year. His biggest strength is his body. He can make plays through his strength.”
•
Stats, facts: KU has won 34 straight exhibition games, including a 20-0 mark under Self. … KU started Tyrel Reed, Xavier Henry, Markieff Morris, Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins. … Nine of 10 players made their first shot. The exception was Collins, who later made three consecutive threes. … Hays native Jordan Juenemann scored two points against his hometown school. … Fort Hays State received $20,000 for playing the game.
Miles returning to Greece
Aaron Miles will play pro basketball in Greece once again this season.
The 26-year-old former Kansas University point guard, who competed for Panionios on Telecoms Athens in 2008-09, has signed a one-year deal with Aris BSA — a franchise located in Thessaloniki.
Terms were not disclosed.
“Aaron is thrilled at the opportunity. He’s on one of the top three teams in Greece,” said Chris Emens, senior director of Octagon Basketball, an agency that represents the 6-foot-1 Miles.
“Aaron had a great experience in Greece last year (emerging as a Greek League all-star). We’re very pleased at the offer he received.”
Miles was cut by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks last week after scoring seven points in his only preseason game.
“In talking to the Hawks … they stated how much better Aaron has gotten in a year,” Emens said, noting Miles hasn’t given up his dream of returning to the NBA.
He played in 19 games for the Golden State Warriors in 2005-06.
“He still needs things to line up for him. A lot depends on economic issues, how many spots will teams keep (on rosters) in the future?” Emens added.
He noted that some teams may keep just 13 or 14 players instead of the maximum allotment of 15.
The Jayhawks’ all-time assist leader averaged 11.3 points off 45.4 percent shooting with 3.5 assists in 27 games in the Greek League last season.
He averaged 10.2 points off 42.7 percent shooting, and 3.3 assists in 10 games in the Euroleague.
Collins No. 2
Gary Parrish of cbssportsline.com, who was in town for last Friday’s Late Night in the Phog, on Monday released his rankings of top point guards in the country.
He listed Kentucky freshman John Wall No. 1; KU senior Sherron Collins No. 2.
“Let the record show that Sherron Collins does not like my opinion,” Parrish wrote.
“It bothers me a little bit,” Collins told the writer, “I think I’ve established myself, and he’s coming out of high school with a lot of hype. But I’m the old guy, and I ain’t gonna let no young boy get the best of me.”
Parrish suggested a KU-Kentucky national title game might yet happen.
“It would be a good matchup: Kansas vs. Kentucky,” Collins said. “I’d like to play him.”
Goodman’s take
Foxsports.com’s Jeff Goodman also attended Late Night in the Phog. He had this to say on his Web site blog:
“One thing that struck me watching Kansas is how the gap from the Jayhawks — the consensus, maybe even unanimous top team in the country — to the rest of the legitimate national title contenders isn’t much at all. Sure, the Jayhawks have Collins and Cole Aldrich — two legitimate Player of the Year candidates. They also have terrific depth.
“But the key is freshman Xavier Henry, who will start at small forward.
“Henry admitted to a case of nerves last night, but the 6-foot-6 McDonald’s All-American hardly had the appearance of a one-and-done player.
He looked ordinary.
And if he’s ordinary, the Jayhawks probably won’t be special,” Goodman wrote.
Henry scored six points off 1-of-4 shooting with three steals in the 20-minute scrimmage, which coach Bill Self annually says is meaningless. He hit one of three from three.
Robinson update
Former Kansas University point guard Russell Robinson remains on the roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers with one week remaining in training camp.
Robinson — he played for Reno (Nev.) in the NBA Developmental League last year — scored nine points off 3-of-11 shooting and dished eight assists against five turnovers in Saturday’s 93-82 loss to Dallas. He started and played 41 minutes in the contest, hitting one of five three-point tries.
Former KU power forward Darnell Jackson scored 10 points and grabbed eight boards while also starting and playing 34 minutes for the Cavs.
Second-year pro Jackson has been slowed by the flu.
The team is awaiting test results on Jackson, LeBron James and Coby Karl, to see if they had the H1N1 strain.
Morningstar apologizes
Kansas University junior guard Brady Morningstar, who issued a written apology to fans following his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, on Thursday reiterated he’s sorry for his actions.
“I’m upset with my decisions,” said Morningstar, who has been suspended from playing in games first semester. “I made a tough mistake, something nobody should ever do. I’ve got to live with it, be a man about it, take your medicine and move on.”
Morningstar plans to contribute at practice.
“My goal is to help the young guys, make sure they learn the system,” he said.
Sophomore Tyshawn Taylor said the Jayhawks are doing their best to support their buddy.
“Whenever somebody on the team has a problem, Brady is the one to put his arm on your shoulder and ask what’s wrong,” Taylor said. “We’ll show him love, show him we’re here for him.”
Taylor’s thumb
Taylor said his dislocated left thumb is close to 100 percent healed, yet he might not participate in tonight’s Late Night in the Phog scrimmage.
“I haven’t talked to the trainer yet,” Taylor said. “I think I’ve been looking good, but I don’t want to take any chances of injury. It hasn’t set me back that much,” added Taylor, who was hurt on Sept. 22. “I’ve been getting a lot of shots up. I can shoot a little better now.”
Late Night will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Withey’s recovering
KU freshman center Jeff Withey recently missed a week of workouts because of mono.
“I lost a couple pounds,” said Withey, who is listed as 7-foot, 225 pounds. “I feel a little drained after practice but am starting to feel a lot better.”
Parents in town
Several Jayhawks have parents now living in Lawrence.
The mothers of Sherron Collins, Taylor and the Morris twins live in Lawrence, as well as Withey’s mom and dad. The mother of Xavier and C.J. Henry is moving here, also.
Withey’s mom works at an elementary school in Topeka and his dad in construction. The Morris twins’ mom works for First Management. Taylor’s mom works at Hy-Vee.
“My mom lived in Florida awhile. She was going to move back to Florida (from New Jersey). I told her I want her to come here until I leave,” Taylor said. “She made it happen. My mom and two sisters are here.”
“My mom moved to Arizona when I did, too,” said Withey, a transfer from the University of Arizona originally from San Diego. “She wants to be there to support me and stuff. As soon as she found out the twins’ mom was here she was, ‘I’m definitely moving.’ All the moms have seen that and want to help their kids out.”
KU coach Bill Self has no problem with the parents living here.
“Times have changed. Across America, I think it’s a vogue thing to do,” Self said. “Parents are relocating or trying to get closer to watch their kids play more. It doesn’t make any difference to me. I want their support group close to them, but not at the expense of growing up.”
Self said he’ll talk to parents about anything except playing time. “That’d be a discussion you have with them one time,” Self said.
Rotation
Self said he envisions a rotation of eight or nine players, though he could use 10 early.
“We could throw a red shirt on two or three of ’em, too,” he said, not naming any red-shirt possibilities. “If I’m a young guy and thought I wasn’t going to be in the rotation and had a chance to start here eventually, then I’d want to be red-shirted. We’ll see how it plays out.”
New look
The Jayhawks are clean-shaven this year.
“No facial hair. As soon as I suggested very strongly we will be clean-shaven, C.J. said, ‘Oh gosh, just like the Yankees,”’ Self joked of C.J. Henry, who played minor-league baseball for the New York Yankees.
George Steinbrenner allows no facial hair on his Yankee baseball players.
“It’s just to look sharp,” Self said.
Late Night TV info
Parts of tonight’s Late Night will be on TV. Metro Sports (Ch. 37, Sunflower Broadband) will air its Metro Madness show starting at 6:30 p.m. ESPNU (Ch. 141) will air a Midnight Madness special starting at 8 p.m.
Perkins, Henrys attend Owens’ induction
Five members of Kansas University’s athletic department witnessed Monday night’s induction of former KU basketball coach Ted Owens into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
KU athletic director Lew Perkins was joined at the black-tie dinner in Oklahoma City by senior associate AD Larry Keating, associate AD/internal relations Sean Lester, Williams Fund development associate Banks Floodman and director of external relations/men’s basketball Barry Hinson.
Also on hand were incoming Jayhawk players Xavier and C.J. Henry of Oklahoma City, who were there to honor Owens, who coached their dad, Carl Henry, at KU.
“I think it’s neat they (Henrys) were there to pay tribute to a guy who coached their father,” said Hinson, who at the banquet was pleased to introduce KU’s Perkins to Bill Self’s high school coach — Mike dela Garza of Edmond Memorial High.
“I do think one of the impressive things is we had people representing our university pay tribute to a coach who has meant so much to our basketball program. One of the things I’ve said since I’ve been here (the past year), and I have an unbiased opinion: I am amazed at the family atmosphere Lew and his staff have created. Last night it resonated not only in us being there, but coach Owens seeing us and knowing we wanted to be there. That is lost in today’s athletics sometimes,” Hinson added.
Hinson enjoyed listening to speeches of Owens and the other inductees: Tom Catlin (Oklahoma football player), John Kolb (Pittsburgh Steelers), Cal McLish (MLB All-Star pitcher), Clem McSpadden (longtime rodeo announcer) and Bob Tway (Oklahoma State golfer).
“Coach Owens was so elegant. He was gracious and humble. There were a plethora of people from coach’s life. He got a remarkable ovation,” Hinson said. “Coach Owens got emotional as anybody would. I got emotional. A couple speeches, I felt like I was watching ‘Steel Magnolias,”‘ Hinson cracked.
Owens, the third winningest coach in KU history, acknowledged it has been an eventful year. The Hollis (Okla.) native, who now lives in Tulsa, recently turned 80.
“An incredible year with both ups and downs,” Owens said. “The upside of course is being inducted into the Oklahoma and Kansas hall of fames (Oct. 4) the same year and having the great trip to Scotland (last spring with Self), and all my kids are doing great. The downside is losing Sam and Bob the same year.”
He was referring to two of his former assistant coaches — Sam Miranda and Bob Frederick — who both recently died.
Owens thought it was fitting an Oklahoma newspaper mistakenly ran a picture of Miranda instead of Owens in an article about Owens this week.
“There was an article with a picture … only it was Sam. I am thinking, ‘Sam is up there laughing,'” Owens said.
Colorado in Maui Invite
The 2009 Maui Invitational brackets were revealed Tuesday. The tourney is slated for Nov. 23-25 at Lahaina Civic Center in Maui.
The bottom half of the bracket pits Colorado vs. Gonzaga and Arizona vs. Wisconsin; the top half matches Chaminade vs. Maryland and Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt.
KU will compete in the 2011 Maui Invite. This year, the Jayhawks will compete in the Hall of Fame Tournament with a marquee matchup against Memphis on Nov. 17 in St. Louis. Next year, KU will meet Arizona in the featured game of the Las Vegas Invitational. KU has no tourney yet on tap for 2012. A possibility is the Jayhawk Invitational, in which KU would play either three or four home games with the fourth at home or a neutral site.
Global Games this weekend in Oregon
Several KU prospects will be playing in the Global Games, set for Friday through Sunday in Hillsboro, Ore.
On the Midwest team: Harrison Barnes, 6-8, Ames (Iowa) High; Ray McCallum, 6-1, Detroit Country Day High; Doron Lamb, 6-4, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.; Cameron Clark, 6-6 Sherman (Texas) High; Adreian Payne, 6-9, Jefferson High, Dayton, Ohio. On the East team: Josh Selby, 6-2, Lake Clifton High, Baltimore. On the West: Terrence Jones, 6-8, Jefferson High, Portland.
— Assistant sports editor Gary Bedore can be reached at 832-7186.
Bumps, bruises report
Kansas University freshman Jeff Withey and junior Tyrel Reed did not play in the scrimmage. Withey, a 7-foot transfer from the University of Arizona, is out two to four weeks with a sprained right thumb.
“I messed it up in a pickup game this week,” said Withey, who has a light protective cast on the thumb.
Reed has a bruised quad and is day-to-day.
Meanwhile, Mario Little played in the scrimmage. He has been cleared for full contact workouts following offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in his lower-left leg.
Freshman guard Elijah Johnson, who has been plagued by a sore knee, scored two points. “He’s tired, sore,” KU guard Sherron Collins said. “He’s young but has a lot in his game you can’t teach. He’s real athletic but a little banged up now. He didn’t get a chance to play much.”
More on tryouts
Collins said he’s disappointed he had to pull out of USA Basketball’s World University Games tryouts because of family concerns. “I think hands-down I would have made the team,” he said. “But family issues back home … I’ve got to be there for my family. I didn’t want to be out of the States if something happens with my family. Family is first.” He did not wish to discuss specifics of a family situation in his hometown of Chicago.
Summer plans
Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Darnell Jackson said he will be playing for the Cavaliers’ summer-league team in July in Las Vegas.
“They have been on me hard. They want me to play a bigger role next year. I’m all for it,” Jackson said. “I’ve been working out every day, working on the skills they want me to, getting better.”
Aaron Miles said he had not yet accepted an invitation to play for an NBA summer-league team. His goal remains making an NBA team.
This, that
Soph Travis Releford hit four shots in four tries, including a three, and had nine points. … Freshman forward Thomas Robinson did not score with two steals and three boards. Former KU forward Christian Moody reports he’ll be attending KU medical school this fall. “I’ve got four more camp games to play in,” he joked, realizing med school is a multi-year program. Former University of Illinois guard Sergio McClain hit a three playing for the alumni.
Chalmers looks back
Former Kansas University guard Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat was asked by the Associated Press on Sunday to reflect on his game-tying three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left that sent the 2008 NCAA title game between KU and Memphis into overtime.
“It seems like a lot longer ago than a year already,” said Chalmers, who has started at point guard every game his rookie season. “The NBA season is so long, you don’t always have time to think about the past. But it’s still a great feeling, knowing you’ll be remembered for that, something I did, something that’ll go down in history for my school and my family.”
Chalmers said there was no doubt when he went up for the biggest shot in KU history.
“I knew,” he told the AP. “I made a name for myself doing something I’m proud of.”
Cheering for Roy
Former KU guard Ryan Robertson, who played for Roy Williams-coached KU teams from 1995 to ’99, said he’ll be rooting for the Tar Heels against Michigan State tonight.
Robertson was in San Antonio last year cheering wildly for his Jayhawks during the NCAA semifinal victory over Carolina and title victory over Memphis.
“I was just thinking about last year and how everybody in the media was asking us (Jayhawks who played for Williams), ‘Who are you rooting for, your alma mater or coach Williams?’ Clearly I was rooting for my alma mater,” Robertson said.
“Now this year, since we are not there, I’m cheering for North Carolina. I think it’s a good illustration of what we tried to tell everybody last year: We want them (Heels) to win every single game unless it’s against Kansas. We want them to win every recruiting battle, unless it’s against Kansas for a player we want.
“I want Kansas to be better than North Carolina,” Robertson added. “But tomorrow, I’m rooting for my ex-coaches and friends (like Jerod Haase and C.B. McGrath) who are there, now.”
Robertson said he didn’t know of any of his former KU teammates who’ll be at the game Monday night.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with coach Williams. It’s more about Detroit,” Robertson said of the Final Four site, which is forecast to be hit by a snowstorm today.
“I called coach Williams before the tournament and said I’d be watching and wished him luck. I remember when I was a player, right before the NCAA Tournament, coach Williams would say (to media), ‘I got calls today from 15 of my former players,’ and he’d name them all. I said, ‘OK, I guess that’s what you do when you are an alum.’
“So I usually call him before the season starts, right before the tournament and the Final Four.”
Robertson is the guy who took the heat from North Carolina fans for pinning a KU sticker on Williams 10 minutes before the national title game. Williams sat in the KU section and rooted for the Jayhawks.
One problem with the story: Robertson didn’t pin the sticker on Williams.
“My friend from Wichita (a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch) said, ‘Here coach, put this on,”‘ Robertson recalled. “There was so much hustle and bustle with the crowd, I waved at coach Williams and left. Next thing I know, I look at the big board, and there he is with the sticker on. I didn’t know if my friend slapped it on him or coach Williams put it on.
“Then coach mentioned he got the sticker from me. All the Web sites and blogs in North Carolina were blaming me. They were all up in arms that I did it. I didn’t do it,” Robertson added with a laugh.
Mrs. Mizzou
Robertson, who is regional director for marketing for The Hartford in St. Charles, Mo., had some interesting family news to report Sunday night.
His wife, Andrea, recently won the title, “Mrs. Missouri America 2009” held in Branson, Mo., and has qualified for the upcoming Mrs. America pageant.
“I tell all my friends I’m ‘Mr. Missouri’ now,” Robertson said.
Last year revisited
Williams, who tonight tries for his second national title, was asked by media about last year’s 84-66 semifinal loss to Kansas.
“Well, I was there 15 years. That game is going to be with me forever, how we just didn’t play as well as I wanted to play,” Williams said. “I still felt like at halftime we were going to win the game. I honest to goodness felt we were going to win the game. But we didn’t.
“And then the criticism that I received two days later for one of my former players handing me a sticker and putting (it) on. It was not the best weekend. It’s not going on vacation, (National) Lampoon or anything. That was a tough time. But I’m a big boy. You’ve got to be able to handle that stuff. It didn’t make me work any harder over the summer. It hurt a great deal. I still hurt a great deal. But at the same time, I have a wonderful group of kids that helped me turn the page.
“I have not looked at that tape, not one time. Until I die, at the Pearly Gates, if I happen to be lucky enough to go there, I’ll ask St. Peter to give me the tape and I’ll watch it at that time.”
VCU opening
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.
Stephenson to announce
Lance Stephenson, a 6-5 guard from Lincoln High in Brooklyn, N.Y., reiterated to the New York Daily News that he will reveal his college choice on Tuesday morning at the McDonald’s All-America media day session in Miami.
Various recruiting services believe KU will win out over St. John’s and Maryland. The Daily News said some still believe Stephenson may opt to play overseas a year prior to entering the NBA Draft.
Calipari to UK gains steam
ESPN and several other outlets including the Memphis Commercial Appeal are reporting that Memphis coach John Calipari has some interest in the Kentucky opening.
On Friday, Calipari told the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper he has no desire to leave the Conference USA school. On Sunday night, the paper said a meeting between Calipari and UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart may take place today.
Draft stock
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.
NBAdraft.net currently has Collins as a second-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers (No. 47 overall) in this June’s draft. It has Aldrich being tapped No. 7 overall in the 2010 draft.
Draft dates of interest
College players have until April 26 to declare for the 2009 NBA Draft. Players have until June 15 to withdraw from the draft in order to retain collegiate eligibility. The draft is June 25 in New York.
Rest on tap?
Mario Little, who was slowed by a stress fracture in his left leg this season, figures rest will be on his immediate agenda. He said he would not need postseason surgery.
“I’ve been trying to fight through injuries. I’ve been playing through pain. I’ll rest and heal, I guess, then start working out again,” Little said.
Back in town
The Jayhawks, who left the team hotel after 10 a.m. Saturday, arrived at Allen Fieldhouse around 2 p.m. About 30 fans greeted them. KU’s plane was re-routed to Omaha, Neb., then to KCI because of icy conditions in Topeka.
Will roommate return?
KU soph Tyrel Reed hopes he has the same roommate next year: the fun-loving Aldrich.
“I can’t make a prediction. I hope so. I enjoy having him as a teammate,” Reed said. “Everybody loves him. I’m extremely proud of him.”
Buddies to confer
Collins said he would confer with Aldrich and KU coach Bill Self before finalizing his future plans.
“I think Cole and I will talk,” Collins said. “Cole was the most improved player in the country this year.”
Aldrich said he’d also speak with Collins. “He’s my point guard, the best in the country,” Aldrich said.
Leadership 101
Collins said he proved something to himself this season.
“I learned I could be a leader,” he said. “My game has elevated so much from last year. I gave it all. (I played) a lot of minutes. The great shape coach Self put me in was good for me, too.”
Stephenson update
Top high school recruit Lance Stephenson scored 14 points and had six rebounds in Brooklyn Lincoln High’s 77-50 loss to New York Rice in Saturday’s Class AA boys semifinal game in Glen Falls, N.Y. Maryland coach Gary Williams was on hand. Stephenson will choose KU, St. John’s or Maryland Tuesday or Wednesday at the McDonald’s game in Miami. Zagsblog.net believes Stephenson’s choice will be Kansas.
More on triple-double
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.
“The thing about Dayton … they are unbelievably quick on the perimeter,” Self said. “Their big guys are all perimeter players that like to face it and drive it. We just told him to stay home and really don’t leave the basket area very far, so when guys got beat he was just able to be our last line of defense.
“He did a great job of blocking and altering shots without fouling. He had a fabulous game.”
Aldrich estimated he may have altered about five of the Flyers’ shots.
More on Cole
Aldrich was peppered with a batch of questions about his future plans over the weekend.
He said he’d like to return to KU for a junior year and work on things like footwork and strength in his legs. He, however, said he would not decide whether or not to enter the 2009 NBA Draft until the conclusion of the season.
Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Monday’s editions quoted Flip Saunders, former coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons, as saying Aldrich probably will be a top-10 pick if he declares for June’s draft.
“He’s going to help somebody,” Saunders told Walters. “He’s a more than adequate offensive player right now. Defensively, he can really rebound, as you saw in the (Dome) games, and he blocks shots.”
Saunders was asked how Aldrich would fare in the pros next season.
“It depends where he goes,” he told Walters. “All kids are going to struggle somewhat, because it’s a change. (Sunday against Dayton), he played against guys who are 6-9, 6-10. (In the NBA), you’re going to play against guys who are 6-11, 7-feet every night who are skilled, strong and quick. He’ll be able to play, but it will depend on how much adjustment he makes.”
Coach of Year
Self on Monday was named winner of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award.
Finalists were: Self; Mike Anderson, Missouri; John Calipari, Memphis; Jeff Capel, Oklahoma; Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh; Mike Montgomery, California; Stew Morrill, Utah State; Matt Painter, Purdue; Oliver Purnell, Clemson; and Brad Stevens, Butler.
Self will receive the Iba Award at the USBWA’s College Basketball Awards breakfast April 3 at the Detroit Athletic Club.
Self is a 1985 graduate of Oklahoma State. Iba is legendary for leading Oklahoma State (known then as Oklahoma A&M) to national championships in 1945 and ’46 and the United States to two Olympic gold medals in 1964 and ’68.
KU’s Roy Williams was honored in 1990 by the USBWA.
ESPN’s Andy Katz praised KU and Self in his column Monday at ESPN.com.
“What does this mean for the program?” Katz wrote of making the Sweet 16. “Kansas doesn’t have to prove anything. The Jayhawks are one of the top five programs in the country. But getting to the Sweet 16 after losing all but two key players from a title team just enhances Self’s credibility even more in the recruiting world and in the psyche of all KU fans. They have a true winner in Self, a front-runner for national coach of the year after retooling the Jayhawks so fast.”
Collins honored
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).
Collins was joined on the second team by Luke Harangody (Notre Dame), Jodie Meeks (Kentucky), Jeff Teague (Wake Forest) and Hasheem Thabeet (UConn).
He’s OK with seed, site
KU coach Bill Self refused to criticize the NCAA Tournament committee Monday for shipping the No. 3-seeded Jayhawks to Minneapolis to play No. 14 seed North Dakota State.
KU fans must make the seven-hour drive from Lawrence to Minneapolis if they wish to attend the game; N.D. State fans a 31/2-hour drive from Fargo, N.D.
An alternative could have been placing KU in Kansas City’s Sprint Center. Remember, Ohio State is playing in nearby Dayton, Ohio, as a No. 8 seed.
“It is unique we are a 3 going to Minnesota playing a 14 that is only three hours away,” Self said. “It’ll be a huge deal for them. They’ll get a lot of fans there. But everybody can look through a skewed perspective.
“I think the committee got it right. The committee did a good job. I was thinking we’d be a 3 with an outside chance at a 2. That’s probably what Mike (Anderson, MU coach, 3 seed off to Boise) was thinking, maybe what Jeff (Capel, OU coach, 2 seed in Kansas City) was thinking. I just think OU was the fortunate one. We had every opportunity to be a 2, all we had to do was play better against Baylor (in Thursday’s loss in Big 12 quarterfinals in Oklahoma City).”
Self thinks the committee looked at driving distance in some cases.
“They send us to Minneapolis; that’s a drive for most people. OU to Kansas City is still a drive. Is OU to Minneapolis still a drive?” Self said. “I don’t know. I thought the 2 seed would come down to us, OU and Missouri, and how the committee viewed what was most important. Obviously they viewed the whole body of work as most important. They viewed losing a couple games with Blake Griffin (out) as being important. I am not complaining. We had a chance to do it, and we didn’t get it done,” added Self, who believes a win or two in OKC would have assured KU a 2 seed in K.C.
He’s scouted the Bison
Self already has watched plenty of tape on North Dakota State thanks to director of basketball operations Brett Ballard, who taped many of the Bison games since February.
“They are good, very good,” Self said of the Summit League regular-season and postseason-tourney champs. “They had a guy go for 60 this year — 60,” Self exclaimed of senior guard Ben Woodside scoring 60 points in a 112-111 triple overtime loss to Stephen F. Austin in December in Des Moines, Iowa. The 5-11 Woodside hit 14 of 32 shots (two of six threes) and 30 of 35 free throws in the game.
NDSU coach’s view
North Dakota State coach Saul Phillips on playing KU in the first-round: “It is humbling, and it is an honor to be playing a program with so much tradition. Dr. James Naismith coached there for gosh sake,” he told the Fargo Forum newspaper.
“Collins is one of the premier point guards in the country, and (Cole) Aldrich is turning into one of the best big men in the country,” Phillips added. “It’s quite an inside-outside punch. But what truly concerns me is the other guys around them.”
A No. 14 seed has beaten a 3 seed 15 times since the tourney field was expanded to 64 teams back in 1985.
“Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich … I could keep going down the list. They are an unbelievable team,” senior guard Woodside told the Forum.
“We’ll try to approach it like any other game,” senior forward Brett Winkelman said.
“But we fully realize we’ll have to play an unbelievably great game to have a shot of knocking them off.”
Bison represented
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.
“Honestly, right now I don’t think it’s real fair that Kansas has to travel to Minneapolis to play North Dakota State,” Bison coach Saul Phillips told the Journal-World on Sunday. He has eight Minnesota natives on his roster.
“They’ve earned a right to probably play at a more neutral court. But at the same time, hey, I’m not making any calls in protest. We’ll take any little advantage we can get, because if you go by what works in our favor throughout this whole matchup, that might be the little sliver that we can latch onto.”
KU coach Bill Self did not agree with a reporter’s assertion that the NCAA had KU play in Minnesota in the hopes Jayhawk fans would purchase tickets and help sell out the Metrodome.
The Sprint Center in nearby Kansas City, which also hosts first- and second-round games, long has been sold out.
“I think when we were a 3 seed and Oklahoma a 2, they (Sooners) were going to Kansas City, not us,” Self said. “If we were a 2 and OU a 3, we’d go to Kansas City. I don’t think that (ticket sales) has anything to do with it at all.”
Nobody went crazy
The defending national champion Jayhawks, who had gathered in the Naismith Room of Allen Fieldhouse for the Selection Sunday show, applauded when CBS revealed KU’s NCAA fate.
“There wasn’t as much energy in our room to watch the selection show because we already kind of knew how we scored in the situation,” Self said. “But we will be excited to play.”
Long week
Self is OK with the fact the Jayhawks must wait until Friday to play. KU lost to Baylor on Thursday at the Big 12 tournament.
“You would think that since we played last Thursday we would want to play as soon as possible. I’m not disappointed that we play on Friday at all because I need to really become familiar with North Dakota State and also the potential teams that North Dakota State or us could play. And I’m sure they feel the same way,” Self said.
Self already had tapes of the Bison to review Sunday night. It’s because KU director of basketball operations Brett Ballard tapes games of virtually all Div. I teams that could make the tournament beginning in February.
“We will have plenty of tape,” Self said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t have at least three or four games on them already.”
Cole knows Carlson
N.D. State has eight Minnesota natives on its roster. Cole Aldrich played AAU basketball with Eric Carlson, a 6-6 red-shirt freshman from Shakopee, Minn.
“He’s a great kid. He’ll be another tough challenge for us when he gets in the game,” Aldrich said.
Collins’ take
Sherron Collins wanted to play tourney games in Kansas City.
“I was real hopeful,” he said. “I knew there was a good chance it would not happen. We won our conference but lost in the tournament. We’ve got fans who follow us wherever we go.”
Tough matchup
Kansas University center Cole Aldrich worked hard for his 12 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s victory over Texas.
“I would say ‘exhausted’ would probably be a better word,” Aldrich said, asked if he grew tired banging with 6-foot-10, 298-pound UT center Dexter Pittman, who had 16 points and three boards.
“He’s so strong. He has soft hands and quick feet for a guy his size. I talked to him a little bit. He’s gone through a lot. He lost 90 pounds or something like that. For a man to lose 90 pounds, that’s great. He has the potential to be really good.”
The 6-11, 245-pound Aldrich continues to wear a boot on his left foot. “I’ve got a little stress reaction. We wear the boot as a precaution. It’s to immobilize my ankle so it won’t get worse.”
No net clipping yet
KU’s players didn’t clip the Allen Fieldhouse nets after Saturday’s Big 12-title-clinching victory over Texas.
“That is the coach’s fault,” coach Bill Self said on his Hawk Talk radio show. “I said we weren’t going to. I am not superstitious. I think our guys have gotten enough attention. I think doing something like that would make them feel like we accomplished more than we have. We said we’d do the video (and trophy presentation) and think about cutting nets at a different time.”
Tough loss for Jank
Former KU assistant Tim Jankovich’s Illinois State basketball team likely will be denied an NCAA Tournament berth following Sunday’s 60-57 overtime loss to Northern Iowa in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis.
“I don’t even know how to describe the pain. You have to live it,” Jankovich told the Bloomington, Ill., Pantagraph newspaper. “All I did was tell them (24-9 Redbirds) how proud I am. I thought we have become a darn good basketball team in a lot of different ways. I really like the team a lot that I brought here (to St. Louis).”
Self cell-phoned Jankovich on Sunday.
“If anybody saw that game, it was a heartbreaker. That really stung,” Self said on his radio show.
“It’s a sad deal. Tim … what a job he’s done at Illinois State. They’ve won 49 or 50 games (49 against 19 losses) in his two years there. He’s done a remarkable job.”
More honors
ESPN.com’s Dick Vitale wrote on Monday that Kansas’ Self is a leading candidate for national coach of the year.
“When considering names for national Coach of the Year, one William Self should be on the short list,” Vitale wrote. “Self has done an incredible job at Kansas this season … The biggest reason the Jayhawks are where they are — the positive attitude of Self. He has the ability to make his players understand the pride of wearing that Kansas uniform as part of a great winning tradition. He has done a fantastic job with so many new faces. This is a team that has been hampered at times by injuries, yet it has overcome adversity and blending together into a winner.”
Little needs to drive
Self was asked Monday what junior Mario Little needs to do to continue to contribute to the team the rest of the season.
“I’d say take advantage of his quickness,” Self said.
“The other day (against Texas), he put the ball on the floor and tried to go around people, make a play as opposed to settling for a one-bounce pullup (jumper). He’s a good mid-range shooter. Sometimes he does the hardest thing to gain confidence from, as opposed to doing what he does best. We have to get him where he’s more aggressive driving.”
Little said his lower-left leg (stress fracture) feels fine, but he continues to work hard on his conditioning.
Recruiting
Luke Cothron, a 6-9, 215-pound junior forward from Flora Macdonald Academy in Red Springs, N.C., tells Rivals.com he currently has KU on his long list of prospective schools. Some others include: UConn, Memphis, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wake Forest, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. Cothron averaged 30 points and 20 rebounds per game this past season. He’s the No. 17-rated player in the Class of 2010. … KU signee Elijah Johnson, a 6-2 guard from Las Vegas’ Cheyenne High, has accepted an invitation to play in the Derby Festival Classic on April 11 in Louisville’s Freedom Hall.
Bechard, Kleinmann starting
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.
Of course, Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins also figure to open the game. That leaves the other starting slot to be filled by either Brady Morningstar, Tyshawn Taylor or Marcus Morris.
Morningstar and Bechard were teammates at Lawrence’s Southwest Junior High.
“Brennan’s been a good friend of mine. I’ve known him since he moved here (in 1998 after his dad, Ray, became KU volleyball coach),” Morningstar said. “He is one of the guys who will do anything coach asks.”
If Bechard and Morningstar start, “it’d bring back junior high memories,” Bechard said. “I’ve known Brady forever. Coach told me I’d probably start. I told him how much I appreciate it but all I’m worried about is winning the game.”
Bechard and Kleinmann will give short speeches after the contest.
“I’m nervous. It’s a good nervous, like before a special occasion,” Kleinmann said.
“Mine won’t be too long, I promise you that,” Bechard said of his speech. “A couple minutes and I’m out of there. I’m a little nervous. I’m not really that good at public speaking.”
Wrights in town
Self confirmed on Friday that Patrick and Holly Wright, the parents of Payton Wright, who died of cancer at the age of 5, are guests of the KU program this weekend.
A year ago, Dick Vitale’s annual cancer benefit event — which annually raises funds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research — provided proceeds to the Payton Wright Research Grant for Pediatric Cancer.
For information on the late Payton Wright and the fight to find a cure for the disease that is the No. 1 killer of children under 5, visit paytonwright.org .
Injury update
KU’s Aldrich (sprained right foot) and Taylor (bruised left big toe) practiced Friday and figure to play today.
“I’m all right. I’m a little sore,” said Taylor, who jammed his toe in the final two minutes of Wednesday’s loss at Texas Tech. “It hit the back of (a Tech player’s) foot. It didn’t bend. It locked. It’s swollen, nothing serious.”
Abrams matchup in question
Texas’ A.J. Abrams, who is the Big 12’s all-time leading three-point shooter, could present problems for KU’s defense today.
Who will guard Abrams, who averages 16.9 ppg?
“I’ve thought about it. I’m not going to tell you, but I’ve thought about it … a lot,” Self cracked.
Last year, Mario Chalmers opened on Abrams. Collins and Brandon Rush also guarded Abrams, who scored 15 points versus KU in the Jayhawks’ 84-74 victory in the Big 12 Tournament final, and 14 in UT’s 72-69 victory over KU in Austin.
“We’ll use different guys to try to chase him around. It won’t be one guy’s job to guard him,” Self said.
Both Collins and Taylor predicted Morningstar would open on Abrams.
“I feel I let the team down the last couple games defensively,” Morningstar said. “I’ve got to get back on my game to help the team out.”
Of his roommate Morningstar’s play of late, Collins said: “Brady got out of character (Wednesday at Tech). He was not the same Brady. He’ll be all right tomorrow.”
Brothers together
KU’s Chase Buford this weekend has been reunited with his brother, Alexis Wangmene, a 6-7 University of Texas forward, who hails from Cameroon. Wangmene’s legal guardians are Buford’s parents, R.C. and Beth Buford.
“I’m going to see him tonight,” Buford said Friday afternoon. “I don’t think we’ll talk about the game at all. But I’m going to get to see him, for sure.”
The Journal-World wrote a story on Buford and his brother last season. The story remains available online.
Undisputed title on line
A KU victory would give the Jayhawks the undisputed regular season Big 12 crown. A KU loss would open the door for Oklahoma and Missouri to gain a tie for the crown wins today. OU plays host to Oklahoma State; MU travels to Texas A&M.
“It’d be really cool to clinch at home with the best league record we’ve had since we’ve been here,” said Self. His Jayhawks enter 24-6 overall and 13-2 in the league. Texas is 20-9, 9-6.
“We don’t want to share (title). They don’t want to share. We’re selfish and they are, too.”
“We don’t want to share with anybody, especially Mizzou,” Sherron Collins said.
The series
KU leads the all-time series with Texas, 15-6. The Jayhawks have won four of the past five meetings. The two teams have met in the last three Big 12 Tournament finales, KU winning each time. The last four games have been decided by 10 points are less.
“The way these two teams compete, it’s been made a rivalry,” KU’s Collins said. “It’ll be tough. They are scrappy, tough to beat.”
Last home game?
A junior with NBA aspirations, Collins was asked if he’s thinking this might be his final game in the fieldhouse.
“All I’m thinking about is Texas and trying to win the conference championship. I’m not thinking NBA,” Collins said.
Title talk
Three teams remain in contention for the Big 12 regular-season men’s basketball title entering tonight’s Kansas University-Oklahoma game, set for an 8 p.m. tipoff at Noble Center.
KU and OU are 11-1, Missouri 10-2. MU plays at KU on March 1; OU is at Missouri on March 4.
“We are enthused about that,” KU coach Bill Self said Sunday, referring to fighting for first place in the league tonight.
“This is not for the title, (but) the winner will have the inside track. This is not for anything. We are certainly excited to be playing for first place tomorrow.”
KU has won or shared the last four Big 12 crowns. KU won six league titles in a row from 1921 to 27.
“I stress to them (young players) I want to keep it going,” KU junior Sherron Collins said. “We have won four in a row. We are trying to make it five. The guys are getting it. Practice has been good. Coach doesn’t have to coach effort anymore.”
“I may be a little surprised, but not really,” sophomore center Cole Aldrich said. “We didn’t have too high expectations. Everybody thought this was a rebuilding year. We’ve got so many new guys everybody was saying, ‘How much can they do?’ We all believed in ourselves and said, ‘Hey you know what? We can win.”‘
Griffin covets ring
KU’s Aldrich, who is a buddy of OU’s Blake Griffin, showed Griffin his NCAA title ring at Big 12 Media Day last October in Oklahoma City.
“Blake said he was going to get one himself this year,” Aldrich said. “I said, ‘Well, you’ve got a chance. It’s going to take a lot.”‘
Warren excels as frosh
OU freshman guard Willie Warren, who was recruited by KU, takes a 15.4 scoring average off 49.3 percent shooting into today’s game. He has made 49.3 percent of his shots, including 38.2 percent of his threes (50 of 131).
“Willie Warren … some person had him, and I think it’s pretty accurate, the second best freshman in America (behind Memphis’ Tyreke Evans) and 12th best shooting guard overall. That’s pretty good for a freshman,” Self said. “Austin Johnson (8.7 ppg) is having a great year. Taylor (Griffin, 8.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is having a great year. Patillo (Juan, 6.9 ppg) is an ingredient they didn’t have before. They are playing well.”
Facts
The Sooners are 15-0 at home. OU has the country’s third-longest home court winning streak (19 games). … KU leads the overall series, 133-64. KU has won the last four meetings and five of the last six matchups. In Norman, KU holds a 46-40 series edge, yet the Sooners lead 15-14 in games played in Noble Center. … Last season, Griffin was injured in the first four minutes as Kansas defeated OU 85-55 in Lawrence. Collins (nine points), Aldrich (six points, three rebounds), Tyrel Reed (two minutes) and Conner Teahan (one minute) played against OU.
Little recalls KSU visit
Mario Little chose Kansas University over Kansas State and Illinois in recruiting.
“A guy that we went nose-to-nose with Kansas recruiting — and there’s a reason why we recruited him because we thought he was good — was Mario Little,” KSU coach Frank Martin said of the former Chipola (Fla.) Community College forward.
“Mario is healthy now, and he’s starting to play up to the abilities I thought he could play at and obviously (KU coach) Bill (Self) thought he could play at.”
Little enjoyed his campus visit to K-State during football season.
“It was nice. The players were nice. There wasn’t too much to do in the town,” Little said. “I liked coach Martin, his staff, the players.”
He remembers playing a pick-up basketball game with Wildcat standouts Michael Beasley and Bill Walker.
“I did well. I played my best open gym game when I was on the visit with them. It was good,” Little said.
The fans even chanted his name at the football game.
Will they remember him today?
“I don’t know. They should,” Little said with a smile.
Will there be chickens?
KSU fans in the past have thrown live chickens at the Jayhawks during pregame introductions.
It should be noted KSU officials do not condone this and yearly try to catch and eject those fans who sneak in the birds.
“I don’t know if we had chickens last year,” Self said. “I know one year I was barely missed when we had four or five thrown down there. I’m sure they were intended for somebody else. They just happened to land next to me. I don’t know what will go on over there. I’m sure it’ll be in good fun, whatever it is.”
Big 12 race heating up
KU enters today’s game with an 8-1 record in Big 12 games. Oklahoma leads the conference at 10-0. Missouri is 8-2, K-State 6-4, Texas and Nebraska 5-4.
“I think the way OU is playing, our margin for error is almost nil now, as it would be for everybody else,” Self said. “OU still has games that will be very difficult games, like everybody does. To win the league after falling behind and one of your remaining road games is at their place, it puts a lot of pressure on winning there (Feb. 23) if your goal is winning league if you don’t have success in the near future.
“I don’t want to say this is a must-win,” Self added. “I do think our goal is to win the league. It is every year. Going two games down to OU I think would be very difficult to come back from, not impossible, but difficult based on how they (Sooners) are playing now.”
More on Lance’s visit
Lance Stephenson, a 6-5 senior from Lincoln High in Brooklyn, N.Y., reiterated to Zagsblog.net on Friday that he will make an official visit to KU for the Nebraska game a week from today. Stephenson said he has a list of KU, St. John’s, Maryland and Southern Cal.
Of KU, he told Zagsblog: “I can see myself fitting in their program. They play as a team, and they’re just willing to win, so I’m going to see what they’re about and how I can fit in the program.”
Rooting interest?
KU sophomore center Cole Aldrich grinned when asked if he was rooting for Baylor to beat Oklahoma on Wednesday.
“You know, I was rooting for the refs. The refs never lose,” Aldrich cracked.
OU, by the way, won, 78-63, in Waco, continuing its unbeaten ways.
Stats, facts
KU has won 37 of its last 39 meetings with Kansas State. … The Jayhawks hold a 176-90 all-time series advantage over the Wildcats, including a 71-44 mark in Manhattan and a 19-1 record in Bramlage Coliseum. … Since 1984, KU is 24-1 in games played in Manhattan. … From Feb. 2, 1994, KU won 31 straight against Kansas State before the Wildcats halted the streak with a 59-55 victory on Jan. 14, 1996, in Allen Fieldhouse. … Since the inception of the Big 12, KU holds a 29-2 record against KSU, 23-2 in league play and 6-0 in Big 12 championships.
Kansas University recruited Oklahoma State starters Obi Muonelo, a 6-foot-5 junior guard from Edmond, Okla., and James Anderson, a 6-6 sophomore guard from Junction City, Ark.
“We’ve recruited the last couple years with a lot of uncertainty who’ll be back and who will not be back. My deal to him was, ‘Don’t make an early decision. Wait and see how it’ll play out,”‘ KU coach Bill Self said of Muonelo, who averages 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds. “He fell in love with Oklahoma State and made a good decision going there.
“With James (16.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg), I was telling him Brandon (Rush) would probably not be here. Brandon ended up being here. From his standpoint, he made a good decision, too. Both are very good players.”
Collins on Wooden list
KU’s Sherron Collins has been named one of 30 candidates for the midseason John R. Wooden Award. Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin and Texas’ A.J. Abrams also are on the list.
Tough foe
Oklahoma State (14-7, 3-4), is coming off Wednesday’s 81-80 home victory over Texas Tech. OSU has also beaten Texas A&M (72-61) at home and won at Nebraska (76-74, OT). OSU has lost to Oklahoma (89-81) and Missouri (97-95) at home and fallen to Texas A&M (74-62) and Baylor (98-92, OT) on the road.
OSU has made 208 of 520 threes; KU 137 of 366.
“They play as fast a pace and as free as anybody in the country,” Self said.
Eaton vs. Collins
Collins on OSU point guard Byron Eaton, who had 26 points in the Cowboys’ 61-60 win over KU last year:
“He is a strong guard. There’s been comparisons in how we play. He’s really good,” said Collins, who had zero points in that contest.
Stats, facts
KU leads the all-time series, 101-52, including a 54-10 mark in Lawrence. … OSU last won in Lawrence, 87-81, on Feb. 8, 1989, a span of 13 games.
Aldrich seeks big game
Kansas University sophomore center Cole Aldrich hopes to step up his play on the road. He has averaged 13.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in three league road games — KU victories at Colorado, Iowa State and Nebraska.
He had 10 points and four boards at Arizona and 14 points and 11 boards at Michigan State. KU dropped both games.
“The first half at Nebraska was pretty unfortunate,” Aldrich said of his zero-point, zero-rebound, one-shot, 11-minute effort.
Junior guard Sherron Collins knows what needs to be done to help the 6-foot-11 Aldrich excel in enemy gyms.
“Get him the ball more,” Collins said. “And he has to make sure not to rush it. If he gets trapped, he has to try to feel the trap instead of trying to beat it before he gets there.”
Guard Tyrel Reed says the Jayhawks sometimes forget about the big man.
“I think he thinks he can play better away from home. A lot of that depends on us guards getting him the ball at the right time,” Reed said. “Cole gets good position. We have to find the right time to get it in there and not force it. If we get him the ball, he’ll start having better games on the road.”
KU coach Bill Self said he never thinks about home/road discrepancies. For the year, Aldrich averages a healthy 15 points and 9.9 rebounds a game.
“Nebraska … the way they defended the post made it harder for him,” Self said of Aldrich, who finished with eight points and eight boards in 26 minutes in Lincoln.
He had 15 points and 13 boards in 31 minutes in Saturday’s 66-61 home victory over Colorado. He had 15 points and 10 boards at CU.
“Cole will tell you that was not his best game,” Self said of Saturday’s game. “I can’t remember what he did at Colorado. For the most part, the numbers may be down a bit (on road). I don’t think it’s that big a deal. The Arizona game is one he struggled a bit.”
Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood
Self knows Baylor senior forward Kevin Rogers well. Rogers, a 6-foot-9, 250-pounder from Dallas, chose the Bears over KU and others in recruiting.
“He is a fabulous college player,” Self said of Rogers, who averages 12.6 points off 53 percent shooting and 8.0 boards. “He may have a chance to play at the next level. He is big, a good rebounder. He puts up numbers. He’s really a nice player.”
TV talk
BU is playing its first home ESPN Big Monday game since 2001. The Bears on that day beat No. 6 KU, 85-77, at Ferrell Center.
More on Brackins
Kansas University coach Bill Self said Sunday he could not remember a player having a better game against one of his teams than Iowa State sophomore Craig Brackins had Sunday.
The 6-foot-10 Brackins scored 42 points off 11-of-19 shooting and 17-of-21 free throwing in KU’s 15-point victory.
“After thinking about it, I don’t think anybody ever has gotten 42,” Self said. “Beasley had 39. Arthur Johnson 37. Durant something like 35, 37.”
Kansas State’s Michael Beasley scored 39 in KU’s 88-74 victory over KSU on March 1, 2008, in Allen Fieldhouse. Johnson had 37 in KU’s 84-82 victory over Missouri on March 7, 2004, in Columbia, Mo. Kevin Durant had 37 in KU’s 88-84 overtime victory over Texas on March 11, 2007, in Oklahoma City.
Also, Missouri’s Thomas Gardner had 40 in KU’s 89-86 loss to the Tigers on Jan. 16, 2006, in Columbia.
“They said he was the best performer in the country yesterday on ESPN’s late night (hoops) show,” Self said of Brackins. “If he is not a first-team all-Big 12 player going into our game, I think he is going to have a lot of people vote him on that team, including me. He played well yesterday. He was the biggest stud in our league yesterday.”
Next up
The Jayhawks will meet Nebraska at 6:30 p.m Wednesday at Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.
Praise of Brady
Kansas University coach Bill Self during an 810-AM radio interview Wednesday was asked about the consistent play of sophomore wing Brady Morningstar, who averages 7.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds a game.
“Kansas won a national championship with a guy named (Jeff) Gueldner. To me, Brady is a lot like Jeff … makes shots when he’s open, guards the other team’s best perimeter player for most of the time,” Self said.
“Last night, Brady guards their leading scorer (Edwin Ubiles), and with a minute-and-a-half left in the game, (Ubiles) has two points (finishing with eight). You look at the job he did on Budinger (Chase, 1-of-9 shooting, five points in Arizona game) and the job he’s done on some other key players like Christmas (Dionte, 6-of-14 shooting, 21 points in Temple game). I’m real pleased with him.”
Self wasn’t finished praising the 6-foot-3 Morningstar, who is fourth in the Big 12 in three-point field-goal percentage (.460) and second on KU’s team in minutes played (28.0 per game).
“He doesn’t look like Brandon (Rush) did playing that spot and never will because he’s not as tall, his physique is not what Brandon’s is as far as a strength standpoint,” Self said. “From an efficiency standpoint, Brady is having a heck of a year. He’s not our problem defensively. We’ve got to get other guys playing to Brady’s level.”
Next up
No. 8-ranked Michigan State is off to a 12-2 start entering Saturday’s game against KU (noon Central Time, East Lansing, Mich.)
The Spartans, a popular choice to make the Final Four, are 3-0 in the Big Ten following Tuesday’s 67-58 home victory over Ohio State.
Chism ready
Tennessee forward Wayne Chism, who was taken off the court on a stretcher after banging his head and back on the court after going up for a blocked shot in the Volunteers’ last game, practiced Friday and is expected to play today.
“He’s a tough kid. He is,” said coach Bruce Pearl.
Streakin’ Jayhawks
The Jayhawks have won 31 straight games in Allen Fieldhouse.
“Not really,” KU’s Mario Little said, asked if the streak has been discussed. “It’s something we must do,” he added of winning.
“We’d like for it to continue. It’s not what we are thinking about,” guard Sherron Collins noted.
“Every year we talk about having a great record in Allen, but I won’t make a big deal about that,” coach Bill Self indicated, acknowledging it’s a big game for a different reason.
“We have had opportunities. Syracuse was an opportunity. Arizona was an opportunity. We came up short in those. This is certainly one of those resumé wins that we need,” Self said. “Tennessee already has a great resumé win beating Georgetown and Marquette (with losses to Temple and Gonzaga). They’ve got two terrific wins and we’ve got zero. This would be a nice feather in our cap.”
Will crowd be loud?
The Jayhawks hope the fans are at their best today at the fieldhouse.
“It should be the most intense game we’ve had in the fieldhouse this year,” Self said.
“It’s one of the signature games of the season,” soph center Cole Aldrich said. “The fieldhouse will be rocking. It’ll be a blast. It’d be a huge win for us if we could pull one off. Obviously they are a top-25 team. We know it’s going to be a tough game.”
Collins added: “It’s a big game. We need it. I think we’re ready. In the back of our heads we’ve got to prove something. Every name team we played so far we lost. We are trying to figure out, see if we can beat a household (name) team.”
UT pressure expected
Tennessee figures to press some today.
“They always are putting pressure on you to inbound the ball. That’s something coach Pearl’s teams take great pride in,” Self said.
“They are physical, strong, athletic as all get-out,” Aldrich said. “They run, jump, are long. They will run, pressure the ball everywhere.”
Of a pressing style of play, Pearl said: “We’re a little bigger, little longer so we’re not able to press quite as much (this year).”
This, That
The two teams have yet to meet in men’s hoops. … KU has faced nine of 12 SEC teams and has a 28-29 record against the conference.
Little practicing
KU junior Mario Little, who suffered a broken bone in his left, non-shooting hand two weeks ago, practiced without contact Monday.
KU coach Bill Self is hoping Little can play in a game “in about seven days,” which means he might make his KU debut next Tuesday versus Siena.
“We are being patient in not bringing him back too quick. If it was the end of the season there’s no reason he would not be out there (now),” Self said. “It’s not the end of a season deal. The whole thing is to bring him out so he can play the rest of the season. He’s in that another week range from being able to play in a game.”
Of Little’s stress fracture in his left leg, Self said: “His leg is making progress, no doubt about it.”
Little wasn’t the only player wearing a wrap on his hand at practice Monday. Sherron Collins practiced with a jammed left thumb, while Marcus Morris had his right thumb wrapped.
“I jammed my thumb pretty good. It’s OK. I doubt I’ll even wear it (wrap) in the game,” Collins said.
“It (hand) may be bruised, but he’s OK,” Self said of Morris.
Bowl preview
KU sophomore center Cole Aldrich on Wednesday’s KU-Minnesota football game.
“I am all KU,” said Aldrich, who hails from Bloomington, Minn. “I’ve got some buddies playing for Minnesota. I’m rooting for the Jayhawks so I get a little bragging rights over the summer. We’ll meet as a team somewhere and watch our Jayhawks go.”
Withey report
Jeff Withey, a 7-foot transfer from the University of Arizona, is not yet on campus. He still has to complete some paperwork before arriving. He can practice, but not play in games until December, 2009.
Bowling outing
Albany’s basketball players went bowling on Monday afternoon at Royal Crest Lanes.
“I do think it’s good to do fun things,” KU coach Self said on Monday’s weekly Hawk Talk radio show. “I think that’s a good idea of Will (Brown, eighth-year head coach). He’s won multiple championships there. He’s done well.”
Brown, 37, is one of the country’s youngest head coaches. He’s led Albany to two of the past three NCAA Tournaments.
Notes
Located in Albany, N.Y., the University at Albany has an enrollment of 12,748. Nickname is Great Danes. Colors are Purple and Gold. The school plays in the America East Conference. … Albany was picked sixth in the conference preseason coaches poll. … Albany today plays a defending Div. I national champ for the first time. … Albany has won three straight games. The Great Danes won at St. Francis, 68-56, on Dec. 22. … The Great Danes are ranked 17th nationally in rebounding margin at plus-8.4 per game … The two schools have yet to meet in basketball. … Albany lost to Iowa State, 76-64, last Dec. 30 in Ames, Iowa. … The National Football League’s New York Giants have made the University at Albany its summer training camp home since 1996.
Collins says focus crucial for freshmen
To Kansas University junior Sherron Collins, the most disappointing thing about last Saturday’s loss to UMass was the fact the Jayhawks weren’t totally into the game from the start.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys. Sometimes they may say, ‘We’re gonna beat them. We’re going to beat them.’ We can’t take it for granted any more. This isn’t last year’s team,” Collins said.
“We’re not going to beat somebody by 30 by not playing. We’re not going to walk over anybody. We’ve got to take every game and every possession seriously.”
Added KU coach Bill Self: “These (young) guys … it’s not their fault. They don’t really understand you happen to be everyone’s biggest game. Last year they loved that. They loved going into places saying, ‘We’ll get their best shot tonight and find out how tough we are.'”
This, that
Self is trying for his 150th win as KU coach. He’s 149-34 in six seasons. … KU leads the all-time series, 5-3. Temple won the last meeting, 74-66, in overtime on Dec. 22, 1995, in East Rutherford, N.J. … KU has won 29 straight games in Allen. … Temple is 3-1 on the road this year. Coach Fran Dunphy is 38-34 in three years at Temple.
Flu hit twins hard
Kansas University’s Morris twins lost a lot of weight about a month ago when both were hit with flu-like symptoms.
“I had a real loss of appetite,” said Marcus Morris, who started the season 6-foot-8, 225 pounds. Markieff opened the year 6-9, 235.
“We were practicing. I was losing weight. I wasn’t eating. I was sleeping a lot. I lost 15 pounds. Now I’m trying to gain it back. I got a lot weaker than I was in the summer and when school started. I was getting stronger. I started toning down a lot,” Marcus added.
Bragging rights
The Morris twins hail from Philadelphia. Saturday’s foe, Temple, is located in the same city.
“It’s for bragging rights,” said Marcus, who indicated he knows “everybody” on the Temple team.
Allen to decide today
Bryant Allen, a 6-foot, 160-pound football wide receiver from Maplewood (Mo.) High, will announce for one of six schools — KU, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois State — late this afternoon. All six schools will allow him to play football on scholarship and also walk-on the basketball team.
KU coach Bill Self met with Allen on his football recruiting visit last Sunday and told the player he’d be welcome to join the hoops team (likely in early January next season) if he keeps his grades up.
In hoops, Allen averaged 25.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 4.1 assists per game his junior year for the Missouri state champs. He made 51.3 percent of his threes and 82.8 percent of his free throws. He was MVP of last weekend’s Webster Groves Classic. He had 29 points in the title game and set the tourney record with 84 points.
Ellis to visit
Perry Ellis, a 6-8 freshman from Wichita Heights High, is slated to attend Saturday’s KU-Temple game on an unofficial visit. Ellis is averaging 14.0 points a game in his first three prep games. He had 18 points and 15 boards in one game.
Withey has Kansas high on transfer list
Jeff Withey’s high school coach says there’s a good chance the 7-foot University of Arizona freshman will be playing basketball at KU second semester.
“Jeff speaks highly of Kansas. I think they (Jayhawks) have a really good shot at landing the big fella,” Waheed Mitchell, Withey’s former coach at San Diego’s Horizon High, said Tuesday.
Withey — he averaged 20.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, 7.3 blocks and 4.1 assists as a senior — asked to be released from his scholarship at U of A after the resignation of Lute Olson.
Mitchell told the Bremerton, Wash., Kitsap Sun newspaper there was an “80 percent chance” Withey would choose KU over Texas, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Indiana, San Diego, San Diego State and Boston College.
Mitchell didn’t mention any percentages in his interview with the Journal-World.
“Kansas is very much an option. He likes the coaches at Kansas. He went to Late Night in the Phog. He knows everything there is to know about Kansas,” Mitchell said.
What kind of player would KU get in Withey, Rivals.com’s No. 36-ranked player in the Class of 2008? He’d be eligible to practice immediately and play in games in late December of 2009.
“He has very good touch from eight to 10 feet and can also shoot the 3-ball,” Mitchell said. “He’s very skilled. He’s also very humble. He’s always been a team guy, very coachable.”
Two-sport athlete to decide Thursday
Bryant Allen, a 6-foot, 160-pound football wide receiver from Maplewood (Mo.) High, will announce for one of six schools — KU, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois State — on Thursday. All six schools will allow him to play football on scholarship and also walk-on the basketball team.
Allen told Rivals.com he visited with KU coach Bill Self as part of Sunday’s football recruiting trip to KU. Allen said Self told him he could play basketball after football season if he kept his grades up.
“It was an honor just to meet him,” Allen told Rivals.com.
Allen spent some time with KU football offensive coordinator Ed Warinner.
“He has gotten to know me as a person more than a football recruit,” Allen said. “They made me feel like I was at home,” Allen added of the football team. “I really bonded with them in just one day.”
In hoops, Allen averaged 25.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 4.1 assists per game his junior year for the Missouri state champs. He made 51.3 percent of his threes and 82.8 percent of his free throws. He was MVP of last weekend’s Webster Groves Classic. He had 29 points in the title game and set the tourney record with 84 points.
Morris Twins dropping weight
Kansas coach Bill Self said the Morris twins dropped a lot of weight earlier this semester.
“Markieff lost 30 pounds and Marcus 25. Unfortunately for them, they went through a stretch where they didn’t feel well, typical flu symptoms,” Self said of 6-foot-9, 235-pound Markieff and 6-8, 225-pound Marcus.
“They’ve lost a ton of weight. They’ve started to gain it back. They’ve been working in the weight room. Physically, they have not gotten that confidence yet from being stronger. I think it will come. They will need a good rest of the year and offseason (in weight room). They are guys who gain so much confidence from their strength.”
Self reveals pet peeve about recruiting
Self on his radio show discussed one of his “pet peeves” about recruiting.
“ESPNU, which does a lot for college sports, has told recruits they would put them on TV for their announcement if they do not let anybody know where they are going to school. It gets better ratings if nobody knows when they announce (their college choice),” Self said.
“I’ve actually had kids and families say, ‘We couldn’t tell you or other schools (until announcing it live).’
“Schools develop relationships with families for two to four years, and ESPN is telling them the only way you get publicity is if you do not tell people what is going on. To me that is pretty sorry. It may make for better television, but that’s not the way it should be.”
Recently, a pair of KU prospects announced live on ESPNU, with coaches of their finalists unaware of the decision. Xavier Henry chose Memphis over KU. Michael Snaer picked Florida State over KU and others.
KU remains possibility for 7-foot Withey
Jeff Withey, a 7-foot freshman from the University of Arizona, told Rivals.com on Monday he’s still considering transferring to one of eight schools: KU, Texas, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Indiana, San Diego, San Diego State and Boston College. Those are the schools he considered his senior year at Horizon High in San Diego.
“I am pretty sure I am not going to take any visits,” Withey told Rivals. “I will probably just talk to each coach on the phone and do things that way. I’m done with finals on the 18th, and then I’m going hope to talk with my family. We will discuss things as a family and then decide.”
WIthey, who said KU “is definitely an option,” will enroll at his future school for second semester classes so he’ll be eligible to play at this time next year. He visited KU and Texas his senior year of high school.
Players of week named
Cory Higgins of Colorado and Lucca Staiger of Iowa State on Monday were tapped Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Higgins, a 6-5 sophomore guard, had 33 points in a 75-56 victory over Colorado State. Staiger, a 6-5 sophomore, averaged 16.5 points in games against Iowa and Drake.
Withey considering transfer to Kansas
Former University of Arizona center Jeff Withey confirmed to the Journal-World on Friday night he’s considering a possible transfer to Kansas University.
“They are definitely on the list for me,” said Withey, a 7-foot freshman who was recently granted a release from his scholarship agreement following the resignation of U of A coach Lute Olson.
He was asked if his choices are down to KU and Texas, as some have speculated, or if he’s considering the eight schools that originally recruited him: KU and Texas, plus Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Indiana, San Diego State, San Diego and Boston College.
“It’s pretty much all the schools,” Withey said. “I’m going to take finals, then go home (to San Diego) for a week and talk to my family and get a feel for where I want to go.”
He said he’s unsure if he’ll make any campus visits before choosing a school. He needs to enroll for second-semester classes if he hopes to play at the conclusion of first semester next season.
Cheek makes it official, taps Villanova
Dominic Cheek, a 6-5 senior guard from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., on Friday orally committed to Villanova. He listed KU as his runner-up school.
Cheek pulled out a Villanova baseball cap in announcing for the Wildcats, according to Zagsblog.net.
“Loyalty. Villanova was great to me,” said Cheek, who told Zagsblog.net that Villanova recruited him the longest. He had a final five of KU, Nova, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Memphis.
Local guys
Freshman Travis Releford and senior Matt Kleinmann take some extra incentive into today’s game against UMass (1 p.m., Sprint Center).
Releford attended Bishop Miege High, while Kleinmann is a Blue Valley West graduate.
“I’m not planning on losing my very last game in Kansas City,” Kleinmann said. “Kansas City is a great home away from home for us. We’re planning on doing everything we can to win.”
“I want to get in front of my hometown and play well,” Releford said. “There will be a bunch (of friends and family) there. I’ve got six brothers and sisters, so they all will be there.”
More on Mario
Junior Mario Little, who recently returned to practice after resting a stress fracture in his lower left leg, will not play today.
“He’s probably better than we thought he’d be at this juncture,” Self said Friday. “We are still holding out hope he can play in a week. He’s only doing halfcourt stuff in practice with limited reps. He is pain-free now. This is a big step.
“If we can have him 100 percent by Jan. 1, I’d sell out for that right now. Hopefully we can get him in some games before Christmas. It may be mid-January before he’s 100 percent. Even at 80 percent, he can help us win some games.”
Kleinmann probably won’t start today
Don’t look for senior center Kleinmann to make his second straight start today. Kleinmann started and played three minutes versus Jackson State.
“Matt probably deserved it, don’t get me wrong,” Self said of the walk-on pivot. “(But) the head coach had a moment he maybe was upset with three other guys (inside players Marcus and Markieff Morris and Quintrell Thomas). It was an off-the-cuff decision to do that.
“I’m not saying that won’t happen again. From a raw-talent standpoint, if the other guys play to the level of intensity they are capable of playing at, they can do great things. If not … why not play experience?”
He has been pleased with the Morris twins of late.
“The last four or five days have been some of their best days, of course one was a day off,” Self said with a smile. “I think they’ve had some great days. They were good in the game (Saturday), and their last few practices have been their best of the year. I do think they are starting to get it.”
Arizona freshman
considering KU
University of Arizona freshman Jeff Withey, who finally received his release to transfer without penalty on Monday, told ESPN he likely will transfer to either Kansas University or the University of Texas.
Withey, 7-foot, 225 pounds out of San Diego’s Horizon High, quit the Wildcats’ team in late October after the resignation of coach Lute Olson.
“(The fall semester) was definitely stressful,” Withey told ESPN’s Andy Katz.
“I was just watching the guys on the team play on TV. It was hard. It made my love for the game even stronger. Every time I go out, I’m going to give it my all.”
Withey said after he completes his last final exam on Dec. 18, he’ll talk to college coaches. He wants to be settled on campus after the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. That way he’ll be eligible to play at KU or Texas at the conclusion of the 2009 fall semester.
“I just didn’t feel like Arizona was my home anymore,” Withey told Katz. “It’s too bad it didn’t work out, but I have nothing but good things to say about the program and the team.”
At first, Arizona refused to release Withey from his scholarship. He was ready to appeal when informed early this week he’d been granted his release.
Withey was the No. 36-rated player in the Class of 2008 by Rivals.com.
Cheek to decide Friday
Dominic Cheek, a 6-5 senior guard from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., will announce his college choice at 5 p.m., CDT, Friday at the high school gym. He’s considering KU, Memphis, Villanova, Pitt and Rutgers.
“All the schools are still in there,” St. Anthony associate head coach Ben Gamble told Zagsblog.net.
Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer indicates “sentiments are strong that Cheek ends up a (Villanova) Wildcat.”
Taylor rookie of week
Kansas University freshman point guard Tyshawn Taylor was named Big 12 rookie of the week Monday. Iowa State’s Craig Brackins and Texas’ A.J. Abrams shared player-of-the-week honors. Taylor, a 6-foot-3 freshman from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., averaged 15.0 points and 5.3 assists in victories over Kent State, New Mexico State and Jackson State.
Hate to see you go
KU coach Bill Self was asked on his Hawk Talk radio show about Robert Hemenway’s decision to step down as chancellor.
“I say, ‘Congratulations, chancellor, and we wish you the very best,”‘ Self said. “I’m disappointed from a selfish standpoint. I hate to see him go. But I’m happy for him since this is what he wants to do. He’s been very supportive to me personally and our entire athletic program since we’ve been here. When you look at Kansas athletics, he’s played a major role in the improvements made. I’ll be forever indebted to the chancellor and Drue Jennings (former interim AD) who brought me here.”
Kleinmann’s sleep saga
Self said senior center Matt Kleinmann showed signs of fatigue on Monday after spending the weekend working non-stop on his final project in architecture. It’s a story chronicled in Sunday’s Journal-World.
“He about fell asleep in film session today. I’m dead serious. He was nodding big-time,” Self said on Hawk Talk. “I thought about getting on him. How can you get on him? He probably hadn’t slept in 48 hours.
“If I am running a sports architecture firm, which Kansas City is the hub of that, I’d jump all over Matt Kleinmann. He’d be a huge asset to any firm. He’s in love with this (architecture) stuff.”
More on film session
“Today we watched our 15 defensive possessions against Jackson State and 15 minutes of defensive possessions from last year. Our guys were like, ‘Oh, that’s how you do it,”‘ Self said. “Today we came out of that (session) … it’s unbelievable how much better we were from an effort standpoint.”
Little update
Self on Mario Little’s return to practice: “He is participating in halfcourt stuff, non-contact.” Self said Little might return for the Dec. 20 Temple game.
Withey looking at KU
Jeff Withey, a 7-foot freshman who has been released from his letter of intent at Arizona, tells goazcats.com he is considering transferring to KU, Texas or Gonzaga. He said he’ll decide in the next couple of weeks and arrive at his new school for second semester. If he does so, he’d be eligible to play at the end of the 2009 fall semester.
Recruiting
John Wall, a 6-4 senior point guard from Raleigh, N.C., plans to make an unofficial trip to KU for a game this winter, his AAU coach told Rivals.com. Wall, the country’s top-rated player who visited KU in September, has a list of KU, Baylor, Memphis, Duke, North Carolina State, Oregon and Miami. Self, who has signed two players, may sign up to two more. Dominic Cheek, 6-5 from Jersey City, N.J., is expected to choose this week between KU, Villanova, Pitt, Rutgers and Memphis. … Rivals.com says KU may be recruiting DeShonte Riley, 6-10 from Birmingham, Mich. He withdrew a commitment from Georgetown and has KU, Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan, Ohio State and others on his list.
Maxey main man
Jackson State junior forward Grant Maxey, the preseason player of the year in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, has averaged 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds a game against top competition this season.
Maxey, a 6-foot-6, 195-pounder from Toledo, Ohio, had 28 points and 11 rebounds against Texas A&M, 15 points versus Arizona State, 13 versus LSU and 12 against Illinois.
“He’s one of the best I’ve ever coached,” sixth-year Jackson State coach Tevester Anderson told Blue Ribbon Yearbook.
Anderson, 71, has been an assistant coach at both Auburn and Georgia, working with the likes of Charles Barkley, Chuck Person and Shandon Anderson.
“I expect Grant to get a lot of recognition this year. I expect him to get stronger this season, and with the right opportunity and right timing he could make some money (playing pro ball) one day,” Anderson said.
Maxey, Jeremy Caldwell (6-8) and Oliver Jefferson (6-9) are the only players over 6-5 who have played this year for (1-7) Jackson State.
“If Caldwell or Maxey get in early foul trouble, it’s been hurting us quite a bit,” Anderson told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, “because we have not developed any inside help that can really come in and give them a break.”
Jackson State, enrollment 6,823, is located in Jackson, Miss. KU leads the all-time series 3-0.
Marcus Morris seeks breakout game
KU freshman forward Marcus Morris scored six points and grabbed four rebounds while playing just nine minutes in Wednesday’s victory over New Mexico State. He knows why he didn’t play much.
“Coach (Bill Self) said I wasn’t playing hard enough. I needed to give more intensity on the court and be more aggressive. Basically that was it,” Morris said.
The 6-8, 225-pounder has been playing power forward as well as small forward.
“Wherever he puts me I’m going to play,” Morris said. “It’s a big adjustment going to the highest level to play the 4 when I never played it before.”
Asked how he’s learning to play inside, he said: “Listen to what coach (Danny) Manning tells me. He was a great post player. We all know that. Whatever he tells me to do, I do.”
Of Morris, Self said: “He’s a face-up-and-drive-it guy. There will be times he posts up, but there will be just as many times where he catches the ball on the perimeter and needs to be a perimeter player. We’re trying to utilize him like we did Julian (Wright). He (Morris) is a better shooter. He hasn’t had a chance to show it yet. He’s a good shooter.”
Self is hoping for consistency from rookie big men Marcus and Markieff Morris and Quintrell Thomas.
“They’ve all shown flashes of being very productive,” Self said. “They’ve all shown flashes of being young. Hopefully in the next few weeks … those guys will have played enough minutes to become sophomores — as they say — by conference play.”
Little returns
Mario Little, who has been out several weeks because of a stress fracture in his lower left leg, practiced Friday.
“We don’t know how much he’ll be back, a few minutes today (at practice), then we’ll go a little longer if he doesn’t have any pain,” Self said. “It’s good to have him back. I think he’s a very important piece to our team we need. We need that big wing who can steal us some possessions on the glass.”
If all goes well, Little might return for the Temple game on Dec. 20.
KU signee Johnson suffers knee injury
KU signee Elijah Johnson hurt his left knee on a dunk attempt in the third quarter of Las Vegas Cheyenne High’s 77-73 victory over Desert Pines on Thursday.
Coach Teral Fair told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that there appeared to be no ligament damage and the injury was either a deep bone bruise or slight hyperextension.
Self looking for options to stop ‘Amazing Al’
Kent State University senior guard Al Fisher has been known as “Amazing Al” since his career-high 35 point performance lifted the Golden Flashes to a 76-74 overtime victory over Saint Louis on Nov. 19 in the Billikins’ gymnasium.
The 6-foot-1 reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year — who visits Allen Fieldhouse for today’s 8 p.m., tipoff — scored 16 of Kent State’s 17 points in overtime, including the game-winning layup with 2.1 seconds left.
“He’s their conference player of the year. He’s strong. He’s good. He can go get his own shot,” KU coach Bill Self said of Fisher, who erupted for 27 of Kent State’s last 28 points (in the final 9:18) at Saint Louis.
“Do we have a lockdown defender yet? I don’t know. I’d hope Brady (Morningstar) and Tyshawn (Taylor could become that). I don’t know if we have somebody who can go guard him.”
Fisher averages 21.8 points off 52.5 percent shooting. He has made 12 of 30 threes for 40 percent.
Flashes have shown flashes in ’08
Kent State opened with victories over North Carolina Central, Saint Louis and UNC Wilmington. Over the weekend, the Golden Flashes lost to Illinois (69-63, OT) and Texas A&M (77-71) at the South Padre Island Invitational.
“They are good. They’ll be tough. They play in a great league,” Self said of the Mid-American Conference. “They had Illinois where they wanted them. The A&M game was a great game. This team is capable of beating anybody they play.”
Collins, Singletary share Chicago ties
The Golden Flashes’ second-leading scorer is Chris Singletary, a 6-4 junior from Chicago who averages 15.2 points off 46.7 percent shooting. He has made five of 17 threes.
“They’ve got some big wings. I know one of ’em from Chicago, Chris Singletary,” former Chicago Crane High guard Sherron Collins said of the former Farragut High standout. “He’s solid. He’s good.”
Kansas, Kent State in elite company
Kent State, which went 28-7 a year ago, went cold against the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in a 71-58 first-round NCAA Tournament loss last March in Omaha, Neb. … The Jayhawks and Kent State are two of seven teams to have won 20 games in each of the past 10 seasons. … The two teams are meeting for the first time. Kent State is 3-4 against the Big 12; KU is 8-1 versus the Mid-American Conference. … Kent State beat Oklahoma State, 69-61, in the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Kent State reached the Elite Eight that year. …Kent State is led by first-year head coach Geno Ford, a former all-MAC guard at Ohio. He takes over for Jim Christian, who left for TCU after six seasons as Kent State’s head coach. Ford was previously head coach at Shawnee State University in 2001-02 and at Muskingum College from 2005-2007 … KU guard Tyshawn Taylor, who sprained his left ankle in Friday’s victory over Coppin State, practiced over the weekend.
Coppin State returns one starter in McKee: Coppin State returns one starter off last year’s team, which won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Tournament with a 16-20 record.
He’s senior guard Tywain McKee, who averaged 16.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists a year ago.
The MEAC preseason player of the year scored 20 points in a season-opening 94-73 win at UNC Wilmington and followed that with 17 points off 8-of-14 shooting in a 66-46 loss at Purdue.
“Coach (Danny) Manning was telling me about him. I’ve got to be ready. He led their league in scoring,” KU freshman Tyshawn Taylor said of the 6-foot-2 Philadelphia native.
Coppin State, which always plays a rugged nonconference schedule, won’t play at home until Jan. 10. The Eagles also play at Richmond, Dayton, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Oklahoma and Missouri and make a trip to the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu.
“Fang always plays good teams,” KU coach Bill Self said of coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell, who is 358-302 in 22 seasons at Coppin State, which is located in Baltimore.
“They will play zone. His teams usually play really good defense. Even Purdue, a great offensive team, only scored 66 off them. They play a monster schedule. We’ll look up at the end of the year and see them in the NCAA Tournament like we always do.”
Too many charges: KU’s players have committed 18 charging violations and drawn nine charges in four games.
“We’ve got to do a better job of being under control when we drive in there,” Self said.
KU freshman Taylor didn’t commit many offensive fouls at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J.
“I think our team was the only one that took charges in high school,” Taylor said. “I could get in the lane and get a block or dunk on somebody. It’s different here. Coach has been telling me to pull up more. I see the lane and as soon as I jump they are there.”
“We are running out of control sometimes,” junior Sherron Collins said. “We’ve got to start pulling up, stopping, taking that floater. We are too aggressive at times.”
Red-shirt not in works: Self has no plans of red-shirting junior forward Mario Little, who is out with a stress fracture in his lower left leg.
“As of now, no,” Self said. “If we get into January, I guess that’s a possibility. Hopefully that won’t occur.”
Little will have his leg X-rayed next Thursday.
“We’re hopeful the doctor will see enough improvement where it’s totally healed and he can get back on the court,” Self said. “If not, we’ll delay it another two weeks. We will not bring him back too fast. If he’s allowed on the court, he’s still two weeks away from actually participating in a game … if there are no setbacks.”
This and that: Coppin State lost to St. Mary’s, 69-60, in last year’s NCAA Tournament play-in game. The Eagles won 12 of their last 13 games. “Don’t watch us early, but watch us late,” coach Mitchell told Blue Ribbon Yearbook. “We’re going to have bumps in the road early, but by the end of the year we have a chance to be OK.” … Sophomore guard Vince Goldsberry averages 15.0 ppg and frosh guard Jordan Lee 13.0 ppg. … Coppin State has an enrollment of 4,104. Colors are Royal Blue and Gold. … The schools met one other time. KU won, 91-69, on Dec. 5, 1994, in Allen Fieldhouse.