Washburn coach, players laud Jayhawks

By Jesse Newell     Nov 3, 2010

KU vs. Washburn

Nick Krug
Kansas forward Mario Little pulls a rebound away from Washburn defenders Bobby Chipman (20), Nate Daniels (33) and Logan Stutz, right, in the second half of the exhibition game, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse.

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Washburn basketball coach Bob Chipman made sure to shake hands with Kansas University players Marcus Morris and Tyshawn Taylor before leaving the media room Tuesday night.

“You guys did great,” the Washburn coach said following KU’s 92-62 exhibition victory in Allen Fieldhouse. “Keep playing the way you’re playing.”

It wasn’t the only time Chipman complimented the Jayhawks.

Just seconds earlier, in front of reporters and TV cameras, the 32nd-year coach talked glowingly about this year’s KU squad.

“They really share the ball, and they look like they can score from every position on the floor,” Chipman said. “To me, that’s when the KU teams have been ultra-great.”

Washburn’s players also came away impressed with KU.

Senior forward Logan Stutz — who scored five points in WU’s 98-79 exhibition loss to KU on Nov. 4, 2008 — said this year’s KU team played better than the one he’d faced before.

“I think they might have had more talent a couple of years ago, but this team played harder defense,” Stutz said. “They ran their stuff, and they were a lot more disciplined. I’ll be honest with you, it surprised a lot of us, and they came out and they hit us in the mouth.”

Washburn’s biggest struggle defensively was trying to avoid fouls. KU shot 35 free throws, making 32.

“I think it might have been a record or something,” Stutz joked. “The first half they shot a lot of free throws, which was because of our lazy defense. We were just hugging on our man most of the night.”

Washburn also did little to stop KU inside.

The Jayhawks made 24 of their 41 two-pointers (59 percent) and also scored 40 points in the paint.

“We were trying,” Chipman said. “It didn’t look like it, but they are so good with what they do, it made us look like we were just standing defensively.”

Stutz also noticed KU’s physicality, saying that even getting position for a free-throw rebound was difficult.

“They played tough,” Stutz said, “and they played a lot tougher than us tonight.”

Sophomore forward Bobby Chipman — son of the coach — led Washburn in scoring with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

“It wasn’t a close game, and obviously that’s not what we wanted,” Bobby Chipman said, “but it’s every Kansas kid’s dream to play at Allen Fieldhouse. That was something special, and I probably won’t ever forget it.”

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