Mixing a little business with pleasure. See you back here next week!

Rock Chalk!

If one of these (see pic below) is your TV provider, you're golden. The channel is now called Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

If you can get WIBW over the air, or through your TV provider, you're golden.

If you live outside the KC Metro or the state of Kansas you may be able to watch on ESPN Full Court. (Exhibitions usually not shown.)

If you live outside the KC Metro or the state of Kansas and your TV or internet provider is a WatchESPN/ESPN3 affiliate, you're golden. (KC Metro and Kansas are blacked out for the live broadcast of the game. Full Court is also blacked out for these areas.)

Other options are:

If you live in the blackout area and have access to WatchESPN/3 you may be able to use a VPN program/app to help you view the game live. Tunnel Bear, Zenmate for Google Chrome are two that have been suggested.

If there is an "illegal" live broadcast, you may be able to watch online. Try http://firstrowus1.eu/ or http://vipbox.net/ or http://www.justin.tv/

Watch at one of these KC Metro viewing places, suggested by KUAD. Hey, I always wanted to watch a game at Heartland Pawn Jewelry!

Wait and watch the next day on the WatchESPN/3 replay if you have access.

KUAD: KU vs Pitt State pregame notes


Pitt State’s pre game notes


Jayhawk Television Network Info


Viewing options for those without access to Metro Sports

KANSAS CITY TIME WARNER RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Need a place to enjoy a Jayhawk game on Time Warner Cable in the Kansas City area? Grab a friend and head to one of these restaurants or bars that is a Time Warner Cable subscriber.

ESPN3/WatchESPN


Online registration through your TV service provider is required in order to access content on all networks. Non-participating TV provider customers have access to ESPN3 programming online only at WatchESPN.com or on WatchESPN on the Xbox with an Xbox LIVE Gold membership, as long as they subscribe to a participating high speed internet service provider. Click here for a list of participating video providers. Click here for a list of high speed internet providers.
(Will be blacked out for KC Metro and Kansas)

“You would think that Tarik (Black), Perry (Ellis), Wayne (Selden), Andrew (Wiggins) and Naadir (Tharpe) would probably have a head start on everybody, because that’s kind of how we’ve viewed it, and that’s kind of how they’ve been since the first day,” KU coach Bill Self said Sunday at his Assists Foundation’s Fall Festival and Equipment Drive at Abe & Jake’s Landing.

“There’s other guys out there fighting hard.”

Barring some surprise, one senior (Black), one junior (Tharpe), one sophomore (Ellis) and two freshmen (Selden, Wiggins) will start Tuesday’s 7 p.m. exhibition opener against Pittsburg State.

“Don’t read into it who starts in our exhibition games. That to us is another practice, but obviously a choreographed practice,” Self noted.

…Self’s continued praise of Andrew White III puts to rest any thoughts out there that the 6-foot-6 sophomore guard from Richmond, Va., might red-shirt this season.

“Andrew’s going to play. I can’t imagine him not playing,” Self said. “I think he’s worked so hard. He’s been one of our most consistent performers, without question.”
LJW


Admittedly a bit flabby at the end of his final season at Memphis, Black became a lean, mean machine last June, shortly after entering KU’s weight program run by Andrea Hudy.

“To be honest, I haven’t stepped on a scale since I’ve gotten to KU. Actually I did step on a scale, but Hudy blocked it. She looked at the weight. I told her I didn’t want to see my weight,” Black said.

“I don’t really care about it anymore. I just want to feel good and feel comfortable with myself on the court. That’s more important.”

Pressed to describe his body this year versus last, he said: “I toned up. My jumping ability is a little better. I’m a little quicker on my feet. At small things, I’ve gotten better.”

He has impressed at early-season workouts by giving up his well toned body. He dives on the floor for loose balls, has been physical in the post and set a good example for KU’s large freshman class.
“He should be a great sealer,” KU coach Bill Self said. “We’ve not recruited anybody or had anybody who should be better at sealing and scoring with angles than what he can be. We actually try to play to that.

“He will have a huge impact on our program in (his) one year,” Self added.

…Examine closely the answer of the man — who is armed with an undergraduate degree in organizational leadership — when asked to identify one particular reason he chose KU over Duke, Oregon, Ohio State and Georgetown.

“I don’t know. I’ve always been kind of a subtle guy, not too extravagant, not too flamboyant, at the same time I always liked being a high-caliber person,” Black said. “That’s how Kansas is. It’s not on everybody’s radar. You have to respect Kansas. Kansas will always be one of the top teams in the country, no matter what. Especially with coach Self at the helm, because no matter what, they’ll be at the top. I like that. Coming to a program like this, there’s the humbleness, but also the expectancy of greatness. Put that together, and it’s perfect for me.”

Black, who averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds a game his junior year at Memphis, said he’s so intent on helping KU claim a 10th straight Big 12 crown and national title that he’s not dwelling on his dream of one day playing in the NBA.

“The irony is this is probably relieving pressure,” he said of being at KU. “I’m not thinking like that. This is not a final opportunity to make the NBA, it’s more so a breath of fresh air, being out here with my teammates. We laugh so much together. We have fun together. This thing is bigger than basketball to us.

“We’re a family. We say that for a reason. We really are a family, enjoying the family and all the accolades. We’ll put ourselves in coach Self’s hands and make it happen.”
LJW

Two of the top freshmen in the country won't have a whole lot of time to get acclimated to college basketball before squaring off in an early season showdown.

Try just four days each.

Andrew Wiggins is the headliner for the most heralded class at Kansas in years, while Jabari Parker is the biggest name headed to Duke. The two of them will face each other Nov. 12 at the United Center in Chicago as part of a doubleheader that also features Michigan State-Kentucky.

…Wiggins may be the most recognizable name, but combo guard Wayne Selden and raw 7-footer Joel Embiid have the potential to be lottery picks. They're joined by a group of freshmen that includes sharpshooters Conner Frankamp, Frank Mason and Brannen Greene.

"There's as much hype around this year as any," Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, "and I think it's a large part because of the unknown. We've had other good players and other good teams return and this team hasn't proven itself at all. But the unknown has everyone excited."

Kansas opens the season against Louisiana Monroe on Nov. 8, the same day Duke opens its season against Davidson. The two blue bloods -- and their blue chippers -- collide four days later.

On the same floor that night will be Kentucky coach John Calipari's latest bumper crop, which some
pundits believe could be the best recruiting class in college basketball history.
AP


It's college basketball preview season, and you know what that means: tons of preseason info to get you primed for 2013-14. But what do you really need to know? Each day for the past month, we've highlighted the most important, interesting or just plain amusing thing each conference has to offer this season -- from great teams to thrilling players to wild fans and anything in between. Up last: The Wiggins has landed.

…And then there is Kansas. And then there is Andrew Wiggins.

If all of the above were true, and Wiggins wasn't so naturally gifted at the game of basketball, I'd still hold the highest of hopes for the coming season. But his presence, like Batman's, changes things. It has sent, and will send, NBA franchises racing to the bottom. It brings everyone to the table: NBA fans fostering obsessions; causal observers who'd normally just wait for March; that dude you know who only watches the NBA when LeBron James is playing; GIF enthusiasts; people who don't care about basketball at all. You name it. College basketball can often be confused for a niche sport. Sometimes it is. Not this season. Not with Wiggins. If the monoculture still exists, it will be watching.

What that means for Wiggins himself -- a shy, reserved kid who seems equal parts bemused and exhausted by all the attention -- is yet to be seen. As Smart said recently, the burden of proof is impossibly high. But if Wiggins is even 60 percent of what everyone who has ever watched him play the game says he is, then he is the marquee attraction in a sport suddenly chock full of them.

At worst, it is going to be a very fun year. At best, it's the dawn of a new era. How's that for expectation?
ESPN Brennan


Outlook: You all know the stat by now: in each of the last nine seasons, Kansas has won at least a share of the Big 12 regular season title. It’s a phenomenal run, and despite the talent up in Stillwater, Kansas will once again head into the season as the Big 12 favorite. That’s just the way it goes when you’re the nine-time champs; you’re picked to win it until you don’t.

But that’s anything but a guarantee. As mentioned early, Kansas still has plenty of question marks heading into the season, not the least of which is Wiggins himself. As talented and gifted as he is physically, there are still some question marks about how much his offensive repertoire is developed. There are concerns about his aggressiveness, about whether or not he has the killer instinct required to be able to take over game after game after game. His ceiling is nonexistent, but it’s also five years down the road. Will he be Kevin Durant or Harrison Barnes? That’s the difference between Kansas being really good, and Kansas potentially being a title contender.
NBC Season Preview: #6 Kansas


Digital Kansas Basketball Preview


The Phoenix Suns exercised their 2014-15 options on forwards Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris and center Miles Plumlee, the club announced today.

In two seasons with the Suns, Markieff Morris has averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 145 games. The 13th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, he closed the 2012-13 season strongly as he averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in April, the best scoring and rebounding month of his young career.

Marcus Morris joined the Suns in a midseason trade with Houston and averaged 5.7 points in 23 games with Phoenix last season. Originally the 14th overall pick of the 2011 draft, he led the Suns with an average of 14.3 points in seven contests at the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League.
NBA.com


Portland Police cited Thomas Earl Robinson, of the Portland Trail Blazers, for driving his Porsche 107 miles per hour on Interstate 5 on Friday, Oct. 25.

An officer “observed a white 2013 Porsche Panamera traveling at a high rate of speed on the freeway,” said Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland Police Bureau, in an email. “The officer’s LIDAR would clock the vehicle at 107 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.”

Robinson, 22, a power forward, was acquired by the Blazers in June during a trade with the Houston Rockets.

Robinson was cited for violation of the Basic Rule (100 MPH +), which carries a fine of $1,150, Simpson said.

Robinson was polite and cooperative during the encounter, Simpson said.

On Sunday morning, Robinson tweeted the following: "Apologies for that speeding ticket rip city gotta be more careful with watching the speed limit my first and last one tho for sure"
The Oregonian


Cole Aldrich added to Knicks roster


Hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since that magical season. One thing hasn't changed. Piper still can legitimately chant "We're No. 1," although it will sound a bit different these days.

Piper's three-person T-shirt company has evolved into Grandstand Sportswear and Glassware, a company that may be under the radar for some Lawrence residents.

It shouldn't be. These days the company is a powerhouse in the world of microbreweries. So far this year the company has produced 1.3 million amber glass growlers — the big, brown jugs that patrons of breweries such as Free State Brewing Co. use to tote beer home.

And yes, if he wanted to, Piper could break out the "We're No. 1" chant about it. Grandstand is the largest producer of the amber glass growlers in the country. And while the city may not throw a parade on Massachusetts Street for the accomplishment, local leaders ought to care. As it has risen to No. 1, the company has grown from three employees in 1988 to 104 today.

"We have grown at 45 percent a year for the last four years, and we see another 45 percent this year," Piper said. "To be honest, it has caught us a little bit by surprise. For the last two months, we've been running three shifts, seven days a week to keep up."
LJW


A celebrity baby Jayhawk is on the way

Kentucky is in the third year of its three-year contract with Duke, Kansas and Michigan State in the State Farm Champions Classic — and according to ESPN's Andy Katz all three school have agreed to renew the contract for another three years with games apparently staying in New York, Atlanta and Chicago.

But Katz, who always seems to have access to Calipari, is reporting that the big news Calipari has been hinting at for several weeks is that the UK coach is nearing a deal to have North Carolina, UCLA and Ohio State join Kentucky in a three-year deal much like the Champions Classic.

"According to multiple sources, the four-team, doubleheader event with UK, UNC, UCLA and Ohio State would follow the same format of the current Champions Classic with a three-year rotation of matchups and sites," Katz posted on ESPN.com.

The games would be played in Brooklyn — UK is playing Providence there this year — along with Indianapolis and Las Vegas starting with the 2014-15 season.

If the series becomes a reality, that would give UK a non-conference game annually with Louisville along with one against North Carolina in the year the teams did not meet in this new event. UK would also play either Kansas, Duke or Michigan State in each of the next three seasons starting in 2014 along with a game against Ohio State or UCLA in the year it did not play North Carolin in the event.
Link

With three potential Blue Devils sitting behind the bench, Duke took the floor for the first time against outside competition Saturday.

Led by 19 points from Rodney Hood and 16 points from Jabari Parker, the Blue Devils rolled Bowie State 103-67 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

"It was exciting, getting a chance to assimilate into the season, get a chance to see different opponents instead of our own teammates during practices," Parker said. "I think we picked it up during the second half and we came through with a big win."

In the early going, it was all Parker. He accounted for Duke's first six points, scoring in a variety of ways. The freshman drilled his first 3-point attempt, hit 1-of-2 free throws and threw down a thunderous dunk over a Bulldog defender.

…With Class of 2014 recruits Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow in attendance, Krzyzewski credited the fans with creating an exciting atmosphere, even for an exhibition game.

"They're part of us. That's been the beauty of coaching here," Krzyzewski said. "They're a huge part of what we do. They're known worldwide."
Duke Chronicle


Quinn Cook started at point guard, Rasheed Sulaimon and Hood on the wings and Jefferson and Parker in the post. ... On hand making their official campus visits were three of the nation’s top high school seniors — 6-10, 265 Jahlil Okafor of Chicago, 6-1, 171 point guard Tyus Jones of Apple Valley, Minn., and 6-5, 208 wing Justise Winslow of Houston. In the ESPN Top 100 ranking of high school senior prospects, Okafor is No. 1, Jones No. 4 and Winslow No. 14. Jones and Okafor are the top-rated players at their positions on the list.

The Duke student body was very much aware of the visitors, chanting their names repeatedly, each time followed by “Come to Duke.”
Herald Sun
box score


Villanova guard Dylan Ennis, who sat out last season after transferring from Rice, will miss at least the next month after suffering a fractured bone in his shooting hand in practice on Thursday.
Wildcats spokesman Mike Sheridan confirmed the injury to ESPN.com.

"We're disappointed for Dylan because we know how excited he was about being out there with his teammates," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "But we know that Dylan will work hard during this time so that he is ready to help us as soon as his injury has healed."

The 6-foot-2 Ennis, the older brother of Syracuse freshman Tyler Ennis, averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game at Rice as a freshman in 2011-12.
Link


The Cowboys had a hard time maintaining an appetite Sunday, mostly due to the appetizer status of the opposition — exhibition opener foe Campbellsville, an NAIA team from Kentucky — which OSU dispatched in an 80-70 win at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Still, none of it sat well with Cowboys coach Travis Ford.

“There's not a whole lot to be proud about with our team, that I thought we did particularly well at all,” Ford said.

An OSU team ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll led from the early moments on and was never in any danger of losing, with the final score more indicative of a late Campbellsville surge. The Cowboys led 45-28 at intermission and by as many as 26 points in the second half, with 10 players scoring.

Yet the effort and intensity was uneven, and 14 turnovers and a slim 41-38 edge on the boards clearly irritated Ford. And he said it's a trend he'd been seeing in the days leading into the exhibition.

…Brown led the Cowboys with 13 points, while Kamari Murphy added 11 and Michael Cobbins and freshman Stevie Clark had 10 each. Marcus Smart produced a typical stat line: nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

The second half was a letdown, however, with OSU shooting just 34.8 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes, including a 1-for-8 showing on 3-point tries.

“We didn't come with our A-game today,” Cobbins said. “It was definitely a wake-up call for a few of us. If you come out with a big head, then you see what can happen to you.

“It was a wake-up call, we have to get it right or it will continue to happen to us. It's a good thing that it was early and we get to fix it right away.”

Notes: Junior forward Le'Bryan Nash didn't start and was held out the entire first half, due to a minor violation of team rules. Nash played 15 minutes in the second half, finishing with seven points and four rebounds.
The Oklahoman

Kansas State knows how to throw a basketball-themed party.

On Friday, the Wildcats hyped the upcoming season at Bramlage Coliseum with a public celebration that featured everything from scrimmages and a dunk contest to pump-up videos and new banners.

The event, dubbed Madness in Manhattan, attracted an estimated crowd of 5,500 that cheered throughout the evening affair.

Fans also took plenty of photos of the new landscape. As fun as it was to watch the K-State basketball teams in action, the biggest hit of the evening might have resided in the rafters. For years, the Wildcats have honored their achievements by painting them on the upper walls of the arena.

No more.

Final Four berths, conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances are now listed on purple-and-white banners that give Bramlage Coliseum a new look and feel.

K-State has held basketball kickoff events sporadically in the past, but it used this one as a recruiting tool. Marvin Clark a 6-foot-7 small forward who plays for Sunrise Christian Academy and the Mokan Elite AAU program, was in attendance on an official visit. So was Tre Harris, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, from Edwardsville, Ill.
Wichita Eagle


K-State has held October basketball celebrations sporadically in the past. If the dates line up and the Wildcats can have a basketball night on Friday followed by a home football game on Saturday, they consider it. If not, they don’t worry about it.

This was the first Madness in Manhattan of the Bruce Weber era. Does he want to turn it into a yearly event?

“It’s a hard thing,” Weber said. “You obviously don’t make any money from it. It’s more of a fan-friendly thing. The players like it. It’s good for recruiting. We will see. If they want to keep doing it and they are going to be creative, it’s all right.”

…Maine transfer Justin Edwards (seen above winning the dunk contest) looked like the team’s best player. Of course, K-State fans will have to wait a year before they see him in a live game.

“This was his one shining moment this year,” Weber said. “He will have to wait until next November to do it again.”

Freshman Marcus Foster also looked ready for the season. Overall, K-State can push the ball and attack the basket with authority.
Wichita Eagle


Best player in Wichita State-Baylor matchup was Cleanthony Early. Shockers got the best of the Bears -- who were w/o Freeman and Gathers.
@GoodmanESPN


There’s nothing illegal when teams gut their rosters for a long rebuilding project. In fact, the smart ones do it when a player of Wiggins’ vast potential looms on the horizon.

The commissioner knows tanking when he sees it, even if the league doesn’t have a history of doing anything about it. Tanking occurs when teams that have talent and can win start playing hanky-panky with their roster so that they improve their chances of losing to get a shot at a game-changer in the draft.

Think Houston in 1984, when the Rockets lost with the express purpose of securing Hakeem Olajuwon in the draft. Think San Antonio in 1997, when Gregg Popovich kept injured starters David Robinson and Sean Elliott as far away from the court as possible in an effort to get Tim Duncan.
That same season, the Celtics also viewed Duncan as the next franchise superstar and key to their rebuilding and tried to lose as much as humanly possible. As he latetr admitted, M.L. Carr sometimes pulled key players out of fourth quarters of winnable games, including once when David Wesley was hitting a million three’s, en route to 15 wins. But Rick Pitino saw the Ping-Pong balls bounce the wrong way, dooming his chances for Duncan and dooming his rebuilding campaign.

Despite their woeful roster, the 2002-03 Cavs were accused of tanking to get LeBron James when they won only 17 games. Now, it’s all going to be about having a shot to get Wiggins, son of former Rocket guard Mitchell Wiggins, and the most hyped player out of high school since James.

“One thing I’ve learned over the last 36 years is you better let the season play out and see what really happens,’’ Stern said. “Because sometimes, given the competitive nature of our players and given the high level at which the game is played, particularly after the top six or eight teams, we have teams that can surprise, and maybe there will be some surprises this year.’’
NY Daily News


A committee begins work Friday reviewing ways to strengthen the law that penalizes sports agents for providing gifts to college athletes and other improper conduct.

The drafting committee to revise the Uniform Athlete Agents Act will meet for two days in Chicago to consider changes, including several in a memo backed by schools across the country as well as five NFL agents.
Link

Man... it's a beautiful day to be a Jayhawk, truly blessed #KUCMB
@K_Ctmd22


Cliff Alexander is announcing Nov. 15 b/c ESPNU has a Recruiting show that day
@AdamZagoria


Talk to four well-respected recruiting analysts and a consensus is nearly reached in the Cliff Alexander sweepstakes.

The Chicago Curie power forward is heading to Kansas.

At least that’s the way it looks for one of the top uncommitted Class of 2014 prospects who will take an official visit at Illinois this weekend.

It is the fourth and final official visit for Alexander, who previously made official visits to Memphis (last weekend), Kansas (Oct. 4) and DePaul (Aug. 24) and who is set to announce his college choice on Nov. 16.

But don’t go putting Alexander on Bill Self’s roster just yet.

“I believe that Illinois is there just by everything I’ve gathered and is neck-and-neck with Kansas,” said Joe Henricksen, the publisher of the City/Suburban Hoops Report. “I still think Memphis is a sleeper.”

…But, even with all the stops Groce and his staff will pull out this weekend, they don’t have one person available who Alex Kline, publisher of TheRecruitScoop.com, said plays a key role in Alexander’s recruitment: former Illini Jerrance Howard, now an assistant to Self at Kansas.

“I think Kansas is a clear-cut favorite right now,” Kline said. “Illinois has somewhat of a shot, but I just see Cliff going to Kansas where Jerrance is now. I think Kansas was minimally invovled earlier where they said, ‘We’ll recruit the kid and see what happens.’ When they brought Jerrance in, they got him on campus. His relationship with Jerrance being the first college coach to recruit him goes a long way. Just the way (Howard) interacts with the kids, his voice and his personality over the phone, he can really have that effect and impact on kids. Cliff is kind of shy and not willing to talk to reporters or coaches in that manner if he doesn’t know them that well. I think (Howard is) the reason, along with the fact that Kansas produces NBA guys on almost a yearly basis. Kansas is becoming the new Kentucky almost as it seems every year they bring in a few new guys, they produce and then they get them to the NBA.”
Champaign News-Gazette


“Everybody gets their time to shine, and this is that time for him. To get to this point, you’ve earned it, and that’s just his way of handling it,” said Mike Irvin, the director of Alexander’s AAU program, the Mac Irvin Fire.

If you’re one of the more than 9,000 who follow Alexander on Twitter, chances are you’ve been entertained or intrigued by more than a few of his 8,000-plus tweets.

“I really need to change my number ... Some random white dude just called me on FaceTime,” Alexander tweeted earlier this month. That came an hour after he solicited someone to FaceTime him on Twitter.

Even innocuous tweets get traction.

When he wrote “Good morning” on Twitter last week, that inspired seven people to mark it as a favorite and another person retweeted it.

“I think he likes to have fun with it. I don’t think he takes it too seriously. Everyone takes everything a little too seriously, but he does like having fun with the process,” said Scott Burgess, who covers recruiting for ChicagoHoops.com. “I don’t think that’s going to change.”

…“I think he’s a kid who’s enjoyed it. To a degree, it’s his right to enjoy it. He has always been a coveted prospect, but he’s not been put on a pedestal like some of these other guys have. That just came about within the last six months,” said Joe Henricksen, publisher of City/Suburban Hoops Report. “Some of the guys have enjoyed it for two, three years at the maximum height where Cliff is kind of relatively new to all of the attention he’s getting — at least on a national stage. A lot of that comes with keeping the local schools (Illinois, DePaul) involved with a high-profile recruit until the end. It just maximizes the attention.”

Michael O’Brien has been covering high school basketball for the Chicago Sun-Times for more than a decade. He’s never seen anything quite like the recruitment of Alexander. The advancement of social media has changed the landscape tremendously, and Alexander is taking full advantage of his moment in the spotlight.

It used to be that when an athlete wanted to release a list of schools he was considering, he’d do it through the media. Now they serve as their own outlets.

“It’s really unbelievable. I’m so unnecessary compared to what I was. There are so many more media people dealing with recruiting, but most of it comes out directly through the kids now, especially with Twitter and a lot of other things,” O’Brien said. “You know people close to them and you hear things, but in a way it’s taken out the middle man with a lot of the kids.”

…Not everyone is a fan of this approach. Some recruiting analysts have labeled Alexander an overly dramatic diva.

“There’s no right way or wrong way to do it,” Mike Irvin said. “The main thing is just stay true to you, and that’s all you can really ask for from a guy.”
Champaign News-Gazette


Tre Harris, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, enjoyed his official visit to Kansas State so much that he gave a verbal commitment to the Wildcats late Saturday night.

Harris is originally from Edwardsville, Ill. but currently plays basketball at Fishburne Military Academy in Virginia. Harris was lightly recruited out of high school and doesn’t even have a profile on Rivals. He chose to attend prep school in order to improve his body and earn more scholarship offers. The plan paid off, as he received interest from Toledo, Delaware and K-State. After visiting all three schools, he decided K-State was the obvious choice.
Wichita Eagle


National Prep Showcase Schedule


Recruiting Calendar


My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk

A 6-foot-5, 230-pound freshman guard from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Selden doesn’t claim to know it all about the game he loves, but he does have this much figured out: The more effort you put into every possession, the more rapidly you improve.

Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News, not a man given to hyperbole, wrote this about him after watching a Kansas basketball practice: “Selden is the hardest-practicing freshman I’ve encountered in more than a quarter-century on the college basketball beat.”

I repeated that observation to Selden.

“Wow,” he said. “That’s great. That’s great. I just feel like I have to push myself to the next limit and keep getting a level up every possession.”

He played 18 minutes in the McDonald’s All-American game, made five of seven field goals and totaled 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. He was second on the team in scoring to current teammate Andrew Wiggins (19 points).

…“My ball-handling’s gotten a lot better,” Selden said. “When I was younger, I used to dribble a lot. Then I went through a stage where I wasn’t really on the ball a lot.

“I don’t really do too many dribble moves. One move, two moves, go. I just like to contain the ball. I’ve never really needed a crazy handle on the ball. One dribble, swing it.”

A player after his coach’s heart.

…“No, definitely not,” said Selden, who went 1-0 against Wiggins in a high school game and 1-0 in an AAU game, by Selden’s count. “I want to go at him harder because I want all of us to get better, not because of all the accolades and stuff like that. I feel like he’s on the cover of Sports Illustrated, so we’re on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He has a Kansas jersey on. He’s representing all of us.”
LJW

Kansas University’s athletic department just missed tying the school record for collective graduation by earning a Graduation Success Rate score of 84 percent.

This year’s mark, which is a four-class average and takes into account students who entered college from 2003-06, was one point shy of the school record of 85 percent, which was set in 2012. Until that point, KU’s previous high was 79 percent.

“Because we’ve had consistent, good rates over the course of time, it has become a non-emergency,” said Paul Buskirk, KU’s associate athletic director for student support. “It’s not like I have to come running to (a coach’s) office with the graduation rates, because, really, the kids are doing what we’ve asked them to do and expect them to do.”

Five KU programs achieved perfect GSR scores, according to numbers released by the NCAA on Thursday and shared by KU staff members shortly thereafter. They were: men’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, softball and women’s tennis.

Men’s and women’s golf as well as men’s basketball received perfect GSR scores for the second year in a row

…“(Men’s basketball coach Bill) Self is very proud of these numbers,” Buskirk said. “And he makes it very clear that the young men who come and participate in his program are part of a family, but they also have an obligation, should they choose to leave early, to make sure they take care of the family by taking care of their academic business. And they’ve all done that very well.”
LJW


In men’s basketball, Kansas and Duke were among six schools from the BCS level conferences to record perfect scores. The others were Notre Dame, Penn State, West Virginia and Illinois.
Link to NCAA database

Complementing the freshmen trio will be 6-foot-8 sophomore Perry Ellis. Ellis was one of the more underrated reserves in the country last season, posting per-possession numbers (114 offensive rating on 21 percent usage) that were not all that different from Ben McLemore's. The secret of Ellis's success was what he didn't do -- commit turnovers. His turnover rate of 10.7 percent was exceedingly low for both a freshman and a guy whose job often involves scoring in traffic. Also consider that he was the offensive rebounding equal of Thomas Robinson and he earned a bunch of free throws in his limited playing time, making 74 percent of them. That's how you shoot an unspectacular 47 percent on your 2s and still grade out as an offensive weapon.

The low-key and underappreciated nature of Ellis' game should fit in well on a roster expected to defer to Wiggins, who is one of the most hyped college freshmen of the past 20 years. On the AAU circuit last summer, Wiggins' usage was in the high 20s and with no other returning player on the Jayhawks roster with go-to-guy credentials, don't be surprised if he fills that role from the first game. The most likely challenger to Wiggins' alpha-dog status is Selden, who probably won't be far behind Wiggins in terms of usage. Selden has a McLemore-esque profile of being able to hit an outside shot while also finishing well in the paint.

The previously described group of players is clearly talented enough to compete for another Big 12 regular-season title, though I fully expect a more experienced Oklahoma State team to give the Jayhawks a run. The mystery of this season's team isn't so much how good they will be, it's more about what they will be. In addition to Self's perfect 10-year streak of leading KU to at least a share of the conference regular-season crown, he also has an eight-season run putting a team on the floor that ranked in the top 10 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. Elite defense is a constant at Allen Fieldhouse.

…Overall, Kansas is in position to be one of the best teams in the country. As with any team dependent on freshmen, it may not be until conference play begins that we fully understand what the expectations for this team should be, as Wiggins and his classmates figure out their roles and adjust to the speed and physicality of the college game. Based on recent history, though, it would be shocking if this team doesn't excel on the defensive end. Whether they can score enough will determine if they should be considered one of the favorites to win a national title.
ESPN Preview ($) by Ken Pomeroy


To have success on the college hardwood, you need to be strong on the glass. Rebounding is very important, taking advantage of missed opportunities and converting them into second-chance points.
Post play is also vital. To have a nice balance, the ability to go inside-outside, makes a difference.
It is time to unveil my baker's dozen top frontcourts for the 2013-14 season. It is tougher because swing players can be utilized as big guards or small forwards. Breaking it down is challenging, but I feel like I have a pretty good group here. I also realize there will be some good arguments over these picks. There is so much pride to be the best at anything in college hoops.

5. KANSAS
This may be a surprise to some. Perry Ellis should have a breakthrough season. Joel Embiid is one of the best diaper dandy big men in America. Transfer Tarik Black from Memphis can score, defend and rebound. There are other players capable of contributing.
ESPN Vitale


Fran Fraschilla: I think Andrew Wiggins is obviously an incredible addition. I am not sure if he is the alpha dog that people are expecting. He is a great teammate, an incredible athlete, and if anyone can get the most out of him in one year, it will be Bill Self. At times, he will take over games, and at other times, he will be content to stay in the background and let Wayne Selden, Perry Ellis, and others dominate the ball.

Fraschilla: Kansas certainly has the potential to get to the Final Four in Dallas and have a chance to win it all. Just like every other top team though, Kansas certainly has some deficiencies. Based on the talent level, the versatility of a lot of their players, and the proven leadership of Bill Self, I think Kansas is going to make a strong argument on the court that it is a team that can get to Dallas for the Final Four.

King: I think Kansas should win its 10th straight league title and anything less than that will be a disappointment. I think winning nine straight titles in a league like the Big 12 in this day and age with all the one-and-dones is very, very impressive. I believe no team in a major conference has done that since John Wooden’s days when I believe UCLA won 13 in a row. Winning the league title is expectation number one. I think the potential for this team is limitless. However, this is going to be a different kind of Kansas team. I think Kansas fans are so used to the Jayhawks just going out there and dominating mostly everyone from the start of the season to the finish. This is a team that won 31 games last year. I think this year, you might see it stumble a little bit more early on and drop some games early on that they would probably win in recent years. The non-conference schedule is the most difficult in America and it is the hardest I have ever seen Kansas play.
Rush The Court Big 12 Preview Part 1
Part two


Battle 4 Atlantis, Nov. 28-30, Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Tournament favorite: Kansas
Likely NCAA Tournament teams: Iowa, Tennessee, Villanova, Xavier
Potential spoilers: USC, UTEP, Wake Forest

The chance to see freshman Andrew Wiggins and his Kansas classmates is intriguing enough. But there are no true mid- or low-majors to hide against here. So they’ll start against Wake Forest and promising forward Devin Thomas, and if they win there it could be Villanova in the semis and Tennessee in the final. Yeah, that’s worth enduring a weekend in Paradise.

TSN


It’s time for another Kansas mailbag … but first, yes, we saw that KU was referenced on the latest song from rapper/producer DJ Khaled. The song “Never Surrender” is pretty “not suitable for work,” so we won’t link to it here. But it features Meek Mill, Scarface, Akon and veteran Jadakiss, who drops in the KU line.

“You could feel the picture, you don’t need to see the canvas… that (censored) Jay’ll Hawk you, he don’t even play for Kansas.”

Jadakiss also used the line “family over everything,” a phrase co-opted by former KU standouts Marcus and Markieff Morris … and which has now become sort of an unofficial rallying cry with fans. So yeah, he might be a fan.

So does a name-drop from Jadakiss mean anything? My friend Mark, a noted rap historian, says Jadakiss is probably something close to “the Quentin Richardson of rap” — at least the Quentin Richardson who was a solid complementary player for the Clippers a few years back. So it’s not as if KU just landed a name-check from Kendrick Lamar or Drake. (Though with Andrew Wiggins around, that Drake reference could come sooner than later.)

My friend Mark also reminded me that rapper Lil Wayne, back in 2009, gave a shoutout to KU quarterback Todd Reesing in Brisco’s song, “Young (censored).” So there’s that.
KC Star

Space is available for upcoming appearances by Kansas basketball coaches Bill Self and Bonnie Henrickson at the 2013 KU Roundball events sponsored by Kansas Athletics and the Williams Education Fund.

KU Roundball, reaching across the state of Kansas and into the Kansas City metro, allows Jayhawk fans to hear Self and Henrickson share their insights on their respective teams for the 2013-14 basketball season. KU Roundball events for both coaches begin Monday, Nov. 4 in Kansas City, Mo., with stops in Wichita on Nov. 6 and Topeka on Nov. 7. Additionally, Self will have a KU Roundball in Lawrence on Nov. 14 while Henrickson will hold one on Dec. 9, also in Lawrence.
Application at the link


Join @CoachBillSelf in the Assists Fall Festival & Equipment Drive this Sunday 2-4pm assistyouth.org #kubball pic.twitter.com/HaZeYkm6U7
@KUHoops


With the increase in Kansas men's basketball season ticket sales this year, along with season parking permits, the public parking will be limited around Allen Fieldhouse for the 2013-14 season starting with Tuesday's 7 p.m. exhibition game against Pittsburg State.
 
Unlike in years past, there will be no toll parking available in Lot 90 this season. The only available lot for toll parking will be Lot 112, which is just south of Hoglund Ballpark and patrons should enter on the north side of Oliver Hall.  There are only 100 spots available (during the fall semester – spring could be less depending on the number of permits ordered by students) in this lot for $20 per vehicle.
 
In addition, ADA accessible stalls are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $20 with a valid ADA accessible placard or tag in lots 54, 71, 72 and the Allen Fieldhouse Parking Garage.
 
There are also the Park and Ride Shuttles, which beginning two hours prior to tip-off, run from stop No. 3 in Lot 301, just off 23rd Street and Crestline. Both parking and the shuttle are free of charge.  Return trips begin with 4 minutes left in the game and will end 30 minutes following the game.
 
For more information about parking at Allen Fieldhouse on game days, please call (785) 864-3946.
KUAD


Digital Kansas Basketball Preview

One Duke freshman says he arrived on campus here this summer so ill-prepared for the Blue Devils' intensified strength and conditioning program he could not lift 185 pounds one time off his chest.
He says he struggled initially with learning basketball plays, because few positions were defined and players were taught to operate as interchangeable pieces in a fast-paced chess match.

So even Jabari Parker, one of the nation' s most celebrated prospects, acknowledges "confidence issues" as he adjusts to his new college team. At most schools, Parker would be the dominant headliner. At Duke, he is one more valuable and versatile entity on one of this season' s most intriguing rosters.

…Despite losing its top three scorers — Seth Curry, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly (all of whom averaged double figures) — these Blue Devils could be more dangerous than last season' s team, which lost to eventual national champion Louisville in the Elite Eight.

…With numerous multidimensional players between 6-4 and 6-9 — and a dearth of traditional post players — Duke will use speed, depth and athleticism as its most potent weapons. Expect a much faster tempo and full-court defensive pressure. Expect, as senior Tyler Thornton calls it, a drastic style adjustment on the "most unique" Duke team of his tenure.

"If we tried to force this team to do what last year' s team did, then we wouldn't be able to be successful, just because we don't have those big frames to kind of slow the ball up," Thornton says. "But last year' s team couldn't run like this team can now. It can't pick the ball up (defensively) as much as we can now. The coaches are making sure we use our team and personnel to our advantage."

…"Crazy fast," sophomore Rodney Hood adds. "We are trying to be one of the fastest teams in the country."
USA Today


In Billy Donovan's 17 years as the head coach at Florida, he's never invested as heavily in a freshman as he could be this season.

There have been several who played key roles on Final Four teams. But none was handed the keys to the car and told to drive the program to greatness — that is, the starting point guard. This year could be the exception with McDonald's All-American Kasey Hill arriving to possibly save the day.
USA Today


Although the season hasn’t even started, Georgetown scored a huge win this week.



Huge in every sense of the word.

The NCAA has granted two full years of eligibility — effective immediately — to junior center Josh Smith, who transferred to the Hilltop from UCLA after leaving the Bruins in November 2012.



Smith, a 6-foot-10, 350-pound center, was a McDonald’s All-American in high school and made the Pac-10 all-freshman team upon arriving at UCLA. But issues with weight control and struggles within Head Coach Ben Howland’s system — famously excoriated by Sports Illustrated in a 2012 expose — led to a disappointing career in the blue and gold for a man once expected to be the next great UCLA center.



After two years of ballooning weight and declining playing time, Smith left the Bruins only six games into the 2012-13 season. He announced plans to transfer to Georgetown in January 2013, and went on to practice with the Hoyas throughout last spring and summer. Still, questions remained regarding his eligibility to play this year — until Wednesday, that is.



The NCAA’s decision essentially negated Smith’s participation in the 2012-13 season, a ruling usually reserved for players who suffer major injuries or other hardships.



The news came as a surprise to most experts, and even Georgetown insiders: Senior forward Nate Lubick said Tuesday that the team was preparing as if Smith wouldn’t be eligible. NCAA rules and ruling history suggest that a player in Smith’s position would need to wait at least a full year before returning to the court. Even then, most expected he would remain eligible for only one full season.



He got two.
The Hoya


Texas A&M basketball player Kourtney Roberson has undergone a procedure at a hospital after experiencing a rapid heart rate during practice.

The school said in a news release that Roberson underwent an outpatient procedure Thursday at Scott & White Hospital in College Station.

The team says the junior from Arcadia, La., is expected to resume basketball activities in “the coming weeks.” Roberson had the procedure after he was evaluated by the team’s medical staff when the issue arose in practice Monday.
Link


ESPN Preview: TCU Horned Frogs



OU football's GSR, which measured student-athletes who enrolled in the school in 2006, was 51.
Last year, OU's GSR came in at 47.

Men’s basketball is 69.
The Oklahoman


The NCAA on Thursday released an ugly academic number for the UConn men's basketball program. Fortunately for the Huskies, this number doesn't come with a penalty.

UConn's Graduation Success Rate for players who entered school between 2003 and 2006 was 8 percent, well shy of the 74 percent national average in the sport and better only than Centenary College, which came in at 0 percent. A dozen players entered the program during that period and only one of them graduated.
Link


The Ohio State Buckeyes football posted a graduation success rate of 75 percent, tied for fifth in the Big Ten, while its basketball team only had 46 percent.

…the Buckeyes basketball team ranked 10th in the Big Ten. Penn State and Illinois both had 100 percent, while the only schools behind Ohio State were Wisconsin (44) and Indiana (43).
The Buckeyes’ current GSR was an improvement from last year’s 45. Its highest rating in the nine years of the data was a 64 percent three years ago.
Link


Among all BCS conferences - which include the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC - the Cal football program ranks dead last. Cal's basketball team ranks last in the Pac-12 by a large margin.
Link


The NCAA released its Graduation Success Rates on Thursday and while Syracuse University performed well in most sports, its men's basketball numbers fell significantly below the national average for Division I programs.

For the period stretching from 2003-04 to 2006-07, SU graduated its male basketball players at a 45 percent rate. The national Division I average was 70 percent. Only Georgia Tech (40 percent) fared worse than SU in the ACC.
Link


One week ago, Louisville head coach Rick Pitino announced that starting power forward Chane Behanan was suspended indefinitely.

In fact, he said it was “not probable” that Behanan would come back to the team.
At a book signing on Thursday, though, Pitino said Behanan would return to the Cardinals “in a short period of time.”
CBS


ESPN ($) Jay Bilas’ ideas t fix college basketball


Big XII composite schedule


ESPN College GameDay Schedule


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

Event alert: Chicago Elite Classic, December 7th 2013 at UIC Pavillion. ESPN #1 @BigJah22 & ESPN #2 @humblekid11 will be in the gym.
@Never00giveup


Recruiting Calendar


My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk

I asked Andrew Wiggins what he expects when he matches up with Marcus Smart and Oklahoma State: "A Kansas win."
@DannyParkins

Marcus Smart has a simple message for Andrew Wiggins: Prove it.

It's the same message that Smart's veteran teammates from Oklahoma State want to deliver to the young, hungry group of Jayhawks led by the prized freshman this season.

"A lot of people are saying he's the best player now in college basketball," Smart said of Wiggins during the Big 12's annual media day Tuesday. "All I'm saying is how can you be the best player in something you haven't even played yet?"

…"I'm not saying he can't be the best player," said Smart, who is familiar with Wiggins from the AAU circuit and various national team competitions over the years.

"I know if it was me," Smart said, "don't just give it to me. At least make me earn it. All the hype, good for him. Congratulations to him, don't get me wrong. I'm not taking anything away from Andrew Wiggins, anything like that. He's a good player. I hope he does well."

Just not when the Cowboys face the Jayhawks this season.

"If he's the best player like people say, if that's the case, in order for me to be the best, I have to beat the best, right?" Smart said with a straight face. "If he's the best player, fans will get their money's worth when we play Kansas."
AP


610 Sports Audio: Tarik Black, Andrew Wiggins


810 whb: Audio Coach Bill Self


Self recently told the Journal-World that Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford’s comment that Andrew Wiggins “is from what I understand, the best player to ever play,” was a “failed attempt to be humorous.”

On Tuesday at Media Day, Self added to Kansas City’s Sports Radio 810: “I don’t think it’s right at all for another coach to sarcastically talk about somebody else’s players. I can do it with my guys. He can do it with his. I don’t think it’s right to do it with anybody else’s. I’m not sure he meant it in a negative way toward Andrew. I think it was said, sort of taken out of context. I think it’s the kind of stuff Andrew loves. He likes being challenged in ways like that. I think it’ll be good for him.”
Take note Travis Ford.

“Andrew (Wiggins)…I think he can be (pause), he’s going to shut up all the people.”
Mike DeCourcy, on the hype and criticism surrounding KU’s sensational freshman forward as he spoke with Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John Wednesday morning, 810 AM

“If the rules are enforced like they are supposed to be enforced (in college basketball), it’s just going to be hard to guard (Wiggins).”
Mike DeCourcy, 810 AM

“There were about six or seven times during that practice on Monday where he did things that maybe only three, four or five people on the planet can do. I am being literal here. As quickly and casually and confident as he did.”
Mike DeCourcy, who attended a KU practice on Monday, 810 AM
GH: I don’t need to hear any more if this statement is true – and DeCourcy is not a Mitch Holthus fluffer when it comes to hyping a rookie’s talents. Wiggins is doing things only a handful of guys on the planet can do? How much are those tickets to Allen Fieldhouse this season?

“Wiggins is one of the best athletes to ever play the game of basketball.”
Mike DeCourcy, 810 AM
GH: DeCourcy just kept topping himself with Wiggins’ compliments as he spoke to The Border patrol on Wednesday morning. It was fantastic.
Off the Couch

“Andrew,” the reporter said, looking toward Black, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Memphis. “… what’s the buzz like in Lawrence with students?”

As a little confusion reigned, Tharpe stepped in and dutifully answered the question. But the reporter persisted:

“Andrew, though,” he said, “have you felt it from the students?”

Finally, Black couldn’t contain his laughter.

“Wait, who’s Andrew?” Tharpe said.

So let the record show, as the swelling hype around Wiggins arrived in Kansas City on Tuesday morning, there are still those who are acclimating themselves to the Jayhawks’ latest phenom.

…“The first couple of weeks of practice were hard for all the freshmen,” Wiggins said. “But now everything is coming easier, more fluent. The potential is there to be the best team.”

“We can be great,” Wiggins said. “The best team in the country.”
KC Star


Despite the frenzy surrounding Wiggins, coach Bill Self believes he’ll have no trouble keeping his young team focused and clear of any potential amateurism issues.

“I don’t think that’s hard at all,” Self said. “The Adidas report was bogus. It is different, because there’s so much attention. Every practice you’ve got six or 10 NBA teams there watching your guys.
“But I think that’s good, too. Guys wanna go to places where they can be seen, and that’s happening right now at our place.”

…Self said he and his staff have discussed the idea of playing four guards at times this season, with Wiggins or fellow freshman Wayne Selden playing at the four. Both Wiggins and Selden have the ability to guard multiple positions, and Self would like to find opportunities to get the 6-foot-8 Wiggins in the post.

“We could do some different things,” Self said. “But the thing about it is, you wanna play your best players if it works out. And our (big men), right now, have probably been as consistent a performers as we’ve had.”
KC Star


Wiggins — he averaged 23.4 points and 11.2 rebounds last season at Huntington Prep in West Virginia — isn’t crazy about being tagged the best high school player since NBA star Kevin Durant, his favorite player, and LeBron James.

“I’ve got a long way to go before I can be compared to LeBron and Durant. Those are the best players in the world right now,” Wiggins said. “I’m still in college. I think it’s unfair to compare me with someone of that caliber. Hopefully one day I can be compared to them. I think I have a long way to go before I am. In reality, they are the best players in the world.”

…Being human, Wiggins obviously will make some mistakes, just like the young reporter who asked Self if Chamberlain and Manning had “reached out” to Wiggins to help him with expectations.
Chamberlain, of course, died in 1999.

“Danny may have,” Self said, not wanting to embarrass the young questioner. “Danny I think is a great sounding board for Andrew. I think that would be somebody who will help Andrew even though he is in Tulsa (as head coach). He will and we’ll ask him to do so. There are a lot of similarities from a personality standpoint and all that stuff when Danny was playing.”

Though Wiggins is quiet, he’s fun to be around, his teammates say.

“Every time I see the dude, I look at him and start laughing,” said KU junior Naadir Tharpe. “I don’t know why. One day after practice, my man was about to get in the shower with his ankle braces on. He walked all the way to the shower and comes back. He said, ‘I got my ankle braces on.’ We said, ‘Yeah we can see.’ That’s who he is, a laid-back dude. You wouldn’t even know he’s the No. 1 player in the country if you haven’t seen the magazines. He’s always himself all the time.”
LJW


He's a six-foot-eight savant who attacks like D-Wade, jumps like Dr. J, and closes like Kobe. Is all this “Canadian LeBron” hype legit? Andrew Corsello catches up with the temporary college student—he’ll be a Kansas Jayhawk for the next five minutes or so—and asks the kid himself.

…“I like Kevin Durant's game! Ain't nothing he can't do. Shoot. Has a handle. Plays D. Scores at will. Durant, man! Has that killer instinct.”

Interesting, that last bit. Some have seen Wiggins's ability to shiver through defenders without touching them as an unwillingness to knock heads and stake his claim as The Man. “Anybody who has ever watched me knows that I get my teammates involved, that I make them better,” Wiggins responds. “I'm not too selfish or unselfish.”

Asked, after calling himself a “child of God,” if he ever wonders to his Creator, “Why me?” Wiggins gives a sheepish laugh, then says, “Nah.”
GQ Magazine - Andrew Wiggins: Next Year's #1 NBA Draft Pick

10/22/13, 11:00 AM
Fran Fraschilla to me: KU'sEmbiid has 'Olajuwon-like potential. Will make team w/ # 1 pick in (14) draft think long, hard about passing up.'
@EricPrisbell


“I think Joel has a chance to be about as talented a big guy as I’ve ever had. He’s only been playing ball for two years. He’s just starting his third. He’s made a lot of progress in a short amount of time since he’s been with us. If he continues to improve at this rate, he could be a guy that could not only really impact our league, but impact the landscape nationally a little bit.

“He’s young and green and doesn’t really know what he’s doing, but there is obviously a skillset there that few seven-footers have,” Self added, noting when KU first started recruiting Embiid he was the “fourth best player on his AAU team.”
LJW


At one point, he catches on the left block, fakes to the middle, spins to the baseline and one step later dunks on the opposite side of the rim. The whole thing takes two seconds, maybe less. It is breathtaking.

There aren’t a lot of men on the planet who can do what Joel Embiid just made look so easy, let alone 19-year-old freshmen. This is what the line of NBA scouts watching Kansas basketball practice focus on. They also see the tentativeness. The uncertainty. The spurts of disappearance.

The most famous player in the building is Andrew Wiggins, of course. He’s the one with the bedhead and the 40-some-inch vertical and enough hype that his necktie trends on Twitter. But the most intriguing guy to many in basketball circles is Embiid. He’s the one who probably won’t start for Kansas at the beginning of the season and who many think will be a top 10 NBA pick at the end of it.
That is, if the making of a basketball star stays on track. In slow steps. Today is one of the slower steps. Baby steps, you might say.

“Joe!” KU coach Bill Self screams. “The pacifier is right over there, if you need to pick it up.”

Embiid looks across the court at his coach. Self smiles. c smiles back. They have the same goal. They both know Self has a point, and they both know Embiid has an overwhelming stock of talent.

…Wiggins is the ready-made star, the one getting the magazine covers. Embiid’s development will take more time, with more struggles.

But for KU and its most-hyped season in recent memory, Embiid’s progress from neophyte to lottery pick will be just as crucial.

“I just want to get better,” he says. “We want to win a national championship. So if that happens, that’s good. But I don’t pay attention to (draft talk). I just want to get better.”
KC Star Mellinger


Embiid article form August 2012

10/22/13, 3:36 PM
The boys getting done with Big 12 Media day! Now hurry back for practice. @Ntharpe1 @PElliz @22wiggins… instagram.com/p/fyDXCdAHZZ/
@Coachjhoward


Cousy Award Watch List (No Tharpe!)


LJW Big 12 Media Days blog


LJW Photo Gallery


KUAD Photo Gallery


KUAD Coach Self quotes

“We’ve got to get Andrew (Wiggins) and Wayne opportunities to catch in the post. They could be two of our very best post players,” Self said.

“Absolutely,” he added when asked if he could play Selden or Wiggins at the 4 position (power forward). We could go real small and have Perry at the 5 (post). The thing is you want to play your best players if it works out. Our bigs now have been as consistent performers as we have. It’s hard to take both (bigs) out as of now.”

Frontcourt players Ellis and Black are being pushed hard daily by 7-foot Joel Embiid, 6-8 Jamari Traylor and 6-10 Landen Lucas. Judging from some recent practices, it appears Lucas may be the fifth big with several workouts remaining before Tuesday’s exhibition opener versus Pittsburg State.

“Last year we played without a low-post player. Jeff (Withey) was not a low post scorer. Kevin (Young) wasn’t a low-post scorer,” Self said. “We have more size and ability to play through our post more to score, I hope. I don’t think we were the deepest on the perimeter last year. A lot of things we can do better this year. We’re also replacing three fifth-year guys who started (Releford, Young, Withey) and a four-year guy who started (Johnson). There’s no substitute for experience. If we were going to play a game right now, trust me, last year’s team would beat this year’s team. Hopefully that will not be the case later. We weren’t good early last year either. There’s natural progression for teams to make.”

One thing KU may be missing is a batch of blocked shots.

“He’s not a rim protector like Withey,” Self said of Embiid. “I think he’s a good shot blocker. I don’t think he’s as good as he can be. He has to condition his brain to go get ‘em. We’ve been spoiled the last two years. We had the best shot blocker in America the last two years. He made up for a lot of mistakes.”
LJW


Digital Kansas Basketball Preview

I'm watching these videos with the BIG12 officials coordinator, and I honestly don't know how you can play D in CBB anymore. #BIG12MBB
@MedcalfByESPN


Curtis Shaw (Big 12 Coordinator of Mens Basketball Officials) on the new rules: If you ever put a forearm or 2 hands on a player it's a foul
@KJHKSports

“My initial thought was that scoring is going to go up and good play is going to go down. That was my initial thought. Because the reason scoring will go up is because we’re shooting more free throws. It won’t be because of artistic play,” Self said.

“I’ve always thought the way to improve our game was to try to create a situation where you get more shots. I don’t know if this is going to create more shots. I think it’s going to create more free throws, which I’m not saying is bad. But when you watch a game — early in the season we may have some games where you can’t go up and down twice without having stoppage because it’s going to be a broken game in large part.

“But I think players will adjust, coaches will adjust,” Self continued, noting his players figure to drive the ball a lot this season. “I think over time it will be good. I’m a little concerned early on that, to get to where we need it, it’s going to be some pretty fragmented games.”
LJW

CBS talking heads create fantasy draft of cbb players (and two of 'em don't draft Wiggins. Not even as a reserve.)


Officials from the Big 12 and the Cowboys expect a record crowd of more than 80,000 people will attend the Final Four when it’s played at AT&T Stadium in suburban Dallas.

Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Cowboys vice president Charlotte Anderson said at the Big 12’s annual media day Tuesday that they anticipate breaking the mark for a national semifinal of 75,421 set during the 2011 Final Four in Houston.

“We have the capacity to host over 80,000, and that’s been distributed through the NCAA channels,” Anderson said. “We hope that we can open that capacity beyond that for standing room. That is being under consideration by the NCAA at this point.

“We know that we’ll have a pretty packed venue,” Anderson said, “and we hope that we can get as many people that want to come in the venue itself.”

The record for a championship game is 74,326, set during Louisville’s 82-76 victory over Michigan on April 8 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The previous record was 72,922, which was set when North Carolina played Michigan State on April 6, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit.

This season’s title game is scheduled for April 7, 2014.

“We’re going to have events all over the Metroplex,” said Bowlsby, whose conference will be serving as the Final Four host. “There are a lot of fun things that are going to go on during the course of the weekend, and obviously as the commissioner of the Big 12, I believe we have some teams with the capability to be playing when the Final Four commences in Dallas.”

Dallas hasn’t hosted a Final Four since 1986, when league member Kansas lost in the national semifinals at Reunion Arena. Louisville beat Auburn for the national championship.
AP


At best, it seems, Haith looked away from shenanigans of his assistants (none of whom accompanied him to Mizzou, incidentally), when it came to the payment, in response to Shapiro apparently blackmailing the staff with threats to go public that he’d once provided an assistant $10,000 to facilitate the recruitment of a prospect.

At worst, Haith choreographed the payment, which came after he wrote three $3,200 checks to three assistants as “camp advances” … and the assistants cashed the checks the same day at the same bank.

In Haith’s Oct. 6, 2011 interview, the NCAA said Haith told investigators he had written those checks because the assistants were “financially struggling.”

One former assistant said he needed the money to pay for his child’s school tuition, which the NCAA said was not paid for another 47 days, so the committee deemed that explanation “not credible” … especially considering the check was cashed, not deposited.

Then in Haith’s Sept. 5, 2012, interview, the NCAA said Haith acknowledged writing the camp advance checks because assistant Jake Morton said he needed help to pay Shapiro.

In the final interview, Sept. 25, 2012, sought by Haith to clarify some points, the NCAA said his version of those events “changed significantly.”

Thus, this:

“The information supports a factual conclusion that (Morton) collected $3,200 from each of the other two coaches once they cashed their camp advance checks,” the NCAA report said, adding that (Morton) “then added cash that he had at home for the full payment to the booster.”

The committee, the report adds, “makes a factual conclusion that (Haith and Morton) worked together to ensure that the booster received a large cash payment and that this payment would end the booster’s threats.”

Whether it was a shakedown or a cover-up, it would take an extravagantly willing suspension of disbelief to conclude nothing was done wrong here.

No matter what issues you might have with the NCAA. And no matter how rotten Shapiro seems to be.
KC Star Gregorian


10/22/13, 10:21 AM
Bruce Pearl lies about a 2ndary violation,admits it,gets a Show Cause -- Haith lies about an assistant paying $10k,gets 5 games
@GottliebShow


Ask anybody at the NCAA or Tennessee, and they'll explain in great detail that Pearl's biggest crime wasn't holding a cookout for high school juniors in violation of NCAA bylaws. His biggest crime, they've always insisted, was misleading investigators when asked about the cookout. Simply put, Pearl lied. And the lesson the NCAA wanted to send by hammering Pearl and effectively ending his coaching career (at least until somebody hires him next year) is that lying to the NCAA is a line that should not be crossed.

So why is the message delivered Tuesday so different?

…And the most important thing you need to know is that the NCAA made a "factual conclusion" that Haith changed his story multiple times about why he issued unusual "advanced checks" to three assistants. According to the report, Haith initially said the checks were issued because the assistants "had personal obligations and were financially struggling" before ultimately acknowledging that he wrote the checks to create cash designed to repay former booster Nevin Shapiro in hopes of ensuring he wouldn't talk about a number of things, including an allegation that Shaprio had used money to help secure a commitment from a basketball recruit named Dequan Jones.

Now I'm not interested in debating whether Shapiro really bought Jones' commitment nor do I care to discuss whether Haith knew about it. The evidence, it should be noted, is overwhelming. But to focus on that is to miss the point entirely because the point is that, regardless of what actually happened, Haith interviewed with the NCAA three different times and changed his story drastically, meaning he lied to the NCAA just like Pearl lied to the NCAA. And yet Haith will not get a show-cause penalty, and there's no reason to think he'll lose his job at Missouri.
CBS


Everyone will focus on football, but how on earth did Frank Haith get off with a 5-game suspension based on some of the stuff in here?
@slmandel


NCAA concludes Haith funneled money to assistants to pay off Shapiro, tried to hide it & sought extra interview to fix the botched cover-up.

Somewhere in Knoxville, Bruce Pearl has to be reading the Haith report and wondering how he got a three-year show-cause.

Haith sits against SE Louisiana, SIU, Hawaii, Gardner Webb & IUPUI. Mizzou would be 5-0 after that stretch if Sheryl Crow coached the team.
@JeffEisenberg


Former UM and current University of Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith was suspended for the first five games of the 2013-14 season. He also must attend an NCAA Regional Rules seminar at the end of the 2013-14 academic year.

“The former head men’s basketball coach failed to meet his responsibilities as a head coach when he did not monitor the activities of his assistant coaches, and attempted to cover up the booster’s threats to disclose incriminating information,” the NCAA wrote in a release. “Additionally, two assistant football coaches and one assistant men’s basketball coach did not follow NCAA ethical conduct rules.”

Haith said he will not appeal. “While I strongly disagree with [Tuesday’s] report,” he said in a written statement, “and the inference on how the program was run at [UM], as head basketball coach during that period, I accept responsibility for all actions in and around that program.”
Miami Herald


NCAA 102-page full report on Miami


Heralded Maryland assistant Dalonte Hill is taking time away from the program following multiple reports of a DUI over the weekend. The charge is Hill's third alcohol-driving incident on record. In January 2012, Hill was arrested for suspicion of DUI and subsequently suspended by Maryland. And in 2008, while at Kansas State, Hill missed one game following a similar charge.

Maryland announced the immediate hiatus on Tuesday afternoon. This is Hill's third season with the program, which runs in conjunction with head coach Mark Turgeon's tenure.
CBS


Much of the early talk in college basketball has centered on Kentucky's young stars, but Rick Pitino thinks defending champion Louisville can do something great.

"It's going to be an exciting season," the Cardinals coach said, according to The (Louisville) Courier-Journal. "We are one year away from a potential mini-dynasty -- one year."

Louisville has been to seven straight NCAA tournaments, made the 2011-12 Final Four and then won it all last season.

"If these players rise to the occasion once again -- win another conference championship, go back to the Final Four -- it takes three to have the makings of a dynasty," Pitino said.
ESPN


The NCAA has granted UCLA transfer Josh Smith a waiver to play immediately at Georgetown, and the former McDonald's All-American will have two seasons of eligibility remaining despite the fact that he's already participated in three years of basketball.

Georgetown announced the decision Wednesday.

"We are excited that the NCAA has approved the waiver for Joshua," said Georgetown coach John Thompson III. "Now, he has to maintain a high level of commitment on and off the court. He will provide a significant low-post presence for this team."

That's undeniably true.

Smith will provide a presence for the Hoyas.

But the story here isn't about what this will do for Georgetown as much as it's about the NCAA reaching a conclusion that contradicts other conclusions on other waivers that have been denied. For starters, Smith didn't transfer from UCLA to Georgetown to be closer to home or near an ailing family member. He's from Kent, Wash. -- not Washington, D.C.

He couldn't be farther from home.

So why was a waiver to play immediately granted?
CBS


Big XII composite schedule


ESPN College GameDay Schedule


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

Kansas 2014 commit Kelly Oubre has moments where he's unstoppable at HS level. He hit some three-pointers and got to basket.
@JoshGershon


JAHLIL OKAFOR | C | No. 6 overall | 


Where Kentucky stands: The Crystal Ball says UK is a long shot. No one is predicting that Okafor will commit to Kentucky.
The main competition: Duke is the favorite with 92 percent of participants picking the Blue Devils.
Meyer’s pick: Duke (March 18)
Worth noting: Four of the last five predictions logged for Okafor are in favor of Kansas (though three of those have come from staffers at the Jayhawks’ 247Sports affiliate).

MYLES TURNER | C | No. 7 overall | 


Where Kentucky stands: The Crystal Ball says UK is a long shot. No one is predicting that Turner will commit to Kentucky.
The main competition: Kansas is the favorite with 76 percent of participants picking the Jayhawks.
Meyer’s pick: Texas (Oct. 14)
Worth noting: Meyer started a trend with his Texas pick last week. The last five predictions on Turner’s Crystal Ball page are all in favor of the Longhorns.
Lexington Herald Leader


Kansas dropped in on 2015 five-star big man Chance Comanche this afternoon.
@ebosshoops


Recruiting Calendar


My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk

The countdown begins
NO WASTED DAYS!!!
@jojo_embiid

After a great day of practice a_hudy puts our guys through a lite workout. #family #kumbb
@Coachjhoward

10/21/13, 7:07 PM
Of things that impressed me at @KUHoops practice 2day. THIS was best. Super stars on floor for 50/50 balls!! pic.twitter.com/3NBCl8xrtU
@sportsiren


10/21/13, 9:33 PM
I think KU is definitely a national title contender. Don't underestimate team's versatility on D. Wayne Selden could be a great defender.
@MedcalfByESPN


10/21/13, 9:34 PM
I couldn't take my eyes off Joel Embiid. So fluid, so mobile. Had a spin off the left block/finish with the left that made jaws drop.
@MedcalfByESPN


10/21/13, 9:36 PM
Embiid might be the most important player on the roster. ... Tarik Black is in great shape. Perry Ellis too. What a talented frontcourt.
@MedcalfByESPN


10/21/13, 9:37 PM
Now ... Andrew Wiggins. ... Few players compete with such ease. He hit shots all over the floor, wrestled for loose balls and hustled.
@MedcalfByESPN


10/21/13, 9:37 PM
He's going to be a matchup nightmare. .... Only question could be at PG but Tharpe seems to be stepping up as a leader. Was very vocal.
@MedcalfByESPN


10/21/13, 9:39 PM
If Kansas wins it all, I won't be surprised. The pieces are there. ... Joel Embiid is coming. And yes, big men all over should be afraid.
@MedcalfByESPN


Season right around the corner!!! Can't wait to start playing with this blessed team. Season start in 10 days #YeaItsReal
@TarikBlack25


Good practice we got better today #kucmb #MagnaTeam
@TarikBlack25


We got better as a squad today... Great practice y'all! #KUCMB #NothingButMagna
@b_greene14


KU...I love my team. We laugh so much
@TarikBlack25


How many more days? Are y all ready? #kubball
@jojo_embiid


After attending three Kentucky practices and two at Kansas (including today) the 10 most impressive players i've seen are (in order):
Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, James Young, Wayne Selden, AndHarrison, Perry Ellis, Aaron Harrison, Tarik Black, Alex Poythress
@JasonKingESPN

Self knew that Black was burly — 6 feet 9 and 260 pounds — and had averaged close to 10 points a game in three seasons at Memphis. And he knew Black would be KU’s most experienced post player.
But Self wasn’t sure if Black could emerge as a leader on a young team still lacking an identity and voice. But after three weeks of practice, Self knew.

“He’s very, very bright,” Self said on Saturday. “And he’s beyond his years, maturitywise. And even though the reason we recruited him is because he could help us win, the residual effect is that we probably got one of our two biggest team leaders in return.”

Black’s presence was on display Saturday morning at a public scrimmage at Allen Fieldhouse. He finished with six points and five rebounds in front of an estimated crowd of close to 10,000 fans. And for the moment, Black appears to be KU’s starting center.

Beyond the production, Self has been pleased with Black’s ability to mentor the Jayhawks’ younger big men, including 7-foot center Joel Embiid. If Embiid can harness his natural gifts, he may cut into Black’s minutes. But that hasn’t stopped Black from offering lessons each day in practice.

“I’m gonna teach Joel everything I know in this one year,” Black said earlier this month. “Because that’s just one of my main jobs.”

Self added: “He’s been great for our young guys … he hits them every day, and he applauds them every time they hit back. It’s been fun to watch.”
KC Star


“They obviously are going to be very good. They always are,” said Van Gundy, guest speaker at Bill Self’s KU coaches clinic in Allen Fieldhouse. “What I like beyond the obvious talent is it’s a very unselfish team. The ball moves. It’s an extremely coachable team, not a lot of B.S. in practice. They sort of all do their job, work hard at what they are doing.”

Van Gundy — he said he took several pages worth of notes during practice on his first-ever visit to Allen Fieldhouse — said the 6-foot-8 Wiggins appears as talented as advertised.

“More than anything is his ability to get down and move his feet defensively,” Van Gundy, a 54-year-old native of Indio, Calif., said. “That sounds crazy because everybody watches offense. As somebody who has always looked at the game defensively, I was really impressed with that part of his game. He’s very much under control on the offensive end. I’m used to young guys ... you see the talent, but they play a little bit young, wild and crazy. You don’t see that out here. They play under control. I like the big Embiid (Joel) kid. He’s a talented guy, has good touch, is athletic. They’ve got some good players.”

Of Wiggins’ outside shot, Van Gundy said of the athletic wing: “He looked like a pretty good shooter to me. It’ll get better obviously.

“If I compare him to guys who came into the league out of high school, even like a LeBron (James) ... those guys weren’t comfortable shooting the ball when they came in the league. I had (Dwyane) Wade as a rookie. He was coming out of college. He (Wiggins) seems more comfortable shooting the ball than most of the other athletic guys. He’s obviously an athlete. He seems to be a guy who wants to pass the ball, which is great.”

Van Gundy’s brother, Jeff, a former NBA coach now a broadcaster, was guest speaker at Self’s clinic two years ago. “He told me, ‘When you get a chance, you’ve GOT to get out to Kansas!’” Van Gundy said.
LJW


After watching Kansas practice on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday during a public scrimmage, here are five thoughts on Naadir Tharpe, Andrew Wiggins and the young Jayhawks — and five bits of video highlights if you missed Saturday’s early morning scrimmage:

1. Andrew White III is making a case for reserve minutes in the backcourt.

4. Could we see any four-guard sets? While speaking at Self’s annual coaches clinic on Friday, Van Gundy told a story about how Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra decided to play small with the Miami Heat. The short version of the story: Spoelstra saw that playing three smaller players with LeBron James — and spreading the floor with shooters — allowed James the space to maximize his potential.

For a 6-foot-8 swingman, Wiggins has the potential to be a solid rebounder. He can also get to the basket and set up for others. It’ll be interesting to see if Self experiments playing Wiggins alongside a group that features Selden, Tharpe, another shooter, and either Joel Embiid or Tarik Black.

5. Sophomore Jamari Traylor appears to have polished certain aspects of his game — passing, defensive spacing, court awareness — after his freshman season. Last season, Self liked to remind people that Traylor had only played competitive basketball for two season before arriving at KU. His shooting and offensive skills still need some work, but he could slot in as a quality fourth big man for KU.
KC Star


PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM

F Doug McDermott, Sr., Creighton
F Andrew Wiggins, Fr., Kansas
F Julius Randle, Fr., Kentucky
G Russ Smith, Sr., Louisville
G Marcus Smart, So., Oklahoma State
SNY.tv Preseason All-America First Team


As Oklahoma State prepares to celebrate the opening of a highly anticipated season Friday night, the reigning Big 12 player of the year and the league's preseason player of the year finds himself overshadowed in his own conference by the hype surrounding an 18-year-old yet to play a college game.

…"They are saying he is the best college player there is and he has not even played a game yet," Smart told USA TODAY Sports. "Of course that hypes me up. It is all talk. He still has to put his shorts on one leg at a time like I do. It is all potential. I am not saying he can't do it. But he has not done it yet."

…At 6-foot-4, Smart wants nothing more than an opportunity to guard the sinewy 6-8 Wiggins.

"Definitely," Smart says. "I am not going to back down from any challenge. Like I said, you are going to have to prove to me. I am a fighter; I will keep fighting and will never give up."

…Smart says he respects Wiggins' talents, calling him a "great player." But Smart questions the purpose and the amount of the hype that Wiggins has been awash in for more than a year, and wants no part of it.

"I wouldn't say he is overrated," Smart says. "I would just say there is a lot of pressure on him right now. He is under a microscope from the world that is bigger than anybody would think, bigger than he knows. Whatever he does will be magnified times a million, just because of the hype. Whatever he says, does, however he acts."

…"I want to earn it, I don't want anything given to me," Smart says. "It has not been [given] at all. I want to work for what I have. If feel if you work for what you have instead of it being just given to you, people respect you a lot more because you understand what it takes, you've been there and done it. No one can just say it was easy because you took it. You didn't just get it. You took it. So all the power and credit to him [Wiggins]. Congratulations for the Sports Illustrated, all the hype, congratulations to him. But that's definitely a lot of pressure on him."

…"I am used to coming in second and then all of the sudden finishing in first because nobody expected me to do it," Smart says. "Kind of like David and Goliath, you know. I'm not the giant. But the bigger they are, the harder they fall."
USA Today

CBS Top 30 Bigs (Embiid #9)


10/18/13, 9:37 PM
Hey y all I KILLED A LION when I was young and my teammates don t believe me
@jojo_embiid

I support a player’s right to determine his future. There is always the specter of injury, and some from hardscrabble backgrounds feel more compelled to grab that NBA cash and help their families than to spend more time in the chem lab. Basketball is their career and they are making a career choice.

That’s the logical part of the argument. The truth is, I hate to see the one-and-done trend taking over my alma mater. In the last three years there have been three who have had varying amounts of success: Xavier Henry (2010), Josh Selby (2011) and Ben McLemore (2013).

But three on one team? Does anyone really want her favorite team to become the new Kentucky, which won the national championship in 2012 with a lineup of one-and-dones — over Kansas — then failed to make the tournament field the following year? Then again, that won’t happen to KU because it has a verbal commitment from big man Kelly Oubre for the 2014-15 season — and he is projected as a lottery pick in the 2015 draft.

Coach Bill Self is one of the best in the business, and if he’s decided this is the way to take the program, then the rabid and very loyal fan base will go along with it. With a winning percentage of .836, In Bill We Trust.

But I will miss the old way, when coaches — and Self was a master at this — built a roster and improved green players and put together real teams. Senior Night drew smiles and tears because for four years, we had rooted for these kids, watched them grow up (at least most of them) and we wished them well.

Now even Senior Night is changing. This spring, Self allowed the Allen Field House crowd to bid farewell to McLemore at the final home game. Perhaps that will become a new tradition: Senior and Freshman Night. It won’t be the same.
Washington Post: Wiggins the latest sign that four-year players aren't in Kansas any more


Digital Kansas Basketball Preview

#Big12MBB Media Day is live from @SprintCenter in Kansas City today. Follow #Big12MBBkc & live coverage here (Coach Self 8:30 AM, watch live and replays)
@Big12Conference


Fans will be able to tune into ESPNU on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. CT to hear from all 10 Big 12 head coaches and selected student-athletes at the league’s Men’s Basketball Media Day set for Kansas City’s Sprint Center.

ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special will have media personalities Fran Fraschilla and Holly Rowe on site to preview the 2013-14 Big 12 Conference race, including interviews with head coaches and student-athletes. Anish Shroff, along with former Wake Forest head coach Dino Gaudio and former Maryland player Adrian Branch, will be anchor coverage from ESPNU’s Charlotte, N.C., studio.
WIBW


It would be up to Oklahoma State to dethrone the Jayhawks.

Even if that doesn’t happen, this year’s Oklahoma State team appears to be the best one Travis Ford has coached since arriving in Stillwater in 2008. Smart, Brown and junior Brian Williams form one of the best perimeter trios in the country, while sharp-shooting sophomore Phil Forte and freshman Stevie Clarke should contribute off the bench. Nash and junior forward Michael Cobbins, who was named to the Big 12’s All-Defensive team last season after posting an impressive 6.6 block percentage, according to Kenpom.com, make up the Cowboys’ probable starting frontcourt duo.

There are few (if any) starting fives in the Big 12 that can match Oklahoma State’s, man-for-man, but the Cowboys could use some more depth in the frontcourt. Sophomore Kamari Murphy has promise, and junior Gary Gaskins is one of the team’s best all-around athletes. How much one or both can help Oklahoma State this season is an open question.

All things considered, the Cowboys appear to have what it takes to challenge Kansas for a league championship. The Jayhawks may be more talented, but Oklahoma State is more experienced, brings back arguably the best returning player in college basketball (Smart) and proved as recent as last season that it can beat Kansas (OSU ended the Jayhawks’ 33-game winning streak at Allen Fieldhouse with a five-point win on Feb. 2).

Whoever comes out on top, watching Oklahoma State and Kansas push one another in a heated league title race should be one of the more fascinating storylines of the upcoming season.
SI: Stock Watch Big 12


“There’s no question they can be good again,” Dykes said. “The first thing that really jumps out at you is how good John Calipari and his staff are at zeroing in not only on elite talent, which is not as easy as people think. A coach has to trust his own eyes, own instincts. But more importantly, he’s got a bunch that does not come in with a me-first mentality and agenda separate from winning games.

“That team last year would not have won the championship if one guy had an agenda that he was more important than the team. That starts with recruiting. I do not see one selfish kid in this group. That’s hard to identify in recruiting. You shouldn’t miss on talent. There’s no excuse for that. But when you can miss is when it comes to a kid’s love for the game, is he a self starter, is he selfish on the court. You can miss on those things unless you dig deep.”
Jimmy Dykes, circa October 2012


This certainly wasn't the Midnight Madness of a team coming off a first-round NIT loss to Robert Morris.

In fact, there was only one mention of what happened seven months ago – and it came from head coach John Calipari during his state of the program speech.

“Last year we learned some very important lessons,” Calipari said. “We were humbled. I was humbled.”

(Side note: That quote came moments after he said, "We don't just play college basketball. We are college basketball." Back to the column.)

Yet there we were, celebrating the debut of arguably the best recruiting class in the history of college basketball – and watching the preseason No. 1 team in the country.

Twelve months ago, it wasn't all that different. Big Blue Madness featured a program coming off a national championship, with another No. 1 recruiting class and a team ranked No. 3 in both polls.
CBS


Missouri head coach Frank Haith has been suspended five games after the NCAA announced the findings of its two-year investigation into Miami's athletic department on Tuesday.

The news was first reported by Miami radio host Joe Rose, and confirmed to CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish.

Haith was charged with “failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance” back in February. Yahoo! Sports reported in 2011 that Haith had knowledge of a $10,000 payment to a family member of former Miami player DeQuan Jones during his recruitment. Nevin Shapiro, the former Miami booster around which the Yahoo! report centered, said he gave the money to former assistant coach Jake Morton for that purpose.
CBS


Big XII composite schedule


ESPN College GameDay Schedule


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

10/20/13, 9:31 AM
At the airport heading back to Chicago. Had a great time in Lawrence, appreciate all the love from everyone on campus. #kubball
@BigJah22


10/20/13, 8:36 AM
Had a good visit at KU this weekend. Thanks to the fans for showing love. Rock chalk
@Tyusjones06


After Kansas visit Tyus Jones wearing a Kansas shirt at fall league. I can hear predictions changing and MBs going wild, over a tshirt.
@RyanJamesMN


10/21/13, 9:40 PM
Nope. “@joekulas12: @MedcalfByESPN you think KU gets Tyus/Okafor combo?
@MedcalfByESPN


LJW: Coach Self talks recruiting


Chicago Curie big man Cliff Alexander enjoyed his weekend visit to Memphis, and will trip to Illinois next weekend in what could be his final visit.

“It was great, I had a great time in the three days we were there,”  Alexander’s mother, Latillia Alexander, told SNY.tv. “We visited family there.”

Latillia said that Memphis coach Josh Pastner spoke about how he would use the 6-foot-9 Alexander if he came to school there.

“He said he loves him, he’ll take care of him and the program he runs there will be great for him,” she said.

Huntington (W.V.) Prep shooting guard JaQuan Lyle also took an unofficial to Memphis. The two have talked about packaging but that remains uncertain at this point.
Zags Blog


The top two big men in the country, one-time AAU teammates Jahlil Okafor of Young and Cliff Alexander of Curie, plan to take their final official visits this weekend.

The 6-foot-11 Okafor has long discussed the possibility of a package deal — with point guard Tyus Jones of Minnesota, not the 6-9 Alexander.

Yet Kansas remains a prominent player for both Okafor and Alexander, raising the question of whether it would be in the best interests of two players of their size and stature to try to co-exist on the same college team.

"It's a tricky situation," said Mike Irvin, who coached both on the Mac Irvin Fire.

"They are being recruited by the same school, but it doesn't make sense for them to go to the same school. In college basketball you only need one dominant big man.

"They definitely talk. They are good friends. They are in an awkward situation. Funny thing is, people are shying away from the subject. No one is talking about it. This is the first time someone brought it up to me. It is definitely a concern in my eyes. I was always worried about it."

They play different positions and have different attributes — Okafor is a polished center and Alexander an athletic and powerful four-man — so they wouldn't necessarily get in each other's way on the floor.

But both are worthy of being a team's featured player, and both are looking for a situation that will springboard them to the NBA.

"Quite honestly, I think they could play together and be very successful, but I don't think it's likely," said ESPN recruiting scout/analyst Reggie Rankin, a former college coach. "I just think they both want to go out and be their own guy.

"But I do think it could work because they play different positions and are pro prospects for different reasons. Okafor's size is just so impressive. He is bigger than most pros now. His hands and his footwork are things of beauty.

"Cliff brings some different things to the table that make him a potential high pick. He is so strong and explosive around the rim. He's a rim-level rebounder. He has a motor to run the floor. He may be the best low-post defender in the class."

Alexander has set a decision date of Nov. 16, but Okafor might be closer to making up his mind.
Duke, Kansas and Baylor are the only schools still in the hunt for both Okafor and Jones, so if they go somewhere together, it will be one of the three.

Rankin believes it will be either Kansas or Duke.

"No disrespect to Baylor, but that is probably a safer bet," Rankin said.

The duo visited Kansas last weekend and will finish up their visits this weekend at Duke.

Kansas, Illinois and Michigan State have been consistently high on Alexander's list, but Memphis is also in the hunt.

Alexander visited Memphis on Saturday and will be in Champaign this weekend, where John Groce will try to take advantage of having last raps.

"I think Memphis made a strong impression on him," Rankin said. "I think he is still probably pulling back the layers on this stuff, figuring out which one is going to fit him best. He really wants to be comfortable with the coach preparing him for the next level. That is something that is important to him."
Chicago Tribune


"I am still thinking about taking an unofficial visit to Michigan State but still not 100-percent sure yet," Alexander said.

Alexander, whose parents attended the Memphis visit with him, was very impressed with coach Josh Pastner, the fans and the city.

"I got along with Coach Pastner and the players real well. They were real cool and my mom and dad enjoyed the visit a lot," Alexander said. "The fans were great. I felt like LeBron James walking down Beale Street. They showed me a lot of love.

"We also got to spend time with family. My grandmother's sister lives right outside of Memphis and she came by to visit with us."

Alexander, who is arguably the best rebounder and low-post defender in the class, knows what he wants most in a coaching staff.

"I have to go with the coaching staff that can develop me the best and get me ready for the next level," said Alexander, who has an academic interest in sports broadcasting.

Alexander will start to process everything with his mom after the visits and then make his decision.

"My mom will be the one who will help me most with my decision," Alexander said.
ESPN ($)


Louisville is no longer recruiting @Original_Turner , who visited Ohio State this past weekend, sources confirmed. No other officials set.
@AdamZagoria


Center/power forward Myles Turner (Bedford, Texas/Trinity), the No. 2 player in the ESPN 100, has returned home to Texas after spending the weekend at Ohio State, his first official visit.

"The practice really stood out on Saturday morning. It was very intense and everybody was energized," Turner said.

Turner was also impressed with how much the student body and city of Columbus loved the Buckeyes.

"I was walking around with Sam Thompson and Aaron Craft and everybody we saw showed them love," Turner said. "I had a great visit with Coach [Thad] Matta and he went over the plan he has in place for me on how I would be utilized on offense and defense and how he would get me ready for the next level."

Turner also was impressed with his academic meetings.

"My academic interest in psychology with an emphasis in counseling, and I met with the head of psychology," Turner said. “It was very impressive.”

So, what’s next for Turner?

"This coming weekend I am going to Houston and work out with Coach John Lucas and continue to get ready for the high school season,” he said. “I might take another visit or two this fall, but I am still discussing it with my parents."
ESPN ($)


But if Okafor and Jones go to Duke or Kansas, the school they don't select could become Turner's favorite, in addition to Kentucky, with Ohio State still in the mix as well. Other schools in Turner's final eight should not be disregarded yet because Ohio State is his first official visit. He had to reschedule a Kansas visit because of a USA Basketball minicamp.

Turner's process is starting to take shape, but it could change quickly if Okafor and Jones pop first.

For Cliff Alexander: He has already visited Kansas and is at Memphis this weekend. He will have the opportunity to do a little comparing and contrasting. But if Okafor and Jones go to Duke, Kansas will have to come on even stronger for Alexander and Turner. Josh Pastner and Memphis will put on a great visit for Alexander and will certainly have his attention, but they will have to beat Kansas. The sleeper is in-state Illinois. The Fighting Illini could also pull this thing off, especially if Okafor and Jones pick Kansas.
ESPN ($)


Recruiting Calendar


My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk

When it was first reported yesterday that Kansas freshman phenom Andrew Wiggins has a ten year, $180 Million endorsement offer from adidas Basketball awaiting him the second he turns pro next spring, my initial reaction was that isn't anywhere close to what he should be expecting.

The $140-$180 Million suggested range sounded exceptionally high to me, and several sources at multiple brands have told me the same thing.

This isn't the first time that rumored deals have been exorbitantly exaggerated, as we saw similar overestimations when Derrick Rose was looking for his contract extension, but where did the headline grabbing $180 Million figure come from?

It all apparently stems from this alleged memo from adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer, addressed blankly to a Wiggins representative, which Sole Collector has exclusively obtained below and has also confirmed to be entirely fake.  

"There is a fraudulent letter that claims to be from our company offering Mr. Wiggins a contract. Any reasonable review of the letter would determine its lack of credibility," an adidas Basketball spokesperson told Sole Collector this morning. "Beyond this, we do not comment on rumors or speculation about potential partnerships."

The undated hoax letter, from a brand CEO to an amateur athlete, would undoubtedly be a major violation during the window in which Wiggins was deciding on which college he would attend. That should of course be red flag #1 as to the letter's lack of authenticity.

In the sports marketing world, an undated, unaddressed memo outlining a $180 Million offer with a $60 Million window range to an amateur athlete would never exist under any circumstance, let alone be hand-signed by a CEO. The brand has been aware of the hoax letter, and says it had been circulating around adidas "for months," according to an adidas spokesperson.
Sole Collector

Andrew Wiggins will be a very good NBA player someday, but he's a long ways away. It's completely unfair to put the supposed prize of the 2014 NBA draft class in the same sentence as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant.

During one three-hour practice, Wiggins misfired on jumper after jumper, took plays off and was practically invisible. Sure, he showed glimpses of the athleticism that have some putting him in elite company with NBA superstars. He's been blessed with incredible talent -- the length, quickness and athleticism that few possess even at the NBA level.

But Wiggins eventually blended in during the practice last week. It wasn't the first time he's disappeared. In fact, Kansas coaches maintain that the 6-foot-8 Canadian has yet to be the best player on the floor in any of their practices thus far. To take it one step further, he's rarely even one of the best two or three players on the floor.

"I want to get him to start playing hard all the time and also playing to his athletic ability," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "He doesn't do it consistently."

NBA scouts who have passed through Lawrence told me that they are unsure why everyone has labeled Wiggins as the clear-cut No. 1 overall pick.

"I certainly wasn't blown away by him," said one high-ranking NBA executive. "He was just OK. Average. I'm just not buying all this no-brainer stuff about him being the No. 1 pick. I just don't see it yet."

The Jayhawks have talent. Make no mistake about it. There are two other freshmen, skilled 7-footer Joel Embiid and 6-foot-5 shooting guard Wayne Selden, who could play their way into June's NBA lottery.

But Wiggins is supposed to be the prize of a loaded 2014 NBA draft. He shouldn't just blend in; he should be dominating.

I saw James in high school, watched Durant as a freshman at Texas and have seen other No. 1 picks such as John Wall and Kyrie Irving countless times. Those guys dominated nearly every time out, whether it was practice or a game.

To be sure, I like Wiggins -- both as a person and as a player. However, the expectations are too high for him, and I'm not sure he can handle it. Durant was quiet off the court, but not like Wiggins. In the span of a 15-minute interview, Wiggins spent much of the time looking at the ground. It wasn't just me, either. Others who have interviewed Wiggins lately had the same experience.

But this isn't about his lack of interviewing skills. Wiggins' effort is inconsistent, and while he could get away with that at the high school level at Huntington (W.Va.) Prep and in summer ball, he won't be able to do it in college -- and certainly not in the NBA.

"Maybe he'll wind up getting there this season, but he's a long, long way off right now," said another NBA guy who came through Lawrence in the preseason. "He looks like just another player. I've seen him a few times in the past, and to be honest, he hasn't been off-the-charts any of those times. I love his athleticism, but I worry about his intensity -- as well as other aspects of his game. He doesn't shoot it great, and he's got zero aura about him. Again, I'm not saying he can't get there -- but people are making far more of this kid than they should."

Wiggins is a freakish athlete, but there are plenty of high-level athletes in the NBA. Josh Smith is a high-level athlete, but that doesn't mean he'll ever be an NBA superstar.

Wiggins is a mediocre shooter. I'd guess he'll shoot somewhere around 30 percent from beyond the arc this season. Although he's an elite athlete and has terrific body control, his ballhandling also needs work. Once he refines his handle, he could be extremely effective in the half court. Right now, though, he has difficulty getting by defenders in tight spaces.

Wiggins hasn't looked the part of a future NBA star, but it's still early.

…Embiid is a guy of potential. Remember, the 7-foot Cameroon native has been playing basketball for only a couple of years. He's extremely raw but has so much to work with. He's not only learning the game but also learning -- like Wiggins -- how to play hard on every possession. Embiid has a skill package that allows him to score in the post and the ability to step out and make shots to the 3-point line. That's what makes him so intriguing. He's not a big-time shot-blocker and probably will be a skilled power forward in time. Don't expect Embiid to put up huge numbers this season at Kansas, as he'll share time with Tarik Black and Perry Ellis, but he'll almost certainly be a high lottery pick because of his high ceiling.

• Selden used to be a power guard. I was concerned that he might wind up like former Syracuse guard Paul Harris, who was able to physically overpower guys in high school but wasn't able to do the same in college when others caught up. However, the 6-5 Selden looks like a different player than he did a year ago. His perimeter shot is much-improved, and he also has better court vision and passing ability than I ever realized.

Selden isn't a point guard, but he makes others better. However, his biggest strength is his ability to score in a variety of ways. Selden could easily make it a trifecta in terms of having three Kansas guys taken in the top 15 or so after this season. Selden has the highest motor of the three and possesses more toughness than Wiggins and Embiid.
ESPN Goodman ($) continues his agenda against Wiggins as #1

GQ images

DIME discussion: Why didn't Andrew Wiggins just bypass college?


Naadir Tharpe considered it an honor to pose for pictures, sign autographs and demonstrate a few fundamental basketball skills to 450 Ladies Night Out attendees on Thursday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

“It’s really important to me,” Tharpe, Kansas University’s junior point guard from Worcester, Mass., said of the fundraiser for “Jayhawks for A Cure,” with all proceeds going to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and KC Cancer Center.

“My father (Ronald) passed away with lung cancer. Anytime I hear the word cancer, I know it’s a horrible thing. To give back and be able to help everyone, I think is important.”

Tharpe said the attendees at the fourth-annual event had “questions and pictures (on their mind) the whole time. The stuff you are watching now is fake,” he joked of a dribbling drill going on in the background.

“Half of them want to take pictures right now,” he added, laughing.

KU coach Bill Self and the players held a 15-minute question-and-answer session with the women before breaking into stations. Self had to smile at a question he has heard off-and-on, on his radio talk show during his 11-year stint at KU.

That is, “Will you press more this season?”

“This is such a great event. When you all leave, you will know more than your husbands,” he joked, leading into the answer. “We’ve never been a pressing team. We’re a pressure team. No matter what we do, we will not give up our core philosophy. (That is) I hate giving up easy baskets. When you press, you give up easy baskets. Once you get to the NCAA Tournament, teams have such good guards. You don’t really (fullcourt) press then. We’ll pressure more.”

…Self said it might help his young team to play before a big crowd during Saturday’s open scrimmage (9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.) in Allen Fieldhouse. Doors open at 9 a.m. Admission is free.

About 800 high school and college basketball coaches will be on hand as part of Self’s weekend coaches clinic.

“Our guys will have to respond to game settings with people in the stands,” Self said. “We’re still so early into it. We’re three weeks into it. We’re doing OK. We’ve made some progress. The biggest deal was, so many people couldn’t get in for Late Night. This is a way those who couldn’t get in hopefully will have an opportunity to come now.”

Asked if he wants 16,300 in the building, he said: “If we’re going to open the doors, we might as well fill it up. I hope there’s a great crowd here. I anticipate there will be. I don’t know if we’ll get it full. I anticipate us having a pretty good crowd.”
LJW

KUAD Press Release Ladies Night

LJW: Ladies Night Out Photo Gallery

KUAD Photo Gallery

Ranking back courts against front courts is a tough thing to do because, technically speaking, a small forward is a front court player. That’s why we changed our list to top perimeter attacks; if a player will predominantly spend his time playing on the wing, we label it as such. That’s why you’ll see guys like Andrew Wiggins and Rodney Hood on this list.

Enough blabbering. Here are our top 15 perimeter attacks:

8. Kansas: We all know about Andrew Wiggins, and we all know about Wayne Selden. They’re both lottery picks. Where the question mark lies is at the point guard spot. Will Naadir Tharpe step up and be the player everyone thought he could be coming out of high school? Will Frank Mason or Connor Frankamp take that spot over from him? Full disclosure: We voted on these lists and I had Kansas at No. 1.
NBC


That said, I sat down recently at The Broken Egg in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and put together my best backcourts in America. It was very difficult to differentiate them as there are so many talented groups. Also, when considering this list, several players could be classified as playing swing positions, big enough to be a forward but talented enough to perform at guard.

9. KANSAS
Because of Andrew Wiggins' versatility, I am putting the Jayhawks in the top 10. Naadir Tharpe will log more minutes and should excel with greater responsibility. Wayne Selden Jr. and Conner Frankamp are other diaper dandies to watch.
ESPN Vitale

VIDEO: NBA.com Ben McLemore gives a tour of his new home



VIDEO: Rock Chalk Cardboard! Upper Deck discusses new KU trading cards


Let’s look at the coaches you’ve played for: Bob Hurley, Sr. in high school, Bill Self at Kansas and three NBA coaches, P.J. Carlesimo, Avery Johnson and now Jason Kidd. Thats a lot of history. Who’s been the toughest to play for?


Coach Hurley, maybe. I just didn’t understand his madness at the time. Being 16, 17 years old, you just don't get it until after you leave. Coach Self got me at 19, and at that point you think you know everything. My attitude was ‘I get it.’ Now that I’m in this next experience, I get why he was blacking out on me. It all makes sense as you get older.
Vibe interview with Tyshawn Taylor


Indiana Pacers have released guard Ron Howard and forward Darnell Jackson.
https://twitter.com/InsideHoops


Digital Kansas Basketball Preview

Baylor freshman guard Allerik Freeman will miss the next six to seven weeks with a hand injury, Bears coach Scott Drew told CBSSports.com Thursday morning.

The 6-3, 205-pound shooting guard Freeman was a consensus Top 100 recruit coming of high school (Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada) and is expected to immediately enhance Baylor's perimeter scoring.

The timetable for the injury casts doubt on Freeman's availability for an opening stretch including games against Colorado (Nov. 8), South Carolina (Nov. 12), Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 17) and Charleston Southern (Nov. 20). The Bears subsequently open the Maui Invitational on Nov. 25, facing Chaminade in the first round.
CBS


Eli Carter and Will Yeguete are both recovering from injuries suffered in the spring. Michael Frazier II is being tested for mononucleosis. Point guard Scottie Wilbekin is still serving an indefinite suspension. Damontre Harris is working through a hamstring issue. And star freshman forward Chris Walker is still working to attain his academic eligibility and join the Gators in December.

As a result, Donovan -- a two-time national champion and perennially successful recruiter -- has found himself running practices with just seven scholarship players. He admits he has no idea what to expect.

"We have a lot of unknowns," Donovan said, "with our injuries, not having a full complement of players. ... I'd tell you today, if we had [all our players available] and we could start Oct. 11 fully healthy, then I'd tell you we have a chance to be really good. Hopefully we can get there as the season goes on. But we're not there right now."

That adversity has led Florida's players to adopt an incongruous new slogan for the 2013-14 season: "S.W.A.G." But it's not just about confidence or flash (or slightly outdated tween lingo).

"It means 'Strengthen When Adversity Grows,'" senior forward Patric Young said. "We need to strengthen as adversity gets more and more in our face. We need to stay together and be connected."
ESPN


Louisville F Chane Behanan has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of university policy.
@KKcards


The Ole Miss Athletic Foundation plans to borrow almost $80 million to build a basketball arena and parking garage that could cost up to $100 million.

The College Board, meeting Thursday at Jackson State University, approved plans for the University of Mississippi to lease 8.3 acres on the west side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to the foundation.

The 9,500-seat arena is scheduled to be completed by January 2016 and would replace the 9,061-seat Tad Smith Coliseum, built in 1967. Ole Miss says the current arena is outmoded and worn out.
Link


Is the ACC the best college basketball conference ever?


Jimmy Dykes sure he'll find the "it" factor at Kentucky's Midnight Madness


Big XII composite schedule


ESPN College GameDay Schedule


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

10/17/13, 5:00 PM
Flying out to KU later tonight.
@BigJah22


Off to Kansas.. KU official this weekend. #RockChalk #KUCMB
@TyusJones06


Recruiting Calendar


My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk

Jayhawks point guard Naadir Tharpe finally looks and feels as if he belongs in Lawrence.

In the effort of full disclosure, I’ve known Tharpe for about six years. He grew up about 30 miles away in Worcester, Mass., and spent three years at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. I was with Tharpe the first time he ever tried Chinese food in Las Vegas and have seen him play countless occasions.

That’s why I was so concerned when he committed to KU.

Tharpe had put up impressive credentials. He started for three seasons at one of the nation’s top programs. He was the player of the year in the NEPSAC and helped the program win both a league and a national title. He’d run the show for the New England Playaz, a team that featured older and more heralded guys such as Erik Murphy and Nate Lubick.

…Kansas coach Bill Self told me in July that Tharpe was battling with freshman Frank Mason, a former Towson signee, for the starting point guard spot. Tharpe had the slight edge at the time, but only because he had two years of experience on Mason. Three months later, there is no longer any competition. Tharpe not only has a firm grasp on the starting job -- he also clearly has become the leader of this young team.

…There’s no one more important on this team than Tharpe. Self knows it, and Tharpe is certainly aware of the expectations.

“He’s certainly our most valuable player, especially this early in the season,” Self said. “He knows what we’re doing and has more of a grasp than anyone else on the team.”

Tharpe looks as though he belongs now, carrying himself with swagger while zipping passes downcourt to Wiggins and in the paint to Black and Embiid -- and also knocking down 3s with regularity. The grin is gone -- at least on the court, where now Tharpe is all business.

“There’s nothing to smile about,” Tharpe said. “I’m angry. I want to play. I want to win.”
ESPN Goodman($)


10/16/13, 4:53 PM
#Nodaysoff is getting better in every aspect of the game learning your spots and your teammates. #AutoMaticForThePeople #FILM
@Ntharpe1

Digital Kansas Basketball Preview


Saturday's Open Practice Info


CBS Top 100 Players (#1 Wiggins, Embiid 28, Selden 31)


"Everybody is excited about (Wiggins') talent," a source associated with Under Armour said. "From everything you see or hear, he's the next kid coming into the NBA that's going to demand, on talent alone, a significant amount from a brand. That type of commitment and interest for a rookie has really died down since LeBron and maybe Kevin Durant being the last one."

Overall, next year will present a special class of sneaker free agents, as the Nike contracts of NBA stars Durant, Kyrie Irving and Paul George are expiring, according to Nick DePaula, the editor-in-chief of Sole Collector magazine. And then there's Wiggins, who could steal the thunder from everyone.

Three sources told Bleacher Report that Adidas has pegged Wiggins as their prime target—and they would be willing to open up the bank for him. Of course, no meetings or official offers can be made until Wiggins declares for the 2014 draft after his season at Kansas.

"(Adidas) is easily the front-runner, 100 percent," said Rich Lopez, the publisher of the popular sneaker website KixandtheCity.com.

"From what I'm hearing, (Adidas) is really high on him," an industry source said. "I've heard a range for sure, from like $140 to $180 million for like 10 years. That's a big deal for a kid coming out of school because most rookie deals are probably like four years."

"I'm hearing from people at Kansas that he's got a $180 million offer supposedly coming from Adidas," a source close to Wiggins' inner circle said. "But I also heard that Nike is going to match anything."

There's no question Nike, the world's leader in footwear and apparel, will place a bid for Wiggins, who's unanimously projected to be the top draft pick next June. Wiggins wore Nikes growing up, according to two sources, and his former Ontario-based AAU team, CIA Bounce, was sponsored by the company.

In addition, Nike could eventually have an "in" with Wiggins through Rich Paul, who has been James' agent since last September. Paul is also connected to Mike George—the former director of CIA Bounce, which featured Wiggins' friends and fellow Canadians Anthony Bennett, Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson, all of whom are now in the NBA—and one NBA agent said he'd "be surprised" if Wiggins didn't end up with Paul. In fact, the source close to Wiggins' inner circle said Paul and Wiggins met last summer in Ohio, where James was working out with Durant.

… "Nike's motivation to bring in Wiggins could be to replace Kobe because he's on his way out," Lopez said. "So I assume if they were to give Wiggins a big deal and his signature sneaker, that's their motivation."

At this point, Adidas has the upper hand because they sponsor Kansas, so the company's reps can be in direct contact with him and outfit him with customized game sneakers during the season. Derrick Rose played college ball at Memphis, which was in partnership with Adidas, and the company "was able to massage him early," Lopez said, before signing him as a rookie in 2008.

Nike and Jordan Brand, on the other hand, have to tread carefully behind the scenes so they don't get in trouble for tampering. The source close to Wiggins' inner circle said a Nike rep was recently on the Kansas campus to take in a scrimmage.

"It's interesting because (Wiggins) has been a Nike guy his whole life, and then he goes to Kansas and they're an Adidas school," the NBA agent said. "That sends a message to Nike that it's not a done deal yet, so now both of these companies are going to have to cut a check. Going to an Adidas school is kind of like a statement to Nike saying, 'Hey, if you want to get me, you don't already have me. You've got to cut the check and make some things happen.' "

…Beyond the money and Wiggins' talent, the sneaker companies are also going to explore the value of his personality. Arkell Bruce, one of Wiggins' close mentors and his former assistant coach at Huntington Prep in West Virginia, said Wiggins is a "family guy" and prefers to keep a low profile.
"Andrew is really private. He doesn't like a lot of his business out there," Bruce said. "He has a tight-knit circle, like real tight. He doesn't really mess with a lot of people; he doesn't trust a lot of people."

Could Wiggins' privacy affect how much he earns? Well, in the case of Rose, who has similar character traits to Wiggins and disconnects himself from the celebrity status of the league, it didn't seem to matter. But business reps will still need to work with Wiggins regardless to help him develop a persona the public will admire.

"I think Andrew is going to be talented athlete, but at the end of day, he's going to have to open up his personality," the source close to Wiggins' inner circle said. "So in order for him to be that quality pitch guy, he's going to have to go through media training. All that shyness and bashfulness that he has in him right now, he's going to have to get that out of him."

Bruce believes Wiggins' experience at Kansas will help him prepare for all of the attention, which he expects to "hit the fan" when the season starts.

"The coaches are great and I'm pretty sure they're going to do a great job of handling it," Bruce said.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1808832-inside-the-epic-race-to-get-andrew-wiggins-sneaker-endorsement

10/15/13, 1:45 PM
Randle. RT @nick_giard: @GoodmanESPN who do you think will have a better year - Wiggins or Randle?
Andrew Wiggins and Derrick Rose are both extremely shy, but Wiggins takes it to a different level.
@GoodmanESPN

Former KU guard Jo Jo White, 66, is back at work as a community ambassador for the Boston Celtics three years after undergoing eight-hour surgery to remove a brain tumor.

“I thank God every day for being here, but I haven’t turned the corner,” White told Yahoo Sports. “I’m still dealing with the circumstances of what I had to go through: Not being able to walk. Not being able to run. Remembering things. Eating.”

After surgery, White had to re-learn how to walk, had trouble eating, experienced double vision and still has some short-term memory loss, Yahoo Sports reports.

“I went through a tough time,” White said. “I appreciate all my supporters. All my fans. My precious wife and my kids were right there for me.”
Link to recovery article


Former KU guard Elijah Johnson, who recently left Anwil Wloclawek, a pro team in Poland, has now signed with Polish League team Rosa Radom, Eurobasket.net reports.
LJW


Tyshawn Taylor admits it. The first time he went down to the D-League last season he didn’t take it seriously.

He got a taste of the NBA, and the 23-year-old point guard is certainly confident in his abilities at the highest level. So during a rookie season in which he rarely played with the Nets, Taylor just started hoisting shots for the Springfield Armor.

He scored 32 points on 28 shots the first time he was called down.  Springfield lost.

“When you see the difference (in the D-League) – the travel, you see the difference of the hotel, even the plane. It’s kind of like, ‘I don’t really want to be here, it’s not the best thing,’” Taylor said. “But it’s good experience when you’re not getting the kind of time you feel you should or you deserve or whatever the case may be, or you’re just in the wrong position. It’s always a good thing.
“So after my first time I went down there I took it more seriously. I think the first time I went down there it was kind of like, “Ok, I’m going to shoot all the balls, everybody get out my way.
“But after the first time I went down there I had a better attitude about it and just really tried to work on what my coaches wanted to see from me if I was in the NBA setting, not just in the D-League trying to score points. I think I got better because of it because I took more advantage of trying to pace myself and trying to be a better player.”

Taylor now has a better understanding of what the Nets need from him, and he’s working on that – taking care of the ball and energy on defense. Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle in the second preseason game, and it’s an opportunity missed because starter Deron Williams is also out with the same injury.

Taylor had been the backup to Shaun Livingston.

“My biggest thing is obviously taking care of the ball,” said Taylor, who committed seven turnovers in the preseason opener while scoring a team-high 16 points. “But another thing people want to see from me is just playing hard, my energy. They want me to keep my energy up, being a defender.  Those are the things that I’ve been constantly thinking about, trying to work on so, as far as those two things, I think I’ve been doing really good.
NY Daily News

A state appeals court said a Missouri man who roots for the University of Kansas Jayhawks may keep his personalized license plate expressing disdain for the University of Missouri Tigers.

The Administrative Hearing Commission last year rejected an effort by Missouri’s Revenue Department to recall Toby Gettler’s plate, which reads “MZU SUX.” The Revenue Department had issued the plate but tried to recall it on the ground that “SUX” is obscene.

Gettler presented evidence, including a dictionary definition, that the word has gained common usage as slang for “subpar or inadequate.”

The Missouri Court of Appeals’ Western District on Tuesday upheld the hearing commission’s decision in Gettler’s favor. The appellate court said there is evidence to support the commission’s determination.
AP

If you want tickets for Iowa State's men's basketball home games against Michigan, Iowa or Kansas, you'll have to find them on the secondary market.

The Cyclones announced Wednesday that those games were sellouts.
DesMoinesRegister.com


Heading into the 2013-14 season, with tip-off a mere three weeks away, fans will get a taste of the best teams in the country today at noon ET when the preseason top 25 teams are unveiled in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

How will this preseason's top 25 shake out? Once again, the spotlight shines brightly over the state of Kentucky. Ushering in perhaps the greatest recruiting class of all-time — boasting six McDonald's All-Americans — Calipari's reloaded Kentucky team is positioned to get back to title form. The heavily-favored Wildcats should again earn a high preseason ranking thanks to an influx of talent, including returning sophomores and de facto veterans Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein, to go "40-0" as Calipari isn't shy in suggesting.
USA Today


The Wildcats — and 10 other SEC teams — were shut out of the NCAA tournament last season. Now, the coaches are predicting a resurgence, and John Calipari's newest crop of highly touted recruits appear to be at the forefront.

It can't get much worse for either the league or Kentucky, thanks to that program's unforgiving standards.

Florida was the only one of the three SEC participants to survive the NCAA tournament's first weekend. That poor performance came four years after SEC teams went 1-3 in the tournament but was still unusual.

Thus came the league's offseason focus on enhancing NCAA resumes, including tougher nonconference schedules.
AP


Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is again coaching the team picked to win the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Hall of Famer knows it's going to be a lot tougher to live up to the preseason prediction with the addition of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame to the ACC.

…The Blue Devils earned 50 of 54 first-place votes from media members at the league's "ACC Operation Basketball" media day. Syracuse was picked second and earned three first-place votes, while North Carolina was picked third and earned the last one.

All three new arrivals were picked to finish the top half of the 15-team league, with the Fighting Irish picked fifth and the Panthers picked sixth.

It marked the 10th time in 17 years that the Blue Devils were picked to finish first in the league, though the first since before the 2010-11 season following Krzyzewski's fourth national championship. This year's team returns starters Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon from a 30-win team that reached an NCAA regional final before falling to eventual champion Louisville, which joins the ACC next season.

That duo will join with highly touted freshman Jabari Parker, picked as the league's rookie of the year, and Mississippi State sophomore transfer Rodney Hood to form Duke's core.

Both Parker and Hood were picked to the preseason all-ACC team, joining Fair, Virginia senior guard Joe Harris and Notre Dame senior guard Jerian Grant on the five-man squad.
AP


“This may be the strongest collection of basketball programs ever assembled in one conference,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said Wednesday at ACC men’s basketball media day. “Competition within the league will be brutal.”

“It’s a little scary,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said.

The ACC’s basketball reputation took a back seat to the Big East and the Big Ten in recent years.

The ACC reaped only four NCAA tournament bids last season.

But Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pitt all received NCAA bids in their Big East swan song last season, with the Orange advancing to the Final Four.

With that trio joining a league that includes Duke and UNC, the 15-team ACC is now arguably the best league in the land.
Link


"Whenever a youngster comes in with outstanding talent like he has, but a learning curve like all of them do, they would always benefit from going to a veteran team," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "That's not going to be the case for Jabari.

"He has a lot to learn, and he wants to learn. But who he is initially will not be as good as he will be later in the year. I just want him to not feel the pressure of trying to be a completed product right away. Because that's not going to happen."

Still, guard Tyler Thornton described Parker — voted Wednesday to the preseason All-ACC team and named preseason rookie of the year — as "really special." Hood labeled him a "phenomenal talent." The former Simeon star and No. 4 recruit in the Class of 2013 apparently has been effective at the point, from the wing and in the post in workouts.

Parker can do it all, but the next step is learning when not to.

"We're just trying to teach him to take what the defense gives you," Thornton said. "At this level, you don't really have to make something happen. We're going to have a lot of possessions. Coach wants us to score a lot. But (Parker is) really good and has done a great job of adapting."
Chicago Tribune


A video was sent out to all Division I coaches last week with all the rules changes. Art Hyland, the secretary rules editor of the NCAA men's basketball rules committee, highlighted the proper enforcement of hand-checking rules, which has been moved from a guideline into the official rule book.

"It requires fouls to be called when such action occurs against the player with the ball," Hyland said.
These rules include:

• Keeping hand or forearm on an opponent.
• Putting two hands on an opponent.
• Continually jabbing an opponent by extending an arm or placing a hand or forearm on the   opponent.
• Using an arm bar to impede the progress of a dribbler.

NCAA director of officials John Adams told ESPN.com that it will take time for coaches, players and officials to adjust. The changes could well result in an increase of fouls early in the season and also could force star players to the bench with foul trouble.

"The best way to increase scoring and make the game better is to create situations to get more shots," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "More free throws doesn't make the game better."

…Another rule that should clearly benefit the offense and is likely to increase scoring is the block-charge call, which now states that a defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has begun his upward motion with the ball to attempt a field goal or a pass. Previously, the player had to be in legal guarding position when the offensive player lifted off the floor.

"There will be no more flopping," Calipari said.

Adams said that the referees get more than 90 percent of all calls correct, but that number was at about 65 percent last season with regard to block-charge calls.

"It's a tough play and it happens incredibly quickly," Adams said. "A big reason for the change was aimed to help the officials get the call right."

Not only will it give the referees a little more time, but it should also favor the offensive player.
However, the most discussed topic remains hand-checking calls on the perimeter.

Pitino has said his players will continue to press on defense and that he feels quick players such as Russ Smith will be "unguardable" with the new rules.

"Does it guarantee that we're better off just because we're putting more points on the board?" said Self, who is concerned about an increase in free throws. "I'm worried there will be less flow."

Said Adams: "The idea is to make the game better, not call more fouls."
ESPN


USA Today Countdown: #18 Wichita State


He has played in more than 100 games. He has been a full-time starter since he was a sophomore. His basketball coach says Kansas State’s hopes for a successful season start with him.

And he might also be the most overlooked player on the Wildcats’ roster.

Welcome to the life of Will Spradling. Even though he has helped K-State reach the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons and share a Big 12 championship last season, Spradling, a 6-foot-2 guard from Shawnee Mission South, is still able to walk around campus in virtual anonymity weeks before the start of his senior season.

“If we walk into places the guys that don’t play as much as Will get noticed before he does,” senior guard Shane Southwell said. “It is, honestly, hilarious. It has been like that for four years.”
KC Star


Forward Wanaah Bail has been granted full eligibility by the NCAA to play the upcoming basketball season for UCLA after the freshman's waiver was approved.
AP


Big XII composite schedule


ESPN College GameDay Schedule


2013-14 Early-season events schedule

Five-star shooting guard Rashad Vaughn has postponed his visit to Baylor that was scheduled for this weekend. Working on a new date.
@ebosshoops

Okafor and Jones could not take their KU visit during the weekend of Late Night in the Phog, when more than 20,000 Kansas fans lined up outside Allen Fieldhouse to watch a night of dancing and scrimmaging on Oct. 4. So Self and Kansas are playing host to another open scrimmage that figures to draw in thousands.

“We didn’t show much at all during Late Night (in the Phog) other than 20 minutes of bad ball,” Self said earlier this month. “This way KU fans can come see us before heading to the football game.”

Kansas landed the first commitment of its 2014 class on Oct. 8, when shooting guard Kelly Oubre, Rivals’ No. 12 overall recruit, picked the Jayhawks after visiting on Late Night.

For now, Okafor has reportedly focused his attention on a group of schools that includes Baylor, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky. Okafor and Jones have already taken a co-visit to Baylor in late September, and Baylor coach Scott Drew pulled out all the stops. The coach, according to Jones’ official blog, arranged a feeding with some live Bears that apparently live on campus. Self will probably keep the Fieldhouse free of live animals during KU’s open scrimmage. But a few thousand Kansas fans showing up for a practice seems like a solid substitute. (Okafor and Jones also plan on visiting Duke, according to Rivals.)
KC Star

Prime Prep's Midnight Madness is gonna have more stars that the BET Hip Hop Awards! #DoingItMajor
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My Late Night in the Phog videos, KU Alumni games videos, 2011-12 Border War videos, Legends of the Phog videos, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos and more now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk