It's official: Josh Jackson is a Jayhawk! https://t.co/FoH1XkpXIf #kubball #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/lQPleAbqLF
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) May 3, 2016
.@CoachBillSelf praises Josh Jackson's game-changing athleticism and competitiveness #kubball pic.twitter.com/AQkMfaxGAe
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) May 3, 2016
7-foot center Udoka Azubuike is officially a Jayhawk! https://t.co/XoEBSUoJOA #kubball #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/CnektEKega
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) May 6, 2016
.@CoachBillSelf comments on the signing of 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike (you-doke-uh as-a-boo-key) #kubball pic.twitter.com/XCgub9Yivd
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) May 6, 2016
Kansas University’s Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr. and Cheick Diallo will attend the 2016 NBA Combine, today through Sunday in Chicago.
CBSsports.com ranks Diallo No. 21 of 117 underclassmen who declared for the draft. Selden and Brannen Greene, who was not invited to the Combine but will work out for individual NBA teams in coming weeks, were ranked Nos. 29 and 64 respectively.
The Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel explains the combine drills will include “spot up shooting (from high school, NBA and college three-point lines), on-the-move-shooting (from 15 to 18 feet), off-the-dribble shooting (15-18 feet), lane agility, shuttle run and bench press. Players will be measured for hand size, feet size, wingspan, height, weight and percentage of body fat. There will be scrimmages with players divided into teams.”
The three KU players figure to participate in the scrimmages since none are currently assured first-round status.
LJW
Kansas junior Wayne Selden will only participate in interviews and medical exams at the NBA draft combine – pulling out of on-court drills – after undergoing a recent procedure for a small meniscus tear in his knee, league sources told The Vertical.
Selden played with the injury for part of the season, helping Kansas reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. He held off on the procedure in his right knee until after the season, sources said. In 38 games, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the field.
Selden, 21, informed the league of his status in advance of the start of the combine Wednesday. Selden has stayed on track in his rehabilitation and training, and is expected to begin individual team workouts soon.
Yahoo Sports
Diallo only played more than 10 minutes five times all season, and outside of a 9-point, 9-rebound, 5-block effort against TCU never had a significant impact in a Big 12 game.
So why is it again that the 6-foot-9 19-year-old from Kayes, Mali, has entered the NBA Draft? It’s all about potential. And it only takes the decision-makers with one franchise to look at Diallo and see an improved, evolved version of what he is now for him to hear his name called in the first round of the draft on June 23.
LJW Smithology
Jackson finishes as top-ranked player in 2016 class. https://t.co/6ORS5tmu5k #kubball pic.twitter.com/I06o26XFqA
— JayhawkSlant (@JayhawkSlant) May 10, 2016
@j_josh11 working on his Steph curry pull back - same hand, same foot @StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/EDd45RctPP
— Prolific Prep (@ProlificPrep) May 7, 2016
100 kilo hang clean. @carltonbragg31 keeps getting better. pic.twitter.com/BbNmSX2NBZ
— Andrea Hudy (@A_Hudy) May 6, 2016
.@PElliz had a very pleasant homecoming this past weekend in Kansas #PSEmktg pic.twitter.com/U3AFp61w2h
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) May 9, 2016
Perry Ellis signed autographs for two hours on Friday night and felt the love, no doubt.
The former Kansas forward and Wichita native only had look in front of him and his three teammates at the line of fans that snaked down a large staircase in the atrium at East High’s gymnasium, through the lobby, outside and down a sidewalk to see the reception he was getting.
But even if that wasn’t enough to show the soft-spoken Ellis, a two-time All-Big 12 pick, what he meant to his hometown, he needed only wait until the halftime auction of Friday’s Kansas Barnstorming Tour stop to be sure.
That’s when Ellis’ game-worn, cream-colored throwback uniform sparked a bidding war in the crowd, the price skyrocketing until it was finally sold for $2,300. Minutes later one of Ellis’ blue jerseys went for $900.
KC Star
Wichita Eagle image
And Jamari with a 3 before the buzzer!! pic.twitter.com/hgVrbTrHzO
— Ryan Tarletsky (@Ryan_Tarletsky) May 7, 2016
Jamari Traylor has plenty of motivation to become a professional basketball player — either in the NBA or overseas.
“That’s pretty much what I need, just to be able to help my mom out a little bit more,” Traylor said of his mother, Tracey Golson. “That would be a dream come true right there.”
Traylor is not the only reserve KU big man who is working to pursue basketball options after graduation.
Hunter Mickelson, who was alongside Traylor at the KU Barnstorming Tour in Leavenworth on April 30, also says he is working out in hopes of continuing his career.
“I’m hoping to get into the NBA — go the summer league route, however it works. That’s where I really want to go,” Mickelson said. “But of course, I just want to keep playing. I would play overseas obviously. Whatever opportunities come my way, I’ll definitely weigh them and see how they would work for me.”
KC Star
Wichita Eagle image
Wichita Eagle image
Brannen Greene @b_greene14 talks @kuhoops, food, training for pro career #rockchalk #kubballhttps://t.co/16vJE5QF3C pic.twitter.com/gt4FLb3iBH
— The Basketball Diary (@TheBBallDiary) May 8, 2016
The mark of a leader: With a difficult legacy to follow, Evan Manning carved his own path: https://t.co/PHCV65h47b pic.twitter.com/lyqsxFRDTB
— Scott Chasen (@SChasenMLB) May 5, 2016
Introducing the Sadler twins, Landon & Lucas. Yep. Named after #KUbball PF Landen Lucas. Here's how it came to be... https://t.co/379pE4wKF8
— Matt Tait (@mctait) May 10, 2016
76ers coach Brett Brown told 94WIP's Mike and Ike Show on Tuesday he has a "strong belief" that the 22-year-old big man from Kansas will be able to make his debut on opening night next season.
"I think that he's coming along tremendously," Brown said. "I think that, from a maturity standpoint and the reality of the professionalism that is required for him to be money and just perfect with the rehab, pre-hab, nutrition, all of that with his foot is ever present in Joel Embiid. I think that he is all over the place, on track, to have just a solid first year. There could be minute restrictions on his first year where we start off the season slowly with him, but in general, I know he's just so excited to get out and play basketball again."
USA Today
Yeeeeeaaaaaaa boooooiiiiiiiii. Step 1 is complete. I'm back walkin https://t.co/hOWaPbqWbw
— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) May 5, 2016
Yea they gotta make these happen and I need a Chalmers 15 oneRT @FansOfKU: This black uni concept is sick□ pic.twitter.com/8dzeO7xJYv
— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) May 4, 2016
I need a selby 32□ https://t.co/QnEGEyoNkd
— Josh Selby (@joshselby32) May 4, 2016
thank you Venezuela and all the people of Barquisimeto and fans of the Guaros - thank you for… https://t.co/DFKY3ZTwer
— tyshawn taylor (@tyshawntaylor) May 5, 2016
ICYMI: Morris twins' mother, "Angel," has made impact on her sons, others https://t.co/kqptJvV1LY #kubball pic.twitter.com/nVKQK3Gf5F
— KUsports.com (@KUsports) May 9, 2016
Join us June 4th for a Celebrity Basketball Game, benefitting former #KUBBALL player, @Aleonjam!!#HoopsforHopeKC pic.twitter.com/MAIRIzzL06
— Hoops For Hope (@Hoops4HopeKC) May 6, 2016
.@CoachBillSelf's Summer Basketball Camps are coming up in June! Info and registration at: https://t.co/lWXHqV8Axz. pic.twitter.com/ywyavvJ7ky
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) May 5, 2016
Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 Rock Chalk Roundball Classic. June 16th at Free State High School. #kubball pic.twitter.com/089flzx6cC
— Rock Chalk Roundball (@RCRClassic) May 9, 2016
Kansas Athletics' Andrea Hudy and the University of Kansas School of Business will team up for "The Business of Sports: Branding Matters" conference on Friday, June 10 in the new Capitol Federal Hall located east of Allen Fieldhouse across Naismith Drive.
With the hopes of drawing a parallel between business and sport, Hudy, the assistant athletics director for sports performance, met with Neeli Bendapudi, the Dean at the KU School of Business, and together they came up with the idea for the conference. The daylong seminar will touch on the ways brands can influence the four main areas of an organization and will also explore the value of organizational branding through the lens of sports.
Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self will give the opening remarks at the conference. He will be followed by keynote speakers Ted Leland, Director of Athletics at the University of Pacific, Cliff Illig, Vice Chairman of Cerner and Co-Owner of Sporting KC, Phil Wagner, CEO/Founder of Sparta Science and ESPN Sports Journalist, Holly Rowe. Each of the guest speakers will touch on how a brand can influence the four major areas of an organization—people, partnerships, processes and payoffs.
"These are four great speakers that are at the top of their game in whatever they are presenting on," Hudy said. "They are industry leaders."
KUAD
Could CapFed Hall become the 2nd best place to watch #kubball (besides Allen Fieldhouse obviously!)?? pic.twitter.com/7NTdk3DP24
— Dave Byrd-Stadler (@davestadler) May 7, 2016
Beautiful new photo of the @DeBruceCenter! #architecture #KU pic.twitter.com/QCwDMlMek6
— Gould Evans (@gouldevansassoc) May 10, 2016
“Pay Heed. The game you love began here. Respect those who came before you. Make their legacy your own. Because destiny favors the dedicated. And rings don’t replace work. In this game you don’t get what you want. You get what you earn. We are Kansas. Together we rise. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!”
BIG 12/COLLEGE NEWS
Andrea Hudy image
Kansas’ pursuit of 13: It’s one of the most amazing streaks in American sport, really, as Kansas has won 12-straight Big 12 championships. It’s a total anachronism when you look across the rest of the college basketball landscape. The Jayhawks lost significant pieces from last year’s team, but that’s never stopped Bill Self from being the best in the conference before. Kansas will again be the favorite to win the Big 12 as one of the most consistent programs in the sport’s history.
…Beyond the Jayhawks, the rest of the league is retooling after a season after 70 percent of its membership made the NCAA tournament. Every team in the league seems to have major questions entering this summer.
NBC Sports Top Big 12 Stories for 2016-17
Oklahoma suspends 7-foot center Akolda Manyang for allegedly punching ex football player https://t.co/hITH9o9X0q #Sooners
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) May 6, 2016
Senior Monte Morris will have the first crack at being that guy for the Cyclones. As one of the top returning point guards in the nation, he’s already the player most trusted with the ball in his hands. Morris ranked third nationally with 6.8 assists per game last season, which set a school record, and he needs just 115 assists to surpass Jeff Hornacek for the most in school history. Morris’ 4.23 assist-to-turnover ratio was third in the country. Morris sought feedback from pro scouts after initially declaring for the draft, but already has withdrawn his name.
That has not been the case for Emmanual Malou, a 6-foot-9 junior college transfer the Cyclones had high hopes for next season. He has the inside-outside shooting skills to be the kind of offensive centerpiece Niang was the past two seasons. But he may never see his name on an Iowa State uniform.
Malou entered the NBA draft while still waiting to be cleared academically by the NCAA. His case reportedly is more complex than that of Cheick Diallo, who waited nearly six months before being cleared to play for Kansas this past season. Malou was born in Kenya and grew up in Australia before attending the now-defunct ABCD Prep school in Des Moines, Iowa. His prep school work is drawing scrutiny.
ESPN
Big 12 shouldn't expand until the league gets its story straight https://t.co/EYh2uDs8OT
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) May 6, 2016
The most Big 12 move ever would be if it expanded to 13.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) May 10, 2016
Backcourt depth will be the strength of the team with newcomers James “Beetle” Bolden and Chase Harler hoping to help ease West Virginia’s scoring troubles. Bolden tore his ACL in the preseason and missed the entire year. Harler is a true freshman from Wheeling, West Virginia, who averaged 25 points per game in high school.
Regardless of who’s in the backcourt, the Mountaineers have to take better care of the ball. West Virginia ranked 291st in offensive turnover percentage. In the loss to Stephen F. Austin, it committed 22 turnovers which ended with a classic Huggins postgame press conference: “I don’t know why anybody would waste energy pressing us, we’ll throw it to you regardless. That would be a waste of energy really. We’re very charitable. We’re one of the most charitable groups in college basketball.” That’s why even as Huggins tries to fill his frontcourt voids, guard play will likely decide just how high the Mountaineers can climb next season.
ESPN
The winner of the race to become the first school w/ a court honoring Mission Revival architecture: Santa Clara pic.twitter.com/G8BeL1zXUr
— Luke Winn (@lukewinn) May 5, 2016
A Tulane law professor who also serves as the university’s associate provost for NCAA compliance has offered an extensive proposal under which college athletes could be allowed to use of their names, images and likenesses to make regulated endorsement deals while playing their sports in school.
In a white paper presented Tuesday in conjunction with his appearance before the reform-minded Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, Gabe Feldman argued that the NCAA’s current prohibition of such arrangements is “unnecessary to the NCAA’s core goals and may actually be counterproductive.”
Feldman told the commission that while the NCAA’s concern about the impact of this type of commercialization of athletes is legitimate, “commercialization is already happening” in college sports. And, he added, the association’s restrictions that prevent athletes from making money off their names and images “don’t prevent exploitation — they are exploitative.”
Feldman’s ideas were far from dismissed by some members of the commission, whose website states that its goal is to “ensure that intercollegiate athletics programs operate within the educational mission of their colleges and universities.”
USA Today
Out of the 45 total players who expected to play in the league, about 23 really made it (it depends on how you define making it. Some guys have a contract but go up and down to the D-League and never quite get established).
So while an elite high school player might see Kentucky as a a quick path to the league - say Trey Lyles - the real success rate for guys below that level isn't really that impressive.
UK is putting lots of players into the NBA, but it's not nearly as good as Calipari would have you think. Draft night is great but it's only a small part of it.
And most of those guys were going to get drafted regardless of where they played.
The real question is this: why have so many of his talented players - think Chris Douglas-Roberts, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb or the Harrisons - why have so many underachieved professionally?
In some cases, they just weren't talented enough. No shame in that - the greatest athletes in the world are in the NBA.
In other cases though, they get to the league and are too callow or just aren't skilled enough to stick. And that's on Calipari, who sells them on the notion of leaving as soon as possible.
Essentially he promises to help them hit the jackpot and some do. The others though?
There's no bait, no rod and no easy fishing left and, of course, no degree.
And much less interest from Calipari.
If that's the distinction he wants to draw with Duke, we can live with it.
Duke Report
Mizzou expects smallest freshman class since 2006 https://t.co/NlVMl32prl
— KMBC (@kmbc) May 4, 2016
The Utah Jazz today announced a three-year extension on Quin Snyder's contract
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) May 6, 2016
At his Duke career rate of one championship every 7.2 seasons, it’s statistically likely he’d squeeze in one more NCAA title before calling it quits. White is 65 himself, so if Coach K goes another five years before the challenge of replacing him develops, it’s possible that would become someone else’s problem.
All this might have seemed ludicrous a generation ago, when such greats as Dean Smith and John Thompson were walking away from the game, or perhaps even last decade. Gene Keady, John Chaney and Bob Knight didn’t coach into their 70s, either.
But now we’ve got Larry Brown motoring along at 75, Jim Boeheim reaching the Final Four at age 71 and Tubby Smith changing jobs on the eve of his 65th birthday. Retirement isn’t something the most successful coaches are eager to embrace.
The Sporting News
Two months ago, Mitch Barnhart was criticizing the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee for its seeding of his Wildcats in the NCAA tournament. On Friday, Kentucky’s athletic director was chosen as a member of that very committee.
Barnhart will join the 10-member selection committee for a five-year term, adding to a long list of other responsibilities. He’s also on the NCAA Division I Management Council and is chairman of the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee.
Link
Richard Pitino has a $7.1 million buyout? Wow. https://t.co/M2j5TqUXCw
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) May 10, 2016
When Minnesota hired Richard Pitino in 2013, he was hailed as a wunderkind with a basketball pedigree and acumen that was far more than just his last name. He was coming off an 18-14 campaign in his first season as a head coach at FIU, but he’d coached for the likes of his father, Rick Pitino, and Billy Donovan. Not to mention he was being hand picked by the man that tabbed Shaka Smart and started the famed Villa 7 consortium.
Three years later, it appears that the Gophers program is unraveling fast.
The latest in a recent string of issues for Pitino is an audit of his travel that found he’d spent triple his budget for private plane use in 2015 among other overspending issues, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
This revelation came just hours after junior Reggie Lynch was released from custody after being arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct. Lynch was not charged, but police will continue to investigate and he could face charges at a later date.
Just a few months ago, three Gophers were suspended after an explicit video was posted to social media. One of them, Kevin Dorsey, decided to transfer after the season.
Athletic director Norwood Teague, of course, resigned ignominiously last summer amid a sexual harassment scandal, but not before he negotiated the terms of a contract for Pitino that gave the 33-year-old a $400,000 raise and upped his university-owed buyout to $7.1 million, despite the fact Pitino went just 43-28 overall and 14-22 in the Big Ten in his first two seasons. The Gophers went 8-23 overall and 2-16 this past season. That extension has Minnesota’s Board of Regents moving to gain approval of all high-level contracts for athletic department employees.
Minnesota still has not hired Teague’s replacement, leaving Minnesota with an interim AD.
NBC Sports
NBA Draft/Early Entry Guidelines for 2016
Find out the tournament history for specific seeds, teams, coaches or conferences.
NCAA Tournament Brackets and History interactive tool
CBS Interactive Tool: Pick two teams to compare record, RPI and SOS details head to head. By default, the top two teams in RPI are shown.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison
NCAA stats
Big 12 Composite Schedule & Results
RECRUITING
What were some of the biggest surprises in the Class of 2016?
1. Jayhawks for Jackson
Josh Jackson's recruitment once looked plenty different from where it ended up. While he and his camp tended to limit the flow of information more than others, it led to a decent amount of speculation, most of which centered around three schools -- Arizona, Michigan State and Maryland -- for a variety of different reasons. Kansas was always in the picture, but the public perception back in the fall was that the Jayahwks were playing from behind. Ultimately, that turned out to not be the case, as Bill Self scored arguably the most impactful high school basketball player in the country and as good of an incoming freshman since he's had since, at least, Andrew Wiggins in 2014-2015.
ESPN ($)
Former Arkansas-Little Rock signee Deshawn Corprew told ESPN he will visit Texas A&M this weekend. Also considering Kansas and LSU.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) May 10, 2016
Outstanding mini doc/all access from Hoop Summit by @RyanCurrieHT . Must watch for hardcore hoop fans https://t.co/iMSeF64ULY Great job Ryan
— Eric Bossi (@ebosshoops) May 9, 2016
Lorenzo Romar and the University of Washington added a significant piece to their coaching staff on Friday.
University of Missouri women's assistant coach Michael Porter Sr. confirmed to Rivals.com that he is leaving his job to take an assistant coaching position working for Romar at the University of Washington.
One of Porter's sons, 2018 four-star power forward Jontay Porter, is already committed to play at Washington. The Huskies are also one of the main teams in the mix for another one of Porter's children, 2017's No. 2 player Michael Porter Jr.
While this is no guarantee that Porter Jr. follows in his father and younger brother's footsteps and picks the Huskies, it certainly helps in a big way. It should also be noted that Romar is Porter Jr.'s Godfather.
According to Porter Sr., both of his sons will be moving to the Seattle area and will begin attending school there in the fall.
Rivals.com
Blessed & Honored to receive a phone call from Chris Paul Inviting me to his Elite Point Guard Camp in June‼️ @CP3 pic.twitter.com/SQeuE0Qe4S
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 5, 2016
2018 6-10 David McCormack of Team Loaded has received an offer from Kansas.@ESPNRNHoops
— Reggie Rankin (@ReggieRankin) May 5, 2016
Gary Trent Jr. Mixtape! Holds Offers From: Duke, UK, MSU, Ohio St, AZ, KU etc. (VIDEO) https://t.co/cTBsjGRI8U pic.twitter.com/j9CbfkFCwb
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) May 4, 2016
Quade Green Talks Kansas Offer, Syracuse Visithttps://t.co/KTjasNXlzE@Q_Green1 @PSACardinals pic.twitter.com/PgilREpwYm
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 5, 2016
From waking up to Sinatra to blowing out a final candle, a Five Star salute to Howard Garfinkel, dead at 86: https://t.co/rb93DUWZzq
— Kevin Armstrong (@KevinGArmstrong) May 8, 2016
Recruiting Calendar (updated for 2016)
My Videos:
Late Night in the Phog
Bill Self Camp KU Alumni games
60 Years of AFH Celebration
Legends of the Phog game
2011-12 Final Border War
KC Prep Invitational
Jayhawk Invitational
and more, now on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/kcjcjhawk
RSS Feed