"Tech 9's going to be doing a short performance to bring some energy to the room and then we've got different things planned, things that fans haven't seen before," said Allee.
Allee hopes a new festival outside will bring more of the community to the Phog. Along with the new festivities, security will be in force to make the process run smoother.
"The general public is going to be asked to line up on the lawn of Allen Field House, not directly in front of the doors that way they can be checked, prescreened, ticketed before they actually get to the door," said Captain James Anguiano with the KU Public Safety Office.
Captain Anguiano says the Field House will be very close to capacity, which brings along some safety concerns.
"They're being screened to make sure they don't bring any alcohol in or any items they don't need to have at Late Night. It's a long evening, so don't bring a big backpack full of a lot of things that could take up a seating area," said Anguiano.
After months of planning, Allee hopes fans enjoy this unique look at KU Basketball.
"It's a great opportunity to bring the community together and kind of see the personality side of both the coaches and the players and this is an opportunity for fans that don't get a chance to come in to Allen every game," said Allee.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Gates open at 5 p.m. for students and 5:30 p.m. for the general public. The event officially begins at 6:30 p.m. Click here for a list of items that won't be allowed in Allen Field House.
http://6lawrence.com/news/local-news/20439-changes-in-place-for-late-night-in-the-phog-event
All of our #LateNightKU special section is here, including more on the traditions, the team, and the night: https://t.co/sXy1Hw6vSu
— Kansan Sports (@KansanSports) September 30, 2016
“There’s nothing like Late Night,” said Chenowith, who now works as an insurance producer for Parq Advisors in California. “As soon I got back from summer break, Late Night was in the forefront of my mind. It’s a celebration of Kansas basketball, an opportunity for recruits to see and experience the atmosphere.
“It’s fall in Lawrence, which is beautiful. Basketball season is starting. You worked really hard to prepare for the season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, like the song goes.”
…“There are obviously some corny parts, (but) I think the players love it,” said Mexico (Mo.) High boys basketball coach Nick Bradford, who played at KU from 1996 to 2000. “There’s the feeling basketball is here. I loved every bit of it, the days leading up to it. It’s hanging out with the fellas and getting the season started.”
…If there are any player protests during the national anthem at Late Night or at KU games this season (such as Colin Kaepernick’s before San Francisco 49ers games) they will not catch Self by surprise.
“I certainly am not going to tell them (Jayhawks) not to do anything. I am not going to tell them to do anything, but I will tell them before we do anything we should talk about it,” Self said Thursday morning on KCSP (610 AM). “I think that is important that there is open dialogue, because sometimes things are sold and seen with a certain perspective and not seeing both sides. By no means are we encouraging or discouraging. We just want to talk to our kids about it so we are all on the same page.
“We probably have a much better place to live than in the past. It’s just we have big problems (in our country) and they are magnified right now. Let’s address them and fix them. What’s going on right now is sad on all levels. It’s sad for everybody. Our country is too great to not get to the bottom of it and try to make it better.”
KC Star
LJW image 2015 Late Night in the Phog
Excited to announce that I will be following @KUHoops through the season as they chase another #Big12Title honored to tell this story! #RCJH
— Micah Brown (@SecondWindC) September 27, 2016
At 53 years old, University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self staves off inevitable knee replacements by not running much any more.
He can still hold his own in H-O-R-S-E … but he’s avoided playing basketball since he pulled a hamstring going one-on-one with the father of a recruit when he was at Illinois and thought, “This is not worth it.”
But even if Self projects a comfort in his own skin rare in such a high-profile job, even if he says he was more stressed at Oral Roberts when his first team lost its last 15 games than he is presiding over a KU empire trying to win national titles, he also appreciates that it’s vital for him to unplug and exercise.
…Ask him about his favorite musicians, and he’ll first mention his friend and Oklahoma State dorm mate, Garth Brooks.
“If I could pick anybody to see, it probably would have been Luther (Vandross) before he passed … but I would still say (Bruce) Springsteen,” said Self, who has seen him several times. “Withstood the test of time … (Springsteen) and Bob Dylan aren’t going to win any vocals contests, but somehow he’s got a way to get people to be energized by his music.”
…Self says he’d be “ecstatic” to make it through the contract that currently runs through 2022.
If his energy and health allow, he’ll hope to go longer.
KC Star Gregorian (Video at the link)
USA Today image
Now is the time for Mason take the helm as the Jayhawks’ senior leader by taking a more commanding approach on the court. He’ll have the chance to establish this leadership with a talented, young group behind him.
…Frank Mason has been a supporting cast member for much of his collegiate career, but he has the opportunity to change that in his senior season. He has all the pieces in place to set him up as the Jayhawks’ main guy. Mason and the Jayhawks begin the season a little over a month from now, hosting Washburn in an exhibition game on Nov. 1.
Sports Quotient
The 6-foot-3 Newman, who will practice this season but not play in games in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, was asked if he’ll bust out any particular moves Saturday. Senior guard Frank Mason, for instance, has been known to perform a backflip or two at Late Night.
…“No, no, nothing at all, just a good smile,” Newman said.
Newman — he stopped by Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center on Wednesday night to watch KU students compete in the Late Night men’s and women’s 3-on-3 tournaments (finals will be held Saturday at Late Night) — was in a great mood Thursday following the end of coach Bill Self’s two-week Boot Camp conditioning program.
“I think it’s a good experience,” Newman said. “The only thing I don’t like is waking up that early (for 7 a.m. drills). It’s nothing that’s impossible to do, just a lot of hard work and mental focus going into it. Besides getting in shape, it helps us get tougher and blend more as a team.”
…Freshman forward Udoka Azubuike (strained groin) stood on the sidelines during most of Boot Camp. He should be ready to practice next week, but will not play in the Late Night scrimmage.
“Udoka got nicked up and we are still not letting him come out there and stress his strained groin. We’ve been told he should be healthy whenever practice starts. That is what our goal is for him,” Self said.
The Jayhawks will scrimmage at Late Night, then rest as a team until Wednesday, when official preseason practices begin.
KC Star
“It was probably one of our better boot camps,” Self said. “Certainly, the guys were pretty well conditioned, without question. They really not only worked hard, but they really helped each other the entire two weeks. I think our team got closer throughout the camp.
“I’m surprised they did as well as they did,” he added. “I thought that everybody would finish but I had no idea that the Malik Newman’s and Evan Maxwell’s of the world would have done as well as they did being their first time going through it.”
…“I thought the last two days were tough and guys kind of got on an island a little bit, which I think is very common because it was difficult,” Self said. “I thought that Landen (Lucas), Frank (Mason III) and Tyler (Self) were all terrific. They were just not as vocal as they could have been the last couple days. I thought that Lagerald (Vick), Devonte’ (Graham), Carlton (Bragg Jr.), Josh (Jackson), Svi (Mykhailiuk) and Mitch (Lightfoot) really took a big step forward being more vocal.”
LJW
@ESPNDanaOneil Yes.
— Mizzou (@Mizzou) September 29, 2016
.@Mizzou pic.twitter.com/Fi1ufAb4Ft
— University of Kansas (@KUnews) September 29, 2016
.@KUnews pic.twitter.com/C7CA1S3TZi
— Mizzou (@Mizzou) September 29, 2016
...here are the ones set in stone, the 50 best non-conference games in college basketball this season. Be sure to bookmark, favorite and share. This (chronological) list will last you into January.
2. Kansas vs. Indiana, Nov. 11 (Armed Forces Classic): What a tremendous way to start college basketball's season. You get four of the seven or eight most powerful programs in the sport, right now, squaring off. This one is the nightcap, if you will, to MSU-Zona. Right away, we get a look at five-star KU frosh Josh Jackson. Indiana has plenty coming back, and should have one of the best offenses in the country.
7. Duke vs. Kansas, Nov. 15 (Champions Classic): The Champions Classic, every year, offers up two of the 50 best non-con games because these two teams plus the two teams directly below are involved each time. In this case, you've got Kansas, having played in Hawaii against a good IU team five days prior, flying more than 5,000 miles to play the preseason No. 1 team.
49. Kansas at Kentucky, Jan. 28 (SEC-Big 12 Challenge): Game speaks for itself. This is a rematch of last year's game at Phog Allen. It went OT. It was loud. I was there. It was an instant classic.
CBSsports
All-American and All-Big Player of the Year Tamecka Dixon will return to Allen Fieldhouse for #KULateNight pic.twitter.com/sBXzVvISWA
— Kansas Women's Bball (@KUWBball) September 30, 2016
The Kansas men’s basketball team isn’t the only program that will be hosting top talent during Saturday’s Late Night in the Phog.
KU women’s coach Brandon Schneider will have five prospects taking official visits, including a pair of top-10 players in point guard Chennedy Carter (No. 6 in the ESPN HoopGurlz rankings) and wing Rennia Davis (No. 9 according to Prospects Nation).
Others visiting include wing Micaela Wilson (51st Prospects Nation), wing Kayla Wells (76th) and KU commit and post player Bailey Helgren (95th).
“To beat the kind of people that we one day want to be able to compete with and beat on the court, you first have to beat them in some recruiting battles,” said Schneider, who cannot comment about specific recruits in accordance with NCAA rules. “I think we’re mixing it up with some traditional powers all over the country in recruiting. You win one of those battles, and you end up getting a pretty damn good player.”
Carter, from Arlington, Texas, is considering KU, Texas, Texas A&M and Louisville. She’s ranked as ESPN’s second-best point guard and also made the USA Basketball U18 national team over the summer.
Davis, from Jacksonville, Fla., has narrowed her list to five: KU, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Wilson (KU, Georgia, Mississippi State) and Wells (KU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State) have the Jayhawks as one of three finalists.
Joanna Grymek, the No. 1 junior-college post player in the nation according to HoopGurlz, also will be visiting. She’s deciding between KU and Oregon State.
KC Star
This is Joel Embiid holding a regulation size NBA ball pic.twitter.com/5Ro4yxGMxt
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) September 30, 2016
The Wizards acquired forward Markieff Morris via a trade with Phoenix last season, and little did he know that would bring him to a place he didn’t really care to be.
Morris played for Kansas in college and happened to be on the top-seeded Jayhawks’ squad that met VCU in the Southwest Regional Final in 2011. VCU, an 11-seed, beat Morris and the Jayhawks 71-61 in one of college basketball’s greatest upsets.
Now Morris has to spend a week practicing under the Final Four banner the Rams earned by beating he and his Jayhawks. Only half serious, Morris said “automatic hate” comes into his heart when he’s reminded of VCU, but he just has to get over it and practice.
Link
VIDEO: Cliff Alexander at Magic Media Day
Twelve individuals will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday. Smoky Hills Public Television will be on hand to tape the ceremony, which will air on Thanksgiving.
This year's inductees include Steve Anson, Washburn University; Bill Bridges, University of Kansas; Bob Davis, Topeka and University of Kansas; Tamecka Dixon, University of Kansas; Bill Dotson, Concordia; Scott Huffman, Quinter; Jerry Kill, Cheney; Deandra McBride, Scott City; Jamie Mendez III, Kansas State; LaFayette Norwood, Wichita; Austra Skujyte, Kansas State; and George Sweatt, Humboldt.
The induction ceremony will be held at Crown Uptown in Wichita with Gerard Wellbrock as the master of ceremonies.
Smoky Hills Public Television will air the program on November 24 at 7 PM. Smoky Hills' production has been offered to the other PBS stations in Kansas. KPTS will air it on November 24 at 7 PM on channel 8.2, and KTWU will air the program but has not yet set a date.
Link
KU single game ticket info
Why Allen Fieldhouse is the BEST!
“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
The wait is over! Practice starts today! pic.twitter.com/onYwHjljHU
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) September 30, 2016
Jamie Dixon, TCU’s new men’s basketball coach, understands the mathematical challenge of trying to turn around a program that has averaged two conference wins per season as a Big 12 member.
But the former Pitt coach, a player on TCU’s last team to win an NCAA tournament game in 1987, envisions making the Horned Frogs competitive this season despite inheriting the returnees from a 12-21 squad and a program that is 8-64 in Big 12 play over the past four seasons.
…“I think we have the ability to be a team that’s at the top of the league every single year,” Dixon said. “I know there’s no history to base that upon. But we’ve got to have blind faith.
“I want to be a program … where you get into the tournament and it’s expected, and anything less is not a good year. And I think we have everything in place here to do that.”
Link
Today is the first day college basketball teams can practice. Eight key questions looking ahead to the new season: https://t.co/DClv4f7hvW
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) September 30, 2016
The Virginia basketball team — the entire team — has joined @Kaepernick7’s protest. https://t.co/7WCtpbRLQj
— CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) September 30, 2016
Duke must hope the 6' 3" Jackson is more in the mold of Jones than Thornton, if only because it balances out the lineup nicely. Yes, Jones and Grayson Allen can initiate offense. Yes, Jayson Tatum, the nation’s consensus No. 3 recruit, probably has that capacity, too—and you almost want to root for that, if only for the ridiculous mismatches a 6' 8" point forward causes. Nevertheless, leaving each of those players to their natural positions, with only occasional run-the-show duties to spell the point guard, is the ideal. And that counts on Jackson being as good as everyone believes he is from the start.
When will the key frontcourt cogs be healthy?
Amile Jefferson playing in just nine games of the 2015–16 season before suffering a broken right foot robbed Duke of reliable frontcourt production and taxed the depth of the roster too much. In early June, coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters that Jefferson was healed, which means there won’t be a 6' 9" long hole where a veteran presence and solid rebounder (Jefferson averaged 10.3 boards per game before his injury) should be. There was less specificity about the readiness of Harry Giles, the nation’s No. 2 consensus recruit, who missed effectively his entire senior year of high school basketball with a torn right ACL—after missing his entire sophomore year with a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. Giles was still rehabbing twice a day in early June, per the report in the Raleigh News & Observer, and Duke wasn’t making any promises about how far along the 6' 10" forward would be at the start of the season.
With Jefferson, 6' 11" five-star freshman Marques Bolden, 6' 10" sophomore Chase Jeter and 6' 9" junior Sean Obi, there should be enough bodies along the frontline to allow Giles to come back slowly. Still, Giles is being hailed as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA draft; if he’s that talented, no one wants to wait too long to see it.
Is anyone going to defend?
Duke finished a 25–11 season ranked seventh nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per kenpom.com . . . and 107th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Jefferson had the best individual defensive rating—102.4. For reference, the best major-conference big man defensive rating belonged to Louisville’s Chinanu Onuaku, at 84.9. Jones, who entered last year with a reputation as a top on-ball defender, posted a career-worst 110.9 defensive rating. So no one was really locking anyone down in Durham last season.
SI.com
Here's my first college basketball piece for @ringer, on Lorenzo Romar. (Official practice starts today!!!!!) https://t.co/mqIIGpMw6X
— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) September 30, 2016
Media day today! No players around yet to try on our new style uniforms so Coach Matta gave it a shot! #StillGotGame #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hDfhcC6KYU
— OSU BASKETBALL (@OhioStateHoops) September 29, 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.
NCAA stats
Big 12 Composite Schedule & Results
RECRUITING
KU I'm here □ It's lit
— Billy Preston♕ (@nolimitbill) September 30, 2016
KU showing mad love□□□□ #OfficialVisit pic.twitter.com/9I5V9x31qe
— Billy Preston♕ (@nolimitbill) September 30, 2016
A third high school senior basketball prospect in Rivals.com’s Top Ten has been added to the guest list for Kansas’ Late Night in the Phog.
Trevon Duval, a 6-foot-2 point guard from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., who is ranked No. 3 nationally, will attend Saturday’s season-opening basketball celebration in Allen Fieldhouse as part of an unofficial visit, Rivals.com and ESPN.com reported on Thursday. He will join Collin Sexton, a 6-1 point guard from Pebblebrook High in Mableton, Ga., ranked No. 7, and Billy Preston, a 6-9 forward from Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va., ranked No. 8.
…Juniors to attend Late Night on unofficial visits: Immanuel Quickley, a 6-4 point guard from John Carroll High in Bel Air, Md., ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2018; Bol Bol, a 6-11 forward from Bishop Miege, ranked No. 14; Brandon Williams, a 6-1 point guard from Crespi High in Encino, Calif., ranked No. 25 and Keenan Fitzmorris, a 6-11 forward from Lenexa’s St. James Academy, ranked No. 109.
Sophomores to attend Late Night on unofficial visits: Matthew Hurt, a 6-9 forward from John Marshall High in Rochester, Minn., ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2019; Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, a 6-8, forward from Bishop Miege, ranked No. 18; Grant Sherfield, a 6-2 combo guard from North Crowley High, Fort Worth, Texas, ranked No. 19; plus unranked Markese Jacobs, a 5-11 point guard from Uplift Community High in Chicago and unranked Zach Harvey, a 6-3 shooting guard from Topeka Hayden.
“We do it every year,” KU coach Bill Self said of bringing in a horde of recruits. He cannot discuss specific players in accordance with NCAA rules.
KC Star
By the way, I have found this to be the most useful list of recruits expected at Late Night -- via @JayhawkSlant: https://t.co/uYU9yROHeS
— Scott Chasen (@SChasenCJ) October 1, 2016
Below is the list of known visitors, broken down by class, with their vital stats and Rivals.com ranking included:
Class of 2017
• SG/SF Troy Brown – Las Vegas — 5 stars, 6-foot-6, 195 pounds, No. 12 overall
• PG Trevon Duval – IMG Academy – 5 stars, 6-foot-2, 189 pounds, No. 3 overall
• PF Billy Preston – Oak Hill Academy — 5 stars, 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, No. 8 overall
• PF Cody Riley – Chatsworth, California — 4 stars, 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, No. 34 overall
• PG Collin Sexton – Mableton, Georgia — 5 stars, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, No. 7 overall
• PG Tremont Waters – West Haven, Connecticut — 4 stars, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, No. 36 overall
Class of 2018
• PF Bol Bol – Bishop Miege (KC) — 5 stars, 6-foot-11, 180 pounds, No. 14 overall
• Kennan Fitzmorris – St. James Academy (KC) — 3 stars, 6-foot-10, 200 pounds, No. 109 overall
• PG Immanuel Quickley – Bel Air, Maryland — 5 stars, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, No. 12 overall
Class of 2019
• SG Zach Harvey – Hayden (Topeka) — 4 stars, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, Not yet rated
• PF Matthew Hurt – Rochester, Minnesota — 5 stars, 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, No. 5 overall
• PG Markese Jacobs – Chicago — 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, Not yet rated
• PF Jeremiah Robinson – Bishop Miege (KC) — 4 stars, 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, No. 18 overall
• SG Grant Sherfield – Ft. Worth, Texas — 4 stars, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, No. 19 overall
• PG Brandon Williams – Encino, California — 4 stars, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, No. 25 overall
LJW Tait
Kansas brings in loaded group for Late Night in the Phog
Kansas coach Bill Self and his staff have had this weekend circled as their big weekend for the fall, and the visitor list certainly didn’t disappoint. Five top-50 prospects in the 2017 class will be in Lawrence this weekend, including five-stars Collin Sexton (No. 10), Troy Brown Jr. (No. 18) and Billy Preston (No. 20), along with four-star prospects Tremont Waters (No. 32) and Cody Riley (No. 45). Sexton has already taken three official visits, to NC State, Alabama and Oklahoma State, as well as multiple unofficials to Georgia Tech, but the common thought is that his recruitment could come down to Alabama and Kansas. The Jayhawks need a point guard in the 2017 class, and Sexton is the sort of exciting playmaker who could fill the void. Brown is also on his fourth official visit, having been to Ohio State, Alabama and Oregon in the past few weeks. Georgetown is still to come.
Preston hasn’t taken any visits yet, but he’s made headlines nonetheless. A couple of weeks ago, Preston came out with a new top five -- and then earlier this week, decided to completely reopen his recruitment. He won’t commit anytime soon -- expect more schools to enter the mix before he cuts things down again. Waters has been intriguing to watch, given Kentucky’s sudden renewal of interest and Indiana getting him on campus last weekend. He’s already visited Georgetown, Indiana and Kentucky, and doesn’t have anything else planned. Riley cut his list to five before the summer. He’s already visited USC, and is also considering Oklahoma and UConn, but the favorite has always been UCLA. Kansas has closed the gap in the past couple months, and will get another chance this weekend.
Collin Sexton
- Prediction: Alabama/Kansas
- Confidence level: 50 percent/50 percent
- Others in the mix: NC State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State
Troy Brown
- Prediction: Oregon
- Confidence level: 40 percent
- Toughest competition: Alabama
- Others in the mix: Kansas, California, UNLV, Georgetown, Ohio State
Billy Preston
- Prediction: USC
- Confidence level: 30 percent
- Toughest competition: Kansas, Indiana
- Others in the mix: Syracuse, Maryland, NC State
Tremont Waters
- Prediction: Kentucky
- Confidence level: 50 percent
- Toughest competition: Indiana
- Others in the mix: Kansas, Georgetown, Yale
Cody Riley
- Prediction: UCLA
- Confidence level: 60 percent
- Toughest competition: Kansas
- Others in the mix: USC, Connecticut
Trae Young
- Prediction: Oklahoma/Kentucky
- Confidence level: 50 percent/50 percent
- Others in the mix: Kansas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Washington
The final schedule for the Marshall County Hoop Fest was released Friday,
…Other top recruits at this year’s Marshall Hoop Fest include Arizona commitment and No. 1 overall prospect DeAndre Ayton (Hillcrest Prep, Ariz.), five-star shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. (Prolific Prep, Calif.), five-star forward Billy Preston (Oak Hill, Va.) — all elite prospects in the class of 2017.
The lineup also includes Aspire Academy, which has several under-the-radar recruits who could emerge as major-college talents, as well as Prolific Prep North, a program that features Matur Maker and Makur Maker, the little brother and cousin of NBA lottery pick Thon Maker.
Lex HL
Recruiting Calendar
My Videos:
Annual Late Night in the Phog
Annual Bill Self Camp KU vs 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
RSS Feed