It’s debatable whether Davidson simply ran out of gas or the Kansas defense stiffened.
What is not debatable is that the Jayhawks, who trailed at halftime for just the second time this season, out-played, out-toughed and outscored the Wildcats convincingly in the second half en route to a hard-fought, 89-71 victory Saturday night at Sprint Center.
“I’ve been telling them all along I’d like to see how we play, if we’re tough enough to guard, when we don’t make shots,” KU coach Bill Self said after the game. “And in the first half we really didn’t, but in the second half I thought we did.”
LJW
A battery charge filed against University of Kansas basketball player Carlton Bragg Jr. was dropped Wednesday and another charge was filed against the woman who accused him of striking her.
Video evidence shows that Bragg, 21, acted in self defense during an argument with Saleeha Soofi, 19, early on Friday in the 1000 block of Emery Road, according to a news release from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
Soofi is also a KU student.
Before Bragg’s misdemeanor battery charge was dropped, his attorney, Hatem Chahine, stated in court filings arguing for self-defense that the altercation started when Soofi “was accusing Mr. Bragg of sleeping with her best friend.”
Soofi was “under the influence of alcohol” at the time, Chahine wrote, and she and Bragg were at the Delta Upsilon fraternity house, 1025 Emery Road.
LJW
According to a statement issued by KU coach Bill Self on Wednesday evening, Bragg could have an impact as soon as Saturday against Davidson in Kansas City, Missouri.
“As we have said since this incident occurred, it was important for us to take this issue seriously and to allow the process to play out,” Self said. “We appreciate the authorities handling this issue in a timely manner. Now that they have made their decision, Carlton is no longer suspended from competition.”
…“I’m proud of the way Carlton has handled this situation, considering all the negative publicity he has received both locally and nationally,” Self said. “He knew all the facts and knew that he needed to refrain from comment while the investigation took place. We’re glad this situation is resolved.”
Bragg, in the same news release sent out Wednesday, expressed similar emotions.
“This has been a difficult and humiliating experience for me, and I’m glad it’s over,” he said. “I appreciate the authorities taking the time to get this right. I also appreciate the support of my teammates and coaches, and I’m glad I can put this behind me and move forward.”
LJW
A festive, feel-good shopping spree tradition that began 20 years ago with names like Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz continued Thursday night at Wal-Mart on South Iowa Street, where players, coaches, managers and family members of the current Kansas basketball team did their part to bring holiday joy to 15 area families.
“I’m a good Santa Claus,” said KU guard Malik Newman as he picked out various colors of Play-Doh for one person on his list.
Broken up into small groups, the Jayhawks took a break from finals, practice and preparation for Saturday’s game with Davidson at Sprint Center in Kansas City to fulfill the wish lists of young children and their parents in conjunction with the Salvation Army.
Using money raised by head coach Bill Self’s Assists Foundation and former KU basketball player Roger Morningstar and his wife, Linda, as a part of the KU Roundball Club, each player was allowed to spend $100 on gifts for each family member on their lists. Each family included an average of four people.
LJW
Getting stuffed at the rim is never fun. Especially when comes at the hands of your twin brother. https://t.co/lWxpTbikYT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 17, 2016
BIG 12/COLLEGE NEWS
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
ICYMI: Here's some @TheTraeYoung highlights from last night's game against Edmond Santa Fe. #okpreps https://t.co/1jQWbPJNVq
— News 9 Sports (@News9Sport) December 17, 2016
Kansas has been recruiting me since sophomore summer consistently, and they’re definitely a serious contender along with Oklahoma State. I’m gonna get down there to catch a game or two in the next month or so.
I’ve been talking to Billy (Preston) a lot too ever since he signed there.
…I’m pretty up in the air about when I could make my decision because my situation is unique. I want to see which guards are leaving/staying and which team gives me the best chance to be me, and not change my game. So mid-to-late winter will be the timeframe for me to commit. The more I watch the teams play the more I pick out certain things I like and certain things I don’t like. I realize this is all a HUGE BLESSING to have options, but I also know that I’ve WORKED HARD to get to a level where I can be patient and do what’s right for me.
USA Today Trae Young Diary
Romeo Langford is showing why he is the no. 2 recruit in the 2018 class. □ https://t.co/hLdzmmZl04
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 16, 2016
Norman North senior guard Trae Young scored 44 points Tuesday, but what happened around him was much more important.
The Norman North boys might have the best player in the state, but if it's going to get back to the state title game and win it this year, it has to have more. In the 89-53 victory over Stillwater at home, the Timberwolves (1-1) began to carve out an identity.
“That's going to be our key going forward, playing lock up defense,” senior Winston Nelson said. “That's how we win games. We get stops, and we're able to go play our style of basketball. Our defense is high intensity. We get after you. We're some dogs. That's what North basketball is.”
Norman Transcript
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