Video: Vitale's Preseason Top 4 (KU #4)
We have been led to believe the hoops rivalry between Kansas and Missouri is dead in the water.
Maybe so, but not in my little world.
Not on paper, anyway. I refuse to let this go away.
After all, it's no fun if I can't make my annual prediction on how KU and MU will finish the season. I'm leaning on Kansas to win another conference title.
I say that with some reservation. I'm not completely sold on this Jayhawk team -- too many freshmen.
Bill Self will have to weave some magic to get the chemistry right with this bunch, and he's pretty good at that.
I think Baylor has better overall talent in the Big 12, but Scott Drew will screw it up.
KU is fortunate that Missouri saw the light and bailed for the SEC. There is no question in my mind –- none -- that the Tigers would win the Big 12 if they hadn't joined the SEC.
By the way, we keep hearing that the SEC is all about football. This just in: The SEC has won three of the last seven NCAA basketball championships.
The Big 12 and the Big 8 haven't won three in the last 60 years.
I don't know if you noticed, but Phil Pressey has been named SEC pre-season player of the year. That’s a pretty strong statement with all the thoroughbreds at Kentucky and Florida.
Missouri is picked third. It would be tough for Kansas to crack the top three in the SEC this year.
LOL c'mon you know who wrote this drivel. It's 'ol Jack Smack. Remember his prediction from last season?
(BTW Jack, scoreboard. For all time.)
CBS Top 50 Wings (McLemore #8)
Kansas University’s basketball team had its worst practice of the young 2012-13 season Wednesday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.
“We had a bad day today, but something positive came out of it. I think we got in better shape today,” KU coach Bill Self told 450 women who attended Wednesday’s “Ladies Night Out” cancer benefit in the fieldhouse.
Suffice it to say, KU’s 10th-year coach made the Jayhawks run a batch of penalty sprints during their two-hour workout.
“I’m not trying to be funny, but the way we practiced today, I think they (players) should be paying us,” Self added, answering one of the attendee’s questions about the play-for-pay issue in college athletics during a Q-and-A session.
So what was so disturbing about Wednesday’s pre-“Ladies Night Out” practice?
“It was beyond bad,” Self said. “We had bad play, bad effort, no energy, a combination of things. They don’t like me, and I don’t like them right now. What’s great about something like this is it brings everybody back to the real-life aspect of helping others. Our guys get a chance to do that tonight.”
Besides ... “Everybody has some bad practices now and then. If anything, I hope it gets our attention for a great day tomorrow,” Self said.
…“This does change the mood. We come out of the locker room and see all these smiling faces, it brings a lighter mood to the situation,” freshman forward Landen Lucas said. “This is awesome. It’s been a fun experience seeing how excited they are for basketball season. I think we appeal to all ages and everything. It’s definitely nice to know we have support from everyone.”
There was a light moment in the picture-taking portion of the evening when a woman hopped on senior Travis Releford’s back for a piggyback ride.
“That doesn’t surprise me. He’s a senior,” freshman forward Andrew White III said of the popular senior guard from Kansas City, Mo. “This is a lot of fun. I think it’s a good opportunity just for these women to have a good time, learn some things about our team. I never get tired of the support. It’s good for everybody.”
…KU freshman guard Evan Manning continues to wear a boot on his right foot. He has been unable to practice in preparation for Tuesday’s exhibition opener versus Emporia State.
“Evan had a setback. He was out six weeks with a high ankle sprain, now it’s moved into a different location,” Self said of a hot spot in Manning’s foot. “We’re hopeful he’ll be back relatively soon. He hasn’t shown great progress in the last week. It still may be another week or two.”
Freshman Zach Peters has yet to practice this season because of a rotator cuff injury in his left shoulder and is not expected back soon. On Oct. 11, it was announced he’d be out four to six weeks because of the injury. There’s been no decision made on possibly red-shirting the power forward from Plano, Texas.
LJW
LJW Photo Gallery: Ladies Night
Pink was the theme Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse as Kansas head coach Bill Self and the rest of the men’s basketball team hosted the annual “Ladies Night Out”.
The event benefitted Jayhawks for a Cure and all proceeds were donated to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the KU Cancer Center in an effort to fund cancer research.
“In all seriousness, we will have fun but this is for a great cause,” Self said to the crowd. “These guys (KU players) are young and haven’t been affected the same way we have. As we get older we all get touched in some way, shape or form (by cancer). I think it is awesome that you guys think enough about this to be here and we think it is awesome to do this. Hopefully you’ll get something out of it. We shouldn’t lose site of the fact to bring more awareness to this cause.”
The 450 women in attendance were treated to an opening by Self who introduced the 2012-13 Jayhawks and staff. A special highlight video followed which featured Kansas’ 2011-12 season which the Jayhawks won their eighth-straight Big 12 title, advanced to the school’s 14th Final Four and reached the NCAA championship game in New Orleans.
KUAD
He is the point guard on the Best Basketball Team In The World. And if you need the condensed version on how Mario Chalmers’ life has changed since he left Kansas, this is a pretty good place to start.
On Wednesday night, Chalmers sat inside a locker room at the Sprint Center and slowly pulled the laces through a pair of black high-tops. This is the NBA, of course, so there are probably people that could be doing this for him. But even in his Kansas days, Chalmers was the sort of person who could make do with an economy of words and conversations. So why not avoid the fuss and do it yourself?
The rest of his surroundings are decidedly more high-maintenance. All around the Sprint Center, there were signs that the Miami Heat — the NBA’s most spectacular big-top circus — had arrived in town.
…“He’s proven himself as a championship point guard,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says. “It’s always about consistency with him. He’s at his best in the biggest moments; he’s never shied away from them. We all know that. That’s why we love him so much.”
Chalmers was in the starting lineup on Wednesday night as the Heat lost 101-94 to the Washington Wizards at the Sprint Center. Chalmers finished with eight points and five assists in 20 minutes.
…These days, Chalmers says he still keeps up with most of his former Kansas teammates. And every once in a while, he’ll exchange in-season texts with KU assistant Joe Dooley. But in five days, the Heat will begin the regular season and Chalmers will assume his role on the NBA’s most-watched serial. That means keeping LeBron happy, deferring to Wade and finding a way to play alongside Allen.
No, it’s not easy being a point guard on the Miami Heat. But if all goes as planned, a repeat title would be worth the hassle.
KC Star
It was a packed house with screaming fans. The NBA in Wichita Wednesday night. Sold out. And some of the loudest screams were for Nick Collison and Cole Aldrich who now play for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
If you're not a fan of KU basketball, you may not know the names. But they have a legacy in Kansas basketball, and it brought out a lot of fans to Intrust Arena Wednesday night.
"A lot of Jayhawk fans," says Collison. "It's good to see them."
…"What's my favorite memory as a Jayhawk?" says Aldrich. "There are so many. Between the national championship game getting a triple double, it was so much fun my three years there. We appreciate you guys coming out. Not only supporting Nick and I but our team. It's a huge blessing to have you guys out at the game."
KSN (Video at the link)
WBB Big 12 Media Day today: See link for live coverage, schedule, more. KU on at 10am
Practice can only teach you so much, senior Angel Goodrich said Wednesday before she did just that — practice.
Don’t get the wrong idea, despite sharing the same number as Allen Iverson, Goodrich was not trying to downplay the value of practice as the former NBA point guard once famously did. What she meant was that you don’t really know where you are at as a team until you get into game situations.
Sunday at 2 p.m. the Jayhawks will be in a game situation for the first time this season in the exhibition against Washburn at Allen Fieldhouse.
“Once you get in the game, you can see how far you are and what you need to work on more,” Goodrich said. “As far as the first game, we’re just looking at getting out there and doing what we need to do to get a win.”
UDK
This goes out to any Lawrence residents who were pondering a trip to campus for Friday's KU homecoming parade but were worried they'd find nowhere to park without risking a ticket: No need to worry.
KU's Parking and Transit office will open up all the lots around Memorial Stadium, as well as the sizable lot in front of the Amber Student Recreation Fitness Center along Naismith Drive, for use by visitors.
Starting at 5 p.m., parade attendees can park in those spots without worry.
From there, they can walk up the hill to Jayhawk Boulevard to catch the parade, which starts at 6. And if they so choose, they can follow the parade to the Adams Alumni Center for the 7 p.m. post-parade pep rally, which is new this year.
The lots will remain free of restriction for the rest of the night, said Tim Caboni, KU's vice chancellor for public affairs.
He said he was spreading the word about the available parking because KU wants Lawrence residents to get involved in the homecoming events, and for Lawrence and KU to interact more in general. As he says, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little would like to "lift the crimson and blue curtain" around the campus.
LJW
Tickets to Coach Self's "Courtside View"
Kansas 2012-13 Schedule
Big 12/College News
KState Collegian Big 12 Predictions
UCLA freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad injured his right shoulder during practice on Wednesday.
A team spokesman said Muhammad was scheduled to undergo an MRI in the evening, and would be reevaluated on Thursday.
AP
My preseason All-America team: Isaiah Canaan, Trey Burke, C.J. Leslie, Doug McDermott, Cody Zeller
https://twitter.com/SethDavisHoops/status/261467382101458944
Emailed this yesterday for the preseason rankings: 1. Indiana 2. Lou 3. UK 4. Kansas 5. NCState 6. Mich 7. Ohio St 8. Syr 9. Ariz 10. MichSt 11. Mem 12. Duke 13. Fla 14. UNC 15. UNLV 16. SD St 17. UCLA 18. Wisc 19. Gonz 20. Cincy 21. ND 22. Mizz 23. Bay 24. Creighton 25. Murray St
https://twitter.com/SethDavisHoops/status/261466992215732224
Big 12 Composite Schedule
ESPN Tip-Off Marathon schedule
2012-13 Early Season Events List
Recruiting
Rare indeed is the basketball recruiting visit to Arizona that doesn't generate positive feedback from the targeted player or his coach/parents/handlers.
The case of Aaron Gordon appears to be no exception.
"He said he had a great time," said Tim Kennedy, Gordon's coach at San Jose Archbishop Mitty High School. "He enjoyed the trip and getting to know the guys."
While Arizona may have helped itself by hosting Gordon for the Red-Blue weekend, there's no telling yet how much. The powerful forward is still expected to take his final visit to Kentucky, probably the weekend of Nov. 9, Kennedy said.
Gordon has already visited Washington, Oregon, Kansas and UA, and Kennedy said those four and Kentucky are still under consideration.
"I think he’s pretty open," Kennedy said. "Each trip he gets a new experience and it kind of opens his eyes."
Gordon is expected to make his decision in the spring.
Arizona Daily Star
Roselle Catholic forward Tyler Roberson has two visits two go and is nearing the end of his recruiting process.
The 6-foot-8 Roberson visited Kansas this past weekend and heads to Villanova this coming weekend and then Kentucky the weekend of Nov. 2.
“Tyler enjoyed his visit to Kansas and they remain an option for him moving forward,” RC coach Dave Boff told SNY.tv. “He is looking forward to his trips to Villanova and Kentucky each of the next two weekends.
“Once he is done with his visits he will sit down with his family and see where he is at in the decision-making process.”
Zags Blog
My 2012 KU Alumni games, 2011-12 Border War, Legends of the Phog, KC Prep Invitational, & Jayhawk Invitational Videos, Late Night in the Phog, and more now on YouTube
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