Archive for the KU Basketball Category

2012-2013 KU basketball preview and predictions

Posted on: November 12th, 2012 by jayhawktalk 1 Comment

Time for one of my favorite times of the year: way too early predictions! Yes, I’m one of those guys that likes to speak his mind on the team at the beginning of the season so that I can take credit (rare) for such brilliant foresight (or, you know, ignore that I wrote such a terrible prediction piece).

I wrote this piece on November 12, 2011 last year. In that piece, I predicted KU to be a #2 seed in North Carolina’s bracket. Nailed that one. Also predicted we win the league (shocker) and that we’d finally have some good luck in the tourney. In the interest of full disclosure, I also predicted Oklahoma State would be good and that we’d see a lot of Tharpe, so what the hell do I know.

I do think predictions will be much tougher this year. We had a pretty good idea what we had in last year’s group. We knew T-Rob was a beast. We knew Tyshawn had all the talent in the world if he could keep his head on straight. This year there are so many unknowns.

Can Withey function absent Thomas drawing all the defense’s attention? Can Elijah run the offense? How will the freshmen react to playing huge roles right away? There are a million questions.

That’s what makes the predictions for the season all the more fun. Here we go:

(1) Big 12 Champs. Listen, there are challengers once again. But there have been challengers each of the last 8 seasons. Baylor looks phenomenal on paper. K-State will actually be really good. Once again, I’m a fan of Oklahoma State’s team. Texas and West Virginia both look legitimate. But I’m not looking through crimson and blue glasses here. I will not bet against Bill Self. Make it nine straight.

(2) Freshmen will lead. I believe a freshman will lead the Jayhawks in scoring this year. I think it will likely be Perry Ellis early (non-conference) and Ben McLemore late (conference). Perry will be 2nd team Big 12 by the end of the year and Ben will be Newcomer of the Year. They’re two very different players though. Perry is so polished. Ben has the crazy high ceiling. They’re going to be a blast to watch.

(3) Withey. I think KU fans might be expecting a little too much from Jeff this year. I think he’ll have a great year, but he may not meet the expectations some appear to be setting for him. He is a preseason first team all Big 12 selection and probably deserves to be. He can average 12.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game and be the best player on this team. What he brings to the defensive end cannot be overlooked or replicated. He is a true rim protector and if he rebounds and plays efficiently on offense, he’ll be perfect for this team. And he will be defensive player of the year in the Big 12.

(4) Rotation. We know the starting 5, and I expect it to remain the same all season: Elijah Johnson, Ben McLemore, Travis Releford, Perry Ellis, and Jeff Withey. I believe Kevin Young will be the first man off the bench and will average the most minutes outside the starters. Naadir Tharpe will likely be the first guard off the bench. That makes 7 and generally Self doesn’t go beyond an 8 man rotation. Traylor will certainly get minutes, and I think that leaves Andrew White III and Rio Adams somewhat on the outside in terms of playing time. I think they’ll both play roles, though. Just not regular rotation guys.

(5) Non-Conference Schedule. KU has a 13 game non-conference schedule with marquee games against Michigan State, Ohio State, and Colorado. There are certainly some potential losses in that bunch, and we all saw through the exhibition season that this team will struggle at times. The good news is that this team will improve with every week of practice and should be primed for a great conference season run. I predict the Jayhawks will be 12-1 when Big 12 play opens against Iowa State.

(6) Big 12 Season. I predict we’ll have 4 losses in Big 12 play and will once again win the regular season championship. The Big 12 is strange this year in that there are quite a few teams that are “good” but I’m not sure there are any “great” teams. But here’s the deal. KU has 18 conference games, 9 at home and 9 on the road. At worst, KU wins 8 games at home, and will likely win all 9. That leaves 9 road conference games of which the Jayhawks will be favored in at least 7. I believe 4 losses sounds about right. And it should be enough to at least grab a share of the Big 12, if not win it outright.

(7) Postseason. For all the math people out there, I have thus far predicted 5 losses in 31 tries, which would give the Jayhawks a 26-5 record going into the Big 12 tourney. I believe that will be good enough for a #2 seed in the Midwest bracket. It ought to also be enough to give the Jayhawks a great chance to make a run in the tourney. This is an Elite 8 caliber team and anything above that will be absolutely house money. If McLemore ends up reaching anywhere close to his ceiling, it could be a very special year.

 

 

(8) Defense. They Jayhawks will have the best defense in the nation when Withey is on the court. It may not be all that close. The only weak link is Ellis, but with Withey on his other side, the paint will be covered against most teams. This particular team seems far more advanced on the defensive end early in the season than on the offensive end. They’re only going to improve from here. As I mentioned in my last post, we’ll struggle to score at times this year, but we’ll always be in the game because of defense.

(9) Offensive strategy. The key to Bill Self’s offense is ball movement. When the ball is swinging and the offensive is going inside-out, there will always be a wide open jump shot available. The difference between this team and last year’s team will be whether we settle for that jump shot or attempt to feed the post. We don’t have a replacement for Thomas Robinson. It will have to be a combination of multiple guys that will all need to step up. I said before that I believe Perry could lead us in scoring early and Ben could lead late. Elijah will also be a big factor in scoring. Beyond that, I believe Kevin Young, Withey, and Releford will all be around that 7-13 point range every game. I think the offensive breakdown will actually mirror the 2008 championship team relatively closely, where a different guy will lead in scoring each game.

(10) Overview. As far as expectations, I am somewhat lower on this team than I was last year’s team. I think we’ll struggle at the point guard position and will routinely rely on jump shots. I think we’ll go through periods in games where we just can’t score. The good news is our defense will always keep us in games and Self will have the guys on the same page after the Christmas break.  This is definitely an Elite 8 caliber team with a whole lot of upside. It could be a fun run in 2013.

Enjoy the ride and rock chalk!

 

Reactions from KU-SEMO game

Posted on: November 10th, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments

This was an ugly game. In many ways, it was an extension of the exhibition season where we saw Kansas struggle to score, but still maintain a solid margin of victory thanks in large part to its defense.

Just no offense.

By now you’ve probably heard that KU went a paltry 2 for 21 from three point range on Friday night. The Jayhawks weren’t much better from two point range either. Really the only nice thing you can take away from the box score is a nice 86% from the free throw line (24 of 28). If we continue to shoot the ball like we did tonight, we’ll certainly need all the free throw help we can get.

As I watched the game, I scribbled down some notes that I thought I’d share in bullet form. Most of them apply to this game, but are longterm concerns and/or observations. Many will be a part of the season preview blog post forthcoming. For now, here’s some thoughts:

1. Feeding the post. An underrated skill of any guard (or any player, really) is his ability to feed the ball to the post. Feeding the post requires two things. First, the post needs to have position. Whether that’s position on his defender or relative position to the basket, he must have position. Our posts weren’t great at that tonight, but there were more times than not where position was obtained and our guards could not feed them. There were turnovers, batted balls, just all around ugliness. I’ll give some of the new guys a pass (get it, pass?), but I will not give a pass to the veterans. This will undoubtedly be something we work on a lot in practice. It’s a vital part of Self’s offense (and another reason we’ll miss Tyshawn more than people think). It will start with ball movement and spacing, both of which are easily correctable. We’ll get better.

2. Jeff’s offensive gameplan. For those expecting T-Rob numbers from Withey this year, you’re going to be disappointed. Granted, tonight he put up nearly exactly T-Rob’s averages last year in 17 and 12. I don’t think it will be a regular occurrence.  I love Jeff and I will sing his praises soon on defense, but his offensive game still needs some improvement. Just once, I’d love him to catch the ball on the block and without any hesitation, go up as strong as he can with it. Stop waiting for the double team. Attack. And if you get fouled, terrific. Just want to see a little more decisiveness in his offense.  Teams are going to double him all year. And when they do, he will do a good job of kicking the ball to the open man. But sometimes, he should beat the double teamer to the basket. Haven’t seen it yet.

3. Ben McLemore. Near the end of the first half I wrote down the following: “Impressed by Ben’s rebounding. Getting every ball that leaves the block. Attacking rebound at highest point, almost like a football wide receiver.” He went on to gobble up 12 total rebounds, tying him with Withey for the team lead. This is a slight indictment on Perry, but I do think there’s a legitimate chance that Ben is our second leading rebounder this year. His combination of quickness, hops, and instinct could make him one of the best rebounding guards we’ve ever had at Kansas. We’re going to need those boards this year, too.

4. Post defense. It is incredible how much different KU’s defense is when Withey is off the court. Teams are fearless driving into the paint. Posting up Perry Ellis or Jamari Traylor all of a sudden doesn’t sound like a bad idea because that big palm from the weak side isn’t there to scare you away. Just his presence on the court changes the opposing team’s demeanor. Tonight, he played well on defensive end. Perry Ellis, on the other hand, did not. He was getting pushed around by SEMO’s big guys. Doesn’t bode well for him when he has to play against some serious size. Hopefully Withey can stay on the court because I’m afraid Perry will need that weak side defensive threat more often than not.

5. Perry’s offense. My goodness is he fun to watch when he catches the ball anywhere inside  7 feet from the basket. I don’t have a “Next Level” stat here, but my eyes sure told me that he scored or got fouled on nearly every single one of those possessions. If he keeps that up, teams are going to have to devote some help defense, which should free up lanes for guards to penetrate or pass to the opposite post. Perry may end up being the best thing that’s happened to Withey’s offensive game since Robinson. Little side note: I do think it’d be interesting to see how Perry would do if we ran more isolation to him. Clear out some space and let the man go to work. Going to be fun to watch him this year.

6. Attack attack attack. I’m sick of hearing about how athletic Elijah and Ben and all the other guards are. Prove it. Use that athleticism and attack the basket with some fire. I know they have it in them because I have seen it in flashes. Elijah’s aggressiveness carried us all tournament last year. I want to see it again. Penetration by the guards opens up the entire offensive game plan. Frees up the post as defenders have to slide off. Frees up the wing as defenders shift to the paint. Creates mismatches. All predicated on dribble drive. Let’s see some. And that means you too, Ben. You had two sick moves to the basket tonight ending in points. Don’t stop.

7. Duke (Light). If we’re going to be a soft team this year, we better start making some of those three pointers. Hate to say it, but this looks on paper like somewhat of a jump shooting team. Until we get some of the interior post game in place, we’re going to settle for open jumpers. Like Duke, if they’re not falling, you’re going to see games like you did tonight. The difference between us and Duke, though, is that we can still win games ugly because we can guard. Still, we’re going to have to be able to knock down open shots at a much better rate than we saw tonight.

8. Rotation. Only one game into the season, and I think we’re starting to get a pretty good idea what the rotation is going to be. Withey, Ellis, Releford, McLemore, and Elijah starting. First guard off the bench is Tharpe and first big off the bench is Traylor (I think Young splits this role with Traylor when he is fully healthy). That’s eight deep. Don’t see Self going much further than that. I think Rio Adams and Andrew White will get some time, but probably not a lot this year. Wesley played some minutes, but those will be divided among Traylor and Young. It also seems that Peters and Lucas could both be in line for red shirts this season.

9. Andrew White III. While I just stated I don’t think he gets more than a handful of minutes this season, I do think he could be a valuable player off the bench when his number is called. My hope for him this year was to be a “better Conner Teahan.” By that I mean a sharp shooter that you can bring off the bench for instant offense, but will hopefully be less of a liability on the defensive side of the ball. I think he’ll eventually get there and could play a key role in a few victories this season (much like Conner did last season).

10. Finally, wow. These guys are going to be maddening to watch at times. They’re going to drive you straight to crazy town with their lack of discipline and youthful boneheadedness. But my goodness they’ll be fun to watch. Take comfort in knowing that today is the worst this team will ever be. They’re literally going to improve daily as they get more comfortable playing together and get a few more wrinkles added to Self’s playbook. Despite tonight’s troubles, I do believe the framework is there. With some more practice and continued familiarity with one another, these guys will start to reach some of their potential. Just hang in there, because I promise this won’t be the last game like this.

Rock Chalk!

 

 

A few words on Perry Ellis

Posted on: November 1st, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments
Self will continue to motivate Perry

It’s hard not to be excited this time of year. This is especially true given the unknowns surrounding this team (read: 9 freshmen). You can put 5 stars next to a recruit’s name and say he is the next big thing, but until you see it, it is wise to temper expectations.

This is why all eyes in Jayhawk nation were squarely planted on the freshmen in the Exhibition opener on Tuesday night. And, for the most part, they did not disappoint. In particular, one player stood out:

16 minutes. 15 points. 5-5 from the field. 5-7 from the line. 7 boards. 2 assists. 0 turnovers.

It should be stated that it is wise not to get super excited about a guy after one exhibition game. Perry Ellis was dominating ESU’s players just like he was back at Wichita Heights playing against far less superior talent. He’s used to that. It’s always been that way.

But come Big 12 play, that’s gonna change.

I think that’s why you could hear Self yelling at him during the game to be aggressive. And why he didn’t completely sing his praises in post game, even after what appeared to be a phenomenal box score. He knows what kind of defender awaits Perry. He wants him to get used to playing his butt off now against boys so it isn’t foreign to him when he plays against men.

Self stated in his post game comments that “if [Perry] can become aggressive as far as mindset, he could be a really good player really early in his career.”

I think this is going to be a common trend throughout Perry’s time here. He doesn’t need the Xs and Os as much as the other guys. He’s as polished a big man (for a freshman) as we have had at KU in a long time. His deficiency will be making sure he plays to his ceiling game in and game out.

And Self’s going to keep yelling at him until he gets there.

This is why you come to Kansas, especially if you’re a big man. Self will push you to your potential, design a game plan to make you successful, use strength and conditioning (Hudy) to make you a man, and eventually build you back up to be supremely confident in your game. You take care of you and he’ll get you where you want to go.

Perry will be an NBA player some day based solely on his talent. Whether he’s truly a special player, though?

That will be up to him.

Can’t wait to watch his progress as a Jayhawk.

 

B-Mac Sportscenter Dunk

Posted on: October 31st, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments

Worth its own post.

Jayhawkers Update (with awesome pics!)

Posted on: October 26th, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments

Courtesy of Grant Franklin Fitch

Editor’s Note: The following is courtesy of Katherine Hollar (via Producer Scott Richardson).  She is a huge KU fan and great follow on twitter at @katiehollar. We met at a KU basketball game in Lincoln when she tried to run me over with her car (allegedly). She’ll be providing JHT ongoing updates about an exciting film project coming soon to a theatre near you!

Those of you who attended Late Night in the Phog got a sneak preview of “Jayhawkers,” the film about Phog Allen, Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas basketball and the sociopolitical climate of the 1950s. Producer Scott Richardson provided Jayhawk Talk with an update on the project. Stay tuned for more, as the filmmakers get ready to take Jayhawk basketball to the big screen.

I understand shooting is done – what happens now? 

We are just now starting the process of post-production, which includes editing, music scoring, special effects, etc.  We’ll also be working on developing a marketing plan and our strategy for festival submission.  For an independent film such as this one, premiering at a major festival can be the best way to begin the distribution process.  All of this will take several months.  Oh yeah, we are also seeking additional investments to cover the cost of post-production and marketing.

What was the biggest surprise with that process?

This whole project has gone surprisingly well.  KU has been wonderful to work with.  Lawrence, as usual, is a terrific host town for filmmaking (and other arts endeavors).  The interest that has been generated by this film has been very encouraging.

How did you simulate Allen Fieldhouse in the 1950s here in the 21st century?

Our director Kevin Willmott worked closely with cinematographers Matt Jacobson and Jeremy Osbern to create a dramatic look that emulates the classic 1950s basketball photos – dark backgrounds, with the players well-lit.  The basketball shots will have that same visual feeling.  We are lucky as well to have developed a very solid crew here, so the wardrobe and production design really helped sell the period look.

Is there a scene that came off particularly well, or that strikes you? What is it?

Phog Allen, played by Kip Niven, is the central character in the film.  His scenes with Coach Harp (Blake Robbins), Chancellor Murphy (Jay Karnes) and Wilt Chamberlain (Justin Wesley) will be pretty potent.  The scene where the Chancellor tells Phog that he has to retire is one that really stands out in my memory.

Are there still opportunities for Jayhawk fans to get involved and support the film?

Absolutely.  We are continuing to raise investment funds for the production LLC for post-production and marketing. If readers are interested, they can contact us through the Jayhawkers Facebook page.

For more pictures, check this out: Grant Fitch Photography

 

Chances for a great 2013 class?

Posted on: October 3rd, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments

(Editor’s Note: The following piece is a guest entry from KU fan and blogger, Chris Resor. He will be writing for Jayhawk-Talk this season and we’re stoked to have him! Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisResor)

Many Kansas basketball fans enjoy the recruiting season nearly as much as they enjoy the basketball season.  As such, there tends to be a common theme to the questions that I am asked most often.

“What’s the chances we get so-and-so?”

This can be a difficult question to answer, because each recruit seems to have a different set of deciding factors important to them. There’s also the important questions of opportunity to play and the system they will play in. This article will help address many of these questions for each of KU’s 2013 targets. Who’s visiting when?  What positions are open?  What do the players value most?  What other teams are recruiting these players?  And so on.

Based on all of the above factors, I will give you my best guess on the chances that each player signs with KU when all is said and done.



Julius Randle and Zach Peters

Julius Randle:  (6′-9 F Plano, TX)  Former teammate of current Kansas Forward, Zach Peters, Randle is considered the top player in the class by many experts.  He can play any position and can star with any ensemble of players, so roster spots are irrelevant.  UK is making a major push, and is considered his leader at this time.  However, Kansas is trying to secure a visit to Lawrence for “Late Night in the Phog,” and if Bill Self can do it, consider KU to be a major player in the race.  But at this time, I would put KU’s chances of landing this stud low, at 20%.

Aaron Gordon:  (6′-8 F San Jose, CA)  This Blake Griffin clone is considered a long shot to leave the west coast, but the fact that he is attending “Late Night” tells me that he is giving KU a puncher’s chance.  Bill Self is going all in on guys from 6′-8 all the way up to 7′-0. Since the visit hasn’t happened as of this being published, I have to stay low for the time being - 10%.

Jabari Parker:  (6′-8 Chicago, IL)  Jabari Parker’s recruitment has been played as close to the vest as any I can remember in recent years.  There are rumors that Duke and Michigan State lead for his services, but there has never been any good evidence that would suggest that this is the case.  Kansas’ in-home visit recently at the Parker household was “eye opening” and made a great impression on Parker and his family.   Again, with this recruitment being one of the most secretive in recent memory, I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting this above 20%.

Tyler Roberson:  (6′-8 F Roselle, NJ)  The fact that he has moved back his visit from October 12th (Late Night) to the 19th shouldn’t scare off the KU faithful.  It was mostly due to his hectic schedule in the weekends that surround that date.  There is still a chance that he could attend Villanova’s version of Midnight Madness.  Villanova and Kentucky are major players in this recruitment, but KU sits well with him.  KU’s chances, 40%.

Wayne Selden throwing down

Wayne Selden:  (6′-5 G Tilton, NH)  One of the most explosive players in the class, Selden is being sold the idea of coming in and being the typical Bill Self combo guard.  With the ability to play 3 positions, competition on the current roster should not affect his decision.  His decision to attend “Late Night” has put KU right at the top of the list.  With James Young more than likely choosing somewhere other than KU, Selden seems very likely to take that scholarship.  This number is about as good as a sure thing in the recruiting process, 75%.

Conner Frankamp:  (6′-0 G Wichita, KS)  No one has risen in the rankings as much as the sharp-shooting guard from Wichita has this summer.  Frankamp’s explosion at evaluation camps, and his play for the US team this summer has ensured that Kansas will have a bonafied star in the back court next season regardless of who else chooses the Jayhawks.  Since he cannot sign his LOI at this time, he is on the list, but believe me this kid is 100% a Jayhawk!

Brannen Greene:  (6′-7 F Forsyth, GA)  Similar to Conner, having already committed to the Kansas Jayhawks, this smooth shooting SF has to be on the list since his LOI is not signed either.  Having recently stated that other coaches are actually still actively recruiting him, he reaffirmed his commitment to Coach Self personally in recent weeks, so we must put him at 100% also.

Joel Embiid:  (7′-0 C Gainesville, FL)  Having only been playing basketball for about a year, this seven footer has quickly became a household name.  Dave Telep’s man crush will push him to a 4 Star ranking by the time he finishes his senior season.  He is another of the “Late Night” visitors, but I believe this big man will stay home in Gainesville and join his AAU teammates, Chris Walker and Kasey Hill, on Billy Donavon’s squad next season.  Bill Self’s record with big men gives him a foot in the door, however. I think 20% sounds about right.

James Young:  (6′-6 G Rochester Hills, MI)  Although it has been rumored that Young has cut his list to two recently, Kansas and Michigan State are still sitting neck and neck with the two rumored leaders, Kentucky and Syracuse.  Unlike others on the list, where particular players decide to play their college ball will determine where Young decides to go.  Any combination of players committing to any of these 4 schools would sway Young’s decision in my mind.  With this being the case, I would assign each school an equal chance of landing Young. KU: 25%.

Frank Mason

Frank Mason:  (5′-11 G Petersburg, VA)  This fearless PG was the leading scorer in the state last year, and after committing to Towson last season, has spent a year in prep school to get his academics in order.  His game will remind some of Sherron Collins, in that he is completely fearless when it comes to getting to the paint.  His recent visit was put off due to a transcript issue with the school, but should visit Lawrence as early as Thursday, and a commitment is very possible before he leaves.  Whether its this week or later, I would put KU’s chances of landing Mason at 90%.

Karvier Shepherd:  (6′-10 C Dallas, TX)  All 3 Texas schools, Oklahoma, and Kansas are on the top 5 for this gifted big man out of Dallas.  It was recently rumored that Texas A&M and Kansas were close to landing Shepherd, but I still think all 5 are legitimate contenders.  Again, Self’s recent success with big men is a big help in this recruitment.  KU stands a great chance at landing Shepherd, and in the recruiting business, a great chance is around 60%.

Roddy Peters (6′-4 G District Heights, MD)  Bill Self has jumped into this recruitment late because of the recent commitments of his first 3 choices to other schools.  But with the chances of the Harrison twins potentially choosing Maryland later this week, Peters is now open to several different schools.  Self was at Suitland HS on Tuesday to watch Peters, and has set up an official visit so KU is going to be an option, but right now, those chances are low - 20%.  However, if the twins should choose MD on Thursday, Peters to KU jumps to 50%.

To recap, in this business, anything over 60% is about as close to a sure thing as you will find.  With that in mind, I think the 2013 class will eventually include the following:

Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene, 
Wayne Selden, 
Frank Mason, 
Karvier Shepherd
. 

Whether its Selden, Mason, and Shepherd, or any combination of the aforementioned, to go along with the solid commitments of Greene and Frankamp, there is 100% chance that the 2013 class will be one of the best in the Bill Self era.

 

#KUBBALL Tweet-up

Posted on: July 20th, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments

(Editor’s Note: The following is courtesy of Katherine Hollar.  She is a huge KU fan and great follow on twitter at @katiehollar. We met at a KU basketball game in Lincoln when she tried to run me over with her car (allegedly). She’ll be providing JHT ongoing updates about an exciting film project coming soon to a theatre near you!)

Attention #kubball fans — Late Night is still a few months away, but let’s get our community together to enjoy ourselves “IRL,” talk some hoops and support a great cause, the “Jayhawkers” Kickstarter drive.

Join me, @RckChlkPrincess, @KUTatKat and @Travis_KU at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 27 at Snow & Company, 1815 Wyandotte St. in downtown Kansas City.

All Jayhawk fans and #kubball contributors are more than welcome, but we have some special treats in store for those who support the “Jayhawkers” movie. If you donate $50 or more and tweet us a screen shot of your confirmation or bring a copy of your receipt to the party, your first drink is on us. In addition, we’ll create a drawing pool — “Jayhawkers” supporters can win a game at Allen Fieldhouse with me, a game with @RckChlkPrincess (you KNOW that would be good), and other swell prizes.

You can learn more about “Jayhawkers” and pledge your support at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/grantbabbitt/jayhawkers-feature-film?ref=live.

We can’t wait to meet everyone — #PutYaShoesOn on and come out! If you have any questions, please hit us on Twitter.

#RCJH #PhogNation #FOE

Jayhawkers Kickstarter Campaign

Posted on: July 14th, 2012 by jayhawktalk 1 Comment

(Editor’s Note: The following is courtesy of Katherine Hollar.  She is a huge KU fan and great follow on twitter at @katiehollar. We met at a KU basketball game in Lincoln when she tried to run me over with her car (allegedly). She’ll be providing JHT ongoing updates about an exciting film project coming soon to a theatre near you!)

Last week on this blog, we introduced Jayhawkers, the Kevin Willmott film about Phog Allen, Wilt Chamberlain, Chancellor Frank Murphy and their effect on college basketball – a parallel to the Civil Rights movement that changed the country.

The film is in pre-production now, but to keep moving forward, the filmmakers need your help. The Jayhawkers team has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 by August 2. Any amount is appreciated, and donors at all levels will be rewarded – my favorite incentive is the game of HORSE against former Jayhawk and NBA star Scot Pollard (an executive producer).

Please give what you can. I am donating because I love my school, I am proud of our basketball tradition, and I am prouder still of our progressive heritage.

 

Jayhawkers Movie

Posted on: June 29th, 2012 by jayhawktalk 2 Comments

(Editor’s Note: The following is courtesy of Katherine Hollar.  She is a huge KU fan and great follow on twitter at @katiehollar. We met at a KU basketball game in Lincoln when she tried to run me over with her car (allegedly). She’ll be providing JHT ongoing updates about an exciting film project coming soon to a theatre near you!)

The Phog soon will roll onto the big screen.

Now in pre-production, Jayhawkers will tell the story of how Phog Allen and Chancellor Frank Murphy recruited Wilt Chamberlain from Philadelphia to play at Kansas…and how a group of unlikely allies changed college basketball and Lawrence in a parallel to the Civil Rights movement that changed the country.

At the helm of the project are writer/producer/director Kevin Willmott and writer/producer Scott Richardson. Willmott, an associate professor of film at KU, has directed two films (C.S.A.: Confederate States of America and The Only Good Indian) selected to the Sundance Film Festival. Richardson, a KU alumnus, has produced multiple projects for The History Channel and has written and consulted for many leading entertainment outfits, including A&E and AMC.

A full synopsis is available at www.facebook.com/jayhawkersmovie. The film will weave together the father of modern basketball coaching, the most legendary basketball player of the modern era and the tension of racism and segregation – only one year after Brown vs. Board of Education in Topeka, just 20 miles from Lawrence. As the filmmakers state, “The struggle for dignity and civil rights on the court would bond a team and change a town forever.”

The movie’s climax will come during the triple-overtime 1957 national championship game against the University of North Carolina, a game that has been called the greatest in college history.

More details will surface soon, but the movie will be shot in Lawrence (and the Fieldhouse), and Kansas fans will be tickled by the casting pick for Wilt Chamberlain, to say the least.

We talk a lot about tradition with Kansas basketball, but too often that conversation focuses on banners on the Fieldhouse wall, not the heritage of the Free State progressives. Jayhawkers will honor both – and fans will have opportunities to get involved. Like the Facebook page. Be an extra. Donate a few dollars, once the crowdsourcing effort is underway. Help Willmott and Richardson show the film community – and the nation – why we pay heed.

 

Farewell, KU – a ’12 graduate’s Jayhawk memories

Posted on: May 10th, 2012 by jayhawktalk No Comments

Editor’s Note: The following is written by @Pay_Heed, a graduating senior of the University of Kansas. He wanted to put into words his experiences as a fan and student during his time in Lawrence.

I apologize in advance for the length of this post. It was very surreal to write, and I felt compelled to do so when the harsh reality of the finality that is College (not just athletics) was brought to the forefront after the National Title game. I realized not only that I would never be privileged to watch Thomas and Tyshawn lace up in Crimson and Blue again, I was struck with the reality that my years at the University of Kansas were also coming to a close. I have been fortunate to watch some great teams play in my time in Lawrence, and I felt compelled to compose my own variance of a senior speech.

Before I expand into the substance of this post, I think some background information about me may be required to appreciate what it is I have to say in regard to KU athletics (read: basketball and football) and its current state, at least from my perspective, as my years at Kansas have seen their share of ups and downs. I am a graduating member of the Class of 2012; I arrived on Campus of the University of Kansas in the fall of 2006, a young, naïve freshman. I was raised a Jayhawk, and like most kids who grow up bleeding Crimson and Blue, basketball will always hold a special place in my heart. I will never remember the first time I watched the Jayhawks in person. It was March, 11 1988 at Kemper Arena. KU beat Oklahoma State 74-58. I wasn’t even 2 months old.

While basketball is most near and dear to my heart, I wish to address the matter of KU football also, as it has been a wild ride in my six years here at KU. When I arrived on campus in 2006 the football team was a step above where Terry Allen left it, coming off of a Fort Worth Bowl victory the previous season, not to mention an absolute thrashing of Nebraska courtesy of Kevin Kane and Jon Cornish. However, the program was still hanging out in relative mediocrity. Little did I know, there was another freshman on campus that would change the face of Kansas football forever. At the time, I could never have predicted what an exciting time it would become to be a Jayhawk football fan.

That 2006 season was a tumultuous one for Mangino, but fans were treated to a glimpse of things to come when Todd Reesing had his red-shirt pulled and miraculously led a comeback against Colorado. The Reesing miracle laid the groundwork for what was to come, and probably saved Mangino’s job (for the time being, but that’s a different story).

2007 was an incredible season, and one I will never forget. In my entire life leading up to that season, I think I remember being excited about KU football once or twice. It wasn’t particularly different leading up to that season. There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of hype surrounding the team. It wasn’t until after we beat KSU in Manhattan that I knew something special might be brewing. And what a magical ride it became, 6-0 became 7 became 11-0. College Gameday came to KCMO to watch the #2 ranked Jayhawks face off against the #3 MU Tigers (IN FOOTBALL!). The thing I remember most about that game was how bad we got burned in our base defense. James Holt was covering a wide receiver on nearly every down it seemed, and we couldn’t stop their passing game. Revenge for the loss was nearly immediate, however, when KU beat out the Tigers for a spot in the Orange Bowl. To this day I still kick myself for not making the trip to Miami, but I could only make one trip that year, and I was holding out for Final Four tickets (we’ll get to that).

After the 2007 season, things went downhill for the KU football program, and though we beat MU and won the Insight bowl in ’08 it was to become a turbulent time after Todd Reesing left Mt. Oread.

I certainly don’t need to remind you all how painful the two years have been in the post-Mangino era. Lew Perkins left his legacy with a Ticket scandal and an awful football hire. But I think there is reason for optimism in Lawrence. We have a multi-Super Bowl winning coach, and some recruits that, at least on paper, can give fans hope. All you can ask for a program that has offered precious little in recent decades is hope.

While football always seems to get the fall semester off with some excitement, few things bring a smile to my face like the approach of Late Night in the Phog. Basketball is King in Lawrence, and for good reason.

In the fall of 2006, KU was coming off of some pretty bad beats in the NCAA tournament. However, the massively talented 2005 recruits were a year older, and two young studs, Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur, were embarking on their freshmen campaigns at KU. It was definitely an exciting time to be a Jayhawk basketball fan.

Those Jayhawks did not disappoint. The most memorable moment (and frankly, the most memorable game played in Allen until February 25, 2012) for me that season was our 18 point comeback against Kevin Durant and Texas. I have never watched such a dominating basketball player in person, and I frankly don’t expect to see the likes of Durant again. That game pretty much defines what I have come to expect from a Bill Self coached basketball team. The going may get tough, but our guys will fight until the end.

That season’s tournament, while heartbreaking, didn’t have the finality of some of the other tournament losses, mainly due to the fact that no one on that team graduated. Julian would declare for the NBA draft, but the core group of guys was certainly going to be a force the following season.

Every time I walked into Allen Fieldhouse in 2007-08 I was struck by something I hadn’t ever felt before: that if this team played to its potential on a given night, it was going to win. I felt like we were going to win the National Championship. That is why I was holding out for Final Four tickets, instead of jumping at the opportunity to go to the Orange Bowl. Jayhawk Nation watched as the senior-laden Jayhawks roared to a 20-0 start, and though the loss at Bramlage stung, it was a mere speed bump for such a talented team on a mission.

I ordered my Final Four tickets just after Christmas break; needless to say I was very confident in our chances. It was not meant to be however, because I received a letter scheduling my Pharmacy school interview on April 5, 2008. That was the night of the National Semifinal. I ended up spending the Final Four in Lawrence, and it was one of the most awesome experiences of my life.

I wore the same white Mario Chalmers jersey to every home game that season, and never washed it one time (oh shut up, I didn’t want to wash any of the luck out of it). So obviously it was the clear choice of superstitious apparel that I would wear for the NCAA tournament. So after my interview, I donned the jersey, and headed to Wayne and Larry’s to watch the UNC game. I’ve never heard a bar in Lawrence as loud as that night. After the game, I made my way to Mass St. with about 30,000 other friends. But that was nothing compared to April 7, 2008.

The day of the Championship game was pretty surreal. In my organic chemistry class, Paul Hanson gave a pretty epic pregame pep-talk. We didn’t talk about chemistry, but instead watched the second half of the 1988 Championship game. That was pretty memorable. A couple of fraternity brothers and I ate at Backyard Burgers in Lawrence the night of the game, and then I commenced to watch in our basement with about 20 brothers. I remember the swings of emotions during the game, and I was pretty distraught with about 2:12 to go in the game. But one of my fraternity brothers stood up in front of everybody and said “Shut the f**k up, we’re about to win this.” I’ll never forget watching “The Shot.” I almost looked away when Sherron started falling, then the next thing I remember is jumping up and down and beer flying everywhere. That Chalmers jersey got a beer shower, and it still hasn’t been washed. Someday I plan to frame it.

Photo courtesy of LJ World

The party on Mass was epic after that game. When I left at 4:30 the next morning there were probably a good 25,000 people still in the street. Thank God they cancelled class the next day (WTF Bernadette).

As sweet as 2008 was, 2008-09 did not, at first blush, appear as appealing. A solid (though unproven) cast of characters would have to lead the way if KU was going to win a fifth straight Big XII title. How mistaken we were. All that team did was not lose a home game for the second consecutive season, and win a share of the Big XII with the Oklahoma Blake Griffins. A Sweet 16 loss at the time seemed tough to swallow, but from the outset of the season, that seemed an improbable feat.

2009-10 was a year where I again had the feeling that our team was, on the right night, invincible. That team cruised to the number 1 overall seed, a sixth consecutive Big XII title, and saw Sherron Collins become the winningest player in KU history. However, not all was right with KU Athletics, as the Ticket scandal came to the forefront of media attention. A shroud of foreboding surrounded Lawrence, and it seemed an ill omen for things to come. I watched both of the Jayhawks losses in the state of Oklahoma that season. Both were crushing in their own rights, but the finality of watching Sherron’s last game was almost sickening.

One of the most impressive things about Bill Self teams is the ability to seamlessly transition from year to year regardless of what pieces need replacing. It’s difficult to imagine a team losing 2 lottery picks and the winningest player in program history and still be a top 3 team the following season, yet that is exactly what happened. A very veteran core of guys with young talent off the bench made the 2010-11 team a preseason favorite to win its seventh straight Big XII title and contend for a championship.

Only a tight group of guys could overcome a situation like the one that happened to Thomas Robinson. It was also a moment that showed the strength of Jayhawk Nation, in the form of the Lisa Robinson fund for Jayla. That is one of the biggest takeaways I have from my time at Kansas: it’s a huge family, and stretches not only across the US, but all over the World.

The VCU loss was pretty unbearable, mostly because we played so poorly and they played great. It seemed that everything that could go wrong did and everything that could go right for the Rams also did. It was a fairly foregone conclusion that the Morri would turn pro after the season, and the Josh Selby experiment ended badly, at this time, for both parties.

That leaves the 2011-12 Jayhawks, who had more heart than any team I’ve ever seen. Aside from Tyshawn, no one on this year’s team had ever played significant minutes at a high major Division 1 level. Outside of the program (even including many fans) there were few who believed the team would chalk up an eighth straight Big XII championship, yet that’s what this team thrived on: doubters. It seemed that, as we have seen with Bill Self teams of the past, the bigger the hole, the harder the fight. The comeback against Mizzou in February showcased that exact trait, which made this group the most loveable of my six years at Kansas. They brought about reminisces of the film, Rocky. It’s almost fitting that despite losing in the Championship game, they went the distance, despite all the doubt.

KU Athletics has produced many of my fondest memories as a collegian, and I thank each and every athlete, coach, and manager, etc. who made those seasons so special. It seems to me that the Athletics department is in good hands with Dr. Zenger at the helm. For you future Jayhawks, I hope that the memories you make at KU are as memorable as the ones I have been left with. And for those whose days have gone by, I hope you look back on your days as fondly as I do mine. While I may not ever get to sit (stand) in the student section again, I’ll cherish those times with 16,299 of my best friends, cheering our beloved Jayhawks. To quote the great Wilt Chamberlin, from his jersey retirement speech:

“I’ve learned over the years that you must learn to take the bitter with the sweet, and how sweet this is, right here! I’m a Jayhawk […] and very proud of it. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!”

JAYHAWK TALK TWITTER

Thanks for visiting Jayhawk Talk - a site made by KU fans for KU fans. Check back periodically as new blog posts and media are updated. Enjoy your time here, and, as always, Rock Chalk!