If you were Baylor last night, facing Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse had to present some worry. The Bears were 17-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country. They were ripe for picking.
Kansas didn’t just beat Baylor; the Jayhawks destroyed their visitors by 18 points. Welcome to Kansas and Allen Fieldhouse.
You knew Baylor would lose sometime. You figured the Bears were going to give Kansas a good game. But the Jayhawks did what they wanted to when they wanted to do it. The scene was very familiar to other visiting teams. Kansas has now won 85 of 86 games at home.
Baylor actually led the game by five points in the first half. But it seemed all night the Bears were in deep trouble desperately trying to come back.
It’s no disgrace to lose to mighty Kansas at home. Baylor needs to flush this game and get ready for Saturday when top-10 Missouri comes to Waco.
There is plenty of Big 12 Conference basketball left. You figure Baylor and Missouri still have shots to challenge Kansas for the title.
But if Kansas keeps playing the way it did Monday night, nobody will challenge the Jayhawks for nothing.
Showing posts with label Jayhawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jayhawks. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, December 15, 2011
I'm Back
Sorry about the lack of posts lately. I had been dealing with a nasty since infection and pounding headache, but thankfully I seem on the mend now.
There was quite a bite of college football news this last week. I will mention just three.
Congratulations to Baylor’s Robert Griffin III (RG3) for winning the Heisman Trophy. What an outstanding young man representing Baylor and the college football world. When we get down about all the negative aspects and problems in college football, we need to remember the good stuff such as positive roles models like RG3.
Why did Charlie Weiss become the coach at Kansas? I can see the Jayhawk’s point. Kansas went for name recognition and putting people in the seats. But Weiss left a high profile offensive coordinator job at Florida for Lawrence, Kansas. Is it a promotion? Does Charlie really want to become a head coach again (see Notre Dame) that badly? I think Weiss fits better in the NFL than the NCAA.
Todd Graham left Pittsburgh after only one season for Arizona State. He has also left Rice after one season besides coaching at Tulsa. This guy has a history of short stints and if I was Arizona State I would keep my list of potential replacements stuck on the telephone. But Graham has been stimulating the economy with moving vans and real estate transactions.
Readers: Anything strike your fancy in the last week or so of the college changes?
There was quite a bite of college football news this last week. I will mention just three.
Congratulations to Baylor’s Robert Griffin III (RG3) for winning the Heisman Trophy. What an outstanding young man representing Baylor and the college football world. When we get down about all the negative aspects and problems in college football, we need to remember the good stuff such as positive roles models like RG3.
Why did Charlie Weiss become the coach at Kansas? I can see the Jayhawk’s point. Kansas went for name recognition and putting people in the seats. But Weiss left a high profile offensive coordinator job at Florida for Lawrence, Kansas. Is it a promotion? Does Charlie really want to become a head coach again (see Notre Dame) that badly? I think Weiss fits better in the NFL than the NCAA.
Todd Graham left Pittsburgh after only one season for Arizona State. He has also left Rice after one season besides coaching at Tulsa. This guy has a history of short stints and if I was Arizona State I would keep my list of potential replacements stuck on the telephone. But Graham has been stimulating the economy with moving vans and real estate transactions.
Readers: Anything strike your fancy in the last week or so of the college changes?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
College Basketball's Hot Potato
Suddenly, life as the No. 1 ranked team in college basketball is deadly.
Kansas, the latest No. 1, fell hard to Kansas State last night. Texas is now the next team in barring defeat this week.
Ohio State had made a stronghold on the ranking before losing last Saturday. But freefall is suddenly the norm.
Of course, the rankings are just to create interest for media, fans, coaches etc. The only poll a team follower really cares about is the one the moment after the national championship game. You can dance every dance at the school dance but the most important one is the last dance.
This time of the season is for positioning. Everybody’s goal is the NCAA tournament nothing less. Kansas is positioning for a No. 1 tournament seed, but last night’s loss didn’t hurt the Jayhawks that much. Kansas State needs signature victories to gain the tournament. Last night’s win was a big one for a struggling Wildcat team. That should seal the deal for an NCAA invitation.
If Texas moves to No. 1, this will give other clubs opportunity for NCAA positioning. The sudden No. 1 ranking hot potato can only give these teams greater hope.
Kansas, the latest No. 1, fell hard to Kansas State last night. Texas is now the next team in barring defeat this week.
Ohio State had made a stronghold on the ranking before losing last Saturday. But freefall is suddenly the norm.
Of course, the rankings are just to create interest for media, fans, coaches etc. The only poll a team follower really cares about is the one the moment after the national championship game. You can dance every dance at the school dance but the most important one is the last dance.
This time of the season is for positioning. Everybody’s goal is the NCAA tournament nothing less. Kansas is positioning for a No. 1 tournament seed, but last night’s loss didn’t hurt the Jayhawks that much. Kansas State needs signature victories to gain the tournament. Last night’s win was a big one for a struggling Wildcat team. That should seal the deal for an NCAA invitation.
If Texas moves to No. 1, this will give other clubs opportunity for NCAA positioning. The sudden No. 1 ranking hot potato can only give these teams greater hope.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Don't Mess With the Texas Longhorns
Texas proved it is a force again this season in the Big 12 Conference when the Longhorns beat Kansas in Lawrence Saturday.
Teams don’t go into Allen Fieldhouse and handle the Jayhawks like that. Texas didn’t require late game magic. The Longhorns just took care of business. They simply defeated No. 2 ranked Kansas.
I was thinking that Kansas was far-and-above the best team in the Big 12. Now, Saturday’s result shows the Jayhawks have company. And a loss might be good for Kansas.
But Saturday’s spotlight belongs to the Longhorns. Coach Rick Barnes has produced a solid, consistent program in Austin. That is saying something because basketball is like a stepchild to Texas football.
But if Texas keeps winning games like it did Saturday, maybe Texas football talk will take a back seat for at least a couple weeks. Maybe…
Teams don’t go into Allen Fieldhouse and handle the Jayhawks like that. Texas didn’t require late game magic. The Longhorns just took care of business. They simply defeated No. 2 ranked Kansas.
I was thinking that Kansas was far-and-above the best team in the Big 12. Now, Saturday’s result shows the Jayhawks have company. And a loss might be good for Kansas.
But Saturday’s spotlight belongs to the Longhorns. Coach Rick Barnes has produced a solid, consistent program in Austin. That is saying something because basketball is like a stepchild to Texas football.
But if Texas keeps winning games like it did Saturday, maybe Texas football talk will take a back seat for at least a couple weeks. Maybe…
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tradition-Rich Kansas Hoops in Trouble?
Rumors that report the apparent demise of the Big 12 Conference are making some members schools AND teams quite nervous. One of those teams is the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team.
If Kansas is left without a Big 12 Conference home, the basketball squad will suffer the most. In the past, the Jayhawks have regularly competed for national championships and possess a long, storied basketball history. Think such figures as Dr. James Naismith, Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning. Kansas has been receiving top-notch, nation-wide talent. But the pipeline might stop if the Jayhawks fall to a lesser conference or outside of the proposed power leagues. Instead of competing with the likes of North Carolina, Duke, Michigan State, Ohio State etc., Kansas might fall to the likes of Colorado State, Air Force, New Mexico etc.
People truly don't know what's going on behind close doors and maybe the politicians will even get involved if widespread change does occur.
But in the end, it would be a shame for Kansas basketball to downsize. The college basketball world needs a Midwestern presence. It needs Kansas basketball.
What do you think of the proposed Kansas basketball plight?
If Kansas is left without a Big 12 Conference home, the basketball squad will suffer the most. In the past, the Jayhawks have regularly competed for national championships and possess a long, storied basketball history. Think such figures as Dr. James Naismith, Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning. Kansas has been receiving top-notch, nation-wide talent. But the pipeline might stop if the Jayhawks fall to a lesser conference or outside of the proposed power leagues. Instead of competing with the likes of North Carolina, Duke, Michigan State, Ohio State etc., Kansas might fall to the likes of Colorado State, Air Force, New Mexico etc.
People truly don't know what's going on behind close doors and maybe the politicians will even get involved if widespread change does occur.
But in the end, it would be a shame for Kansas basketball to downsize. The college basketball world needs a Midwestern presence. It needs Kansas basketball.
What do you think of the proposed Kansas basketball plight?
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Northern Iowa Rocks College Basketball World
Goodbye, Kansas. Hello, Northern Iowa.
The Panthers truly believed (as I suggested they should in a previous post)and ousted the No. 1 Jayhawks from the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon.
Wow, what a game. Northern Iowa played its style and put the foot on the gas when necessary. And when Kansas punched hard a couple times in the second half, the Panthers took the blows.
Ali Farokhmanesh three-point dagger near the end of the game was like, "why is he shooting that shot NOW (with ample time on the shot clock), oh, nice shot."
The Panthers were in control of the game from the beginning. Kansas only led one time at 2-0.
Northern Iowa offered its usual workmanship performance. And on this stage, the Panthers were two points better than mighty Kansas.
These Panthers are forcing their way into the hearts of college basketball fans across the land. They are Sweet 16 bound. Why stop now? St. Louis here they come.
Can Northern Iowa continue its magical ride. You bet it can. These players will continue to believe.
And for good reason. This bunch is truly believable.
The Panthers truly believed (as I suggested they should in a previous post)and ousted the No. 1 Jayhawks from the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon.
Wow, what a game. Northern Iowa played its style and put the foot on the gas when necessary. And when Kansas punched hard a couple times in the second half, the Panthers took the blows.
Ali Farokhmanesh three-point dagger near the end of the game was like, "why is he shooting that shot NOW (with ample time on the shot clock), oh, nice shot."
The Panthers were in control of the game from the beginning. Kansas only led one time at 2-0.
Northern Iowa offered its usual workmanship performance. And on this stage, the Panthers were two points better than mighty Kansas.
These Panthers are forcing their way into the hearts of college basketball fans across the land. They are Sweet 16 bound. Why stop now? St. Louis here they come.
Can Northern Iowa continue its magical ride. You bet it can. These players will continue to believe.
And for good reason. This bunch is truly believable.
Friday, March 19, 2010
NCAA Mania in Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa lived to play another day in the NCAA Tournament. The game was wild and filled with excitement. The Panthers prevailed over UNLV 69-66 Thursday night.
In a previous post, I confessed that this tournament would cause me little uneasiness because none of my teams were in the field. Okay, I confess. I was wrong.
The Northern Iowa game was a little nerve racking because I wanted to see my home state team perform well and win. So I must admit, I moved around a bit in my chair during the tightly contested contest.
I was pretty calm when the Panther's Ali Farokhmanesh hit the game-winning three point shot in the waning seconds. I am just happy I don't need to type Ali's last name on a frequent basis. Now, that would create some anxiety, ha.
Northern Iowa (better known as UNI here in Iowa) captured its first NCAA tourney win in 20 years. No wonder the state is celebrating.
It's not difficult enjoying this team. Ben Jacobson's squad is a bunch of hard working, no ego types. They practice the meaning of the word team. There are no stars, but parts that work into a whole component. And it's a joy to watch a team that actually makes free throws. I haven't seen much good free throw shooting this season in the college game.
So UNI opposes mighty Kansas Saturday in the next round. Here's hoping the Panthers forget about their opening victory and give a huge effort against the No. 1 ranked Jayhawks.
And before anyone discounts UNI, remember hope is a beautiful word in the NCAA Tournament. Just ask Murray State and Ohio about hope.
In a previous post, I confessed that this tournament would cause me little uneasiness because none of my teams were in the field. Okay, I confess. I was wrong.
The Northern Iowa game was a little nerve racking because I wanted to see my home state team perform well and win. So I must admit, I moved around a bit in my chair during the tightly contested contest.
I was pretty calm when the Panther's Ali Farokhmanesh hit the game-winning three point shot in the waning seconds. I am just happy I don't need to type Ali's last name on a frequent basis. Now, that would create some anxiety, ha.
Northern Iowa (better known as UNI here in Iowa) captured its first NCAA tourney win in 20 years. No wonder the state is celebrating.
It's not difficult enjoying this team. Ben Jacobson's squad is a bunch of hard working, no ego types. They practice the meaning of the word team. There are no stars, but parts that work into a whole component. And it's a joy to watch a team that actually makes free throws. I haven't seen much good free throw shooting this season in the college game.
So UNI opposes mighty Kansas Saturday in the next round. Here's hoping the Panthers forget about their opening victory and give a huge effort against the No. 1 ranked Jayhawks.
And before anyone discounts UNI, remember hope is a beautiful word in the NCAA Tournament. Just ask Murray State and Ohio about hope.
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