WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2.2005
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Father, son recruited; naysayers abound
✉ JACK WEINSTEIN
jweinstein@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIETER
It's happened before.
About 20 years ago, Kansas basketball landed a recruit that turned out to be a pretty good player. His father was hired as a member of Coach Larry Brown's staff. Naysayers and conspiracy theorists screamed that in some way, Brown had arranged some sort of package deal to entice the two to come to Kansas. The two were Ed and Danny Manning. You know the rest of the story.
When Ronnie Chalmers was announced as the new director of basketball operations at Kansas
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3C
for the 2005-06 season on June 28, a job occupied by Danny Manning a year ago, the naysayers and conspiracy theorists reemerged, calling the Chalmers hiring part of a
Chalmers won't shy away from the insinuations that his hiring was done in part to entice his son to attend Kansas.
package deal to land the best high school point guard in the country, Mario Chalmers.
"People are going to have their own opinions," Chalmers said. "Coach Self saw some
The conspiracy theorists argued that Chalmers didn't have the experience to be a member of coach Bill Self's staff. He was the coach at Bartlett High School in Alaska, the same school his son attended. In five years at the helm, Chalmers amassed a 109-28 record that included state titles in two of the last three years he coached there.
qualities in me that he thought I could help the program and help the team win."
In addition to his tenure at Bartlett High, Chalmers, a first sergeant, played basketball for the Air Force for 15 years before becoming an assistant on that team's staff.
I think number one is discipline and how to deal with a diverse group of people.I'll take some of my experience dealing with young troops in the military to implement it in the team concept we have with this ball club"
199
During the announcement of Chalmers as director of basketball operations, Self told the Lawrence Journal-World why he hired Chalmers
"He has a long military background and excellent basketball portfolio, and we felt he would be a great addition to our staff filling a position that was void
Ronnie Chalmers Director of basketball operations
this past year." Self said.
Chalmers, whose duties include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the team, including keeping tabs on the players' academics, is excited to make the transition from a head coach to an assistant, and giving himself more time to be a dad.
"Do I miss being a head coach? Absolutely," Chalmers said.
"I'm going to get a chance to really be a parent, something I haven't had a chance to do the last couple of years." he said.
Chalmers had planned to follow Mario wherever he chose to go to college. Chalmers' wife, Almarie, retired as a teacher last spring, allowing them to leave Alaska.
Chalmers said he wanted to see Mario develop into an adult
decision to attend the University of Kansas.
Two years ago, the couple bought a house in North Carolina, but decided to move to Lawrence when Mario made his
"I love having my family here," Mario said. "They're a great extra support system for me."
Chalmers hopes to bring some aspects of his military background to the KU coaching staff.
"I think number one is discipline and how to deal with a diverse group of people," Chalmers said. "I'll take some of my experience dealing with young troops in the military to implement it in the team concept we have with this ball club."
Package deal or not, it doesn't matter. Self's staff added a coach with a diverse background that includes past playing and coaching experience as well as a regimented military career that Chalmers will apply to this team.
Edited by Patrick Ross
Kansan file nhotre
Moulaye Niang, then junior forward, and Jeff Hawkins, then junior guard, cheer at Late Night in the Phoog, 2004 as fellow Jayhawks promise Niang will become the highest-scoring Senegalese player at Kansas
Niang still a part of Kansas basketball
BIG 12
CJ MOORE
cjmoore@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
Niang was forced to end his playing career this summer because of a degenerated disk — a genetic disorder — in his back that he could have further damaged if he kept playing.
Senior Moulaye Niang no longer plays basketball at the University of Kansas, but venture into the men's locker room and Niang's locker is still there with his No. 55 jersey inside.
He played through the pain last season and after consulting several specialists afterward and talking it over with friends and family, he decided it was in his best interest to stop playing.
Kansas coach Bill Self has done everything he could to make Niang still feel like part of the team. Hence Niang's locker and the position that Self gave Niang of student assistant when doctors told him he needed to give up the game he loves.Niang's role with the team now is to help in whatever way he possibly can.
He goes to every practice and helps with passing and assists Danny Manning with the big man drills. Niang also serves as a mentor to the four freshmen.
"I've been there before myself. I'm just doing the best I can to make sure they understand what it's like." Niang said.
Niang's biggest challenge this year is dealing with the fact that he cannot join his teammates on the court.
He said he still felt like part of the team and would remain on the sideline during games, but nothing can replace the feeling of playing in front of 16.300 KU faithful.
"It's something you love doing for your whole life and one day they say you can't play." Niang said. "Late night was a prime example. I wish I was out there with the guys but it's part of the result of the decision I made."
Niang was given a medical release and is still on scholarship this season. He appreciates the opportunity to remain close to the program.
"I can't thank coach enough. I'm really grateful and appreciative that he's doing this for me. He didn't have to do it," Niang said. "He could have just said, 'Hey man, you've got a medical release and you're on your way. You're on your own.' But he has given me the chance to stick around and do what I love."
MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
— Edited by Patrick Ross
MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRITER
Four Big 12 teams hold pre-season top 25 rankings, including Texas at number two and Oklahoma at number six. Those rankings don't always hold true, but undoubtedly the strength of the conference has shifted to the south.
Kansas State
BIG 12 NORTH BREAKDOWN
Picked to finish 11th in the conference, the Wildcats, under sixth-year coach
Jim Wooldrie don't have to worry about expectations being high. The loss of forward Jeremiah Massey, who led the Wildcats in scoring for the past two years, leaves a void for Kansas State. In their second year running the four guard offense, Wooldrie said he knew he would give up some size, but said his team would be stronger playing small.
"The challenge is that this team has got to buy into the sum of a team," Wooldridge said. "If we are going to play a small lineup, we have got to be an energized team. We have to be able to do things defensively."
Missouri
are picked to finish eighth in the Big 12. After losing their leading rebounder and leading scorer Linas Kleiza, the Tigers have a new attitude and some new personnel.
"This year, it is all about the team, all about each other." Snyder. "We are giving back to each other and to the program."
their back court, with guards Jimmy McKinney and Thomas Gardner. Kevin Young will be the Tigers' strongest player in the paint.
Colorado
After finishing
14-16 last season
and 4-12 in the
Big 12, the Buffaloes are looking to do better in their tenth season under coach Ricardo Patton. The Buffaloes return all five starters and 13 letter winners from last year's team, including sophomore Richard Roby. The six foot six guard did it all for the Buffaloes last year, as he was the first freshman since Chauncey Billups to lead the league in scoring. Andy Osborn will be a key player for the Buffaloes in the paint.
The Tigers strength will be in
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers are picked to finished tenth in the Big 12 conference this season but
son, but coach Barry Collier said that didn't matter.
"We don't look at what previous teams have done or worry about preseason ranking." Collier said. "I like that old adage, 'Our cow died last night, we don't need that bull anymore.'"
The Cornhuskers have not finished above seventh in the Big 12 under Collier but he brought in a gang of newcomers to compliment a group of redshirt players who will get their first chance on the court this season. The Cornhuskers will most likely play at a faster pace and be quicker in all areas of the game. Joe McCray and Aleks Maric will return to lead the 'Huskers this season, along with seniors Jason Dourisseau and Wes Wilkinson. Each of the four ranked among Nebraska's
top six scorers and top five rebounders.
Iowa State
The Cyclones are the only other north team ranked in the ESPN/USA Today preseason
top 25. At number 23, Iowa State looks to compete for the Big 12 north title after advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year. They return their dynamic back court duo, Curtis Stinson and Will Blavlock.
"We are really looking forward to this season," Iowa State coach Wayne Morgan said. "We think we have a chance to compete at a high level in the Big 12."
BIG 12 SOUTH
Oklahoma State
After losing a gang of seniors in Joey and Stephen Graham.
John Lucas, Daniel Bobik, Terrance Crawford and Ivan McFarlin, only four Cowboys return from last year's roster, and only one JamesOnCurry. The Cowboys, however, wasted no time reloading for the 2005-06 season.
After naming Sean Sutton as the head coach designate, the Cowboys landed five recruits ranked in the top-75 in the country.
It will be Curry though, who the Cowboys will rely on the most. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard averaged 13 points a game last year for the Cowboys and was named to the Big 12 Conference All-Freshman team.
The Cowboys finished 26-7 last season and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen where the lost to Arizona.
Oklahoma
The Sooners are picked to finish sixth in the country, but in the Big 12, that won't even get
you the top pre-season ranking in your conference. The Sooners are picked to finish second in the conference behind Texas.
The front court will be the strength of the Sooners with Taj Gray, the Big 12 preseason player of the year, and Kevin Bookout returning from last year's 25-8 Big 12 Championship team. David Godbold could have a break out year for the Sooners. The sophomore
Texas Tech
After finishing fourth in the Big 12 conference but still nabbing an NCAA tournament berth, the Red Raiders don't return any seniors to this year's team. With eight newcomers, forward Darryl Dora and guards Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno will lead the 2005-06 team.
"I've had teams that had leadership from underclassmen," Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight said. "I think we have some kids, like Zeno and Jackson that have been doing that in practice already."
Despite advancing to the Sweet Sixteen last season, the Red Raiders struggled with consistency. Dora said that is what will be the key to this team's success.
"We didn't always have it together last year," he said. "We have to do a better job of that this year, especially with the young guys. We just need to listen to what coach tells us to do."
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