THE UNIVERSITY OF DARYL KANSAN
THURSDAY OCTOBER 25, 2007
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Senior year to showcase Robinson's leadership
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Senior guard Russell Robinson, right, the two-time B12 All-Defensive Team player, will be the heart of the Jayhawk defense ms season.
Coach Bill Self said Robinson's unselfish play puts the focus on winning rather than on racking up individual stats.
Guard's shut-down defense will once again be essential
The voice of the announcer at Allen Fieldhouse booms through the speakers above: "At guard, from New York, NEW YORK!" The crowd roars. "Number three, Russell Robinson!"
That dialogue should be familiar to Kansas basketball fans. Russell Robinson is definitely a player worth shouting about. The 6-foot-2 senior from the Bronx returns for his final season at Kansas this year with high hopes after last season's impressive climb to the Elite Eight.
A favorite player of coach Bill Self and often referred to as the "glue" of the team, Robinson will be a key factor for the Jayhawks early this season with Brandon Rush sidelined because of an ACL tear.
BY DANNY NORDSTROM
KANSAN COLUMNIST
EDITOR@KANSAN.COM
Robinson's incredible defense and tenacious hustle have earned him two Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors and will be the spark Kansas needs to fill the void of Rush, whose return date is tentatively set for Dec.
1. Robinson's offensive unselfishness complements his great defense. Last
season he led the team in assists averaging 4.35 per game.
This season the Jayhawks return four of five starters from last year, with the exception of Julian Wright, and are equipped with a more than able bench, including senior guard Rodrick Stewart, sophomore guard Brady Morningstar and senior guard Jeremy Case. With a team featuring five scholarship seniors, fans can expect to see an experienced group of players with great chemistry.
Robinson's undeniable energy and hard-working attitude are two things he always brings to the court and will be essential to that chemistry. Though not usually known for his
offense, Robinson contributes in a manner not typical of most players.
"A lot of people think they have to score, but I think Russell cares about winning," Self said. "We can all say we care about that, but are we willing to sacrifice to make sure that gives us the best chance? He's one of those guys."
Not only is Robinson loved for his fantastic defense and unselfish play, but his leadership skills have earned him two Danny Manning "Mr. Jayhawk" awards, voted on by his teammates.
This season, Robinson's contributions will dictate whether the Jayhawks bring home their third Big 12 championship in a row and whether they can improve upon last season's Elite Eight run. As for his expectations for his final season, Robinson said, "I hope to try and go out with a bang, so I am going to work and play hard every game."
Edited by Tara Smith
big 12 basketball media day notebook
Knight spends media day discussing other 'b-ball'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Only Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight could turn the Big 12 basketball media day into a discussion about the baseball playoffs.
Knight, who is the winningest college coach with 890 victories, grew up in Ohio and is a close friend of St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
"The Cardinals are out of it. We've got to root for the (Cleveland) Indians," Knight began his session Wednesday. "(Indians manager) Eric Wedge is my next best friend. Anybody got any questions about the American League Championship Series?"
Knight spent most of his 15 minutes fielding questions about baseball and deflected the only question about his Red Raiders basketball team.
How important is it for the Indians to win Game 5 on Thursday at Cleveland and not go back to Fenwark Park?
"I think it would be damn important." Knight said.
If La Russa leaves the Cardinals, would he consider taking the Kansas City Royals managerial job, which is open?
"I think it will depend on what he thinks would be the best situation for him to have a team that can defend, which might leave the Royals out." Knight said.
"If I knew whether the Indians could beat the Rockies or not, George Bush would be asking me
The Royals have finished last in their division the past four years, while La Russa managed the Cardinals to the 2006 World Series title and to the playoffs in six of the past eight years.
If the Indians advance to the World Series, can they defeat the Colorado Rockies?
how the hell do you get out of Iraq right now if I was that smart," Knight replied.
Baylor gets new recruit in form of coach's newborn
Though NCAA rules prohibit coaches from announcing recruits before they sign, Baylor coach Scott Drew happily announced a 2025 signee.
Drew's wife, Kelly, went into labor Wednesday and was taken to a Waco, Texas, hospital. The Baylor delegation left early so the coach could return home for the birth. The Drews, who have a daughter, Mackenzie, were expecting their first son.
"We'll sign him today,"Drew promised.
The Bears return all five starters from last season's team, which finished 15-16, but they were picked ninth in the coaches' preseason poll.
"If you're picked low, it can give you motivation," Drew said. "We feel this year we have the chance and potential to be a very good team. We need to make sure we take care of things on the court."
The Bears will be a guard-oriented team with Curtis Jerrells, who was named to the preseason Big-12 1 first team; Henry Dugat, who shot a team-leading 40.6 percent in 3-pointers; Aaron Bruce, a three-year starter; sophomore Tweety Carter and
highly touted freshman LaceDarius Dunn, a two-time Louisiana high school player of the year.
Cornhuskers searching for stability following AD firing
Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson hired Doc Sadler in August 2006 to coach the Cornhuskers. On Monday, Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman fired Pederson and the next day named Hall of Fame football coach Tom Osborne the interim athletic director.
It is an uneasy time in Nebraska.
"in college athletics, I don't think any of us need to be very comfortable," Sadler said. "There is always change. Obviously, Chancellor Perlman thought that was what the university needed at this time and made that change. Tom is definitely the face of Nebraska."
Sadler said he had not talked to Osbome since taking the job, but he had talked to Pederson a couple of times.
"Steve is a very upbeat person," Sadler said. "He's concerned about his family and how they'll handle things, but Steve will be fine."
So is Sadler uncomfortable about the guy who hired him being fired?
"I don't think so" "Sadler said. "They have, obviously, hired somebody that knows the lay of the land pretty good up there. I think he can help it."
There is probably not anybody who cares more about it than Tom, so that can be nothing but a positive."
Bzdelik settles in, prepares for job of coaching Colorado
Jeff Bzdelik, the new Colorado coach, spent the previous two years as coach at Air Force Academy and was head coach of the Denver Nuggets from 2002-04.
"I haven't really bounced around," Bzddelik said. "I've stayed in the same house, just changed direction on I-25. I love the state of Colorado, I didn't want to move my family and this opportunity presented itself and I'm still in the same home. My son's a freshman at CU, and my daughter is still in her same high school. My wife loves where we live and I do, too. Hopefully, I can stay there for a long time, but of course to do that you need to win names."
Bzdelik replaces Ricardo Patton, who was Colorado's coach for the past 12 seasons. Colorado returns four starters, including senior Robry Rocket, who averaged 17.3 points last season, from a team that finished last in the conference with a 3-13 record.
"I have both eyes open," Bzdelik said. "I understand we're looking up at the league."
Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scott Drew, Baylor men's basketball coach, addressed reporters at Big 12 Media Day.
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