Volume 124 Issue 123
kansan.com
Thursday, March 29, 2012
COMMENTARY Coach admired by players
The 2011-12 season not only proves that Self is the right man for the job.
"I don't know that you should rate," Self said of his coaching. "We've done good, but to me a lot of times the challenges are coaching guys when you have to manage egos, roles, chemistry and getting all the guys to buy in. I'll say this; this has been one of the easier coaching jobs that we've had because it's been easy to get guys to buy in and be exactly what we want them to be."
When he became the Kansas basketball coach in 2003, Bill Self knew that if he tried to compare himself to Roy Williams when he coached at Kansas, then he wouldn't be the right man for the job.
For those who complained about the Jayhawks' recent recruiting classes, please don't go criticize Self because he clearly knows how to assemble a roster. If Shabazz Muhammad decides not to join Kansas next season, so be it. Kansas might be better off next season because highly touted recruits like him tend to possess overinflated egos that destroy team chemistry.
For him to accomplish that and lead this season's Jayhawks to the Final Four leads me to three conclusions: This is Self's best coaching job yet, this is one of the best coached Kansas basketball teams, and Self is in the top two all-time among Kansas basketball coaches. The other coach is Phog Allen.
Edited by Tanvi Nimkar
Self called his dad, and told him he wasn't sure if he was the right man for the job because Williams was beloved in Kansas and won 81 percent of his games there.
Eight coaches have coached basketball at the University. As of now, Self holds the highest winning percentage for a Kansas basketball coach at .838. As of now, the number of Big 12 regular season championships that Self has won at Kansas is greater than the number of losses he has suffered at Allen Fieldhouse.
Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor are star players, but they didn't become star players because of self-entitlement. They became star players because of their development, which is a testament to Self.
Starters on this season's team that were role players last season — Jeff Withey, Thomas Robinson, Travis Releford, Elijah Johnson — have blossomed faster than a Kansas sunflower because of Self.
"He's not going to accept anything less than great from his players," Robinson said of Self. "That method of his definitely helps us out in the long run."
All of the players have bought into Self's coaching. If you aren't willing to earn your keep, check your ego at the door and work hard, then you won't last long.
"He's the man." Taylor said of Self. "He's been a great mentor to me. He's one of the guys that he gets on you when you do something wrong, but he's easy to talk to and he explains to you why he got on you. He wants you to understand. He's a great teacher."
STEP BY STEP
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
THREE KEYS TO WIN
Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor dunks to put the Jayhawks up by two points with only three seconds remaining on the clock against the Purdue Boilermakers.
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
They've played before. They know each others strength, weaknesses, tendencies and more. And while Kansas and Ohio State have had scouting reports on each other since December, it doesn't take away from the mass amount of strategy both coaches need to have to win on Saturday.
Kansas won 78-67 the first time in Allen Fieldhouse, and here are the three keys to victory for Kansas against Ohio State in New Orleans:
1. TYSHAWN TAYLOR
How ironic. After four controversial years, after all the talented players that have fallen short, it's Taylor who led the Jayhawks to the Final Four. Taylor's had off-court issues, as well as some issues on the court during his four years of starting at Kansas, but those issues have gone missing since conference play began, as Taylor has been an elite guard since January.
On Saturday, Taylor will be going up against an elite defender in Aaron Craft. The first time the two squared off, Taylor had nine points, 13 assists and seven turnovers. While Taylor was just returning from a knee injury the first time, his play has to be more consistent in the second matchup.
Kansas relies on Taylor as much as any team in the country counts on a single player. While Taylor does not need to have an extraordinary game scoring, he needs to take care of the ball and keep Ohio State from getting easy baskets for Kansas to win.
2. PLAY LOOSE
While it may sound simple, playing relaxed on college basketball's biggest stage is no easy task. The Jayhawks were able to handle the added pressure of North Carolina, but it hasn't been that way all season, as Kansas played widely in big games early on.
If Bill Self can get Kansas to relax and — as Self likes to say — have fun, the team will be at its best. It's worked in tight situations so far, as players have been smiling throughout its NCAA Tournament games, but that can all change in the Superdome.
If Kansas plays loose, the three point shot will fall. That's Ohio State's worst nightmare. When
Tyshawn Taylor, Elijah Johnson or Conner Teahain hit three, Kansas is nearly impossible to stop, and if you add in Kansas' tough defense, the Jayhawks become tough to beat.
It's cost the Jayhawks before this season, as a foul trouble has been a major concern for this team since
3. AVOID FOUL TROUBLE
the season started. While Kevin Young has improved throughout the season, forward Justin Wesley and guard Naadir Tharpe remain question marks. Conner Teahan has also shot 20 percent from the three-point line during the tournament, making five of 20 three-shoot shots.
not be able to slow them down. The bench has played well during the tournament, but that could change any game for Kansas. It's Kansas' best bet to avoid foul trouble, and keep its starters on the floor for as long as possible.
Kansas' starting five can handle the Buckeyes, but their bench may
Edited by Amanda Gage
Assistant coach Danny Manning, now in his ninth season coaching men's basketball at Kansas, has agreed in principle to take over the vacant head coaching position at the University of Tulsa, according to a report by ESPN's Neil Everett on Wednesday night. The report cited a source close to the Kansas program.
Manning will follow Barry Hinson, current director of basketball operations and future coach at Southern Illinois, in parlaying the Jayhawks' recent success into a head coaching position.
Manning, the hero of the 1988 national championship team, was a part-time coach until 2007 when he was promoted to full-time assistant. He is credited with molding the games of several Kansas big men, including junior forward Thomas Robinson and the Morris twins, who were both NBA lottery picks.
During his playing career, Manning amassed 2,951 points and 1,187 rebounds from 1984-88, both all-time highs for the program. He averaged 14 points per game in his NBA career.
He's also Kansas' all-time leading scorer and rebounder, with 2,951 points and 1,187 boards from 1984-88. He spent 15 seasons in the NBA, averaging 14 points per game.
Manning will replace former Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik, who went 140-92 in his seven seasons with the Golden Hurricane but only 1-14 against Conference USA powerhouse Memphis. Interim athletic director Ross Parmley cited declining ticket sales and "growing apathy" toward the program when Wojcik was fired earlier this month.
The last truly successful coach at Tulsa was Bill Self, now at the helm for Kansas, who led the Golden Hurricane to a 74-27 record from 1998-2000 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2000.
- Matt Galloway
SOCCER
International play has helped develop leaders
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
Kansas midfielder Liana Salazar's playing experience on the world stage led to her to a new opportunity.
This time in her fourth World Cup appearance Salazar took on a different role. She was a captain for the Under 20 Colombian national team in the CONMEBOL qualifiers in Curtiba, Brazil.
Freshman midfielder Liane Salazar blocks her opponent from Texas from getting the ball Friday night at the Jahywah Soccer Complex. Salazar had one shot, and one goal.
Both her and fellow freshman forward Ingrid Vidal competed at the Women's World Cup in Germany last summer playing against some of the greatest players in women's soccer.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
"It wasn't very different for me because I always try to do my best and help other people do their best," Salazar said. "I think the only difference for a captain is that they wear an arm band."
The Colombian team finished short of returning to the championship against Brazil. The same team it faced in the 2010 CONMEBOL
championship.
Colombia placed third with a 4-3 overall record. Brazil went undefeated and will join Argentina in Japan later this fall for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Although Columbia's run did not work out the way Salazar intended, she still learned a lot about being a team leader both for her nation and for the Jayhawks.
Salazar also said that she met many new players and helped players to this new step in their soccer career.
"I have a different mentality than the younger players," Salazar said. "I had more experience. Although it was an important game I could be more relaxed. My teammates see me relax so they play more relaxed."
Kansas coach Mark Francis also sees this experience as being an asset for Salazar to step up as leader.
"We think Liana definitely has leadership potential for us," Francis said. "She plays by example anyways. She's very intense and competitive
"It's just another opportunity for Liana to represent her country and KU, but also playing at that level, those experiences can bring them back to our team this year," Francis said.
and always wants to win."
At 19, Salazar continues to show a soccer IQ far beyond her years. She sees passes in the attacking part of the pitch that many other college level players don't always recognize.
Francis also believes that this experience helped Liana continue her support as an ambassador for her country and the University.
"Her mind works very fast, sometimes faster than some of the other players," Francis said. "I think that aspect might rub off on some of the other kids.
Although Salazar has been globetrotting for much of year early career at Kansas, she still feels comfortable in Lawrence.
"I feel like Lawrence is my home, I feel comfortable here," Salazar said. "Relationships with other players
are better because I can speak the language better now"
"They always worry about me ... they are like my sisters here,"
Salazar said that she's close to many players on the team, but especially Shelby Williams and Amy Grow. Both have helped her with the language barrier and adapt to her new surroundings.
Salazar said.
Due to eligibility complications Salazar will not be eligible for the spring season games, but will be eligible to play in the fall. She can still practice with the team.
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Edited by Tanvi Nimkar