V
Volume 124 Issue 117
kansan.com
Wednesday, March 14, 2019
COMMENTARY
Kansas' image not bad
So, in high school, there al-ways seems to be that guy or girl who gets classified as
so, in high school, we all ways seems to be that guy or girl who gets classified as "the nice guy," or "the cool girl!" He or she is smart, kind and fun — or whatever you want to call it. And, in hindsight, that guy or girl would've been a great catch. But, in high school, most people don't consider him or her a top choice to be in a relationship with. That person is more of a Plan B, if you will.
He or she has all the tools to be there, but, when it comes down to it, you wouldn't call that person sexy.
And that isn't a bad thing, because the persona of the "nice guy" fits the University of Kansas men's basketball program.
When people talk about Kansas basketball, they say, "It has the best tradition" and "The fans are great." But they wouldn't call it a "sexy" program.
Sometimes, people have a hard time explaining why the program has struggled lately in recruiting. And to be honest, there's no reason
— on paper at least — that Kansas struggled on the recruiting trail this past year, especially with Bill Self running the show.
But let's be honest: When you're a junior or senior in high school, and you have your choice of guys or girls, what matters isn't what's best for you three or four years down the road. What does matter is what makes you look cool to your peers at that time, and what makes you feel good about yourself.
Think about the nice guy's and cool girl's relationships. They probably don't bring home the most-attractive partner, which is okay, because they're just going for the right fit. Their relationships are like Kansas — who may get a top recruit every once in a while, but normally gets the players who "fit" best.
Kansas' "cool guy" persona is exemplified as Kansas fans are gripping about the ESPN, or east-coast, love affair with Anthony Davis over Thomas Robinson for the National Player of the Year award.
Of course, ESPN is pumping up Davis, because Kentucky, especially this year's team, is "sexy." They bring in the dollars. Advertisers want their company's logo next to the name "Kentucky," just like they would pay more for their logo to be next to a good-looking model in a magazine.
And while some may look at this as being detrimental to Kansas' program, it's not.
Kansas will survive, and it has survived, because it relies on smarts to win. It needs a great coach, it needs a clean image, it needs to work hard and it needs to get the players who are the perfect fit.
The Kansas basketball program can't be complacent if it wants to remain elite. It may never be ESPN's favorite, and it doesn't have to be.
And that's what makes Kansas basketball special. It's the unique aspect of a "nice guy" program, which has worked for everything it's ever earned.
So while Kansas basketball might not be "sexy" on the outside, once you get to know it, there is no other program youd rather be with. It is special, it is unique and damn, it has a great personality.
- Edited by Corinne Westeman
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
INSIDE THE WAITING GAME
After a 'rollercoaster' season, Kansas was unsure of an NCAA spot
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
After losing their best player to an ACL injury and losing a game to rival Kansas State on Feb. 12, Aishah Sutherland, Angel Goodrich and Bonnie Henrickson dragged themselves to the podium with puffy, watery eyes.
At that moment, Kansas' future looked uncertain. Carolyn Davis, the Jayhawks' leading scorer, was out for the year. No one knew how they would respond.
5:58 P.M.
The minutes slowly tick toward the "Selection Show." About 50 people gather around tables in a second-floor room inside Allen Fieldhouse having just finished dinner.
Dick Vittale pops onto the flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The Jayhawks turn their attention to the television. He is talking about the men's tournament, announced the night before.
The Kansas women don't care. They want to know their fate.
6:06 P.M.
The Jayhawks lost six of their last eight games without Davis, but they managed two surprising road victories against Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
Those two wins gave them a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. Once their season ended with a loss last Thursday, the Jayhawks could only wait for Monday's selection show.
Here what it looks like when a team discovers its NCAA Tournament future in real time.
ESPN's Trey Wingo opens the "Selection Show." Junior forward Carolyn Davis rubs her face.
6 PM
Associate Director of Media Relations Christine Dieckmann walks by a group of reporters, biting her lower lip, waiting, like everyone else, for the news.
Assistant coach Tory Verdi sits between fellow assistant coach Aqua Franklin and coach Henrickson.
Franklin sits slightly slouched in her chair, arms crossed, staring at the screen. She doesn't look like she's in the mood to talk. Not until the brackets are unveiled. Maybe not even then.
Henrickson sits straight in her chair. She looks poised for any result.
Henriksson sits straight in her chair. She looks poised for any result.
Verdi sits with his 3-year-old daughter, Avery, on his lap. Both are decked out in Jayhawk gear. Verdi attempts to get her to focus on the TV.
6:08 PM
Texas, another Big 12 bubble team, flashes up on the screen. A few players stomp in frustration. Angel Goodrich, a junior guard, cracks a smile. You can tell she's not happy.
6:13 P.M.
Another commercial break, and still no result. Guards CeCe Harper and Monica Engleman spin around to talk with Goodrich, Davis and freshman Asia Boyd. Goodrich will later say that they were trying to count the number of spots left.
6:15 P.M.
Leaning up against the wall, Jim Marchiony, associate athletic director, stands parallel to the television. Like many others in the room, he's got the camera feature on his iPhone ready. He peeks at the HD screen to see how many teams have been selected.
Then, not long after, Kansas flashes on the screen. Davis jumps in her seat. She quickly realizes, though, the team is Kansas State. A nervous laugh fills the room after they realize it's the Wildcats.
SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 8
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Manning's talents develop new stars
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/IDK bball
Danny Manning, left, shone as a star forward for coach Larry Brown in the 1980s, averaging 24.8 points per game. Nine years ago, he returned to Kansas as an assistant coach under Bill Self and started working to develop new Jayhawks.
There's a tall, hallowed figure in Lawrence who has cast all that he knows about basketball on young, raw athletes with big dreams. He's done it quietly. The bench is his perch. What he preaches then blossoms on the court. It's not loud and doesn't shine from the video board. This man, Danny Manning, somehow descends into the background in this town.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
Manning is well-known in these parts. Under coach Larry Brown, he averaged 24.8 points per game as the root of the "Danny and the Miracles" championship team in 1988.
After 17 years, seven teams and two All-Star appearances in the NBA, he joined coach Bill Self's staff. For the past nine years at Kansas, he has bestowed wisdom from his basketball trials to sculpt young men into the best players they can be. Manning, a former power forward himself, naturally specializes in teaching the big boys. Junior forward Thomas Robinson is his greatest current pupil.
"We thought if the cards fell right, he could have a tremendous year," Manning said. "I can't say I saw a potential Player of the Year candidate."
As a freshman, Robinson was
And that's the thing with development. If you know how to teach it all — the sweat, the patience, the dedication — potential can morph into excellence and sometimes Player-of-the-Year candidacy.
consistently frustrated with his 7.2 minutes played per game. Now, as a junior, the Big 12 Player of the Year with NBA eyes watching his every move, Robinson averages 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds in 31.6 minutes per game.
Manning was there for every step.
"I like to share with them the different angles and different ways to create post position," Manning said. "I think it all starts with footwork."
Self has spent years molding his scheme into one that allows post players to touch the ball on nearly every possession. Manning develops these post players so they learn to attack defenses like jackknives instead of butter knives.
"We hear it's not about speed, but getting the move right and making sure it works," Robinson said. "My whole thing is being more patient on the offensive end. Everything slowed down for me. With that came better footwork."
Practices with Manning aren't rushed and busy; they're rhythmic and calm, designed to repeat a move and ensure it's taught correctly.
"We try to do multiple drills at the same time to create awareness," Manning said. "To create a sense of knowing that when I'm on the court, there are nine other players on the court out here with me. Where are they?"
Self and Manning share a belief that players should have basic options in their head. This avoids an overload of thoughts and rigid, mechanical play.
With the ball, you can..
1. Shoot over your shoulder, right or left.
2. Face the defender and drive to the hoop, shoot or pass.
1
3. Set a screen and roll to the inside or pop to the outside.
"We've kept it more so bare bones" Manning said.
All steps require an understanding of the opposition's defensive sets. Improvisation is often necessary, but Self and Manning's simple method, combined with endless practice, has
changed Jayhawk after Jayhawk.
Marcus and Markieff Morris, two superb talents from Philadelphia who once had unidentifiable positions, also worked with Mapping. Marcus was the 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year. Markieff has only got
Cole Aldrich, a huge, lanky center in Bloomington, Minn., played 8.3 minutes per game in his freshman year at Kansas. He worked with Manning and became a two-time Big 12 defensive player of the year.
ten better as a pro with the Phoenix Suns.
.
All three were drafted in the first round of the NBA draft; Aldrich in 2010, the Morris twins last spring.
"It starts with coach Self's system," Manning said. "He has a system that puts big guys in a position to be successful for many, many years."
Manning won't shout it, but he might have something to do with it, too.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
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