+
sports
+
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon's Kansas connection not a concern as Sweet 16 matchup approaches
▶ SCOTT CHASEN @SChasenKU
OUISVILLE, Ky. As Maryland took the court for its open practice at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, the team seemed energized.
The assistants and managers clapped along as the players loosened up, at least, that was the case for the majority of figures on the court.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon stood on the sideline, locked in conversation with longtime Kansas announcer Bob Davis. At one point, Turgeon appeared to be wrapping up the conversation, but as anyone who has heard a parent say, "Oh, I'll be off the phone in a minute," knows, that doesn't mean anything.
The conversation carried on for another five minutes, until Turgeon finally pulled himself away to follow the players through the session, eventually joining them in a trick-shot contest of sorts.
But that wasn't the end of the Kansas interactions. It was just the beginning.
In his press conference on Wednesday, Turgeon was asked about his conversation with Davis. He proceeded to tell a story about his relationship with two generations of Kansas announcers, dating back to the 1980s.
"I'm really not a big fan of Bob's," Turgeon joked. "No, I tell you what [...] I grew up with Max Falkenstien, first of all. My dad used to play golf with him. Max taught me a few curse words I never knew before, you know, back in the day."
Turgeon circled around to the Davis family, mentioning both Bob and his son Steven. He had only kind words to say about an announcer he has been great throughout his career.
With so much attention placed on Turgeon's connection to Kansas, it almost seems like he's a Kansas coach at times, at least if you were only to read his quotes. It almost feels like there's a bigger emphasis on how he interacts with the team he isn't coaching than the one he is.
"We have a great relationship," Turgeon said. "I'm so happy for him. He can go out on his terms."
However, while Turgeon has no problem talking about his alma mater, he's also making an emphasis to separate that conversation when it comes to his team.
According to Maryland guard Jaylen Brantley, Turgeon went out of his way to tell the team there shouldn't be any added pressure because of the matchup; it's just a normal game.
Jaylen Brantley
Maryland Guard
[Turgeon] said he's not putting any pressure on us because that's his old school. He said it doesn't really matter who we play, just as long as we go out there and compete our hardest."
"We all know he went [to Kansas] and went to the Final Four." Brantley said. "He said he's not putting
any pressure on us because that's his old school. He said it doesn't really matter who we play, just as long as we go out there and compete our hardest."
Another Maryland player agreed, adding that there's only one way in which Turgeon really brings up Kansas: as a teaching point.
"He always brings up one story. How they lost a game on a rebound," Maryland forward Damonite Dodd said. "Other than that, he really doesn't talk about Kansas much."
ror the most part, n seems like Turegon's Kansas roots won't play too much of a role in the outcome of the game. However, the same isn't necessarily true for the relationships between the players.
Sophomore guard
Scott Chasen/KANSAN
Former Kansas player and current Maryland coach Mark Turgeon talks with longtime KU announcer Bob Davis.
Photo contributed by KU Athletics Kansas great Danny Manning comforts former Kansas player and current Maryland coach Mark Turgeon.
Wayne Selden Jr. played alongside two Maryland players — Brantley and senior forward Jake Layman — in high school, as the trio captured Nike's Elite Basketball Youth Title in 2011.
That connection hasn't gone away, as the two continued to talk with — and trash talk — each other as the day began in Louisville, Kentucky.
Selden and Brantley weren't the only players to cross enemy line to chat recently either. Dodd said he recently reached out to junior guard Frank Mason III after the hypothetical matchup between their respective teams was finally set to become a reality.
"Yeah I was actually just texting him a few minutes ago," Brantley said. "He's actually the first player I've ever played against that I played AUA with."
"Frank is cool and a really talented player," Dodd said. "After the Hawaii game I FaceTimed him to say, 'Hey. We're about to play each other.'"
Both Dodd and Brantley acknowledged they know some about the Kansas backcourt in terms of tendencies and certain moves because they played together, which probably means more than any Kansas connection with the head coach. However, the story is too good to pass up.
A player who went with Kansas to the Final Four now has the opportunity to beat that team en route to the Final Four. It almost sounds like a movie.
However, Turgeon acknowledges it really isn't as crazy as it sounds, especially considering he spent time at a different Big 12 school Texas A&M - which meant games against Kansas year after year.
"It was a little bit [weird] the first time we played, but being at Texas A&M, we played them a lot. You get used to it," Turgeon said. "As [Self] can tell you when he plays Oklahoma State, which he's done a lot, it's probably not unique or weird to him anymore."
- Edited by Brendan Dzwierzynski
Former Jayhawks leave it all on the field at KU's Pro Day
▶ CHRISTIAN HARDY
@ ByHardy
While no players from the Kansas football program are expected to be drafted in next month's NFL Draft, 11 Jayhawks spent Wednesday working out in front of scouts during the program's Pro Day.
For those 11 players, the Pro Day was the last stop before April's NFL Draft, and the extensive free agent signings that will follow.
All 11 got looks from a handful of scouts; two from the Kansas City Chiefs, along with individual scouts from the Carolina Panthers,
Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
"The pros have always been a dream mine, so I just felt like I needed to prepare for this day, and now it's finally here," said running back Taylor Cox, who flew in from Seattle, where he was training, on Monday. "I've just been relaxing, trying to get my mind right before this day."
With what could be their last chance to impress scouts, many of the 11 went as far as the scouts wanted them to.
Defensive end Ben Goodman worked out as
a tight end, a linebacker, and a defensive lineman. Defensive end T.J. Semke, who notched 37 bench reps — three more than any player at the NFL Scouting Combine this year, caught passes from quarterback Michael Cummings out of the backfield.
"I just wanted to keep all my options open, all the doors open. I'm just trying to get in," Goodman said. "I didn't prepare for it at all, I just jumped into it today. They asked me to do it, so I went out there and did it for them."
Goodman, who measured in at 6-foot-3.
256-pounds, was training in Houston before coming to Lawrence to perform in front of scouts. Statistically, Goodman was the most notable at the Pro Day. He had 5.5 sacks in his senior campaign and was an honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team.
And, like most Jayhawks, he thought he performed well when it counted on Wednesday, in front of NFL teams. His 40-yard-dash time — 5.01 seconds — wasn't as fast expected, but he said he did well in every other area.
said. "I went through two sets of drills, linebacker and defensive line, and I feel like I did good on both of them."
Still, Goodman's status after the Pro Day is up in the air, just like the other 10 who participated — Semke, Cox, Cummings, defensive tackles Kapil Fletcher and Corey King, running back De'Andre Mann, offensive linemen Larry Mazeck and Keyon Haughton, cornerback Ronnie Davis and wide receiver Tre' Parmalee.
"I felt like I had a productive day." Goodman
"Hopefully I get a phone call," Goodman said. "Hope I get my name called or a free agent deal. Anything."
I'm just trying to get into a camp and get onto a team. Then it's in my hands from there."
Until late April, none of that will be decided. For Goodman, Cox, and the others, the best they can do is stay in shape and hope for the phone to ring.
"It's a waiting game from here," Cox said. "My job is just to stay in shape and stay positive."
- Edited by Ryan Wright
Cornerback Ronnie Davis makes a diving catch after a drill at KU Pro Day on March 23, 2016.
Christian Hardy/KANSAN
导
+