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ESPN College GameDay returns to Lawrence for Kansas vs Kentucky
▶ SCOTT CHASEN
@ SChasenKU
GameDay returns to Allen Fieldhouse
The University announced Saturday that ESPN College GameDay will be making its seventh stop all-time in
Lawrence for the men's basketball game against Kentucky on January 30. Doors will open for the event at Allen Fieldhouse at 6:30 a.m.
stands will be open for the event, per the University.
Per the University, the event is free and no tickets are required. The actual show will begin at 10 a.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN. Some concession
The expected crew for the show will be: Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams.
This will be the seventh straight year that Kansas has been featured on GameDay as either the home or the road team. The
last time Kansas was the home team for GameDay by itself was in 2013; the University was a host of a split show in February of 2015.
Kentucky fanfare
Saturday, the University also announced there will 'be a T-shirt giveaway for
fans in attendance. There will be red, white and blue shirts given away, and they will be placed on the seats inside the stadium, similar to the Oklahoma State game in January of 2014.
The Jayhawks won that game in 2014 by two, as then-freshman Frank Mason III blocked a potential
game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Like in that game, the University will be taking an "ultra-high-resolution 360-degree photo," so fans can go back later and find themselves in the crowd. The photo will be available online Monday, February 1.
KELCIE MATOUSEK/Kansun Wayne Selden Jr., junior guard, drives the ball around Texas player Connor Lammert and towards the basket. Selden scored a total of 19 points during the Texas game.
Mini: Wayne Selden Jr.'s unpredictability evident through Big 12 Conference play
▶ BRIAN MINI
@duftpunkpop
When Wayne Selden Jr. arrived in Lawrence in 2013, big things were expected of him. As part of the most impressive Kansas recruiting class in recent history, Selden was thrust into the starting role alongside current NBA guard Andrew Wiggins. They would eventually be joined by another freshman in the starting five: eventual NBA Draft Lottery selection Joel Embiid.
At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Selden was a wrecking ball that fans expected to fill the role of slasher on a Kansas team loaded with young talent. However, it took until just this year for Selden to really find his niche.
But even in his best games, Selden has never actually become the slasher that fans looked for him to be. The 2016 incarnation of Selden has now morphed into a three-point shooter with the ability to drive to the basket if needed, but he's at his best when it comes to catch-and-shoot.
And it took a bit of luck for that success to even happen.
When Kelly Oubre Jr. left for the NBA Draft last year, Kansas needed a starter at the small forward position.
Kansas coach Bill Self decided to move sophomore point guard Devonte' Graham into the starting five, pushing Selden to that small forward spot.
After dominating at the World University Games over the summer, Selden has continued to be one of the leaders for the team, and he has helped lead the
No one could've predicted the result.
Jayhawks to a few big wins.
Jayhawks to a new big wins.
Against No. 19 Vanderbilt,
Selden scored 25 points on
8-for-11 shooting. He added
seven rebounds in Kansas'
win.
Then, early in conference play against Baylor and Oklahoma, Selden dropped 24 and 21 points respectively. It seemed like Kansas, on the shoulders of the 6-foot-5 guard, would be propelled to another Big 12
regular season title.
Then came the struggles. Not just for Selden but for the Jayhawks as a whole, as they've dropped their last three road contests.
In the three losses, Selden scored a combined 29 points with ten turnovers. He hit three of his 15 three-point attempts in those games, shooting 31 percent from the floor.
Is there an answer to
Selden's recent troubles? How is it that after scoring 21 points against one of the top teams in the country in Oklahoma, the follow-up performance is nine points against Texas Tech?
Since his freshman year, Selden has become this sort of enigma. Just when it seems like he has cracked the code, he hasn't. It seems like everything is fixed, and then he goes and scores just
seven points in 29 minutes against Oklahoma State.
But through the inconsistency, there's been progress. This is undoubtedly the top season of his career, and Bill Self needs to continue to put his faith in him.
Even in the panic after a few early conference struggles, the Jayhawks are still in a good place with Selden as a key contributor.
And it's also hard to completely fault Selden for the fluctuating scoring when senior forward Perry Ellis and junior guard Frank Mason III are also capable of scoring in bunches. Expecting all three or even just two of them to have huge games on the same night might be a little much to ask at this point.
Whether or not Selden will be able to replicate his success against teams like Vanderbilt and Oklahoma will be a large factor in how far Kansas will go come March. If he can make a similar jump from last year to this year and bring that with him to the postseason, Kansas has something to be excited about. However, at this point, it's still hard to know which Selden is going to show up.
And until that's solved, the same problems — the same losses — are going to keep happening.
Edited by Ryan Wright
Taking a look at the Jayhawks' remaining Class of 2016 recruiting prospects
@EvanRiggsUDK
EVAN RIGGS
This Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks host the Kentucky Wildcats in one of the most anticipated games in college basketball this season. Normally for a game of this magnitude, a lot of elite recruits would be visiting. However, most of the Jayhawks' top targets have already taken their official visit to the University, so the visitors will be from the 2017 and 2018 recruiting class on unofficial visits.
Although there won't be any 2016 recruits on campus this weekend, the Jayhawks are still going after several men in the recruiting class. So far, the Jayhawks have signed Mitch Lightfoot, a four-star forward from Tuscon, Ariz. They will have at least one more scholarship to give and perhaps more if anyone currently on the team enters the NBA Draft.
Here is a list of players the Jayhawks are actively recruiting based on who could be the most beneficial to the team.
Jarrett Allen power forward Austin, Texas 247 Sports rank: 22
Josh Jackson shooting guard Detroit, Mich. 247 Sports rank:1
Allen isn't a low post player, but he has the potential to be because of his footwork. He's a long power forward that can run the floor and finish above the rim. His length allows him to be a good rebounder and shot blocker.
★★★★★
Marques Bolden center DeSoto, Texas 247 Sports rank: 19
MISSY MINEAR/Kansan
Recruits look up at the big screen at Late Night in the Phoq.
The Jayhawks don't really need any more wing depth, unless junior guard Wayne Selden Jr. leaves for the NBA Draft. But even with the team's depth, Jackson would come in and play right away. He's an athletic wing that can impact the game in a lot of different ways. Wing certainly isn't a position the Jayhawks need, but Jackson's impact would be too great not to have him high on the list.
Thon Maker power forward Ontario, Canada 247 Sports rank:10
Bolden would be a perfect fit in coach Bill Self's offense. He has great touch for his size and knows how to get position in the post. Bolden could be the low post scorer that the Jayhawks have been lacking the last few years. For a Kansas team that will be without at least three big men next year, there really isn't much to hate.
Udoka Azubuike center Jacksonville, Fla. 247 Sports rank: 28
Maker is definitely the most talented big guy that the Jayhawks are recruiting. He can score on the perimeter and in the post, and at 7-foot, he can also be a rim protector. He isn't higher on this list because the odds of the Jayhawks signing him are very slim. Maker has shown strong interest in Arizona State, and his guardian is a very close friend of one of their assistant coaches.
Deshawn Corprew
small forward.
Hampton, Va.
247 Sports rank: 116
At 6-foot-11 and 265 pounds, Azubuike would be able to make an immediate impact because of his height and weight. He's a good athlete especially for his size, and he doesn't really need as refined and developed post moves because he can overpower other centers. With multiple Kansas big men leaving after this year, Azubuike might not be the best fit, but his talent would be too great for the Jayhawks to pass up.
Corprew is an athienc slashing wing that would fit in well at Kansas. But he isn't near the talent that Jackson is, so there isn't much chance he would see the court next year. Corprew is likely insurance in the event that Selden goes pro and Jackson commits elsewhere. Even if he is just insurance, he would still provide important depth for the Jayhawks, because he would most likely be one injury away from seeing some playing time.
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