Volume 124 Issue 69
kansan.com
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
COMMENTARY Early lessons in losses
Because of its ridiculous, yet reasonably high standard of excellence throughout its history, the Kansas men's basketball team doesn't know what the term "moral victory" means, and if it does, it knows that a moral victory equates to a loss, something that isn't acceptable at Kansas.
The Jayhawks already have two losses this season and are one loss shy of tying their loss total from a season ago, but those two losses aren't all that bad and could actually bode well for the rest of the season.
Kansas' two defeats against Kentucky and Duke were more valuable than any victories that Kansas has had against average or slightly above average teams in years past.
The two losses were a tale of two different stories.
In the matchup against Kentucky, Kansas was tied with a superior Kentucky team at half, but Kentucky made proper second half adjustments and flexed its muscles by the end of the game. That game challenged Kansas. It challenged Kansas to respond to adversity when trailing by double digits against an uber-talented team. The Jayhawks didn't respond well to the challenge, and even though the Kansas failed to overcome its lofty obstacle and keep the game competitive in the second half, it served as a learning and motivational tool for both the players and coaches to answer the challenge better. Because the 2011-12 squad is young, inexperienced and lacks depth, it will find itself in game situations when it is trailing by a sizeable margin against a quality opponent on the road. Be warned, that could especially happen in Columbia, Mo., on Feb. 4 when the Jayhawks face the Missouri Tigers. ESPN College Gameday will host its show in Columbia that day, and the game will air on ESPN that night. To say that the atmosphere will be electric and hostile is a major understatement.
— Edited by Jonathan Shorman
The jayhawks will encounter more late game situations this season and will need to learn how to finish games when ahead. Right now, the jayhawks lack a player with a killer instinct who can take over a game, so they really need to play smart and solid offensively. There will be games when the jayhawks unexpectedly play down to their competition and keep games too close for comfort, but their loss against the Blue Devils will serve as a reminder to them.
ENGELMAN FAILING TO LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS PAGE 10
Kansas' dejecting loss against Duke was an eye-opener. For the majority of the contest, Kansas had solid control of the game despite frequent lead changes and had a great opportunity to beat Duke, but didn't handle the late-game pressure well offensively. Much of that had to do with Tyshawn Taylor's erroneous and boneheaded decisions, but the offense was flat and late in the second half. The Jayhawks couldn't get anything going against the tenacious, rugged Blue Devils defense. This game will linger for a while because it was in the Jayhawks' hands, but it was an early season test for them.
A lot of basketball still needs to be played before that game, but the Tigers have looked awfully impressive this season and will be in the Big 12 title hunt throughout the season.
Brew: Making connections between baseball and Thanksgiving
BACK IN TOWN
HOOPS' HOMECOMING
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/udk_bbaI
The Jayhawks didn't lose their second game last season until the middle of February. Some fans, foreign to the taste of a loss, may feel a bit uneasy when considering this season's 3-2 record. Coach Bill Self tried to take away worries and explain his team's record in plain terms at Monday's press conference.
"No team in America has played four games in a row like we have," Self said.
After 19 days away from the familiar confines of Allen Fieldhouse, 19 days that featured victories against UCLA and Georgetown and losses to Kentucky and Duke, the team returns to its home court at 7 p.m. tonight to play Florida Atlantic.
The loss to Kentucky in New York was followed by a trip to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, a talent-heavy tournament that featured three games in three days.
"A lot of people got tired quicker and had tired legs," junior center Jeff Withey said.
Back in Lawrence, the Jayhawks reflect on the lessons of the journeys and the November games that mirrored mid-March intensity. The team's using game tape and experience to harness a more balanced attack, something that Self said wasn't accomplished in Maui.
While Self is still unsure of the kind of production his bench can provide, he did learn about his team's ability to play against some of the top teams in the nation.
"We're not tough yet," Self said,
"But were probably a bit more competitive as a group than may be what I have envisioned."
Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor said that the difficulty of the non-conference schedule prepares the team for the grueling conference slate. By experiencing life against Kentucky's Terrence Jones and Duke's Mason Plumlee, the Jay Hawkins will be experienced by the time they play Texas, Baylor and Missouri.
Taylor and his teammates have already taken the tough touch. Self has already felt the weight of two losses.
"I'd rather get exposed in November than get exposed in January," Self said.
Now they're just happy to be back in Allen Fieldhouse, where it feels like home again.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
"I was shooting in the gym the other day," Taylor said. "It felt so good."
Edited by Jonathan Shorman
Junior center Jeff Withey applies defensive pressure on Duke's Mason Plumblee in the second half of Wednesday night's game at the Lahaina Civic Center for the EA Sports Maui Invitational championship. Kansas was defeated 68-61.
Mitchell leads during team transition
FOOTBALL
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
While Jayhawk nation waits for Athletic Director Sheshon Zenger to announce the next full-time coach for the Kansas Football team, the difficult task of maintaining stability and moving the program forward falls on the shoulders of interim coach Reggie Mitchell.
Mitchell, 51, was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator under former coach Turner Gill. This is Mitchell's second stint at Kansas. He previously served as the defensive line coach at Kansas from 1988-1994 and then the running backs coach from 1995-1996 under former Kansas coach Glen Mason.
"You build relationship with kids." Mitchell said. "I think KU is a great brand. I think whoever they bring in to be the head coach will be able to sell it. Will be able to
sell this vision to them. What we're trying to do now, just maintain status quo, keep working. Keep moving forward."
In his first go around with Kansas, the Jayhawks reached the 1992 and 1995 Aloha bowls.
Mitchell left Kansas in 1997 when he followed Mason to Minnesota and served the Golden Gophers in the same capacity.
He stayed in the Big Ten, first going to Michigan State for six
A running back in his playing days at Central Michigan, Mitchell ran for 1.068 yards and was named the team's most valuable player according to the Flint Journal in Michigan.
Mitchell is credited with helping Gill bring in the nation's 34thranked recruiting class according
seasons before he became the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator, and running backs coach at Illinois.
"I wanted to be close to the running back coach and me and coach Mitchell hit it off from the start, Miller told The Kansan in 2010 "He's just a straight up coach and doesn't sugar coat anything."
to rivals.com in 2011, ahead of Big 12 rivals Kansas State and Missouri, including four star running backs Darrian Miller and Tony Pierson.
Edited by Jonathan Shorman
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