Volume 124 Issue 62
Wednesday. November 16, 2011
kansan.com
sports
COMMENTARY
'Classic' lives up to name
Those who say college basketball regular season game are irrelevant need a reality check and, quite frankly, a slap across the face.
The early season tournaments serve to galvanize college basketball fanatics by showcasing non-conference matchups that fans have only dreamed of until now.
college basketball programs the inaugural extravaganza starred Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Michigan State, four powerhouse basketball programs that illuminate college basketball's affluent history.
The State Farm Champions Classic last night exemplified what college basketball is all about.
It's essentially a Final Four in November, minus the trophy, brackets and a "One Shining Moment" video, although one moment that did shine bright was Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski earning his 903rd career victory, making him the winningest coach in Division 1 college basketball history. Watching Krzyzewski hug and talk to legendary coach Bobby Knight after the game was a special scene.
The venue that held the Champions Classic, Madison Square Garden, is arguably the most recognized and revered arena in the world. Every player dreams of playing in the arena because players love to play in the Big Apple. New York City possesses the glamour that is incomparable to any city in the world.
And as if Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Michigan State weren't already exceptional at recruiting, the Champions Classic only enhances it. Premier high school players are enticed by the programs' commitment to excellence. The passionate fans, the outstanding coaches and the programs' ability to showcase themselves nationally leave recruits drooling.
The invitational prepares the teams for their arduous conference schedule by matching them up with other elite basketball programs early in their seasons. Participating in this event helps coaches evaluate their teams by finding the strengths and weaknesses early so they can fix them before conference play.
But without a doubt, the fans were arguably the biggest winners of the Champions Classic. Watching and listening to the thousands of fanatical fans inside Madison Sqare Garden was a sight to behold. Hearing Kansas fans shout "Let's go Jayhawks," Kentucky fans cry "Go big blue," Duke fans scream "Let's go Duke" and Michigan State fans chant "Green and white" showed how big of a role basketball is in their lives. Emotions ran feverishly high, especially during the Kansas-Kentucky game, where it seemed like the Garden's roof might implode. The fans engaged in an intense, competitive game of bragging throughout the night, trying to prove whose team is better.
Players play for these games and coaches coach for these games. The best of the best vie for college basketball immortality, supremacy and bragging rights. It doesn't matter that this new show is in November for one night. The pilot proved to be money in the bank.
Edited by Rachel Schultz
LIGHTS, CAMERA ...
LETDOWN
IMAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
NEW YORK — Season to season, the Kentucky Wildcats ooze flambeoyancy and supremacy. Whether they win it all or not, any team coached by John Calipari consistently frightens opponents and amazes ooglers.
On Tuesday night, Calipari's high flyers matched the glitz of the shining hardwood at Madison Square Garden and trumped No. 11 Kansas 75-65. At first, thetheatrics didn't resemble a fairy-tale. Shots were swatted, not celebrated. Crossovers led to tumbles, not easy baskets. Both Jayhawks and Wildcats hacked arms freely.
In his team's final possession of the first half, senior guard Tyshawn Taylor dribbed the seconds away, deked toward the hoop, then fell flat to that shining hardwood. By halftime, the score was tied at 28, but from there, all of Kansas' momentum died and never returned. At the start of the second half, the Wildcats blocked, sprinted and dunked their way to an 8-0 run.
The Jayhawks either turned the ball over or watched their shots skip to the sideline following a block. Taylor drove to the hoop, but repeatedly met the same fate in freshman forward Anthony Davis, who deflected nearly everything he could reach. Senior guard Conner Teahan, the team's best shooter so far in the young season, went cold from deep. Junior forward Thomas Robinson fouled too often and missed layups that he
Once the Wildcats got going,
all normalcy dissipated. Any time
the Jayhawks found a silver
of rhythm, their superior foo
topped it with a 3-point swish or
a powerful dunk.
Coach Bill Self was far removed from the glory of his 2008 National Championship victory over Calipari, who then coached Memphis. Self tried to stall Kentucky with timeout after timeout, but the Wildcats never stopped running. He tried to find lineups that could score effectively against the length and speed of the defense, substituting players back and forth like boomerangs.
usually dunks at Allen Fieldhouse.
It just never worked. As a slowly increasing deficit tip-toe into the reality of a loss, Self could do nothing but stare at the dominance of some of the players he once failed to recruit.
Edited by Stefanie Penn
Kentucky, flush with NBA talent, was meant for the glamour of the night. Kansas, still scattered with mystery, faltered under the lights in an early chapter of what may be an atypical ride.
MIKF GUINNOF/KANSAN
Junior toward Thomas Robinson tried to get control of the ball against Kentucky. The Jayhawks lost the game 75-65.
FOOTBALL
McDougald improves along with Kansas defense
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
Early in the season, safeties coach Robert Wimberly sat junior safety Bradley McDougald down in his office. Wimberly showed McDougald game film where he did not make a play that he should have made. McDougald, currently the team's second-leading tackler, said the meeting was the turning point of his season.
The coach gave McDougault a list of what he needed to work on. Every game since he has tried to work on one aspect of that list to slowly become a better player.
"I felt like I was playing better than I was," McDougald said. "He showed me some clips and film doesn't lie. Once he showed me those clips, I had to swallow my pride, go back to the drawing board, correct some things and improve my play."
McDougald has recorded double-digit tackles in his last three games, and the entire Kansas defense has followed suit. In the first seven games of Kansas' season, the defense was more of a punch line than a puncher — allowing more than 50 points per game. In the team's last three games, where
And his performance has done just that.
Struggling in his first two games at free safety, the former receiver turned defensive back switched positions to safety. In his first year starting on the defensive side of the ball, the game was moving too fast for McDougald. After five games, McDougald had 27 tackles and the defense was reeling.
While the schedule was brutal for Kansas during its first four Big 12 games, senior linebacker and the Big 12's leader in tackles Steven Johnson said that something other than a slightly easier schedule has been behind the defenses improved play.
"The defense goes how Bradley goes," Johnson said. "If Bradley plays well, then the whole defense plays well."
McDougald has excelled, the Jayhawks have given up an average of 29 points per game.
To help slow the game down, McDougald found himself spending more time in the team's film room. His effort in practice also increased, as McDougald said he has had a great working mindset. He almost doubled his tackles in the team's last five games, with 49.
ut
And the job isn't done for McDougald. While Kansas cannot make a bowl game this season with its 2-8 record, Steven Johnson said that McDougald is going to have to lead the defense next year as well.
"You never know when it's all going to click for each individual guy," Gill said. "Sometimes it takes two games, sometimes it takes a year, sometimes it takes two years. This has finally happened here for Bradley."
McDougald said that creating turnovers is something that can swing the whole momentum of a game. It's something that coach Turner Gill has been pleading for all season, and Gill said it's finally happened because they simplified the defense, helping his team play faster.
"Things aren't going to magically happen on Saturday's," McDougald said. "You've got to make those same plays in practice and
let it translate to the game."
The 6-1 safety from Dublin, Ohio, has been a catalyst in more than one way for the Jayhawks' defense. He has contributed to two of the nine turnovers Kansas has forced in its last three games. Against Baylor, he forced a fumble and against Iowa State he came up with an interception. Both games were the best the Kansas defense has played this season.
— Edited by Jonathan Shorman
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
Junior safety Bradley McDougald almost intercepted his second pass for the game during the second half of the game against Iowa State, but has the ball knocked away. McDougald is the team's second-leading tackler.