Volume 124 Issue 56
kansan.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
TYREL REED DIARIES
Read about the former guard's adventures overseas @ KANSAN.COM http://udkne.ws/uAXyCJ
Edited by Ben Chipman
Kansas can claim victory all it wants, but there are no winners when it comes to Missouri's departure, just losers.
SOCCER TEAM QUALIFIES FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Read more @ KANSAN.COM http://udkne.ws/rSLgi7
COMMENTARY
No winners in KU-MU break up
FAN FAVORITE
When it comes to Kansas basketball, Bill Self and Kansas have no incentive in splitting Sprint Center ticket revenues with Missouri when Kansas already sells out games there against Colorado State and Massachusetts. Now if Alden and Missouri coach Frank Haith want to come to Allen Fieldhouse every year then, by all means, let the century of basketball dominance continue.
The University of Kansas chose its Twitter account (@KUNews) to make its stance on the "Border War" known to the world.
"Missouri forfeits a century-old rivalry. We win," read the tweet.
As bold as KU's statement was, it could not have been more wrong. Missouri's departure from the Big 12 is not a victory for the University of Kansas, but rather an enormous loss for collegiate athletics.
Conference realignment has victimized the rivalries of Oklahoma-Nebraska, Texas-Texas A&M and West Virginia-Pittsburgh; however, the loss of Kansas-Missouri really demonstrates the sad truth that tradition no longer has much bearing on college sports.
Kansas football is struggling to win more than two games a season, and without a North-South conference schedule, Kansas must continue to schedule winnable games in the non-conference. The University has nothing to gain by continuing the football series at Arrowhead Stadium because it wouldn't only give Kansas an annual out-of-conference loss, but the continuation of the series would help secure Missouri's physical presence in Kansas City.
As much as I'd like to see the rivalry continue, Missouri should have realized, and probably did, that its decision along with the current state of Kansas athletics would cause an indefinite cease-fire to the "Border War."
Missouri's sense of entitlement when it comes to maintaining the rivalry is misguided, and frankly Kansas has no obligation to respect the wishes of a school that started this whole mess of conference realignment in the first place.
I don't blame Missouri for seeking stability, but it's unfortunate that the university was so willing to turn its back on 120 years of tradition. In the matter of seconds it took for Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton to sign the SEC's contract, the history that defines Missouri athletics was erased.
Missouri athletic director Mike Alden has repeatedly expressed the desire to continue the rivalry with Kansas. I see this more of an attempt to make Missouri appear as the innocent victim in the breakup and making Kansas' administration look like the bitter ex-partner left in the dust.
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
Junior forward Thomas Robinson runs onto the court after being announced during Late Night. Robinson will make his first appearance of the season tonight
Robinson will play against Fort Hays State
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/udk_bball
The return of junior forward Thomas Robinson likely won't restore all order in one night.
Robinson, who was named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List on Monday, said his knee isn't an issue
and he'll suit up tonight against Fort Hays State. However, Kansas still has a few kinks to straighten out in its final exhibition game tonight at 7 p.m.
"Ild like to see our newcomers play less tight," coach Bill Self said.
Freshman guard Naadir Tharpe, a swift distributor, dished out eight assists in his debut, but also committed nine turnovers, seven of which came in the first half.
Junior forward Kevin Young, who will replace Robinson off the bench, grabbed eight rebounds, but Self said he looked uncomfortable on the floor with his new teammates.
Sophomore forward Justin Wesley had three blocks but was also charged with four fouls in just 20 minutes.
"Really, no one can afford to slack off," Robinson said. "I expect their best every night."
Self received positive reviews from his training staff, so Robinson will play with hopes of shedding any preseason rust before the regular season begins on Friday.
His addition to the lineup, even if he plays less than 20 minutes tonight, will ease the duties of everyone around him.
"It'll be nice to have Thomas in there so we can see how things are going to play out with having our best presence," Self said.
The offense is built around getting Robinson the ball in certain spots on the floor. When he's out of the lineup, the game plan changes to a faster pace that favors open shooters, not one specific post player. Now he's back and the style of play will start to look more like fans, coaches and players had expected before Robinson's minor injury.
"We've got one of our best rebounders back," junior center Jeff Withey said. "Things will just go smoother."
Tonight's exhibition will act more as the preparation for upcoming games against Kentucky and Ohio State among others than
as the blueprint for success. It will be an experiment, not a conclusion. And while exhibitions usually portray more of what won't be seen in the regular season than what will actually be seen, the Jayhawks are preparing for a more cautious first half than last Tuesday's sloppy beginning.
Robinson is back, but the revisions start with the others Tharpe, Young and Wesley to name a few.
"Id like to see those guys play a little more loose so we can see what they can do." Self said. "I just want to see total improvement."
Edited by Mike Lavieri
FOOTBALL
Gill: Border War most likely finished
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
On October 31, 1891, the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Missouri Tigers 22-10. It would be the first of 119 games between the two schools, making it the second oldest rivalry in college football.
And after Turner Gill's statement on Monday, it would appear that No.120 will be the last meeting between the two schools for the foreseeable future.
"I don't see us playing them in the future," Gill said. "I think the rivalry for Kansas and Missouri would be something that belongs in the Big 12 conference."
Gill's statement comes as a reaction to Missouri's announcement Sunday that the Tigers are leaving the Big 12 conference for the Southeastern Conference. His remarks erase some of the doubt about whether Kansas and Missouri will continue playing following the Tigers' departure.
His thought on the rivalry ending is the latest from Kansas officials, coming after Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, athletic director Shenah Zenger and basketball coach Bill Self all made similar statements on Sunday.
This year's Border Showdown
will break the tie Kansas claims exists between the two programs. The layhawks keep an all-time series record of 55-55-9 between the two schools, while Missouri says the Tigers hold a 56-54-9 lead in the series.
While the Jayhawks allowed 426 yards, the three turnovers the defense created nearly helped Gill win his second Big 12 game at Kansas.
Gill attributed the second week of improved play to the defense becoming more familiar with first-year defensive coordinator Vic Shealy. When, former defensive coordinator Carl Torbush's resigned in the summer for health reasons, Shealy was named his successor.
DEFENSE IMPROVING
The Iowa State game was the second consecutive game in which Gill said the defense was a positive.
Gill said Kansas' 13-10 loss against Iowa State was the defense's best performance in his two years at Kansas.
"I think after nine ball games or, with the changes at D coordinator we had, we've started to get a little bit better as the season goes along." Gill said. "I think our coaching staff did a good job
of game planning against Iowa State?
BAYLOR WILL PUT THE D TO THE TEST
The Bears have the nation's second-best offense statistically; they average 577.13 yards per game. Led by junior quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Bears provide a daunting task for a Kansas defense that still ranks last in the country in yards allowed.
Baylor brings the perfect test to see if the defense has truly improved.
"They're really, really good at every position," Gill said. "Start always at the quarterback spot — he is the key. Robert Griffin can do a lot of things. He can throw it, he can run it and he can do it with the best of them."
- Edited by Jayson Jenks
Griffin has thrown 26 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while also running for 386 yards and another four touchdowns.
The dual-threat quarterback is one of the best in the nation, leading Baylor to a 5-3 record. He provides the ultimate challenge for a Kansas defense that has been the worst in college football this season.