Volume 124 Issue 51
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
kansan.com
COMMENTARY
Taylor's focus is crucial
Coach Bill Self announced the suspensions of guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson from the two exhibition games because of a violation of team rules, and frankly I'm not surprised at all.
Taylor's Kansas career has been inconsistent on the court and even more erratic off it. When Taylor is on his game, he's quick and agile, driving to the basket seemingly at will. At times, though, he'll seem lost on the court, forcing plays and picking up charges at an exponential rate. Taylor is expected to take a leadership role in 2011, but his senior campaign is already off to a rocky start.
Self reiterated that both Taylor and Johnson have behaved well since school started, and the violation occurred during the summer. However, it is discouraging that Taylor still struggles with the simple task of staying out of trouble.
Following his impressive freshman season, the Jayhawk faithful have waited for Taylor to live up to his vast potential, but distractions and immaturity have hindered his ability to break out as a star player for the Jayhaws.
Whether it's social media trouble or fights with the football team, Taylor has constantly ended up in Self's doghouse. Taylor's association with "violating team rules" has been more of an expectation than an isolated occurrence, and that needs to change if the Jayhawks are going to succeed this season.
I am not concerned that the Jayhawks will struggle at all against Pittsburgh State and Fort Hays State without Taylor and Johnson, but it does not bode well for Kansas that the full team will only have one game to prepare for the showdown against No. 2 Kentucky. Early season losses are not commonplace with Bill Self-coached teams, but the exhibition absences of Taylor and Johnson make winning against the Wildcats an even more daunting task.
Taylor must realize that this team doesn't have the Morris twins, Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed anymore; the Jayhawks do not have the luxury of depth and will rely on Taylor more than ever before. Taylor is the only senior in the Jayhawks' starting five and should start taking the responsibility that senior leadership entails.
It is encouraging that Taylor has demonstrated sound leadership since classes began, and this trend will have to continue for the entire season, not just a couple of months. The fact that Taylor took his game to the next level at the end of last season has me intrigued about what he'll do on the court this year, but I hope immaturity doesn't prevent Taylor from achieving greatness.
Edited by Ben Chipman
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TONIGHT'S EXHIBITION
See Kansas' projected starting lineup for its first game
PAGE 8
10
BREW:A HISTORY OF PLAYERS SUCCEEDING IN THE NFL PAGE 9
ALL HANDS NOT ON DECK
READY OR NOT
The Jayhawks start the season tonight without a couple of key players
KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
If the old adage is true that fans shouldn't put much stock in exhibition games, Kansas fans should multiply it by 10 heading into tonight's game against Pittsburg State.
A few weeks after freshmen Jamari Traylor and Ben McLemore were ruled ineligible for the year, junior forward Thomas Robinson hyperextended his knee in practice last week, making him questionable for the first exhibition. Coach Bill Self then announced Sunday that guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson were suspended for both exhibition games.
That's three starters and two potential breakout freshman who won't be available against Pittsburg State tonight.
- Edited by Javson Jenks
"If you don't have a healthy Thomas and you don't have a healthy backcourt, then obviously it's not the same team," Self said. "Sixty percent of your stuff is gone."
Whatever happens in the opener today, it won't be what fans will see the rest of the season. Self said walk-ons Jordan Juenemann and Niko Roberts will see plenty of action, which certainly wouldn't happen with a healthy lineup.
"Those guys are going to get in the game, so that won't be the same team that will be playing in [Madison Square Garden] unless we have a lot of injuries," Self said. "But it will give those guys an opportunity."
Opportunities will be there for everyone on the roster, including freshman point guard Naadir Tharpe, who looks to be in Self's regular rotation. But Tharpe will start against Pittsburg State in place of Taylor. Self said Tharpe has an opportunity because he'll eventually be counted on in big situations.
"My expectations are that we just go out there and play with some energy and some enthusiasm, play tough and see how some newcomers react when they have to play a lot," Self said.
As for everyone else, it looks to be a good chance for coaches to see how they respond to everything.
FOOTBALL
Gill on his team: We're just doing OK
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
Ever positive and always encouraging Turner Gill had a slight change in tone for the first time all season. During yesterday's weekly Big 12 teleconference, Gill gave a look at how he and his 2-6 team are faring.
"We're just doing OK." Gill said. But "just OK" might be an understatement for this Kansas team
It's hard to see how Gill could have any kind of optimism after opponents have outscored his team by 81 points in the last two games. Dating back to the Georgia Tech game — Kansas' first loss six games ago — the Jayhawks have been outscored by 163 points, an average of 32.6 points per game.
When Gill was asked if he could find any positives during his team's 43-0 thrashing against Texas, his answer provided some insight as to where the Kansas football program currently stands.
Gill pointed to his defense's toughness, particularly in the red zone, as a strength from the game. Gill found his defense to be a positive after allowing 590 total yards against Texas. The Jayhawks also gave up 441 rushing yards and 6.3 yards per carry and allowed Texas to convert on 11 of 16 third downs.
Gill then commented on what happened offensively in a game in which the Jayhawks only accounted for 46 total yards.
"Offensively, the guys played hard," Gill said. "But we just didn't do a very good job, so we've just got to coach better and continue to work with our players."
Trying to pound the ball up the middle did not work against the talented Longhorns. Kansas' 20 rushing attempts led to minus-2 rushing yards.
If the Jayhawks wanted to be a run-oriented team, as Gill and offensive coordinator Chuck Long said before the season, they clearly couldn't do that against Texas.
Gill didn't mention a lack of player execution Monday, a rarity for Gill. Instead, his explanation for what happened to the offense gives insight to what's been happening with Kansas football all season.
"We've just got to coach better," Gill said. "We just got outcoached on that side, really on both sides of the ball. It was a combination of us just getting outcoached and outplayed. Simple as that."
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
- Edited by Jayson Jenks
Coach Turner Gill walks off the field in defeat after being shutout by the Texas Longhorns Saturday night. Kansas gave up 43 points and remained winless in Big 12 play. Kansas is now 2-6 this season.
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