“It’s not that the Big 12 teams are better than we thought. It’s just that KU is not as good as we gave them credit for before the season started.”
Jayice Pearson, 810 AM
GH: I think there is some truth to both points. KU is obviously not the dominant juggernaut many believed them to be when conference play began. Losing at TCU is not what dominant Big 12 teams do – or pretty much any Big 12 teams. But I believe K-State, Iowa State, OSU and Oklahoma are all much better than I initially believed. Baylor is probably worse than I originally imagined but they are still as talented as any starting five in the conference. The Big 12 is up for grabs in mid-February and the next six weeks should be fun.
“Folks, he’s going to have a great six weeks. I believe it. He believes it.”
Bill Self, on Elijah Johnson, Hawk Talk
GH: Self made some comments on his radio show Tuesday night that EJ has been unhealthy all season. He talked about the fact that EJ has not used his recovering knee as an excuse and he cautioned fans who have been critical of his play. Interesting. So where was Coach Self’s compassion last week for EJ’s injury when he was ripping his senior guard and telling the world he didn’t have any guards?
“I think they know what Elijah’s limitations are and they know that they’re not going to be much different on March 13th that they are on February 13th.”
Mike DeCourcy, college writer for The Sporting News, 810 AM
GH: DeCourcy is saying exactly the opposite of what Self is predicting for EJ’s next month. Self believes he will have a great finish to the season and DeCourcy thinks KU understands he is what he is. I would love to think that Self is right on this one. Kansas’ success in March depends on it.
“I did not show the guys the tape. Just forget about that one. I think you can learn through tape but I think the TCU tape is one the players should never see.”
Bill Self, on KU’s loss at TCU, Hawk Talk
GH: The more I hear Self not discuss the TCU game, the more I believe he knows he made a mistake in publicly ripping his players after that game. He has to cringe every time ESPN replays snippets of his postgame comments from Fort Worth that night. I know I do.
“For a team [like Missouri] that has been poor on the road, this is the worst position to be in.”
Mike DeCourcy, college writer for The Sporting News, on MU having four of their next five games on the road, 810 AM
“This is a huge stretch coming up for the Missouri Tigers. Four of their next five games are on the road. I believe Missouri will go 3-2 in this stretch and then finish with three wins after that to finish the season 6-2. I think they are going to win one of the games either at Florida or at Kentucky.”
Steven St. John, 810 AM
GH: Mizzou is 0-5 on the road in the SEC – with losses at LSU and Texas A&M – two teams that are just playing out the season. I understand SSJ is a huge MU fan but in what universe does he expect the Tigers to find their road mojo in Kentucky or Arkansas and then win three of their next five roadies? The Tigers are in Starkville to play Mississippi State tonight at 7:00 PM. The Bulldogs are 7-15 and 2-8 in the SEC. MU is favored by 12. Let’s get these schizophrenic Tigers crawling before we send them sprinting into Lexington.
“At full strength, [Missouri] should be able to win at Mississippi State and South Carolina. If they can’t do that, they’re an eight or a nine seed. No team with true NCAA ambition wants to be in that [eight or nine seed]. I think this team is better than that.”
Mike DeCourcy, college writer for The Sporting News, 810 AM
GH: If Mizzou loses at MSU and USC, most MU fans would be happy to just get an NCAA tourney invitation.
“This is the worst rivalry in sports. It’s awful. It’s dreadful. It’s terrible! There’s nothing interesting about Kansas versus Kansas State. We’ve built it up but it’s stupid. K-State kills them in football and Kansas kills them in basketball. It’s a joke. It’s stupid. Why do we act like something different is going to happen? … They’re going to play again at Sprint Center and Bruce Weber is going to throw the ball inside to Gipson and get it blocked into the third row. It’s stupid.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: I like having sports talk hosts who are passionate fans of their college and pro teams. You just have to know their allegiances and take that into account when they start bashing, buttering or bleating. SSJ cannot make an objective comment about his beloved MU Tigers. KK is the same when it comes to his school, Kansas State. Both can be very entertaining when they discuss their teams, but neither can be taken seriously. Who handles this delicate balance the best on local radio? Carrington Harrison is probably the most balanced MU voice. Nate Bukaty get the nod for the Kansas voice of reason.
“There’s no [Big 12 Conference] race. K-State’s not in it. They’re done. It’s over for K-State.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: This makes no sense – especially since KSU is tied for first with a much more favorable schedule than Kansas. KK just let his frustration as a fan out of the box on Tuesday and it resulted in some weird yet compelling radio.
“That game [Monday] night was bigger than the NCAA tournament! [Kansas State] had a chance last night to deal Kansas some pain and they didn’t.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK is speaking like a fan and for K-State fans. This was a chance or the Purple People to crow at the office and own Kansas in both football and basketball. But for Bruce Weber, his team is still tied for first with a real chance to win their first conference title since 1977.
“K-State fans don’t look forward to playing Kansas in football. It’s not a big deal.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Huh? We all understand that Kietz had his short hairs singed Monday night when the Jayhawks went woodshed early, often and repeatedly on his Wildcats. But what is he talking about when it comes to this rivalry on the gridiron? I don’t know of a KSU football fan who doesn’t anticipate and relish the last few beat downs that Bill Snyder has laid on whoever is coaching Kansas.
“By Kansas standards, they’ve had multiple down years as a [basketball] recruiting program.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: Here I go and point to Nate as the Kansas voice of reason and he comes up with this Elitist Richard comment. Multiple down years? They have won eight Big 12 titles in a row and managed to finish second in the nation last season.
“There was talk that Danny Manning didn’t work quite as hard on the road as other people.”
Aaron Swart, on the former KU assistant’s work at Kansas, 810 AM
“I think [KU losing Danny Manning and replacing him with Norm Roberts] is a net gain. Kansas has the chance to have the number-one recruiting class in the country next year. They’re number two right now.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: KU fans can be rough – even on their legends.
GH: Bukaty credits Norm Roberts work as a recruiter for much of that recruiting success. Perry Ellis looks like he is missing Manning’s expert tutelage in developing postmen. Time will tell.
“There’s nothing better than spring training baseball.”
Bob Fescoe, who is doing his morning show from Surprise, Arizona this week, 610 AM
GH: Especially if you are into hype. Read on.
“Harold Reynolds has predicted 86 wins for the Royals.”
Aaron Swarts, 810 AM
“I think [Luke Hochevar] is capable of winning 15 to 18 games in the American League. … Luke has never lost my confidence.”
Ned Yost, on the Royals’ potential fifth starter, 810 AM
“Spring training is just one of the great sporting events to go witness. It’s just a great time.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: I have been to spring training in Surprise, Arizona and it is as relaxing and fan friendly as you have been led to believe. But it makes for awful sports talk radio – at least for me. Endless discussions about the Royals’ starting rotation and Jeff Francoeur in February are all dial changers for me. Thank you Sputnik for satellite radio.
GregHall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
Mizzou has Florida at home next Tuesday, not in Gainesville.
Thanks for the fix. SSJ did say he thought MU would surely lose at Arkansas, which I agree. Even with the injury to Nerlens Noel that game in Lexington will be rough.
Greg…please…stop listening to these people. I’ve taken my
prognostications onto the atheltic fields.
I picked the presidential race and was the only expert in the entire
nattion to pick obamas electoral range count. I did that 14 months
prior to the election.
Now…as an MU fan i’m putting everything on the line.
What you and the rest of the few ku fans who are still on the bandwagon
are witnessing is what i predicted prior to the k state game.
Ben is about to step it up. He did with 30. Noone will stop this
man. Noone. Why? because he is driven!!!!!!! Noone in college
is driven like he is. I heard his story before he came to ku and it
was incredible. Call it fate…talent…desire….but you are watching
a future nba star in the likes of lebron/howard/and few other players
over the last 10 years.
If self realizes the potential on the team he sets up an inside outside
game with ben and withey. No teamin america can play with this
type of offense. Then forget all the foolish defensive strategies
that he’s tried…go to the famous triangle. It works. Can cut down
any teams scoring by 15-20%!
If self doesnt blow this he has a national championship team..problem
is that 4 of his seniors playing were not starters last year.
thats the only thing that can hurt this team.
If self coaches the way he’s capable of…and if they produce
at a decent level…they get another banner at allen.
Don’t deny harley. don’t doubt harley…Harley is right 100% of the
time.
My record in ppolitics/economics/current affairs/and handicapping
are well known as impeccable.
As for mu…they have serious problems. No leadership. No
go to guy. They wait and wait and wait…and in typical mu fashion
get into a muddled funk of confusion….missed moves…and a
complete mess when running plays on the court. this will hurt
them. best thing is that in tournament that they get a
6 or 7 seeding and can get into the elite 8. A talented team with
a terrible coach and a game plan that even a 10 year old could
be better at.
Why can’t missouri win on the road…they never have been
able to. Going back 100 years!!!!! They have not learned how to
prepare for road games. I worked for norm stewart and norm
was atrocious in preparing the team on the raod. They needed
to arrive at least 24 hours ahead of time…prepare locally…
because traditionally they’ve drove right into the arenas.
Haith is on the hot seat. He knows that eventually he’s
smoked in columbia. Watch for some big names to reappear
when haith goes down….lavin is being mentioned…and yes…
even l.b (guess who that is)…
but keep tuning into harley. anyone and everyone is invited
to subscribe to my economic and financial reports and predictions
at law4life1000@yahoo.com.
thanks for your time
yeah, mizzou plays florida at home. still a tough game, but that’s why ssj feels mizzou can win one of the games because mizzou is undefeated at home…
I agree that they’ll either take out Florida at home, or Kentucky on the road without their best player. That South Carolina game scares me though, given that they gave Mizzou a scare at home, and that evidently Frank Haith can’t figure out Frank Martin.
yup. too bad that frank martin (and bob knight) had to join us in the sec
mu plays Florida at home. And who is the voice of reason for ksu? Answer? There is none. What KK fails to realize when he throws in all of the jabs at KU football to make himself feel better is that KU still owns ksu in football all time. ksu football was nothing before Snyder, it was nothing when he left, and it will be nothing when he leaves again. Even Bill hiimself has struggled recruit very well there. He is simply one of the top 10 coaches of all time and knows how to get the best out of his players. ksu football IS Bill Snyder. KU beat them 4 out of 5 years very recently. Both programs will be on an even level within 2 years of him leaving. ksu fens don’t want to admit it, but they know it’s true.
are you predicting 21 consecutive big12 losses for kstate? bold. very bold.
What does 21 consecutive losses have to do with anything? KSU is still far, far behind in the all-time standings and the other Kyle here has a point. They’ll never admit it, but I bet KSU administrators and fans are all very afraid of what their football team will be once Snyder retires. Their program is not bigger than Snyder, just like UConn basketball, Syracuse basketball, VA Tech football, Florida State football and other programs have/will struggle when the men that built their programs retire. Wisconsin football came to power at the same time KSU did, and they now get to see if they can sustain the program with a whole new coach too, now that Barry Alvarez’s hand-picked guy ditched them for Arkansas.
Ron Prince was obviously not the right coach, but finding someone that is will be a damn tough job for the KSU leadership.
All time record smack is incredibly weak, no matter which kyle you are.
Agreed. All-time record boasting means your current team sucks, which is the case with KU football.
And for that matter, it is also weak to claim, “Once your legendary head coach leaves, you might be in trouble!” No kidding. When Bill Self leaves, if KU makes a bad coaching hire, guess what? All the history of KU hoops won’t make a difference. Getting the right head coach is the key.
I think it will be interesting to see how K-State bounces back from losing Collin Klein. I think he was their game changer, will they have one of those next year?
K-State won’t be nearly as good in 2013 because it lost a ton of seniors. Will it suck? Doubtful, but it’s not going to a BCS bowl.
and ssj does “talk as a mizzou fan” sometimes, but it’s pretty clear when he is doing so and let’s it be known that what he is saying is what he hopes for not necessarily predicts. i’d say he’s pretty objective and certainly doesn’t troll other schools ala kietzman or fescoe
“By Kansas standards, they’ve had multiple down years as a [basketball] recruiting program.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: Here I go and point to Nate as the Kansas voice of reason and he comes up with this Elitist Richard comment. Multiple down years? They have won eight Big 12 titles in a row and managed to finish second in the nation last season.
I see your point, but let’s look at the last three years:
2012: Perry Ellis, Andrew White III, Lucas Peters, Rio Adams and Milton Doyle
2011: Ben McLemore, Naadir Tharpe, Jamari Traylor, Merv Lindsay, Braeden Anderson
2010: Josh Selby, Royce Woolridge
OK, in 2012 Ellis was a big get but the others, the ones still with the team I mean, are, at best, works in progress. Ellis is the only one you can say with any confidence is a likely starter in the future.
That 2011 class also had one bona fide star in McLemore but, as we know, he had to sit out (totally worth it, BTW) and Tharpe is hopefully rounding into a contributor but anyone who guarantees he will be an all-league contributor is a bigger homer than me. He might be one, maybe. God knows I hope so, but there’s no reason to think it’s a certainty. He was a top-150 kid when KU picked him up. Traylor may become the next Darnell Jackson, but, again, that really remains to be seen. Not viewed as a tremendous get at the time. As I recall, his only other offer was Texas Tech.
2010: Obviously, Selby was a gem that never polished up that well at KU but that class didn’t have any significant impact at KU.
Yes, Bill Self has recruited some great talent and he did manage to finish second in the nation last season, but it’s not inaccurate for Bukaty to say that they’ve had multiple down years in recruiting. Last year’s tournament success had as much to do with Self and his staff coaching up Robinson and Taylor as it did with recruiting. Maybe even more so.
I don’t think you can judge recruiting classes until they finish their eligibility. If you would have ranked Thomas Robinson after his sophomore year, he would have been nothing. Turned out to be a star. Who’s to say that any of the freshmen or sophs on the roster today won’t do the same?
That’s a fair point, Flea. All I’m saying is that Bukaty can legitimately claim that recruiting has been down the last few years, at least if you look at rankings. And when you consider how many of the players the last few years have left the team entirely, I think it’s fair to say that they won’t turn out to be stars at all. Clearly there is still time for Jamari Traylor, but I think we can safely say that Merv Lindsay and Milton Doyle aren’t going to be anything special for the Jayhawks.
They had a top 10 class last year. Maybe the coaching of these guys hasn’t been as good as it needs to be.
And that’s a top 10 class with two wasted roster spots
They load up on 4 and 5 star players every year. So either the coaching of these players isn’t good, or they are overrated.
Please name the 5 star players on the current KU roster.
No, John, they had a top-15 or so class that considered Lucas, Adams and Peters. Drop those three and the class goes down considerably just like when KU had that top ten class a few years ago because it had so many guys but none of them were all that great and half of them ended up transferring.
But thanks for stopping by.
Lucas and Adams are on the roster, so why would you drop them? Andrew White is a 4 star and Perry Ellis is a 5 star. Most schools would kill for just two players who are rated so highly. If they arent good enough to play, then coaching must be a problem.
Two years ago they had two 4 stars
The point guard everybody is trashing was a 5 star three years ago
KU recruits itself. Just because they lost three in a row doesn’t mean they had recruiting classes. Maybe they just recruited the wrong guys
Like I said, they are loaded with 4-5 star players, as well as the sons of former and current coaches.
Bukaty was an elitist to claim that KU has had several subpar recruiting years because guys who were recruited before any of these down years have won the league 8 straight years? Right, Greg. Nice attempt at logic. There’s a reason why this years starters include a 5th year senior and two transfers.
And if the recruiting has been so stellar why is replacing the best big man coach in college bball with a better recruiter considered to be such an upgrade?
Superbowl Radio Row and early spring training are simply dreadful radio.
Donn’t forget golf tournamennts in Colorado every summer…
All local sports talkers are extremely unprofessional when they engage in extreme puffery of “their” schools. Petro is just the opposite to the extreme. He grew up in Johnson County, yet he pretends he has no rooting interest at all in the “local” schools because he happened to spend four short years in Syracuse. These bozos also fail to realize that a large, large majority of their audience didn’t go to any of the local schools. Many of them didn’t even go to college. They are so out-of-touch with the community that they act as though everyone went to one of the big 3 local schools, and if they didn’t their opinions don’t count much.
If they were that out of touch they wouldn’t have local radio jobs.
Auch du lieber Greggerstein, enough with the verbal beat down cause and effect. Oy vey bubby.
MU won’t go far in the tourney…the NIT.
You can’t have a real rivalry between KU and KSU for all the reasons stated. And when one of your top goals for the season is to beat the other guy, that makes for a pretty piss poor set of goals. It’s not so much a rivalry as it is a co-dependent relationship….an unhealthy co-dependent relationship.
The last thing I wanna do in February if I’m in AZ or FL is watch baseball. If I had young kids, sure, but otherwise point me to an ocean, a spa, a golf course and a bar. I don’t understand all the excitement around Spring Training. It’s a bunch of out of shape wankers playing mediocre baseball. Most MLB players aren’t really in fighting shape until Memorial Day.
KU/KSU is an unhealthy co-dependent relationship, KU/MU must’ve been something straight out of the depths of hell.
Michael and Dina Lohan come to mind, or perhaps John and Kate Goselin.
Brett, they will meet in the middle.
This is in response to E. Jack Hewlett (since my stupid browser probably won’t put this reply in the right place) asking about the 5 star players currently on the Kansas Roster – Ellis was a 5-star on Rivals, and Elijah was a 5-star in 2009 according to Rivals.
Withey was also a 4 star they recruited
Additionally, Releford, Tharpe, and McLemore were all 4 stars, so out of their top 7 players (McLemore, Withey, Johnson, Releford, Young, Tharpe, and Ellis), KU has 2 5-stars, 4 4-stars, and 1 unranked (Young).
kk wigs when it comes to ksu. he gets all contrarian and odd when ksu fails. he normally runs a good show. it is almost like he is trying to direct passive aggressive shots at ksu coaches and admins. and he says ksu fans don’t care about the ku football game. they bring the largest visiting crowd of the season to lawrence. i am a ku fan and i really like listening to kk… but sometimes he gets odd about ksu… i mean… you can tell his blood is boiling.