“That Big Ten is going to expand. Two different people told me yesterday – and I won’t tell you what affiliation they were – but they would not be surprised if the Big Ten doesn’t seriously look at [expanding to] 20 teams!”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: Whoa! The Big Ten is already slated to bring on Maryland and Rutgers to bring their total to 14. Speculation is that they will add at least two more teams soon to bring their total to 16. But 20? Harlan said the Big Ten’s appetite includes at least two schools we know very well – Kansas and Missouri. Read on.
“I think Kansas is very much a thought in [the Big Ten’s] minds.”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: Harlan said the belief is that there is one large obstacle blocking Kansas’ path to the Big Ten – and that impediment is a deep shade of purple…
“One person in the know told me that it seems they continue to say – and please correct me if I’m wrong – but this person told me that the Kansas legislature has just made it almost part of the deal that if you take Kansas you’ve got to take Kansas State. Is that what you hear?”
Kevin Harlan, on what could possibly be blocking Kansas’ invite to join the Big Ten, 810 AM
GH: If the B1G is looking to add only two teams, it makes sense that they would want Kansas and then grab a team out of the more populated South. Taking both KU and KSU to bring the B1G to 16 is wishful thinking on our part – or at least the Kansas legislature’s part. But a 20-team Big Ten would very likely have room for the Wildcats. But what kind of familiarity would teams have with each other in a 20-team league? I guess if you went with two 10-team divisions it might make some sense.
“I also heard Missouri continues to be a team the Big ten talks about. It might not be right now, but down the road.”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: Harlan said his source told him that he believes if Missouri is offered an opportunity to join the Big Ten in two, three or maybe four years, he believes they would consider it. Would Mizzou consider a move to the Big Ten, four or five years after they joined the SEC? I don’t think there is any way to know that at this time. But four or five years into the SEC, the Tigers may be feeling far more southern than northern.
“[The Big Ten] would love to reach into the south and take on a Texas.”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: Texas is still a crazy popular wildcard for the Big Ten, the SEC and the Pac Whatever. But they have no reason to go unless the Big 12 starts getting picked apart again by the larger conferences. I expect this summer to be another conference realignment free-for-all.
“That Big Ten Network is just printing money. They are making money hand over fist.”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: We hear that all the BCS conferences are making more money than ever. A friend of mine just got back from touring OSU’s facilities in Stillwater and he was blown away by their future plans of expansion. The arms race of college athletics continues toward and past insanity.
“Alabama at Texas A&M (Sept. 14) will be expensive. At StubHub, cheapest is $375. Most expensive: $4,980.”
Paul Finebaum, @finebaum, Twitter
GH: The insanity is everywhere.
“This is a person I respect and that’s what they told me. This is a person who I think is pretty connected.”
Kevin Harlan, confirming his sources for these Big Ten rumors, 810 AM
“Kansas State fans have a nice little doubleheader on their hands [tonight]. They get to watch their team kick Texas Tech’s butt [at 6:00 PM] and then they get to root for Iowa State [to beat Kansas].”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: The Texas Tech at KSU game is on ESPNU and 810 AM at 6:00 PM. Kansas has a much tougher task up in Ames tonight where they meet the Cyclones at [about] 8:00 AM on ESPN’s Big Monday. No one expects K-State to have trouble with the Red Raiders. Bruce Weber’s team has been best against teams they should beat and they should beat TT soundly. A Kansas loss tonight gives KSU a solo seat atop the Big 12. Read on.
“I think they are going to win it outright. They’ve got it now.”
Kevin Kietzman, after Kansas won at OSU, on his belief that KU has wrapped up the Big 12 title outright heading into the final two weeks of the season, 810 AM
GH: This sounds like KK trying his typical reverse jinx on the Jayhawks. Kansas and K-State both have one tough road game remaining. I expect KU to lose in Ames and I expect KSU to lose at Stillwater. If one of them manages to win their road test, I believe they’ll win the Big 12 outright. They more likely scenario is they’ll both go 2-1 in their final three conference games and share the Big 12 title. But almost nothing has gone as we expected this season – so I will not be calling Kietz’s bookie.
“I would be very surprised if Kansas does not play well [in Ames].”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: I would. Kansas won at Oklahoma State but they played UGLY. Except for their rollover of hapless TCU, Kansas has not looked like a team rounding into postseason shape. I expect Iowa State to push the pressure points of Kansas early, often and from way beyond the three-point arc tonight. Ben McLemore and EJ will need to be at their best to keep KU close. I like the Clones tonight by 10.
“I don’t think I could ever get Bill [Self] to admit this – maybe a couple of years from now – but Elijah Johnson is just not a point guard. It’s not his fault.”
Fran Fraschilla, on the poor season EJ is having as KU’s point guard, 810 AM
“Yeah, Naadir is terrific at times but Naadir can also keep the other team in the game.”
Fran Fraschilla, 810 AM
“Another #Mizzou game and I wrote the same story it seems I always write. Would LIKE to take a new angle, but results dictate I cannot.”
Gabe DeArmond, @GabeDeArmond, following Mizzou’s OT loss at Kentucky, Twitter
GH: A friend of mine asked me this weekend if I’d seen Mizzou’s “Groundhog Day” game at Kentucky. I thought it was an apt description of Mizzou’s season. I wonder if Frank Haith has caught any kids falling out of a tree on MU’s campus.
“If you said that [I won at Illinois with Bill Self’s players], then you could also say, ‘Bill went to Kansas and won with Roy’s players. And Roy went to North Carolina and won with Matt Doherty’s players.’ After a while they become your players. You might not have recruited them, but when you’re with them more than the previous coach … it’s part of it. It just happens. It has to happen.”
Bruce Weber, ESPN.com
GH: This quote and the next few quotes came from Jason King’s column, King’s Court, on ESPN.com. I consider the K-State players Frank Martin’s players since he recruited them. Interesting that Weber does not. Read on.
“It’s tough following a good coach and even tougher following a popular coach. But think about it: If a guy like Bruce Weber just showed up at Kansas State and rolled the balls out and said, ‘OK, you guys know how to do it, see you at the game,’ they wouldn’t be very good.”
Larry Eustachy, Colorado State’s head basketball coach, ESPN.com
GH: I don’t think many are questioning Weber’s ability to coach. Most question his ability to recruit and coach his recruits. The next two seasons will be the important report card for Weber.
“Brutal honesty, from the heart, kind of takes care of everything.”
Larry Eustachy, Colorado State’s head basketball coach, on communicating with his players as he transitioned to being CSU’s new coach, ESPN.com
GH: I would not suggest this approach in dealing with your spouse…or mine.
“No one thought Miami would do what they’re doing or that Missouri would do what they did last year. But good things happen when everyone buys in. Sometimes change is good.”
Frank Haith, ESPN.com
GregHall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
I am unaware if that provision regarding K State exists. KU may have to continue playing them, but I don’t think they need K State if they get invited to the Big Ten. I believe the man Harlan is talking about resides on the air at 810. Unless there is something in writing, I believe KU is free to go to the Big Ten with an invite.
kel THE TRUE FACTS ACCORDING TO HARLEY….
I’ve spoken for many months/over a year about college athletics and the
huge amounts of money flowing into the college ranks. This is not new…
but it surrounds football..and as far as cash you can count ku and kstate
among the welfare down and out broke universities in the nation. No significant
big money fan base and when governor gets thru with them they’ll be
holding cups for change outside allen fieldhouse.
New tax laws have changed the picture. Either pay the government or give the
money to someone where you can have your name on a room or building.
Harlan is trying to make news. He’s old and boring. We’ve heard his shtick
too long in this town and its old..old old…!
So you’ve got millions in the bank. Either uncle sam takes it or your
give it away to someone. Pretty easy choice. In oklahoma my sources
there are telling me that theres so much cash right now from oil and gas
that they don’t know what to do with it. A friend of mine has land rights in the
osage nation area and they are drilling…drilling…drilling like crazy and the
council has nowhere to put the money. That state is awash with billions in
cash…much like north dakota with nowhere to put it. They don’t want
the government to take it…and boone has so much coming in right now
that he can’t give it away fast enough and companies governed by
operations under chevron are raking it in hand over fist…and they don’t
want the goverment taking it…so they’re giving it away to wherever they
can. OSU alumni in bartlesville/tulsa/ok city and around the nation are so
awash in cash right now they can’t count it fast enough. Essentially they
are becoming the new “mafia” money laudnering operations!!!!!
For harlan to make another stupid comment as he did makes sense. He’s
got nothing to say that Harley hasn’t said before. MU is raking in millions…millions
…millions. A smaller dollar alumni base is bringing it in by the barrelful.
Quarter billion in athletic improvements…a new network…students waiting in line
to get in there…and now…the sec is making a deal to take over college basketball
like they do in football. Look at a and m. They move out of the big 12..have a huge
season…and the national publicity explodes. MU same thing..now according to
nate silver…has the 20th largest fan base of any university in the nation!!!IN THE
NATION!!!!! Incredible. Why…the sec exposure. And mu is hungry for more.
If gary fails this season…bye bye. They’ll package a deal greater than sabans to
get football huge. 2 major tv markets…national branding exploding…pinkel was
okay in the big 12 but now it the bright lights…not so big in sec…he either cuts
it in 2013…or bye. They’ve got too much money sitting around. Oh…and watch
for mu to bring in another 100 million contribution…add that to the 5 million dollars
given to the vet school by 2 dogs and their owners…cash by the brinks load
coming into columbia.
as far as ku…well…lets say brownback better wake up;. Sequester costs them
11 million dollars…teachers…failure in the future. And basketball can’t carry the
day. Football hire was a mistake. Big 12 may want them but they’ve got to
step up in the money sport. KU is dying…thanks brownie…nice job!@!!!!!!
KSTATE: nice athletics but no cash…dirt poor farmers won’t support the
program. Kansas repubs kill the opportunities that they have.
It’s all about money. MU has it…ku and kstate don’t.
HAITH: many of us were disappointed he didn’t get kicked out. Seriously.
not a great coach. If they lose earyly in tournament look for another hire…
they’ve got the money…they’ve got the arena…and they want to win NOW!!!!!
who could they look at…anyone…with 3 million a year they can pick their
hire. Haith is only there because they had to hold him for ncaa investigation.
another early exit…haith can go back to florida….look for a big big big name
to come in. MU is tired of these losing/non recruiting/drag down coaches..
its coming..harley knows!
So greg…the cash storms into collge athletics like never before.
I will be publishing my sports letter in March so if anyones interested they
can get a free copy from law4life1000@yahoo.com.
Harley is right before..right again…and youcan count on harley for the real story.
I will be waiting for some pulled pork at oklahoma joes…just discovered
brubecks in overland park at 106th and roe and maybe you can buy some
of their great burnt ends there.
thanks for the space.
love to all
THE REAL HARLEY!!!!!!!
That’s a great tl;dr commeng Harley, but K-State had a bigger profit than Texas last year. We are not down and out by any means right now. BCS bowl game and Top 15 right now?
KK has had KU winning it, then losing it and now back to winning it. Dude is just full of shit. He declared the Big 12 over after week 4 and KU was up by 2 games.
He is always hedging his bets. If KU wins he gets to pat himself on the back for being “right”. If they lose he gets the satisfaction of a KU loss – although he will never admit that he was wrong. He does it all the time. He’s never been wrong – according to him – and Clinkscale.
Missouri is not going to the B1G or any other conference. Missouri is in the SEC now, and it will stay that way. Period.
I’d like to agree but have learned to never underestimate the stupidity of the MU Tigers.
greg… you’re taking the cyclones at home against ks… can’t blame you. but by 10? not this game. i think ku is ready for them… maybe just not enough to win.
I’ll take the ‘Hawks +10, GH. As bad as their bad games have been, they haven’t lost by more than 7.
I will second that. I don’t think ISU’s 3 pointers will go in at the clip that happened at Lawrence. Having said that, I do see a tight game that will be single digits either way. I think KU ekes out a big road win, but they have to play their A game. Hoiberg has done a great job coaching up the Clones and they are a dangerous team, particularily at home.
Jim, I’m from Nebraska but I’m not corncob dumb (at least not most days). KU is favored by 1 tonight but I like the Clones to win comfortably — but I hate betting against the team I want to win the game. Really screws up my couch mojo.
mike, No question 10 is a lot when we’re talking about Kansas losing. I hope I’m wrong but KU’s offense in Stillwater was so inept I have a tough time seeing them keeping pace with ISU’s barrage of treys.
so if ku goes to the B1G Self and ku’s admin look pretty silly for all this whining about Mizzou leaving.
+1,000,000. But give ku credit, they look silly anyway.
Didn’t KK try that ‘reverse psychology’ angle the last time Nebraska played at KSU in football?
The internet is great for three things; porn, gambling and stupid shit! Kevin Harlan is INSANE and the REAL Whitey Bulger is my next door neighbor. Oh yeah, I forgot, Tom Brady demanded to be traded to the Chiefs today.
KU’s not going to B1G, neither is MU. Not sure what the provisions are with the Kansas Board of Regents as it pertains to KU and KSU but there will be a shit storm in the Kansas Legislature that will figure out some way to keep both schools in the same conference.
The only way Kevin could have done more damage to the little credibility he has would to have been caught in a car blowing the other Kevin.
Frank Haith is making Quinn Snyder feel good about his time at MU. The meltdown at Corrupt Arena was “classic”. Phil Pressey has blown more leads than a Broadway hooker.
Smartman, Harlan was simply repeating what he was told by a well-connected B1G source. I was happy to hear he was willing to share the gossip.
Greg, if I repeated all the stuff I hear from “well placed sources” people would think I’m far more deranged than they already think I am. I’m talking batshit Harley crazy. People who talk don’t know. People who know don’t talk. Sports, more than any other area save dipshit celebrity journalism has become nothing more than a series of jagoff’s floating ridiculous thoughts, ideas, concepts and trial balloons in hopes of drumming up some press while they claw for 15 minutes of fame. The smartest guys and gals in the room are usually the ones that say the least. For your consideration I submit one Stephen A Smith……..exactly!
People’s Exhibit #2, Jason Whitlock, aka Porkchop, aka BIG SEXY. Shall I continue? Kevin Keitzman as People’s Exhibit #3 Judge.
Never thought I’d hear Kevin Harlan go the Chris Broussard route with the “sources” thing.
But if KU did go to the B1G, I would love to see the reaction of DeDodds Loss.
Any nice used hot tubs for sale on craigslist smarmyman?
Sure..right smarmyman. Anyone who has to sell retread/filthy/disgusting used
toilets and hot tubs for a living is not mentally right. You’ve been doing this
business for way too long. How doyou make it into your house with the
diseased filth from those items you bought off of craigslist.
You shouldn’t be critiquing anyone…you’re one nasty dude….
Oh…hey ….saw a old tub on the side of 71 highwy…you might want to go
pick it up and make yourself a few bucks.
Usingthe disgusting language you use in your comments means you are on
real big a-hole.
Greg, you say KU has not played well, however when you look at their 4 game winning streak, you see a 21 point blowout of KSU, a 26 point blowout of TCU, and a 26 point blowout of UT. They won by one point in a grinder of a game on the road against a team that had lost one home game this year by one point to a team that is currently considered a #1 seed in the NCAA tourney. Sounds like a pretty decent 4 game stretch if you ask me.
Kyle, I was probably too hard on the Hawks considering that recent home win over KSU. That was a dominating win over a hot team. Consider your point well taken.
But, I thought Kansas was too loyal to leave the Big 12?
I realize some people are clueless when it comes to realignment, but there’s 0 chance K-State would ever get into the Big 10. It would be difficult enough for KU to get in, but no chance if K-State is a tagalong partner. Kansas is a teeny, tiny state to begin with so they would never take 2 teams from a tiny state. Duke is in a lot of trouble and they share a state of 9-10 million and are an elite academic/research institution. K-State will never be an AAU school so it’s pure stupidity to ever suggest a weak academic school in a tiny state would be a Big 10 candidate. As it is, KU is likely stuck in the Big 12. Don’t be surprised if Missouri jumps to the Big 10 though especially if things in the SEC keep going this well. Missouri has no shackles and there’s no penalty for leaving the SEC except for injuring your pride. KU has legitimate shackles in a GoR and potentially K-State.
KC Fan, I would consider Nebraska a “tiny state” that is no better academically than K-State — and the B1G came calling for the Huskers. I agree though that adding two schools from Kansas does little to further the Big 10′s footprint and power.
Dunno Greg. Talk to some HR people and ask them, all things being equal are you gonna hire the Husker, Jayhawk or Wildcat. NU grads have a pretty solid reputation for not making Hiring Managers look like idiots.
“Weak academic school”? ku fans are hilarious. K-State doesn’t need to be an AAU school.
Bruce Weber: ““If you said that [I won at Illinois with Bill Self’s players], then you could also say, ‘Bill went to Kansas and won with Roy’s players. And Roy went to North Carolina and won with Matt Doherty’s players.’”
Weber DID go to the Championshop game with Self’s players. And Roy DID win it all with Doherty’s players. But which Roy players were on Self’s 2 Final Four teams? And Roy went to the Final Four 2 more times with his own players.
Weber sounds needlessly defensive. If he puts together a string of NCAA appearances, including a deep run or two, naysayers will shut up.
He has ALWAYS been defensive about Bill Self. We’ve all heard the “funeral” story and now he’s lost twice in head-to-head matchups between rivalry schools, once in a beatdown. He’s been dealing with this problem since, what, 2004 or 2005? I’m not on his side, but I can see his point.
Look, GH, I do not have great confidence that KU will win at Ames tonight either, but in saying that you think they will lose by 10, they have not lost by that much in a game yet this season. I agree with Kyle – aside from the OSU game (which they won) they actually have played pretty well the past 4 games. For them to win by 26 points is the equivalent of most teams winning by 36 points since KU plays defense so well, their leads are even more insurmountable. It would surprise me if KU lost by more than a couple points tonight.
Congrats for not getting blown out by TCU. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
BJack, The way most of these games have played out this season, it makes more sense that this will be a three-point game tonight — or even closer — within the final minute.
But when was the last time I was accused of exercising sense? I just turn down a guy named Wang who emailed me about a $19-million deal.
“Brutal honesty, from the heart, kind of takes care of everything.”
Larry Eustachy, Colorado State’s head basketball coach, on communicating with his players as he transitioned to being CSU’s new coach, ESPN.com
GH: I would not suggest this approach in dealing with your spouse…or mine.
This reminds me of Will Ferrell’s character in Old School while in therapy with his wife.
Self did not “win” with Roy’s players. Every player from Roy’s last class transferred except for Jeremy Case. Simien, Langford, Miles and Lee got the Elite 8 in 2004 and then lost to Bucknell as seniors.
Hardly what I would call “winning”…especially coming off of two straight final fours when they were underclassmen.
KU and K-State are NOT tied to one another by some kind of law or statute. During the last go-round of conference realignment Bernadette Gray-Little was pointedly asked about that subject and she pointedly answered it. There is no law or rule that requires they be in the same conference and she said that KU could do what it needed to do to act in its own best interests.
The reason there is confusion on the issue is, at least partially, because Dan Lykins is a member of the Board of Regents and he is a huge K-State booster. Normally that’s not a big deal because he can support K-State’s academic mission and KU’s and not harm either of them. But when conference realignment became an issue, he started making noises that KU couldn’t go anywhere without K-State tagging along. Again, there is no law requiring it but the Board of Regents will have a lot of weight to throw around and they might be able to put a stop to it if they were of such a mind. My guess is that if the writing were on the wall and the Big XII were really, truly, we mean it this time, no kidding going to fall apart and there is only a lifeboat available for KU, then the Board of Regents would approve it and part of the exchange would be that KU would agree that they would continue to play a complete schedule against K-State in all sports every season. Wichita State might even be able to finagle a basketball game against KU as part of the deal.
But we’re a long way from there. From what I hear, the Big XII’s grant of rights is just too solid to break. Texas and Oklahoma can’t get out any more easily than can KU. For better or worse, we’re all stuck together. And I don’t think Texas really wants out anyway. No other league will let them keep their precious Longhorn Network (failure that it is). I have no doubt that the Pac-12, the SEC (at least they would have before they took A&M) and the B1G would all welcome UT with mouths wide open but only if UT gets in line with the media program and it’s clear that UT simply will not do it. UT likes where it is just fine so I’m not looking for anything to change.
And, yes, I’d love for KU to jump to the B1G should such a move make itself available. I’m pretty sick of this. But I think the moves this summer will be the Big XII expanding as the ACC comes apart.
My sources tell me that texas would let go of the longhorn network with the
right alignment in leagues that could bring them guaranteed money.
Texans hate to lose..and they’re losing now.
The sec is busting into texas with recruiting and with a and m and alabama
and lsu and the other major sec powers just hours away texas is going to
lose out on all those 5 star recruits they once had a lock on.
Texas is proud…bad season in football and basketball. Network doesn’t
look good. Once they get a good deal that is profitable close to network
deal they’ll leave big 12.
Gov. Brownie better make amove quick. His cuts will kill ku and make them
less attractive to another conference.
Texas is antsy…they need to get in line or get beat down. Texans never like
to lose…big shakeup comes if they get the right deal to pull away.
Network makes them look like deadbeats and theyd rather lose a few
bucks then look like dogs. They’ve got so much money coming in they
could drop network and not blink an eye. TU alumni are getting pissed..
either you please htem or out the door you go…hear me MACK?
good analysis gavin. You make some good points butthe key is texas.
Their alumni wants change now…they want to see a shakekup…and they’re
controlling the situation no matter who the AD is…thanks
Would love to see Kansas try to tag along with any Big10 schools in football. Maybe they can win one in 20 conference games in the Big 10. Remember, Kansas enrollment has been dropping in consecutive years while K-State’s is rising.
well, i’m shocked at the outcome of the game and the high scoring. more shocked at EJ’s performance. wow. whodathunkit?
umm, so going to the sec was stupid? have you paid any attention to what has happened to the big 12? i hope whatever team you root for stays there