Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 24, 2008 5:02:49 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/166/story/458249.html
Kansas hammers Iowa State
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
LAWRENCE | What’s a coach to do when his team is charging along like a cross-country freight train? At Tuesday’s practice, Kansas coach Bill Self had to do something. Anything. So when he saw a brief lapse in execution, he jumped on it.
“I went nuts on our guys for a few minutes,” Self said, “just because I hadn’t gone nuts on them in a long time.”
During his Tuesday tirade, Self shot a glance at senior forward Darnell Jackson. He was smiling.
“Darnell,” Self said, “knew exactly what I was doing.”
Nice try, Coach. Jackson knew that Self was going out of his way to get No. 2 KU’s attention, and he responded with the same ease that he displayed on Wednesday night in KU’s 83-59 victory over Iowa State. Jackson scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds for the 19-0 Jayhawks, who are making it increasingly hard on their coach to, well, coach. Especially Jackson.
“I can’t get under his skin right now even if I tried,” Self said. “And I’ve tried several times.”
The Jayhawks must be taking their cues from Jackson. Nothing is getting under their skin, no matter what opponents try. On Wednesday night, Iowa State came in with the same plan that allowed Missouri to hang tough with the normally high-flying Jayhawks. KU had only two fast-break points against the Tigers on Saturday, and the Cyclones were going to do whatever they could to keep the Jayhawks from running.
“Teams are sending one to the glass and sending four back,” KU forward Darrell Arthur said. “It’s pretty tough getting fast-break points.”
Real tough, especially for KU’s guards, who are getting less of an opportunity each game to get loose.
“It seems like every time there’s an outlet pass, there’s no transition game,” KU guard Russell Robinson said. “We gotta take what the defense gives us.”
Iowa State gave Jackson and Arthur free reign inside, and the Cyclones paid dearly for it over and over again. The post duo combined to shoot 17 of 27 from the field and did it from outside and inside. Arthur finished the game with 16 points to go along with Jackson’s 21. Iowa State held KU to seven fast-break points, but what did it accomplish in the end?
“Everyone tries to take something away,” Self said.
The Jayhawks have proven that they can beat their opponents any number of ways. The development of KU’s halfcourt offense, played through Jackson and Arthur, has made KU look close to unbeatable on nights such as Wednesday.
Because Iowa State neglected to trap KU’s big men in the post, they began to treat it like a practice session. KU assistant coach Danny Manning spent the night challenging Arthur to try different moves and keep the Cyclones’ defenders guessing.
“Coach Manning was just telling me various moves I could do out there,” Arthur said. “He was walking me through them step-by-step, showing me what the defense was doing, showing me how I could counter off of them.”
Arthur was playing hurt, and he still was just about unstoppable against Iowa State big men Jiri Hubalek and Craig Brackins. But this has been happening all season. It’s apparent now that the Jayhawks are fully comfortable playing slower. So go ahead, keep KU from running.
“Most teams out there can just play one way, one speed,” Arthur said. “Coach does a good job with us running halfcourt or speed game.”
Maybe Self does have his team’s attention after all. After the game, in the locker room, Self had a question for the Jayhawks.
“Do you guys feel different about being undefeated?” he asked.
Self was trying to gauge just how much his players are thinking about the records that are out there. With four more wins, which would put them at 23-0, the Jayhawks would clinch the best start in school history. Self liked his team’s answer.
“I don’t think anybody’s thinking about it,” Robinson said. “The opportunity is there, and you don’t want to pass up any opportunity to be great. But nobody’s looking that far ahead. We took tough losses in the past. We don’t want to take any now.”
Kansas hammers Iowa State
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
LAWRENCE | What’s a coach to do when his team is charging along like a cross-country freight train? At Tuesday’s practice, Kansas coach Bill Self had to do something. Anything. So when he saw a brief lapse in execution, he jumped on it.
“I went nuts on our guys for a few minutes,” Self said, “just because I hadn’t gone nuts on them in a long time.”
During his Tuesday tirade, Self shot a glance at senior forward Darnell Jackson. He was smiling.
“Darnell,” Self said, “knew exactly what I was doing.”
Nice try, Coach. Jackson knew that Self was going out of his way to get No. 2 KU’s attention, and he responded with the same ease that he displayed on Wednesday night in KU’s 83-59 victory over Iowa State. Jackson scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds for the 19-0 Jayhawks, who are making it increasingly hard on their coach to, well, coach. Especially Jackson.
“I can’t get under his skin right now even if I tried,” Self said. “And I’ve tried several times.”
The Jayhawks must be taking their cues from Jackson. Nothing is getting under their skin, no matter what opponents try. On Wednesday night, Iowa State came in with the same plan that allowed Missouri to hang tough with the normally high-flying Jayhawks. KU had only two fast-break points against the Tigers on Saturday, and the Cyclones were going to do whatever they could to keep the Jayhawks from running.
“Teams are sending one to the glass and sending four back,” KU forward Darrell Arthur said. “It’s pretty tough getting fast-break points.”
Real tough, especially for KU’s guards, who are getting less of an opportunity each game to get loose.
“It seems like every time there’s an outlet pass, there’s no transition game,” KU guard Russell Robinson said. “We gotta take what the defense gives us.”
Iowa State gave Jackson and Arthur free reign inside, and the Cyclones paid dearly for it over and over again. The post duo combined to shoot 17 of 27 from the field and did it from outside and inside. Arthur finished the game with 16 points to go along with Jackson’s 21. Iowa State held KU to seven fast-break points, but what did it accomplish in the end?
“Everyone tries to take something away,” Self said.
The Jayhawks have proven that they can beat their opponents any number of ways. The development of KU’s halfcourt offense, played through Jackson and Arthur, has made KU look close to unbeatable on nights such as Wednesday.
Because Iowa State neglected to trap KU’s big men in the post, they began to treat it like a practice session. KU assistant coach Danny Manning spent the night challenging Arthur to try different moves and keep the Cyclones’ defenders guessing.
“Coach Manning was just telling me various moves I could do out there,” Arthur said. “He was walking me through them step-by-step, showing me what the defense was doing, showing me how I could counter off of them.”
Arthur was playing hurt, and he still was just about unstoppable against Iowa State big men Jiri Hubalek and Craig Brackins. But this has been happening all season. It’s apparent now that the Jayhawks are fully comfortable playing slower. So go ahead, keep KU from running.
“Most teams out there can just play one way, one speed,” Arthur said. “Coach does a good job with us running halfcourt or speed game.”
Maybe Self does have his team’s attention after all. After the game, in the locker room, Self had a question for the Jayhawks.
“Do you guys feel different about being undefeated?” he asked.
Self was trying to gauge just how much his players are thinking about the records that are out there. With four more wins, which would put them at 23-0, the Jayhawks would clinch the best start in school history. Self liked his team’s answer.
“I don’t think anybody’s thinking about it,” Robinson said. “The opportunity is there, and you don’t want to pass up any opportunity to be great. But nobody’s looking that far ahead. We took tough losses in the past. We don’t want to take any now.”