March 1: News Headlines Digest
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Also see our Daily Threads, March 1, and the News Digest for Yesterday, February 28, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, February 28
##Bedore: Kansas-OSU ‘rivalry’ to resume today##
The officials were kept busy trying to keep order on the court the last time Kansas University played Oklahoma State in basketball.
KU’s Jamari Traylor, Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden were assessed technical fouls in the Jayhawks’ 80-78 victory on Jan. 18 in Allen Fieldhouse. OSU’s Markel Brown (2) and Stevie Clark, who has since been dismissed from the team, also were hit with T’s.
###Newell: Five-Minute Scout: Unlucky Oklahoma State will be tough for KU basketball to beat###
3 Strengths
Ball security: Oklahoma State does a good job of getting a shot on most possessions, ranking 19th nationally in offensive turnover percentage. Keep in mind that KU’s defense has struggled with forcing turnovers most of this season…
###Wiggins one of 10 semifinalists for Naismith Trophy###
Kansas University freshman Andrew Wiggins has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2014 Men’s Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Friday.
Four finalists for the Naismith Trophy, given annually to the nation’s best college basketball player, will be announced March 23.
###**Newell: ** Coach Bill Self says focus for KU basketball is turning ‘good’ season into ‘great’ one###
STILLWATER, Okla. — Bill Self knows there’s a danger that his team could let up mentally in its next three games.
The Kansas men’s basketball team clinched a share of its 10th straight Big 12 title Monday. Its most important games now won’t happen until later in March.
###**Brenner: **Early-tourney exit potential for top 10###
Yes, the Jayhawks have lost to four teams ranked 30th or worse in BPI. But that’s not a harbinger of a March disaster. Fact is, our model is bullish on the Jayhawks, ranking them as the fourth-best team in the country. And that rock-solid power rating is most of the basis for Kansas’ being such a safe Giant, since the team doesn’t gain much from the model’s Secret Sauce.
Why? The Jayhawks don’t force turnovers. Their 16.6 percent rate is well below the national average (18.4) and essentially means that weaker teams will still get enough looks at the basket to frighten Kansas on a hot-shooting night. The Jayhawks also foul far too often – foes generate 24.3 percent of their offense from the free throw line. However, Kansas offsets much of those weaknesses with strong rebounding at both ends (not to mention a fantastically efficient offense). Could the Jayhawks go down early? It’s possible. But it sure isn’t likely.
###Cliff Alexanders Chicago Curie High team forfeits all victories###
Kansas University basketball signee Cliff Alexander’s Chicago Curie High team was stripped of its 24 victories and city championship Friday.
####**AP: **After dramatic win Chicago HS champions forfeits season####
CHICAGO – Chicago Curie Metropolitan High School’s basketball team, ranked among the best in the nation, has forfeited this year’s games because several players were academically ineligible to compete, public schools officials announced Friday.
dChicago Public Schools said seven players on Curie’s 24-1 varsity team were ineligible from the start of the 2013-14 season. Student athletes in the district must maintain a 2.0 GPA to participate in sports, or have an individual study plan in place to help them improve academically.
Also see our Daily Threads, March 1, and the News Digest for Yesterday, February 28, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, February 28
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@approxinfinity KUsports carrying an article about Cliff Alexander’s high school forfeiting all victories. After reading the article, I’m not as worried as I could be, but it is still a somewhat worrisome situation.
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@icthawkfan316 interesting story, lots of missing parts. I read that it wasn’t anything to do w/the kids, but someone didn’t do the paperwork??? If true, that’s just wrong.
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@Crimsonorblue22 There’s a little more info in the fox sports article.
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The Chicago Public School System is a huge mess. Albert Einstein (as a student) couldn’t wade through that system without acquiring a tarnished record.
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Our game with OSU is tailor-made for Embiid to own. Let’s see if he is up for the task.
If we stand a chance in March it will only be if our guys show up to play every game hard… like they played Texas.
Playing in angry arenas should get these guys worked up and ready to beak the cowboys’ brains out!
Beak 'em, Hawks!
