Wow, that must have hurt to write.

NU already hired someone else...

Tulsa is going for Manning now

Remember Jeff Graves?
 

I just remember the play feeling like it was in slow motion. The whole game, everything seemed like it was going 100 miles an hour. But that play felt like 1 mile per hour. That one second felt like 10. When Warrick blocked the shot, I just thought, "Noooooo!" I was in disbelief. I thought, "Did Mike have time to pump fake or scoot over?" Looking back, who knows? It seemed like the whole entire season flashed in front of us. We worked so hard to get to that moment, and it all ended on a blocked shot. After the game I was pretty pissed off. I was mad. I felt like some of the guys on the team that had been saying, "Leave it all out on the court" didn't do that themselves. I wanted to go play Syracuse again, right then and there. I couldn't believe that team beat us.


There are a lot of ways you can feel about that game when you look back at it. In the end, though, I just feel blessed to have had an opportunity to play in the national championship game. There aren't too many people in the world that will ever be able to say that. I still think about that night all the time and I'm sure I will for the rest of my life. Every time I hear the name "Syracuse," it brings back the moment. We should've won. When Kansas won the title in 2008, it was both bitter and sweet. I was happy for those guys, but in the back of my mind I couldn't help but think, "That should've been us."


http://espn.go.com/ncb/feature/momen...ans-final-four

It still stings.

Dang you Lzen for reminding me.

Yeah, that game sucked. We missed soooo many FTs is was disgusting. I just posted that because it was the same site (New Orleans) as this year's Final Four.

How many'd we missed? 13? ****.
Posted via Mobile Device

If memory serves, it was something like 18 out of 30.

Time to shine: Withey’s long wait, hard work paying off
 

Wednesday, March 28, 2012


By Tom Keegan




The college basketball dream Jeff Withey lives — preparing to go to the Final Four after swatting so many key shots that helped his team reach New Orleans — started more like a nightmare packed with cruel teases.
His signed out of Horizon High in San Diego to play for Lute Olson at Arizona, and when the Hall of Fame coach retired, Withey wanted out. The school initially told him he would not be granted a release from his scholarship. His father, Mike, was five minutes from hiring an attorney to try to make it happen when his son finally was set free in December 2008.


Because he had enrolled at Arizona, Withey was not eligible to join the Kansas basketball team on the court until second semester of his redshirt-freshman year, on Dec. 29, 2009 against Belmont. Already playing behind Cole Aldrich, Marcus and Markieff Morris and Thomas Robinson in the frontcourt, Withey’s workout time lost that fall because of a right-knee stress fracture didn’t help. He appeared in 15 games and played 45 minutes in the 2009-2010 season, showing promise by totaling 19 points, 21 rebounds and six blocked shots. Other than in an eight-point, five-rebound effort in 12 minutes of a victory in Ames, Iowa, he never played double-digit minutes.


The departure of Aldrich to the NBA that summer gave Withey a shot at significantly more playing time as a sophomore, but bad luck again hunted down the 7-footer. He broke the metatarsal in his right foot during individual workouts in late September 2010, had surgery and spent several weeks on crutches while his teammates became better.


He needed to gain weight but lost 15 pounds.


“I was stuck in bed,” Withey said. “I couldn’t really move. It was hard to get to the kitchen. It was hard to get anywhere. My armpits were sore just from crutching everywhere. Coming into that year, I thought I was going to be a big contributor, and then I had the foot problem, and it set me back so far I felt like I just kind of lost my chance to contribute and play. It was really depressing.”


Withey reached double-digit minutes in six games and never scored in double figures. He didn’t play in two of the four 2011 NCAA Tournament games and played two minutes apiece in the other games, both blowouts.
Now look at him. Midway through Withey’s junior season, in February, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association named him the Oscar Robertson national player of the week after he scored a career-high 25 points against Baylor and had a career-best 20 rebounds against Oklahoma State. In his next game, he had 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots against Kansas State.


Withey earned Big 12 defensive player of the year honors. Not many 7-footers shoot technical free throws for their teams, but Withey does, thanks to a .794 percentage from the line.


In playing Kansas into the Final Four, Withey blocked 10 shots in a three-point victory against North Carolina State and had 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a 13-point victory against North Carolina’s ballyhooed front line. His defensive dominance played a big part in UNC making one of its final 14 shots and none of its last seven. His two blocked shots in the final minutes triggered fast breaks. He earned first-team All-Midwest Region honors, along with Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor.


Withey credits his volleyball experience — starting on the beach in his middle school years and progressing to indoor volleyball on a club team (which cost his parents $500 a month) — for developing the timing to block shots. He not only blocks shots, he sometimes uses the blocks to start fast breaks by tapping the ball forward. He even has been known to block a shot, catch it and toss it ahead to get KU’s speedy guards on their way.
All the setbacks along the way to becoming such a force in college basketball were not time wasted, according to Withey.
“It definitely made me a lot tougher,” he said. “When I come out and play, I don’t take it for granted at all.”


He credited his coach with playing a role in his increased toughness as well.


The most publicized instance of Bill Self’s fury aimed Withey’s way came in a practice after the center went scoreless in the loss to Missouri in Columbia on Feb. 4. Self made Withey run every step of Allen Fieldhouse, just before the center went on a tear that earned him national honors.
“It definitely makes you pretty upset,” Withey said. “After that, I had something to prove to him.”


Self still finds ways to prod his center into a foul mood.
“He definitely challenges me all the time, in practice, before the game,” Withey said. “He knows how to get me hyped up before a game. Sometimes, I definitely need that. That challenge gets me going. Sometimes it’s hard to jump-start my motor. I’m laid-back, so it’s hard for me to get, I guess, super angry and ready for games. It’s kind of easy now that we’re in the tournament.”


Self starts the motor. Withey’s dunks and blocked shots spark it to a higher speed.


“Those are really emotional plays and those get me fired up and get the fans fired up,” Withey said. “Whenever the fans get fired up, that helps me too. I feed off the energy of the crowd.”


And the team feeds off his defensive dominance.

We were 12 for effing 30 . It sucked

Which is what.....40% FT shooting in that game. That is pathetic.

I started the game thread that day. I'm sorry!!! :deevee:

Bears are better at driving cars than you are at starting game threads.

I was having a great morning until an MU fan told me KU sucks while I was getting gas. Ruined my day. I couldn't think of a comeback that could possibly match or beat that. One day KU will be good and I'll be able to hold my head up high.

Don't forget... McDonald's American game is on tonight. First glimpse at Perry Ellis.

Any idea what time?! 7PM CST?

LOL.... I'm wearing my '08 championship tshirt today and a guy here at work... MU fan (good guy anyway heh) walked past me in the hall and made a face at it and said "you guys can't beat Kentucky." I just said "Norfolk State" and kept walking. I heard some type of low, grumbly sound coming from his general vacinity but I couldn't make it out. Maybe he was hungry.

Crazy people, heh...

****in love it!

The McDonald's game is at 6pm.

Thanks, ****ers.

Dammit Bearcar

That... is.... awesome. Don't you DARE take that thing off young man!

I haven't changed my socks since the Detroit game.

i haven't washed my balls since vcu

Meanwhile, elsewhere, there is only talk of college football...ROFL.

I never want to hear any of those meatsacks give me crap about discussing college basketball during the college football season, even if they do everlap 10 weeks.

Next time give him a little of this.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/999599/dance.gif

We don't need any of those guys in that game to reach a Final Four. ****'em all.

WE'LL DO IT LIVE

Kansas 2012 Tourney Guide Final Four Edition
 

while that may be true I will be watching because of Ellis and Ellis only. Hometown kid and future Jayhawk.

boo-ya!

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

Many of you have asked what the plans for Tuesday classes would be
should the Jayhawks win the national championship on Monday night.
Tuesday classes will be held as scheduled.

Provost Jeff Vitter and I believe that our first mission as a university
is to foster academic success and that is accomplished in part by
setting high expectations for our students. A national title would be
worthy of celebration, but we are confident those celebrations can take
place without disrupting KU's academic mission.

For fans who will remain in Lawrence, a KU-Ohio State watch party will
be held in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday night. Admission is free and
doors open at 6:00 p.m.



Thank you for your loyalty to KU, and please celebrate safely!




Bernadette Gray-Little
Chancellor

just another title....just another day

Sigh, I got the email this morning.

I have a feeling that if KU does win it all, there will be many available seats in every class on Tuesday.

I'm trying to remember if they said class wouldn't be canceled back in '08. Either way, class definitely ended up getting canceled.

This, to this day, still ticks me off.....

And I still, to this day, whine about the refs in that game (giving Melo the Jordan treatment).

Still......way too many missed FT's.

Haha, it's funny, but, I was informed in one of my courses today that class on Tuesday will be conducted "online" if KU wins on Saturday. Another one of my professors even more transparent, and said that our test on Wednesday will be postponed if KU topples Ohio State.

Let's get this done, guys ;)

This makes no sense. There's no point in having classes if nobody is going to actually show up for them. Hemenway figured that out in 2008. I suspect she may change her mind if KU actually wins it all and she sees what happens to Lawrence.

Doesn't matter if there is class or not, it's not high school, they aren't going to send letters home to mommy if you don't show. And any professor who gives a test is just a dick (I'm guessing most of them will be out partying with the students).

I'm sure Withey is gonna guard Sullinger right?

I've read more than a few places that Sullinger has trouble versus length.

Withey should be guarding Sullinger.

What about when he gets the ball outside? He has improved his outside shooting. Sullinger isn't that athletic but I'm sure he could go by Withey and/or get him in foul trouble.

I'd rather he takes that outside shot than drive and draw a foul or score on a much easier point blank shot. All Withey has to do is contend and he's shown he changes the shot if he doesn't block it.

I've been thinking about this game all day at work. It's gonna be a war.

I've been at peace since the Carolina game. I think I'll get a little more nervous on Friday. It will be a tough game, but time and time again we've won the tough tight ones. I'm feeling strangely comfortable.

I haven't hated a college player as much as the whiny, little hacker (Aaron Craft) since Hansbrough in 2008. The guy's brand of defense is slapping hands/wrists/arms to knock balls loose. Please win the matchup, Tyshawn.

Any updates on Shabazz?

I noticed the MAA game is on now...

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...nal-fours-best

Tyshawn should not be behind Craft on this list. Withey's also been underrated.

The fact that Teahan's made the list makes me wonder just how bad the bench on some of these other teams are.

He has ruled out KU.

Most of, or all of the national media is picking OSU to win, FWIW.

I don't have much of a problem with that. The teams are really equal. I bet it comes down to the final few possessions.

They are salivating at the thought of UK vs. OSU. Not sure why...

Oh shit...when did this happen?

Who is it down to?

Connor Teahan is 3 for 17 from three in postseason play and 5 for 25 since the Missouri game. Make a ****ing shot, it would help our offense.

i'm not sure, sometimes they like to put robinson on a guy to deny the ball etc and then have Withey come for the back side for the block.

Withey is best when he can play off and attack the shots.

UCLA (girls, drugs and no practicing), UK (money) and Duke (he doesn't fit in here, not sure why).

He didn't rule them out completely, as far as I know. He looks UK bound, though.

Yeah, if he's as serious as they make him out to be about balling he'll head to UK and try to grab a quick Championship with the rest of the one-and-done's Calipari will bring in.

He's a damn impressive scorer so far; that's for sure.

Recruiting know-it-all they had on earlier said he'd narrowed it down to those three.

Haven't noticed anything out of Ellis thus far. Don't know that he's got all that many minutes though.

BTW, Congrats to Coach Manning. I wish him all the success in the world as the HC at Tulsa.

OK, didn't know that. Hard to see him not going to UK, though, after all the success that program has had with lottery picks.

It's a pretty easy decision you'd think.

UCLA would allow him to shine as "the" guy though. At UK, he'd be a star, but he'd be surrounded by plenty of other stars.

I don't think Duke fits very well; but what do I know.

I've noticed that, too... and ESPN even has an article about how the game seems to be an afterthought with so many people talking about UK/UL, even though it should be a better, closer matchup.

My first thought was, great, another Big 10 game... but, there should be plenty to watch with T-Rob/Sullinger, Taylor/Craft, etc. And I'm all for the underdog role... hopefully they'll play loose.

To his credit, the hand is part of the ball.

A lot of the people over at the phog think that if UL wins and we win, we're bringing home the title because of the emotion and energy it's gonna take out of UL to win that game.

Yeah, that would be a brutal turnaround... I wonder what KU's mindset would be though.

Upper level seats for Saturday night going for about $250-300... bring your binoculars.

http://bigtennetworks.files.wordpres...2/03/court.jpg

http://johnclay.bloginky.com/files/2...lfourcourt.jpg

We need to take care of our business. tOSU. All that matters right now.

Stop

The

Buckeyes.

Not sure. I agree with you and others, we play better as an underdog so as long as we are I'll be comfy haha.

Also as KCC has said many times, we play better against tougher competition. So we should see the best of KU Saturday and whoever we play Sunday, whether it's UL or UK. A national title is at stake. If that doesn't get your blood flowing you're dead.

I hope we play like we did last Sunday though or like we did against UNC in 08. Self had those guys so loose it was like they weren't human out there four years ago that night.

Doug Gottlieb picked KU.

Will KU be wearing the blue jerseys or the whites against OSU? Who is the home team?

Wow, that's a shocker. Did he say why?

He said Sullinger has a problem with bigs, and Withey could have a huge impact. Also assuming both teams play to their potential, KU is the more clutch team and in a close game they have the upper hand.

haha, I love that court.

BTW- Shabazz chooses April 11 and my money is on Duke.

Eh, the players seem pretty focused on taking it one game at a time... that's all that matters. I don't expect them to beat OSU, but I think they can... it's a great matchup, and it should come down to the last few possessions.

As much as I'm looking forward to Saturday, I'd love to see them play Kentucky again. They would be the ultimate underdog (well, as a 2 seed, heh).

I was talking to a client in Ohio a few weeks ago about brackets, and he said OSU was overrated, and I told him Kansas' ceiling was probably making to the Elite Eight... so, it's pretty funny that we're now asking each other about the matchup. He wanted to make a bet today, but that's just not going to happen, heh.

He also asked about the Chiefs signing a quarterback, and had a good laugh about Brady Quinn. :(

Gotta stay out of foul trouble. The officials tried to get him in foul trouble Sunday.

I asked a Raider fan I work with who he thinks they'll pick up in the draft. He didn't answer and gave me an evil look. :)

They sure as hell did

UNC was bumping and thumping all over with no whistle. All Withey had to do was look at a guy mean and they called a foul. I was shocked they didn't call a foul on those last 2 blocks by Withey.

I was shocked at that as well. NBA/NCAA basketball refs are the worst, IMO.

Also, IMO, we should be able to tell early who they want to see play on Monday.

Whites, the committee released the entire seed list this year and KU was the top 2 seed. http://www.sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-to...eds/in/2626664