Not to mention depth when foul trouble rears its ugly head.

At this point he sure looks better than Cole Aldrich. Yeah I know Cole is a freshman, just using it as a comparison. To say he is the worst center in the NCAA's is laughable. He got nominated on a list for the best 30 college seniors in the NCAA's. He's not THAT bad, but I admit he hasn't lived up to his potential.

We knew he was a project coming out of Florida Air Academy. He only had one or two years of organized BB when we got him. I think he's done well.

He's excellent on defense. However, he has hands of stone. He should be a much, much better rebounder. Really, he's a pretty poor rebounder for his size.

This is where I'm disappointed in him. Offensively, he is what he is. He can't shoot free throws very well and has trouble (still) taking an entry pass. However, he's very good on defense. If his hands were better, he'd be a better rebounder.

Totally agree.

He still sucks in my bool though.

I agree. His biggest problem is that he has hands of stone. You can't pass him the ball when he's on the move or he isn't gonna catch it.

I know there's no stat for it, but I bet Kaun leads the nation in rebounds that he goes up for, gets his hands firmly on, and doesn't come down with. It's frustrating to watch to the (n)th degree. He boxes out well, gets very good position, is taller than most of his opponents, yet, flubs 2 out of 3 rebounds that look to be secure.

However, I feel very comfortable him guarding just about any big man. And any offense we get out of him is gravy. I like him coming off the bench better than starting.

Sasha Kaun "in Soviet Russia Ball Dunk You" :)

You are weird. KU basketball and MU football? that is the weirdest thing I have ever witnessed on this board.

Posted on Wed, Dec. 05, 2007 10:15 PM

Kansas clobbers Eastern Washington

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star

KU’s Darrell Arthur, who scored 15 points, put up a shot over Eastern

LAWRENCE | Bill Self must have been tired of it. The Kansas Jayhawks know their coach has had enough when he plays the ol’ treadmill card to get what he wants.

At Tuesday’s practice, Self challenged his guards to get the ball inside. If they didn’t, well, they would have plenty of time to think about it while burning away some carbs.

If nothing else, the No. 3 Jayhawks proved on Wednesday night that they can take a hint. KU big men Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson scored the Jayhawks’ first 15 points of the game in an 85-47 literal pounding of Eastern Washington.

Jackson finished with 17 — mostly from routine clean-up around the basket — and Arthur added 15 with a variety of post moves that showed off what the supremely-talented sophomore can do when he gets going early.

“Our main goal is to get Shady started,” Jackson said, using Arthur’s oft-used nickname. “We always say that in practice or in the locker room at halftime. We have to get the ball to him. The game is easier when we do that.”

Self had a simple message for the Jayhawks before their seemingly meaningless December game against the Eagles of the Big Sky Conference: Attack, attack, attack!

“We’ve emphasized it a lot,” Self said. “Mario (Chalmers) and Rod (Stewart) and Russell (Robinson) just started the game off by throwing inside and getting easy baskets. The next thing you know, Shady’s got his confidence, and we’re on our way.”

Arthur got his first bucket by spinning to the baseline for a layup. For his next trick, he pulled out the jump hook. Soon after, Arthur spun into the lane and hit a short jumper.

Please allow an interruption of this Arthur highlight reel to state that the Eastern Washington Eagles have six players in their nine-man rotation who had never played a Division I game before this year. The Eagles’ starting lineup features a 6-foot-4 power forward and 6-8 center. Their tallest player was 6 feet 9. But hey, Arthur wasn’t feeling bad about it, so why should you?

“We had a little more height,” Arthur said, “so we just took advantage.”

Sure did. The guards were having so much fun getting the ball to Arthur and Jackson that it seemed as if they didn’t want to shoot anymore at all. Through the first 4 minutes, only Chalmers of the KU guards had taken a shot, and it was a contested layup. Stewart ruined the post frenzy with a three-pointer that gave KU an 18-5 lead.

If the guards think that one night of devotion to the big men against a 3-7 team will free them from the treadmill, they’re greatly mistaken.

“We just started doing that here recently,” Self said. “That will be something that we’ll continue.”

That news should make Arthur and Jackson happy young men. Arthur is already averaging 14 points per game without the treadmill treatment.

And during his senior year, Jackson has certainly been no offensive slouch. He’s averaging 11.6 points per game.

But Jackson has a point when he says that Arthur gets it done a bit more poetically than he does.

“He can make so many moves down there,” Jackson said. “If someone is holding him one on one, he’s going to score.”

Jackson was told that it was he, not Arthur, who led the Jayhawks in scoring. Of course, he wanted no part of that information.

“Put all the pressure on Darrell,” he said, smiling. “I bring the energy, Shady brings the offense.”

@ Go to KansasCity.com for a photo gallery from Wednesday’s game.

I would not call Kaun KU's most complete big man. But anybody who does not think that he is an important contributor to this team must not have much basketball sense. You can tell he has improved. He is not a great offensive thread, but he is far from worst in the NCAA. That is asinine.

Are you really this dumb?

Self has taken Kaun out of the starting lineup because he feels that Kaun is not playing up to his potential, shooting percentage notwithstanding.

Back on the subject of Darnell Jackson. You gotta love that guy. He brings 100% effort every night. He may be a little less talented than other guys, but he's got heart and that makes up for less talent, IMO.

Jackson is the smartest player on the team IMO

He knows exactly what to do out there on the court and doesn't play outside of his game