Darnell Jackson

[Mr. Laz]

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.