I'm sorry I haven't put anything up, it has been hard for me to devote time to this blog because of my utter disappointment. Don't worry, give me another day or two and I'll be back to myself and write more consistently.
For those of you that haven't read it, JQ has an excellent interview with former Jayhawk closer Don Czyz. It has received attention from numerous sites, including the official Kansas athletics site. Pretty cool, huh?
If you are like me you still haven't realized that we won't get to see our Jayhawks play basketball again for a long time. Still, it does make the entire journey better to see our accomplishments, here they all are:
-Voted Preseason Big 12 No. 1
-Preseason No. 1 by Sports Illustrated
-Las Vegas Invitational champions
-Big 12 Conference Regular-Season Champions
-Big 12 Tournament Champions
-NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Darrell Arthur
-All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Big 12)
-Big 12 All-Rookie Team (Big 12)
Mario Chalmers
-Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
-Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team
-Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
-All-Big 12 Third Team (Big 12)
-All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (AP)
-Big 12 All-Defensive Team (Big 12)
-Big 12 All-Defense Team (media)
Sherron Collins
-All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Big 12/AP)
-Big 12 All-Rookie Team (Big 12)
-Big 12 All-Freshman Team (media)
Sasha Kaun
-Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Russell Robinson
-Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team
-Bob Cousy Award Finalist
-Big 12 All-Defensive Team (Big 12)
-Big 12 All-Defense Team (media)
Brandon Rush
-Preseason Associated Press All-American team
-Preseason All-Big 12 Co-Player of the Year
-Preseason All-Big 12
-Preseason candidate for John R. Wooden Award
-Preseason top 50 for Naismith Award
-Midseason Wooden Award All-American Team
-Nasmith Award Finalist
-NABC District 12 First Team
-All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12)
-All-Big 12 Second Team (AP)
-USBWA District VI
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team
-NCAA Tournament West Regional All-Tournament Team
-Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America
-Wooden Award All-American
Julian Wright
-Preseason All-Big 12 Co-Player of the Year
-Preseason All-Big 12
-Preseason candidate for John R. Wooden Award
-Preseason top 50 for Naismith Award
-Las Vegas Invitational Most Valuable Player
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 27)
-ESPN.com National Player of the Week (Nov. 27)
-NABC District 12 First Team
-All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12/AP)
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (March 5)
-USBWA District VI
-NABC All-American Third Team
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team
-NCAA Tournament West Regional All-Tournament Team
-Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America
That includes Brandon Rush being named to the Wooden All-American team.
I forgot to give you a head's up and actually didn't watch the game myself, but KU signee Cole Aldrich participated in the McDonald's All-American game last night. Most big guys don't contribute a whole lot, with wing players usually stealing the show. Last night Aldrich played 'so-so', scoring 6 points, pulling down 8 rebounds along with 2 blocks and an assist. Scouts had great things to say about him all week in practice, hopefully that is the Aldrich we'll be seeing consistently next year in a Jayhawk uniform.
Sherron Collins' knee problem isn't as serious as previously thought and won't need surgery. No surgery is always good news, especially considering he needs to skim down to 200 pounds this offseason which will take a rigorous workout schedule. He was at his finest when he was down around 200 pounds, he was pretty bad before when he was as high as 230 and wasn't nearly as quick at the end of the season when he got back up to 215. A key for him next season will be for him to keep his weight down, hopefully with no surgery needed on his knee (a reason he ballooned up I'm sure was that knee) he can trim down and stay at 200.
And lastly, the KU spring game is on April 15th. I'll provide some football coverage in the coming weeks and months, but I just want to let you know off the top that I'm not as good with this spring football. I'm OK once we get to, you know, some real football action but in the spring I'm 'not so hot'. Plus, I live out here in California so Jayhawks football showing up here is slim to none.