Kansas News

Media slams Kansas for Iowa State loss
Factoring turnovers, this is the worst I've seen KU play in a game in my nearly three years on the beat. (Note: I didn't cover the "Topeka YMCA" defeat at TCU or the lopsided Champions Classic loss to Kentucky, which were before my time.)

Updated: The latest on Udoka Azubuike's wrist following KU-ISU
The No. 5-ranked Kansas Jayhawks lost 77-60 against the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, but the bad news began pilling up even before tip-off.

Benton Smith: Dedric Lawson not yet take-charge leader KU needs | KUsports.com
Lawson, a 6-foot-9 redshirt junior forward from Memphis, Tenn., had carried the offensive load before. And Saturday at Iowa State, a virtuoso performance from the most fluid scorer wearing KU’s road blue uniforms seemed inevitable, because it was exactly what the No. 5 Jayhawks needed from him at Hilton Coliseum.

One notable difference between KU and Iowa State on Saturday
While Kansas continued to struggle, and Bill Self continued to drop his head in frustration on the sideline during the team’s 77-60 loss to Iowa State on Saturday, I kept thinking back to a recent conversation I’d listened to.

KU loss at Iowa State illuminates what Jayhawks lack
Any number of times over the last few seasons, Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks might sputter early and be on the verge of fading out of a game.

Turnover-prone Kansas blown out at Iowa State 77-60
“He definitely was a big part of our game plan,” KU forward Dedric Lawson said after the Azubuike-less Jayhawks’ 77-60 loss to the Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum. “We didn’t know until shootaround he wasn’t going to play. We had to go small. I was playing at the 5. I guess it did play a little into the scout today,”

The hunt for a leader: Bill Self's latest challenge for 2018-19
It was a longer-than-normal wait from the coach — so long, in fact, that the victorious Iowa State, at home, went first at the press conference podium. Finally, Self strolled up and took a seat front and center. Before the first question came in, he asked one of his own.

“How was your guys’ day?” Self joked.

KU basketball vs. Iowa State: Quick recap and instant analysis
Just over an hour before Kansas took on Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, Bill Self announced that junior big man Udoka Azubuike would miss the contest with a wrist injury. Marcus Garrett filled in at the four and Dedric Lawson moved to the five.

Road games ravage several top college basketball teams
The Jayhawks (12-2, 1-1 Big 12) are Steve Nash's Phoenix Suns when he's available and Devin Booker's Phoenix Suns when he's not.

Other Sports News

Zion Williamson of Duke Blue Devils shrugs off monster 360 dunk vs. hometown Clemson Tigers, rates it 'a 7 or 8'
Zion Williamson insisted that he wasn't rubbing salt in the wounds of his hometown team, but his 360-degree dunk in a rout of Clemson did the trick anyway.

Bryce Turner of California Golden Bears dies at 19
Turner was hospitalized near his home in Southern California on Dec. 30 after suffering what his family described as a "medical emergency." The school did not release a cause of death.

USC Trojans deny New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals permission to interview Kliff Kingsbury NFL CD
USC has balked at giving permission to the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals to interview Trojans offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, league sources told ESPN.

Zach Britton, New York Yankees agree on three-year deal
Reliever Zach Britton agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal to return to the New York Yankees on Saturday, league sources told ESPN, fortifying one of the game's best bullpens after it lost reliever David Robertson in free agency earlier in the week.

Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings make NBA-record 41 3-pointers
The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings combined for an NBA-record 41 3-pointers during Saturday night's 127-123 Warriors win at Golden 1 Center.

Other News

Jazmine Barnes shooting: Eric Black Jr. charged with capital murder in shooting death of 7-year-old Texas girl - CBS News
A 20-year-old man in Texas was arrested Saturday and charged in the death of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes, who was shot and killed while riding in a car with her family in Houston. Another man is being held in connection with the shooting but has not yet been charged, a lawyer for the girl's family said.

No, Mexico isn't paying for border wall through USMCA trade deal, despite Donald Trump's claims | PolitiFact
"I do not see any scenario under which the U.S. government gets more money from Mexico per se — and even if the U.S. tariffs had been raised, that would be paid by Mexican importers not the Mexican government," Wallach said.

SNAP benefits and the shutdown: Millions could face severe cuts to food stamps due to government shutdown and USDA underfunding - CBS News
The partial government shutdown glided into its third week Saturday with no end in sight. If the government is not reopened before February, millions of Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the nation's food stamp program -- could have their assistance disrupted.