The Rock Chalkboard

David Beaty impressed by Carter Stanley's emergence at QB
“He’s a competitor now,” Beaty said of Stanley. “That’s going to be an interesting cat to watch this weekend. … Just a great kid and he’s taking advantage of his opportunity.”

Kansas' Udoka Azubuike named preseason Big 12 player of the year
According to a string of tweets sent on by the Big 12 on Wednesday, Udoka Azubuike, KU's 7-foot senior, has been named as the 2019-20 preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. The conference's coaches bestowed the honor on Azubuike and also assigned him preseason first-team All-Big 12 status.

Kansas' Devon Dotson named to preseason All-Big 12 first team
The NBA Draft was on the table for Devon Dotson following a successful freshman season at KU, and the point man even tested out at the NBA Draft Combine after declaring for the event. However, Dotson opted to return to KU for his sophomore campaign, and, as expected, the awards have started to follow suit.

Three-star 2020 WR Keenan Hambrick decommits from KU football
"I would like to thank Kansas University and Les Miles for giving me the opportunity ... but I have decommitted from Kansas," Hambrick wrote via Twitter. "There is no love lost, but I believe God has a plan for me. Please respect my decision. Thank you."

KU football players noticing new tempo with Brent Dearmon as OC
“We just [have] to do a better job from the beginning of the game stepping on the gas early and not going back,” Parchment told reporters after the loss to West Virginia. “We’ve just got to get back to how we played on the third drive against [Boston College]. A lot of fast, up-tempo type things, getting our playmakers in space.”

Jayhawks host 10th annual KU’s Ladies Night Out to raise money for cancer research – Kansas Jayhawks
More than 450 women gathered in Allen Fieldhouse for the 10th annual Ladies Night Out hosted by Kansas men’s basketball Wednesday evening. The annual sold out event raises more than $60,000 for cancer research.

Jayhawks fall to Texas Tech in five sets – Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas volleyball fell to Texas Tech in five sets on Wednesday night inside United Supermarkets Arena.

Chen named Big 12 Diver of the Week – Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas diver Jiayu Chen was named the Big 12’s Women’s Diver of the Week by the league office Wednesday (Oct. 16). The freshman, who tallied two first-place finishes in her collegiate debut, becomes the third freshman ever to earn an award on opening weekend. She joins West Virginia swimmer Emily Haimes as the two award recipients to open up the season.

Bits o Chalk

Kalispell Council considers plan to fix problematic intersection | KECI
A problematic intersection in Kalispell could look very different in a matter of months. The Kalispell City Council discussed a plan to fix the intersection of Airport Drive and 18th Street on the south end of the city.

Draymond Green: Teams deserve more blame when top picks don't pan out
"Yeah, I don't think there was ever a doubt that he was a legitimate NBA player," Green said after the Warriors' 126-93 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. "I think everyone was just kind of waiting on him to turn that corner. He seems like he's turning the corner. I think he's been in some pretty tough situations. No one ever blames the situation, though. It's always the kid. No one ever blames these s---ty franchises."

Beal, Wizards agree to 2-year, $72M extension
In a commitment carrying leaguewide ramifications, Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal has agreed to extend his deal for two years on a $72 million maximum contract, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN on Thursday morning.

Patrick Day dies of brain injuries 4 days after knockout
"On behalf of Patrick's family, team, and those closest to him, we are grateful for the prayers, expressions of support and outpouring of love for Pat that have been so obvious since his injury," DiBella said in a statement. "He was a son, brother, and good friend to many. Pat's kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression with everyone he met."

Anthony Davis shares Los Angeles Lakers' offensive load in Staples preseason debut
"It takes a load off me," Davis said after the Lakers' 126-93 win -- their third in three tries against the Warriors this preseason. "It feels good knowing that you don't have to do much, everybody has a role, and when you have guys all over the board who can score the basketball, you don't need to do everything every possession."

49ers' Kyle Shanahan says he's 'moved on' from Redskins dysfunction
As his San Francisco 49ers prepare to play the Washington Redskins on Sunday, coach Kyle Shanahan isn't exactly nostalgic about returning to the nation's capital.

Eraser Dust

Rep. Elijah Cummings dead: Key figure in Trump investigations was 68 - CNNPolitics
Rep. Elijah Cummings, a longtime Maryland Democrat and key figure leading investigations into President Donald Trump, has died at age 68, his office announced early Thursday morning.

UK and EU agree on new Brexit deal, Boris Johnson says
Negotiators from the U.K. and EU reached a draft Brexit deal in 11th-hour talks Thursday, although there are serious doubts that the agreement will be approved by U.K. lawmakers back in Westminster.

Grizzly bear cubs killed by train NW of Kalispell | KECI
FWP staff was notified by the U.S. Forest Service on the evening of Oct. 15 of a possible bear carcass along the tracks. Upon investigation, FWP identified a dead female cub and another cub of unknown sex located on and near the tracks. It’s unclear when the cubs were killed. A BNSF Railway train was parked at the section of split tracks where the carcasses were located, and FWP notified BNSF Railway personnel at the scene. FWP staff did not locate the adult female that would have been accompanying the cubs.

Chicago teachers are on strike, leaving about 300,000 kids in limbo - CNN
About 300,000 students have no idea when they'll see their teachers again as members of the Chicago Teachers Union go on strike Thursday.

A Coffee Crisis Is Brewing And It Could Make Your Morning Joe Less Tasty | HuffPost
Whether it’s a quickly chugged-down morning cup, a lukewarm afternoon jolt from the coffee machine at work, a pumpkin spiced latte in the fall or a specialty cold brew in the summer, coffee has cemented itself as an important ritual in the lives of many Americans.

Conspiracy theorist ordered to pay $450,000 to victim’s father for claiming Sandy Hook shooting was fake | The Independent
A conspiracy theorist who claimed that the Sandy Hook massacre did not happen, has been ordered to pay $450,000 (£351,000) to the father of one of the victims.