The Rock Chalkboard

Inconsistency at root of KU offense's issues before OC shakeup | KUsports.com
“I think there's some similarities and some dissimilarities,” Miles said earlier this week when asked if the changes would be noticeable to fans when KU returns to action Saturday night at No. 15 Texas. “I don't know if they'll find it unusually different. Yeah, I don't think that they'll — I think it'll look hopefully more successful.”

Five-star forward Isaiah Todd commits to Michigan
Five-star power forward Isaiah Todd verbally committed to Michigan on Thursday, becoming the Wolverines first five-star pledge of the Juwan Howard era.“I’m headed to Michigan because of coach Juwan Howard and his background in the NBA and his background at Michigan,” Todd told 247Sports. "He has connection on the other side, obviously coach Bill Self did too, but considering me and coach Juwan’s relationships I just felt like we were a little bit closer just simply because we talk more and connected more on a different level.”

Four-star big man Gethro Muscadin commits to KU basketball
Gethro Muscadin was blown away by his KU basketball visit. He said it was "special" and "rare" to be able to sit down with a coach like Bill Self, and now he'll have the chance to do that a lot more often.

Big 12 coaches make their 2019-20 predictions
In fact, the last time the Big 12 didn't head up KenPom's conference standings — ones decided by the adjusted efficiency margin it would take to go .500 in the conference — was 2012-13. Translation? The league's strength is in its depth—a team has to face a lot of competition for a spot in the middle of the conference.

Bill Self: Isaiah Moss in contention to start for KU basketball
“I’m still learning my role,” Moss said. “I’m a pretty good shooter, so I can shoot open shots, be aggressive, play defense. Whatever coach really wants me to do, I’m going to go out there and do it.”

Jayhawks still considering possible redshirt for senior forward Mitch Lightfoot | KUsports.com
“Mitch is a possibility,” said KU coach Bill Self on Wednesday, when asked if there was any news about redshirts on this year’s roster. “But I don’t believe there’s anybody else other than Mitch that would be a possibility. And we haven’t made that decision on Mitch yet.”

Bits o Chalk

New York Yankees' CC Sabathia hurts shoulder, limps off ALCS field
CC Sabathia left it all on the field, but it wasn't enough for the New York Yankees, who lost a lot more than the fourth game of the American League Championship Series in an 8-3 defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

China denies asking NBA for Daryl Morey's firing over tweet
During an appearance in New York on Thursday, Silver said the NBA was "being asked to fire [Morey] by the Chinese government, by the parties we dealt with, government and business."

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes suffers patella dislocation, set for MRI
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a right patellar (kneecap) dislocation in the second quarter of Thursday night's road win over the Denver Broncos, a source told ESPN's Stephania Bell, confirming multiple reports.

Harrison Barnes, Malik Jackson paying for funeral of woman killed in home by police officer
Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes and his wife and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson have offered to pay for the funeral of a Fort Worth, Texas, woman killed in her home by a police officer last week.

Shaquille O'Neal provides home to family whose son was shot at football game
Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has donated a home to an Atlanta woman whose 12-year-old son was shot at a football game and paralyzed from the chest down.

Eraser Dust

Turkey Syria offensive: Trump likens conflict to playground fight - BBC News
Between 160,000 and 300,000 people are reported to have fled their homes since the fighting started, and there are fears the Turkish operation may lead to the ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population.

Brexit: Boris Johnson's deal faces narrow defeat on Saturday
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that he is “very confident” the House of Commons will support his Brexit deal on Saturday, in what is widely expected to be a historic knife-edge vote.

Hong Kong Court Rules Against Same-Sex Unions - The New York Times
The decision is a setback to efforts to expand recognition of such partnerships in Asia, after Taiwan’s recognition of gay marriage stirred hopes among many.

SunRift Beer Company to Add a Restaurant - Flathead Beacon
The draught house will serve smoked meat, tacos and nachos and offer unlimited brews, even past 8 p.m. SunRift beer will come from the tasting room right next door.