The Rock Chalkboard

Five takeaways from Champions Classic Tuesday night
Despite boasting the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 teams in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, the much-publicized tip off to the college basketball season looked like just that, the season's first game. The first contest, a 68-66 win by No. 4 Duke over No. 3 Kansas saw almost as many combined turnovers (44) as made baskets (46). And the second, a 69-62 victory for No. 2 Kentucky over No. 1 Michigan State, was a foul-fest with officials averaging more than one whistled foul per minute (43 fouls, 40 minutes).

KU basketball podcast: Don't overreact to Jayhawks' loss to Duke
As has seemingly been the case every time the two teams play, Tuesday's game between KU basketball and Duke came down to the wire in the Champions Classic. In the latest edition of the rivalry between the college basketball blue bloods, Duke outlasted KU, 68-66.

Pooka Williams: KU offense 'out of character' in latest defeat | KUsports.com
It had only been two games, but the Kansas football offense performed so well under new coordinator Brent Dearmon that the Jayhawks began looking at themselves differently.

Jayhawks sweep Red Raiders in 3 sets | KUsports.com
Kansas volleyball powered its way to its 17th-consecutive victory in Lawrence against Texas Tech in a three-set sweep Wednesday night in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

Pooka Williams: KU offense 'out of character' in latest defeat | KUsports.com
It had only been two games, but the Kansas football offense performed so well under new coordinator Brent Dearmon that the Jayhawks began looking at themselves differently.

Jayhawks' front court not ready to defend 3-point shooting bigs | Smithology | KUsports.com
No, not all bigs who space the floor are as gifted as Duke freshman Matthew Hurt. But the Jayhawks’ issues with defending the 6-foot-9 forward on the perimeter during a 68-66 loss in New York made it clear KU’s bigs can get torched outside.

Bits o Chalk

2019 NFL midseason report -- Second-half goals, MVPs for all 32 teams
Every NFL team has played at least eight games, so it is time to pause and take stock of the results.

LA Clippers' Doc Rivers says he's done with coach's challenge rule after questionable foul stands
"That was awful," Rivers said afterward. "It was. They should've overturned it. That's why I hate the rule. Nobody wants to be wrong. Let me just say that. You have to overturn that. Unless Bledsoe fouled Lou with his face, there was no foul on that play."

NBA -- Clippers compliant in decision to rest Kawhi Leonard
"Kawhi Leonard is not a healthy player under the league's resting policy and, as such, is listed as managing a knee injury in the LA Clippers' injury report," spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN earlier Wednesday. "The league office, in consultation with the NBA's director of sports medicine, is comfortable with [the] team medical staff's determination that Leonard is not sufficiently healthy to play in back-to-back games at this time."

Joe Burrow of LSU Tigers the Heisman Trophy favorite, Kyler Murray says
"Our guy (Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts) kind of took a hit with that loss," said Murray, the former Sooners quarterback, of OU's 48-41 defeat at Kansas State on Oct. 26. "I think right now, if somebody had to win, it'd probably be Joe Burrow."

Baker Mayfield shaved because 'didn't deserve' handlebar
Mayfield's look went viral, even culminating with actor Macaulay Culkin reenacting the movie "Home Alone," casting Mayfield as Daniel Stern's "Wet Bandits" character, Marv.

Eraser Dust

13-year-old charged with two murders in North Carolina back in custody after escape
The boy escaped after an appearance at the Robeson County Courthouse in Lumberton, North Carolina, two hours southeast of Charlotte, following a court appearance, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety said. He fled wearing leg restraints and no shoes, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Poultry recall: Nearly 2.1 million pounds of chicken recalled
More than 2 million pounds of chicken is being recalled because the poultry "may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal," the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Wednesday.

Daily Inter Lake - Local News, Decoy patrol car totaled in Somers
Deputy Doug, better known as the dummy police officer that sits in his decoy squad car in Somers waiting to scare the daylights out of speeding motorists oblivious to his never-changing outpost, was forced to retire his trusty Crown Victoria after a driver totaled the parked vehicle early Monday morning.

T.I. Says He Takes Teen Daughter to Doctor to Make Sure She's a Virgin
T.I. says he still accompanies his now 18-year-old daughter for an annual gynecology check-up ... just to make sure her virginity is intact.

Whitefish Pilot - Local News, Whitefish adopts plan to manage downtown parking spaces
“We, in Whitefish, have a history of creating parking plans and then they sit on the shelf,” he said. “This Council and future Councils need to follow the plan and implement it.”