The Rock Chalkboard

Bill Self doesn't think there's a dominant team in college hoops
Self’s comments came just after Kansas became the fifth team this season to lose while holding the No. 1 ranking, joining Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke and Louisville by falling to Villanova 56-55.

Kansas freshmen impress Bill Self, Joel Embiid at Villanova
Christian Braun didn't just have his team and the KU fans who made the trek out to Wells Fargo Arena fired up. He had an NBA superstar jumping out of his seat and gesturing excitedly like you might expect to see if the roles were reversed.

Listen: The Drive 12.22.19 — What the losses mean
KU lost to Villanova in Philadelphia and K-State falls to St. Louis in Kansas City, but what do these two setbacks many for the two teams? The Drive is in Season 14 on Topeka's WIBW-13 with co-hosts Tim Fitzgerald (GoPowercat.com) and Scott Chasen (Phog.net). Scott and Fitz talk both football and basketball for the Wildcats and Jayhawks.

Podcast: Devon Dotson's Nova outing, Marcus Garrett's injury
In the first half, KU lost junior guard Marcus Garrett to a right ankle injury. Garrett drove to the rim and attempted a layup, but on his way down, he landed awkwardly on the right ankle and immediately grabbed it. Garrett was helped to the locker room by teammates but was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Emmett Jones: Incoming KU WRs 'not going to cheat the game' | KUsports.com
When Kansas football receivers coach Emmett Jones expressed such sentiments about KU’s class of 2020 receivers, he began by explaining how his familiarity with these new Jayhawks fueled his opinion

Brandon Schneider claims 450th win, Jayhawks hold off Saint Louis | KUsports.com
Head coach Brandon Schneider cleared 450 career wins as Kansas women’s basketball held off Saint Louis in overtime, 68-60, in Chaifetz Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Jayhawks improved to 10-0 with one nonconference game remaining, while Saint Louis fell to 7-5 on the year.

Bits o Chalk

Jerry Jones disappointed as Cowboys no longer control destiny
"When you get in this spot, you give yourself a chance to be real disappointed. We are," Jones said. "The fact that we didn't get any [touchdowns], the fact the game turned out the way it did -- they played well. Not a lot to say about anything else other than it's very disappointing. We all expected to leave here as NFC East champs. We're not. We'll just go to Washington."

Sources -- LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu agrees to 4-year, $80M deal with Blue Jays
Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a four-year, $80 million contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

With Clippers showdown looming, Lakers focus on big picture after 3rd straight loss
A Los Angeles Lakers season that started with a loss to the LA Clippers and then skyrocketed to a first-place perch in the Western Conference standings for weeks has hit a bit of a snag heading into the Christmas Day rematch with their Staples Center cohabitants.

Seahawks fear RB Chris Carson's hip injury might end his season
The Seahawks fear that running back Chris Carson suffered a season-ending hip injury Sunday, a massive blow as they head into next week's NFC West showdown with the San Francisco 49ers and then the playoffs.

Raptors pull off 30-point comeback for largest rally in franchise history
For a brief moment, Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse considered waving the white flag before the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, as his injury-depleted squad was down 23 points to the Dallas Mavericks in the first game of a back-to-back.

Eraser Dust

Trump impeachment: White House withheld Ukraine aid just after Zelensky call - BBC News
The email, telling the Pentagon to "hold off", was sent by a senior White House official.

Liam Gallagher Addresses Possibility of Oasis Reunion in 2020 | Music News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com
"Too soon. The little fella has threatened to take a year off which I highly recommend. I reckon he'll give his head a good shake and bingo we'll be on for the following year isn't it."

2 in custody after drug-related arrest in Kalispell | KECI
According to Flathead County Sheriff’s Office officials, these searches yielded “multiple ounces of methamphetamine along with quantities of heroin and over $20,000 in cash.”

Saudi Court Sentences 5 to Death in Khashoggi Murder - The New York Times
Saudi Arabia has been accused of shielding Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who foreign experts suspect was behind the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Cats is Getting a Day-One Patch From Universal
Cats, Tom Hooper’s memetic hazard of a musical, is receiving unprecedented treatment from its distributors at Universal. As shared by the Hollywood Reporter, the company is sending theaters an updated version of the Ozymandias-like monument to hubris and toxoplasmosis. This new version of the film, according to a memo sent to thousands of theaters on Friday—the film’s release day—will include “some improved visual effects.”