The Rock Chalkboard

Bill Self talks high upside with incoming 2020 freshman class
"Yeah, I think he’s bigger," Self said. "I think he’s probably at least 6-6 now and still growing. You know he had a great year. He’s gotten better all the time. We’ve talked about it, but I coached his father at Tulsa and his mother was a volleyball player there at the same time. And so we’ve known [them] for a lot of time."

Updated Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2021
College basketball's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Garrett slides to point guard, which he handled well enough in Devon Dotson's absence that he spent the latter half of the year as Kansas' primary creator for other players in the halfcourt. David McCormack won't be as dominant as Udoka Azubuike, but he has his own strengths and has started 30 games over the last two years. Ochai Agbaji is back on the wing and has shown flashes. The other two starting spots could come down to three players: Christian Braun, who started five games and shot 45.6 percent from 3 as a freshman, 247Sports Composite five-star Bryce Thompson and JUCO transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, the highest-ranked junior college player heading to college this year. The Jayhawks should have excellent depth too, with Dajuan Harris, Tristan Enaruna, Jalen Wilson and Silvio De Sousa, but might not have the star power of previous iterations.

Former KU basketball PG Tyshawn Taylor talks Bill Self influence
"I’ve been coached by some really good coaches, and ... when I got to college and coach Self coached me, his style of coaching was just so personal — so much more personal," Taylor said. "[He gets] down to the details, breaking everything down to the very core so that everyone can understand why he would want some things a certain way. He's giving us an in-depth explanation of why he wants things done."

3-star Mandela Tobin feeling connection with Kansas OLBs coach
Mandela Tobin previously reported his KU football offer in the class of 2021 from D-line coach Kwahn Drake. Even so, the three-star edge rusher and top-100 strong-side defensive end (247Sports Composite) rattled off several KU coaches who had been in contact, including head coach Les Miles.

Bill Self sees 2020-21 squad using 4 guards 'most of the time'
“I think this: We were much better playing four guards, but we’re going to have to play two bigs some," Self said. "It’ll be better playing two bigs next year because of Mitch and Mitch can move around — and he’s really improved his stroke — and do some things. And David [McCormack] is much more skilled moving away from the basket. He and Silvio [De Sousa] could play together some because that could be a true in and out, and we could play small and play Mitch at the five.”

Bits o Chalk

NBA Power Rankings and big questions for all 22 teams ahead of the restart
Each roster is full of questions that need to be answered during the eight seeding games and before the playoffs begin. Our experts are breaking down the biggest topics surrounding all 22 teams.

Bryson DeChambeau flashes newfound power in Rocket Mortgage Classic victory
With jaw-dropping drives and some clutch putts, DeChambeau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic by 3 strokes Sunday for his first victory of the season and sixth overall. He became the first PGA Tour player since 2004 to lead a tournament in driving distance, shots gained off the tee and putting.

NHL, NHLPA finalize protocols for season to resume in Edmonton and Toronto
The NHL and NHLPA have finalized the protocols for the season to resume this summer in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.

Redskins' trio of minority owners launching search to sell stakes
The three minority owners of the Washington Redskins are seeking to sell their shares in the team because they are "not happy being a partner" with owner Daniel Snyder, The Washington Post has reported, citing sources familiar with the deliberations.

Jorge Masvidal signs new multi-fight contract ahead of UFC 251
"I'm happy more than anything because I get to break this guy's face and get paid for it," Masvidal said.

Eraser Dust

Montana town holds holiday events in spite of coronavirus | KECI
Few of the attendees in the community about 300 miles northwest of Billings wore masks, but people entering the rodeo at the fairgrounds were stopped by two health care workers in masks taking temperatures.

Biden leads in polls but COVID and voter suppression boost Trump's odds
This election is too important to bet it on America’s limited ability to grok statistics. Here’s why anyone who cares about trouncing Trump should pretend the presidential polls and models have all been canceled.

COVID: Fourth of July, Donald Trump, Arizona concerns headline news
Florida surpassed 200,000 coronavirus cases Sunday while the FDA commissioner declined to support President Donald Trump's views on the pandemic and the the mayor of Phoenix said Arizona reopened too soon, fueling a boom in new cases among young people.

LA County New COVID-19 Cases Shatter Daily Record In First Report Since Data Processing Changes – Deadline
After the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health took a couple of days off for what the officials described as improving the data processing systems, the department Sunday evening reported an increase of 7,232 new cases combined for Thursday, July 2; Friday, July 3; and Saturday, July 4. Friday’s 3,187 new cases of COVID-19 eclipse the previously daily record of 2,903 reported last Monday, June 29

Foo Fighters' best albums – ranked in order of greatness
To mark that special milestone, here’s NME‘s ranking of the Foo Fighters’ nine albums to date in order of greatness.

Daily Inter Lake
“Whenever you can have an experience, people will come,” Pike said. He and his team have put acute attention into every aspect of the restaurant, from the ingredients to the ironwork. The top priority for Pike is creating an all-around authentic Mexican experience in Whitefish.