The Rock Chalkboard

Bill Self addresses 2020-21 KU basketball team's shortcomings
“I would never say this to our team, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed if [No. 11 seed] Drake had won the game against SC,” Self said. “But not because Drake’s not good. Just because it’s hard for us to match up with length and athletic ability. That’s been the downfall of our team all year long. I think that was probably as evident tonight as it has been in a long time.”

Emmett Jones focused on culture, unity as Kansas' interim coach
"First thing that pops into my head was bridging the gap," Jones said on an episode of the Jayhawker Podcast. "I want those ex-players to come back. I want coach [Bill] Self and his staff to feel comfortable coming over here. I want our guys to feel comfortable going over to visit with those guys and learn with them. Why not go spend time with coach B [Ray Bechard, volleyball coach]? Why [can't] Coach B come spend time with us? I just want this whole department to all come together."

KU basketball vs. USC: Who stood out and who didn't...
In his senior finale, Garrett left it all on the court. He was tasked with the impossible challenge of guarding the far-bigger Evan Mobley, who is, of course, a projected top-five NBA Draft pick. He didn’t have the best day on offense, but he still put the ball in the hoop six times. The rest of the starting lineup did so seven times combined.

Joe Petrakis enters transfer portal
Kansas State forward Joe Petrakis has entered the transfer portal, joining former Wildcats DaJuan Gordon, Antonio Gordon and Rudi Williams

Bits o Chalk

Denver Nuggets' Michael Malone reads names of Boulder shooting victims
"Obviously, I think we are all tired of it," Malone said of how he and his team processed the latest shooting in Colorado. "That's an understatement. I know for me, you get so caught up in the job and basketball and ..."

Sources: Toronto Raptors discussing Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell trades
The Toronto Raptors are hurtling toward a roster transformation at Thursday's NBA trade deadline, engaging in talks on multiple fronts centered on separate deals for six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell, sources told ESPN.

Trent Williams says he was near Kansas City Chiefs deal before San Francisco 49ers got him back with record contract
As the clock ticked into the late hours of March 16, offensive tackle Trent Williams was growing more and more convinced that his first foray into free agency was going to lead him away from the San Francisco 49ers and to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon says 'frustration' fueled request to be traded
"There's been times where I just expressed my frustration to management," Gordon told reporters. "Frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we've been playing and how many losses have accumulated over the years. So it's just my frustration kind of boiling over I would say. ... I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me, of frustration."

Eraser Dust

Northwest Montana career criminal goes to prison | Daily Inter Lake
An area man with a criminal record spanning at least 17 years and involving several counties in Montana was sentenced recently in Flathead County District Court for his latest offense.

Taco Bell is getting a new look - CNN
The restaurant chain announced Tuesday that it's expanding its "Go Mobile" restaurant remodel nationwide, which has dual drive-thrus and smaller dining rooms, with plans for at least 30 locations by the end of 2021. Taco Bell debuted the design last year in response to the pandemic, which changed fast food customers' habits — potentially permanently.

How ‘Owning the Libs’ Became the GOP’s Core Belief - POLITICO
For a political party whose membership skews older, it might be surprising that the spirit that most animates Republican politics today is best described with a phrase from the world of video games: “Owning the libs.”

Opinion | How to Collect $1.4 Trillion in Unpaid Taxes - The New York Times
Wealthy Americans are concealing large amounts of income from the I.R.S. There is a straightforward corrective.

Colorado shooting suspect charged with 10 counts of murder
The 21-year-old suspect accused of opening fire inside a Colorado grocery store and killing 10 people has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was being treated for a gunshot wound, but was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon and taken into the custody of local police.

Gun industry prepares for a surge in demand after back-to-back mass shootings - CNN
It's too soon to know how the back-to-back shootings will affect sales of firearms, industry experts say. Reliable figures from federal background checks won't be released until next month. But if history is any guide, gun dealers and manufacturers can expect a surge in demand.

Tesla cars can be bought in Bitcoin - BBC News
And that apparent vote in confidence saw Bitcoin's value shoot to a record high.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shrimp: Los Angeles podcaster Jensen Karp, husband of 'Boy Meets World' Danielle 'Topanga' Fischel, says he found tails in his General Mills cereal - 6abc Philadelphia
It's one of the most popular brands in America, but what a California man allegedly found in his Cinnamon Toast Crunch has made him lose his appetite for his formerly favorite cereal.

And now the manufacturer is advising him to call the police.

Recordings Selected For Preservation : NPR
What do Janet Jackson, Ira Glass, Kermit the Frog, Nas and Louis Armstrong have in common?