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What. A. Game! Sequence that let me know we were in for a special night was all thanks to Traylor. First, he dribbled out of a double team in just the right moment to hit Wiggins streaking to the basket. Then on the other end, he rejects a layup, Withey-style, and runs down the court trailing the play. His man leaves him to help double team, and he streaks into the lane for the slam. Such a wonderful sequence from a guy not figured to be one of the top options
The late hour of the game pushed off when articles came up this morning, and generally threw me off schedule, so sorry if this is coming to you late.
Now that basketball is in full swing, and KU is officially eliminated from bowl contention, it is nearly impossible to find stories on KU football. So my apologies to any KU fans still pretending to care about college football this season.
Also, make sure to check back about 1pm today for our first installment of Weird Wednesday.
Kansas Men's Basketball
Classic win: Ellis, Wiggins lift KU past Duke | KUsports.com
"Our names on the jersey don't say Parker and Wiggins, but Kansas and Duke. Not one player was going to win it, but the team," Wiggins added.
Of his jumper and dunk late, Wiggins acknowledged, "It meant a lot. Big players make big plays. I'm glad we came out on top."
Coach K: It’s not about freshmen | KUsports.com
Of the 6-8 Chicago Simeon High graduate Parker, Krzyzewski said: "Two games in, he’s been sensational. Jabari did a great job. I like my guys. They are playing their butts off. We’re not going to make any trades."
Nor we would entertain any offers...
Opinion: Wiggins, fellow freshmen shine, beat Duke | KUsports.com
"People have made a lot about Andrew's personality because he's so mild-mannered and non-demonstrative in his actions and things look easy to him, but the dude's competitive," Self said. "I kind of wish we played Andrew on Jabari the whole time. I wanted to do that, but i was worried about fouls.
"He came to me all game, ‘Let me guard Jabari. I want to guard Jabari.' Midway through the second half, about 13 minutes left, I didn't put him on Jabari. He just went and got him. And and I think he got a piece of his shot. I said, ‘Maybe he's right.' "
Wiggins will be a beast. Hopefully this game and story can put to rest the idea that Andrew is not competitive enough.
Final: Kansas defeats Duke, 94-83, in Chicago | KUsports.com
"We didn't guard the ball worth a flip, but we did compete and we made our free throws late," Self told ESPN's Andy Katz after the win. "We've got a long ways to go, but it was nice to see Wayne (Selden) step up, Jo (Embiid) was great and I thought Frank (Mason) was terrific."
All three, along with Wiggins are freshmen, as is Duke's Parker and Kentucky's Julius Randle, who looked great in the opening game won by Michigan State. Self, asked by Katz about this year's freshman class, simply smiled and said: "They're pretty good. I'm glad we got one of them."
We all know the defense will come, Self will make sure of that. It's the fact that we are so talented offensively already that puts our ceiling so high.
Ellis matches Duke's Parker in Chicago | The Keegan Ratings | KUsports.com
1. Perry Ellis: Jabari Parker threatened to take the game and run away with it. But Ellis, nearly as difficult to guard as Parker in a different way, kept answering his big shots with ones of his own.
Obviously a lot of the hype is on Wiggins. But if Perry can keep this up, he ould steal a share of the spotlight, and set us up for a magical season.
Notebook: Signing period begins today | KUsports.com
Tourney continues: Self is glad the Champions Classic has been renewed another three years, with KU playing Kentucky next year in Indianapolis.
"It's a great deal for all four teams. I know it is for us," Self said. "It's a marquee doubleheader to tip off every season. I don't know where else you could go and have four of the top five teams in the country all playing the second game of the season together. It's good for everybody."
Kansas looks to win its 10th straight Big 12 championship with Andrew Wiggins - Grantland
The Jayhawks were basically seven-deep, with Ellis subbing for interior guys who got into foul trouble or needed rest and Tharpe doing the same for the guards. The main difference is that Tharpe also got to check in when Self wanted to rip a new one into Elijah Johnson, which explains how Tharpe averaged six more minutes per game than Ellis. Tharpe played more than Ellis and he'll run point for Kansas, so he gets attention for being the Jayhawks' key returner, and the newcomer get attention for being so talented. Meanwhile, everyone forgets that Ellis was a McDonald's All-American who put up solid per-minute numbers as a freshman.
Kansas' Andrew Wiggins gives one big reason why this class of freshmen is special - ESPN
"All three [Randle, Parker and Wiggins] have a chance to be special, but it's also one week into our season,'' Self said "We get too giddy about certain guys because of the unknown. When guys are seen and studied and figured out, there will be a roller coaster for all these kids. It's a great freshman class, without question. We're fortunate to have one that's talked about a lot. But I also think our other guys have a chance to be pretty good, too. I don't think it's limited to those three freshmen in terms of quality freshmen.''
Five things: Kansas Jayhawks-Blue Devils - ESPN
Kansas had versatility that Duke lacked: The early foul trouble allowed Kansas to showcase a variety of lineups that gave Duke problems. The Jayhawks can play big with Embiid and Black inside. But Wiggins is skilled enough to play power forward, and Selden can play multiple wing slots, too. A lot of teams would have crumbled with their big men facing the foul trouble that the Jayhawks’ post players had in the first half on Tuesday. But Kansas adjusted with a smaller lineup. That versatility will be a problem for any team it faces this season.
Glad we didn't redshirt anyone. We needed everyone tonight.
Keys to victory: Kansas beats Duke - Men's College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN
This was Duke’s first loss in its last 23 regular-season neutral-court games. The Blue Devils hadn’t lost one since December 20, 2007, when they lost to Pittsburgh.
You're welcome, Carolina fans.
How former Jayhawks fared in NBA games of Nov. 12 | KUsports.com
AUDIO: Bill Self postgame interview vs. Duke (Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews) | KUsports.com
Kansas Football
KU treating final football games as ‘playoffs’ | KUsports.com
"I know who’s starting at quarterback," Weis said. "Why should I tell (West Virginia)? That’s really what it comes down to."
Why does it matter? That's what it REALLY comes down to.
Cliff’s Notes: Charlie Weis press conference, 11/12/13 | The Newell Post | KUsports.com
• When Cozart sees something he doesn’t like on defense, he keeps the ball and runs. Sometimes in college football, a play looks like garbage, and a QB still takes off for 30 yards down the sideline. There were times in the OSU game when QB coach Ron Powlus wanted to say something to Cozart after he improvised, and Weis told him to not say anything. Weis calls those ‘Attaboy’ plays. Weis says the worst thing you could do is freeze on the field. Weis says there are times when he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. Cozart gave Weis a heart-attack when he reversed field on one run against OSU, then he turned it into a nice gain.
So then why would anyone think anyone but Cozart is starting again?
KU-Iowa State kickoff set for 7 p.m. Nov. 23 | KUsports.com
AUDIO: KU coach Charlie Weis (Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews) | KUsports.com
AUDIO: KU offensive line coach Tim Grunhard (Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews) | KUsports.com
Misc.
KU women set for SIU-Edwardsville | KUsports.com
Michigan State knocks off top-ranked Kentucky in Champions Classic opener | One And One - SI.com
Chat: Chat with Jake Trotter - SportsNation - ESPN
College basketball needed a night like the Champions Classic - ESPN