I'm not here to point any fingers. There will be no names mentioned, we're all Jayhawks so we are all in this together. Throughout the week I've seen a wave of sentiments similar to: "This game just doesn't feel as big to me", "I'm over Missouri, I just don't care anymore about them". "As the season has gone on, I just find myself not caring about this game like I thought I would."

I call bullshit.

I was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. I guess that makes me an expert of sorts. No, it doesn't give me extra insight into the history of what Kansas-Missouri means. It doesn't give me any extra knowledge in the history of Kansas vs. Missouri in sports, one of the longest running streaks in US sports. But what it does give me is the deep passion that lies in what it means to be a Kansan and learn about what happened with our ancestors. Let's face it, what happened one and a half centuries ago is officially the time of our ancestors. It was a damn long time ago, but we still all talk about it. Where in this country does that happen much anymore? In my experiences it really doesn't, I think that's what makes this damn thing so fun. Not only does it give us the chance to be passionate about the sports teams we love, it gives us the chance to look back in history and feel as if we're a part of something bigger than just the Tech Era that we live in.

That being said, this isn't a post about that, it's a post about sports. I was pissed when Missouri decided to go to the SEC, it's been well documented and we all have our feelings about it. As much as I wanted to put on the face of "I don't give a crap", I find myself not being able to lie anymore...this sucks. The team I love to hate, Misery, is leaving. Can we really find the passion that we have playing against Missouri against our more friendly K-Staters? After all, that K stands for Kansas.

After everything, I guess my point is that I'm feeling a passion that I've never felt in this rivalry since the 90's. Does a lot have to do with the fact that Missouri has one of their best teams in years? Hell yes. With dominating the series in the last decade, it's hard not to feel an extra bump in what this game means. Take out the rankings, take out College Gameday, take out the National TV audience and what do you have? The "last game" before the "last game" in one of the most storied series in American Sports. How the hell can you say this game doesn't feel as big to you? This is the biggest regular season game that KU has played in years. And you know what makes it even cooler? The fact that it's even bigger for Missouri.

It's now about 7 hours till game time and if there are people out there that this game still "doesn't feel as big" to you, then I'm sorry but you need to reevaluate your KU fandom because this thing is huge and it's going to be a lot of fun!

I just have to vent because I'm so f'n sick of this.  This is a note to anyone who questions Bill Self as Kansas basketball coach and his tournament record.

I think that by in large, most KU fans see this for what it is.  But I'm just so tired of this questioning Bill Self.
Do people not see how fucking hard it is to win this damn tournament? 

Don't be arrogant.  We have one of the best college basketball coaches in the country.  You don't just go to Final Fours every year.  Have you watched this tournament before or has it just been since Coach Self has taken over at KU?  Don't be that fan, don't be that KU fan that everyone is embarrassed by.

When questioning Bill Self, a lot of people like to talk about his tournament record.  Well honestly, as a KU fan one thing we can say is, who really gives a shit about your tournament record?  Yeah, the first and second round exits hurt, but in the end we don't care unless we win the whole damn thing!  We just think it hurts worse because all the envious fans of what we have in a program take every chance they can get to cut us down.  This isn't because we aren't good, it's because we fucking rule!  They wish they had what we have and so it makes them feel better.  To me, 2003 and the loss to Syracuse in the National Championship still hurts way worse than the loss to Bucknell in the first round.  If you don't feel the same way, explain to me why and I'll definitely hear you out.

A lot of people like to bring up Coach K and his successes.  Why not?  He's one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history at one of the top 5 programs in college basketball.  Coach K has won 4 National Championships in 30 years of coaching.  30 years. 30 years!  This sums it up to me on how much bs it is to question Bill Self's time at Kansas:

The most recent member of the "Four or More Titles" club is Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Coach K" led the Blue Devils to back-to-back Division I National Championships in 1991 and 1992. Krzyzewski and Duke would not win another title until 2001, and then suffered another nine-year drought before winning their most recent title in 2010. "Coach K" is currently the only active Division I coach with at least 4 National Championships under his belt.

'91 and '92.  We know that the early 90's were a special time for the Duke program and college basketball as a whole.  But after that magical run, Duke didn't win another one for 9 more years!  Then, they waited another 9 years to win another!  We just won a title in 2008.  

Is this your first time watching this tournament?  The ball wouldn't go in, we shot horribly from the field, the line, and the referees wanted to play Fairy God Mother to Cinderella.  These are things that no coach, anywhere, can control!

So I want to say that if you made it through this rant, thank you for reading.  I also want to say that if you disagree with me, please tell me why.  Please, logically give me reasons why you think I'm wrong, and in fact, Bill Self is not a good coach.  I'd like to have the discussion if you legitimately believe it, and I'd like to have the opportunity to discuss with you why I think you're wrong.

This has probably been discussed in many different places but it's Friday, I'm bored, and I'm starting to think about basketball.  So I ask you this question KU faithful, who is in your rotation right now of solid contributors?   I'm not talking about who plays against Washburn and Fort Hays St., but who will be in the rotation in the Arizona game if things stay close and we get tested like I hope we do?

Here are my thoughts:

F - Kief (assuming he's healthy)
F - Cus
G - Mario Little
G - Josh Selby
G - Tyshawn Taylor

Wow, this really was a tough one.  We're so deep at guard right now that it's tough to decide on the 3rd one.  Selby and Taylor are no-brainers but after that it gets questionable.  I could easily see the stability and shooting ability of Tyrel Reed to get him in this spot, but for now I'm going to go with the height and versatility of Little.

Frontcourt Reserves:

Thomas Robinson
Travis Releford
Jeff Withey (When/if healthy)

Backcourt Reserves:

Tyrel Reed
Brady Morningstar
Elijah Johnson

Putting Releford as a frontcourt reserve feels like a stretch to me but it's a reality, we are very thin up front and could be a real problem if more injuries come up.  I think it's safe to say that we will be a fast, guard oriented squad this year.  

No revelations really with this, but now I'd like to say where I'd like to have the lineup in March.  To me that means a steady rotation of about 9.  It doesn't mean we can't go 10 deep but 8 is a great number with 9 being more realistic with this type of team.

Markieff Morris
Marcus Morris
Mario Little
Josh Selby
Tyshawn Taylor

Tyrel Reed
Thomas Robinson
Travis Releford
Elijah Johnson

No inclusion of Brady here which is probably not realistic but I think it's time that his role gets cut down.  Once again, this will be a small team but a fast and athletic one.  No inclusion of Withey isn't what I'd like but it's hard to see him consistently healthy in this hypothetical world I'm in.

So in March, what do you think our 9 man rotation will be?  Or, do you think it will be less or more than that?

Happy Friday.

At KUsports.com, there is an article today about a couple of new policies that Gill and his staff have instituted, with focus mostly being on a new "no cell phones 24 hours before game" policy.  Jayhawks adjusting to Gill's phone policy here.

The policy works like this: KU players turn in their cell phones to the coaches the day before each game. The phones are given back after the games, many times returned to each player’s locker.

In case of emergency, family members can still contact director of football operations George Matsakis, who will then get in touch with the players.

I really don't see a problem with this.  It's nice to know that there focus will be on the game.  I do have a problem with a couple other things, though.  One being this:

Upon learning KU’s new cell-phone rule, the website Footballscoop.com — a site used by numerous college coaches, especially for job information — posted the following:

“We’ll think this opens up Coach Gill to a lot of criticism and could impact recruiting.”

Scott Roussel, president of Footballscoop.com, said that seven college coaches helped provide the content for the site, and they had agreed that the new policy could be used against Gill in recruiting battles.

Anything that affects recruiting negatively is not a good thing, I don't care what it has to do with.  More than the cell phone policy, I think this could be something to deter players from looking our way:

Also in the players’ manual is a rule that states that KU’s players cannot be with girls past 10 p.m. on any night. McDougald said that meant either having a girl over or being at her house.

This is something I think could hurt us in recruiting battles.  I know I wouldn't want to go to a school like this when I was 18...probably not even now.  Especially factor into the chances of this hurting us if it came down to us and another school.  I just don't like it.

The final small change made this year that could affect recruiting is the names on the backs of the jerseys.  Yes, I agree this is a very small matter but I don't see how it could help us.  I've heard many crazy recruiting stories, such as players crossing schools off because of the brand of shoes that their Athletic Department is in contract with.  Some players want to see their name on TV and they want their friends and family to see their name.  For some kids, it could be a pretty big deal.

All in all, I'm just not very happy with some of the changes being made.  I hope I'm wrong, and I hope it instills a discipline and attitude here that we haven't had.  I just can't help but think that some of this stuff can be used against us in very important recruiting battles.

What are your thoughts?  Attached is a poll as well because they're fun.

Many months ago when we didn't really know much about this Jayhawk basketball team, besides the fact that Sherron and Cole would be studs, and Xavier had the body of a Spartan warrior, I saw Jeff Withey get some action at Late Night in the Phog.  I was thoroughly unimpressed but willing to chalk it up to rustiness.  Then the kid started getting nagging injuries one after another and I started thinking about past KU transfers: Luke Axtell, Lester Earl, Jelanni Janisse, who never made impacts at KU while being deemed, "very nice additions and impact players". I did the knee-jerk thing (rare for me) and I stated on this site, "Jeff Withey will never be a major contributor at Kansas" 

I'm ready to retract that statement.

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We all know the ups and downs that have occurred this season for the KU football team.  Some of the highest expectations in school history have been tough to live up to so far for this team.  Our offense is great, our defense has struggled but is improving dramatically, and I would argue that they have done their part in each of the last 2 games to keep us in the game.  Our offense has been the one to really make things tough.  Two first half turnovers leading to 14 points against Colorado and three interceptions in the first half against OU leading to 14 first half points. 

What is the problem all of the sudden?  How about balance.  While watching the OU vs. KU game from the stands, I couldn't help but notice that OU looked like they knew what we were doing on virtually every play, they swarmed to the ball, they blanketed our receivers, and they beat the crap out of us.  OU has a great defense and maybe more running plays wouldn't have made a difference, but I believe that if we would've had a more balanced attack, this game would've been much closer.

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Before we played Iowa St. at Memorial Stadium this week, I was very confident in this team's ability to win the North.  After the horrible showing by our defense and season saving job by our offense, I've lowered my expectations a little.  I truly thought that our defense was better and it looked like it might not be.  Is there still time for them to be better?  Oh yes, lots of time and I'm not willing to concede that they are as bad as they looked Saturday.  I saw too much in the non-con that I didn't see last season.  But are they going to win us any games?  Probably not.

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