The 2014-15 Kansas men's basketball team did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Sunday outside Allen Fieldhouse after being challenged by coach Bill Self last week. Junior forward Perry Ellis served as the spokesman for the group, and the team challenged every other Big 12 men's basketball team. KU basketball staff and family members had the pleasure of dumping the ice. [View video of KU hoops' Ice Bucket Challenge](
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CLEVELAND — Olympic champions together, Kevin Love and LeBron James spent the last 30 days waiting to become teammates again.
Cleveland has craved a championship for 50 years.
One drought over. One to go.
On the first day they were able to complete the long-discussed blockbuster trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves sent Love to the Cavaliers, who capped a spectacular summer on Saturday by acquiring the All-Star power forward as another running mate for James to make them instant title contenders.
James didn’t waste any time in making Love feel at home.
PRAIRIE VILLAGE — Charlie Weis has put a deadline on his team to show it’s worthy of fan support.
The Kansas coach, talking to a crowd of thousands on Friday during KU’s annual kickoff event at Corinth Square, said it was most important for KU fans to show up to the team's early games.
“I’m only asking for September,” Weis said during his seven-minute address. “You give me September, and I’ll give you a reason to come in October and November.”
MINNEAPOLIS — The wait is almost over.
The blockbuster trade that will send Kevin Love to team up with LeBron James in Cleveland will be completed on Saturday, making the Cavaliers an instant favorite in the Eastern Conference and turning former Kansas star Andrew Wiggins into something of an anomaly.
When Wiggins is moved from the Cavs to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the deal, he will become just the second No. 1 overall draft pick to be traded without playing a game for the team that drafted him since the ABA and NBA merged in 1976.
LAWRENCE — Before last season, Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard stated his preseason goal was for his program to go from being successful to significant.
Following a Sweet 16 appearance and the team’s second consecutive NCAA berth, Bechard is setting the bar even higher in 2014.
“We want that momentum to turn into volleyball culture, and that volleyball culture to turn into a volleyball tradition,” Bechard said. “This is a group that can certainly do that.”
LAWRENCE — The flashiest player in Kansas’ fall practices might also be the quietest — and that’s just the beginning of the enigma when it comes to true freshman running back Corey Avery.
At first glance, Avery would appear to be a guy that enjoys the spotlight. His elevated, blond mohawk screams for attention, while a pair of eyebrow slits suggest an 18-year old who isn’t afraid to try the latest fashion trends.
LAWRENCE — The announcement Tuesday that Kansas had lost its top two running backs to season-ending injuries hit Ben Heeney a little harder.
Not only does the KU linebacker describe Brandon Bourbon and Taylor Cox as “two of my best friends on the team,” but he also shares an apartment with Bourbon.
“It sucks for Brandon, Taylor, and it sucks for us as a team that we lost two guys like that, hard‑working guys,” Heeney said, “but De’Andre (Mann) and Corey (Avery) are both exceptional players, and they’re going to do very good.”
LAWRENCE — The injury bug has hit the Kansas backfield.
At Sunday’s scrimmage, senior running back Brandon Bourbon tore his anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the 2014 season, and Monday senior Taylor Cox tore his Achilles tendon and also will miss the season.
Both Bourbon and Cox have decided to stay at Kansas to further their education as both student-athletes have already earned their undergraduate degrees. They will have surgery and go through rehab in Lawrence, while Kansas explores the opportunity to file for a sixth-year clock extension due to injury.
LAWRENCE — With 97,105 fans roaring at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Kansas offensive lineman Mike Smithburg couldn’t get close enough to Jake Heaps in the huddle.
“We couldn’t hear anything,” Smithburg said. “We had to nonverbally communicate. That was probably the worst.”
Making things even tougher on KU’s first drive against Texas last season was the fact that Heaps had a lot to say.
LAWRENCE — The Kansas coaching staff believes senior wide receiver Justin McCay had a pretty strong spring.
McCay, however, isn’t buying it.
“What they see is something different than what I see,” McCay said.
The KU coaches watched McCay start spring ball a bit slow before showing enough improvement to earn a starting spot over Rodriguez Coleman at X when the first fall depth chart was released.
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State has named junior Sam Richardson its starting quarterback.
Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads said Monday that Richardson emerged as the starter over Grant Rohach.
Richardson opened 2013 as the starter. But he struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness, and Rohach started the final four games for the Cyclones.
Richardson, who finished with 1,397 yards passing and 11 TDs last season, took advantage of the fresh start provided by new offensive coordinator and former Kansas coach Mark Mangino to reclaim the starting job.
Former Kansas small forward Andrew White has decided to transfer to Nebraska, he announced on his Twitter account Monday afternoon.
"I am really excited to add Andrew to our program. I believe he can be an impact guy for us," Nebraska coach Tim Miles said. "He has pro potential and reminds me of Paul Pierce.”
The 6-foot-7 White, who averaged 2.3 points in 19 games a year ago, will have two more years of eligibility after he sits out the 2014-15 season. He originally announced his intention to transfer from KU in May.
LAWRENCE — Talk to his Kansas teammates, and they’ll tell you that middle linebacker Ben Heeney is pretty much the same as he’s always been in fall camp.
“He’s crazy, wild and energetic,” nose tackle Keon Stowers said of Heeney.
But internally for Heeney, there’s a little more incentive this time around as the senior is beginning his final season a Jayhawk.
“It’s all or nothing right now,” Heeney said. “This is my last opportunity to leave an impact on this program and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
LAWRENCE — The Kansas football team opened its practice for Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday afternoon, with about 500 fans attending the free event at Memorial Stadium.
Afterward, KU’s coaches and players stayed a half-hour to sign autographs.
“We like to be in front of fans,” KU sophomore kicker Matthew Wyman said. “Everybody wants to sign autographs. Who doesn’t? It makes you feel a little special.”
Here are a few observations from the two-hour workout.
LAWRENCE — Charlies Weis took the plunge.
Friday night in front of all his players, the Kansas coach accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge he received from Jack Harry of NBC Action News 41-KSHB in Kansas City and took a bucket of ice water over the head. Senior linebacker Ben Heeney did the honors.
K-STATE TICKETS SCARCE: A limited number of tickets remain available for Kansas State’s home football games against Stephen F. Austin, Texas-El Paso, Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma State and Kansas. Fewer than 100 returned tickets and standing-room-only tickets are available for the Aug. 30 season opener against SFA, and fewer than 10 tickets remain for the Oct. 4 clash with Texas Tech. Single seats and standing-room tickets also can be purchased for the Nov. 29 Sunflower Showdown.
LAWRENCE — At the moment, Nigel King's belongings are stuffed in two black duffel bags, purchased at an Army surplus store two weeks ago for about $50.
There’s no point in unpacking now. Kansas’ players will officially move out of the Lawrence Holiday Inn to the dorms next week, which will give King a bit of normalcy after a crazy month.
“I’m just trying to do my best,” King said, “to adjust to everything.”
It hasn’t been easy with a quick timeline that has relocated King from the East Coast to Kansas after he decided to transfer to the school earlier this month.
Coaches often say they are always on the hot seat. That might be true, but some seats are hotter than others.
Last season, Southern California and Texas changed coaches and created a cascade of corresponding moves.
A similar situation could play out this season, with a few coaches in high-profile positions heading into 2014 very much in need of winning records and quality victories.
Six coaches entering pivotal seasons for their job security.
WILL MUSCHAMP, Florida
LAWRENCE — T.J. Semke raced up the stairway in the nearly century-old house, making his way to the top floor before the seven other men behind him.
The man he was after was moving toward the window, hoping to open it up to make his way onto the roof for an escape.
Semke didn’t let him. He sprinted over to stop the man, waiting for the others to arrive before taking him to the authorities.
Not bad for Semke’s first day working as a bounty hunter for his mother’s boyfriend, who is employed as a bail bondsman in Kansas City, Mo.
The Kansas men's basketball team will start and end its Big 12 season on the road, as the conference released its full slate for the 2014-15 season.
KU opens Big 12 play at Baylor on Jan. 7 before finishing up at Oklahoma on March 7.
The Jayhawks' first home conference games will be Jan. 10 against Texas Tech then Jan. 13 against Oklahoma State. KU plays host to K-State on Jan. 31 and Texas on Feb. 28.
Each of KU's league games will be televised either on the ESPN family of networks or CBS.
The full Big 12 schedule for KU:
The Big 12 announced the complete 2015 women’s basketball league schedule on Wednesday, which will feature Kansas State hosting Kansas on Jan. 10 following the Wildcats’ home opener against Baylor.
K-State and Kansas face each other again Feb. 25 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
The upcoming season is the first for Jeff Mittie as coach of the Wildcats. Mittie has averaged 21 wins and 10 losses per season in his career.
LAWRENCE — True freshman Corey Avery took carries with Kansas’ first-team offense during Wednesday morning’s practice just outside Memorial Stadium.
That arrangement could be coming soon — and according to KU coach Charlie Weis, perhaps as early as the season-opener against Southeast Missouri State.
Weis gushed about the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Avery during Wednesday’s news conference, saying in early practices, the speedster had been KU’s most exciting offensive player.
OVERLAND PARK — Maybe this wasn’t a surprise after all.
Though official word broke last week that former Kansas star Andrew Wiggins would be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Minnesota Timberwolves, KU coach Bill Self said Sunday that the overall No. 1 draft pick wasn’t completely in the dark.
“He’s known, I think, since the end of summer league that he was going to be traded,” Self said at his ProCamp at Shawnee Mission West High School. “It’s OK. And certainly he’s looking forward to going to Minnesota.”
LAWRENCE – John Reagan ambled through a mass of bodies, pacing confidently between two stretching lines on Kansas’ east practice field. It was Saturday afternoon, minutes into the Jayhawks’ second practice of preseason camp, and the sound of Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” pulsated from a sideline sound system.
“We got mojo today!” Reagan yelled, his voice booming over the music.
Reagan, the first-year offensive coordinator, was prepping for another day of offensive installation. He is here at Kansas, his former home, to fix an offense that has amounted to dead weight for the past two years. He is here to install a no-huddle spread offense, to break in a new starter at quarterback — and yes, to return some offensive mojo to Memorial Stadium.
LAWRENCE — There’s something about a name that can innately draw someone in. And that’s certainly the case with Kansas senior free safety Cassius Sendish.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Sendish is named after boxing great Cassius Clay, but there’s more to Sendish than intrigue or name recognition alone. He’s the unquestioned leader of a secondary that is considered to have the potential to be one of the best in KU history — if not the best, rivaling the 2007 squad that featured Aquib Talib, Chris Harris and Darrell Stuckey.
LAWRENCE — Montell Cozart’s feet gave him away.
Sure, Kansas quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus could tell his true freshman quarterback was dealing with jitters last season from talking to him on the sideline, sometimes offering words of encouragement to calm him down.
Cozart’s tape, though, always displayed his true emotions. He often suffered from happy feet, many times shuffling in the pocket when he didn’t need to.
And that, Powlus knew, was a problem.
“The feet are a great indicator,” Powlus said, “of the calmness of the mind.”
It was early Friday morning, and Sheahon Zenger stepped away from his office and made the short jaunt across campus to Memorial Stadium. It was a cool summer morning, relatively speaking, and a large throng of Kansas football players were up early for the first day of camp.
Zenger, the fourth-year Kansas athletic director, was hoping to track the progress of a $500,000 upgrade inside Memorial Stadium, a minor facelift that includes the removal of the running track. But as an old football man himself, Zenger was also naturally curious about the evolution of another rebuilding project: The one on the field.
“I have used the word in recent months,” Zenger says, “we need momentum.”
INDIANAPOLIS — The biggest schools in college sports are about to get a chance to make their own rules.
Up first is likely finding a way to spend millions of dollars in new money — either in the form or stipends or fatter scholarships — on athletes across the country.
LAWRENCE — By adopting a spread attack, Kansas is not, just now, escaping pigskin’s dark ages.
New offensive coordinator John Reagan worked for the Jayhawks before under Mark Mangino. Back then, when he served as KU’s run game coordinator, Reagan remembers adopting the spread, in earnest, in 2007.
That was a pretty fair team. Finished 12-1. Beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Burned opponents with Todd Reesing’s arm, Dexton Fields' hands and Brandon McAnderson's feet.
LAWRENCE — Charlie Weis knew this was a gamble. Now, he’s ready to see if it’s going to pay off.
Two years ago, Weis devoted 16 of his 24 scholarships to junior-college players. And while six of those players are no longer on the roster, the 10 that remain have helped form a foundation of upperclassmen that Weis hopes to win with this season.
LAWRENCE — Kansas received a boost to its offense Thursday with the addition of receiver Nigel King.
King, a 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pound wideout, transferred to KU after graduating from Maryland this summer. He caught 33 passes for 450 yards for the Terrapins last season with a team-best four touchdown receptions.
“Obviously we’re excited that he’s here, coming from a program where they’ve had some success and he’s had some,” KU offensive coordinator John Reagan said. “We’re excited to put him in the two-deep and see how he’s going to fit in for us.”
LAWRENCE – Kansas football coach Charlie Weis unveiled a last-minute addition to the roster on Thursday morning, adding former Maryland receiver Nigel King to the program.
King (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) graduated from Maryland last week and will be eligible to play this season. He was listed as a backup on the first depth chart of fall camp, released Thursday as players reported to Lawrence. The Jayhawks begin practice on Friday.
“This all happened fast,” Weis said on Thursday, as he met the media for the first time this season.
Two people with knowledge of the deal say Minnesota and Cleveland have agreed to a trade that will send All-Star forward Kevin Love to the Cavaliers for former Kansas star Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a future first-round draft pick.
The two people spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because no official agreement can be reached until Aug. 23, when Wiggins, this year’s No. 1 draft pick, becomes eligible to be traded.
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly have a deal in place to acquire forward Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Cavaliers will send 2014 overall top draft pick Andrew Wiggins and last year's No. 1 selection, Anthony Bennett, to the Wolves. A protected first-round choice in 2015 will also head Minnesota's way in exchange for Love, a three-time NBA All-Star who has reportedly stated that he would opt out of his deal with the Wolves in 2015.
The Yahoo Sports report also states that Love will still opt out after the upcoming season, but will sign a new deal with the Cavaliers -- a five-year extension worth at least $120 million.
LAWRENCE -- Here’s a quick rundown of Kansas coach Charlie Weis’ comments from his Thursday news conference.
n Weis likes the fact that offensive coordinator John Reagan has a ‘run-first mentality,’ especially that Montell Cozart is the starting quarterback.
n The backup quarterback race is too close to call. Based off experience, Michael Cummings would be the backup over T.J. Millweard. Weis said KU has plenty of time to finalize that decision.
I’m torn when it comes to Andrew Wiggins and his NBA future.
On one hand, I’d love to see Wiggins alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It would be fun to watch Wiggins grow and adapt with the greatest player in the world as his teammate as he aspires to take over that mantle, perhaps.
On the other hand, it’s a no-brainer that the Cavs should trade Wiggins if they have a chance to It appears unlikely Andrew Wiggins will ever wear a Cleveland Cavs jersey when it counts. acquire big Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Love will never be the greatest player in the world. But he’s already a proven NBA star who can score and rebound and he would fit perfectly with James and young point guard Kyrie Irving to give Cleveland the kind of trio that could lead a team to an NBA championship.
A report that Andrew Wiggins’ Cleveland Cavaliers jerseys were “discontinued” by the NBA because of a likely trade to Minnesota is false, a league official told NBCsports.com. By Gary Bedore
Former Kansas University basketball player Ron Loneski died Friday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital at the age of 77. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Former Oregon signee Ray Kasongo is planning to visit KU.
Kansas University's men's basketball team now knows its Thanksgiving Day plans. The Jayhawks will begin bracket play against Rhode Island in the 2014 Orlando Classic at HP Field House, located at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World resort, near Orlando, Florida.
It appears that Kansas coach Bill Self is still actively recruiting for his 2014 class.
Power forward Ray Kasongo, a former Oregon signee, is slated to visit Kansas later this week, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. The visit is tentatively scheduled for Friday.
Kasongo signed with Oregon last November but was denied admission to the school, according to the Oregonian newspaper. That left Kasongo scrambling for another place to play.
I’m torn when it comes to Andrew Wiggins and his NBA future.
On one hand, I’d love to see Wiggins alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It would be fun to watch Wiggins grow and adapt with the greatest player in the world as his teammate as he aspires to take over that mantle, perhaps.
On the other hand, it’s a no-brainer that the Cavs should trade Wiggins if they have a chance to It appears unlikely Andrew Wiggins will ever wear a Cleveland Cavs jersey when it counts. acquire big Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Love will never be the greatest player in the world. But he’s already a proven NBA star who can score and rebound and he would fit perfectly with James and young point guard Kyrie Irving to give Cleveland the kind of trio that could lead a team to an NBA championship.
Incoming Kansas University freshman guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk scored a game-high 17 points off 7-of-17 shooting in Ukraine’s 61-53 victory over Sweden on Wednesday at the Under 18 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. By Gary Bedore
With most of his Kansas University basketball players out of town for a four-week break before the start of first semester classes, Bill Self hit the road Thursday to do some teaching at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Wyandotte County Unit. By Gary Bedore
Kansas University junior forward Perry Ellis and freshman guard Kelly Oubre are working as college counselors at the fifth-annual adidas Nations event Friday through Monday in Los Angeles. Basketball notebook by Gary Bedore
Incoming Kansas University freshman Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk scored 22 points off 8-of-18 shooting to lead Ukraine to a 65-64 victory over Finland in Saturday’s semifinals of the Under-18 European Championship Div. B tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. Basketball notes by Gary Bedore
LAWRENCE — Tyshawn Taylor couldn’t help but be a bit distracted.
When asked his first question by a reporter Saturday, the former Kansas guard looked down as his 10-month-old daughter — Isley Rose — tugged softly on his right index finger.
If one needed a reason for Taylor being motivated to make it back to the NBA … well, she was wearing a white bow with baby Nikes on her feet.
“I get to watch her, so it’s fun,” Taylor said with a smile. “Blessings.”
Running back Traevohn Wrench will be playing his football at Butler Community College next season and not at Kansas, Gardner-Edgerton coach Marvin Diener confirmed to the Capital-Journal on Saturday.
Wrench, who rushed for 2,091 yards and 30 touchdowns in his senior season at GEHS, was rated the top recruit in the Jayhawks' class of 2014. Wrench was a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, ESPN.com and Scout.com and also was named the second-best player in the state and 25th-best running back in the nation by Rivals.
LAWRENCE — Kansas coach Bill Self hasn’t taken it easy over the last three weeks, crisscrossing the country to watch top basketball recruits during the July recruiting period.
“It’s never a fun month, but I think we got some things accomplished,” Self said Monday at Mario Chalmers’ charity golf tournament in Lawrence. “We’re in on good kids. Whether or not we can close remains to be seen. But certainly, I like the kids that we’re in on.”
Assembling the right talent is always critical for a football team.
That goes for the Arena Football League too. Particularly when the franchise is owned by two members of the iconic, and flamboyant, rock band Kiss.
If there was ever a perfect fit for that brand, Joe Mortensen was it.
Tough, yet personable, the former Kansas linebacker gave the new Los Angeles franchise a marketable personality. So much so, producers for a documentary that will soon air on AMC were drawn to Mortensen’s vibrant character.