@brooksmd - I don't know anything about Cliff Alexander, but if he breaks a sweat, makes facial expressions and cares enough about something to get T'd and suspended - I LIKE him very much already.

" Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser. " Vince Lombardi

@jhawk7782 - I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I sure as heck ain't ready to flee. I just hate to lose !

@KGphoto - I have a theory about the dropped pass syndrome. They watch and learn from the Chiefs.

" They were going crazy in Kansas. People were up to 9 p.m. I think that was the greatest thing to happen to Kansas since the eradication of the boll weevil. "

Jay Leno
(Of KU's 2008 NCAA National Championship victory)

" Being born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in the very rural parts of Kansas led me to believe that everything was simple, everything made sense and that anything was possible. "

Chely Wright

Country Music Artist

" Awesome... we all feel better about Andrew and he didn't do anything to make us feel different. We rationalized it from within, where our expectations are created."

@drgnslayr - that about nails it.

I'm sure this will sound dopey, but it wouldn't be the first time. I'm really ....proud, I guess you would say, of the way that everyone's ( the posters on here ) handled the two or three games that we've not played our best and the one loss.

I haven't looked at the "other" site for a long, long time, but I remember there was lots of bickering and name calling and questioning everyone's manhood. I'm not excluded from that group either. I don't miss that at all.

As @drgnslayr so eloquently pointed out, we had some issues, we talked about them and now we're better! If more things were handled that way, our society would be a lot better off. Society - heads up. Watch and learn from this site.

I'm a sore loser.

I like to win. I HATE to lose.

Bucknell. NIU. VCU. You guys know the rest.

I hate for us to lose any game, but a guy at work yesterday put the Villanova game into perspective for me. He didn't know that he did, but he did.

First things first. This guy at work, I'll call him Mr. Howell (Might sound like hole). A. Howell. His self described favorite team is Oklahoma (??) OR any team that beats KU. So Mr. Howell comes up to me yesterday and says " What happened to your little ^%$*& Jayhawks the other day? " Now, I can't really describe how he sounded because he hates KU so much that when he talks about us he actually stutters and drools a little

My gut reaction was to wipe the drool off his face with my fist, but I took a deep breath and had a revelation. I said " Wow, Mr Howell. Thank you for the giant compliment!!" I got the usual Oklahoma blank stare and proceeded to tell him " It's been almost 40 years since any college team went undefeated and evidently you must have expected that my beloved Jayhawks were going to do that THIS year!!" He turned around and stomped off. Stumbled a little bit too....

What that encounter taught me is, we're going to lose some games this year. We all know that. Not one single KU fan here truly thought we were going to go undefeated this year.

If we have to lose, this is a good time of year to do it. It means nothing. Coach Self will turn that loss into future victories.

Thanks Mr. A. Howell.

@approxinfinity - thank you for keeping me honest. I posted that while I was doing several other things at work (sorry, boss)!

@drgnslayr - dang it man, i'm fired up now! I wish we were playing tonight! I wish I were playing tonight!!! Great post.

Like I said a while back, we're 6-1 and still not happy. It's good to be a Jayhawk!!

You're right though, we're gonna get there, in a big way. I'm ready for it!

@drgnslayr - I don't know what Calipari does different, although in my mind, I picture him as a flashy used car salesman - telling the recruits whatever they want to hear.

You know, Wiggins is probably performing very close to how Coach Self thought he would at this point. I think the crazy expectations are from us, the fans. I know that I personally got caught up in the hype and was immediately disappointed when he didn't score 50 in his first game. I know.....

To help bring things back in perspective, check this out:

Mystery Player - freshman year: .566 FG, .765 FT , 3.2 AST, 1.7 STL, 1 BLK, 14.6 PTS

Andrew Wiggins - freshman year: 493 FG%, . 632 FT, 1.6 AST, STL 1.3, .6 BLK, 14.3 PTS

Note: Mystery Player had a couple of very good teammates and good support players, but he was without question the star of his team. He had about 4 more minutes per game than Andrew, but you can see that the stats are very similar and the Points per game is almost identical.

I'm sure you've already figured out that Mystery Player is a dude named Danny Manning.

@drgnslayr - Let me preface this by saying that I believe that Bill Self is far and away the best coach in college basketball today. Having said that, MY answer to the question " Does Bill Self showcase top talent? " is an emphatic NO!!

Bill Self is too team oriented (that ain't a bad thing!) to put the emphasis on one or two highly acclaimed players. Now the good news is, he gets the best out of his players and they win a heck of a lot of games.

I haven't and I won't give up on Wiggins, but I honestly wouldn't care if we ever landed a number one recruit again. Seems like we've done pretty well over the years with what we've had.

@JayDocMD - What you just said, it's the reason that I was a little nervous about this season before it even started. I know it sounds stupid to some, but there's such a thing as having too much talent. You can't play everyone and if you try, all you do is interrupt the flow of the game and the rhythm that has been established. It applies to the bigs too, not just the shooters. Coach is going to have to tick some people off, hurt some feelings and establish a starting lineup and then establish a bench. I guess that's what he's trying to do now, but it just seems like players are in and out constantly.

(Why I prefer upperclassmen to OAD's)

"Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength." Phil Jackson

@JayDocMD, many valid points that you bring up. Valid to me anyway, because it's the same thing I've been thinking and didn't have the guts to put into "print".

I'm not a basketball savant, just a fan. One that has loved KU for around 50 years. I've alluded to this in other posts, but my own personal take is that Kansas, especially with Bill Self, is not a school that is conducive to the OAD's. For myriad reasons, they just don't seem to work out here. Or maybe I should say that they don't live up to they hype here. None of them. We might have been able to cement ourselves as that type of team during Roy's era, but for whatever reason we couldn't attract the top 5 caliber players when Roy was here. Don't get me wrong, we had great players, and a lot of them, but they were players who worked hard and made themselves great or they were great within Roy's system.

This is my own personal opinion, but I really wish Coach would go back to recruiting the hard nosed, over-achieving, blue-collar guys that have that inner "fire" and the refuse-to-lose attitude and drive the opposition crazy with their in-your-face defense. Kind of like the team he had at Illinois that kicked our butts. To me, that seems to be the kind of guy that Bill Self is - someone you don't want to get into a scuffle with.

I know what you mean when you say it's early and this may all be premature, but in actuality we're - what? - 1/5th of the way through the season already.

After loss to K-State, Kansas begins offseason
By DAVE SKRETTA (AP Sports Writer)
December 1, 2013 12:25 PM
AP Sports

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Charlie Weis felt a difference in the culture at Kansas as he stood on the sideline Saturday, the clock melting away in the second half and Kansas State on its way to another win over its rival.

Unlike last season, when the Wildcats blitzed their way to one of the most lopsided victories in the history of the series, Weis thought Kansas was in the game. In fact, until a field goal that made the final margin 31-10, the Jayhawks were still within striking distance.

All despite six turnovers, an inept offense and a sometimes porous defense.

So even though the Jayhawks finished 3-9 in his second year in charge, and last in the Big 12 once again, there are signs - modest though they may be - that there's been progress on Mount Oread.

''I never felt, even when the score was 21-10, the game was getting away from us, and that is a change,'' Weis said. ''Last year, we were in the second half of that game, it was wide open. It was like there was nothing you could do about it. I never felt that way.''

Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger dispelled any notion that Weis' job may be in jeopardy on Saturday when he gave the somewhat embattled coach a vote of confidence. Zenger noted that any rebuilding job takes time and he was prepared to give Weis the opportunity to see it through.

Still, despite the signs of progress, there are just as many signs that Kansas is no better off than when it fired Turner Gill two years ago. After all, Gill was 5-19 in his two seasons in charge, and Weis will be lugging a 4-20 mark into his third season.

While the Jayhawks ended an infuriating 27-game Big 12 losing streak by beating West Virginia, they still haven't won a league road game since 2008 - a streak of 22 games.

I'm glad Charlie felt so good about only getting beat by three touchdowns. I didn't feel any better about this loss than I did the other eight.

Well. The good news - we're 6-1 and everybody's ticked off, upset or worried. The bad news - we've barely won a couple of those games and most of the players look like they've never seen a basketball court before.

Without naming names, I personally wish that Self would recruit more of the Jerod Haase type players. Smart, hard working, tough kids with never say die attitudes. One guy that comes to mind right away is Phil Forte. That was a bad miss for us. Yes, I know we made him a half-hearted offer and I know that him and Smart were a package deal, but we NEED kids with that fire in their eyes. Kids who are the first ones in the gym and the last to leave. Kids who shoot maybe 500 free throws per day ( and it shows - for the year he's , missed ONE, %96.6). Give me a hard working kid over an " athlete " any day.

I've seen some of our guys play 10 minutes and not even sweat. Seriously. A bunch of them are just going through the motions. Slowly.

Sorry to sound so surly, it's not all bad though. I'm very, very impressed with Embiid - when he learns how to play basketball ( you all know what I mean ) he's going to be a real force to be reckoned with. When Mason learns to drive to the hoop and get fouled instead of putting up a 3 point shot that's likely not to go in he will be a big asset for us. IF Wiggins will quit being so humble ( a trait which I normally admire ) and start being aggressive, it could change a lot of things for us. Wiggins reminds me very much of McLemore except that BMAC was a much better outside shooter.

It's easy for me to coach from the couch and I know that Coach Self will bring them around. It's hard to watch them struggle at this point though, with that talent and potential that is on this team.

@approxinfinity - in my ignorant bliss, I'd say you make everyone else ok with that decision by putting up " W's " instead of " L's ". Worry about their feelings when they are in fourth grade, worry about winning at this level.

Since this site started up, everyone has been awesome about keeping things civil. I hope I'm not the one to blow that, because I'm having a really bad attitude about yesterday's game. The Wake Forest game wasn't much better either. I'll try to bite my tongue, but I do want to say this - if Wiggins had Frank Mason's attitude - O.M.G. He (Wiggins) has got to get more aggressive - soon.

I don't know what to make of this game. I felt that Villanova came out and out hustled us at first. They were very aggressive on offense and defense and I think it kind of threw us off. The nerve of them, not quivering in their sneakers at the sight of " Kansas " on our jerseys.

I agree with HEM, we have three outstanding 3 point shooters and all they did was build up callouses on their butts last night. Pathetic. If those three don't have the green light to shoot, we may as well never put up anything but a layup.

We're young, and hopefully will get smarter and better, but the past two games have shown me that we're going to have some big disappointments this year.

Kansas coach Bill Self likes to call these games “muddy.” And if he’s honest with you, it’s the games he really likes.

I like to call them "crappy". And if I'm honest with you, it's the games I frickin HATE.

@ralster - in Salina (Cox) it's also 78 (2078 HD). I believe the network is NBCSP for those without Cox.

@dylans - Steven Johnson is a linebacker for the Broncos also. Love Harris and Johnson, but I hope they lose on Sunday!!

" What the (#& do you mean KU's not on TV??? We're the number 2 ranked team in the (&#ing nation #&%@!! Who in the (%% wants to watch Memphis and Siena ?? "

My brother-in-law.

@Hawk8086 - M i s s o u r i. Five million people, six last names.

(Jayhawk fans residing in Missouri are exempt from this)

@HighEliteMajor - the Missouri "fan base" is so pathetic. Can you imagine Allen Field House EVER looking like that? Heck, more people would show up at KU to watch practice. LOTS more. Watch an Okie State game some time though. It's not this bad, but it's probably 1/3 empty most of the time, unless they're playing a top 5 team.

@brooksmd - I guess I'm not smart enough to have thought of the " cut & paste " option! But you're right; read what you want and ignore the rest.

@drgnslayr - " We didn't share a rivalry with Mizzou... we just shared hatred. "

That's a really good insight. (now) I think we have a rivalry with K-State, but you are spot on regarding Moo. I never looked forward to playing them in any sport, I just looked forward to hating them that day. (I'm really not an angry or violent person, but I truly hated Mizzou).

I thought they were gutless pukes for leaving the Big 12, but now that they're gone, I just feel a lot cleaner.

@brooksmd - jaybate must have had a lightning quick mind. Just out of morbid curiosity, I used to look at the times between his comments. He could type several pages in just a minute or two. Even if I didn't always read his posts, I was completely impressed with how quickly he could put comments together.

@drgnslayr - Thank you for including that part about your wife telling you!! lol ;)

" I think my defense is underrated. "

Andrew Wiggins

An excerpt from a story in my local paper this morning titled " Mizzou AD Alden ejects student fan group "

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- An unsanctioned University of Missouri student fan group was kicked out of a second straight game over what school officials call a pattern of inappropriate chants.

Members of The Antlers were ejected from Mizzou Arena early in the second half of Missouri's 78-64 win over IUPUI, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported Tuesday. The ejections came after the group was escorted out of the arena by campus police before tipoff of Saturday's home game against Gardner-Webb.

Members of The Antlers have been ejected from Missouri home games of late for what the school has deemed a pattern of inappropriate chants.
Many fans booed loudly as the ousted students departed mid-game Monday, again with a campus police escort. Missouri forward Tony Criswell even gave high-fives to several of The Antlers.

Athletic director Mike Alden told reporters later that the students violated the school's core values, which include respect and responsibility.

"This is actually laughable to me, but let me just say this: We have high expectations for our students and our staff at the University of Missouri," Alden said. "Our core values are respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence, and it's critically important that we represent those values every day in everything we do.

"We just want to make sure that folks are representing the institution with class."

"WHAT?"

@KirkisMyHinrich - I think we should AXS why it's not on ESPN, CBS OR ABC.

NOT ON COX ??

Well, I'm not going to be QUITE as thankful as I should on Thursday.

@justanotherfan - HEY, is that a "pun intended" ?

" with Frankamp having an outside shot. " lol

"Saturday night was another reminder that Phog Allen, not Cameron, is the best, loudest and most intimidating basketball arena in the country. The alma mater sound, the Rock Chalk Jayhawk chant, the swaying of the crowd, and the deafening noise at times, make The Phog a true treasure in the sport."

Andy Katz, ESPN reporter

Thank You!

@ralster - It would be hard to disagree with you, even if someone wanted to, because you're right on the money. You know what bothers me the most? I'm getting to the point where I don't really care who our coach is. THAT bothers me. Every year I get jacked up for football and (almost) every year I get bummed out after the second or third game. I'm not even bummed any more. I want my passion back! Two years in a row of 5 star QB disappointments and a stable of what has got to the best running backs in the league aren't really helping us a bit. It's very disheartening.

" If I went West, I think I would go to Kansas. "
Abraham Lincoln

Rock Chalk Abe !!!

( While at Utah and getting ready to play Kentucky )

" They have all those McDonald's All-Americas. We have four guys on our team who don't even have a McDonald's in their town. "

Rick Majerus

@wissoxfan83 - with all due respect to Keegan, he probably meant that they have trouble when they go on the " field ".

" Make sure your worst enemy doesn't live between your own two ears. "

Laird Hamilton

@Lulufulu85, I agree that's it's not generally (or ever) a good idea to call out an opposing player, but if anybody can back it up it's Marcus Smart. I hope our whole team comes out in "beast" mode when we play them because I know Smart's not backing down from any one.

@approxinfinity Lol, thanks approx. I really just appreciate that you developed and are maintaining and improving this site so I have a place to vent and practice a little bit of smart-aleckness (That's a word, right?) and to communicate with my brother (and sister) Jayhawk fans. Thanks again!!

( Keeping it as civil as I possibly can and still call myself a passionate KU fan )

1) I vote STUPID

2) I hope KU never fires HCCW. I giggle every time I see him on the sidelines and realize this guy makes 40 times as much money as I do and, seemingly doesn't know any more about football than I do.

3) If James Sims and Ben Heeney played for just about any other team we'd be referring to them as All-Americans.

4) We just got shut out by Iowa State...............Wow. If we ever do get another coach, maybe we should seek one that is some kind of offensive guru. Maybe with some NFL experience. Someone who kind of specializes in recruiting and developing Quarterbacks. Wait.

(facepalm)

" What in the world was I thinking? What kind of idiot voluntarily takes a coaching job in a league where Bill Self - BILL SELF !! - is your arch-rival? "

Bruce Weber

Ok, I repent. That's a bald-faced lie. I am 74.4 % certain that Bruce Weber has never spoken those words. Out loud.

But you know he has to be thinking it.....

(Of Joel Embiid)

" The dude is 7 feet tall. Just get the ball inside to him! "

Bill Self

I hate to be a "Debbie Downer", but I've got to find SOMETHING about this team to complain about. Here's what I came up with.

I don't like our uniforms. That's it. That's all I've got. Since I hate to throw out a problem without at least a suggested solution, here's that as well:

Let's contact Carhartt. Some nice khaki bib-shorts with a Jayhawk where the normal Carhartt logo would go. We could get crimson and/or blue hardhats and maybe some coordinating lunch pails to carry our Gatorade and snacks while we're running down the court, while our opponents stand at the other end of the court watching in disbelief.

Either that, or let's get ahold of NASA and get some anti gravity space-suits. I can't decide whether this team is a blue collar construction team, or a high flying Space Jam kind of team. Dang it.

Whatever they are, they sure are fun to watch!!

@Virgil_Caine - just wondering; did you serve on the Danville train?

@Wishawk - I'll give my age away here ( good thing I don't care! ). I was in kindergarten on the day that JFK was killed. I remember they made an announcement over the PA and sent everyone home. I didn't have any idea what was going on, but I knew that all the " grown ups " were crying and that it wasn't a good thing.

Because of my age and my general lack of interest in politics, I can't speak as to what kind of man and/or president he was, but I've always kind of felt that day was the beginning of the decline of the "innocence" of our country.