Kansas City Star: University Of Kansas

KU's Taylor steps up for U.S. under-19 team in victory

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:20 CDT

KU sophomore Tyshawn Taylor scored 13 points and made some critical defensive stops as the U.S. men's under-19 team beat Lithuania 76-69 today at the world championship in Aukland, New Zealand.

Former KU football coach Jack Mitchell dies at 85

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The man who coached John Hadl and Gale Sayers at Kansas is dead. Former Kansas football coach Jack Mitchell died Sunday in Sun City, Ariz., at the age of 85.

Former KU football coach Mitchell dies at 85

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:17 CDT

Former KU football coach Jack Mitchell has died.

KU's Self believes the Henry saga is over

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Rarely do the subtleties of the process emerge from private to public. That, Kansas coach Bill Self said on Wednesday afternoon, was what made the latest addition to the Henry family recruitment saga different than the norm.

Keeping up with the Henrys: A timeline

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

C.J. Henry, a 6-3 point guard, the son of former KU basketball players Carl and Barbara Henry, commits to KU. C.J. later signs with the Yankees for a $1.575 million bonus as a first-round baseball pick. August 2008

Blame the NCAA and NBA for Henry-KU drama

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The bad guys in the Henry-Kansas basketball story wear suits, office in Indianapolis and New York and support the outdated and immoral rules that protect CBS’ billion-dollar investment in and the NBA’s unholy alliance with big-time college hoops. Carl Henry isn’t a bad guy, or even some crazy “stage parent.”

After meeting with the Henrys, Self says KU recruits are fine

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:11 CDT

KU basketball coach Bill Self said Wednesday at a conference call with reporters that he visited with the Henry family in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night and reiterated that recruits Xavier and C.J. Henry are still coming to Kansas.

Xavier Henry says he'll keep his commitment to KU

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

For much of the day Tuesday, it was unclear whether Kansas basketball recruits Xavier and C.J. Henry would end up in KU uniforms. But a late-night report said that Xavier would honor his commitment to the Jayhawks. “I’m goin to kansas and that’s final,” Xavier Henry wrote via text message to Cory Anderson of radio station KCSP (610 AM).

Xavier Henry says he'll keep his commitment to KU

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:12 CDT

Getting to the pros the Henry family plan

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

KU recruits Xavier and C.J. Henry have been trained by their dad to be pros, and they're halfway there.

Basketball payoff for McCray comes with World University Games

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

Danielle McCray sat in Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Thursday evening, waiting for her flight to Belgrade, Serbia, to take off. Back in Olathe, her mother couldn’t shake one thought: I wish I could go with her. Ellareese Tillman, who provided for McCray all those years as a single mother, who saw the twinkle in her little girl’s eye anytime she palmed a basketball, who fielded frustrated phone calls during her daughter’s first year at Kansas, has never left the country. So when McCray was selected to the USA Basketball World University Games team earlier this week, Tillman didn’t have a passport.

Self says Collins is overweight again

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

Last summer, Kansas point guard Sherron Collins checked in at 220 pounds in August before the Jayhawks’ exhibition tour of Canada and was publicly chastised by KU coach Bill Self for being out of shape. This summer, Collins is putting on weight at a more alarming pace — Self said he is around 229 now — but Self is reserving judgment with months to go before KU’s annual boot camp workouts.

KU's Walz makes national team

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:09 CDT

Kansas sophomore pitcher T.J. Walz became the first KU baseball player to make a national team on Thursday when he was named to the 22-man USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) for the 2009 summer tour.

Kansas hires LSU assistant as softball coach

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:20 CDT

LAWRENCE | The University of Kansas has hired a Louisiana State University assistant as its new softball coach.

Poll: Roy Williams is more popular than Coach K

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. | North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams is more popular among state voters than Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, according to polls conducted by Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling. The firm did a poll on the statewide popularity of the coaches last month and found that 61 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of former Kansas coach Williams, who led his team to a national championship earlier this year.

KU replacing football field at stadium

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:19 CDT

LAWRENCE | The field where the Kansas Jayhawks' football team plays is undergoing a $800,000 resurfacing project.

KU's Tyshawn Taylor named to 19-and-under U.S. team for Fiba championship

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:28 CDT

Kansas sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor was selected as one of 12 members of the 2009 USA Men's U19 World Championship Team, USA Basketball announced Thursday.

Memorial speakers call Bob Frederick a role model, a leader, an inspiration

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

LAWRENCE | Before Mark Frederick became choked up and had to stop talking about his late father, he was able to tell a story from his childhood. In this memory, Mark was just a little boy, and he and his father were taking a walk through the neighborhood. Mark noticed that his old man kept waving to joggers and cyclists and people driving by in their cars – basically everyone who crossed their path.

Big crowd in Lawrence celebrates life of 'Dr. Bob' Frederick

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:41 CDT

LAWRENCE | Bob Frederick's oldest son, Brad, said the family worried about how many people would attend his father's public memorial service on Wednesday afternoon at the University of Kansas' Lied Center.

Memorial service for Bob Frederick is this afternoon

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:41 CDT

A memorial service for former Kansas athletics director Bob Frederick starts at 1 p.m. today at the Lied Center on the West Campus.

Weird Questions

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:18 CDT

Those are the best kind.One of the readers (Mark) sent me a question which asked how often the other team scores the inning after the Royals score. It’s a good question because there isn’t anything more frustrating than scoring to either lessen the deficit or to create a lead, only to see it immediately go for naught. Of course, the answer to his question is one that may never be fully known, but I did my best.read more

What's wrong with NASCAR?

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:14 CDT

Winning is everything!Actually, I don’t think much is wrong with it. Having said that, there are always little tweaks I would make – such as the qualifying order for rain-outs. But, overall, the sport is in great shape IMO. Obviously, they are suffering to a degree from the economy like all sports and last season I predicted it would get much worse. Furthermore, I predict it will get a lot worse from here. But, I’m not concerned so much with how many millions they make – just the product that I watch on the tube. As to that, I’m not concerned… except for one thing.read more

At least we still have Greinke

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:38 CDT

Greinke the Great.After delving into the Yuniesky Betancourt trade, I have a burning need to write something positive. Luckily, the presence of Zack Greinke means there will be rosy statistical nuggets to throw out there for Royals fans all season. There are plenty to choose from. Joe Posnanski laid out the argument for Greinke as the AL's starting pitcher in next Tuesday's All-Star game. As I mentioned in my previous post, Greinke ranks second in the big leagues in my Wins-Added metric, which makes him not only the best pitcher in the league this season, but the best overall player. If he doesn't face off against Tim Lincecum on Tuesday, there should be a federal inquiry. Anyway, here are my two current favorite Greinke nuggets.read more

Yuniesky Betancourt: A rather harsh analysis

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:49 CDT

Can't figure this one out.This is discouraging. It really is. The press release just landed in my e-mail inbox and it really kind of took my breath away. The Royals have traded prospects Danny Cortes and Derrick Saito for Mariners shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt. Folks, this is your new shortstop. Betancourt is currently rehabbing from a hamstring injury, but when he returns, he will almost certainly become KC's regular at the most important defensive position on the field. Why is this such bad news? Well, Betancourt is 27, which means he is entering his offensive peak and should already be at his defensive peak. And, according to my system, he is the second-worst player in baseball this season.read more

NASCAR: It's JJ time!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:45 CDT

Brian Vickers 5th PoleI’m picking Jimmie Johnson in Chicagoland tomorrow night. Should he win, it will be his third victory of the season – which would tie him with Kyle Busch and Mark Martin and likely move him into second in the points race – just behind Tony Stewart and just ahead of Jeff Gordon. I’ve picked the winner 3 of 18 races so far… so obviously, JJ won’t win it. But, you never know. I’m batting 1,000 in the last… one race.read more