Kansas.com: KU Jayhawks

BASKETBALL

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

Kansas signee Travis Releford is one of 14 finalists for the U.S. boys 18-under national team, USA Basketball announced Thursday. Releford made the four-person cut after workouts in Washington, D.C., this week. The 12-member team will be finalized by Tuesday.

• Michael Beasley returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Thursday, one day after the No. 2 overall pick in last week's NBA Draft was knocked out of his first official summer-league workout with a chest bruise.

Beasley was inadvertently elbowed by a teammate during a defensive drill about 45 minutes after Miami opened its summer-league camp Wednesday morning. He was taken to a doctor for evaluation and treatment, and did not participate with his summer Heat teammates in practices Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

• Gilbert Arenas has agreed to re-sign with the Washington Wizards for $111 million over six years, turning down a maximum deal of $127 million so that his team could have more financial flexibility, the Washington Times and the Washington Post reported.

• All-Star guard Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets reached a contract agreement for a three-year extension with a player's option for a fourth year. The total value of the deal is $68 million.

Jayhawks' move across campus means one stop for all things football

RICK PLUMLEE — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:10 CDT

Amazing how much an office can collect in 6 ½ years.

"A lot of junk," Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said.

With the move into football's new, $31-million digs across campus and adjacent to Memorial Stadium, Mangino and his staff have been busy sorting through all their stuff.

"Some things are just better to be thrown out," Mangino said. "I could start a bonfire."

A little housecleaning hassle is fine with Mangino because he's thrilled to be finally getting into the 80,000-square foot Anderson Family Football Complex.

Lawsuit against Collins postponed until August

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:08 CDT

A hearing on a civil lawsuit against Kansas basketball guard Sherron Collins was pushed back Wednesday to Aug. 1.

Also, the woman who initiated the suit filed a motion this week in Douglas County District Court that Collins showed "reckless indifference" by not responding to two letters her lawyer sent him in March about making a personal injury claim, and then ignoring the filing of the lawsuit.

The matter deals with allegations by a 35-year-old Lawrence woman that Collins sexually assaulted her in an elevator inside Jayhawker Towers on the KU campus in May 2007. The woman was awarded a default judgment in excess of $75,000 on June 16 because Collins failed to appear.

Through his lawyer, Collins filed a counterclaim to the lawsuit on June 18. In the counterclaim, Collins denied he assaulted the woman and asserted he missed the last court date because he wasn't aware a previously hired lawyer had stopped representing him.

Judge Jack Murphy originally set next Tuesday to hear arguments from both sides, then pushed it back to July 15 before moving it again to Aug. 1.

Morris twins arrive at Kansas

RICK PLUMLEE — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

The Morris twins have been delayed in getting to their new basketball home by academic issues.

But Marcus and Markieff Morris finally arrived at Kansas and began summer classes Monday. They still have yet to qualify academically, although perhaps the tall lads from Philadelphia will get bonus points for knowing the answer many incoming KU recruits don't know.

Who was the famous big man from Philly that came to KU?

"Wilt the Stilt," Marcus answered without hesitation.

"I knew that," Markieff said.

BASKETBALL

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Unlike five of his former Kansas teammates, point guard Russell Robinson wasn't taken in last week's NBA Draft. But Robinson has at least cracked the door with the NBA after accepting an invitation to play for the Houston Rockets' summer-league team.

"You have to take your opportunities where you can," said Robinson, who worked out twice for the Rockets in recent weeks. "If this doesn't work out, I still have some possibilities in Europe. But I'm going to work hard to make this work."

• Missouri coach Mike Anderson has agreed to release junior guard Keon Lawrence from his scholarship. Lawrence averaged more than 29 minutes in 2007-08 and was third on the team with 11 points per game.

• Matee Ajavon scored a season-high 24 points in host Houston's 75-61 victory over Indiana.... Host San Antonio capitalized on Seimone Augustus' absence to beat Minnesota 73-65 in a WNBA game. Augustus (sprained toe) missed her first game after 82 straight starts.... In Chicago, Candice Dupree scored 18 points as Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak with a 76-59 victory over Detroit.

BOXING

BASKETBALL

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

• The U.S. basketball team tried on new uniforms and went through a two-hour practice in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"We just wanted to start putting our offense in and run shots and the speed at which we're trying to play, and let them interact," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "That's a big thing -- understanding the magnitude of all this."

KU's Robinson gets shot

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Draft night drama for Jayhawks

RICK PLUMLEE — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

As Bill Self's jubilation of Kansas winning a national title was soon followed by the reality that departures from that team would leave huge holes in talent and numbers, the KU coach found encouragement in Sherron Collins and Mario Chalmers.

"We'll still have one of the best backcourts around," Self would often say.

Now Collins is tangled in legal woes and Chalmers is gone to the NBA -- as a second-round draft pick by Miami. Collins' troubles over the alleged assault of a woman could be sorted during his trial July 8, but there's no question about the other half of that backcourt.

From Self's vantage point, that was a lot to lose for a second rounder.

"And with eligibility left," Self said.

DRAFT AFTERMATH

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

The NBA Draft turned into a tradeathon Thursday and Friday. Here's what pick each player from Kansas and Kansas State was taken, and what team he finally landed with:

2. Michael Beasley, Miami

13. Brandon Rush, Indiana

27. Darrell Arthur, Memphis

34. Mario Chalmers, Miami

Five Jayhawks' names called

RICK PLUMLEE — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:47 CDT

Thursday night's NBA Draft left three Kansas players with a swirl of emotions with Brandon Rush on the high end, Darrell Arthur somewhere in the middle and Mario Chalmers feeling chilly as a second-rounder.

"I guess that's why they say you never know what's going to happen in the draft," Arthur said after slipping to the 27th pick of the first round.

To be sure, it was a wheeling-dealing night for the ex-Jayhawks. Rush, Arthur and Chalmers were all involved with trades or proposed trades. Arthur apparently will end up with Houston, Rush at Indiana and Chalmers at Miami.

When it was all over, five players off KU's national championship team were drafted. In the second round, forward Darnell Jackson went to Miami with the 52nd pick and center Sasha Kaun landed at No. 56 with Cleveland.

For Rush, the night brought just about everything he could want. Not only was he a lottery pick, going with the 13th pick to Portland, but he was then part of a proposed five-player trade that will send him to Indiana where he could join his older brother, Kareem, who is an unrestricted free agent this year.

Title enhances KU draft stock

RICK PLUMLEE — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:35 CDT

A year ago, Florida followed up back-to-back NCAA basketball titles by having three of its players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Tonight, Kansas is expected to have three players off its national championship team taken in the opening round.

Is there a connection?

"Winning covers a lot of intangibles," Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. "Potential and talent are the big factors. But a guy can certainly improve his stock if he's been a factor on a team that has won it all."

Brown's 1988 Jayhawks won it all and the star of the show, Danny Manning, was the No. 1 pick in that year's draft. Although Manning was also the national player of the year, it has been debated for years whether KU's championship might have boosted his stock a notch or two in the draft.

Last year, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah cashed in on winning big. After leading the Gators to consecutive NCAA championships, they not only were drafted in the first round but were selected in the first nine picks.

Sports in brief

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:20 CDT

Former Bradley coach Buddy Foster was named associate softball head coach at Kansas on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL

The Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday signed offensive tackle Barry Richardson to a three-year contract.

The Chiefs selected Richardson with the first of two sixth-round picks in this year's NFL Draft. Terms of the deal were not released.

• The NFL is looking into the March 6 arrest of Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall on a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly hitting his girlfriend while staying in Atlanta. The arrest was reported in Wednesday's editions of the Denver Post. Marshall's girlfriend filed an affidavit in Fulton County claiming Marshall hit her in the mouth and eye on March 4.

Kaun is heading to Russia

RICK PLUMLEE — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:43 CDT

When the dust settles from the NBA Draft later this week, center Sasha Kaun could very well become the highest-paid pro player off Kansas' national championship team.

And Kaun won't even be signing an NBA contract.

That's because over the weekend, Kaun decided to at least begin his pro career in his native Russia and agreed to a three-year contract with Central Sports Club of Army in Moscow.

"This is a great situation," Kaun said Monday.

No kidding.

Bowen is made for KU

RICK PLUMLEE — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:41 CDT

He walked on as a Kansas football player not once but twice and managed the unusual feat of being retained as a KU assistant off a fired staff.

All under the microscope of his hometown.

So that pretty much makes Clint Bowen the perfect fit for his new job as the Jayhawks' sole defensive coordinator.

"There's not much Clint can't do," said Troy Morrell, coach at Butler Community College, where he and Bowen were teammates in 1991.

KU made a living with unsung guys on the way to its record-setting 12-1, Orange Bowl-victory season in 2007, including many on a defense that ranked fourth nationally in points allowed and 12th in total defense.

Collins seeks to reverse decision

RICK PLUMLEE — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

A lawyer for Kansas basketball player Sherron Collins has filed a motion to set aside a default judgment against him in a civil lawsuit.

The motion, filed by Chris Burger of Lawrence, stated that Collins didn't intentionally ignore notices of the lawsuit when it was filed May 14. Instead, Collins thought a previously hired attorney was handling the matter and was not aware that attorney had stopped representing him.

In a counterclaim to the lawsuit, Collins also denied the allegations that he assaulted the woman who filed the lawsuit.

The woman claimed that in May 2007, Collins exposed himself in an elevator at the Jayhawker Towers on the KU campus and rubbed against her. She sought damages in excess of $75,000 for mental and physical problems.

Earlier this week, Douglas County District Judge Jack Murphy granted a default judgment because Collins failed the legal requirement of responding to the lawsuit within 20 days after the suit was filed. The judgment was not based on the merits of the case.

Little eager for start

RICK PLUMLEE — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:41 CDT

Mario Little had barely finished his stretches Wednesday afternoon before he bounded up the steps of the stands at the Horejsi Center to give Cindy Self a hug.

"Just wanted to get reacquainted with my new family," Little said.

Never hurts to impress the coach's wife, either. And especially on this day since NCAA rules prevented Bill Self from watching the scrimmage.

Little was the latest arrival for a Kansas basketball team that returns only four scholarship players from its national title run. There's a lot of work to be done.

But while most of the other newcomers have been in town for at least two weeks, working out and practicing together, Little had some unfinished classroom business to finish before he could graduate from Chipola Junior College in Florida and meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

DA: Collins investigation not spurred by civil lawsuit

RICK PLUMLEE — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:40 CDT

A request for additional investigation into an alleged sexual assault by Kansas basketball player Sherron Collins in May 2007 was made eight months ago and was not spurred by a recent civil lawsuit regarding the allegations, the Douglas County District Attorney said Tuesday.

District Attorney Charles Branson said a request was made "months ago" to the KU police to obtain additional lab testing from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. That request was forwarded within a few days to the KBI, according to the KU police.

Upon further checking, Cheryl Wright, assistant to Branson, said one request for a lab test was sent to the KBI in July 2007. Results of that test were completed and given to the DA, but Branson's office requested a second lab test in October 2007.

Wright said the DA's office was still awaiting results of the second lab test.

Branson said the KBI has been slow in processing lab work, noting that he recently had to request a continuance in a murder trial because he had not received lab results.

Civil lawsuit decision goes against KU's Collins

RICK PLUMLEE — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

A judge ruled Monday against Kansas basketball guard Sherron Collins in a civil lawsuit over an alleged sexual assault of a woman that took place in an elevator more than a year ago.

Douglas County District Judge Jack Murphy ruled in favor of the woman, granting her a judgment in excess of $75,000. An exact amount will be set at a July 8 hearing.

Jim Wisler, the woman's attorney, asked the judge to rule for his client because Collins had not filed a legal response to the lawsuit that was first filed May 14.

The Eagle does not identify victims of alleged sex crimes.

Although criminal charges have not been filed, the door is still open for criminal action on the incident. Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson has requested further investigation by the KU police, which took the initial report the day after the incident.

Jayhawks' Chalmers will stay in draft

RICK PLUMLEE — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:38 CDT

Mario Chalmers finally made official Sunday what just about everyone knew would happen six weeks ago when the Kansas junior guard declared for the NBA draft.

"I'm staying in," Chalmers said Sunday.

Or as KU coach Bill Self said, "If they declare, you're pretty sure they're going to stay gone."

Nonetheless, Chalmers dragged out the process to almost the last minute. Today is the deadline for underclassmen that haven't hired an agent to pull their name out of draft and retain their college eligibility.

Chalmers now officially becomes the third player off KU's national championship team who has left early for the draft, joining junior Brandon Rush and sophomore Darrell Arthur.

KU's Anderson finishes third in 200

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Kansas' Nickesha Anderson finished her collegiate career with a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash on Saturday at the NCAA track and field championships. Anderson posted a time of 22.91 seconds in the finals.

The Jayhawks finished 15th in the women's team standings.

Kansas senior Crystal Manning finished seventh in the triple jump and teammate Stephanie Horton finished eighth in the shot put.

Walter Dix won his third consecutive 200-meter title and led Florida State to its third straight men's team crown.

"We came out and gave a great effort," Dix said. "Three-peat, I'm proud of that."