(Editors note: This column appears in the February edition of Kansas City Sports and Fitness Magazine, available across the KC metro.)
Rare is the occasion that Kansas basketball fans are wringing their hands in February. But if the calendars second month truly is the darkest month, Jayhawkers from Olathe to Dodge City could find themselves very bored come March. Thats because the 2005-06 edition of KU hoops is a little like an early version of Windows. Sure, you can see the potential, but it sill has some serious flaws.
By late last month, this team was contiunally struggling with finding a regular rotation, getting production from its youngsters, juggling fractured egos and playing consistent basketball. The departure of McDonalds All-American Micah Downs signfied the official dyke break at the KU dam. Here was a symbol of Bill Selfs incredible recruiting touch and the outside shooting this team so depserately needs, leaving the program for unspecified reasons. Publicly the program said Downs returned home to Seattle to -quote- resolve some personal issues. But, itŐs not uncommon in todayŐs collegiate sporting world for this manufactured line to simply conceal a players frustration with his or her situation.
The highly-touted Downs averaged just 4.3 points per game for Selfs squad and was a complete non-factor by the time KU fans were returning their unwanted Christmas gifts. He played a total of just 18 minutes in four of KansasŐ games after the holiday, showing a shorter shelf life than Furbies. Frustration with his playing time first reared its head in the McDonalds game last March, when Downs complained after getting eleven minutes of work. -I don't know why I wasn't getting minutes,- he griped. -I'm just as good as anybody here. It definitely soured the game for me. When I was in there, I was having fun, but this kind of ruins the whole thing.-
Transfer speculation soared as Downs took out a mortgage on Selfs personal doghouse. Cemented at the end of the bench even as the Hawks struggled to find any outside scoring touch or successfully attack zone defenses, KU fans counted down until Downs inevitably took his services elsewhere. But Downs hasnt been the only Baby Jay not pulling his share of the load. Sophomore forward C.J. Giles became buried at the end of Selfs bench as well, playing five measely minutes in the 96-54 whitewash of Nebraska at the Phog. Self later noted Giles absence from class earlier that week as his reason for not playing him, though itŐs been clear Self has been disappointed all season with GilesŐ focus, work ethic and production.
McDonalds All-American point guard Mario Chalmers never grew into his floor general role, continually appearing overmatched by opposing defenses and unable to get the offense into any type of flow. Chalmers was clearly more comfortable as the off-guard, content with scoring points but assuming no responsibility with running the offense. This has left a mishmash of point play, including sophomore Russell Robinson, senior Jeff Hawkins and even occasionally freshman Brandon Rush as the initiator of the offense.
Sophomore big man Sasha Kaun has also been a subject of frustration for Self, providing awkward, robotic play in the paint and no consistent low-post scoring option. Plus, freshman forward Julian Wright, has fallen woefully short of his -Big 12 Newcomer of the Year- expectations, struggling to find a comfort level or identity on the court. But while the kids deserve plenty of blame for their lack of production, frustrating practice habits and KUs spotty play, Self canŐt get a K-Tag free pass. These are the canned goods he stocked his pantry with, these are the ingredients he decided on.
Kansas never has to eat other programs leftovers, all the Baby Jays were highly recruited prospects. When you walk into kids living rooms and speak with them, their families and coaches, you should get a pretty good idea what type of character and mental makeup theyll bring at the next level. It was clear Self assembled a cast of high school alpha dogs, but did he ignore some chemistry shortcomings for dazzling potential and immediate returns? Its looking more that way every day in Lawrence. One things for certain. The alpha dogs remaining are in for a dog fight the rest of this season and thatŐs something the KU faithful arent used to watching. Carpal tunnel syndrome is on high alert for the state of Kansas. Theres plenty more hand wringing to come.
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
(Editors note: This column appears in the February edition of Kansas City Sports and Fitness Magazine, available across the KC metro.)
