Kansas Jayhawks News
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello released his Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the upcoming college basketball season, slotting Kansas at No. 23.
He’s strong, he’s physical, he’s a menace in transition, he has great positional size — and he creates matchup problems because of his point-forward and playmaking ability. Coach Bill Self will give him every chance to carry the Kansas offense.
The site Through the Phog published a feature on forward Davion Adkins, including comments from assistant coach Norm Roberts.
“He is a typical Kansas forward that we would take, and we would say, ‘watch, by the end of his Sophomore year, he’s a heck of a player,’ and he’s a junior and he’s a really good player. That’s what he’s going to be because he’s got great upside.”
The article also highlights the challenge Kansas faces in retaining Adkins beyond this season amidst the transfer portal era.
However, none of this is necessarily a bad thing; not every player is bound for the one-and-done route. The biggest task for the Jayhawks is to now entice Adkins to remain with the program past this season and become what Roberts believes he can. In the at-times transactional NCAA, that may be easier said than done.
Meanwhile, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz recently took playful jabs at the state of Kansas, adding fuel to the renewed Border War rivalry.
Remember, this was a once-amazing rivalry that went dormant for 14 years and is now finally back. A lot has changed in those 14 years and it might not be quite as easy as you think for fans on either side to just rev things back up. So, take all the extra encouragement you can get to get riled up.
Joe Coles of the Deseret News previewed the football team, noting the significance of Year 6 under Lance Leipold.
While Leipold is far from the hot seat, his sixth year represents a vital turning point for his tenure. Kansas must get at least back to bowl eligibility, and while pundits don’t have the Jayhawks anywhere close to the top of the conference, even a six- or seven-win season would get Kansas back on the right track.
While tempered expectations are understandable given the program’s history, the mere fact that Kansas football has reached a point where a bowl game is the baseline reflects significant progress. Fans are hopeful for a pleasant surprise but remain cautious after years of irrelevance. Rock Chalk!
Former Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, and WIBW highlighted his career journey.
Then the superintendent asked:
“Hey, we’re in a bind with our high school volleyball situation. Would you help us out?”
Bechard’s answer came quickly.
“And I said, that’d be a big mistake for everybody involved.”
A few days later, the superintendent asked again.
“Would you reconsider?”
This time, Bechard gave volleyball a chance.