Varsity Kansas - The Blog

I had to get my NCAA tournament picks out there for public consumption and mockery. I’ve got two 11 seeds in the Elite 8, both from the Big 12 — Kansas State and Baylor. And for whatever reason, I feel like Kansas State is more of a reach than Baylor. The Bears have really good guards, also the strength of their likely first three opponents — Purdue, Xavier and Duke. That will make it easier, I perceive, for Baylor to control the tempo, score a lot of points and possibly pull off some upsets. That’s just how I see it — I’m not an expert or even a semi-expert by any means.

As far as Kansas State goes, for all that talent to be wasted on an 11 seed is a shame to me. I haven’t liked Frank Martin as a coach since he started at KSU, and I present the last month of the season as justification to that feeling. Since KSU beat Kansas, I’ve compared the ‘Cats to the Syracuse team that won it all a few years ago. Like this KSU team, that team was loaded with talented freshmen, including Carmelo Anthony. But Syracuse had a coach that could make it all work, Jim Boeheim. The ‘Cats, to me, are just undisciplined, and that lies on the coach. I don’t think the rest of the team, guys who are used to being The Man, know how to play with Beasley, who’s obviously on another level. I don’t think they like to defer to him and let him take the big shots. I think everybody on that team wants to do it himself. They’ve still got time to figure it out, and judging by my pick of them into the Elite 8, I guess I think they will. But I’m not so sure.

Anyway, my Final 4 is Tennessee, Kansas, Texas and UCLA. I think Kansas is the most likely No. 1 seed to reach the Final 4 because they don’t have a real challenge on the way to getting there. If the Jayhawks meet Georgetown, I don’t see any way the Hoyas can keep up. Same with Wisconsin. Memphis doesn’t shoot free throws well enough, which I think will catch up with the Tigers. I like Tennessee just a smidge better than North Carolina because of the senior Chris Lofton, and UCLA may even slip up against Texas A&M in the second round. But I hope not, because I got ‘em in the Final 4.

by joanna

I’m really impressed with some of the dialogue on the All-Metro question I asked, so I thought I’d do the same with All-State boys and girls. Did anyone surprise you? Do you think someone should have been on the team? Back up your reasoning. The process that we go through isn’t just picking off the top of our heads. We’re looking for the best players — not based on potential, what they’ll do next year — but what they did this year. We discussed, we talked about it, we backed up our choices with stats, etc. Do the same with your choices.

By the way, I just wanted to respond to two comments that came up previously — one dealt with was there a second team All-Metro. We only pick one team for All-Metro, be it baseball or football or basketball. The other question was more of a statement, regarding my saying that All-Metro would run on Friday, All-Metro today. This person took a previous response I’d written about my making a mistake about saying when a story would run. Stories and All-State/All-Metro are different. Stories can be bumped based on space or timeliness. All-State and All-Metro run the same time every year - one week after the season ends - which is why I can say when it will run. We plan each year space-wise for the same All-Metro sections and All-State sections.

Again, let’s keep the conversation going here on the All-Staters.

by joanna

I’m well aware that I’m setting myself up here as any disagreement on the All-Metro team — boys and girls — being that Jeff and I picked the teams. Then again, I think after the past week, I’m immune to the haters. (Wow, I’ve never been reamed before after a state championship story, but I sure heard about it after I wrote about Southeast. Although they all were more upset that Bob Lutz wasn’t there — I didn’t know he was so loved — and that there was only one photo of Southeast, even though it was on the cover of the section.)

Anyway, tell me who you’d want on either team. But you have to back it up.  Why should this person be on the team AND who would you take off and why. I think this is fair because this is what Jeff and I went through as we sorted through the ballots from coaches and discussed who were the best picks.

Have at it!

by joanna

Now I do not want your Jayhawk player of the year. I want your Kansas state player of the year. Not Kansas STATE player of the year, but your high school player from the state of Kansas. Why was that so difficult?

Name your boys player and your girls player. And don’t just name one boy and no girl. Or vice versa. Come on. Get in the spirit of it.

I’ll get it started.

Boys — Jordan Cyphers, Wichita Southeast. He not only averaged 21.7 points, but he was key in Southeast winning the 6A title.

Girls — Bailey Gee, Andover Central. This was a little difficult, because there are some wonderful girls players in the state, but Gee led her team to an undefeated record and the 4A title.

Let me hear your thoughts.

by joanna

It’s spring break for most of the Wichita area next week, with some getting Friday off this week, too. So where are you going? Anyplace exotic? Maybe Blockbuster Video so you can sit at home all day every day watching movies?

Gone are my days of going to South Padre Island. The days before a real job and a family. Good memories, kind of fading, though.

It’s pretty quiet around here right now. All-Metro runs tomorrow (Friday) and All-State will run on Sunday. That will have our top five players for boys and girls and our all-class teams. Should be interesting to get your point of view.

by joanna

Check out this update  on the controversy over the female official who wasn’t allowed to officiate a boys basketball game at St. Marys Academy because she’s female. I’m still blown away by this situation. How did the scheduler of officials not know that women weren’t permitted to be in a position of power over women? I’m not even going to get into the beliefs of the church — they’re entitled to their beliefs, regardless of what I think about them. As a female sportswriter, I’m pretty sure you can guess what I think of those beliefs.

What’s your take? There are plenty of women officiating boys games in the Wichita area and I’ve never heard a complaint. AND the world did not end. Fascinating.

At a girls tournament game in Newton, three women officiated the game. I guess that was the first time it happened. I think it’s pretty cool.

by joanna

We  have basketball behind us — kind of sad, isn’t it? Two of my favorite things are covering football games and basketball games on Friday nights.

Now it’s time for the all important all-league, all-metro, all-everything. Check out Friday’s paper and we’ll have All-City League, All-AVCTL Divisions I, II, III, IV, Central Plains, MCAA. We’ll have it all. And we’ll run our All-Metro teams.

Who should be All-Metro? You name the team.

For that matter, The Eagle’s All-State teams will run on Friday. You pick the team. How close can you get? Who should be coach of the year for boys? for girls? Now, don’t tell me your five friends or the girls with the best haircuts. I want you  to name who’s the best.

Let’s take this one step further. Tell me who’s the best point guard, best forward, best coach. Tell me who’s the biggest trash talker, who’s the nicest person, who’s got the greatest potential.

Tell me your thoughts!

by joanna

We’re all of 24 hours past the state tournaments across the state, and I already want to look ahead. But it could be a good discussion. Before I get there, though, let me rehash the championship picks that Jeff Lutz and I made last week heading into the tournaments.

On the boys side, I picked every champion in all six classes. Ha! I am the woman. Jeff picked four boys champions — he missed South Gray in 1A and Colgan in 2A, but did pick both finalists in 3A. On the girls side, I picked three girls champions — I missed 6A (who would have though Lawrence?), 5A (I should have given Mac more props) and 1A (South Gray won). Jeff had two girls champs — he got 4A and 3A right. Jeff didn’t have any of the finalists in 6A girls, neither of us had the 1A finalists. I picked the 3A finalists.

So I win.

On to next year. I’d say that Lawrence girls will be an obvious pick to open the season at No. 1. The Lions had just two seniors and return Haley Parker, who made the game-winning shot, and Tania  Jackson, a 6-1 forward. Olathe South should be fine, too, since the Falcons only had three seniors. Wichita Heights will need to prove itself because it loses Amanda Orloske and Jennifer Lane, but there is a lot of talent on that team.

On the boys side, Southeast loses Adonis Gantt, Jordan Cyphers, Cortez Barnes, Taylor Salome, D’Andre Tomlin. That’s a lot to lose. The Buffs will be fine, like usual. Joe Mitchell is back and so is Cecil Shaw. East loses several key seniors, including starters Eric Hardyway, Jawanza Poland and Garrius Holloman. The Aces will be fine.  Heights will be a team to watch, too. Yes, the Falcons lose Kelton Marshall and Irvin Hollinger, but everyone else is back. That includes Terry Webb and Dorrian Roberts and Austin Bahner, two year varsity players right now. Brandon Walker has played for nearly two full seasons on varsity. Plus, the Falcons add Perry Ellis from Brooks and Gavin Thurman from Stucky.

In 5A, Carroll girls return all but Teresa Zienkewicz, Emporia loses three seniors, Miege loses three seniors, Topeka Seaman loses one, Great Bend loses two. Could be a lot of the same teams back. On the boys side, Highland Park loses four seniors, but Rico Richardson is back. Carroll boys lose key players in Brett Steven and Kevin Klein, but Blake Bell will be back with Jon Peck and Joe Brown. That’s a pretty good inside corps.

In 4A, Hayden boys lose four seniors, but bring back Jeff Reid. Colby had just two seniors and Andover loses four. Girard brings back Tanner Poppe. In girls, Andale only had one senior. Andover Central loses Bailey Gee and Brit Chamberlin and Sarah Huelskamp. Tiffany Bias comes back, though, along with Libby Walker.

In 3A girls, Cherryvale had just one senior and Collegiate loses two.

I’m going to stop there. Feel free to weigh in on who I missed or who you think will win it all next year.

First things first — whoever caught those Adonis Gantt signed sneakers (or “kicks” as the young people nowdays call them — trainers if you’re British) please contact me immediately. I want them. And I’m not joking. Name your price and you’ve got a deal. Maximum 20 bucks. I love ya, ‘Donis, but I’ve got a budget.

Got two comments from my man Clay, a Bishop Carroll student who was the recipient of my black Sharpie the other night. I only use the Sharpies during basketball season, and I didn’t need the black one Saturday — wait, let’s back up. He needed it to make a sign, so I let him borrow it. Then about 10 minutes later I look over and go, “Where’s my Sharpie.” He went and got it and threw it at me, and like a moron I dropped it. I swear I have good hands, Clay — All-City baseball in 2001. Then after Carroll’s boys won Friday night, I tossed the Sharpie back with some words of encouragement for the game the next night. So he still has my black sharpie, which is all fine with me.

Anyway, it was a hectic four days up in Topeka. Not hectic bad, just busy. Stressful at times, but fun most of the time. Felt bad for the Carroll fans who had to sit through two losses. That had to hurt. Anyway, not a whole lot to say, just wanted to tell the Sharpie story and plea for A.G.’s shoes. And don’t think I’m not serious.

By Levi

So I kind of spaced this post out last night, and I apologize. But a great four days of hoops at Bramlage.

As I’m sure you know, Pittsburg Colgan got by St. John in the boys’ championship game last night. Pretty good game, but St. John couldn’t get any closer than three points in the third and fourth quarter. Frustrating for them. Tigers coach Clint Kinnamon was very upset about the free-throw differential (St. John shot 12 of them; Colgan 34).

He was about as dejected of a coach as I’ve seen after a loss. Really fascinating, but not surprising, change. He was in a fantastic mood after Friday night’s win, joking with us and such. But, wow, last night he was beaten down. I think he was about one question away from a “I don’t give a (crud) about North Carolina” statement.  

Tough day for St. John, losers in the boys’ and girls’ championship games, yesterday. And tough week for the MCL family — Ellis girls (out in the quarterfinals), and Osborne girls and Wakeeney boys (fourth place for both, only teams to lose twice).  Had fun with the blogging. Didn’t give a good effort yesterday, and I’m sorry for that, readers. But as St. John coach Dean Rausch said after his team’s loss yesterday, “Things tend to get better with age.” (Not sure if that applies, but we’ll end with it anyway.)