KU’s road to Final Four goes through St. Louis
Jayhawks opt for bus ride to regional semifinal site
Kansas University’s road to the Final Four is being traversed by bus.
On Wednesday, Jayhawk basketball players and coaches will board a charter bus for the second time in as many weeks — busing, not flying — to St. Louis for Friday’s NCAA Tournament regional semifinal matchup against Alabama-Birmingham.
Tipoff is 6:10 p.m. at the Edward Jones Dome.
KU coach Bill Self said the bus ride was for convenience, not superstition.
“By the time you do all the stuff to get to Topeka and have a little sendoff and go through security and expect a 45-minute delay, it’s almost the same time driving as flying,” Self said Monday, the day after KU’s 78-63 second-round victory over Pacific at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.
“We’ll break up the trip, watch some movies, go at our own speed and eat somewhere along the way,” Self added of the 287-mile trip to St. Louis, which should be a four- to five-hour drive.
The trip to St. Louis will be the highlight of the Jayhawks’ spring break.
On Monday, Self rewarded KU players for their work in K.C. by giving them a day off of practice.
“We let them sleep in, and we lifted weights at 2 o’clock, and they all had to come by the office and say ‘Hi’ to the coaches, and we’ll eat together tonight,” Self said late Monday afternoon.
KU’s road to Final Four goes through St. Louis
6Sports video: Bring on the Blazers“I wanted them to get away from basketball for a day.”
As far as the one-on-one meetings with the players, they were low-key.
“It was just to make sure everything is OK, ‘What can we do to help you guys this week.’ That kind of stuff,” Self said. “We’re basically getting everything organized for the rest of the week.”
The organization means acquiring and watching tape of 22-9 UAB, the No. 9-seeded team in the St. Louis Regional.
“We had six or seven tapes on them already. We’ll try to get more. We have plenty to go on,” Self said. “They are a really good team. There’s a reason they tied for first in their league (Conference USA).”
And there’s a reason the Blazers beat No. 1 seed Kentucky, 76-75, Sunday.
“Kentucky’s guards are as quick as any team in America and (after the game) they say they couldn’t match up with UAB’s quickness. That catches your attention,” Self said, applauding the UAB backcourt of Mo Finley and Carldell Johnson, dynamos at 5-foot-11 and 5-9 respectively.
“We have to be alert or their speed and aggressiveness will take a toll on us.”
He said UAB reminded him a little bit of Illinois-Chicago and TCU — quick, athletic teams.
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Injury update: KU junior power forward Wayne Simien appeared to injure his shoulder when he had his shot blocked in Sunday’s game.
Not so. He tweaked his strained groin, but was able to continue playing and is expected to practice some this week, and, of course, play Friday.
“It’s not going to get better,” Self said, repeating a theme about injuries to Simien, Keith Langford (knee), Jeff Graves (knee), J.R. Giddens (foot), Bryant Nash (foot), David Padgett (foot) and Jeff Hawkins (back). “But if we play like we’ve been playing, it’s OK. A lot of teams deal with injuries this time of year.”
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Great seats: KU walk-ons Stephen Vinson and Brett Olson sat in the stands last weekend, not on the bench, because of a rule that allows just 17 individuals to sit on the floor and just 15 to suit for games.
KU has reserved the slots for 10 players, Self, his three full-time assistants, Danny Manning and Ben Miller of the basketball office and trainer Bill Cowgill.
“Stephen and Brett understand,” Self said. “When you carry 16 players, it’s a risk you run during NCAA Tournament time.”
Self recalled that in 1986 he sat in the stands during KU’s run to the Final Four.
“I’m a G.A. (grad assistant) at Kansas. I’m a coach and I sat in the stands during 85-86,” Self said. “It just goes with the territory. They are just as much a part of the team. They don’t get to warm up. I know that’s a thrill for everybody, but it’s the rules. If they don’t sit, it means a coach does. All our coaches are going to be down there, that’s for sure.”
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Roberts interviews: Kansas associate head coach Norm Roberts had a 1-hour, 15-minute interview for the vacant Southern Methodist University head coaching job Monday.
Others who were interviewed by the 10 person search committee were: Jimmy Tubbs, Oklahoma; Doug Wojcik, Michigan State; and Eric Reveno, Stanford. It was believed more candidates will be interviewed today. Sources have said Tubbs appears to be the leading candidate. Other candidates include Jeff Jones (American University), and James Dickey (Oklahoma State). The Dallas Morning News reports that Texas assistant Frank Haith has pulled his name from the running.