Jankovich returns to KSU roots

KU aide played at K-State from 1979 to 1982

Manhattan ? Cheered wildly from 1979 to 1982, when he helped Kansas State defeat Kansas University in men’s basketball six times in nine games, Tim Jankovich was jeered by some Wildcat basketball fans last season.

“It was the students yelling at me,” said Jankovich, now in his second year as a KU assistant coach. “I thought it was kind of funny, really. For the most part, people were great.”

The Jayhawks posted a 78-70 victory Jan. 28, 2004, in Bramlage Coliseum.

While Jankovich was playing in the backcourt for KSU coach Jack Hartman, the Wildcats defeated KU in old Ahearn Fieldhouse in 1982. The ‘Cats won again in Ahearn in 1983, but they haven’t defeated KU in Manhattan since.

The Jayhawks have won 21 straight over their longtime geographic rival in Manhattan — and 16 in a row in Bramlage Coliseum.

“From my perspective, that’s an amazing number,” Jankovich said. “Even bad luck doesn’t get that done. It’s as hard to explain as anything I’ve seen. It’s one of the most inexplicable things I’ve seen in my basketball lifetime.”

Jankovich realizes the ‘Cats someday will defeat KU again.

“I know it’d be a tremendous boost to their team and fans and, of course, it is going to happen,” Jankovich said. “It’s not going on indefinitely. Hopefully, for our sake, it’s not Wednesday.”

Jankovich was asked if tonight’s game meant more to KSU than to KU.

Kansas University coach Bill Self, center, draws up a play as assistant Tim Jankovich, right, watches during KU's game against Kansas State on Jan. 14, 2004, in Allen Fieldhouse.

“We sure hope it doesn’t,” Jankovich said. “This game … you look at our path the rest of the way, it’s a big game. The big picture for us now is the conference championship.

“We don’t care about streaks. We don’t care really that much about rivalries. We are trying to win the conference championship. This is really a critical game. We’ve got a lot at stake.”

KU (18-1 overall, 8-0 Big 12 Conference) enters with a two-game lead over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in the league standings. KSU (13-6, 3-5) needs a big win to impress the NCAA Tournament committee.

“They are good … a very talented team,” Jankovich said of the ‘Cats. “We’ve watched a lot of film on them, and I’m impressed. Their game Saturday (70-60 home loss to Colorado) probably does not help our cause. I know they felt they stubbed their toe. They are better than that. I know that they’ll be focused after a loss.”

Jankovich helped prevent a KU loss in the Jayhawks’ 73-61 win over Missouri on Jan. 31. That’s the game in which he suggested KU switch to a zone defense to slow the Tigers.

The zone worked.

“Coach is nice enough to not mention the times we (assistants) suggest things that don’t work,” Jankovich said. “Believe it or not, we’ve suggested things and he’s ` them and they don’t work. We’re not 100 percent on our suggestions.”

The 1-2-2 zone or 3-2 zone basically is the same the late Hartman used at KSU.

“It’s not exactly the same. It’s similar,” Jankovich said.

Of the zone, Jankovich quipped: “We’ve played it three minutes in 2005, and now we’re going to make a story (in media) on it. Let’s make a story on the grape Gatorade we broke out the last game.”