Gary Bedore’s KU Basketball Notebook

‘Phantom’ speaks about nickname

Sophomore Cole Aldrich revealed the teammate who nicknamed him, “Phantom of the Phog” for his face mask, which looks like the one worn in “Phantom of the Opera.”

“Quintrell did,” the man with the broken nose said of frosh forward Quintrell Thomas.

“They (teammates) were talking jokes the day I got the mask. Quintrell said, ‘Phantom of the Phog.’ I thought it was pretty cool.”

Aldrich said he’ll continue to wear his face mask “until my nose gets healthier and feels a lot better. Every once in a while I’ll see a ball and say, ‘Where did that go?’ But for the most part it’s been pretty good.”

Collins a Cousy finalist

KU junior Sherron Collins is one of 17 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented annually to the country’s top point guard. The last Jayhawk to be chosen as a finalist was Russell Robinson in 2006-07. Fans can vote for finalists at www.cousyaward.com.

Other finalists: Darren Collison, UCLA; Stephen Curry, Davidson; Toney Douglas, Florida State; Levance Fields, Pittsburgh; Jonny Flynn, Syracuse; Dominic James, Marquette; Ty Lawson, North Carolina; Eric Maynor, VCU; Patrick Mills, St. Mary’s; Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga; A.J. Price, UConn; Jeff Teague, Wake Forest; Virgil Buensuceso, BYU-Hawaii; Darren Duncan, Merrimack; David Arseneault, Grinnell; Sean Wallis, Washington U.

Self, GM Buford catch up

KU coach Bill Self chatted with San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford after Tuesday’s win in Waco.

“I said, ‘Bufe’ we are not far off from having a really good record.’ He said, ‘If you won those games (Syracuse, UMass) you wouldn’t have won where you are now (at Baylor) because young teams don’t get it yet,” Self said.

“Hopefully we are done learning those types of lessons (from losses), but we would not have won a national championship last year had we not lost to Oklahoma State in Stillwater. I am convinced of that,” Self added.

KU won 13 straight to close the 2007-08 season following a 61-60 loss to OSU last Feb. 23 at Gallagher-Iba Arena.