NCAA Tournament: March 2008 Archives

Being a sports journalist definitely has it's perks. We get great seats at events, access to coaches and players, decent food and accommodations, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. For me, 90 percent of why I love my job is because I love what I do, the off camera gig that is.

"We remind you again, that this is a working press area, cheering for either team is not allowed," the press box announcer scolds us hooligans on the eighth floor of Memorial Stadium during football games for the slightest, "Yes!"

"Gonzo journalist" Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, "So much for Objective Journalism. Don't bother to look for it here — not under any byline of mine; or anyone else I can think of."

Is that the case with telling me not to cheer? All for the sake of appearing objective? Guilty, on both counts. But is there a line between integrity in sports journalism and involvement? Your honor, I plead not guilty. The defense calls:

Ron Santo
Dickie V
John Kruk
Any other former player or coach currently employed by the media
Bob Knight, Bob Knight and Bob Knight

How's this for a transformation? Bob Knight goes from hating the media, "One or two steps above prostitution," as he once labeled our profession, to joining ESPN. How's that for a conflict of interest? But does that make his NCAA analysis any less correct? Nope.

In fact, if I'm hiring at ESPN I'm calling Joe Pa, Phil Jackson, Joe Torre and I might have even tried to sign A-Rod or David Beckham to a lucrative multi-billion dollar broadcasting contract. These folks have real-world experience in something no journalist straight out of any school has.

And to be honest, I'd rather listen to Charles Barkley or Steve Young on television than Justin O'Neal (who?) I'm not saying there aren't good journalists out there. More power to the Lisa Lings and Anderson Coopers of the world, but please, leave sports broadcasting to the pros... like Brett Favre (oh please oh please oh please...)

Putting together a post-game wrap up isn't exactly hard. All you need are some quotes from the press conference, a few highlight-reel plays, and some stats. Put these in some logical sequence and you can have yourself a pretty nice little segment recapping the game.

If you're at an NCAA tournament, statistics should not be hard to come by. And up until last night, we had no problem finding any number related to Kansas, Villanova, Wisconsin, or Davidson. Media guides were abundant and 10 minutes after game one between Wisconsin and Davidson ended, I had stats on the table in front of me.

Totally different story after the KU game. Being the final game of the night, all the media packed up and headed back to the bunker. The only problem with the setup here at Ford Field is that TV people have a workroom separate from radio and newspaper reporters. Normally we wouldn't complain about this, but we found out last night that the TV bunker gets no love around here.

We had no stats, no restrooms, and no caffeine to get us through the night. Upstairs in the radio/newspaper workroom these supplies were plentiful. I can live without the free food and Coke products, but I really need stats to be able to put together a decent story.

How hard is it to put a table outside the TV workroom with the final stats? Why should I have to go on a wild goose chase just to find out how many points Mario Chalmers put up? The big conversation last night was not about the game, but rather about how television seems to get lost in the shuffle.

I'm not quite sure how the media relations people forgot about TV last night. You couldn't miss the hum that the equipment in the bunker makes nor could you miss the guys shooting stand ups all over the building. Maybe tomorrow will be different, but more than likely I'll be running around in circles chasing the newsies for information that we should have equal access to.

For me, this is the most wonderful time of year. Baseball is getting under way, both NHL and NBA playoff races are heating up, I can head out to play some golf (finally!), and the NCAA Men's tournament is just the icing on the cake. But it's like that cake that has way too much icing; you end up scraping off the excess on the sides.

It never fails. I'll take the corner piece, please, because the icing on the side happens to be the Women's NIT. Now, I know no one cares about the NIT. The coverage share graph looks like pac-man when comparing the NCAA to the NIT. But there is as much madness at these lady's games as there is in their male counterparts.

Imagine you're an elite college basketball player for a moment. If you are really talented (and male), the NBA awaits. If you are a female, playing in your senior year, you're done when you lose.

With the expectations piled so high on the men's side at Kansas the shadow cast on the women is all but black as night. In East Lansing last night, there were maybe 50 KU fans, including Chancellor Bob, Jim Marchiony, Lew Perkins, Baby Jay, and the band.

Don't they at least deserve Big Jay on the road?

It felt like Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas and Michigan State took the game down to the wire and the exciting 58-54 finish was worthy of primetime ESPN coverage. Too bad they weren't there. But KUJH-TV was. We witnessed two teams drain themselves playing in a competition virtually no-one cares about, other than their parents, coaches, and teammates.

Afterward, Bonnie Henrickson looked more exhausted, more frustrated, or more disappointed than I've ever seen another coach; she looked like she had just played in the game herself. I could feel the frustration of Taylor McIntosh; heck of a way to end a career with underappreciated all-star effort. But there was optimism in Danielle McCray's eyes, despite the loss, the lady Jayhawks will be back next year.

I'm hoping for her sake more folks take notice of this not-so-hidden goldmine of talent. Hopefully if more fans get behind these ladies, they'll get that "sixth man" effect from the crowd that their male counterparts receive daily.

Its official…we're spoiled at KU. Almost anywhere we go, we can access the Internet for free. It may not be wireless, but every building you enter has some sort of computer-Internet access. After 24 hours in Detroit, we have yet to find free wireless Internet.

You would think that a swanky hotel (like the Marriott in Detroit) would have in-room access to wireless Internet since this is of course the official media hotel for the NCAA Midwest Regional. So when we called last night to get the Internet password, we were shocked when they told us it would be $12.99 per day. Rumor has it, the hotel lobby might have free wireless, but our room is on the 38th floor and the lobby is on the 3rd floor – not exactly convenient.

And do you think Ford Field would provide Internet access to the media for free (heck, we would even take a reduced rate at this point)? Of course not. Our Internet access at the game site costs an impressive $30 per day, per computer. Our not-so-cheap connection seems to be working well, but that's probably because we haven't tried to upload anything yet.

I always thought that being part of the media got you a bunch of perks…apparently Internet access isn't one of them. Sure, we can get all the popcorn and Coke products we want for free, but we weren't prepared to shell out the big bucks (that we don't have) for internet access that we have always had right at our fingertips at school.

So as we wrap up Day 1 in Detroit, we've decided that our best option might be to buy a Verizon or Sprint wireless card. I'm not exactly sure if that's in the budget or not, but for all of the problems that KUJH-TV Sports has encountered with internet access at sporting events this year, it may be the best solution to an ongoing problem. And just as a side note, we finally found free wireless…in East Lansing, two hours from Detroit.

As I sit in my apartment watching the 13-seed San Diego take on the 12-seed Western Kentucky, I think about how thankful I am Kansas wasn't playing in the Tampa Bay regional. I also reflect on the experience I was just blessed with. After one long four hour drive, that consisted of a lot of guessing and hoping, Kyle West and I safely made it home from Omaha. Like the day after any vacation I've ever been on, I woke up thinking I was still there. For a few seconds, I thought about what the tournament would be like today and how my stand-up and story would go. Then I remembered I was on 19th and Massachusetts Street and not a hotel across the street from the Qwest Center.

I know my friends will soon flock back to campus. They will roll in with a tan and some great stories, but I'll never wish, even for a second, I chose to go along with them.

Over the past week, from the Big 12 tournament semifinals and finals to the NCAA tournament first and second rounds in Omaha, I learned more about journalism than I have my entire time at Kansas. The experience I gained is irreplaceable. Although there is so much I could say about the experience, my last blog was much too long and I apologize to those of you who read it all the way through. As a reward I'll comprise a brief list of only the more remarkable things I was lucky enough to experience over the past week.

#1 Media buffets are awesome. At both the Big 12 and NCAA tournament the food was great. My taste buds still tingle when I think about the beef brisket in Kansas City or the Philly Cheese Steak in Omaha.

#2 Professionals get paid for a reason. Standing outside the Qwest Center I struggled to memorize my lines for the Kansas vs. Portland State post game stand-up. As I tried to pound the number of three pointers Kansas took into my head, I suddenly realized how much I had to learn. A reporter covering UNLV, and I'm not sure his name, set his tripod up just a few feet from my own. He then looked over his notes for only a minute or two and began to rattle off almost three minutes, although it felt like an eternity, of stand-up off the top of his head, on live television nonetheless. This sight was motivation for me. It made me realize that although I'm in the same media room as ESPN and CBS and Jay Marrioti, I'm definitely not even close to the same class. It comes through real world experience that can't be taught in even one of the best journalism school's classrooms. I'm so happy I've started to acquire first hand experience now, instead of later.

#3 Press conference questions aren't always good ones. As I would sit in on the press conferences following games, I realized that I've definitely heard better questions directed toward guest speakers in my Journalism-301 class than I did in the press conference following the Kansas/Portland State game. I think Bill Self and Darrell Arthur were questioned about the Jayhawks three point shooting in six out of the total 10 questions asked. I realized that if I'm here I shouldn't be afraid to ask questions, because in a conference like that a good question could contribute to everyone's stories.

#4 Time flies when you're having fun. Being on deadline for a solid four days straight can be stressful, however when it's all set and done, it's 100 percent worth it. Seeing the excitement of the NCAA tournament is priceless. The first round is the best, obviously. With media and fans from eight different teams the city is abuzz. Cal-State Fullerton and Portland State may have been just slightly under represented, but still, with seasons on the line every team is accounted for. Tension and adrenaline penetrates the air. I'm not saying it was as magical as the Allen Fieldhouse student section, but hey, nothing is.

… At least I tried to keep it short this time.

As I was browsing by the team's media guides, the box scores of games, and the play-by-plays of the first round games, I found something that surprised me... a press release of the United States Basketball Writer's Association men's All-American selections. Then I found something that did more than surprise me, it shocked me. Why are no Kansas players on the USBWA Men's All- American list? The three other 1-seeds all have one player on the first team. North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, UCLA's Kevin Love and Memphis' Chris Douglas- Roberts are all on the first team. The other first place team in the Big 12, Texas, and third place team, Kansas State each have one with D.J. Augustin and Michael Beasley both on the first team. Granted no player on the Jayhawks is Michael Beasley or Tyler Hansbrough or D.J. Augustin. If no player on Kansas is as good as any one them, then why I am still so shocked that none have made the first team or second for that matter?

Certainly Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur are better players than Shan Foster of Vanderbilt or D.J. White of Indiana. Am I right? I assume that the voters of the USBWA are more educated on this issue than myself. However, assuming has made an ass out of you and me before, so I could very well be wrong, or do I mean right. I just don't believe after watching Rush, Chalmers and Arthur for two years now that not one of them is a top ten player in the country in the minds of the media. Collegehoops.net currently has Arthur ranked as the 10th best NBA prospect, while Love is only the 15th. Maybe Arthur just has a higher ceiling in the NBA, I don't know I'm not a scout. Arthur pulled down seven boards went eight for 10 from the floor and scored 17 points yesterday versus Portland State. Yes, the Vikings were a 16 seed, but it's impressive none-the-less. Arthur has even outshined Love on the college courts this season all ready. He scored 16 points, gathered nine rebounds and went for six for nine from the court against Texas in Kansas' biggest game of the season, with a one seed on the line. Is that not worthy of All-American Status? Kevin Love only tallied 11 points and six rebounds versus the Longhorns earlier this year in a loss. Yes, Love has matured and improved a lot throughout the season and Arthur can be inconsistent, but I'm going to try to make a case for Arthur anyway.

First off, I must acknowledge a few things. I'm attacking someone I respect and believe is deserving of the honor, in Kevin Love. If you take a look at his wikipedia he has pretty much been racking in major accolades and awards since the day he stepped onto a basketball court. Secondly, I'm attacking someone named to the first team so that if I do succeed in my objective there is no question Arthur deserves to be there. If I fail, even though my pride or my fanhood as ESPN has so cleverly marketed it as, refuses to let me accept that as a possibility, I will still have a secondary objective out there. This secondary motive is my belief that if I can make you believe it is a close of enough argument between Arthur and Love, then I can make you believe that Arthur must certainly deserve to be placed on the second team. I kind of ruined the concept of that psychology by telling you my back up plan, but I've never been one for keeping secrets.

With that said I must face the difficult task that lies in front of me. Not only is the my first blog, but I must make Arthur look as good as a player the national media has been hyping up to you all year long. I'm lucky I've never been an individual to back down from a challenge. I could talk at two, I think I was potty trained sometime around there and even though I'm not sure if that's impressive or not, my point is that it was hard work but i did it anyway.

Now I have to put off my procrastination and attack Love with the force of a german blitzkrieg. I like beginning and closing my arguments with a cheap shot and put the facts in between the two. It's a strategy that's worked for me in the past so I've stuck with it.

Cheap Shot #1: Kevin Love has the better name. Now Shady is a pretty good nickname and King Arthur isn't a bad gimmick, but he just can't compete with the pure flowing three syllable marketing freight train of a name that Kevin should thank his parents for everyday.

Now I'll put out some stats that I feel are relevant. These stats are out of Arthur's and Love's control, however I feel like they affect the media and how they interpret the talent level of each player.

Both UCLA and Kansas are great teams. Both have a great starting five. However, a contrast most certainly exists when you look at whose sitting on each teams bench. UCLA has four players averaging double figures with Love leading the way with 17.1 points per game, but after that only one more Bruin contributes significant points. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who's name is certainly not as easy to market as Kevin Love's, is averaging 8.8 points per game. I'll leave the Marketing of Moute's name to ESPN. After Moute the most significant contributer is Lorenzo Mata-Real with 3.2 points per game. Even though after the starting five, the Bruins still have four players playing double digit minutes they don't take very many shots.

In contrast, Kansas has six players averaging 23 minutes or more a game and two more averaging double digits. Like UCLA, they have four players averaging double figures, led by Arthur with 13.1 points per game. However, Kansas has three players averaging 7.3 points per game or better. These three players, after Kansas' top four scorer's, average 24.1 points per game compared to the Bruin's next three who average 15.1 points per game. That's an extra nine points per game. If you distribute those leftover points equally among the Jayhawks' top four scorers Arthur's points per game would increase to 15.4 points per game. That would lessen the gap between Love and Arthur to just 1.7 points per game.

Some similarities between Arthur and Love definitely exist. Both players are part of a four-big man rotation, although Love averages 29.2 minutes compared to Arthur's 23.7 minutes. You could argue that the difference in time played would give Arthur more points, but you could also argue that his tendency to get into foul trouble has robbed himself of those minutes. The shooting percentage of both players is similar as well. Arthur shoots 54.1 percent from the floor, while Love shoots 55.7 percent.

However, there are some areas where Love and Arthur are very different. Love either finds a way to get to the line much more often than Arthur or the Pac-10 officials call games much tighter than the ones from the Big 12. I haven't watched enough Pac-10 basketball to know the answer to that, but Love has taken 127 more free throw shots than Arthur. Shooting 76.4% from the charity strip Love has 103 more points than Arthur does at the line. Now this could be a merit of Love's skill to draw fouls and more than likely is, but even if Arthur even took 50 more free throw shots his average points per game would go up one, to 16.4 and now the gap between the two is less than a point.

Cheap Shot #2: Kevin Love is a freshman. The media is in love with freshmen this year. Since players have been forced to play their freshman season, more talent has come in and I think the fact that Love is a diaper dandy makes his stats seem all the more impressive.

Now I must lay down my closing argument, because quite frankly this blog has gotten too long. I could draw out more stats and say what hypothetically could be but I don't think that will really prove anymore to you than I already have. My maIn point is that there are too many factors that go into account when making a decision like this, for anyone to really be sure if they made the right decision. I think the fact that Kansas is such an unselfish team, something the media has written and talked about all year long, really hurts them. When voting the USBWA should look at that. They might have factored that it in and they might not have but I can't remember the last time a three loss team from the Big 12 didn't have a first or second team All-American on their roster. In fact in the 12 years of Big 12 basketball there have been four teams that have finished a season with four losses or less. All four of those teams have had at least one player that was a first or second team All-American. Two of them had two players on a first or second team. This year's Jayhawk squad will finish with no more than four losses and has the chance to break the school record for wins, still it will have no All-Americans. Your honor I rest my case.