Friday, February 15, 2008
Kansas’ March 3 game against Texas Tech will be the last time Russell Robinson will hear the majority of 16,300 fans yell “New York, New York” when his hometown is announced. Darnell Jackson’s breakout season as a star for Kansas will be closer to ending. For center Sasha Kaun, guards Rodrick Stewart and Jeremy Case, who have shown flashes of brilliance at times this season, the clock is winding down.
Saturday’s game against Colorado is one of three remaining home games for the men’s basketball team. For the seniors, it is one of their last bouts in the “Phog.” For most of these seniors, it may be the height of their basketball careers as players. Jackson is the only senior who is projected to be drafted by an NBA team. Every player in this senior class needs to feel a heightened sense of urgency.
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It is the seniors who are most seasoned for leadership. Whether it’s late in a game and someone needs to step up to win a close game, or during practice when the team is slacking in performance, it is the seniors who need to assert themselves more than anyone.
It is the seniors who are most seasoned for leadership. Whether it’s late in a game and someone needs to step up to win a close game, or during practice when the team is slacking in performance, it is the seniors who need to assert themselves more than anyone. Coach Bill Self knows this more than anyone.
“The reality for the seniors is, `Hey, it is coming to an end’ and there should be more of a sense of urgency. I hope that’s the case,” Self said on Feb. 7 in a press conference. “I don’t know if I feel it every day in practice yet, but it’s going to get to that point soon.”
This is the first senior class of Bill Self’s 15-year career that is made up of his recruits. Before this season, Self had not coached at one school long enough to have a recruiting class of seniors that was his. Self could not have sounded more optimistic about the position his seniors were in before the start of the season.
“I think we are blessed this year in that we have five guys that are great leaders,” said Self on media day, Oct. 12. “They want to go out as being recognized as one of the most winning (recruiting) classes.”
If Kansas were to win the Big 12 regular season, it would be the fourth time for these seniors. If Kansas were to win the Big 12 Championship, it would be their third straight tournament crown. With Kansas’ loss to Texas on Monday, the Jayhawks are now in a three-way tie for first place and these accomplishments may be in jeopardy.
As Sasha Kaun, Russell Robinson, Jeremy Case, Rodrick Stewart and Darnell Jackson run through the tunnel into the “Phog” Saturday afternoon for their third to last time, they need to know that their time as Kansas basketball players will be ending soon.
“I hope to try and go out with a bang, so I am going to work and play hard every game,” Robinson said on media day.
These seniors should look to the Jayhawk football team’s 2007 roster and its 12 seniors, who came home victorious in the Orange Bowl this year. It is time for the sense of urgency Self talked about. It is their last go-around and there would be no better way to go out than on top.
—Edited by Samuel Lamb
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