Morning Brew: Gurley to provide insight, humor

Thursday, November 13, 2008

It seems Kansas basketball broadcaster Dave Armstrong has a new sideline partner. Former Kansas basketball player Greg Gurley, who played at Kansas from 1991-1995, will join the Jayhawk Television Network as a color analyst for six Kansas home games this season.

So what does Gurley bring to the table? Well, the Kansas City native who played his high school ball at Shawnee Mission South knows what he isn’t going to be.

“Being a complete homer really turns people off,” Gurley said.

Instead, fans will find that Gurley is going to bring the insight of a former player, while mixing in a little criticism and a little humor.

Gurley, who has provided color analysis for Sunflower Broadband’s Channel 6 since the final years of the Roy Williams era, is replacing Paul Splittorff, who had to give up the gig because of scheduling conflicts.

Channel 6 play-by-play man, Kevin Romary, has worked with Gurley on Channel 6 broadcasts for most of this decade.

“He knows the game, he knows the Jayhawk basketball,” Romary said. “The knowledge that he has, just being around the program. Everybody knows him.”

Romary said Gurley will return to the Channel 6 broadcast team at some point this season.”

“That’s the plan,” Romary said.

The next Kansas game on the Jayhawk Television Network is Kansas vs. Coppin State on Nov. 28.

Growing Pains

Gurley, like everyone else, watched anxiously as Kansas’ five freshman got their first taste of Kansas basketball during Kansas’ two exhibition games.

So what’d he think? He saw some definite improvement in Kansas’ game against Emporia State on Tuesday.

“That first game the young guys found out what it’s like to play at the college level,” Gurley said. “What they thought was maximum effort was not the same as what Bill Self considers maximum effort.”

But against Emporia State, “guys gave a lot better effort,” Gurley said.

Like Bill Murray said in “What About Bob?”, expect the freshmen to move in “baby steps” early this season.

Karina, Karina

A special Morning Brew salute to Kansas sophomore volleyball player Karina Garlington. The Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association named Garlington, a native of Denver, its Division I National Player of the Week on Tuesday.

During conference sweeps against Colorado and Texas Tech, Garlington hit .354, averaged 5.0 kills, 1.67 digs and 5.75 points per set.

O.D.’d on Psycho-T

If you thought college basketball cover boy Tyler Hansbrough received an absurd amount of media attention last year, you might be in for a long college basketball season. Hansbrough is back for his senior campaign, so get ready for an overload of overhyped stories about Hansbrough’s heart, grit and high-intensity “motor.”

Right now the focus is whether Hansbrough will play in North Carolina’s season-opener on Saturday.

Hansbrough, it seems, is recovering from a stress reaction on his right shin.

Will he play? Will he sit? Is he wearing a cast? Will he play? Oh poor Tyler. He is such a hard worker, you know?

It’s Nov. 13, and the season of Tyler is about to begin. Good luck.

Thursday

You-Tube Sesh

As long as we’re on the subject of Psycho-T, check out this YouTube gem featuring Hansbrough and fellow Tar Heel Bobby Frasor playing “Texas-style” ping-pong. Type in “Tyler Hansbrough and Texas-style ping-pong.” Enjoy.

— - Edited by Elizabeth Cattell

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