Jayhawks to tip off against Jayhawks

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Kansas fans have heard a lot about their basketball team this season.

They’ve heard freshman Tyshawn Taylor is a menace to defend, freshman Travis Releford plays like Brandon Rush and incoming junior Mario Little can be an immediate difference-maker.

Come Friday, they’ll finally get to see the 2008-2009 Jayhawks. Late Night in the Phog will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday, marking the beginning of basketball season.

KANSAN

As usual, Late Night in the Phog will include performances and introductions to all the members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. ESPNU will televise portions of the event, which will also include the unveiling of a commemorative 2008 NCAA National Championship banner. And then, of course, comes a scrimmage.

Coach Bill Self and his staff will split the Jayhawks into two teams and the players will end the night with a 20-minute game against each other. The scrimmage doesn’t carry much significance and is often just another part of the festivities.

Not this year. Fans will pay extra attention Friday night because most of the players will be unfamiliar. Seven newcomers - guards Taylor, Releford, Little and Tyrone Appleton, and forwards Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris and Quintrell Thomas — will play for the first time in front of an audience at Allen Fieldhouse.

The ceremony should wrap up at about 9:30 pm. The Jayhawks will then have more than two weeks to prepare for their first exhibition game on Nov. 4 against Washburn University.

COLLINS and LITTLE HONORED

A major question heading into the season for Kansas is who will emerge in leading the Jayhawks on the floor alongside junior guard Sherron Collins. The Big 12 Conference coaches think it might be junior-college transfer Mario Little.

The Big 12 announced Little as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year Tuesday. Little beat out highly touted Oklahoma freshman forward Willie Warren, who was named the Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Collins received Preseason All Big 12 Team honors. Collins joins Baylor guard Curtis Jerrells, Texas guard A.J. Abrams, Texas forward Damion James and Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin on the team.

Griffin was the only unanimous selection and is also the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Fans get first glance at basketball team

Allen Fieldhouse played host to 25th Late Night with the Phog with ...

/news/2009/oct/19/first-glance/

Late Night unveils new players and National ...

Late Night in the Phog sold out all 16,300 seats and featured ...

/news/2008/oct/20/Basketball_LateNight/

Final: Kansas rolls in 107-68 victory against ...

Kansas set to face Fort Hays State in exhibition.

/news/2009/nov/03/countdown-tipoff/

Fans get first glimpse of men’s basketball ...

Basketball breaks out the dance moves, preseason scrimmaging for packed house

/news/2009/oct/16/fans-get-first-glimpse/

KU Basketball Game Day: Nov. 4, 2008

/news/2008/nov/04/game_day/

Basketball notebook: October 2, 2007

These are the notes for basketball on October 2, 2007.

/news/2007/oct/02/basketball_notebook_october_2_2007/

Wheeler: Two teams bound for top Big ...

For the first time in Big 12 history, the Kansas football team ...

/news/2007/oct/15/Wheeler/

Late Night offers a first glance

Traditions amuse fans, attract potential players for Kansas basketball.

/news/2010/oct/12/late-night-/

Self: No regrets about team’s season

The men’s basketball team reflects on how far it progressed this year.

/news/2009/apr/08/self_no_regrets/

Coaches begin to solve roster jigsaw

Self uses red-shirting, exhibition games to organize basketball team positions.

/news/2009/nov/03/coaches-begin-solve-roster-jigsaw/

Late Night in the Phog to kick ...

/news/2005/oct/12/sp_late_night/

Morning Brew: 15 predictions for next season ...

Spoiler alert: Case Keefer says Cole and Sherron stay.

/news/2009/apr/03/morning_brew/

/photos/2009/oct/18/7146/

Kansas shows promising amount of talent

The sky is the limit for men's basketball if the team lives ...

/news/2009/oct/28/kansas-shows-promising/

Kansas ready to run with conference's best

Kansan writers preview Big XII women's teams.

/news/2009/oct/28/kansas-ready-run-conferences-best/

At Late Night, Self keeps expectations high

The Jayhawks kicked off the 2011-12 season with the annual Late Night ...

/news/2011/oct/15/late-night-phog-expectations-should-never-change/

Blog: Basketball still strong without Mclemore, Traylor

Even with the loss of two recruits for the season Kansas remains ...

/news/2011/oct/19/blog-basketball-still-strong-without-mclemore-tray/

Morning Brew: Big 12 basketball awards

A midseason look at the best players in the Big 12 Conference.

/news/2009/feb/03/brew_awards/

Morning Brew: In case you missed it ...

Late Night in the Phog displayed different side of athletes.

/news/2009/oct/19/morning-brew/

Robinson and Taylor earn Preseason All-Big 12 ...

Taylor and Robinson both receive preseason honors as they prepare to lead ...

/news/2011/oct/06/robinson-and-taylor-earn-preseason-all-big-12-hono/

Oklahoma forward wants a championship ring of ...

Sophomore Blake Griffin spoke to Kansas’ Cole Aldrich at Big 12 Media ...

/news/2008/oct/27/Basketball/

Jayhawks Smear Volunteers

Kansas notched its most significant victory of the season in a 92-85 ...

/news/2009/jan/03/jayhawks_smear_volunteers/

Collins takes his place as a leader ...

After brushes with injury, readiness and the law, the junior guard is ...

/news/2008/nov/20/collins_takes_his_place_leader_court/

The week ahead

Sports writer Tim Dwyer gives his picks for the next week of ...

/news/2010/feb/01/week-ahead/

Kansas women put on show at Late ...

The Kansas women’s basketball team formally entered Allen Fieldhouse on a red ...

/news/2007/oct/15/WBBNotes/

/photos/2009/oct/18/7147/

Injury further depletes KU’s roster

The Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year won’t play in Tuesday’s ...

/news/2008/nov/03/Basketball_Story/

Big 12 title within reach for Jayhawks

Beating Nebraska and first place Oklahoma could net Kansas another conference championship.

/news/2009/feb/20/mbb/

Selby displays talent and personality

Late Night offers first look at top freshman recruit.

/news/2010/oct/18/selby-displays-talent-and-personality/

/photos/2009/oct/17/7090/

Jayhawks face Hofstra in home opener

Kansas looks forward to stretching its skills.

/news/2009/nov/13/Jayhawks-face-Hofstra-home-opener/

Living the dream

Kansas’ seven newcomers fulfill goals of playing in the NCAA tournament

/news/2009/mar/24/mens_basketball/

Football game against Kansas State moved to ...

The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network at 6:30 p.m. ...

/news/2010/jun/01/kansas-state-game-moved-thursday-oct-14/

Rains: The two who can’t let the ...

Performances of basketball players Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich will determine this ...

/news/2008/nov/12/rains/

Women's team scrimmages at Late Night

/news/2005/oct/17/womens_team_scrimmages_late_night/

Final: Jayhawks dominate in final exhibition game

Kansas holds a 55-21 halftime lead against Pittsburg State

/news/2009/nov/10/pregame-kansas-vs-pittsburg-state/

Team debuts in Great White North

The Jayhawks showed Canada how Kansas basketball is played, winning all three ...

/news/2008/sep/02/canada_tour/

“Late Night” streaming live on Internet

For the first time, basketball fans can see “Late Night in the ...

/news/2007/oct/10/late_night/

Women's basketball players begin team practices

/news/2005/aug/30/practice_starts/

Blog: Who to watch at Late Night

Basketball is back and Sam Kovzan takes a look at the players ...

/news/2011/oct/13/blog-who-watch-late-night/