Jayhawks

LEXINGTON - While avoiding saying that Kansas could not win in Rupp Arena Sunday, South Carolina coach Dave Odom made it clear that No. 8 Kentucky is a clear favorite in his mind. "I cannot see Kansas without (All-American Wayne) Simien ... I would give Kentucky an edge playing at home. We know how good Kentucky is inside. We know Kansas is playing without its best inside player (Simien)," Odom said. If the second-ranked Jayhawks had Simien, Odom might feel differently. Simien scored 20 points in mid-December when they beat visiting South Carolina 64-60.

CHICAGO - Randolph Morris doesn't have any good memories of Kansas. Kentucky lost 65-59 at home to the Jayhawks in 2005 when Morris was a freshman. "I didn't have a good game against them. I think I was 1-for-10 from the field, so that is definitely ingrained in my mind," he said. Last year, the Jayhawks beat Kentucky 73-46 and held the Wildcats to 15-for-62 shooting from the field, including 3-for-20 to start the game, handing coach Tubby Smith his worst loss in 10 years at Kentucky.

John Calipari knows his team can't continue to beat teams with just sheer talent. The Kentucky coach indicated that his team must come together as a unit following its 75-65 victory over Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats committed 19 turnovers, with freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and point-guard Marquis Teague combining for 14 of those miscues. Kentucky had 14 assists, with just three of those coming from Teague.

Perhaps no one in Kentucky should have been surprised that the Wildcats were beaten so soundly at Kansas Saturday. The 73-46 loss to Kansas has started a Big Blue depression even with center Randolph Morris scheduled to return to action Tuesday when the Cats open Southeastern Conference play against Vanderbilt. But others obviously knew this Kentucky team was not nearly as good as many fans wanted to believe. Remember last week when the coaches dropped the Cats from No. 19 to No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today poll even though the Cats won. Tell me when another team has won a game and dropped in a poll.

CHICAGO - Danny Manning still remembers playing against Kentucky during his stellar career at Kansas. "I always enjoyed those games," Manning said. Or at least the one in 1987 when Kansas beat visiting Kentucky 83-66. The previous two years, Kentucky beat Manning's team both times. Kansas is considered the team to beat today when these two college basketball stalwarts meet in an NCAA Tournament West Regional second-round game. Manning will again be on the Kansas bench as the director of student-athlete development.

CHICAGO - Perhaps it was only fitting that as soon as Kentucky's perplexing season ended, there were already more questions than answers about next year. The Wildcats slowed Kansas down temporarily here Sunday before the Jayhawks took off the way a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament should. Kansas went 18-for-28 from the field in the second half, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range, to end UK's season with an 88-76 victory. While the Jayhawks head for the Sweet Sixteen, Kentucky headed home with a lot of questions to answer after a 22-12 season that did not include a Southeastern Conference regular-season or tournament title for the second straight year.

CHICAGO - Perhaps it was only fitting that as soon as Kentucky's perplexing season ended, there were already more questions than answers about next year. The Wildcats slowed Kansas down temporarily here Sunday before the Jayhawks took off the way a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament should. Kansas went 18-for-28 from the field in the second half, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range, to end UK's season with an 88-76 victory. While the Jayhawks head for the Sweet Sixteen, Kentucky headed home with a lot of questions to answer after a 22-12 season that did not include a Southeastern Conference regular-season or tournament title for the second straight season.

LEXINGTON - If this was the game for the Kentucky Wildcats to send a message about their season, the message is not one that is going to strike fear in the heart of many opponents. Kentucky figured beating No. 2 Kansas here Sunday would show it not only was ready to win another Southeastern Conference championship, but also was ready to make a bid for a Final Four berth. Instead, the Jayhawks used a physical, aggressive defense to shut down No. 8 Kentucky and win 65-59. It wasn't just that Kentucky lost.

RICHMOND - Adam Leonard would have loved the chance to play for Roy Williams. Playing against him might be the next best thing. The Eastern Kentucky freshman grew up as a fan of Williams' Kansas teams, and now he'll line up against Williams' North Carolina team when the Colonels and Tar Heels play Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. The pairing of those two teams in an East Regionl first-round game in Winston-Salem, N.C., holds a special attraction for Leonard, who has long held Williams in high regard.

RICHMOND - Adam Leonard would have loved the chance to play for Roy Williams. Playing against him might be the next best thing. The Eastern Kentucky freshman grew up as a fan of Williams' Kansas teams, and now he'll line up against Williams' North Carolina team when the Colonels and Tar Heels play Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. The pairing of those two teams in an East Regional first-round game in Winston-Salem, N.C., holds a special attraction for Leonard, who has long held Williams in high regard.

John Calipari knows his team can't continue to beat teams with just sheer talent. The Kentucky coach indicated that his team must come together as a unit following its 75-65 victory over Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats committed 19 turnovers, with freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and point-guard Marquis Teague combining for 14 of those miscues. Kentucky had 14 assists, with just three of those coming from Teague.

CHICAGO - Perhaps it was only fitting that as soon as Kentucky's perplexing season ended, there were already more questions than answers about next year. The Wildcats slowed Kansas down temporarily here Sunday before the Jayhawks took off the way a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament should. Kansas went 18-for-28 from the field in the second half, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range, to end UK's season with an 88-76 victory. While the Jayhawks head for the Sweet Sixteen, Kentucky headed home with a lot of questions to answer after a 22-12 season that did not include a Southeastern Conference regular-season or tournament title for the second straight year.

CHICAGO - Perhaps it was only fitting that as soon as Kentucky's perplexing season ended, there were already more questions than answers about next year. The Wildcats slowed Kansas down temporarily here Sunday before the Jayhawks took off the way a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament should. Kansas went 18-for-28 from the field in the second half, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range, to end UK's season with an 88-76 victory. While the Jayhawks head for the Sweet Sixteen, Kentucky headed home with a lot of questions to answer after a 22-12 season that did not include a Southeastern Conference regular-season or tournament title for the second straight season.

CHICAGO - Randolph Morris doesn't have any good memories of Kansas. Kentucky lost 65-59 at home to the Jayhawks in 2005 when Morris was a freshman. "I didn't have a good game against them. I think I was 1-for-10 from the field, so that is definitely ingrained in my mind," he said. Last year, the Jayhawks beat Kentucky 73-46 and held the Wildcats to 15-for-62 shooting from the field, including 3-for-20 to start the game, handing coach Tubby Smith his worst loss in 10 years at Kentucky.

CHICAGO - Danny Manning still remembers playing against Kentucky during his stellar career at Kansas. "I always enjoyed those games," Manning said. Or at least the one in 1987 when Kansas beat visiting Kentucky 83-66. The previous two years, Kentucky beat Manning's team both times. Kansas is considered the team to beat today when these two college basketball stalwarts meet in an NCAA Tournament West Regional second-round game. Manning will again be on the Kansas bench as the director of student-athlete development.

RICHMOND - Adam Leonard would have loved the chance to play for Roy Williams. Playing against him might be the next best thing. The Eastern Kentucky freshman grew up as a fan of Williams' Kansas teams, and now he'll line up against Williams' North Carolina team when the Colonels and Tar Heels play Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. The pairing of those two teams in an East Regionl first-round game in Winston-Salem, N.C., holds a special attraction for Leonard, who has long held Williams in high regard.

RICHMOND - Adam Leonard would have loved the chance to play for Roy Williams. Playing against him might be the next best thing. The Eastern Kentucky freshman grew up as a fan of Williams' Kansas teams, and now he'll line up against Williams' North Carolina team when the Colonels and Tar Heels play Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. The pairing of those two teams in an East Regional first-round game in Winston-Salem, N.C., holds a special attraction for Leonard, who has long held Williams in high regard.

Perhaps no one in Kentucky should have been surprised that the Wildcats were beaten so soundly at Kansas Saturday. The 73-46 loss to Kansas has started a Big Blue depression even with center Randolph Morris scheduled to return to action Tuesday when the Cats open Southeastern Conference play against Vanderbilt. But others obviously knew this Kentucky team was not nearly as good as many fans wanted to believe. Remember last week when the coaches dropped the Cats from No. 19 to No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today poll even though the Cats won. Tell me when another team has won a game and dropped in a poll.

LEXINGTON - If this was the game for the Kentucky Wildcats to send a message about their season, the message is not one that is going to strike fear in the heart of many opponents. Kentucky figured beating No. 2 Kansas here Sunday would show it not only was ready to win another Southeastern Conference championship, but also was ready to make a bid for a Final Four berth. Instead, the Jayhawks used a physical, aggressive defense to shut down No. 8 Kentucky and win 65-59. It wasn't just that Kentucky lost.

LEXINGTON - While avoiding saying that Kansas could not win in Rupp Arena Sunday, South Carolina coach Dave Odom made it clear that No. 8 Kentucky is a clear favorite in his mind. "I cannot see Kansas without (All-American Wayne) Simien ... I would give Kentucky an edge playing at home. We know how good Kentucky is inside. We know Kansas is playing without its best inside player (Simien)," Odom said. If the second-ranked Jayhawks had Simien, Odom might feel differently. Simien scored 20 points in mid-December when they beat visiting South Carolina 64-60.