Expect the unexpected with Leach
Interviewing Mike Leach is like chatting with Forrest Gump. You never know what you’re going to get. Quotable responses are anticipated, but there are no guarantees. Sometimes Leach will be charming. Sometimes he’ll give you attitude. Sometimes he’ll respond with a mumble or groan. Sometimes he won’t shut up.
The most innocuous questions often result in the greatest answers from Leach — his thoughts on global warming, Geronimo, his favorite book, did actor Johnny Depp make a good pirate on the Carribean?
Expect the unexpected with Leach. That’s why him getting fired as Texas Tech’s football coach on Wednesday should not have been a total shock.
Leach’s brain is tuned to its own frequency. Only he understands his own brilliance, but Leach claims even he can’t understand why he longer is coaching the Red Raiders.
Leach was fired for his treatment of backup receiver Adam James, a sophomore who complained of a mild concussion and alleged Leach twice confined him to small, dark spaces while the team practiced. James is the son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James.
Adam James hasn’t budge with his accusations, Leach firmly believes he did nothing wrong, and now neither party will be in Lubbock for long. Tech officials last week tried to shove Leach into an apology. Leach refused and shoved back. Leach initally was suspended Monday and then fired Wednesday morning.
Leach getting launched could be a blessing for both sides. Texas Tech apparently had grown tired of Leach, and the feeling appears to to have been mutual. It’s best they parted ways, but it’ll likely cost Tech. Leach agreed to a five-year contract worth $12.7 million last February.
Support has been expressed for both James and Leach. Like most controversies, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. James has been described as arrogant and stubborn. At times, Leach has been described the same way.
Look for Leach to return to coaching soon, perhaps as early as next season if the job is right and his new employer is willing to let Leach be Leach. Because Leach isn’t about to change.
AP hoops poll for Dec. 28
The past two weeks, No. 2 Texas has gradually narrowed the gap between itself and No. 1 Kansas in The Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
This week, KU received 52 first-place votes compared to 11 for Texas. The previous week, the Jayhawks had 55 first-place votes compared to seven for the Longhorns. The week before that, KU had 61 first-place votes compared to one for UT.
Both teams are 11-0, but the Longhorns have a more impressive resume with back-to-back victories over No. 9 North Carolina and No. 11 Michigan State, plus an earlier victory over upstart Southern Cal.
The Jayhawks have yet to beat a ranked opponent. Their most notable victories have been against Memphis, Michigan and California. KU has a much tougher non-conference remaining with games at No. 18 Temple on Jan. 2 and at No. 14 Tennessee on Jan. 10.
Elsewhere in the Big 12, Kansas State remained at No. 12 this week, while Texas Tech moved up three spots to No. 20 after beating Stanford. Texas A&M dropped out of the Top 25 following a loss at Washington.
Here is how I voted in this week’s poll: 1. Kansas; 2. Texas; 3. Kentucky; 4. Purdue; 5. Syracuse; 6. Duke; 7. West Virginia; 8. Villanova; 9. North Carolina; 10. Michigan State; 11. Connecticut;
12. Ohio State; 13. Kansas State; 14. Tennessee; 15. Georgetown;
16. Mississippi; 17. Clemson; 18. Temple; 19. Texas Tech; 20. Washington; 21. Texas A&M; 22. New Mexico; 23. UAB; 24. Butler; 25. Florida.
AP hoops poll for Dec. 21
Eight ranked teams were defeated last week, including previously unbeaten Georgetown and Texas Tech. That leaves eight unbeatens among the 334 Division I teams with Christmas week upon us — Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, Purdue, Syracuse, West Virginia, New Mexico, plus unranked Missouri State.
The next unbeaten to go down? My bet is on New Mexico, which plays at Oral Roberts, home against Texas Tech, home against Dayton, at San Diego State and home against UNLV its next five games.
Here is how I voted in this week’s Associated Press poll, with Temple as my new arrival. Have a great Christmas:
1. Kansas; 2. Texas; 3. Kentucky; 4. Purdue; 5. Syracuse; 6. Duke; 7. West Virginia; 8. Michigan State; 9. Villanova; 10. North Carolina; 11. Connecticut; 12. Ohio State; 13. New Mexico; 14. Mississippi; 15. Kansas State; 16. Texas A&M; 17. UNLV; 18. Butler; 19. Tennessee; 20. Georgetown; 21. Florida; 22. Clemson; 23. Temple; 24. Texas Tech; 25. Washington.
Video: An Average Thunder
AP hoops poll for Dec. 14
The Big 12 added another team to this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll in Kansas State. If they hadn’t lost 86-74 at home against Mississippi on Nov. 20, the Wildcats would be 10-0 and possibly threatening the Top 10.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Big 12 seems to be traveling in pairs. Kansas and Texas is the top pair. Kansas State and Texas A&M come next, then Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, then Baylor and Iowa State, then Oklahoma and Missouri, then Nebraska and Colorado. This could all change come conference time, of course, but Texas Tech and Baylor appear to be better than expected, while Oklahoma is still trying to find its groove.
If all goes well, the Big 12 could have seven teams ranked by the time conference play begins Jan. 9.
Here is how I voted in this week’s AP poll:
1. Kansas; 2. Texas; 3. Kentucky; 4. Purdue; 5. Syracuse; 6. West Virginia; 7. North Carolina; 8. Michigan State; 9. Villanova; 10. Duke; 11. Tennessee; 12. Georgetown; 13. Florida; 14. Connecticut; 15. Gonzaga; 16. Butler; 17. Ohio State; 18. UNLV; 19. New Mexico; 20. Texas A&M; 21. Texas Tech; 22. Georgia Tech; 23. Mississippi; 24. Kansas State; 25. Cincinnati.
Chat with John at 11 a.m.
Xavier Henry: Come and gone?
Kentucky freshman point guard John Wall already is penciled in as the No. 1 pick in next June’s NBA Draft. Kansas freshman guard and former Putnam City High School standout Xavier Henry could get nabbed shortly thereafter.
There appears to be no doubt Wall will declare for the NBA Draft after this season. Henry said he has yet to make that decision, however.
Kansas coach Bill Self frequently has said if Henry is ready to leave after his freshman season, he should do so. If Henry is not ready, Self said he should remain at Kansas until the time is right.
“That’s the exact same way I look at it,” Henry said. “There’s no need to rush things. There’s no need to hold me back, either.”
The 18-year-old Henry initially chose to attend Memphis, where he could have joined 23-year-old brother, C.J., who redshirted last season due to a foot injury. Xavier (ZAH-vee-ay) and C.J. then switched to Kansas when coach John Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky.
“It was fun at first,” Xavier Henry said of the recruiting process, “but then it became just another thing to worry about. I wouldn’t say it was tiring, but I always had to think about it. It was definitely a long process.”
On Monday, Henry won his second straight Big 12 rookie-of-the-week award after scoring a career-high 31 against La Salle last Saturday. Henry leads the Jayhawks in scoring average (18.0), free-throw percentage (.824) and steals (16).
If Henry leaves after this season, Self will have spent more time recruiting Henry than coaching him. No Kansas player has entered the NBA Draft after his freshman season.
How many times a week does Henry get asked if he’s one-and-done with the Jayhawks? “Um, too many,” Henry said with a chuckle. “I get asked a whole lot.”
Henry won the Class 6A state championship last March with the Pirates and could win the NCAA championship this April with the Jayhawks.
“I know we’re not nearly where we want to be (as a team),” Henry said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do. As long as we keep progressing every day, we’ll be fine throughout the season.”
Kansas was the overwhelming preseason pick at No. 1 and remains there with a 9-0 record and an average victory margin of 32.7 points.
Home games against Michigan and California are up next for KU. Games at Temple and Tennessee await in early January, followed by a Big 12 slate that includes a Feb. 8 contest at No. 2-ranked Texas. Henry said the prospect of Kansas potentially going unbeaten this season (40-0) has yet to be discussed among the KU players.
“That’s a good goal for us,” Henry said. “We really haven’t thought about it much, being in such a tough conference, but with the team we have, that’s a reasonable goal to be accomplished if we all work hard enough. Everybody on this team is good — top to bottom.”
C.J. Henry, a first-round draft choice of the New York Yankees in 2005, hadn’t played competitive basketball since his senior year at Putnam City.
After a slow start and not being able to practice due to various nagging injuries, C.J. is now averaging 5.2 points per game, highlighted by an 11-point effort against Radford.
“It’s hard to imagine taking four years off (to play baseball) and then coming back and not being healthy and not having any reps or any confidence,” Self said. “but C.J. certainly is starting to come around. He’ll help our team.”
AP hoops poll for Dec. 7
A quiet week awaits with many school in final exams. Coming off a pretty mellow previous week, with the exception of Wisconsin’s upset over Duke, Washington’s overtime loss at Texas Tech and Kentucky nearly blowing a huge lead against North Carolina.
The Big 12 leads its Hardwood Series against the Pacific 10 Conference by an 8-2 count with two games remaining (Oklahoma State at Stanford on Dec. 16; Texas A&M at Washington on Dec. 22).
Here is how I voted for Dec. 7:
1. Kansas; 2. Texas; 3. Purdue; 4. Villanova; 5. Kentucky; 6. West Virginia; 7. Syracuse; 8. North Carolina; 9. Michigan State; 10. Duke; 11. Ohio State; 12. Tennessee; 13. UConn; 14. Texas A&M; 15. Florida; 16. Georgetown; 17. UNLV; 18. Gonzaga; 19. Cincinnati; 20. Wisconsin; 21. Washington; 22. Clemson; 23. Georgia Tech; 24. Butler; 25. Vanderbilt.
Heisman: Not as easy as 1-2-3
Sent my Heisman ballot in before the strike of midnight Sunday. (The process is done electronically these days.) The deadline is 4 p.m. Oklahoma time on Monday.
In the oddest Heisman race I can recall, here’s who did NOT get my vote:
QB Tim Tebow (Florida): One of the most clutch players in the history of college football ran out of miracles Saturday against Alabama. He also struggled in other key games this season.
QB Colt McCoy (Texas): Absolutely love this kid, but closing out your career with three interceptions, no touchdown passes and nearly costing your team the game by letting the clock run out in a 13-12 fistfight against Nebraska is no way to win votes.
QB Case Keenum (Houston): Rolled up some impressive passing numbers (43 TDs and nine interceptions in 13 games), but the Heisman Trophy shouldn’t go to someone who lost three games in Conference USA.
RB/RET C.J. Spiller (Clemson): I was so captivated with his 301 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns against Georgia Tech while battling turf toe, I nearly sent in my ballot the instant the game ended with his name on top. Upon further review, Spiller disappeared as frequently as he reappeared this season while battling that nagging injury. Do you really want to give a Heisman to a running back with 57 rushing yards COMBINED against Middle Tennessee State, Coastal Carolina and South Carolina this year?
WR/RET Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati): If you’re going to consider Spiller, and many people are, Gilyard’s numbers are even better and more lethal (No. 2 nationally in all-purpose yards). He’s the reason the Bearcats are 12-0 and not somewhere around 8-4.
QB Kellen Moore (Boise State): This lefthanded sophomore is poised beyond his years. The Broncos are young and unbeaten. This guy figures to make some serious noise next season for the award.
QB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon): Ask Oklahoma State how good this kid was in the Holiday Bowl last season. Inconsistent at times, but this dual threat really came through in the clutch when the Ducks needed him.
Here’s who DID get my votes:
1. RB Toby Gerhart (Stanford): Tough as nails. Led the country in scoring with 26 touchdowns. Ten 100-yards games. Three 200-yard games. Has 311 carries so far and will likely carry 30-plus times against OU in the Sun Bowl. A stud.
2. DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska): If ever there was a time a defender should win the Heisman, this was the season and this was the player. Unfortunately, Midwest bias won’t be nearly enough for a boy named Suh to win the award, but he deserves to be on every ballot.
3. RB Mark Ingram (Alabama): The Crimson Tide, believe it or not, never has had a Heisman Trophy winner and it appears Ingram will fall just short this season. He averaged 6.2 yards-per-carry against the nation’s toughest defenses. There is hope Alabama won’t be shut out next year. Ingram is only a sophomore.
