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Things are getting very interesting today. Everyone is sitting around waiting to see who will play in the Big XII Title game in Kansas City. After hanging 61 on Oklahoma State last night and forcing a three way tie in the Big XII South, it appeared that the Sooners would get the nod to Kansas City based on having the highest BCS rankings when they are released later today. Why? Because OU had already jumped Texas in the polls last week and by playing top 15 team, Oklahoma State, OU would surely catch the Longhorns in the computer polls. Read the rest of this entry »

There are some games that just keep you on the edge of your seat for three and a half hours. You live and die with all of the ups and downs of the game. Saturday, in snowy Kansas City, Mo, inside Arrowhead Stadium, was such a game. The Kansas Jayhawks outgunned and outlasted the Missouri Tigers,  40-37. Read the rest of this entry »

After outplaying, out-hustling, and looking like they were in complete control throughout most of the game, the youthful Jayhawks couldn’t convert late in the game to head back to Lawrence with the win. Instead, a more experienced Syracuse squad made the plays and the free throws down the stretch to end Kansas’ 28 regular season game winning streak in Kansas City, 89-81. Read the rest of this entry »

Syracuse super sophomore Johnny Flynn is good. Really good. Some say he’s so good he’s the best point guard in the country right now. His quickness, speed, ability to find the open man, and his shooting ability make up an almost  complete package for a college point guard. At 20 ppg (up 5 ppg from last year) and 4.8 apg, Flynn is certainly making a case for being the best point guard in the land.

Last night against Florida, Flynn was all over the place for the Orange. Despite on scoring 2 points in the first half, Flynn controlled the game  offensively and defensively. His ability to get in the lane opened up his teammates early in the first half allowing them to get into the flow of the game. In the second half, Flynn dominated the floor. He scored efficiently going 5-7 from the field, 6-6 from the line and 2-4 from 3 totalling 18 points on the night. Last night, just like most nights for Flynn, he was the best guard on the floor.

Until Sherron Collins showed up for game number 2.

Collins is as close to a Mr. Everything for Kansas as you can get. He needs to be the leader, the best defender, the best scorer, the pace setter, the pace changer, the man, the stud (as Bill Self says) the Mr Everything.

Collins walked onto the court Monday night knowing he was the best guard on the court. His confidence and leadership has spread to his teammates. His young and very inexperienced teammates. It will be Collins, who will lead this very young Kansas team through the non conference season in hopes that they will learn and grow into a team that can once again win the Big XII conference. 

It’s not that Flynn can’t do some of the same things Collins can. He can. Collins just does them a little bit better. He’s a little bit quicker with the ball. He’s stronger and more experienced, and he just has the ‘it’ when it comes to making plays when his team needs one. Like taking over during the Missouri game during his freshman year inside Allen Fieldhouse. Jayhawk fans might remember Collins hitting a HUGE 3 against Davidson to give the Hawks the lead late in the game. Of course, the biggest play in his career to date was his steal, save, and 3 pointer in the National Championship game to get the Hawks within 4 with time running out. That play, is Sherron Collins. It’s almost as if he has an undeniable will to win and will make the necessary play to ensure his team does just that.

Now Collins will face off against another great point guard. One that might have more hype than Collins who played a 6th man role last season behind team leader Russell Robinson, and now NBA starter, Mario Chalmers.  Collins is used to not having as much hype as other super star guards. He played that role in high school when Tywon Lawson was ranked as the #1 point guard according to most recruiting services, even know in 3 head to head meeting, Collins was the better player all 3 times. 

Now 2008 is the season for Collins to shine. To show America why he is the best point guard in the country. If Collins carries this young team on his back through the conference season and into the NCAA tournament, it might be hard to argue with anyone that Collins isn’t the best in the country.

Tonight the match up with Flynn will surely be a personal challenge for Collins. Collins has surely hear the chatter that Flynn is the best point guard in the country. Collins will take that, and he will likely do it in dramatic fashion with one game changing play.

Kansas versus Syracuse inside the Sprint Center at 9 p.m. c.s.t

Make that 28 regular season games in a row for the Kansas Jayhawks in Kansas City. The Jayhawks were led by junior Sherron Collins and super sophomore, Cole Aldrich has they pulled away late in the first half to go into the locker room up 10. It was more of the same for the Hawks in the second half as they scored off of great defensive play throughout the second half. Read the rest of this entry »