Note to Brandon Rush: It’s Time to Get Offensive

Let me start by saying that I think Brandon Rush is a great basketball player and has done a tremendous job since coming to The University of Kansas. When he got to KU, there was talk that he might be selfish, focused on being “one and done” and then heading to the NBA. The reality is that Rush has been the poster-child for unselfishness since he arrived in Lawrence. But there’s a saying about too much of a good thing.

Rush has a pure shooting stroke to go with what I can only describe as a “natural smoothness” to his game. After admittedly being poor defensively in high school, he now plays very strong defense and has learned to use his length to his advantage. When healthy, Rush is the defensive stopper assigned to the opponent’s best player. Additionally, he showed maturity in handling the emotional blow of having to put his NBA dreams on hold for another year because of a knee injury. Rush responded by rehabbing his tail off and returning to the court ahead of schedule.

On top of all of that, Brandon Rush likes being at KU, enjoys the college experience
(ok, not the studying part), and loves being around his teammates. He has embraced what it means to be a Kansas Jayhawk and has, other than a couple of issues around parking tickets, been a great representative for the University.

But if I’m honest (which I am), I’d have to admit that I’ve had some concerns for the last couple of years about Brandon Rush’s mental approach to the piece of his game that I believe will be his ticket to playing at the next level for years to come: SCORING.

Don’t get me wrong. Brandon Rush has incredible offensive basketball skills. He can dig-in, pull back and swish the sweetest pull-up jumper you’ve ever seen. He can cruise along the baseline and effortlessly elevate to alley-oop level. He can swish 3-pointers as if he was born to do it. He can penetrate into the lane, stop on a dime, elevate well beyond his opponent’s reach, and hit mid-range jumper after mid-range jumper. While his ball-handling skills are not exemplary, they are good enough to get him to the rim on occasion. He also can hit short runners in the lane with ease.

But I have to admit my concern with Brandon Rush is that, as amazing as he can be when he’s “feeling it” offensively and being aggressive, he can also become just as amazingly average when his first couple of shots don’t fall and he doesn’t get into a rhythm offensively. When this occurs, Brandon becomes hesitant, tentative, defers too much to his teammates to handle the scoring, and turns the normal asset of unselfishness occasionally into a liability.

It’s with this in mind that I turn towards thinking about Brandon Rush playing at the next level in the NBA. I don’t think he will be able to excel in the NBA by being a passive scorer, by routinely deferring to other players to make plays. Some players have the mentality that when the game is on the line or when their team is struggling, that they want the ball in their hands. Brandon has the physical and athletic ability to be the guy to make big plays in critical situations, but I am not convinced that he has the mentality, the mindset, to be that guy. I think his mental makeup is one that is heavy on the passive and light on the aggressive. I think he prefers that someone else will be the one to step up so he won’t have to.

I think Brandon’s brother Kareem, who played at Missouri, had that aggressive, scoring mentality. Kareem is now averaging 5 points a game with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. I can’t help but think that if Kareem struggles to be a consistent scorer in the NBA and at least at one time had that scorer’s mentality, then will Brandon even be able to equal the limited success of his older brother in the NBA?

Bill Self preaches offensive balance, particularly for this year’s talent-laden team. I like that approach and think it is in the best interest of the Jayhawks to continue to focus on having that balance and playing unselfish basketball.

At the same time, I think it’s time for Brandon Rush to CONSISTENTLY become more aggressive offensively. It’s not about being “the man”. It’s about imposing his will on the opponent and on the game. It’s about embracing his God-given abilities and no longer being the reluctant superstar. It’s about shedding his Clark Kent suit and tie and revealing the flowing red crimson and blue cape that lies beneath. (As an aside, I think the same thing can be said right now for Darrell Arthur.)

It’s time, Brandon. It’s time for you to put this team on your back and lead them to the Final Four and National Championship. You must embrace your offensive abilities, become more aggressive on that end of the floor, and let your teammates know that they can count on you to set the tone offensively night in and night out. If you find that inner strength and fortitude, much like you did when rehabbing from knee surgery, you will set the stage for a long and rewarding career doing what you love to do: Playin’ Ball.

Keep Rockin’ and Chalkin’,

Mic
www.jaytalkers.com

Darnell Jackson: I Have a Confession to Make

He hasn’t called me. He hasn’t sent me letters. He hasn’t texted me. I’ve never met him. I’ve never talked to him. I met his mom briefly a couple of years ago, but I’m sure she wouldn’t remember me. I’ve never had any direct interaction with Darnell Jackson, but I have a confession to make.

I have a man-crush on Darnell Jackson.

Let me explain this to you, but more importantly to my lovely wife of 15 years, Missy, who may not understand how a man-crush develops.

It’s been well documented that Darnell Jackson has been through quite a few difficult situations in his young life. We know that his mother and grandmother were in a car accident a couple of years ago. We know his mother was badly injured and his grandmother passed away. We know about the booster/family friend that gave Darnell money in an effort to help him out in a difficult time. We know about the subsequent suspension that he had to serve. We can only imagine how difficult that was for him and how easily he could have responded to those challenges in a negative way.

Instead, Darnell Jackson took it like a man. He learned from it. He took those negatives and turned them into positives. When I watch him play, hear him talk, or read quotes from him, I can’t help but think of Darnell Jackson as a radiant butterfly bursting from its cocoon ready to embrace its new life. It’s a beautiful and inspiring site to behold.

The next time you watch a KU game, spend a little extra time watching Darnell Jackson. Watch how much fun he has on the court. See how his huge physique is now more lean and chiseled. See how hard he works. Pay attention to how he willingly accepts whatever role Bill Self wants for him, starter or 6th man, and excels in either role. Watch how teammates feed off of his intensity and envy the pure joy with which he plays the game.

This Jayhawk team has depth and loads of talent when you look down the names on the roster. Rush, Chalmers, Arthur, Collins, Kaun, Aldrich, Reed, Stewart and more. But the one player that can lead this team to the Final Four and National Championship is Darnell Jackson. He’s not the one the announcers always talk about. He’s not the one that is hyped when KU plays on national television. He’s not the one that everyone is talking about when discussing KU players going to the NBA after this season.

But he is the one that every player on the team looks up to. Darnell Jackson is a senior in college, but he is mature and wise beyond his age. When life hit him squarely in the jaw, it followed with a crushing blow to his midsection. But he kept fighting. He kept working. Now he’s having the best season of his college career. He’s having fun and he’s playing loose. The other Jayhawk players feed off of that and it’s amazing how dominating KU’s basketball team is when they play loose; when they follow Darnell’s lead.

I’m sure a lot of people that read this article will be tempted to poke fun at me for saying I have a man-crush on Darnell Jackson.

That doesn’t bother me one bit. I love what Darnell Jackson stands for and the role model he is for kids (and adults too) all across the country. I love the fact that Darnell Jackson has figured out that life is too short to not enjoy it. I love the enthusiasm with which Darnell Jackson is embracing the opportunity he has to play basketball for The University of Kansas. I love it that now some people are starting to talk about Darnell Jackson getting an opportunity in the NBA. I love it that Darnell Jackson is being rewarded for his hard work, determination and commitment.

Keep up the great work, Darnell. You are a joy to watch and this Jayhawk fan is extremely proud of the player, and the man, you’ve become.

Oh, and Darnell…call me sometime. Let’s do lunch. I’m available. (Just don’t tell my wife.)

Keep Rockin’ and Chalkin’,

Mic
www.jaytalkers.com

Rally cry of the jealous: "KU didn't play anyone"

Fresh off the announcement that KU will be playing in a BCS game, the Orange Bowl, the jealous fans of neighboring universities are coming out in full force.

Take the following email I received this morning from a KSU alum-friend of mine:

"Nobody you've beat is ranked....sorry, but KU hasn't beaten anyone good."

Here's my reply:

"Rankings schmankings.

With this season, there are plenty of teams that beat teams that weren't ranked that now are and vice versa, so that argument doesn't hold any water in my book, particularly this year.

There were what, 17 or 18 top 5 teams this year beaten by unranked teams?

When KU went into Manhattan, KSU was coming off a 20-pt win in Austin over UT. Was UT no good? Was anyone saying that KSU wasn't any good when KU played them?

When KU played Colorado, CU had beaten OU. Was OU any good? Was anyone saying that CU was a bad team when KU played them?

When KU went into College Station, were people chalking that game up as a "gimme" for KU?

Everyone is jumping on that "KU didn't play anyone" bandwagon because it's easy to do and it's a convenient argument.

But it's being way overblown.

You don't go 11-1 over a season in the Big 12 (who has 8 bowl teams, btw) without "playing anyone". No doubt our nonconference schedule was easy (Mangino learned from Snyder, right?), but we DESTROYED those teams and that is what you are supposed to do (just ask Michigan about not taking care of business) and then we went 7-1 in Big 12 play.

KU has nothing to apologize for. They lost to a Missouri team that played as good as they are capable of playing. There's no shame in that. They turned the ball over twice and missed 2 FG's. They convert 2 of the 4 red zone opportunities, then maybe they win and then "suddenly" they are respected because they beat MU? I don't buy it.

When you think about it, you and everyone else that is hopping on the "KU didn't play anyone" bandwagon, would have an entirely different opinion if KU scored 9 more points against MU.

I also know that you would have KSU switch places with KU in a heartbeat."

So go on KU fans. Enjoy the ride. Enjoy the Orange Bowl. And try to understand the arguments from the jealous fan bases of Missouri and K-State.

That's the neighborly thing to do.

Keep Rockin' and Chalkin',

Mic