Sunflower Slate

Guess who went to Jayhawk media day Monday morning? That’s right, Steve Eck!

Just kidding, although Coach Eck was really there, and had some Sunflower Slate-related questions, as always, and our lowly little blog even got a shout out from Ron Burgundy, er, Craig Fletchall … who thinks he’s kind of a big deal now that he’s also the Barton AD.

Enough with the pleasantries. I know you want scoop.

Here’s what I got:

JAWANZA POLAND

1. Jawanza Poland and Robert Goff ain’t playing this year

There you go. Five dudes (that I know of) transferred from Cowley to Hutch when Eck left — Cortez Barnes, Adonis Gantt, Garrius Holloman, Jawanza Poland and Robert Goff — only three get to play for the Blue Dragons this year. Cowley gave releases to the first three but not the last two. Here’s how I see it: The KJCCC rules on transfers are so jacked up that in this case, the people who suffer the most are the kids. Which leaves everybody with a bad taste in their mouth. I mean, come on … they judge these things on a case-by-case basis? Seriously? How is there not just a blanket rule? You transfer from one school to another within the Jayhawk and sorry bro, but you gotta sit a year unless their are some extremely extenuating circumstances. Don’t get me wrong, the first three players are nice, but the last two … they play and I say the Blue Dragons cruise to Region VI and maybe further. It’s like that. That being said, I don’t blame Cowley for not letting them play. Their decision was made within the rules, however …

2. There’s a lot of dissension about the rules

Mainly when it comes to the Jayhawk Shootout, video exchange and what I was just talking about. The media types had a layover in the conference room while we waited for the men’s coaches meeting to break up, so for some reason they went ahead and started the women’s coaches meeting in their while we were still in there. What can I say … it got pretty snippy. I don’t want to get into all the details out of respect to the parties involved, but there seems to be some conflicting ideas on how to exchange video/access to video/whatever. One coach even got up and explained the “unwritten rules” of tape exchange. Hey, I know there’s certain stuff you just don’t do, even though it’s not in the rulebook … but in this case I’d have to say all’s fair in Love and War … and video exchange. It got a little heated, which I liked. Wanna know who doesn’t like each other at these things? It’s easy, just look around the room and follow the laser beams shooting from one set of eyes to another.

DR. EVIL

3. The guy from Great Bend

Not really sure how to do this, so here it goes. In order, here’s what Barton men’s coach Craig Fletchall managed to talk about during his turn at the podium: Title 9/having H1N1/losing nine pounds/chest hair/Hobrecht (not always the easiest guy to talk to)/Obama/Something I just Googled and can’t put on a public forum/minor beefs with Coach Eck/e-mails from ex-girlfriends/Tom Saia/videos he lent to another coach/my fantasy football team/setting up betting pools on the Dodge City-Highland football game this weekend.

HEATHER ROBBEN

4. John Ontjes/Heather Robben

John Ontjes is locked in. The Hutchinson women’s coach earned some big-time Sunflower Slate love with his performance at media day — crisp and concise on the podium, sharp in the interview segment and there’s this — sophomore Brittney Chamberlin is out for the year with a torn ACL. She’s … a scrapper. If you’ve never seen her play you’re missing out ‘cuz she’s tough as nails and was a big reason why Andover Central went undefeated and won a state title two years ago and the Blue Dragons won Region VI last year. The way JO talked about her … you could tell dude really cares about his players. I don’t want to say he was beside himself upset, but if you’re wondering where the team gets its heart from, just look at the sideline. As long as he’s there, they’ll contend. Biggest shocker of the day? Learning Maize product and All-American Heather Robben got offered by TCU and decided to stay at Hutch this year.

Her and Ariella McGee both back? Game over in the west, maybe in the region.

KRIS BAUMANN

5. There’s always Bucket

Kris Baumann won a men’s Region VI title last year at Garden City, the first for the Broncbusters in 53 years. Straight up, he told me he thought he could do it but I didn’t believe him. Don’t know what to else to tell you … his story is incredible and I get to tell it, finally, this Sunday. I think it’s going to hit home not just with hoops fans, but everybody … because you know me, I’m always up for a good yarn.

So that’s Five to stay alive. I got plenty more but I don’t want to give away all my secrets. I’ll do a follow up with my top 10 JuCo players — men and women — sometime Sunday.

-I’m out

TA