SportsBeat KC

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After biggest victory of the season, what’s next for Kansas? Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

What a night for Kansas. The Jayhawks played host to second-ranked Baylor on Saturday at rolled 71-58 behind big games from guard Marcus Garrett and big man David McCormack.

The Jayhawks became the first Big 12 team to finish their conference schedule, so what’s ahead for KU before postseason play? Beat writers Jesse Newell and Gary Bedore break it down on today’s SportsBeat KC.

One thing’s for sure. Kansas is playing its best basketball of the season at the right time.

Story links:

KU Jayhawks complete Big 12 season. Self hopes luck continues in avoiding COVID-19

Why one KU performance stood out in victory over Baylor

Marcus Garrett leads Kansas on senior night as Jayhawks send Baylor to its first loss

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Last year’s grid success doesn’t carry over for Mizzou, Drinkwitz says Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

The calendar says it’s still winter, but the football schedule at Missouri dictates that it’s time for spring practice. Players were scheduled to report Friday to begin their month-long workouts.

The Tigers are coming off a 5-5 season and were headed for a bowl game when the trip was short-circuited by COVID-19 issues. Quarterback Conner Bazelak returns. There’s a new defensive coordinator in former NFL head coach Steve Wilks, and expectations should be higher in coach Eli Drinkwitz’s second season.

On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily podcast, you’ll hear from Drinkwitz on many topics, including what made his Super Bowl trip unique and why he prefers to conduct spring practice earlier than most other programs.

After a break, you’ll hear from athletic director Jim Sterk, who speaks about having fans at home games this season and the progress of the school’s new indoor facility.

Story links:

Tigers hire Aaron Fletcher from Tulsa to serve as team’s new defensive backs coach

Missouri defensive coordinator Steve Wilks breaks down why he joined the Tigers

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A set Royals lineup, a great batting eye and a comeback in the works Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

The Royals have a lineup, Carlos Santana has patience at the plate and Hunter Dozier hopes for a comeback season. Those topics are more are the subject of today’s SportsBeat KC podcast.

Beat writer Lynn Worthy is at Royals spring training in Surprise, Ariz., and bring us the latest. He also tells about the player manager Mike Matheny called a “sneaky good signing.” You’ll also hear from general manager Dayton Moore and Santana.

Story links:

Royals Hunter Dozier appears poised for a bounce back season after COVID-derailed 2020

Royals Moore and Matheny have big decisions ahead, but lineup isn’t one

Danny Duffy gave up his No. 41 to Carlos Santana and had a not-so-simple request

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3 college hoops team saw action Tuesday. The lone winner wore lavender Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

A big night in college basketball on Tuesday were downers for two of the three area major college programs. But one came up with a huge victory—Kansas State.

The Wildcats topped No. 7 Oklahoma at Bramlage Coliseum, sending Sooners coach and former K-State coach and playing great Lon Kruger to his ninth straight loss in his old home building. Senior Mike McGuirl came up huge for the Wildcats.

Not such a good night for the ranked teams. No. 17 Kansas fell in overtime at Texas and 24th-ranked Missouri fell for the second time this season to Ole Miss.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, you’ll hear from beat writers Kellis Robinett, Jesse Newell and Gary Bedore along with Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk, who addresses Cuonzo Martin’s future with the Tigers.

Story links:

Self says KU can play with anybody if Jayhawks duplicate first-half effort at Texas

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article249483240.html

Mike McGuril adds another magical moment to K-State career with Oklahoma heroics

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article249475515.html

Missouri can knock off NCAA Tournament teams, but the TIgers can’t beat Ole Miss

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article249440765.html

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Breaking down Chiefs’ off-season decisions on defense, special teams Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Chiefs makeover talk continues on SportsBeat KC with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell. Today the focus is defense.

What moves will we see? Decisions are coming for players like Bashaud Breeland, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Alex Okafor, Daniel Sorensen and Damien Wilson. The Chiefs had a great season but a lousy finish in the Super Bowl with those players.

Teope and McDowell break down the defense and special teams in terms of free agency, contract extensions and restructuring, and there’s a new piece of information since the last Chiefs’ conversation on SportsBeat KC: The salary cap has been set.

Story links:

Chiefs defensive line anchored by a pair of Pro Bowlers, but transition looms in 2021

The Chiefs know the minimum salary cap for 2021. Here’s what it is, and what it means

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Royals’ pitching ’21 is all about ‘dudes,’ ‘buzz’ and a bullpen reunion Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

Position players arrived at Royals training camp in Surprise, Ariz., on Monday, but the team’s pitchers and catchers had already been there for several days.

Starter Danny Duffy explains his uniform-number switch to No. 30 and how excited he is to potentially pitch in front of fans this season. Relievers Greg Holland and Wade Davis talk about their Royals reunion — they were part of one of the best bullpen’s in postseason history in 2014 and 2015.

And starter Brad Keller brings it home and can’t use the word “buzz” enough to describe the feeling in the Royals’ clubhouse. A common thread among these veterans: They’re impressed with the Royals’ young arms.

Story links:

The 2014-2015 Royals have a special place in the hearts of Greg Holland, Wade Davis

Royals’ Danny Duffy humbled by chance to honor friend and former teammate Yordano Ventura

Wade Davis, even has a Royals legend, has something to prove this spring

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A better way to select NCAA field? And ‘Laverne’s’ gift to Negro Leagues Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Jesse Newell discusses his idea for an alternative to the NCAA Tournament selection committee: Take it out of the conference room in favor of a point-system called “wins above bubble.”

An advantage of the wins-above-bubble system: The result likely would look like the committee’s, but teams would know exactly where they stand before every game.

After a break, you’ll hear an interview with Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick. KC Star sports columnist Vahe Gregorian talks with Kendrick about a gift the museum received from the late Penny Marshall, who played Laverne in the sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” and directed such movies as “A League of Their Own.”

Story link:

It’s time to get rid of the NCAA basketball selection committee. Here’s how to replace it

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Let’s talk about those Royals off-season moves Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

We’re talkin’ baseball .... Royals baseball on SportsBeat KC. Spring training camp has opened in Surprise, Ariz., with pitchers and catchers reporting and the full squad will be there soon.

Beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam Mellinger joined host Blair Kerkhoff on a show that originated as a SportsBeat Live, where your questions and comments were addressed. Now it’s a podcast.

Today, we review the Royals’ off-season changes and wonder if the projections of a victory total somewhere in the 70s is an accurate measure for this season.

Story links:

The 2021 Royals in 1,000 words (give or take). Plenty to like, and big questions

Royals’ Mike Matheny intent on limiting COVID-19, contact tracing in spring camp

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Chiefs re-tooling on offense could involve O-line, receivers, tight ends Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Herbie Teope calls it “speculation season,” and that will be the case for weeks when it comes to the NFL. Free agency, the draft, contract restructuring, this is the time rosters are reshaped and the Chiefs will have plenty of decisions to make.

Teope joined fellow beat writer Sam McDowell and SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff in addressing some of the personnel decisions facing the Chiefs on today’s podcast. We focused on the offensive side, and there are plenty of players deserving of, well, speculation.

The offensive line figures to get plenty of attention. Same with wide receivers after Tyreek Hill and tight ends after Travis Kelce. Who will the Chiefs look to keep? Teope and McDowell break it down. We’ll check in with the defense and special teams soon.

Story link:

Mellinger Minutes: The new-new Chiefs off-season priorities and (finally) the Royals

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article249269245.html

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Wondering if Kansas State can keep Sunflower Showdown vs. KU close Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

The Sunflower Showdown returns, a day later than originally scheduled. This is the 2020-21 season and fitting in games anywhere on the schedule is the important thing.

KU is riding a three-game winning streak, K-State a 12-game losing streak and the Jayhawks won the earlier meeting by 23 . But Sunflower Showdown games tend to be competitive in Manhattan.

Beat writers Jesse Newell, Gary Bedore and Kellis Robinett break down the latest edition of KU-K-State, and cover several other topics on SportsBeat KC with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Story links:

NCAA case “hanging over our heads” has affected Jayhawks’ recruiting, Self says

Nijel Pack makes compelling case as for Kansas State’s best freshman of the Bruce Weber era

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