Look into mirror, Kansas; what do you see?
Few stars of the NCAA Tournament are as exciting as Kansas freshman Josh Jackson.
The 6-8 guard from Detroit who is near the top of everyone’s NBA draft prospect list can do a little bit of everything and can do it well.
He has a world of potential and could shine at the next level.
It’s too bad that he also is the most controversial star of the Tournament.
In the midst of Kansas’ run to the Sweet 16, where the Jayhawks will play Purdue on Thursday night, it can’t be forgotten that one of their best players was involved in a disturbing incident in December.
Since Jackson was charged Feb. 24 with a misdemeanor for property damage of a vehicle, details have emerged that have put the Kansas basketball program under a microscope.
The car that was damaged belonged to Jayhawks women’s basketball player McKenzie Calvert. There is, as always in these situations, a lot of he-said, she-said.
But what is known is that Calvert threw a drink
in the face of Lagerald Vick, another men’s basketball player. After that, Jackson kicked and vandalized Calvert’s car while she was in the driver’s seat. Jackson also threatened to “beat” Calvert while he was kicking the car, according to an affidavit released last week by the Douglas County District Court in Lawrence, Kan.
Calvert was suspended for her actions in the Dec. 9 incident. Jackson missed the first game of the Big 12 tournament for a separate incident in which he ran into a parked car and left the scene of the incident.
Calvert now claims her playing time suffered because of the incident, and her father has requested a Title IX investigation.
Kansas men’s coach Bill Self said he disciplined Jackson and has since moved on.
There should have been more than a one-game suspension — some kind of acknowledgement that showed that Self and his staff are serious about cleaning up the Jayhawks’ problems.
Maybe Self just isn’t that interested in running a clean program. The incident involving Jackson isn’t the first for the Jayhawks this season.
According to a story published by the Kansas City Star in late January, a university investigation found that Vick “likely hit a female student multiple times in late 2015.” The university recommended two years of school probation.
But Vick has not missed a game this season.
The worst of all of the allegations surrounding the basketball team is the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl, which was reported in December. No suspect has been named in the ongoing investigation, but the police report lists five members of the basketball team as witnesses, including Jackson and Vick.
During that rape investigation, campus police seized drug paraphernalia (no indication that it is related) and charged Carlton Bragg, another player, in that allegation. Bragg did serve a three-game suspension.
As usual, there is little transparency.
Self has not said much about the arrests, charges or rumors surrounding his team. And from the outside looking it, he does not appear too interested in handing down punishments.
In light of Jackson’s misdemeanor charge — which claims he caused several thousand dollars worth of damage — Self called his player a “great ambassador to the university.”
The coach has talked about how well Jackson and the other players are doing despite these distractions. He is praising players who have been alleged to be involved in serious crimes.
Another program with a long list of issues. Another tone-deaf coach.
Jackson made a mistake. Maybe that all there is to it, and he will learn from it and everything will be fine.
But the management by Kansas officials of him and his teammates is questionable.
Some acknowledgment that there are problems that need to be addressed, and some sense that discipline is being applied — even if it is behind the scenes — would go a long way.
Without transparency, without comment and without admission, it appears as though winning ranks above morals, ethics and standards. And it is happening too much.
The many college football domestic violence and sexual assault scandals. A cheating scandal involving fellow Sweet 16 participant North Carolina. The mess involving the Louisville basketball team.
These and so many more taint college sports.
Kansas is a dynamic team — one of the most entertaining in this year’s Tournament. But with the cloud of suspicion that lingers over the Jayhawks, it is hard to get excited about them.
Self and his staff could have stayed on top of things and handled every- thing better. It would have made a difference.
Now, when Jackson’s name comes up, it is not just about how well he is playing.
When Kansas wins a game, it is hard not to talk about all the drama that has surrounded the program this season.
What should just be a fun time for basketball and for the superstar players who emerge during the tournament loses some of its luster in the wake of too many scandals involving too many teams.