KU’s Jackson suspended for first round

Kansas freshman star Josh

Jackson is in trouble again. KU coach Bill Self suspended Jackson for the Big 12 quarterfinals Thursday, after Self discovered a Feb. 2 traffic incident in which Jackson left the scene of a crash.

Jackson received three citations and is scheduled to appear in court on March 27. Jackson was cited for backing his car into an unattended vehicle and not leaving his contact information, Self said.

“Although Josh has acknowledged his responsibility and has handled it himself, he didn’t tell me about it until Monday,” Self said in a KU press release. “He should have left his contact information at the time and notified us immediately.”

Jackson already faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal property damage on an allegation that he kicked the car of a female student. Jackson was not suspended for that incident.

Jackson is averaging 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He’s considered a high lottery pick in the NBA Draft.

BIG 12 adds wall of legends

When Big 12 players enter the Sprint Center this year, they are greeted by what the Big 12 calls a wall of legends. The conference commissioned artist John Bennetts to draw legendary players from each of the 10 schools.

So awaiting the teams are likenesses of Kansas State’s

Bob Boozer, OU’s Wayman Tisdale, TCU’s Kurt Thomas, Kansas’ Wilt Chamberlain, Baylor’s Vinnie Johnson, West Virginia’s Jerry West, Texas’ Kevin Durant, Texas Tech’s Andre Emmett, OSU’s Bryant Reeves and Iowa State’s Marcus Fizer.

OSU tickets in demand

In the old days of the Big Eight, OSU and OU fans routinely held their own against the local crowds of Kansas, Missouri and Kansas State. In recent years, Kansas and Iowa State fans have dominated the Sprint Center.

But OSU’s revival has sparked an increased among Cowboy fans. OSU ticket manager Andy Summerall said his office received requests for more than 1,000 tickets for this tournament. OSU received 750 tickets from its Big 12 allotment and another 75 or so from other Big 12 schools. A year ago, OSU used only about 625 of its ticket allotment. “Coach (Brad) Underwood and this team in general definitely put in a new perspective for our fans,” Summerall said. “Just the enthusiasm; our fans want to be a part of it. That’s one of the things we’ve seen whether it’s the Big 12 Tournament or season-ticket sales or single-game sales.”

Radio dinner tradition

Among the Big 12 Tournament traditions are the radio crews from each school getting together for dinner the night before the tournament starts. A group of 20 or so met Tuesday night at Bristol Seafood Grill in the Power & Light District.

“We set a Big 12 record for most hot air in one restaurant,” cracked Toby Rowland, voice of the Sooners.

The only missing schools were Texas, since Craig

Way and Co. were calling a Longhorn baseball game, and Baylor, which didn’t brings its contingent to Kansas City until Wednesday.

Quotable

ESPN bracketologist

Joe Lunardi, on Kansas State’s NCAA Tournament hopes: “I’m not in love with their profile either from a non-conference schedule standpoint or a league record standpoint.

But they do have some nice wins, and getting Baylor on a neutral court is essential to them at this point, almost a play-in game for them tomorrow night. And we’ll be up late watching, and there will be a lot of teams rooting against them.”