Jayhawks in the NBA: Three Jayhawks reunite in Nuggets-Raptors game

DENVER, Colo. – Three former Kansas men’s basketball players, Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick of the Toronto Raptors, and Christian Braun of the Denver Nuggets took the court in a Jayhawk reunion at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Monday.

Braun and Agbaji, who won a national championship with the Jayhawks in 2022, were both first-round selections in the 2022 NBA draft. Agbaji was picked 14th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Braun followed a few picks later, drafted 21st by the Denver Nuggets.

Dick, who played for the Jayhawks last season, was drafted No. 13 overall to the Toronto Raptors. Before the 2024 NBA trade deadline, Agbaji was traded to the Raptors, joining Dick in Toronto.

Before the game, Braun shared his thoughts on facing the former Jayhawks, who are now members of the Toronto Raptors.

“It’s pretty cool to see these guys do their thing in the league,” Braun told the Kansan. “I’m just proud of them, it’s amazing to see what they’ve accomplished and what they’re doing. It’s going to be fun to compete against them.

Braun discussed his relationship with Agbaji and Dick, emphasizing the lasting bond formed through their national championship win with Agbaji and his role in recruiting Dick to Kansas. Additionally, he acknowledged the connection among former Jayhawks in the NBA.

“Me and Ochai were on that team that won together, which makes you close forever. I got to help Gradey with his decision coming to Kansas, and seeing it work out for him and get to where he’s at now, it’s been really cool. My relationship with them is great,” Braun said. “Those are relationships and bonds I’ll have forever.”

The Denver Nuggets rallied from a 22-point deficit to defeat the Raptors 125-119. Agbaji finished with eight points, two rebounds and one assist, while Braun finished with five points, two rebounds and two assists, securing the win against his former college teammate.

Dick, who finished the game with 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds, described the experience of playing with Braun and Agbaji on an NBA floor.

“It was special to see Christian again and be on the same floor with him and Ochai, it was a cool moment,” Dick said.

He also mentioned how Agbaji has helped his development in the league.

“It was good to have a guy I was already familiar with and come in and already have that chemistry built.”

Dick concluded by sharing his favorite memory from playing at Kansas, which was defeating Missouri and engaging in some post-win shenanigans.

“I got a Bengal cat after to celebrate the win,” Dick laughed.

When asked where he bought the Bengal cat, he simply replied, “online.”

Loading comments...

Chiefs re-sign LB Drue Tranquill to a 3-year, $19M contract

Fresh off a victory in Super Bowl LVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs have made their first splash in free agency. Linebacker Drue Tranquill has agreed to terms with the Chiefs on a new three-year, $19 million contract with $13 million fully guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media

Drue Tranquill, who was a pivotal player during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run, returns for the future in Kansas City. Last season, Tranquill recorded 78 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 7 quarterback hits in 16 games. 

The Chiefs’ decision to resign Tranquill likely indicates that linebacker Willie Gay Jr. will sign elsewhere in free agency. 

Tranquill reacted to the new deal on Twitter saying “unfinished business, LETS GOOOOO.”

Drue Tranquill reacts to his new contract extension via Twitter.
March 7, 2024

 

Loading comments...

Super Bowl champion Trey Smith, Chiefs, enjoy atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse

Allen Fieldhouse, home of the Kansas Jayhawks, is widely known for having one of the best atmospheres in all of sports. The 16,300 fans who fill in the bleachers in The Phog make for an unforgettable college basketball experience. The reputation of Allen Fieldhouse attracts many prominent visitors from across the country, and fresh off an AFC Championship victory, members of the Kansas City Chiefs were in attendance during the Jayhawks’ 83-54 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 30.

Eight members of the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line, including the starting five, were in the student section dancing during the Jayhawks’ dominant performance over Big 12 rival Oklahoma State. The group included center Creed Humphrey, left guard Joe Thuney, right guard Trey Smith, left tackle Donovan Smith, right tackle Jawaan Taylor, left tackle Wanya Morris, center Austin Reiter and guard Mike Caliendo.

Trey Smith, starting right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, was one of the players enjoying the Allen Fieldhouse experience. Smith, who was drafted by the Chiefs in 2020, has become a key piece of an offensive line that has helped lead the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowls.

Trey Smith describes the atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse to Michael D’Arcy during media week ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media

Leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, Trey Smith shared his thoughts on the atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse.

“It was raucous man. I love Allen Fieldhouse,” Smith said.

He continued by saying that he grew up watching Tennessee women’s basketball, coached by the late Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, and going to Thompson-Boling Arena. Smith mentioned how he was accustomed to watching high-level basketball, and that Allen Fieldhouse was a must-see destination.

 “Allen Fieldhouse is one of those spots that I wanted to hit, and it did not disappoint. Man, what an environment that was. It was so much fun,” Smith concluded.

The Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. on CBS.

54 Comments

  • Wow superb blog layout How long have you been blogging for you make blogging look easy The overall look of your site is magnificent as well as the content

  • Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?

  • I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.

  • Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

49ers Super Bowl LVIII Media Gallery

Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Loading comments...

Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Media Gallery

Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Creator: Michael D’Arcy / KC Sports Report Media
Loading comments...

Ceiling and Floor for the Kansas City Royals

It’s hard to expect a worse season out of the 2024 squad in comparison to the ‘23 campaign. With a 56-106 record, the Royals tied their all-time worst record in franchise history (winning percentage) and headed into the offseason with glaring holes that needed to be patched. In the ensuing 5 months the front office made it clear they intend to contend in a weak AL Central. They became the most active team in the league in free agency and spent a lot of money.

Major Moves

It started slow, as all things do, picking up utility man Garret Hampson to shore up the infield and corner outfield depth. As the winter proceedings progressed it became clear that J.J. Piccolo and co. were very interested in adding a veteran arm to lead the rotation into the new season. With that in mind, the smaller moves continued. The bullpen grew with the return of back-to-back-to-back World Series champion Will Smith and the quickly ensuing addition of his Rangers teammate Chris Stratton. The Royals then seemingly found their big signing with Seth Lugo, a veteran pitcher looking to further a second career moving from pen to starter. Just when we all thought they had moved on from starters, Michael Wacha signed a one-year deal to further transform the pitching room in KC. Hunter Renfroe and Adam Frazier both signed in January to improve some positional needs and depth in the lineup. Finally, the Royals traded a young arm in David Sandlin for John Schreiber to complete a deep bullpen that tops the Central division. 

It’s a lot, I know, but the Royals ensured the fanbase that 2023 would be an evaluation year. After sitting back,l letting some young guys struggle, and assessing positional needs the front office quickly realized that the necessary changes were plentiful. They weren’t nearly as expensive to be competitive in the AL Central as in other, stronger divisions though. The head honchos decided to spend a franchise-record amount of money in one off-season. A lot of that money comes from a Bobby Witt Jr. extension to keep him in Kansas City through his age-30 season, but it establishes a couple of things about this team moving forward.

The New Philosophy

John Sherman took a few things from the Cleveland Guardians when he left to purchase the Royals. After watching them squeeze into relevance year in and year out, he realized that the American League Central is very easy to compete in. Unlike Cleveland, there isn’t a well of player development available to keep the team hovering around .500 on a down year. But he did notice that a .500 record is more than enough to keep a team in the divisional race. For the first time in decades, the Royals are looking to make moves that benefit them for the future while also doing the small things to keep things competitive.

Many of these moves could serve to shore up fan relations as they look towards a vote on tax dollars for a new stadium. Some could prevent a massive fan exodus and a drop in profits for a new owner. Regardless of the purpose, this front office has pushed to spend some money to make some money. The on-field product looks to drastically improve this season. This should encourage the fans to get out to the park and root for young and new players. 

Floor

There are a lot of reasons to be pessimistic about this club. Even the good moves have ended up being liabilities for the franchise and wasted money. The extension of a promising young bat turned into 2 years of Hunter Dozier that few people wanted. The signing of a veteran first baseman with a history of all-star appearances and elite on-base skills led to the underperformance of Carlos Santana. Even the return of my favorite pitcher to ever grace the Powder Blue led to an overdependence on Zack Greinke as he looked to peacefully pitch the last years of his career. 

This team feels different. There is a decent amount of veteran presence and that is seldom something you want to be importing with high expectations. To pair, however, is a great young core that looks to continue improving and lead the team into the future. With little production required by the veteran incomers, it’ll be much easier to find a little positivity that just one can help boost the team. I have high hopes for Hunter Renfroe in right field. He has 30-plus homerun potential in any park and can field the position just fine. Paired with a history of success and one of the best arms in baseball, he will most likely slot into a 5 spot and hit just fine. 

Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Maikel Garcia look to fill the top 3 spots in the lineup. Alongside those three spots, they will fill 75% of the infield spots defensively well. Under contract for many years to come, this young trio looks to lead the team from the field. Add some veteran arms and bats to provide a safety blanket, this team should at least limit the breathing room of the divisional leaders. Anything below 70 wins should be frustrating for fans. I get it, it is tough to expect anything from a team finishing as poorly as they did in 2023. This new front office flexing their spending power for the first time. This means the pressure is on to make some of the right decisions with that money. This team looks like it could have more in store but 70-75 wins is maintainable in the 2024 season.

Ceiling

It would be a little excessive to say this team will go out and win the Central. And with the mighty AL East owning the wild card in recent years, winning the division will be the only way for this team to sneak into the playoffs. Will they sneak into the playoffs? The answer to that is almost certainly no. But when you think about this team some players could potentially lift this team into contending within the division. Cole Ragans was red hot in the second half of the season last year. He showed improved velocity on his fastball and an aggressive approach towards batters. He even looked like a top-20 starter in the league. He very well may fall off in his first full year starting, but he could look like a monster if he doesn’t. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo were both a part of a rotation that led the league in ERA with the Padres in 2023. Adding a full-throttle Ragans to the mix would launch the starting pitching into another atmosphere. 

In the field, MJ Melendez and Nelson Velazquez both open some eyes down the stretch. Both need to show that they can expand their game for the numbers to be maintainable. There are things to get excited about though. Velazquez went on a power surge that propped his numbers for the whole season. He never really slowed down with the home runs, but he didn’t quite hit the other types of batted balls enough to feel confident he could keep it up. If Nelson works it out this season, he could look very similar to his coworker in right field at his peak. MJ struggled pretty heavily to start last season. He didn’t let that carry into the second half of the season though. He turned a corner and looked like a legitimate left fielder down the stretch. The corner outfield spots could make massive strides from last season. It just requires one of these two to become a consistent big leaguer. 

With multiple players looking to establish themselves in the lineup, there could be potential for a contender here. Many of the additions look to improve the outlook of the roster, but certain guys in the youth movement could make a statement this year and push the team to the next level. There are no World Series hopes for the team headed into March, but the division could be within reach. It may seem audacious to see written out, but 85-90 wins may grace the field if things work out. If that happens, build the stadium. Give me a baseball village. Pay some young guys. I’m willing to overreact to the success of the front office and buy-in. But this is absolutely a bit far-fetched and requires many things to work themselves out. 

It’s a Wide Gap, But There’s a Reason For That…

We’re coming off a rough season. There’s no sugarcoating that. It is safe to assume that with this much spending, there will be some improvements. That being said, many of these signings could look very good for this front office. Many of the things that went right last year came from trades. Therefore, we only had a half-season to evaluate those additions. Looking forward we will get a greater perspective into the scouting of talent and its longevity. Here’s to the 2024 Royals and whatever happens on the field. We’ve seen the rocks in the last 20 years of this team and we’ve seen the mountaintop. This season looks to be a climbing year, and the progress back up the mountain remains to be seen.

Loading comments...

Royals’ legend Eric Hosmer retires from MLB

Kansas City Royals legend Eric Hosmer announced his retirement from Major League Baseball Wednesday afternoon. 

Hosmer, now 34, was a key piece of a Royals team that won back-to-back American League pennants, and a World Series championship. 

The Royals drafted Hosmer with the third overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. He debuted in 2011 and played 7 seasons in Kansas City, winning an All-Star game MVP in 2016, four gold gloves, a Silver Slugger award and a World Series title. 

All of Kansas City rallied around and embraced the Royals during their postseason runs in 2014-15. Which, is why Eric Hosmer remains so beloved by fans in KC nearly a decade after winning a World Series. 

 

Memorable Postseason Moments 

 

2014 AL Wildcard Triple in Extra Innings

 

In the bottom of the 12th inning, with the Royals trailing the Oakland Athletics 8-7, Eric Hosmer hit a triple into left-center field. Hosmer’s hit ignited a Royals comeback, later scoring on a Christian Colon hit. The Royals would go on to win the 2014 Wild Card game 9-8 in the bottom of the 12th. 

 

Go-Ahead RBI in the 2015 ALCS

 

In game six of the 2015 ALCS, Hosmer hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, which gave the Royals a 4-3 lead. Lorenzo Cain scored from first base on one of the most electrifying plays in Royals history. The Royals would go on to win the AL Pennant 4-3. 

 

2015 World Series Dash to Home 

 

Eric Hosmer’s signature moment came in game five of the 2015 World Series. In the top of the ninth inning with one out, Hosmer dashed home to tie the game, scoring from third base on a ground ball to third. Hosmer’s clutch baserunning sparked the Royals’ comeback to win the 2015 World Series. 

 

It’s impossible to tell the history of the Kansas City Royals without Eric Hosmer. A kid drafted out of high school, who carried the weight of the Royals organization on his shoulders, delivered the city its first championship title in over 30 years. You couldn’t write it any better. 

 

Good luck in retirement, Eric.

Loading comments...