Monday Notebook: This Week, We Go! (P.S. Fire Beaty)

1. KU destroys Pitt State in the (sort of) exhibition opener

The Jayhawks took care of the Gorillas by a score of 100-54. That’s blowout even against a division two school. Kansas looked very polished, which is surprising for this being just their second unofficial game. Malik Newman led all players with 19 points. He is such a dangerous scorer. He’s a great catch and shoot guy, but he is also prolific off the dribble. Svi Mykhailiuk finished with 18, going 3/7 from three. He looked monumentally better than he did against Mizzou.

Two Jayhawks recorded double-doubles. Lagerald Vick had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and at least three highlight reel dunks that I can remember, while Udoka Azubuike scored 17, had 14 boards, and was getting whatever looks he wanted down low (he was unofficially 672 pounds heavier and 18 feet taller than everyone on PSU however). Devonte’ Graham only had six points, but he added five rebounds and six assists. He took just five shots as well, all of them threes. That very well could become a problem moving forward. Graham has to start driving the ball. Kansas looked good. They looked like a coherent team for the most part. They will finish off the preseason slate tomorrow night against Fort Hays State.

2. Time to fire David Beaty

I don’t like saying this (partially because I think they might fire him before this gets posted). I think coach Beaty is a great guy with a great family. And around this time last season I was all for him. I’ll admit that. Last week after a close 30-20 loss against K-State, I thought, “Ya know what, they didn’t look too bad there. Maybe next week against winless Baylor Bears, we can actually pick up a win.”

Nope.

I thought back-to-back shutout losses would be the low point of season. I was so very wrong. The Jayhawks were destroyed by the 0-8 Bears 38-9 on Saturday. I really don’t like sounding this bleak about KU football all the time, but there is really, truly, absolutely nothing good about what happened two days ago. I don’t know what else you want me to say. It feels like Beaty can’t coach the fundamentals. His play calling is suspect at best sometimes. The offense was supposed to be good, but it kind of sucks. I don’t like moving on to yet another coach, but almost anything would be better than what we’re getting now.

3. College Football Playoff Update

The official CFP rankings came out on Tuesday. The top four was revealed to be, in order, Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Clemson. All of those teams won on Saturday.

Penn State, however, whom I considered to be the second best team a couple weeks ago, has now lost two in a row and would appear to be out of the Playoff race. The Big Ten as a whole is potentially out. Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Michigan State all have two losses, while Wisconsin is undefeated but has a weak strength of schedule.

The Pac-12 might be out as well. Preseason favorite USC hasn’t been nearly as good as people thought, Washington has the same problem Wisconsin has, and no one else has less than two losses.

The Big 12 might have had the game of the year on Saturday as Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. Really fun game, unless you’re a defensive coordinator. OU and TCU are the league’s last hopes at a Playoff spot. They play each other next week. The winner would appear to have locked up a spot in the Big 12 title game.

The ACC has two title contenders still. Miami and Clemson are on a collision course to meet in the ACC title game. If they both enter with one or less losses, the winner of that game should be in.

If Notre Dame wins out they’re in. ‘Nuff said.

Alabama has a chance to miss the playoffs for the first time in it’s history. If they lose to both Auburn in the Iron Bowl, and Georgia in the SEC title game, they’re out as far as I’m concerned. I doubt they’d lose both though. Speaking of Georgia the Bulldogs are a really good team. They’re defense is as good as anybody’s in America.

4. Inside the Paint Update

Now that we’ve entered the basketball season ITP will return to it’s regular show-for-every-game schedule. I’m super hyped for it. Hopefully you are too. Can’t wait for the regular season to start. Rock Chalk!

Landen Fields is a contributor for Rock Chalk Blog. You can check out his archive here.