KCPowercat
12-17-2007, 01:48 PM
For those of you who try to tell me that Beasley regrets his decision on KSU and will be gone after this season. Sounds like he is sticking to his guns.
This is from the KC Star today.
K-States Beasley opens up
By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star
Michael Beasley The face of Kansas State basketball spoke on the record for the first time in a while Sunday night.
Freshman standout Michael Beasley, who is in town with the Wildcats as they prepare to take on Florida A&M at 7 tonight at Sprint Center, opened up. And it was informative, enlightening and often humorous.
First of all, we learned he has a weakness for Skittles (one pack a day), loves watching “SpongeBob SquarePants,” speaks sometimes as many as four times a week with Kevin Durant, and has no strong urge to leave K-State anytime soon.
“I don’t need much in this world but a bowl of macaroni and cheese,” Beasley said.
The muzzle was finally lifted Sunday as K-State newcomers were allowed to talk to the media for the first time since practice started in October. In a conference room at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Beasley sat at the head table while Jacob Pullen, Fred Brown, Andre Gilbert and Ron Anderson occupied two tables further back.
Reporters flocked around Beasley.
“Why don’t you pull up a seat?” Beasley shouted to his teammates, laughing and smiling as he encouraged them without any luck.
Even they know Beasley, who averages 25 points and a nation-best 14.3 rebounds, is the show. That’s even if the 6-foot-10 star doesn’t want to be the focus.
“I’m just a regular person. I score baskets, I make mistakes, the rest of the team does the same thing,” Beasley said. “I really don’t think of myself as this all-star recruit, superstar that’s going to bring fame back to K-State. I think if I felt like that, this team would be a train wreck, a tragedy.”
As he insisted 10 months ago when his prep school team played a game in Manhattan, Kan., Beasley continues to stand by his statement that he plans to stay at K-State beyond this season. So what if NBADraft.net has him going No. 1, he said.
“I think it (college) is fun enough for me to stick around and get my degree,” he said. “I plan on getting my degree before anything.”
But when pushed on whether he really will be a Wildcat in 2008-09, Beasley left a door open.
“I can’t really say four years for sure,” Beasley said. “Say there’s another coaching change — I may want to transfer.”
Beasley, however, is stunned that anybody is convinced he would be the No. 1 pick by the NBA.
“I don’t see myself being a No. 1 pick,” Beasley said. “I don’t even see myself being a first-rounder right now. I’m just going to go when I feel I’m ready. As far as the NBA goes, I’m not thinking about the NBA. The NBA can say whatever. I’m focused on Kansas State basketball for this season, the season after, the season after that.”
Beasley isn’t necessarily comfortable with being big man on campus. You get the sense that he wishes he could blend in more easily, but his height won’t allow it.
“When you’re 6 feet 10 and 245 pounds and 3 feet taller than everybody, they’re going to look at you,” he said. “I’m trying to be a regular student.”
Beasley said life in Manhattan, Kan., isn’t like his hometown of Washington, D.C., but he doesn’t really mind.
“It’s (Manhattan) not a city, that’s for sure,” he said. “There’s nothing to do. It keeps me out of trouble. I go to school, play basketball and catch up on a lot of sleep.”
He also speaks often with Durant, the former Texas sensation who was the No. 2 pick in the draft by Seattle. Basketball never comes up in their conversations, however, Beasley said.
“We talk about dumb stuff, just being kids,” Beasley said.
The biggest adjustment in college hoops, according to Beasley, is how much stronger players are at this level. He also resents hearing, from classmates or the media, how he doesn’t get enough touches in games.
“We’ve got scorers on our team that can score anytime they want,” he said. “I just chill. If my team needs me, I’m here. I’m tired of everybody asking me why I don’t get the ball. Everybody.”
Again, Beasley doesn’t want to be singled out. He’d better get used to it, though, whether he likes it or not.
“What is the Michael Beasley show?” Beasley asked when questioned about Wildcat basketball being his deal. “If I score 30 and the rest of the team doesn’t score, then we lose, right? So it’s the Kansas State show.
“If I’ve got to sit at the end of the bench with a towel over my head, that’s what I’ve got to do. I’ll do what I’ve got to do to get a win for Kansas State.”
This is from the KC Star today.
K-States Beasley opens up
By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star
Michael Beasley The face of Kansas State basketball spoke on the record for the first time in a while Sunday night.
Freshman standout Michael Beasley, who is in town with the Wildcats as they prepare to take on Florida A&M at 7 tonight at Sprint Center, opened up. And it was informative, enlightening and often humorous.
First of all, we learned he has a weakness for Skittles (one pack a day), loves watching “SpongeBob SquarePants,” speaks sometimes as many as four times a week with Kevin Durant, and has no strong urge to leave K-State anytime soon.
“I don’t need much in this world but a bowl of macaroni and cheese,” Beasley said.
The muzzle was finally lifted Sunday as K-State newcomers were allowed to talk to the media for the first time since practice started in October. In a conference room at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Beasley sat at the head table while Jacob Pullen, Fred Brown, Andre Gilbert and Ron Anderson occupied two tables further back.
Reporters flocked around Beasley.
“Why don’t you pull up a seat?” Beasley shouted to his teammates, laughing and smiling as he encouraged them without any luck.
Even they know Beasley, who averages 25 points and a nation-best 14.3 rebounds, is the show. That’s even if the 6-foot-10 star doesn’t want to be the focus.
“I’m just a regular person. I score baskets, I make mistakes, the rest of the team does the same thing,” Beasley said. “I really don’t think of myself as this all-star recruit, superstar that’s going to bring fame back to K-State. I think if I felt like that, this team would be a train wreck, a tragedy.”
As he insisted 10 months ago when his prep school team played a game in Manhattan, Kan., Beasley continues to stand by his statement that he plans to stay at K-State beyond this season. So what if NBADraft.net has him going No. 1, he said.
“I think it (college) is fun enough for me to stick around and get my degree,” he said. “I plan on getting my degree before anything.”
But when pushed on whether he really will be a Wildcat in 2008-09, Beasley left a door open.
“I can’t really say four years for sure,” Beasley said. “Say there’s another coaching change — I may want to transfer.”
Beasley, however, is stunned that anybody is convinced he would be the No. 1 pick by the NBA.
“I don’t see myself being a No. 1 pick,” Beasley said. “I don’t even see myself being a first-rounder right now. I’m just going to go when I feel I’m ready. As far as the NBA goes, I’m not thinking about the NBA. The NBA can say whatever. I’m focused on Kansas State basketball for this season, the season after, the season after that.”
Beasley isn’t necessarily comfortable with being big man on campus. You get the sense that he wishes he could blend in more easily, but his height won’t allow it.
“When you’re 6 feet 10 and 245 pounds and 3 feet taller than everybody, they’re going to look at you,” he said. “I’m trying to be a regular student.”
Beasley said life in Manhattan, Kan., isn’t like his hometown of Washington, D.C., but he doesn’t really mind.
“It’s (Manhattan) not a city, that’s for sure,” he said. “There’s nothing to do. It keeps me out of trouble. I go to school, play basketball and catch up on a lot of sleep.”
He also speaks often with Durant, the former Texas sensation who was the No. 2 pick in the draft by Seattle. Basketball never comes up in their conversations, however, Beasley said.
“We talk about dumb stuff, just being kids,” Beasley said.
The biggest adjustment in college hoops, according to Beasley, is how much stronger players are at this level. He also resents hearing, from classmates or the media, how he doesn’t get enough touches in games.
“We’ve got scorers on our team that can score anytime they want,” he said. “I just chill. If my team needs me, I’m here. I’m tired of everybody asking me why I don’t get the ball. Everybody.”
Again, Beasley doesn’t want to be singled out. He’d better get used to it, though, whether he likes it or not.
“What is the Michael Beasley show?” Beasley asked when questioned about Wildcat basketball being his deal. “If I score 30 and the rest of the team doesn’t score, then we lose, right? So it’s the Kansas State show.
“If I’ve got to sit at the end of the bench with a towel over my head, that’s what I’ve got to do. I’ll do what I’ve got to do to get a win for Kansas State.”