LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo, a grad transfer from South Dakota State, had 19 points in his Kansas debut and the top-ranked Jayhawks beat Howard 87-57 on Monday night in the season-opener for both teams.
Kansas led 46-19 at halftime and its biggest lead was 38 points.
The game was the second annual McClendon Classic, named in honor of Kansas graduate and Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame honoree John McClendon.
Kansas (1-0) used the game as a tune-up before a top-10 showdown with North Carolina on Friday night. The Jayhawks had 10 players score, with three in double-figures. Hunter Dickinson, who missed Kansas' scrimmage and exhibition games, had 16 points and six rebounds, and Flory Bidunga added 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Blake Harper had 16 points to lead Howard.
Howard: The Bison will take away plenty from the contest, mostly measured in guaranteed money they received from Kansas.
Kansas: The Jayhawks won their 52nd consecutive home opener, dating back to the final 10 years of Ted Owens’ career, through five years under Larry Brown, 15 under Roy Williams and 22 straight under Bill Self.
After falling behind 4-3 early, the Jayhawks used a 12-3 run to eliminate any thoughts of a Howard victory. Howard went almost nine minutes without a field goal, missing 10 straight shot attempts as Kansas methodically pulled away.
Howard shot just 24.1 percent (7 for 29) in the first half.
Howard visits Missouri on Friday, while Kansas hosts No. 9 North Carolina.
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Howard guard Bryce Harris, left, Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) and Howard forward Dom Campbell, right, battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas forward Flory Bidunga, top, dunks over Howard forward Cameron Shockley-Okeke, below, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Gerrit Cole gave up his opt-out right on Monday and will remain with the New York Yankees under a contract that runs through 2028 rather than become a free agent.
New York's ace initially exercised his right to terminate the $324 million, nine-year deal, which has $144 million and four years remaining. That decision triggered a two-day window for the Yankees to add a $36 million salary for 2029, which would void the opt out.
Given the short time frame after the team's World Series-ending loss Wednesday night, both sides extended the bargaining period until 5 p.m. EST Monday, the deadline for option decisions in the collective bargaining agreement. As the deadline approached, both sides agreed to rescind their rights and worked out the language with Major League Baseball and the players' association.
“Maybe the grass isn't always greener,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “I think he’s happy where he's at. I think he likes our setup. I think he likes playing for who he’s playing for and working for. And I think he likes his teammates. And I think he thinks we have a legitimate chance to win.”
Cashman said the talks included himself, Cole, agent Scott Boras, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine.
“Gerrit and Hal have built a close relationship, and remaining a Yankee was important to both,” Boras said in an email to The Associated Press. “All understood further time was needed to advance discussions.”
Cashman said Cole's "career hopefully will finish with the Yankees. Whether that’s at the end of this contract or anything in the future, we can still talk through that. But the most important thing is, the biggest first step is we have our ace back and we’re excited about that.”
A 34-year-old right-hander, Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award. His 2024 season didn’t start until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, and then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.
Cashman said Cole didn't need any medical procedures and New York hopes he is healthy.
“But how many pitchers are, right?” Cashman said. “I’ll go through the free agent meetings and I’ll go through all the players in the marketplace that are over a certain age and they’re all going to have their warts and some pitch with them and some can’t pitch with them. But he's obviously made us feel really good about how he came back.”
Cole's decision gives the Yankees six potential rotation returnees, a group that includes Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman.
In addition, the Yankees made a $21.05 million qualifying offer to outfielder Juan Soto, who is certain to reject it, but did not make one to second baseman Gleyber Torres. New York would not get draft-pick compensation if Torres signs elsewhere.
Cashman said the club is not averse to including deferred compensation in contracts. Yankees deals have generally not included that.
“We’re open to deferrals,” he said. “A lot of times players are less open to doing deferrals for us than they are for maybe other markets. But if we can do stuff that benefits us, of course we will.”
Cashman spoke to reporters for the first time since the Yankees wasted a five-run, fifth-inning lead against the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, when center fielder Aaron Judge and Gold Glove shortstop Anthony Volpe made errors and Cole didn't cover first base on a pivotal play.
“This team obviously wasn’t the best defensive team that we’ve had, clearly. And this team also had obviously made some baserunning mistakes, but obviously the Game 5 situation was involving players that ultimately are really, really good," Cashman said. “Aaron Judge catches a flyball a billion times out of a billion.
“The Dodgers won the World Series and I congratulate them,” he added. “I wish we gave them our best shot but you only have a small window to do that. We earned the right to get there but we didn’t play our best baseball while there and we got sent home.”
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New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
