LAWRENCE, Kan. – Back in a big way, Kansas redshirt-junior linebacker Joe Dineen Jr., returned to the field for the first time in nearly a year after missing the majority of the 2016 campaign with an injury, leading the Jayhawks to a 38-16 win over Southeast Missouri State. Dineen posted a game-high 15 tackles in the win on his way to being named the Big 12 Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week.

Dineen, who was honored by the conference office for the first time in his KU career, was just one tackle shy of his career-high as he collected a Big 12 leading 15 total stops, including 11 solo hits. In addition, he recorded a career-high tying 2.5 tackles-for-loss.

Dineen’s 15 tackles mark the fifth time in his Jayhawk career he has tallied 10 or more tackles in a game and he was part of a KU defense that held SEMO to just 3.4 yards per play, the lowest average per play for a Jayhawk opponent since 2008.

Dineen is the first Jayhawk to pick up weekly conference honors on defense since his teammate Dorance Armstrong Jr., was selected for the award on Nov. 21, 2016 following KU’s win over Texas. A total of three Jayhawks were honored by the conference office in 2016 (Armstrong, Matthew Wyman [ST, Nov. 21] Cole Moos [ST, 10/17]).

The Jayhawks will continue their non-conference slate on Saturday, Sept. 9 by welcoming Central Michigan to Memorial Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Peyton Bender threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start for Kansas Saturday, leading the way to a 38-16 season-opening victory over Southeast Missouri State.

Bender got things rolling early, connecting with wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. for a 77-yard touchdown pass on the Jayhawks’ third play on offense. He threw another touchdown to wide receiver Chase Harrell on the next drive, putting Kansas ahead 14-0 barely over six minutes into the game.

Sims caught a second touchdown pass from Bender late in the second quarter, a 16-yard strike with 13 seconds remaining in the half. He finished with 142 yards, a game-high.

The Redhawks’ two touchdowns both came off the hand of quarterback Jesse Hosket. He hit wide receiver Trevon Billington for a 9-yard score midway through the second quarter, and found wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson for 22 yards in the fourth.

Southeast Missouri State struggled to find consistent footing offensively throughout. Hosket finished with 170 yards, completing just 25 of 44 passes, constantly disrupted by the stout Kansas front seven.

THE TAKEAWAY

KANSAS: The Jayhawks are entering their third season under coach David Beaty, and appear to be finally finding their rhythm as a team. Both the offense and defense were moving in stride all game with few major errors. Beaty and his staff still have some things to iron out before the real heat of the season begins, but overall, a strong opener.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE: The Redhawks were facing an uphill battle entering this game, and were expectedly outmatched. Once they return to FCS competition next week, we should see what type of team they really are.

UP NEXT

KANSAS: The Jayhawks will host Central Michigan next Saturday, their final non-conference home game of the season.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE: The Redhawks are on the road again next week, as they will face Dayton in their return to FCS competition.

— Associated Press —

Kansas linebacker Maciah Long has been dismissed from the football team after he was arrested Sunday for allegedly threatened a woman with a handgun.

The 19-year old Long was charged Monday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, and two misdemeanors, criminal damage to property and marijuana possession. According to Douglas County District Court documents, Long is also alleged to have damaged or destroyed the woman’s television.

Kansas announced Long’s dismissal from the program Monday morning, citing an unspecified team rules violation.

Long, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Houston, played tight end and linebacker for KU last season. He carried the ball twice for one yard.

IRVING, Texas – Kansas basketball player Frank Mason III has been named the 2016-17 co-Big 12 Men’s Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Thursday. Mason shared the honor with Texas swimmer Will Licon, while West Virginia soccer defender Kadeisha Buchanan was the female recipient.

Nominees were submitted by Big 12 institutions and selected based on athletic performance, academic achievement and citizenship by a media panel as well as fan voting conducted through Big 12Sports.com.

Mason was the consensus 2017 National Player of the Year as well as a consensus All-America First Team selection while leading the Jayhawks to their 13th-consecutive Big 12 regular-season title. He also captured the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and was named Big 12 Player of the Year and to the All-Big 12 First Team. Mason became the only player in KU and Big 12 history to average more than 20 points and five assists in the same season. He led the Big 12 in scoring overall (20.9 ppg) and during conference play (21.0 ppg) while averaging 5.2 assists.

A two-time national player of the week, Mason posted 23 games of 20 or more points, including his final seven contests and 10 of KU’s last 11 outings in 2016-17. The Petersburg, Virginia native was KU’s leading scorer in 26 games. Mason concluded his career No. 6 on the Kansas scoring list (1,885 points), No. 6 in assists (576), No. 8 in 3-point field goals (185), No. 13 in steals (165) and tied for third in consecutive starts (110). He is the first Jayhawk in school history to rank sixth or higher in both points and assists. Mason was one of the five ESPY nominees for 2017 Best Male College Athlete.

A May 2017 KU graduate, Mason was also active in the Lawrence community with activities that included Ladies Night Out, a yearly sold-out event that benefits Jayhawks for a Cure with all proceeds donated to Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) and the KU Cancer Center in an effort to fund cancer research. A Big 12 Champion for Life, Mason was a counselor at the Wilt Chamberlain Special Olympics Clinic, participated in an annual youth holiday clinic in which men’s basketball student-athletes teach youth fundamentals of the game and visited local elementary schools to read to the students.

Mason is the third Jayhawk to be named Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year with all three being from men’s basketball. He joins Jacque Vaughn who won the honor in the first year of the conference in 1996-97 and Nick Collison in 2002-03.

Licon is an 11-time NCAA champion who won NCAA titles in all five of his events at the 2017 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. He became just the fourth swimmer in the history of college swimming, and the first in 17 years, to win NCAA titles in four different individual events through his career at the NCAA Championships. Licon’s 2017 national championships were in the events of 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. He is the first Texas or Big 12 swimmer to win three individual national titles at a single NCAA Championship meet (athletes are limited to a maximum of three individual events).

Buchanan helped lead West Virginia to four Big 12 regular-season titles and three postseason crowns during her time in Morgantown, as well as a runner-up finish in the 2016 NCAA College Cup. This past season, she claimed national honors as the MAC Hermann Trophy recipient, Honda Sport Award winner for soccer and espnW and TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Year. She was also a 2017 ESPY nominee in the category of Best Female College Athlete.

Other female candidates for Big 12 Athlete of the Year included: Lindsey Cargill (Baylor), Jhoanmy Luque (Iowa State), Sharon Lokedi (Kansas), Nina Schultz (Kansas State), Maggie Nichols (Oklahoma), Vanessa Shippy (Oklahoma State), Brenley Goertzen (TCU), Chrisann Gordon (Texas) and Gabriela Talaba (Texas Tech).

Male nominees were: Troy Montemayor (Baylor), Monte Morris (Iowa State), Jordan Willis (Kansas State), Samaje Perine (Oklahoma), Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State), Cameron Norrie (TCU), Trey Culver (Texas Tech) and Jevon Carter (West Virginia).

Big 12 Athletes of the Year

Male
2016-17 FRANK MASON, KANSAS & Will Licon, Texas
2015-16 Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
2014-15 Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
2013-14 Bryce Petty, Baylor
2012-13 Collin Klein, Kansas State
2011-12 Robert Griffin III, Baylor
2010-11 Taylor Jungmann, Texas
2009-10 Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2008-09 Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2007-08 Chase Daniel, Missouri
2006-07 Ben Askren, Missouri
2005-06 Vince Young, Texas
2004-05 Derrick Johnson, Texas
2003-04 Jason White, Oklahoma
2002-03 NICK COLLISON, KANSAS
2001-02 Cael Sanderson, Iowa State
2000-01 Josh Heupel, Oklahoma
1999-00 Charles Howell, Oklahoma State
1998-99 Ricky Williams, Texas
1997-98 Grant Wistrom, Nebraska
1996-97 JACQUE VAUGHN, KANSAS

Female
2016-17 Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia
2015-16 Paige Parker, Oklahoma
2014-15 Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma
2013-14 Odyssey Sims, Baylor
2012-13 Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma
2011-12 Brittney Griner, Baylor
2010-11 Jessica Beard, Texas A&M
2009-10 Lisa Koll, Iowa State
2008-09 Destinee Hooker, Texas
2007-08 Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
2006-07 Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
2005-06 Cat Osterman, Texas
2004-05 Cat Osterman, Texas
2003-04 Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State
2002-03 Cat Osterman, Texas
2001-02 Stacey Dales-Schuman, Oklahoma
2000-01 Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
1999-00 Erin Aldrich, Texas
1998-99 Suziann Reid, Texas
1997-98 Vera Ilyina, Texas
1996-97 Nanceen Perry, Texas

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr., was tabbed to the 2017 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. Armstrong is the first Jayhawk to be considered for the award since Ben Heeney was on the 2014 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of ’69 and the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of ’67.

A native of Houston, Texas, Armstrong enters the 2017 season as the Big 12 Conference’s returning statistical leader in sacks (10.0), tackles-for-loss (20.0) and forced fumbles (3) and ranks second among returnees in fumbles recovered (2). Armstrong was a consensus first team All-Big 12 honoree in 2016, becoming Kansas’ first-ever unanimous first team selection by the league’s coaches.

Armstrong was among the best defensive players in the country in 2016, ranking fifth in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in tackles-for-loss and 18th in sacks. He tallied more sacks from his defensive end position than any Jayhawk has posted in the last 15 years with an even 10.0, including a six-game stretch where he had at least one sack in each outing.

Armstrong enters the 2017 campaign as a preseason Third-Team All-America selection and First Team All-Big 12 honoree by Athlon Sports. He is one of nine players from the Big 12 Conference on the Bednarik Award watch list.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced October 30, 2017, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled November 20, 2017. The winners of the 2017 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2017. The formal presentations of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 9, 2018.

Armstrong and his Jayhawk teammates will begin the 2017 season on Saturday, September 2 with a home game against Southeast Missouri State.

— KU Athletics —

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Kansas guards Josh Jackson and Frank Mason III were among the 60 players selected in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn Thursday night. Jackson was the overall No. 4 choice of the Phoenix Suns, while Mason was taken in the second round by the Sacramento Kings and was the No. 34 selection.

Historically, Jackson is the 17th KU lottery selection and the 11th in the Bill Self era. Jackson is the 79th player to be drafted in Kansas men’s basketball history and the 21st in the Self era which began in 2003-04.

“I’m really happy for Josh,” Self said. “I think Phoenix got a great pick and to be honest I think they got a steal at four, if that’s possible. He’ll be a guy that helps with their culture, not that it needs to be changed, but he’ll definitely add to it in a positive way from day one.”

In his lone season at Kansas, Jackson became one of the most decorated freshman school history. The Detroit native became only the fourth KU freshman to be named first-team all-conference. A Wooden All-America selection and named to numerous All-America teams, Jackson averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in 2016-17. The 2017 Big 12 Freshman of the Year set three KU frosh records, including rebounds (258), double-doubles (13) and field goals made (220). He also set the school career record for conference weekly honors with nine — seven newcomer of the week and two player of the week — in 2016-17.

“I’m excited to be a Phoenix Sun,” Jackson said. “I know they’re a pretty young team. I think that’s really special, though, because coming in I think we can learn a lot together, and over the years we can be something really special and just being able to grow together, I think that’ll make our team chemistry a lot better.”

Mason became the most distinguished player in Kansas basketball history following his senior season. The Petersburg, Virginia, native was named the 2016-17 national player of the year by 10 different entities: Wooden, Naismith, NABC, Associated Press, USBWA Oscar Robertson, Sporting News, CBS Sports, USA TODAY, Bleacher Report and NBC Sports. He was the first Jayhawk to be named Associated Press Player of the Year and the first KU recipient of both the Oscar Robertson Trophy presented by the USBWA and the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.

Kansas’ 29th Consensus All-America First Team selection, Mason became the first player in KU and Big 12 history to average more than 20 points (20.9) and five assists (5.2) in a single season in 2016-17. The 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year ranked first in the league in scoring (20.9), including a 21.0 average in conference play.

“I think its (Sacramento) is a great place for Frank,” Self said. “His value will be even more so than what he does on the court because he’ll bring a toughness to their culture that will be a positive. I think he and De’Aaron Fox will be great for their franchise together.”

Kansas posted a 31-5 overall record in 2016-17 and won its13th-straight, 17th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 60th overall conference regular-season championship with a 16-2 league record. KU’s 13 consecutive titles ties for the most in NCAA history with UCLA (1967-79). KU also won the 2016 CBE Hall of Fame Classic and entered the NCAA Tournament as the overall No. 1 seed for the second-straight year.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Big 12 Conference released the early television broadcast assignments for the 2017 college football season, with Kansas being tabbed for live broadcasts in each of its first three games plus its Nov. 11 matchup with Texas.

Kansas, playing under third-year head coach David Beaty, will open the 2017 football season with a home game versus Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. The KU-SEMO game will be broadcast live on the Jayhawk Network in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro area and is available outside of the state lines to a national audience on ESPN3. More information on the Jayhawk Network (JTV) and its affiliates is available at KUAthletics.com/TV.

The Jayhawks will host Central Michigan in their second contest of the season on Saturday, Sept. 9. KU-CMU will be televised on Fox Sports Net (FSN) with kickoff slated for 3 p.m.

Additionally, the Jayhawks have a road game at Ohio the third week of the season and the Mid-American Conference designated it for a 1 p.m. start time with a broadcast on ESPN3.

The Nov. 11 matchup at Texas has been set for 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network (LHN) and JTV.

Kansas made two appearances on FSN in 2016 and one on JTV. KU was featured on FOX Sports 1 in five of its 2016 games, ESPNU in two games, ESPN2 for one game and kicked off one time on a split ABC/ESPN2 window.

Following nonconference play, five Big 12 rivals will visit Lawrence, including West Virginia (Sept. 23/Jayhawks for a Cure), Texas Tech (Oct. 7/Homecoming, K-Club Weekend), Kansas State (Oct. 28/Sunflower Showdown), Baylor (Nov. 4/Salute to Service) and Oklahoma (Nov. 18/Senior Day, Youth Football Day).

Kansas Athletics is offering a Pick 3 Flex Pack ticket package for Jayhawk football games for the 2017 season. As part of the Pick 3 Flex Pack offer, fans have the chance to pick any three home games on the 2017 schedule for one low price. Select a Tier 1 ticket for any three home games for $180 or a Tier 2 ticket to any three home games for just $150. Flex Packs will be available for purchase to the general public starting Thursday, June 1.

Season tickets for the seven-game home schedule are now on sale for as low as $110. Single game tickets will be available starting August 1.

For additional information regarding Kansas football tickets contact the Kansas Sales Team by calling 800-34-HAWKS or in-person at the Allen Fieldhouse ticket office. Tickets can also be purchased via KUTickets.com.

Kansas Athletics will also be offering group discounts and unique fan experiences to Kansas football games for any group, business or organization of 15+. To inquire about bringing your group to Memorial Stadium, please contact the Group Sales Department at 785-864-6221 or dpaul@kuathletics.com.

2017 Kansas Football Schedule
Date Opponent Time TV
Sept. 2 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE 6 p.m. JTV
Sept. 9 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3 p.m. FSN
(Family Weekend/Band Day)
Sept. 16 at Ohio 1 p.m. ESPN3
Sept. 23 WEST VIRGINIA* TBA TBA
(Jayhawks for a Cure)
Oct. 7 TEXAS TECH* TBA TBA
(Homecoming/K Club Weekend)
Oct. 14 at Iowa State* TBA TBA
Oct. 21 at TCU* TBA TBA
Oct. 28 KANSAS STATE* TBA TBA
(Sunflower Showdown)
Nov. 4 BAYLOR* TBA TBA
(Salute to Service)
Nov. 11 at Texas* 5 p.m. LHN/JTV
Nov. 18 OKLAHOMA* TBA TBA
(Senior Day/Youth Football Day)
Nov. 25 at Oklahoma State* TBA TBA

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – University of Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger has signed an amendment to his contract that extends that contract to June 2021.

“I’m very pleased that I will have the opportunity to continue to represent this great university and work alongside the outstanding coaches and student-athletes we have here at KU,” Zenger said. “I have really enjoyed sharing in the tremendous accomplishments so many of our teams have achieved over the past several years. Likewise, we are committed to doing everything we can to raise the level of success of every one of our teams.

“This is home for me, and I truly believe we’re poised for even more success in the near future,” Zenger continued, “and I can’t wait to share in that excitement as well.”

Zenger’s base pay will increase from $619,000 to $700,000.

“Since Sheahon’s arrival in Jan. 2011 Kansas Athletics has enjoyed success on and off the field,” said KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray Little. “We’ve had a team win a national championship, two teams reach NCAA Final Fours and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances by other sports. We’ve seen some $90 million in construction and renovation, from Rock Chalk Park to Memorial Stadium to the DeBruce Center. And academically, Athletics’ Graduation Success Rate and APR marks put us in excellent standing with the NCAA. I am confident that under Sheahon’s leadership Athletics will experience even more success in the coming years.”

KU head men’s basketball coach Bill Self is happy for Zenger and the department.

“Sheahon’s focus since he’s been here is to give the coaches what they need to be successful,” Self said. “We’ve got a bunch of teams doing really well, we’ve added great new facilities, and I can see things getting even better in the next few years.”

— KU Athletics —