🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Afte watching last nights game and as far as that goes many of these games this year , the reality is I think we need to lower our expectations of what this team will achieve by the end of the season. - -When these transfers came through and yes Remy being the biggest fish to land along with some others and when I found out what we had coming back I thought - -MERCY this is a deep team , a talented team experienced team , and good incoming. I thought we a really , really good shot at the final 4 , hell even a pretty decent chance of a championship. Yet now the reality is - - -that's just not happening.

I think it's time to face the music and understand that this team just hasn't put together the ingredients to give us what we thought we might have. Sure we have had some pitfalls along the way , but what teams haven't ? - - Every team has faced challenges This team is missing something & I'm just not sure what , but were lacking something for us to be able to hit that goal.

One thing we know is , Dave is not the player he was at the end of the season last year, and I think that very well could be a huge piece as to why were not making it. He is just not , last year at the end of the year he really came on and carried us a lot of times , that's no where to be found this season, he is a shell of what he was at the end of the year - We have zero production from our 5 spot and that kills us. Secondly Remy is not the player he was at Arizona State. True I know Bill has wanted him kind of take on a different role /approach and he is trying , but I think it has really effected his game. I think we really need Remy to become more of a threat to score more again, at the 1st of the year I think the Coach's thinking was possibly that he didn't need to be concerned as much about that - -but that's when we thought we had a five that could help carry the scoring load, but we don't have that. - We need a Third Scorer and that's Remy. - -

Another thing is Jalen is not the Jalen of last year , much better last year has really struggled shooting the ball , not rebounding as well , that hurts - his free throw shooting is horrible so we have that. - -Then another aspect that is crucial that we have trouble with is - -our ball handling is so loose, I mean LOOSE how many times last night did we see some one just drive - -drive where? - -who know - but they would drive and then just throw the ball to no one in particular, so many times I was saying where the hell you throwing the ball to? - -turnover , after turnover , after turnover. -- We didn't see that with Graham , Dotson , Mason - -if a opposing team trps us , presses us we have handled that really bad.

Then we come to Christan, I think /Christan is reverting some back to last year, passing up wide open shots not even looking to score, on top of the fact that since Big 12 has kicked in he has come back to earth some scoring falling off is the defenses that much better ? - -quite possibly but these thing - - these things that I have mentioned right here are just the tip of the iceberg with this team , I could go on but I'll stop. For thes things AND OTHERS I don't think there is any chance in hell this is a final four team I can only hope they prove me wrong but I just don't see it. - -At best I think you are looking at a Sweet Sixteen at best right now might even be a ONE and done they have just got t get things put together quickly for it to be any bette. - That's my take you don't have to like it but I'm sure there are others that think the same

History says Self will get this all figured out. Right now it looks scary and concerning though and there's definitely things going on with this team we didn't anticipate would happen with all the depth.

Last night's game wasn't pretty by any means but it ended with something to work with. They won a Big-12 game against a ranked Team with a Top 5 defense per Kenpom when the game was on the line. That can jump-start things, I hope.

This team desperately needs a healthy Remy and its coach needs to continue to make smart lineup decisions. There are way too many lineups at times that make zero sense for the strength of this team which is supposed to be scoring the ball.

As far as expectations, right now they are a lot lower then I anticipated. We are still not an athletic team for the most part. We don't have 5 guys playing at a high level and we really need to get to 6 or 7 doing so and soon. The defense is not great and that will likely be the thing that lets us down further down the road. We'll see. If Remy gets healthy and other things start to come together then we'll see where we are at.

This KU team is not designed to get into grind it out type games. That's not how this team is built. They need to stretch the floor and get out in transition. Those options are severely limited when Remy Martin is not available. Once he is back and healthy, we can evaluate where this team is, but right now, it's hard to know what this team is, or can be, because he is too important to the makeup of the team.

We do need to adjust expectations on what the interior guys will contribute. We need 10 points and 15 rebounds from Datch Lightmack each game. That is the stat line that I will be watching closely over the next few weeks. If Datch Lightmack exceeds that, we are probably winning fairly consistently. If they are below that, unless we shoot very well from three, a loss is likely.

Sucking right now might be a blessing in disguise. The old adage" if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind. So, it's broke, so let's fix it. It makes everyone work harder, it makes Coach Self try new things, new lineups, etc. He buried himself by standing pat on the 5 spot- let's see if he can unbury himself.

@BeddieKU23 said in The reality of this team is:

History says Self will get this all figured out. Right now it looks scary and concerning though and there's definitely things going on with this team we didn't anticipate would happen with all the depth.

Last night's game wasn't pretty by any means but it ended with something to work with. They won a Big-12 game against a ranked Team with a Top 5 defense per Kenpom when the game was on the line. That can jump-start things, I hope.

This team desperately needs a healthy Remy and its coach needs to continue to make smart lineup decisions. There are way too many lineups at times that make zero sense for the strength of this team which is supposed to be scoring the ball.

As far as expectations, right now they are a lot lower then I anticipated. We are still not an athletic team for the most part. We don't have 5 guys playing at a high level and we really need to get to 6 or 7 doing so and soon. The defense is not great and that will likely be the thing that lets us down further down the road. We'll see. If Remy gets healthy and other things start to come together then we'll see where we are at.

you make some really good points. Probably the best one & I do agree Iowa State has a rally dam good defense. So to that point it is good they were able to pull this out. - -The thing or one of the things that concern me also is our long extended scoring droughts. Were going 9 minutes plus - - -4 minutes plus , and even with Iowa States really good defense , Iowa state I had heard and it showed last night Iowa State has struggled scoring the ball themselves. This where Ku needs to be able to put distance , and when Braun is passin up open shots and Oachi is being keyed on or does his disappearing act then we have no one else to score. - -Wee in trouble if we have to depend on Juan Harris to save our bacon when the game is on the line , that's just a receipe for disaster. - We have to find that third scorer. Another point we find ourselves at points in the game where Coach has to many of those non scorers on the floor at the same time

Then also I think a big thing is - -we need a LEADER somebody who wants the ball in crunch time. Thing is do we have that guy?- -I thought it was going to be Oachi - but I just don't know , does he have enough confidence in himself to take THAT shot - - -is he the guy who wants the ball when the game is on the line. - -I really haven't seen that yet, we are missing a take charge guy. A guy that says give me the ball and get the hell out of my way

@justanotherfan do you think, or anybody here, think JCL was fitting in at the 5? I know he can shoot anywhere, but we were doing pretty good w/him in. Or was Adam's at the 5 w/him? Wilson out? Wilson was out quite awhile in the 2nd half.

@BeddieKU23 I want to agree but recent history is we don’t and we don’t have the horses this year playing what Bill expected (Dave).

@kuballin10

It's too early to deal in absolutes. I'm sure nobody is happy with the play of Dave this year including himself. He looks like he's playing less then 100% and its all in his head as far as his output on the court. Usually your Sr year is your best version of yourself and that's not the case with Dave so far for whatever reason.

@Crimsonorblue22 said in The reality of this team is:

@justanotherfan do you think, or anybody here, think JCL was fitting in at the 5? I know he can shoot anywhere, but we were doing pretty good w/him in. Or was Adam's at the 5 w/him? Wilson out? Wilson was out quite awhile in the 2nd half.

I think Adams was the "5" in that lineup, with everything else just spaced around him. JCL was more of a floater in that lineup. Because his gravity as a shooter commands attention regardless of where he is, he can lurk on the baseline or pop up to the wing and he brings a defender with him. Even in a zone, he has to be accounted for.

@justanotherfan Adams and JCL playing at the same time adds a new and good occasional wrinkle.

I want JCL to emerge as a 3 pt assassin for us come tourney time. I think he has a chance to be our best transfer. People are talking about Remy taking time to be our next Malik. I think it could be JCL.

I think CB can be our alpha, Ochai can be our horse, we need JCL to go white hot 50% 3 pt shooter and we'll be riding the gravy train on offense.

So are we saying Dajuan, CB, Ochai, JCL. and Adams? I like that. that's a bucket sandwich, between two slices of hard work.

@approxinfinity said in The reality of this team is:

I want JCL to emerge as a 3 pt assassin for us come tourney time. I think he has a chance to be our best transfer. People are talking about Remy taking time to be our next Malik. I think it could be JCL.

I think CB can be our alpha, Ochai can be our horse, we need JCL to go white hot 50% 3 pt shooter and we'll be riding the gravy train on offense.

So are we saying Dajuan, CB, Ochai, JCL. and Adams? I like that. that's a bucket sandwich, between two slices of hard work.

I've heard a few comparisons of JCL to I Moss, could be I reckon

Anyone Dave might come back for a 5th season? I haven't heard anything like that, but why not?

@wissox

Unlikely with how KU has recruited the position for next year