🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Just checking in to Buckets after the weekend. I think it begs to be said that Norm Roberts was soft in how he handled his coaching duties during the games.

We have come accustomed to hearing Coach Self use that adjective to describe the team when they aren't giving it their all.

There would be no other way to describe Coach Roberts game demeanor than SOFT. And he didn't step up to the plate when Coach Self and the Team needed him to tear into the players when they got off to a decent lead against Arkansas and then let them back in the game so Ark could gain their confidence.

Very poor job by Coach Roberts. Lacked intensity, fire and sense of urgency. Soft.

I think this is a bit harsh.

He was put in the situation and tried his best.

We all agree he is not Self and not even HC material.

You are right that we have become accustomed to Self's style and even spoiled to a degree. We can now appreciate more his value to the team.

Norm did his best. Unfortunate situation.

You can't blame a guy for not being able to fill the shoes of one of the best to ever do it.

Yeah disagree wholeheartedly.

Norm did great considering the circumstances. Had the team in position to win the entire game.

Needed some help from his players..

I don't blame Norm. This team wasn't made to make a deep run. The struggles in January exposed our lack of formidability. Did I want to see him do something different from time to time? Yes, but sometimes we also disagree with Bill Self.

I would have liked it if he created some more looks for Gradey for example. I'm a big proponent of 2 fouls in the first half relegates you to the bench. Maybe that decision will haunt us a bit too, but woulda coulda shoulda won't change Saturdays result. It really wasn't the worst loss of our 'career' as Jayhawk fans.

I don't blame Norm... but I also disagree with those that said this team didn't need Self at the tournament. I think he was worth at least 2 points in the Arkansas game.

We had no excitement in that game. It was glaring.

@drgnslayr - yes. I’d like to think a little (lot) more fire from Norm would have been worth 2 pts also.

@Gorilla72

Curious how it would have gone if he was screaming and giving a "Self face"... red and blue and swelling like ready to explode! lol

When Arkansas turned it up we didn't respond. Still can't believe we work hard all year then don't respond when getting punched in the face in March.

Even though it wouldn't have been the politically correct thing for Bill to do, he would have been better off appointing Dooley.

HC Record: Roberts 0.457 (7 yrs)
HC Record: Dooley 0.548 (13 yrs)
HC Record: Self 0.769 (30 yrs)

@drgnslayr That lack of fire was what I saw as well. Usually Self would've called a timeout or two and tore into them a bit. That's not Norm's M.O. He just went to the bench, rather than check the starters in a timeout.

Norm might be a good recruiter, but he's not a passionate game-day coach. I didn't see him ever work the refs either.

Just Bill working the refs would've been worth 2 points! We got none of that from our coach that day.

Not just un-PC, the rules are that a non-coach can’t be one without someone stepping down.

@drgnslayr 2 more FREE Throws would have helped too.

Every time a team loses in the tournament its:

The coach sucked - didnt adjust, didnt call timeout etc.
The players are not athletic enough.

The funny thing is, it always and I mean always comes down to making shots. The collective tournament has a 3 point % of 30. It's not coaching or athleticism, its shot making.

@BigBad said in Assistant Coach Roberts was... "soft":

Every time a team loses in the tournament its:

The coach sucked - didnt adjust, didnt call timeout etc.
The players are not athletic enough.

The funny thing is, it always and I mean always comes down to making shots. The collective tournament has a 3 point % of 30. It's not coaching or athleticism, its shot making.

Agree.

Part of the sting is that was one of KU's better offensive games. Possibly the best one of the losses this year.

@BigBad

I definitely don't want anyone to think I think our coaching sucks... Norm or Bill.

But I have always questioned if we brought enough enthusiasm to games. I've ranted about this for years.

Last year... I felt like my rant was challenged by winning the title and largely being the same as usual... not showing a great deal of emotion.

I still battle with this idea. Is it composure versus enthusiasm? Isn't it possible we have both?

I watched the Zags take down TCU last night and I saw both. Never been a huge Zags fan but I think Few is one of the best coaches in D1.

This gets into an area everyone in here knows me for... I am "Mr. Chip!" lol

@SlickRockJayhawk said in Assistant Coach Roberts was... "soft":

Just checking in to Buckets after the weekend. I think it begs to be said that Norm Roberts was soft in how he handled his coaching duties during the games.

We have come accustomed to hearing Coach Self use that adjective to describe the team when they aren't giving it their all.

There would be no other way to describe Coach Roberts game demeanor than SOFT. And he didn't step up to the plate when Coach Self and the Team needed him to tear into the players when they got off to a decent lead against Arkansas and then let them back in the game so Ark could gain their confidence.

Very poor job by Coach Roberts. Lacked intensity, fire and sense of urgency. Soft.

My only question to what you said is - - How do you know he didn't tear into them? Was you there in the team huddle during that time? - -Just curious.

@BeddieKU23 said in Assistant Coach Roberts was... "soft":

Yeah disagree wholeheartedly.

Norm did great considering the circumstances. Had the team in position to win the entire game.

Needed some help from his players..

Exactly bottom line is , Norm could try any kind of Coaching approach- thing is in the end - THE PLAYERS have to execute. Asa some say how poorly we played , maybe we did - -but again the bottom line to the game is - - -hit your feebies - - just needed the front end of then one and one's from our Senior leaders f the team Jalen & Kevin - they even hit the front end of their one & ones - - WE WIN

@drgnslayr said in Assistant Coach Roberts was... "soft":

@BigBad

I definitely don't want anyone to think I think our coaching sucks... Norm or Bill.

But I have always questioned if we brought enough enthusiasm to games. I've ranted about this for years.

Last year... I felt like my rant was challenged by winning the title and largely being the same as usual... not showing a great deal of emotion.

I still battle with this idea. Is it composure versus enthusiasm? Isn't it possible we have both?

I watched the Zags take down TCU last night and I saw both. Never been a huge Zags fan but I think Few is one of the best coaches in D1.

This gets into an area everyone in here knows me for... I am "Mr. Chip!" lol

Christian Braun may have something to say to you classifying last year's team as "not showing a great deal of emotion"

Jalen was really trying to be Och and Braun this year. He did pretty good on both counts really as the steady role model and emotional leader.

Do i think that we would have had a better chance to win with Coach Self at the helm? Of course.

But, no need to rag on Norm.

@benshawks08

For sure on CB... he's the most enthusiastic guy we've had in a long long time! I just didn't experience as much enthusiasm with the team.... but then... I usually compare it to teams we play and the teams we play are playing us... one of the top teams in America! Maybe that has something to do with the comparison?!

And why aren't our coaches stripping off their shirts after a victory!!! (100% sarcasm) :face_with_tears_of_joy:

@drgnslayr If they would only listen to us. Your "Enthusiasm" - My "Free Throws".

@jayballer67 Yeah, watching at the game. No getting after the players or the refs, for that matter. Bill will block his mouth while letting loose with some profanity in the huddle so no-one can read his lips while dropping the f-bomb. Definitely needed some of that action.

Norm has always been even keeled which can be a positive or negative. It can be a positive in times like the Arkansas run because he's not panicking and remaining calm on the outside which can be a positive. The negative to Norm’s temperament is that he's not the coach that's going to light a fire under someone's ass or work the refs over the way Bill does when needed.

That said, the biggest difference between the two and why Self in one of the greatest college coaches ever and Norm isn't a head coach anymore is adjustments. When Davis was going off in the second half, there were no noticeable adjustments from Norm. Bill would've done something like a junk defense or moving a less than 100% Dejuan off of him and putting McCullar on Davis.

Norm is a great assistant coach, but there's a reason why he's an assistant coach now and hasn't gotten another head coaching job since getting fired at St. John's and unfortunately we saw why on Saturday.

@nuleafjhawk

Don't forget my necessary chips! :face_savoring_food:

!ruffleschips.jpg ↗

@drgnslayr LOL, looked at that bag and then looked at the bag of chips I got out for supper and it's identical!

@wissox

MMMmmmm.... with sour cream and chives! Makes up all the food groups, right? :astonished_face:

@jayballer67 said in Assistant Coach Roberts was... "soft":

@SlickRockJayhawk said in Assistant Coach Roberts was... "soft":

Just checking in to Buckets after the weekend. I think it begs to be said that Norm Roberts was soft in how he handled his coaching duties during the games.

We have come accustomed to hearing Coach Self use that adjective to describe the team when they aren't giving it their all.

There would be no other way to describe Coach Roberts game demeanor than SOFT. And he didn't step up to the plate when Coach Self and the Team needed him to tear into the players when they got off to a decent lead against Arkansas and then let them back in the game so Ark could gain their confidence.

Very poor job by Coach Roberts. Lacked intensity, fire and sense of urgency. Soft.

My only question to what you said is - - How do you know he didn't tear into them? Was you there in the team huddle during that time? - -Just curious.