http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/sep/15/tsn-ranks-jayhawks-preseason-no-1/?mens_basketball ↗
I love it and hate it at the same time! Starting out at the bottom of the top 10 and finishing number 1 would be better in my eyes but at least KU is getting the respect I think they deserve. How long can they hold that top spot and will ESPN give them the same ranking? Doubt it!
We have the best collection of perimeter players in the nation. We should have this ranking.
The key this season will be ... sorry ... coach Self.
He has to get the most out of this team. That means tweaking his system to do that. If we revert to the same sort of high/low attack he tried to force feed the squad the first half of last season, that could be problematic.
But I don't think that will happen. I think last season (and the WUG) has got Self thinking a bit differently. Self said he learned a lot this summer, referring to the offensive freedom he gave his players. That's good. It had always been system, system, system.
All his offense needs is some tweaks to capitalize on the teams' collective talents. The high/low is fine. Just some tweaks.
As usual, we hold our breath ...
@HighEliteMajor Everybody with tickets to AFH, start making your signs:
@Statmachine I don't like being ranked that high, I would rather be ranked lower and have our guys play with a chip on their shoulder. Though I supposed it's partially warranted, after all they did bring home the gold this summer.
In my opinion, Self's teams have always performed better as underdogs. I always felt like Roy's teams relished the top 5 rankings and ran with it (literally).
It should be a fun and interesting season!!
"I think last season (and the WUG) has got Self thinking a bit differently. Self said he learned a lot this summer, referring to the offensive freedom he gave his players. That’s good. It had always been system, system, system."
B I N G O ! Perhaps our biggest take away from WUG was not the experience received by our players, but the experience Self received. Let's hope he has learned to trust his guys more and be more open minded. In the very least, it should remove some of the "system, system, system" frozen structure we always take into March. Isn't this perhaps the big reason why we don't perform up to our capabilities in March?
I don't care if Self wants to run the hi/lo or whatever. I just want him to become RESPONSIVE to what is happening in the game. When 3/4s of a game has been played and our hi/lo isn't cutting it, he has to try other things. Tweaks for sure, but maybe something more substantial. You do what you need to do to win... especially in March. One loss and adios!
"I don’t like being ranked that high, I would rather be ranked lower and have our guys play with a chip on their shoulder."
I'm right on with you!
"It should be a fun and interesting season!!"
Heck yes! We'll all be primed up after the Royals win the WS!
@ParisHawk I like it. I admit my bias in favor of the high/low -- it's the best offense in basketball (in my humble opinion). @jaybate-1.0 initiated a discussion a while back about Self's desire to morph an offense to deal with any defense, referencing his Okie St. days with Iba.
The high/low is it.
But man, Self has been a rigid, rigid system guy, to the detriment (I think) of offensive production.
This entire WUG may be a boon in that Self saw us forced to play at a faster pace, and with players that really didn't know our system. Amazing that we could succeed without the rigid system (where's the sarcasm font when you need it?).
I am very excited to see the changes. I have felt for years that the rigidity of the system has held us back. There may be some growing pains with the change -- more with the coach accepting the change, not reverting to prior form, and letting the guys play more. Kind of shaving off the sharp edges a bit, and adding elements that highlight skills sets.
This is the single biggest story line of the upcoming season.
Brannen Greene @b_greene14 · 3h3 hours ago
Just don't understand... KU charges $25 for parking violations.. Do you really need my $25? No, I think I do .
BG might be in the dog house again? BG its called follow the rules and you wouldn't get a parking ticket! And then to tweet about it SMH!
@Statmachine most students are at one time or another. Parking sucks! Remember when Mangino went off on a parking officer?
We can all talk about howuch Self changed and learned during the WUG, but the only game that really mattered against Germany, Self reverted back to old habits. I think the saying a leopard can't change its spots would be applicable here with Self.
True.
While we are busy using cliches I hope this one is a good reply to that: "Rome wasn't built in a day!"
By the looks of all of Self's complexities, perhaps comparing him to Rome is spot on!
Traylor and BG don't look happy; that's never a good sign in a casual picture.
@jaybate-1.0 Its not Traylor its Cheick!
I just saw a Sports Illustrated from March which was the baseball preview. It had the Indians winning the World Series (if you don't follow they are below .500 at present) and the Royals losing 88 games. It had no AL teams picked for the playoffs that are going to make the playoffs.
In other words, I'd rather be end of season champs than before season champs!
@Statmachine Is that his Svitheart?
And who is that little PG in the salmon top? Could have some trouble being posted up by tall guards!!!😎
@jaybate-1.0 I'll bet she can figure out a way to distract the defense. Or the offense.
@wissoxfan83 ha ha!
@jaybate-1.0 are you blind?
@jaybate-1.0 The little PG in the salmon top must be Tyler Self lol...
@jaybate-1.0 guess the players? !image.jpg ↗
@Crimsonorblue22 Let me take a stab? Is it Cliff Alexander? No I think that's Thomas Robinson? No wait its Jamari Traylor right?
@jaybate-1.0 sorry! Couldn't resist!
Just wanted to add that most young guys don't like to smile for pics, not cool!
@HighEliteMajor WHAAATTT?!?!?!
How can you even suggest that?!?!?!
Everyone knows that Bill Self's system is INFALLIBLE!!! And the only reason we could (or ever) fail to advance in the tournament is the players' failure to execute the BS* Infallible System*** properly.
I think the PG in the salmon top is Jeff Hawkins' wife, Heather. I think she is with the KU alumni association.
Really, Cheick and the Jam Tray look alike but for the hair do's. No wonder Self took a flyer on the potentially bouncing Cheick!!!! He has that body morphology tha Self and you get all hot about!!!!
Thank god almighty, not another short PG!! 😀
And it was ok cuz I deserved it!!!
jSPN has KU ranked above number one. KU is the first team ever to be ranked -1.!!
"And who is that little PG in the salmon top? "
That's our new women's basketball recruit. In KU inches she is 6'7" and a post player.
PHOF
@jaybate-1.0 not seeing the likeness!👀
@Crimsonorblue22 Just the ears lol