🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Who ya got? How do we win? It's Madison Square Garden, the stakes don't get any higher. How do we avoid going 1-5 in this freshman showcase/Dicky V mute the TV fest. How do we avoid going 0-2 to start the season for the first time in a long time. Please share how its done

Self get a T, influence the ref's you already know Coach K paid them off months ago.

Just watch the calls on KU tonight for breathing, that's right inhaling oxygen on another player is now a foul in College Basketball. I mean we all saw the 3 hour slugfest against Indiana and the 60+ combined fouls. Probably see 59 tonight, 41 on KU.

Keys to a win:

1. Rebounding (shocking).

Duke shoots just as many 3's as Indiana. They have always relied on it and with their 3 big freshman out they are as lean as KU is in the post. Long rebounds will be key, hustle, effort, we'll know early if our guys got the message from Friday.

1. Making shots difficult on defense:

We saw how little we adjusted to Indiana chucking all night. Whether it was a hand in the face, poor closeouts, wide open shots Indiana made 15 of them and really exposed our perimeter defense as I thought they would. We have to make shots difficult for Duke tonight, they know they have to make 3's to win with the personnel that is out.

1. Beat Tripper Allen at his own game:

Well, obviously we can't go around tripping people. Had to say it.

I'm still trying to figure out who is going to guard him but I'm guessing whoever it is will be in foul trouble. Allen lives at driving to the hoop where he gets the friendly Duke call with some acting involved. He is a very good outside shooter and playmaker. We can only hope tonight isn't one of his better games. Early, whoever Allen is guarding, its paramount that they are aggressive, draw him to early foul trouble. Beat him at his own game. Make him less aggressive and hope he settles for shots and misses.

1. Someone other than Frank Mason show up:

I'm calling out Devonte Graham who has looked rather average in the exhibitions and 1st game. Say what you want but I expected an All-American type player from him and I haven't seen it, at least not yet. Hopefully its just a slow start. Hopefully his cramps don't show up and Graham has a big shooting game. I'm also calling out Josh Jackson. This is your stage, your supposed to be the ultimate competitor and generational talent. PROVE IT. These 2 guys stat lines will be the difference in a W/L.

1. Be aggressive, put Duke in foul trouble.

Duke is thin, they really are down to 6 players. Getting Delaurier, White & Vrankovic on the floor is a major advantage for KU. What else is there to say, make Duke foul you!

Prediction

KU- 85, Duke- 80

Share your thought gang! let's get a big win tonight

@BeddieKU23 I like our chances to win this game. Adversity has its benefits. This time we win the close game ...89 - 86.

I predict a KU win. Partially because Duke is missing a number of key players and partially because I honestly can't remember a Bill Self team losing 2 big games in a row like these. I know it's the begininnig of the year but I expect our guys to come out hungry after a loss and a game at MSG against the #1 team in the country should be all the motivation in the world.

RCJH!!!

Predicting another L, then a crootin W, then a nice on the court winning streak after that.

I think we play with a little more fire tonight and a chip on our shoulders. Win the glass, KU 78 Dook 73, Dook has the line by 3 currently

I do worry that the fatigue from the travel schedule and OT game will have some effect especially in the 2nd half. We'll see how much fire they have.

Even though I have been the leading proponent of the theory of the Duke whistle over the years, I am beginning to rethink the position. After all it's just a theory at this point. Nothing has ever been proven factually that it occurs.

I don't have time to go back and research our games against Duke, but we've been relatively successful against them. We had an NCAA win against them in the early 2000's. Beat them in Chicago several years back, beat them in the final four in 1988. I may be forgetting others. I can really think of only two games where the 'Duke whistle' got us. In Maui a few years ago and in the final four in 1986. The Badgers got it in 2015 big time, but even then, we finished the 1st half with just a few fouls against us and Duke in foul trouble. NC game in 91 I think we just got hot, made it to the finals and got beat by a much better team. No whistle problem there.

Maybe it's age, newfound maturity, or whatever, but I'm moving past the theory because it just leaves for excuse making when we lose.

KU gets the KU whistle according to fans of other teams. We mustn't forget that. Our epic win against OU aided by the sideline non call.

As for the game, I am always smarting after a KU loss, and am doing so right now. My fears from the offseason that we might struggle inside with the loss of Perry Ellis were the topic of discussion after the IU game. It's still a fear of mine. Where will we find points in the paint?

Our depth problem concerns me. I know the whistle happy officials had something to do with it, but when they announced Tyler was coming into the game, I was really shocked. We're pretty thin on the bench and when a foul fest happens, well, we might be exposed.

I just hope the officials don't ruin the game. The match the other night was really a terrific game which was marred by their whistles. I believe if they call the normal amount of fouls they still would have made their threes, we still would have bad balled our way to an even game. I would just love to see a big game where we don't have to talk about officials.

So Duke losing their guys to injury, defensive stalwarts in the backcourt means we get Duke by a couple of points 78-76.

I hope tonight doesn't give us new evidence

@wissox

Bragg should do okay tonight. He did have 12 points in just 18 minutes due to foul trouble/etc. We didn't even unleash his outside game yet. Big game for him to step up in.

@wissox about that call during ou game..... remember that strip Frank or was it DG had before half? Right in front of Self, the ref out of position, cost us a T, clearly a bad call! We earned that win!

KU - 48 - 1

Halftime score.

117 - 6

Final score. We need to work on our second half defense.....

@nuleafjhawk I'd say we need to work on our first half offense.

@BeddieKU23 Do you think we will see hang over from frank like last years OU game? Thats one thing that scares me is him getting hurt or worn out early in the year waiting on the young fellas to come around.

@kjayhawks

I worry that Frank tries to do too much. Down the stretch against Indiana just about every play was Mason going either one on one or in the pick and roll. He really didn't get anyone else involved in the offense down the stretch.

Speaking of the pick and roll, why is KU not showing the PnR with Jackson as the screener? If you're going to go small, there should be some Mason-Jackson and Graham-Jackson PnR. Let Jackson get that switch and catch with the other team's PG on him in the post. That's a potential quality touch. Plus, he's so quick and agile he will be tough to contain for a lot of bigger players as the roll man. I'd like to see more of that.

Anyone think they'll post our lil guys up?

@justanotherfan

I wonder how much of Frank's play in the first game was by design. Indiana didn't have anyone to stop him, they even tried going with Morgan who had a good 7 inches on him and that didn't work. How much was this Frank being Frank or Self saying go make a play... Tonight should shed more light into how much of this team is running through him.

Hopefully our other guards play well Mason, Graham, Vick and JJ all have 40% FG or less, DG and JJ less than 28%. I also think Frank shoots too many 3s 1 for 5 vs IU and we dont really need him to shoot them, I think self need to the RusRob rule on him, no 3s after the first 5 minutes of the game unless he's wide open.

@kjayhawks

I don't think so with this being Frank's last go-around. Its just as likely the confidence he gained from being the "guy" in game 1 continues. His wheels should be good to go right now

@BeddieKU23

That's a fair point to consider. It's possible that it was based on matchups, but that has generally not been Self's style to target specific matchups. If that is his style now, then I am actually more encouraged about Friday's result despite the loss.

@BeddieKU23 Lets hope is it 8;30 yet?? lol

@justanotherfan

I could be grasping at straws because what we do know about Frank, as good as he is, he's good about getting into a vacuum all by himself and forgetting he has teammates. Obviously without his heroics against Indiana we were cooked and if he makes that FT its likely we would have won the game.

With the amount of P&R's he was using to get into the lane it seemed orchestrated by Self. Indiana didn't have a PG who matched his quickness and Mason took advantage all night. Hopefully KU will find 1 or 2 matchups to exploit. They are 6 deep and the 3 other guys they are playing are out of necessity.

@kjayhawks

I wish!

I'll take the under that I'm yelling at my television within 30 seconds of the start of this game.

Final prediction. Stone cold lead pipe lock. Duke 88, Kansas 83

I don't really care much for predicting the score as much as I would like to see our big guys and wings work their butts off for defensive rebounds. That means playing smart, like not standing under the goal. These guys are physically and mentally capable of putting their body on someone and pushing them out - that is pretty simple folks and requires no basketball talent to do.

I think the outcome of this game will be determined in great part by how the game is called.;quick whistles to key players could determine which team's starting players stay in longer. Logic would indicate that this type of scenario would favor KU since key Duke players will not be playing anyway; however, when is the last time refs did not favor Duke? In a close game, the refs will find a way to help Duke win; the only way to neutralize them is to keep a 20 point lead through out the game to prevent end of game shenanigans.

@HawkChamp said:

I don't really care much for predicting the score as much as I would like to see our big guys and wings work their butts off for defensive rebounds. That means playing smart, like not standing under the goal. These guys are physically and mentally capable of putting their body on someone and pushing them out - that is pretty simple folks and requires no basketball talent to do.

+1

I'm just shooting the shit on the predicto.

Like you, I really just want to see the team look better on the glass, and moving the ball on offense. Even if it's a loss, as long as the quality of basketball improves for KU I will be happy. Remarkable that KU was in the game against Indiana tbqh.

@JayHawkFanToo said:

I think the outcome of this game will be determined in great part by how the game is called.;quick whistles to key players could determine which team's starting players stay in longer. Logic would indicate that this type of scenario would favor KU since key Duke players will not be playing anyway; however, when is the last time refs did not favor Duke? In a close game, the refs will find a way to help Duke win; the only way to neutralize them is to keep a 20 point lead through out the game to prevent end of game shenanigans.

The refs are going to be swallowing their whistle so much that the NCAA hired some EMTs to be at the game to perform the Heimlich as needed.

@JayHawkFanToo

Jesse Newell pointed out that Duke does 2 things very well, they don't foul and they take quick 3's to avoid turnovers. We may not be able to exploit them especially if they don't foul and the way we guarded the perimeter in the opener.

He did point out that they struggle to rebound, they give up easy shots. So 2 things that could be advantages is KU will have to make good shots, and might be able to get missed shots at a higher rate

@BShark I'd be so happy if the refs would let the boys play a little like back in my day, a phyiscal game i love.

The Dook refs and announcers get old fast...

ESPN headline right now : How did college basketball become Duke, Kentucky and everybody else?

@BShark It really is quite remarkable. Indiana shot 50% on 15 made threes, we made seven and shot 33%; they outrebounded us by 11, and Landon, Carlton, Josh and Devonte did not do much, yet we were still in a position to win.

@dylans said:

The Dook refs and announcers get old fast...

ESPN headline right now : How did college basketball become Duke, Kentucky and everybody else?

Barrrrrrrrrfffffff

@HawkChamp said:

@BShark It really is quite remarkable. Indiana shot 50% on 15 made threes, we made seven and shot 33%; they outrebounded us by 11, and Landon, Carlton, Josh and Devonte did not do much, yet we were still in a position to win.

Yep. Gives me hope going forward.

@dylans I think its funny UK is even in that conversation 1 NC in the last decade and a half.

@dylans ESPN hype machine - I have made the choice this year to not follow national media for a reason. I will stick to the KU sites.

I don't want the facts to ruin a good narrative but look at the FT's attempted and fouls called the last time we played Duke.
http://www2.kusports.com/documents/2013/nov/13/ku-duke-box/ ↗

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@wissox said:

I don't want the facts to ruin a good narrative but look at the FT's attempted and fouls called the last time we played Duke.
http://www2.kusports.com/documents/2013/nov/13/ku-duke-box/ ↗

Well if that happens again Duke gets rolled since they basically have 6 guys atm.......

@BShark Ya but i also remember them fouling at the end of the game so it was pretty even.

@BShark said:

Final prediction. Stone cold lead pipe lock. Duke 88, Kansas 83

You predict we....lose? Seriously?

@BShark Looks like it was a foul fest too, wasn't it?

@KUSTEVE and Jessie

@KUSTEVE said:

@BShark said:

Final prediction. Stone cold lead pipe lock. Duke 88, Kansas 83

You predict we....lose? Seriously?

I mean...it sucks but I think it is what happens. Should go on a nice winning streak after though.

@wissox said:

@BShark Looks like it was a foul fest too, wasn't it?

These early games often are because RULES EMPHASIS until the refs ease back into their old ways before conference season.

http://kuhoops.com/ku-basketball-news/114939898/ ↗

Jessie N has Duke.

This UK, MSU game is boring as hell, KSU was down 11-2 to Omaha a little bit ago.

@kjayhawks said:

This UK, MSU game is boring as hell, KSU was down 11-2 to Omaha a little bit ago.

They were struggling against some patsy in their first game too before they pulled away. Sneed and Wade are good, but that's about it.

@BShark said:

@kjayhawks said:

This UK, MSU game is boring as hell, KSU was down 11-2 to Omaha a little bit ago.

They were struggling against some patsy in their first game too before they pulled away. Sneed and Wade are good, but that's about it.

So of course other players are leading the way for them today. Honestly Brown isn't a bad guard, but not particularly great.

@BShark Ya I'm undecided if I want them to get back to decent or let Weber work his running things in to the ground stay around.

Bridges is the only player for MSU that belongs on the floor with the UK players. And it's not like he has been great tonight, since it's hard 1 on 5.

I just want the rest of this game to go by quickly. Stop fouling and stuff.