🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Also see our Daily Threads, February 15, and the News Digest for Yesterday, February 14, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, February 14

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Newell: Bill Self: Stopping dribble drives a matter of 'want-to' for KU basketball defense ↗

LAWRENCE — It’s starting to get late to hope for a miraculous improvement.

The Kansas men’s basketball team appears to have an easy-to-spot weakness defensively: an inability to stop opposing guards from beating them off the dribble.

Amick: Adam Silver Q&A: New boss wants NBA age limit raised ↗

In a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports, new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver covered the past, present and future of his life and this wildly-successful league that he'll now be leading. Silver discussed a wide range of topics, from his personal upbringing in New York City to the path he took to becoming the fifth commissioner to his goal of the NBA rivaling the NFL in terms of popularity to — last but not least — his strong opinion that the league's minimum age should be raised from 19 years old to 20.

The following is the portion of the interview that was not included in the USA TODAY Sports exclusive story...

Dodd: KU freshmen try to clear 'the wall' ↗

LAWRENCE — They say the wall is real. They say that it’s a freshman thing, that the injuries, practices and games can pile up like miles on an odometer.

They say the wall looks a lot like KU center Joel Embiid, leaving the KU locker room on Friday afternoon and slowly walking into practice with an icepack around his sore left knee. Embiid, who is also battling a sore back, didn’t practice on Friday. He hasn’t practiced all week. And he won’t play Saturday, when No. 7 Kansas faces TCU at 3 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.

Bedore: Joel Embiid-less KU vs o for Big 12 TCU ↗

Kansas University freshman center Joel Embiid, who has started the last 16 games after coming off the bench to open the season, will miss today’s 3 p.m. KU-TCU contest as he continues to rehabilitate his aching knee and back.

“He hasn’t done anything except get treatment,” KU coach Bill Self said of the 7-foot freshman, who will be replaced by senior Tarik Black in the starting lineup. Black started the season’s first eight games before giving way to Embiid.

Also see our Daily Threads, February 15, and the News Digest for Yesterday, February 14, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, February 14

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I love the faces on the crowd behind our boys. People whom I'm sure live dignified successful lives looking like 10 year olds screaming their heads off over a basketball game!

I would love to read Jesse's article but I am denied access having reached my max on free looks. Can someone cut and paste it in its entirety here? Thanks much.

@wissoxfan83 Well, they're probably pig farmers. But that being said, I'd hate to know what I've looked like during KU games in the past.

@RockChalkinTexas http://cjonline.com/sports/2014-02-14/bill-self-stopping-dribble-drives-matter-want-ku-basketball-defense ↗

@RockChalkinTexas I knew there was a reason not to read the CJ other than all the bad writing, poor Jesse is the exception. Wish he wrote for an accessible site. If KUSports was fee based I may pay, ESPN gets $20 per year to read there site (plus bi-weekly magazine), KCStar wants you to pay, but there are work arounds.

Instead of a free information highway; the interweb is beginning to look like a toll road.

I haven't tried, but erasing the tracking cookie the CJ put on your computer would reset the counter and allow you to continue reading for free.

@dylans It seems you're right about the tracking cookie. I hit the limit, removed all my cookies and got back in.

@dylans Thanks for the work around.

Way to go Team USA beating the Russians in hockey!

After reading Keegans most recent drivel; No way in hell would I pay for that service (or link his articles here). Let me enjoy basketball, don't remind me of how disconnected with the reality of the rest of the state Lawrence is. It's like a freaking foreign country. I love it, but only if I can remember it as I choose.

The worthless hippies were funny when I was in school all drugged out and goofy; most never becoming sophomores. Now those kids make me angry for throwing away such an awesome opportunity.

Basketball and integration are intertwined because of reality (it happened). You don't just get to insert your social issue and say, "It's a basketball issue, because I say so." Well you can free speech and all, I just will skip your future articles.

@RockChalkinTexas No problem.

(bump)

@RockChalkinTexas I have not had this particular problem, but going to "private browsing" under the file menu on my browser has corrected the problem with other sites. Of course, you would just be able to read and not post.

It worked!

@RockChalkinTexas Hell yeah! Sucks having to wake up at the crack of dawn (on a Saturday no less!) to watch the game, but it was worth it. Hoping we get a piece of Canada somewhere down the line.

So despite the loss at TCU last year, I think most everyone is thinking this will be a low-stress game, and that we should come away with a comfortable victory. That being said, if you had to pick one thing you'd like to see happen in the game, what would it be?

Certainly there are tons of things, but I think if I'm choosing one thing, it would be that Brannen Greene gets some decent minutes and positively contributes today. Basically for him to build on his performance at KSU and get some momentum going in his development.

Too many issues to pick just one-but stopping that dribble drive on D has to be the main course for my plate. And a grateful plate it is...Keeping the feet squarely in front of the penetrator just wide enough to keep balance & reflexes at their peak & not allowing him past a front foot is the key. Hand check for distance only & no touch. Slide, slide slide-with the man, side to side, over the screen, & not under...it's as plainly simplistic & palpably challenging as that...And don't be afraid to try to take the charge. Let Tarik show you how. We're overdue for some home cookin'. RCJH!

@icthawkfan316

KU has already played a wwinless (in conference) TCU this year at their place and won by 22 points; it should win at AFH easily...even without Embiid.

@icthawkfan316 I would say defense, but globaljaybird picked it, so I'd love to see some transition ball!

@Crimsonorblue22-As great of athletes as these kids are, if ever we can get the stops, it's a thing of beauty to see unfold.

@globaljaybird I like what Self said about defense being a "want to" attitude! The reward is flying up the court!

@globaljaybird just want to add to your great defensive post...., communicate ! We were always taught get off your man and get your teammate thru.

@Crimsonorblue22-We used to yell a one word signal-check-for the switch. Always diff to hear much else with crowd noise. Also to encourage a handler to go to his weak side by keeping the front foot out on that side. Prob is, some guys just don't have a weak side.

Late start, but live blog is here ↗ ...

@icthawkfan316 just received on my phone from Team Stream-"Brannen Greene will not play today due to 'pattern of irresponsible behavior'"

@oldhwkfan I heard that too, he is messing up his chances. Dang !