http://www.wibw.com/content/news/Kansas-center-Udoka-Azubuike-sprained-his-knee-will-not-play-in-Big-12-Tournament--476158343.html ↗

Unbelievable.

Ouch that's a huge loss.

Couldn't you have posted better news than this? At the very least, Sosa and LIghtfoot get to earn valuable PT, and maybe even someone like Sosinski?

On the bright side, Doke can work on his free-throw form for a full week, non stop.

I doubt he recovers in time to play in the NCAAT. Ugh.

The staff fully expects ready to play next week in the Tourney. - -Grade 1 sprain whatever the hell that means. - -Says it's isolated. - - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

He won't be fully recovered by then. But we had Perry play with this injury in the tournament before he was fully healed as well. He never did look right. I think bare minimum we should at least try to beat the 15 or 16 seed w/o him.

Season over. Typical of every year

Well answered my own question on what a grade 1 was. - - -A grade 1 sprain is the least severe - meaning it's a strain - - not a tear. - - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Stephon Curry took two weeks to heal from the same injury.

Oh no. This is not great news. I personally can't imagine that we have any shot without him if we make it to the 2nd weekend of the big dance. Hopes and prayers.

Get better big fella!!

BeddieKU23 said:

Season over. Typical of every year

We don't even get to pretend we have a chance now. Maybe Silvio shows out and this helps for next year. It's not like prospects were great with Doke anyway but it still hurts.

So, I guess not playing De Sousa very much might not end up being a wise idea.

@BShark

No silver lining. Silvio doesn't know half the playbook that's why he doesn't play. Kid had talent but now we have zero size or fouls to give. Should have known this will happen. Doke is becoming a injury magnet

@BeddieKU23 I'm just saying it's not like we were winning the title with Doke anyway.

@BShark

I don't share that view but now that he's injured it's over

I think you might be taking it to the extreme. Thinking Doke season is over. - People thinking Automatically the end of the world. - -It's not - -at least not yet.

I've got to go off what the Coaching staff is saying. -- No where in the article does it say that Doke is finished for the year. - -What it DOES say is that they expect him back for the tourney next week - -so I have to go off what they are saying and not just Automatically bringing in a world of doom and gloom - -the old whoa's me.

I mean seriously - -does or did anyone in here REALLY think we were winning the title this year anyways? - Be honest. - - If it turns out Doke can't play probably an earlier exit - but not having him isn't making a difference between whether we win the title or not - -People just need to relax a bit - -take a deep breath - -we gonna be all right.

Again I've got to go off what Coach is saying and that is he is not going to play in the Big 12 tourney at this point anyways. -- So until we hear different - -I'm not just automatically taking and running with this to the worst possible outcome. -- or as Aaron would say - - - R - - -E -- -L - - -A- - -X. - - I'm not saying he will - - -Bit I'm sure the hell not saying he won't - - Come on now. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@BShark Your right - - -chances are We wouldn't be winning this title anyways -- to many other better teams - -deeper teams - -mor consistent teams - -so agreed. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer73 This same coaching staff said Embiid would be back for the tournament too, plus played Perry hurt against WSU (with this exact injury). Trust is earned. The typical timeline for this injury is two weeks. Doke might play while still hurt, but he won't be the same.

@BShark

Yup saying they expect him back is just a optimistic timeline. If he plays he will be playing with pain and the chance of hurting himself even further

@BShark So true. My exact thought was JoJo and how that was handled. That said, I will keep calm and wait for more news before I get too upset about this. We have a full week before the Big Dance starts. 10 days if we get past the 15/16 seed we will likely play for him to get healthy.

@BeddieKU23 If he does play that means he is at least allowed to make his own decision on it unlike Embiid.

@BShark Or we may have to try to beat an 8/9 seed without him. Doable, depending on who it is, but certainly not a given. I see more zone defense in our future.

BShark said:

@jayballer73 This same coaching staff said Embiid would be back for the tournament too, plus played Perry hurt against WSU (with this exact injury). Trust is earned. The typical timeline for this injury is two weeks. Doke might play while still hurt, but he won't be the same.

LOL you kill me - -- -I'll take Coach what he is saying and wait - -They probably did feel Embiid would be back - -you think they just spewing out some BS? - -They can only go off what the Doctors - -medical staff is telling THEM. - -They can only relay what they were told by medical - - they will re evaluate Sunday - then see where he is at. - -Very well could say Sunday that he is out. - - If he is out - - then he is out. - The Sun is still going to come up in the East - -and still going to set in the West.

Like you said yourself - -it's not like we are winning the Championship anyhow- -chances would of been better - -but not a determining factor

@BShark

Gonna be a long offseason

Hawk8086 said:

@BShark Or we may have to try to beat an 8/9 seed without him. Doable, depending on who it is, but certainly not a given. I see more zone defense in our future.

Might have to try anyway but I think we lose the 2nd game if Doke can't go.

@jayballer73 Yes I think this staff would lie. If the NCAAT selection committee for example knew Doke was for sure out, it could impact seeding. So that's motive even...

@BShark Stay positive my friend! Lots of news still to come on this.

Rock Chalk.

Oh woe is us...lol. If we get to the Sweet 16, then we should have him back that week. All this stuff about not having a chance is a little premature, in my opinion. I think De Sousa has looked really good, and maybe the team rallies around a man down, and gets us into the 2nd weekend.

Matt Galloway
‏ @themattgalloway
29s30 seconds ago

KU running virtually every play at their open scrimmage for Silvio De Sousa. Mitch Lightfoot very involved too. This is the most practice-like open session I can remember KU running ahead of a Big 12 tourney. Clearly trying to get the most of every minute.

Seems like a pretty drastic yet devious method to stop teams from putting him on the line, which has been everyone's fear here.

@KUSTEVE

His coach a week ago said he didn't know half the plays.

We have 6 guys and 2 guys who have sniffed glue on the bench more then they have played

KUSTEVE said:

Oh woe is us...lol. If we get to the Sweet 16, then we should have him back that week. All this stuff about not having a chance is a little premature, in my opinion. I think De Sousa has looked really good, and maybe the team rallies around a man down, and gets us into the 2nd weekend.

Depends on the draw honestly. I know I keep harping on St Marys but they have a 6'11'' man mountain that averages 21 and 10 a game. That would be really tough to handle without Doke.

De Sousa is going to be very good. He isn't really ready now, but he's about to get a hell of a trial by fire. I hope for the best out of him. You can tell he has the tools.

@BeddieKU23 SOURCE ON THE GLUE SNIFFING PLZ :joy:

BShark said:

@BeddieKU23 SOURCE ON THE GLUE SNIFFING PLZ :joy:

Sorry I was using witness protection but sniffing glue seemed funnier. Excited to see De Sousa play but ku will be unable to play to it's fullest with him in.

@BShark This is one thing you and I are thinking alike. - -If it turns out come Sunday and they re evaluate and Doke is a no go - -season over . then I truly think IF we were landing a # 1 seed- -then that goes out the window.

I actually have felt we were probably going to be a 2 seed but still a chance for # 1 --but if he is truly put then ya for sure - -no way do we land a # 1 seed. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Any way we see 5 guards on the floor tomorrow night for a few minutes? Garrett at the 5? I am being serious. De Sousa has a bit of trouble with fouling.

@joeloveshawks

Who's gonna sub in? Walkons?

@BeddieKU23 Like i said, maybe it wasn't such a great idea to play him so little. That being said, he's next up. I thought he has looked very good in limited minutes, even with the limited playbook they run when he's in there. Hopefully, he'll step up, and give us some good minutes, and Vick, and Newman will come to play.

@BeddieKU23 I just meant Garrett potentially in with Devonte / Svi / Newman / Vick.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that walk ons are not in any of our Big 12 games unless it is the last 30 seconds as we are up 10.

@KUSTEVE

I agree he has looked really good. He has post moves and can run the floor. And I agree it looks like he should have played more but in that light we shouldn't have taken 3 transfers who can't play so I don't fault self for sticking with bringing Silvio along at the pace he has.

BTW, don't be surprised if they drop us to a 2 seed, and have us face off against Misery in the 2nd round. Porter should be back, so I'm sure the NCAA will want to take a shot at us before Doke gets back.

@joeloveshawks

We are probably foul trouble away from that happening.

That or Sam Cunliffe actually has to take off his sweats which for the past month hasn't happened

The only game ku survived without doke was against tcu when Mitch went all superman. This team is not very good without him

@BeddieKU23 I would assume we will see some Sammy boy.

BShark said:

@BeddieKU23 I would assume we will see some Sammy boy.

Awesome. I'm sure self is thrilled

Silvio, not knowing half the plays is already better than Mitch. And I love Mitch but he has a ceiling.

@jayballer73 - "First degree sprain means the fibers of the ligament are stretched but intact", according to Wikipedia. This is the least of the three types of sprains and, I'm guessing, is fairly common. Of course, at his size, I'm sure it's much more significant.

Doke can't seem to play an entire year without being injured and missing important playing time.

On one hand, he needs to come back to demonstrate durability. On the other hand, maybe he needs to go pro before he gets permanently injured....

DoubleDD said:

Ouch that's a huge loss.

"huge" - I see what you did there.... ;-)

I would sit him the first round of the NCAA tournament aswell, if we can beat a 15 or 16 seed without him we were prob toast anyway. Could be a blessing in disguise if we are able to play a few games in KC to get Mitch and Desousa some prime minutes to get ready.

@BeddieKU23 Who is this Sam person?

While I was reading this our good buddy Seth Greensberg said KU can win it all, but only if Dok and Devonte' stay out of foul trouble. I hope Dok can play enough to get into foul trouble.

Even without Dok, any reason we shouldn't be favored beating a team ranked 25 through 32 in the first weekend?

I'm excited to see more Silvio!

@Gorilla72 and then there are those pesky handlers.

@mayjay I see what you did there!

@kjayhawks I'm going w/you! Could use a blessing!

dylans said:

While I was reading this our good buddy Seth Greensberg said KU can win it all, but only if Dok and Devonte' stay out of foul trouble. I hope Dok can play enough to get into foul trouble.

Well, by Seth's reasoning we should win it all if Doke doesn't play.

@mayjay funny. He did expound upon it saying they needed to be on the floor for KU to win.

@dylans Oh, crap.

mayjay said:

@dylans Oh, crap.

Now I’ll take you out of context. Lol

That’s exactly what I thought when I heard Dok was injured...at least the edited version.

In a wildly emotional Hollywood moment, the FB player comes in and goes off for 14 and 10 in the second round and then doke rides in on a white horse to take us home to the F4.

As for the league tourney, we had best pray for OK to whip its in-state rival tonight. If we should have to play Okie State again, and without Doke, Merlin will have misplaced his Jayhawk Magic. We might just barely escape with a win vs. OU...if Young is cold from long range and if DeSousa can stay on the court for 20 minutes w/o fouling out. Of course, even WITH Doke, we likely would have gone down to the Cowboys. OSU is a nightmare matchup for the league champs. Whatever, it does appear that KU will get more rest than expected this weekend. If OSU shoulders its way into the NCAA Tournament, first weekend opponents could be in big trouble.

Good grief. Doke out is tough, but Silvio has to grow up and step up. Its a lot, but its go time.

Love Meeotch, but hes soft.

If we can make it through the first weekend all will be fine. This team is talented enough to do that even without Doke.

Let’s see what this team looks like without him this weekend before we jump to conclusions.

Bill should start watching some Rockets film though. Might need to take our 3pt shooting to an experimental level this weekend and see what that looks like. 5 guard lineups where we just run and gun. No open shot is a bad shot.

Hope this puts us securely as a 2 seed in the Midwest then too.

! ↗

BeddieKU23 said:

@joeloveshawks

We are probably foul trouble away from that happening.

That or Sam Cunliffe actually has to take off his sweats which for the past month hasn't happened

Works for me.

Gunman said:

BeddieKU23 said:

@joeloveshawks

We are probably foul trouble away from that happening.

That or Sam Cunliffe actually has to take off his sweats which for the past month hasn't happened

Works for me.

If coach thought he was worth playing before he would play. Now It's just desperation like always

@BShark Maybe he can come back after 10 days and play in the 2nd tourney game. We'll see.

Question: Will they really drop us down to a 2 based on the speculation that Doke won't play? I thought seeds were based on what you earned during the season?

!0_1520474809005_AA406291-4E9D-445E-ABD4-D9D023FAA876.jpeg ↗

A mild grade one MCL sprain usually takes 2-6 weeks to heal.

I'll be pleasantly shocked if he plays at all the rest of the year. Won't have much hops off that leg for a while.

Ah crap. Just like Joel with the poor timing. We were destined to do big things in that Dance with our only future NBA all star swatting and dunking. Now our current swatter and dunker gets injured right before this years Dance. Dammit!

I know, I know, all is not lost. And it's been a great year. And Silvio could rock. But we definitely play better when he is on the floor.

Dammit!

LISTEN...hear the collective sigh of relief from the B12?

@dylans Did i ever tell you the story of the patella at the bar late one night, and a femur walked in?

@Gorilla72 [

dylans said:

!0_1520474809005_AA406291-4E9D-445E-ABD4-D9D023FAA876.jpeg ↗

A mild grade one MCL sprain usually takes 2-6 weeks to heal.

Maybe with some low grade PT, strength, and TLC from Hudy...he can decrease that by maybe a few wks. Plus he's young, and really healthy. You say 2-6 wks? I'm going to say with the above treatment, and with some luck...1-2 wks? 3 wks tops. Maybe he can wear a brace to provide some extra support.

@KUSTEVE

Thanks for the board comic relief, haha.:grin:

KUSTEVE said:

@dylans Did i ever tell you the story of the patella at the bar late one night, and a femur walked in?

The cartilage was very articular, and all he saw was the posterior of the ligament...haha, we could go on and on...

Doke might play in the NCAA Tournament, but he won't be at 100% unless KU is playing games in April and even then it would be doubtful he's 100% then.

@Texas-Hawk-10

It's up to him and his mobility. The degree of the sprain. This is the crazy MCL.

!0_1520482257341_upload-ae73ca9f-9af1-4eb5-bc2b-fa65df9bbfa1 ↗

!0_1520482285171_upload-bb33c1e5-ac4f-4706-8d5a-5f0dd86b39b6 ↗

!0_1520482302736_upload-2349b5dc-bc0f-4f9a-b60c-6b9e27b34065 ↗

“I could tell the longer he stayed down that (KU associate director of sports medicine) Bill (Cowgill) was concerned,” Self added. “He didn’t have a lot of pain. It was just loose.”
Azubuike had an MRI as soon as practice was over and the results of that, along with a diagnosis from Dr. Jeffrey Randall, revealed a Grade 1 sprain, which, in the medical world, is the least severe sprain a person can suffer.

“Similar to an ankle or whatnot, there’s obviously a ligament that’s strained or stretched and it’s too loose to put him back out there,” Self said. “But these are injuries that I’ve been told the healing process can begin very quickly, at 48-72 hours.”

I'm with Benjamin Martin. Pokes come in with a little too much pride, and over confidence...we might get the W.

@truehawk93 He's still not going to be 100%. I've dealt with this injury in football before. I was playing 2-3 weeks later, but my knee wasn't 100% until about 6-7 weeks after the injury even with rehab. Doke should be able to play in the NCAA Tournament, but like I said, he won't be playing at 100%.

@Texas-Hawk-10

I never said he would be 100%. May not be an option to chance aggravating it. He's a big boy, and that's a lot of weight. Thankfully he's not playing football either.

In a statement, Jayhawks coach Bill Self said Azubuike was hurt in a scrimmage.

"It is isolated. It is a Grade 1 sprain," Self said. "We will hold him out this weekend in Kansas City, and he will be re-evaluated Sunday, and our expectation is that he'll be back on the court next week."

@KUSTEVE lmao - - you goof what the hell -- leave it to you buddy lol, you crack me up - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@Hawk8086 There is a lot of different things that go into the seeding, such as how a team is playing recent -- BPI- and yes even the health to a degree - if a key player is questionable or out - -I think to at least to some degree in the back of their heads they consider certain things such as that.

Example this year - - look at Norte Dame. - -All the talk about how seriously now the committee should consider them being invited now that Bonsie Colson is back. - -Talk about how they really can't keep Norte Dame out - -so if your going off that basis then ya the committee takes things like an injury into some consideration when seeding for sure.

I think we could very easily end up as a # 2 - especially if we exited in the 1st game of the Big 12 tourney - -I think your probably looking at Duke taking our spot - -but actually a 2 might not be the worst scenario for us - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer73 Agree that a 2 might not be that bad. Matchups are more important than a 1 line difference in seeding.

The main difference between a 1 and 2 seed is 2 seeds occasionally lose the first game. Being a 2 seeds turns it into a 6 game tournament instead of a 5 gamer for a 1 seed. After the first round matchups become much more important.

(Play in games are not the first round!)

@dylans Fully agreed. I don't want to jinx anything but going into the 2018 NCAA Tournament #1 seeds have won 100% of the games played against #16 seeds. That is significant.

@joeloveshawks

2 are 124-8 against #15 seeds for a 94% winning percentage. Yes, upsets have happened but the odds are long.

@JayHawkFanToo , MIZZOU says "hello"!

@Gorilla72

What else would you expect from them?

@JayHawkFanToo That is a good stat. I honestly did not think that the #2 seeds had been quite this dominant. Maybe it feels this way since there have been a few big ones in recent years? Duke, Mizzou, Michigan St., etc.

JayHawkFanToo said:

@Gorilla72

What else would you expect from them?

Some Missouri fans recently showed up to one of Agbaji's games just to heckle him because he picked KU. They are very mentally disturbed.

@joeloveshawks

Here is the entire record...

• 1 Seed vs #16 Seed - 132-0 - 100% Winning Percentage #1 Seed

• 2 Seed vs #15 Seed - 124-8 - 93.94% Winning Percentage #2 Seed

• 3 Seed vs #14 Seed - 111-21 - 84.09% Winning Percentage #3 Seed

• 4 Seed vs #13 Seed - 106-26 - 80.30% Winning Percentage #4 Seed

• 5 Seed vs #12 Seed - 85-47 - 64.39% Winning Percentage #5 Seed

• 6 Seed vs #11 Seed - 83-49 - 62.88% Winning Percentage #6 Seed

• 7 Seed vs #10 Seed - 81-51 - 61.37% Winning Percentage #7 Seed

• 8 Seed vs #9 Seed - 68-64 - 51.52% Winning Percentage #8 Seed

@JayHawkFanToo Interesting how much it scales. You really want to be a 4 seed or higher.

@BShark

Yes, indeed, quite a drop from a #4 to a #5 seed.

@JayHawkFanToo - I always pick at least one 5/12 upset. Looks like I need to look at 6/11 too!

What's amazing about the percentages is that there are clear dropoffs at different points.

There's a clear gap between 1's and 2's, and between 2's and 3's. It also reflects the quality difference between 16's and 14's.

It also shows just how close the distance between 5's and 12's is (and the fact that seeds five through twelve are all nearly equal. This is why I would argue for a .500 record in conference as a benchmark to make the tournament, as many of the 7, 8 and 9 seeded teams aren't any better than the top teams in most mid major conferences. Is Oklahoma (likely headed for a lower seed) any better than South Dakota (finished second in the Summit League, lost to South Dakota State in the conference tournament final)? Doesn't it make more sense for a team with only 8 losses that finished second in its league to go to the NCAA tournament over a team with more than a dozen losses and finished second-to-last in its conference?

@justanotherfan OU belongs in the NIT.

Also the regular season should determine auto-bids. ESPECIALLY at lower levels.

@BShark Actually I really feel Okie State - -deserves to be in the NCAA more then Oklahoma at this point - -anyways that's how I feel. -- With the way they finished the season - -& the way Okie State finished - - but who knows - -I'm afraid with our beating them today - -probably knocked them out - -but hey don't get me wrong all I know is we don't have to worry about making the tourney that's all I'm really concerned about.

jayballer73 said:

@BShark Actually I really feel Okie State - -deserves to be in the NCAA more then Oklahoma at this point - -anyways that's how I feel. -- With the way they finished the season - -& the way Okie State finished - - but who knows - -I'm afraid with our beating them today - -probably knocked them out - -but hey don't get me wrong all I know is we don't have to worry about making the tourney that's all I'm really concerned about.

Completely agree.

@BShark

Agree. OSU is 2-1 against OU including winning the last2 games, 2-1 against KU and 1-1 against WVU. It certainly deserves it more than Trae Young...I mean OU...:smile:

If you applied the .500 conference record requirement, the following bubble teams would be out

!0_1520608754731_upload-57ce8c24-b04c-45ce-a857-ae5aa8cc51a6 ↗

Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Syracuse, Baylor.

That means, according to Mr. Lunardi at least, Middle Tennessee State would have one of the last four byes (taking Texas' spot), and Marquette, Penn State and Nebraska would be the last four in along with Louisville.

It would make the bubble a lot cleaner around this time because teams would know what they needed to do by now. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas all would have known they were playing for their tournament lives this weekend in KC. Same for Arizona State. Alabama would be the last team with a chance to still grab a spot since they are still alive in the SEC tournament. How big would Collin Sexton's game winner be if Alabama's whole season was riding not just on winning that game, but needing to win the entire tournament?

@justanotherfan

Yes, but... a 8-10 record in the Big12 is better than a 10-8 record in the Big 10 or just about any other conference.

True, but if you couldn't win half your conference games, you don't have much of an argument that you are one of the best teams in the country.

@justanotherfan

Disagree. A team like OSU would have a winning conference record in just about any other conference. What do you think another OSU team, Ohio State, record would be in the Big 12?

@JayHawkFanToo

Would they? Oklahoma State has losses to both Texas A&M and Arkansas, both middle of the pack teams in the SEC. They lost four home games in the Big 12 (K-State, Baylor, West Virginia and TCU). Sure, the Big 12 lacks any bad teams, and sure, Oklahoma State probably feasts on the lower part of their schedule in a different conference, but Oklahoma State's non-conference SOS is 311 in the country. They lost to three of the four decent non-con teams they played (Arkansas, A&M and Wichita State, beat Florida State by 1).

Their conference record tells us what we already kind of know - Oklahoma State isn't bad, but they are fairly average. They are good enough to beat a really good team on the right night, but night in and night out, they are no better than okay.

justanotherfan said:

True, but if you couldn't win half your conference games, you don't have much of an argument that you are one of the best teams in the country.

...And why I think the NCAA tournament should be cut down to 32 teams and made double elimination.

@dylans Nice for the top teams but you would lose so much interest that way. But how do you select them with some 30 conf tourneys to deal with? No at large? Or restrict the touney by eliminating auto bids for all the lesser conferences? That will be popular among the 280 teams or so who have no realistic chance every year.

@justanotherfan

You are concentrating on the games they lost and not the ones they won including KU twice, WVU, TTU, all top #4-#5 seeds. I can easily see the OSU going 12-6 in the Big 10.

@mayjay Take the best 32 teams. If that's too hard make it 16. There are not 68 teams able to win the tournament as is. Get rid of the ones who have no shot.

Like all but Tech and KU from the Big12. Virginia, Duke, and North Carolina ACC etc.

Yes the other teams are nice, but they have no realistic chance to win it all.

@JayHawkFanToo

Oklahoma State has a wide gap between their ceiling and their floor. They are the same team that swept KU, yes, but they also were swept by Baylor, TCU and Kansas State.

I doubt they go 12-6 in the Big 10.

If we give them Ohio State's Big 10 schedule, here's how I think it plays out:

at Wisconsin - loss (0-1)

vs. Michigan - win (1-1)

at Iowa - loss (1-2)

vs. Michigan State - win (2-2)

vs. Maryland - win (3-2)

at Rutgers - win (4-2)

at Northwestern - win (5-2)

vs. Minnesota - win (6-2)

vs. Nebraska - loss (6-3)

vs. Penn State - loss (6-4)

vs. Indiana - loss (6-5)

vs. Illinois - win (7-5)

at Purdue - loss (7-6)

vs. Iowa - win (8-6)

at Penn State - loss (8-7)

at Michigan - loss (8-8)

vs. Rutgers - win (9-8)

at Indiana - loss (9-9)

You could say they might win against Indiana and Nebraska, but would they hold the home court against Michigan State? Do they avoid blowing winnable road games like Rutgers and Northwestern? That's OSU's problem. They have the ability to knock off good teams, but will also completely collapse against a lesser team for no apparent reason.

@justanotherfan You have them winning only 2 road games. This is a crazy team, but they won at AFH, at Hilton and in Morgantown. If they can win those in the B12, I think they win a few more on the road in the B10. But they could lose more home games. They could probably go anywhere from 6-12 to 11-7.

@justanotherfan

John McEnroe called and said...you can’t possibly be serious.:smile:

Look at how the teams in both conferences are ranked according to Sagarin...

!0_1520646759543_FAD97923-417C-4EFC-B6C2-7D53CCCEDD39.png ↗

9 out of 10 teams in the Big 12 are ranked in the top 45 with OSU at 45. 4 out of 14 teams in the Big 10 are ranked in the same top 45 and 10 teams in the Big 10 are ranked below OSU. OSU would be top 4 or top 5 in the Big 10. I will correct my prediction and say it would finish no worse than 13-5 probably 14-4.

Doke got a workout in today

Gut it out Doke!

@Crimsonorblue22 Well , that sounds at least some what encouraging doesn't it? - -hoping for the best. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Holy shit we are 14-5 against top50 squads

🐦 View Tweet

Matt Galloway
‏ @themattgalloway
18m18 minutes ago

Udoka Azubuike rode a bike today and will be evaluated Sunday. Self hopeful he can get back on the court tomorrow or Monday to do one-on-zero basketball activities.

“We’re hopeful he can play this week. The doc said it’s not unrealistic for us to be hopeful for that.”

@BShark that last sentence left a lot of questions.

Don't rush him back. Doke being gone makes the guards be more in attack mode all the time. They aren't trying to feed the post because Coach said get the ball inside to Doke. They are catching it and trying to score themselves.

It clearly turned Newman into a different player. And after seeing this team gut out 3 wins in 3 days, I'm not sure we need big boy back until the 2nd weekend.

@Kcmatt7 2nd game could be tough. We should definitely win w/o Doke in the first game.

@BShark I don't think it's worth rushing him back. Yea the 2nd game should be competitive, but I don't think bringing back an Doke that is only 70% helps us at all. Especially if he would be close to 100% the following weekend.

@mayjay and @JayHawkFanToo

Oklahoma State is a solid team, but they are wildly inconsistent. They have some really good wins, but also some inexplicable losses. That's why they are on the bubble now. With the wins they have, if they were more consistent, they would probably be a top 5 seed. They are on the bubble because they lost games they had no business losing. If they were in the Big 10, that would probably still happen.