🏀 KuBuckets Archive

https://kuathletics.com/dr-ramsey-nijem-named-mens-basketball-director-of-sport-performance/ ↗

Frank knows him well. Sounds like a great hire.

https://theathletic.com/598769/2018/10/30/for-the-young-rebuilding-kings-their-27-year-old-strength-coach-is-one-of-the-most-important-members-of-the-team/ ↗

Well , can't be all bad that's for sure - -Coming from the Kings - - - being the youngest in the NBA

Definitely sounds like a good hire. It was needed before things got too serious back in school

So KU must be a better job than the NBA Kings? I like the sound of that!

Gorilla72 said:

So KU must be a better job than the NBA Kings? I like the sound of that!

Pretty easily tbh. The Kings are such a bad franchise.

Gorilla72 said:

So KU must be a better job than the NBA Kings? I like the sound of that!

I think the fit is better. Being under Kansas Health gives him the resources to keep on the academic track and pursue that career someday if he so chooses. I’d also be curious about the money.

I'd be a little more comfortable with this pick if it weren't for the sorry history of the Kings franchise. No playoff berths since 2006, only one NBA title (in 1951 as the Rochester Royals). The years in Kansas City (-Omaha) and Cincinnati were mostly fruitless, save the early '60s when they had Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas...unfortunately they were in the same division as the Celtics dynasty.

And yes, they did improve last season, but still finished with a losing record, so I just have to wait and see.

Hoping for the best, but color me skeptical.

The New Strength Coach can't help the Kings with their on court miseries , that all falls on the Coaching staff - the X'S & O"s he can only help in his area - -I think we will be ok. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@nwhawkfan I don't think he picked the players, did he?

@KUSTEVE My point is more along the lines of the decisions made by the owners/GMs through the years.

Google "Worst-run NBA franchises" and you'll see what I mean.

Yeah, I know...you can't blame Nijem's few years with the the Kings for their decades of futility.

But it gives you pause when the guys who picked the players, coaches, and yes, staff, consistently have shown that they have trouble picking the right personnel.

@nwhawkfan of course Bill Self isn’t the King’s management.

Again, I'm hoping for the best. I liken it to being the successor to an iconic coach.

Gene Bartow had the unenviable task of succeeding John Wooden at UCLA. Bill Guthridge following Dean Smith. Mike Davis succeeding Bobby Knight. Brian Mahoney after Lou Carnesecca.

Not easy being "the guy after the guy" (/gal).

@nwhawkfan Nijem's peers considered him a top 5 S&C coach in the NBA. When your peers at the highest level feel that way about you, that's a huge positive about the man's credentials to perform the job well.

@nwhawkfan They were coaches. He's an athletic trainer.

@KUSTEVE he said he likens it, he knows

@Crimsonorblue22 Those little red lines under words actually mean misspellings...I thought that might be helpful for you when you type, so we can better understand you. Bill Self is really a genius, and is a master at building people up.One of his greatest pupils was Hudy, who he helped become who she is today. He did such a good job that people actually think that Hudy made Bill...when in reality, it was Bill that made Hudy.

@KUSTEVE Wat yoeu talcing abowt? I fer wone donte gett kno redd liynes onn spel misteaks!

@KUSTEVE Your spelling reference prompted me to mention that it is "hatches" not "hatchets." But the nice thoughts are appreciated I'm sure regardless of what is being battened down.

@KUSTEVE just read what he said, Again, I’m hoping for the best. I liken it to being the successor to an iconic coach. No need to be a smart one!(me)

The strength coach likely would not have left the Kings if he was training the best NBA players. He saw the KU position as an opportunity to train the best college basketball players, earn a conference championships ring, and attend the final 4 games. Championships were not going happen at Sacramento.

@Gorilla He may have also received that ever influential pay raise.

HighEliteMajor said:

@Gorilla He may have also received that ever influential pay raise.

Ding ding! Plus cost of living in LFK vs. Sacramento.

@FarmerJayhawk You dry?

@KUSTEVE Hudy came from UConn where she helped the Husky men win 1999 and 2004 national titles and the UConn women 4 titles in five years from 2000 to 2004.

Bill Self did not make her. Hudy came to KU with 6 national title rings while she was the S&C coach for UConn basketball.

Hudy may not have made Self, but Self certainly did not make Hudy either.

I'm going to guess that without Frank there to show everyone what hard work can do, he saw no reason to stick with the Kings.

@HighEliteMajor You are right about pay and FarmerJayHawk about cost of living. More pay goes in the bank when state taxes, gas, and home loan are much lower.

mayjay said:

@FarmerJayhawk You dry?

Dry enough! Just enough rain to be annoying.

@HighEliteMajor the last line he said Bill made Hudy.

@approxinfinity I deleted due to my ridiculous oversight.

@nwhawkfan Hudy was a strength and conditioning trainer, not head basketball coach. That he was affiliated with a pro team gives me reason to believe that he knows a thing or two about the job.

Nwhawkfan is comparing her to a head coach leaving, but I think that’s probably a step too far. Diehard fans all know who Hudy is, but the casual fans are less likely to know her. Self is the face of the team, so the results will be on him.

I'm thinking, to some degree, there is more prestige in being a college strength coach at a blue blood over the same job in the NBA, unless perhaps it's with a top flight team. Even then... it seems like the college strength coaches receive more public attention than the NBA coaches. I'm trying to think when I last heard about a NBA strength coach. Hmmm.... Oh yeah... this guy, Ramsey!

@drgnslayr To be fair I could only name one strength and conditioning coach outside of Lawrence, Texas’

@dylans Comparing her and other S&C coaches to a HC isn't too far off actually.

During the off-season when the coaching staff either can't work with the players or is extremely restricted in that regard, it's the S&C staff that's running the program during those times because of how much time they spend with those players.

I wonder how the salaries compare? I'm thinking Ramsey received a hefty pay increase to come to Lawrence. Anyone have a clue here?

She was making approx. $275

Good grief, Hudy was no where near the head coach, as a comparison. Just ridiculous. She was just the strength and conditioning coach. That’s all. She was a role player. She had a job.

And she wasn’t a miracle worker. She wasn’t a savior.

It will be quite amazing when KU basketball survives just fine without her. In fact it will be quite amazing when we notice zero difference.

@HighEliteMajor

Yes.... we will survive... and thanks for the slap in the face.

Hudy was family, and we lost a family member. Worse... she will become family to a competitor.

Hudy gained extra popularity because we would see her shiny face at every game, near the bench. She meant a lot to the players (and coaches).

I'm liking the scent of Ramsey. After a year or so we will know what he tastes like. Hopefully, we will maintain what Hudy brought and add in new features he brought with him.

What I like is Ramsey seems to have a stronger background in nutrition. I've learned a lot of lessons in my life, all through it, and I wish I had learned more about nutrition in my competitive years. I recall through the years at Kansas hearing about some of our players being hooked on sweets and not eating healthy. I harped about it back then (rightly so) and that we needed stronger nutrition influences within the program. I'm hopeful Ramsey will become that influence.

After watching Dr. Ramsey Nijem's interview on Youtube, it's clear he is a super smart individual who know his industry thoroughly. The way he rattles off names, and describes principles and techniques of his craft like he's been in the field for 30 years is remarkable no matter what field of business a person is working in.

I'm thinking he's going to move the needle in a noticeable way once he gets some time with these guys... not only athletically, but more importantly, between the ears on game day. Rock Chalk!!

HighEliteMajor said:

Good grief, Hudy was no where near the head coach, as a comparison. Just ridiculous. She was just the strength and conditioning coach. That’s all. She was a role player. She had a job.

And she wasn’t a miracle worker. She wasn’t a savior.

It will be quite amazing when KU basketball survives just fine without her. In fact it will be quite amazing when we notice zero difference.

I wouldn't consider myself anti-Hudy truther like some on the phog but I must agree with most of this. The AD played up Hudy but she is replaceable for sure.

Edit: Wow, typing on mobile with autocorrect is brutal. This post should make sense now lol.

@BShark @drgnslayr I want to be really clear that I’m not anti-Hudy. In fact I’m very pro-Hudy. I wish she would have stayed. I just see her as a relatively replaceable cog.

All I know is we are getting real close to KU hoops again. And we are loaded for a NC run.

HighEliteMajor said:

All I know is we are getting real close to KU hoops again. And we are loaded for a NC run.

Yeehaw.... let's run the table. The perfect season! 41-0!

(Calipari sarcasm)

@drgnslayr I've printed the shirts.

The reason for comparing a S&C coach to a head is because they have the second largest impact on a team. When teams are in the off-season and coaches are restricted in their contact with the players, the S&C coach fills that authority role because the emphasis during that part of the calendar is on the weight room.

It has nothing to do with how replaceable a person is because even Bill Self is replaceable at the end of the day.

The comparison is merely that the S&C has a similar level of authority over a program during the off-season. In football, during the winter between the end of the season and spring football beginning, it's the S&C coach that's largely in charge of the program during that down time. It's similar with basketball during their off-season as well where the S&C coach is the authority when the coaching staff isn't around.

🐦 View Tweet?s=21

Lotsa smiles. New S&C coach looks small. Also hoping Doke doesn’t injure his head on the ceiling! 🙏🏻

HighEliteMajor said:

@BShark @drgnslayr I want to be really clear that I’m not anti-Hudy. In fact I’m very pro-Hudy. I wish she would have stayed. I just see her as a relatively replaceable cog.

All I know is we are getting real close to KU hoops again. And we are loaded for a NC run.

Can't believe we are less then two months away from tip off against Duke - not sure if everyone knows - - probably do BUT we got the early game - - 6 O'Clock