🏀 KuBuckets Archive

BShark said:

@BeddieKU23 I like the insinuation that Malik might be paid to come back. That was probably the best part.

Silvio might not start, I could see it anyway. The Lawsons do that that Morrii kind of connection where they play well together. Silvio will get lots of minutes though, doubly true if Doke leaves.

I think you have to play Grimes over Moore if you do that though. You end up with a pretty great defensive line-up in that case. Assuming Self can get Grimes to buy in.

All good stuff. Self is getting a glimpse of what a 50% ready Silvio can do on the boards, running the floor and being in the right spots around the rim. He can shoot FT's and so far his 70% FG% is going to translate with more minutes. This is also a glimpse of the competitiveness the kid has, how he's embraced the challenge of being counted on. Once he learns how to defend the sky's the limit. Not many kids can go from not playing, not even knowing everything that's asked of you and help a team, a #1 seed win a tournament. Takes a special talent to do so.

HawkChamp said:

@BeddieKU23 I hope you're right.

I hope so too. We're better then what some are trying to make Penn out as.

Their best players are young, its not some savvy experienced group that's played 4 years together making a run.

They do some things well against their own level of competition.

They were the 3rd most likely team to win the Ivy from what I followed most of the year. Harvard for having a ton of Top 100 kids has underachieved lately. Yale has a really good prospect and had been a dominate team until this year. Harvard beats Penn if its best player (Towns) doesn't get hurt in the game. That changed the entire complexion of the game.

KU just has to come hungry like they did over the weekend and our talent will overwhelm them. Devonte has to lead the way

@BShark

Reading his post, I want whatever he's on. Comical.

KJ over Silvio.. Moore over Grimes. Guys getting a rude awakening assuming things will be same next year. It's a true change of the guard unless Malik returns

BShark said:

I think the team is fine if Doke goes, but I'm not sure where the hell Doke ends up. It won't be the NBA.

With the way Silvio played we absolutely have a bright future if he leaves

BShark said:

If you believe Ryan Noel then Cunliffe, Newman, Vick and Doke are all leaving.

Nobody does but that still could happen

@BShark

if he had played this way most of the season I do think we'd be talking differently. That's Malik's ceiling what's doing now. If he does it for say 6 more games... People will talk. I hope he enjoys College enough to come back. If not I hope he gets paid somewhere

BShark said:

@BeddieKU23 He has shown he is a PG. Could have a decent career as a back-up.

I still think he's got a tough road ahead of him but if he can land a guaranteed late first round contract that bodes well! Couldn't happen to a better player and person

Not even a MOP of the Big-12 tourney moved him into the Top 100. It's a longshot

Graham has moved up to #28 on the Top 100 board. Seems like he's impressing scouts with his play..

HawkChamp said:

The biggest concern is if Penn pulls a Washington and has some unique strategy to stop the 3. When that happened, there were zero adjustments made other than to keep chucking up guarded three's. Vick was hesitant in the high-post and Devonte played terribly. If Penn has no such strategy, we win by 20.

Good thing KU is playing its best ball now, we'd adjust. Washington caught us stone-footed.

BigBad said:

Malik Newman is not an NBA player. That doesn't mean he stays though. Nothing some of these kids do surprises me anymore.

That's pretty accurate. He's a small SG because he's been unable to show much of a game being a PG. If he played like he did in the Big-12 tourney through the NCAA tourney good chance we see his name on the stock up board. What that does for him probably doesn't mean much. If he really wants to be an NBA player I think he needs another season trying to prove he can be a leader and run a team

Kcmatt7 said:

@BeddieKU23 I hope Doke doesn't play Thursday. But we will need him Saturday. If the D stays active like it has been, I would love to play NC State. Not sure they can actually keep us from scoring, but if we can keep them from scoring that is an easy win.

I would take SHU in that matchup though.

I hope Doke plays some Thursday just to get back into running on the knee and mentally being okay running and jumping.

If he's not going to play Thursday but Saturday I don't know what to think honestly.

It was impressive seeing Silvio step up and how he was able to impact the game rebounding and being around the rim. Both of those things seemed to be important. I thought our guards were able to create more instead of knowing the ball needs to go to Doke for an ISO. Am I crazy there? If we missed a shot Silvio or Mitch was there for a tip in. How many tip ins does Doke have on the season? I can't remember many at all honestly. The offense just seemed to click. Our defense suffered without Doke but the offense seemed even better.. Kenpom moved us up 3 spots on offensive after the weekend..

HawkChamp said:

BShark said:

@BeddieKU23 Their schedule obviously isn't great. So that helps their numbers. Lost to Toledo by 13. You remember that Toledo team we played... They could get up in the 70s or so but there is no reason KU shouldn't get near 100.

Yep. They have zero length and muscle inside to pose any difficulties against us. Silvio and Mitch should feast inside if they are smart about it.

Our guards being smart enough to play through the post will be important. I would like to see us pound the paint to open up the perimeter. If we break their hearts inside they will forget how to guard the line

The positive for Seton Hall and potential issue if we play them in the 2nd round is senior leadership. Delgado, Rodriguez & Carrington have been through a ton of battles. They played very well in non-conference play and lost some close games in conference. They had a golden opportunity to beat Villanova weeks back and blew that! I don't think Seton Hall is coming in with momentum which would be a key to being scared against a 8/9 seed.

They have a big advantage over NC St in experience. I see Seton Hall as a likely winner because I tend to favor experience. If it comes down to guard play I would favor NC St maybe a little more. They have a better PG then Seton Hall who really doesn't have a true point and style of play for NC St might be something that catches Seton Hall off guard. The battle between Delgado and Yurtseven could be fantastic.

If I'm rooting for anyone I'm rooting for NC St. Is anyone really scared of Allerick Freeman who used to play for Baylor? Yurtseven might have 30 but who cares we do a good job of limiting others. The health of Doke by Saturday will be important to see.

BShark said:

USC was the truly absurd snub. Best team I can remember to not get in.

2nd in their conference and lost in the conference final. A true head-scratcher..

BShark said:

UK vs Arizona is the MOST INSANE 2nd round game since????

Seems Kentucky gets a lot of 2nd round big games. Wichita St and Indiana in recent memory..

Kcmatt7 said:

@wissox Nebraska only had 3 "quality wins" this year. While I think they got robbed from just the "eye test", they went 3-9 in quadrant 1 and 2 games. Their noncon schedule was really weak as well, and they lost all of the ones that would have been good wins. Tough break, but it finally looks like Tim Miles might have some momentum in Lincoln. Return their 4 best players and a few young guys should get much better this offseason which will allow them to be a better and deeper next year. I think they will be a big surprise this time next year.

Bama played a tougher noncon schedule and had a lot more quality wins.

The Big 10 perception really hurt them this season. And the conference members did themselves no favors. Nobody played a tough noncon. And the teams that did either got demolished or made the tourney as a top 5 seed. Over half of the teams had noncon strength of schedules ranked in the 100s I believe. And they lost some really bad games.

Nebraska is in if they beat KU at home. That 1 point loss is the difference between the NIT and NCAA tourney

wissox said:

Meanwhile 22-10 and 13-5 in the league Nebraska stays home and 19-15 Alabama gets in. 8-10 in the weak SEC. I really can't stand the preferential treatment given to the SEC. Bama losers of 6 of last 8 by the way and early season losers to Minnesota who was one of the two worst teams in the big 10.

Collin Sexton hype all week from ESPN put them in. Then they get blown out by Kentucky and still get in..

Hawk8086 said:

BeddieKU23 said:

kjayhawks said:

I’m a little worried about a Duke or MSU match in the EE, those two teams may have the most talent in the field. But we’d have to get there first.

I think we say this every year and it's overblown we crushed the same michigan st team last yr

This is not the same MSU as last year. Jackson is a beast....the other guys are better.

Have you watched Michigan St play?

If the answer is yes then explain what makes them that much different. You mentioned Jackson, yes he's good, potentially Top 5 in the draft good. Can step out and make the 3 and has elite level rim protection ability. The other players who we spanked as freshman are sophomores. They have a few veterans with experience, Nairn, McQuaid, Goins who come off the bench. They rely heavily on 5 guys like we do. Winston has become a really good PG and has shot lights out from 3 all season long. I have watched them plenty. Its a lot of paper talent that hasn't played up to its potential all season long IMO. We talk a lot about being battle tested, Michigan St is the opposite of battle tested. When they play teams as good as them they struggle. I would welcome playing them in the Elite 8.

First off I love our bracket. Think about it, two teams in the lower half that a lot of people thought might be Final 4 types have a potential matchup in the Sweet 16. Someone is going home early and that's a potentially key thing down the road. If KU can survive the Mid-West Bracket we potentially might be the best team left standing in the Final 4. We'll see how it plays out I think we saw fantastic and optimistic play without Doke and I'm excited to see how this plays out. This is a complete 180 from where I thought we'd be coming in after the Doke injury. Self and Silvio worked some magic and here we are with a #1 seed in a favorable bracket for 3 games.

Things to consider in the first round.

Missouri's 2nd leading scorer was suspended for their opening round game. I don't see how they win.

Miami's Bruce Brown will miss the rest of the season and they are definitely on upset alert against Loyola Chicago

So did we get the shaft with the 16 seeds? I don't know but they play a quirky style..

Penn's coach has experience against KU, was coaching Cornell who came to KU and lost by 5 in their banner year in 2010 in which they made the Sweet 16. They defend, shoot the 3 and defend the 3. Stats say they defend the 3 better then any team in America?? Can we really take those numbers to heart.

They played Villanova this year and they were crushed by 28. Good road team actually 9-4 so their style translates. Should be chippy early until we figure out how to attack them. Should focus a ton of our efforts early pounding inside to open up the outside game as they have two 6-8 kids and that's it.

BShark said:

Brad Nessler / Steve Lavin / Evan Washburn announcers.

To me, that's an average group. I'm not angry about it.

We should get Kevin Harlan if we get to Omaha though, which would be FANTASTIC.

Ohh great would love to have Harlan calling those potential games

BShark said:

Syracuse in and USC not is a crime against all of basketball.

Nobody wanted boeheim's cryfest on espn after for not getting in so they pitty pushed him in. Luckiest team in America ever year

Tech and west Virginia could meet in the sweet 16

kjayhawks said:

@BeddieKU23 anyone can be beaten lol

Except us we hope

BShark said:

BeddieKU23 said:

kjayhawks said:

I’m a little worried about a Duke or MSU match in the EE, those two teams may have the most talent in the field. But we’d have to get there first.

I think we say this every year and it's overblown we crushed the same michigan st team last yr

That was a 15 loss MSU team. Cassius Winston is greatly improved.

He is and Langford as well. Bridges and ward are mostly the same.
Mcquaid bothers me the most

kjayhawks said:

@BeddieKU23 Michigan State is much much better this year obviously they have a 3 seed not a 9. It really it’s gonna depend on how we shoot, one game at a time.

Sure they are better and they added a NBA player to the roster. Still they have an inflated record. They can be beaten

kjayhawks said:

I’m a little worried about a Duke or MSU match in the EE, those two teams may have the most talent in the field. But we’d have to get there first.

I think we say this every year and it's overblown we crushed the same michigan st team last yr

Hawk8086 said:

I think the West looks easiest at the top. I like our bracket early, but we will have to get past a one seed type in either MSU or Duke if we get to the elite 8.

If we are good enough at that point we want to prove so.. bring it and let the rest take care of it's self.

Current porter is terrible

Either that or they just gifted Roy another final 4

Gonzaga as a 4 is the team I think might get out of that bracket

If mich st and duke meet in the s16 it's a payback game for izzo

BShark said:

BeddieKU23 said:

We can beat both teams

Have you seen Bagley?

Have you seen silvio?

Exactly take Care of business

We can beat both teams

BShark said:

BeddieKU23 said:

Couldn't have been gifted a better route to the elite 8

Agree. Not getting to the FF though. Duke/MSU will win this region.

Nope

Couldn't have been gifted a better route to the elite 8

The thing is the NBA already knows who Newman is, he's already went through the draft process and left a negative taste in scouts and gm's.

Does this stretch help him? Sure it does. Does it move his stock needle? No. He's still projected to be undrafted if he left.

A great NCAA tourney could be the difference in him sliding into the 2nd round. There's no chance he's going to get a 1st round grade, that's just the reality of things.

Personally I'm hoping he comes back to lead a young group of guards and have the Frank and Devonte treatment from role and responsibility.

Another year being a leader and putting up numbers is his best chance to stay in the USA

One of the most satisfying wins in a long time!!!

Yesssss

Silvio is a man!!!

BShark said:

BeddieKU23 said:

BShark said:

Guys...Silvio....I think we might have something here...

Bingo

If he isn't ahead of Mitch in the rotation now I'm gonna be mad.

Only a blind man could not see that

DCHawker said:

De Sousa is the difference in the game so far. He goes after rebounds unlike anyone else on the team. If we can get him for another two years, he may become unstoppable - and monster on the glass...

What this is doing is making him a rotation man now during the tourney and it could absolutely be the difference

BShark said:

Guys...Silvio....I think we might have something here...

Bingo

Put them on yo BACK

Sure refs

Miles sucks just not today

Silvio has to play rest of the way