Higgins is a ref plus 2 west Virginia grads so yeah happy whistle night
BeddieKU23
31745 posts
Guess tonight favors us winning according to this ESPN stat. Hope it holds true.
Kansas is 4-0 in true road games this season, but tonight's game at West Virginia is the Jayhawks' first road game against a ranked opponent. Kansas has lost 3 straight road games at West Virginia; they have never lost four straight road games to a Big 12 opponent.
I almost said 7-1 but that might be a slightly unrealistic prediction given just how many tough games are coming up.
I don't even know where the loss would occur. I think we can win tonight even with WVU facing a life and death situation of dropping 3 straight. They are not playing that great and even though they have recently played out of their mind against us in Morgantown I think our guys want this win tonight. This is a pride check game for KU.
The game in Rupp is a toss up. Whether Kentucky has Fox at 100% is important.
We can beat Baylor at home and Iowa St next week.
Kansas St on the road on Big Monday is probably the 2nd hardest game we'll play in this stretch. The K-St fans are going to be beyond bat-crap crazy. That will be one emotion filled game.
At Texas Tech looked harder before we played them first time around. We match up well with them and their play has slipped.
West Virginia on Big Monday in Allen will be a fun game. We'll see how tonight goes but I expect we'll hold serve.
I agree Lucas plays better defense overall but Doke was the x-factor for us as far as rim protection/altering shots at the rim. Would teams score as easy at the rim with his element of talent on the floor?
That's great!
That's one of the best!
Who knows where we would be. Would Lucas be playing this good of ball without Doke subbing for him?
The analytics peeps say our defense would probably be better, Doke's rim protection probably would keep our efficiency higher then it is currently.
Certainly could have used him for Kentucky & Baylor will all those athletes we'll see. I think that's where we miss him the most.
I hope for 8-0
I think more likely 6-2.
I think these kids will rise to the occasion on some of these "on paper tough" games
Updated ESPN rankings.
Young #15
Preston #20
Garrett #61
Big 12 likely to have 10 Top 100 kids (assuming Young signs with the good guys)
Andy Katz-
Just visited with player of the year candidate senior Frank Mason of Kansas here in Morgantown (ESPN, 7 pm). He said something most high-level college players never say: "I wish I could play four more years."
It's hard to have the best of everything. I don't think either issue will be what gets us beat. It will be our best players not playing up to their level like we experienced against Villanova last year. I fail to believe that if our starting 5 plays its best there is a better team out there. And this is a team that arguably has still yet to reach its potential.
I hear we have Schiambi and Vitale tonight.
No Fran @Crimsonorblue22.
That means two guys announcing who don't know who either team is. I'm sure Vitale will mention Perry Ellis as our leading scorer.
Vitale gets to cry about Duke's struggles and how good UNC looks lately. The ACC is rolling BABY.
Interesting?
The NCAA announced Tuesday that the selection committee will reveal the top 16 seeds in the country — the top four teams in each region of the NCAA Tournament — “as they stand” on Feb. 11, a full month ahead of Selection Sunday.
*
The NCAA is billing it as “an in-season look” at the NCAA Tournament bracket, much like the College Football Playoff selection committee reveals its rankings on a weekly basis over the last month or so of the football season. In this case, the 16 teams will be revealed — for the first time ever — during a Saturday afternoon (12:30 ET) broadcast on CBS.*
I agree Zona was a team that had no chemistry when they played the Zags. They look completely different now. I don't think Trier was the reason Zona won the game Saturday although he helped. Arizona took control of the game from the 5 minute mark of the 1st half and never really looked back. It certainly helped them that Trier was able to play and contribute.
As for Gonzaga, I also agree that this is their most athletic and defensive team to date. 3 transfers have really stepped in for those guys that left last year. They have great chemistry and get great production from their bench. They have a 7 footer who is NBA material and doesn't even start.
Gonzaga is a very good team, should they be punished for winning all their games?
They did beat Arizona who looked terrific beating UCLA over the weekend. Their non-conference slate wasn't terrible, it wasn't a gauntlet but neither was KU's. I do think the reputation the Zag's have now is that gaudy regular season record doesn't help them in March. They have underachieved lately when highly ranked/highly thought of. This years team has lots of depth and size to compete. Would not be surprised if they made the Final 4 or lost in the first weekend as might be the case for a lot of teams.
They don't play as a team and they lack athleticism at the guard positions. Neither Jones, Allen or Kennard consistently play above the rim. Kennard is a great scorer but he can't do it by himself.
Allen has completely lost his mind and this team, he's regressed and he can't see it. Apparently the coaches can't see it either. I'm ashamed they let him play after what happened and after what continues to happen in every game. He's mentally lost it.
Above all else they lack a point guard. Duke always has great point guards but they missed the bus this year when they let Thornton leave. They have even tried Allen at PG which hasn't played out well.
Every game he's doing something that just doesn't belong in this game. I'm ashamed for Duke that they let this kid play. I am truly ashamed
Lately we have turned the ball over at an alarming pace. In the Texas game a lot of them were just mental errors. Not finishing transition plays by making the right pass or just losing the ball down low. I don't think those mistakes continue to happen but if they do they are cause for concern. Makes you wonder is tonight is a night where that issue comes full head of steam. I really hope not.
I get your concerns or frustrations with this team. Saturday wasn't pretty, it was the first time all season I was upset at our play especially at home against a terrible Texas team. I expected better but we got a "good enough" win. We've had a lot of them.
We don't have that signature game yet where this team has hit its ceiling. I'm okay with it as long as this team is still working it's way up to it. I do think we'll see a game coming up and maybe this week where everything just clicks. Past KU teams have shown that potential.
Maybe we are trying too hard to compare this team to others that had peak efforts. This is a team unlike any other especially when we are running 4 guards and have just seven rotation players. The margin for error is really small, individuals have to bring it every night because there isn't a next man up who's going to save the night. I'm enjoying knowing exactly what is expected of each player, we've had too many seasons where we spend most of our time criticizing guys who are/not playing.
Lastly, I think we all have the same fears of what March will bring. I know one thing, I expect our back-court to make the difference when it matters. Some other teams might be flashier, they might be bigger but if we lose in March its going to take a team that can beat Frank Mason & Devonte Graham. Those guys have felt the pain of the last two years together and I just have the feeling they won't let it happen this year. Just my opinion. I hope your ready for an exciting 3 months of basketball
It's such a loaded draft its going to be hard for Devonte to be a 1st rounder without a lot of momentum the rest of the season. I won't say its impossible because teams can zero on specific talent they want and he might fit a need for a playoff team I just think overall he's probably not a first round pick when you look up and down at the possible freshman and younger guys that will enter + any Europeans that go as well.
l also think your comparison to Mario is valid.
Definitely Bragg is still a work in progress playing with his new weight. I do think we are starting to see him put it together, 9 ppg 4 rebs last two games in only 15 minutes of action. That's really solid production off the bench playing a position he wasn't recruited to play. I'm cautiously getting optimistic about him for the remainder of the season. Would love to see him have another big week. Having said all those nice things he'll probably play the opposite. We'll see how he does.
Good point about UCLA.
Fultz doesn't have the same talent around him and Romar has outplayed his stay at Washington by a few years already.
Devonte has really improved his numbers in conference play. I still don't like how he has one strong half and disappears the next. He had 15 at half against Texas, didn't take another shot until making that 3 that put the game away with a minute to go.
But he's certainly doing other things to help this team. A stat not mentioned, he has zero fouls in his last 3 games with 7 steals. Aggressive, smart defense for the most part. It's beyond a luxury having two point guards that feed off each other on both ends of the floor.
Lucas has made a believer out of me, I'm just embracing what he gives us at this point. He didn't have a great game offensively Saturday (while sick) but he rebounds as good as anyone in the conference. I do fear that his game Saturday is possibly a reflection how his games will go against Kentucky & Baylor coming up with their athletic front-lines. I hope Lucas rises to the occasion and proves me wrong.
Your right, his FG% is 47% without his 3pt % added together.
Since he's attempting almost 2.5 3's per Big-12 game its apart of his offense and must be counted.
Teams have been laying off him from outside and from reading what his teammates say he still has the green light to shoot them.
I also agree that his NBA stock has dropped without a consistent shot. It's the lack of a mid-range game or the ability to make FT's that are hurting him the most in my opinion. Most places I see have him in that 3-5 range right now and that's low based on his overall skill level. But with Ball & Fultz becoming the darlings of the media so far for the draft its going to be hard to pass up on those. I honestly think Ball has played like the #1 pick so far. I can never trust a guy like Fultz (amazing talent) who can't make his team better. Ball transformed UCLA so far this year.
!upload-4f5bb6cc-330d-4e58-a0a4-59e46f805d90 ↗
Interesting totals so far.
What's clear is Jackson is not shooting the ball well and is averaging close to 4 fouls a game. Both of those stats are why some of the games have been closer then normal/expected.
Vick's conference numbers are also down.
Lucas is rebounding the ball so well and averaging a double/double in Big-12 play.
Free Throw shooting has been better in conference play overall but we have seen uncharacteristic misses from Mason/Graham lately. Jackson is still a prayer at the line and cannot be counted on.
Graham's assist to turnover ratio has been outstanding in conference play.
Five guys in double figures makes this team capable of withstanding anything
Thoughts?
Seems likely he'll be a 2018 recruit. 6'7, 170 needs to add significant weight to his frame.
Will definitely need a wing if Svi leaves
Bill possibly involved with 2018 SF Sidney Wilson - 6'6-7 wing from Brewster Academy (Thomas Robinson, Tharpe, Devonte Graham) high school.
Listed KU among his schools, although UCONN & Texas were the schools he's visited so far and talked about.
Re-classifying to 2017 is on the table. Seems like he will be a really late pickup (May) if he does decide to graduate early. Might be one to keep an eye on if we are still looking for a wing post Svi's decision.
Texas plays slow - 170 something on KenPom in tempo coming into the game. Top 30 D coming into the game as well so it was no surprise the pace of the game was slow and KU had trouble scoring at times in half-court set.
Without a point guard they have no choice but to run sets that take entire possessions. We saw what seemed like every possession running through Cleare or Allen in the high post. It was clear they wanted to try and pound the ball inside to their only advantage, try and get our big's in foul trouble and find a way to keep it close. They succeeded because KU turned the ball over again at an alarming rate and we didn't capitalize on transition baskets that would have changed the complexion of the 2nd half.
A classic play down to your competition game
I honestly feel the same way about the NBA. I'm a Bulls fan but since Jordan it's been hard to really invest myself emotionally. I don't enjoy how "boring" the game feels. And I know it's high level basketball because the game is played light years differently. When I watch games I'm truly amazed how easy guys make scoring, pushing the pace of the game, making the simplest play look compared to the college level. We don't even know half the time if lucas can make a layup or Josh can make a free throw. But in the NBA these guys make it look so routine. So I guess in a weird way I love the college game so much because it is so imperfect, so different from team to team. There is literally a 100 ways to scheme in college. In the NBA today if your not becoming Golden State, San Antonio or Cleveland your just not competing. What is fun about a league where you can predict the 3 best teams by a mile. The 3 best college teams can go play inferior teams and lose, so unpredictable, so amazing at the same time.
I also think part of the reason why you don't see what feels like 100 great players these days is because the level of athletes in the game is just unprecedented. What these guys do to keep in peak physical condition is just crazy. The game is saturated with so many athletic freaks these days that the truly standout talents stick out in character, their mental makeup and their competitiveness to be great. Those select few that tirelessly perfect the art of competing at a high level every single night are our today's stars. That level is hard to reach and stay at because next year theres 40 athletes joining the league.
A guy like Embiid is really catching my attention not only because he's a beloved Jayhawk but because his talent level is on another planet from what we saw at Kansas . He's captivated a whole city in 4 months time to love basketball again. And he's showing he can single handily change the culture with his team. Joel has it, that drive inside to make his team better and make himself great too. He's just so exciting to watch, it makes me want to follow the sixers. If there is one player in the NBA that has a chance to be the next superstar it's him.
Any thoughts?
it's probably 85% after yesterday's loss
no the RPI is certainly not a very accurate reflection either right now. I think what's holding both back is the weak non-conference slates
The next 8 games will define this team. 5 of 8 on the road,
I will take a 6-2 record these next few weeks. 4-4 would really change the complexion of the season. If this team is truly as good as its record says, we'll need to see this team win games its not overwhelmingly expected to win.
I just find it hard to believe that of all the reasons his son might choose to leave the state that the Sports writers would be the Top reason.
IMO Young will face worse from KU writers/fans etc then he'd ever face staying home in Oklahoma where Basketball is not front page news.
I think his father needs to learn to filter out all this talk and let his son make his own decision which is best for him. Of course I do think that decision ultimately will be for KU so if the OU writers are helping us, please keep doing so guys!
Interesting comments.
Calipari says his injury isn't serious so that means he'll be ready to go next weekend
Brooks of Oregon has a sprained foot. Might miss a month. Not as crushing as other teams have dealt with.
Creighton got routed in its first game without their floor general. Definitely a team trending down unless they find an option at PG.
Indiana found a way to beat Michigan St without 2 of its starters..
Good discussion.
I'll start with your last point about his age. I do think age is a factor for him in regards to his decision to stay or go. These kids know their perceived "potential" to teams once they hit a certain age. It's why its so hard for juniors and seniors to get consistently drafted high.
This years draft is going to be one of the best ever. There are legitimately 15-20 freshman who can play in the league next year. Some game changers are going to teams next year. Graham leaving this year puts him in that 2nd round discussion unless he finds a team that really wants him at the end of the 1st round. "Team fit" will be huge for him.
I think most GM's look at Graham and see solid backup point guard. Above average shooter, above average defender, above average passer, average athlete, average size. The last two really seem to matter when assessing how high you can go. If he was 6'4 with good hops he'd be a sure-fire 1st rounder. I think Graham will be coveted because he defends and he can shoot. That should "fit" a lot of boxes with teams.
As we discussed March will be important for Devonte. He shows well and gets this team to the Final 4 its likely his stock is high and his name will get momentum as the off-season comes. If he declares, the combine will be important as well.
It's great that a kid that was once supposed to end up at a no-named school has a chance at a real professional career. KU has elevated his status as much as Devonte himself has made it happen. I really hope he gets the opportunity to find a team willing to invest in his future.
Williams-Goss of Gonzaga left their game last night with a back injury on a bang-bang play at the rim. Didn't look good but I assume he'll be okay. WG is their best player IMO
@kjayhawks said:
So what is your opinion on the play where a technical foul was called on the Kansas St player for attempting to dunk the ball while fouled?
Normally a player would be called for a technical for hanging on the rim or celebrating afterwords. We saw a player attempt a dunk, get fouled, come down and his hand inadvertently collided with the defenders face. That warranted a technical on the offensive player? I don't know how any of those 3 ref's could look at that play and see anything more than inadvertent contact. What was the offensive player supposed to do as he's breaking his fall? It's as if the ref's forgot that the K-St player was fouled-first.
It's just a bad call and doesn't belong in this wonderful game. I expect better from the ref's, we should all expect better.
Whether you agree with the call or not that play immediately changed the game. WVU might have rallied back from 8 down regardless but that play was a catalyst that led a 6-0 run in 29 seconds and made it a 3 point game. How any team benefits from fouling a player is beyond me.
And yes I'm guilty of talking about the refs and it's apart of the game. Much like talking about our players, our coach, plays in the game there is a place to judge whether they made the right judgement call. I understand your point that we as fans shouldn't complain about it, in the heat of the moment it's hard not to react to the situation as your seeing it.
Oh the age old passage from self about a freshman " he deserves to play more".
But he won't.
I thought that was a great tip in for a team that was having trouble finishing inside and getting offensive rebounds yesterday
These refs will be responsible for the outcome that much is a fact
And the meltdown begins
The worst call ever made just happened. Officials have officially gone back 5o years
I think this is the first game where I'm upset of how they have played. I can't believe this game is within 10
Devonte Graham where are u?
What's the percentage Josh bricks these
Just dumb basketball instead of making the right play
Didn't even touch him
Mason is playing hurt or is it just me?
@BShark said:
@HawkChamp said:
Need to amp up the defensive pressure again.
With Vick and Bragg in the game???!?!?
Braggs guarding Allen like he's afraid. Hope he makes these 2 ft's