I'm shocked that Jackson's mother who played D-1 ball wouldn't have helped him out before he got to KU. I mean other than shooting 3's, FT's is his biggest weakness. He does everything else so good that is hard to believe he's not a 70% shooter at least.
Doke has the excuse that he's only played basketball a few years and he's super young still so KU has the perfect chance to mold him the way they want.
some more talk
I'm shocked that both JJ and Doke made it to the College level without some form correction on those FT's. Scouts said they both struggled at the FT line in HS but I didn't think it would be this bad.
I do agree Doke since he'll be here next year should be taken under an assistants wing and just work on him with it. If they don't then they are wasting an area of his game that is so beneficial to him because Doke is never going to be taking jump-shots. Even getting him to be a 60% FT shooter would be enough to help this team out. As it stands right now he's a huge liability in games that will be decided be possessions down the line.
With JJ, we can see it coming where his misses are going to impact some game down the line. Other than Mason he's the most aggressive player on the team and is going to get fouled a good amount with teams knowing he's a liability at the line. Did his previous coaches just decide he was too good to coach him on his FT's? Jackson is missing over 2 FT's a game at his current rate.. Get in the gym and work on repetition..
I agree I would have taken that bet as well. He was given an opportunity and really made the most of it. He made I think 6 jumpers and had one play where he drove the lane left handed and finished with his left and it was a thing of beauty to see. He looked more comfortable is the pace of the NBA game.
He played again last night but Davis was back and only got 9 minutes- 4 pts 4 boards effort. He'll need to show more to take Terrance Jones's spot in the rotation otherwise those are the kind of minutes he'll get if he's still with the Pelicans
The College of Charleston game took a turn you don't usually see. Davidson was up 11 after the first TV timeout in the 2nd half and then missed 11 straight shots and CofC went on this huge run to win. Clemson isn't bad- they have a future NBA'er on their team in Blossomgame and could be a tournament team from the ACC.
I do agree they have been blown out in games but I do think given the timing and where the game is that it potentially opens the game up to a closer then expected affair. We've seen KU struggle in Non-Conference play against decent teams at the Sprint Center ( 1st half against Oregon St last year, 2nd half vs Utah few years back). Gibbs is 4th in the country in scoring and I believe Davidson is the only team that has two 20 point scorers on its roster. Defensively I think this is KU's biggest test since the Duke game and that is the side of the floor that I've been waiting for this team to take its next step. The defense has gone through the motions at times against easier competition and Davidson will come in looking to upset us. I'm certainly not predicting an upset, just expected a closer than expected win
I believe it's their turn
If you were looking for those games yesterday to form your whole opinion of Kentucky or North Carolina I suggest you watch a few more games or just wait until next Saturday when they play each other in Las Vegas.
North Carolina has "come down to earth" a bit after that great start. Every team goes through patches like this and for everyone that doesn't know, UNC is still without one of its better players in Theo Pinson who is an ultimate glue guy and was their leading assist man on the team last year at the SF position. UNC has a team that can get back to the Final 4 again, they made plays yesterday that kept them from losing at home as a good team does.
Kentucky I do think is a bit overrated but outside of its big game against UNC, its annual Louisville game and the KU game in January Kentucky is going to look good beating up on the pathetic SEC schedule. The only serious road games they play all year in conference play are @Florida- who's decent but not great, and @ Texas A&M which is down from last year. Otherwise they get South Carolina at home who's still unbeaten. They could really sweep the SEC this year. Kentucky is a good team but we saw 1 way on how you beat them, you make shots because Kentucky is not great defensively (especially in the paint). Louisville plays defense so that should be an interesting match-up to see how they actually handle a team that actually tries to defend them.
They have said Giles plans on playing before the end of 2016. He's practicing so they are getting him ready
yes the struggle will be real this week. I believe its finals week?
The Pelicans are already at a point where Diallo should stay where he is after the way he played last night. There's value to letting him play in some role because the season is already lost for New Orleans. Play your young talent and hope he can find a rotation spot in the 2nd unit or if an injury occurred the chance to start
Hawks have a full week to prepare for this team.
Davidson gets 10 days after losing a close battle to UNC.
This is the best team KU will have faced in its last 8 games. Davidson might be 5-3 but they have the type of team that can test KU and potentially play us to a single digit game. In Allen this would probably be a game KU pulls away, in the Sprint Center anything can happen.
Davidson has two 20 point scorers that are every bit as good as any we will see all year. Gibbs has over ten 30 point games in his career, Aldridge has gotten even better this year. The rest of their team fills a role, nothing more. We are a superior athletic team to Davidson.
This would be a perfect game to see the next step in the overall teams development. Going to have to play really good defense on a guard and a big.
Likely he won't with the way Davis is playing at an All-Star Level and is the only Pelican with a pulse this year. It was nice to see Diallo produce given the chance.
12pts 6 rbs 2 blks in NBA DL.
19 & 10 in his first game with real minutes in the NBA against the Clippers
He made a whole bunch of jumpers and was active
I'm sure he's also looking for a school for the spring semester as well. He is a big body and is athletic but doesn't strike me as someone KU would get
watching the nova game. ND had this early then their PG got 2 fouls and that 11 pt lead went bye bye. Big layup at the end though. Both quality teams.
interesting!! why it pays to wait
He was just okay at St Johns until a hand injury sidelined him as a freshman. He was always more of a defensive presence, averaged over 2 blocks a game but his offense was far behind., 48% shooter from the floor and an absolutely terribly FT shooter 38%.. This year he was a 70% FT shooter so maybe he improved on that.
This year he wasn't starting it looks like from the numbers. 17 minutes a game.
Honestly he's not someone that I would be jumping up and down to get. You have to be worried that him bailing on his team this early in the season is a big red-flag and he's not a inside/out type big.
I expect this team will go about its business. Nebraska is not a good enough team to beat KU, not in Allen Fieldhouse.
I hope he's found not guilty. That is my hope for any player on our team that is accused of something. He is innocent until the court says otherwise. Having said that this situation will be something that has to be dealt with delicately because of the nature of what happened.
Even if he's found not guilty the simple fact that he was arrested and was in a situation that jeopardizes his position with his team is something that will stick with him forever and something Self will have to think about how to move past this with or without him. This is a distraction and the negative press that comes with it is not something this team should be dealing with right now.
I really hope he's not guilty. Until its resolved this is negative press at the least
we got 5 of the best guards in the country! JJ can play the 4 most of the time too
I don't think it changes much for the team as he was struggling anyway to find a role. I'm stunned because I thought he was a person who would not get himself into this type of situation. We will see more of Lightfoot and situations where 2 bigs without the ability to stretch the floor on the court.
I will not assume what Self will do but the situation at hand would think regardless of outcome his role on the team will be hard to keep
I'm sure he will be suspended until his court date or when he is/isn't charged.. No other choice for Self at this point. The details of the story make this a serious issue and that will not be tolerated
Smiled in his Mug Shot as well.. Bad bad press
First reaction to that news is unless he's cleared he's played his last minutes in a KU uni
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Via the @KCStar, Bragg "struck his girlfriend and pushed her down stairs during an argument."
Personal Weapon can mean hand, foot basically Bragg's body. Otherwise it would have been aggravated battery
Carlton Bragg, appearing on video, pleads not guilty to charge of misdemeanor battery. Bond set at $500 OR. He will be released.
Bragg will be released after bond at 5 or 6 p.m. His next court date is 1:30 p.m. Dec. 27.
By the way Matt Galloway is a KU beat writer
Matt Galloway
Heading into Bragg's 3 p.m. hearing now, where recording devices are not permitted. Will update after.
Just got the first page of Carlton Bragg's criminal offense report from the LKPD. Under "type of force/weapon," "personal weapon" checked.
Following up on this: There was a section for "none" under armed, so I would think this mean weapon involved.
Me too, I will give Carlton the benefit of the doubt until otherwise.
There is a rumor on Reddit but its not worth sharing for the sake of waiting for all the facts to come out about this situation. If anyone is interested in the rumor check out reddit and search carlton bragg and there's a thread about it going on. I really hope the info one person shared is not in fact true
Yeah its one thing if the game was close but it wasn't
Agreed they miss his lob ability and rim protection. Morris used to find McKay for a lot of easy lob's and they don't have that element anymore. They miss Niang more because he was so good offensively outside and inside and Morris wasn't forced to initiate offense all the time
Bragg case is "under review" and there is currently no hearing set up with a judge, a Douglas County District Attorney official says.
Monte Morris: "My hat goes off to them, but they know they’re not better than us."
Well Monte they proved they were in fact-better than you last night
I believe he was arrested at 1:am. He cannot be released until seeing a magistrate who looks over the charge..
Regardless this isn't a good look for Carlton who from all accounts is a good kid. Until all the facts are released we should wait and see.. I hope this is a good learning experience for Carlton and isn't serious enough where it jeopardizes his position with the team or his good-standing relationship with Bill.
perfect example of when the ignore button is needed? @wissox
Iowa St went to Iowa and got beat down 78-64. Iowa is in full rebuild mode outside of star player Peter Jok. I'm shocked ISU played that badly..
Saint Mary's #12 in the nation lost to UT Arlington- UT also beat Texas. Is UT for real?
Dotson, Grimes & a good Big are the key to the 18 group.
Right there with you, I didn't see 20 point scorer when looking at this years team and what roles guys would have. Mason is playing at a level that I didn't think we were going to see. Part of it was Coach really didn't say much about Frank and his improvement this off-season but its noticeable how much work he put into his body and his overall game. He is having fun so far, smiling after big plays enjoying the moment. An absolute joy to watch.
Thank you!
Richard will just find another bride to leave at the altar
http://nypost.com/2009/07/15/richard-jefferson-leaves-bride-at-the-altar/ ↗
Good points! We will have something good to sell him now that maybe he didn't see last summer. Will be interesting to see what happens
Washington also signed 3 other really good players in Top 100 Guards Davis & Nowell and underrated PG Harris from North Carolina.. Washington is a young squad with only 1 senior as well.
Valid points.
The one thing holding all that up is he didn't even have KU in his final list before he committed to Washington. What's to say we miraculously get back in it?
I do agree a lot can change in Bill's favorite time of the year.
I agree most coaches would be on the hot-seat and he probably is especially with the early season going south. But how much will the success of Fultz this year and in the Draft next summer and Porter a top 3 player sway an administration's decision when its a football school again? If Porter wasn't already signed I think he'd be on the verge of being fired during the season the way the last few seasons have played out. He's also already got Porter's younger brother committed in the class after who's a top 50 kid. Going to be one to watch.
Good point, there's always the chance Preston never plays here as well. I don't think Romar will be fired as he'll have a top 5 pick again and a good class on its way that could be turned upside down if he is fired.