🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@kjayhawks

The early season games can mean something. They are important for seeding, especially if you have 2 neural court victories against at the time the #1 & #11 teams in the country. With the Big-12 expected to be down, non-conference wins could be the difference in a seed line come March.

We certainly don't want to start 0-2. It wouldn't be the end of the world but it wouldn't be a positive start either. We are still a young team and its showing so far. The biggest thing I'm worried about is fundamentals; rebounding, passing, turnovers, FT shooting. I would like to see us control those 4 aspects playing Indiana & Duke in the next week

@BShark

Which is smart, he doesn't want to give them any film away for them to prepare against.

@KUSTEVE

Definitely looks that way but let's wait and see what he does first in real games. I can't imagine the lights won't come on when it matters. He's an intelligent kid with great character and I can't imagine what he's going through right now is going to last.

@dylans

Good points, the team is definitely not even close to its peak. We'll learn a lot coming up how far they are as a group

@BShark

He looks like he has good form. Could be nerves, something to monitor

@Texas-Hawk-10

Would be a terrible decision for Minnesota to let him go anywhere with the Salary Cap increase where it's at. I'm sure Wiggins would be loved in Toronto if they ever got the opportunity to get him.

@stoptheflop

Udoka does run the floor well. Let's face it Emporia didn't have anyone to guard him with and its easy to look good when your standing 1 foot from the basket and jumping and dunking. He missed a handful of other easy dunks and baskets which I think is concerning. He'll get fouled by better competition and that FT shot he has is ugly. He does seem ready to give us some good minutes off the bench though. We'll see how he defends against better.

@ParisHawk

He was okay, had a few good moves around the basket early, rebounded okay. He will have to step up if Bragg's struggles continue

That was better last night I thought from effort to rebounding. You can tell Self was on them in practice to improve in several area's.

Highlights-

Frank Mason played really well. I think he's more athletic this year and quicker. The question is, how healthy will he be at the end of the year. More on that later.

Svi has looked really good so far. If he's consistent in his effort and production he'll be drafted this year. He's a real wild card for this team, what consistent production offensively and on the boards he gives is what we need to absorb the struggles in the post.

DG had a much better game. Still want him to be more aggressive on offense which I'm sure will come when the competition gets tougher. Great shooter though.

Jackson flashed some big time ability. His shot is a joke so he'll be a streaky shooter at best all year. If he stays aggressive he'll be great. His passing ability is already a noticeable upgrade to this team. Rebounding & handles (for the most part) also look significantly better then what we got from Wayne.

Vick is just an electric athlete. Will be interesting to see if he or Svi starts the opener on Friday.

Lows-

Bragg- obvious choice here. Not sure what is going on with him but this is not the player we were hoping for all off-season. There is reason to be concerned but I'll wait on him. We have to hope he'll turn it around because his play so far has been as "soft as charmin".

Perimeter defense- This will be the biggest area that hurts us against Indiana & Duke if our guards do not come to play. Tripper Allen lives at driving and drawing fouls. Indiana has multiple guards that can cause problems.

Injuries to Mason & Graham. Self talked about both having minor injuries already. Haven't even played a real game and our 2 most important players are dealing with ailments. You have got to be kidding me.

5 days we get a real test. I hope practice is spirited this week!

@BShark

not sure that statline indicates just how poorly he played out there

wow that was awesome Svi.

come on udoka. simple dunk

Jackson's passing ability is what seperates him from Selden from a year ago

@wissoxfan83

hahah that is great

@BShark

and that will be the big key, consistently. If he rebounds, makes 3's and does the little things he'll get drafted.

@BShark

gotta be nerves but he needs to worry about being aggressive to the ball.

Svi will not be here next year if he fills that role consistently. he's looked much improved

@Crimsonorblue22

he was, very active player

good lord carlton your acting like the ball is the plague

@Crimsonorblue22

2 svi

1 frank

1 DG

that shot looks pure when he gets properly lined up

Svi the sniper

that last shot by Jackson has to be corrected by coaching. he was falling away from his own body

DG

nice hustle by vick there

@Crimsonorblue22

yes his evolution into more of a top option is key

@Crimsonorblue22

fouling him and putting him on the line will be noticed quick with that release

@Crimsonorblue22

Definitely maybe by Conference Play he'll show signs

@BShark

Very I watched Duke and Indiana's pre-season games and these efforts will not beat either

Udoka came to KU with 1 good skill and he can't even do that well. good lord

this is again some really bad basketball

It's clear Embiid has that star power if he can continue what he is doing. Wiggins is going to be overshadowed by Towns. Andrew is a great player but Joel has some stuff you just can't teach

good discussion. I think we will see better Sunday, we better hope we see some improvement Sunday.

Things like rebounding and defense, those are not quick fixes. Those area's of concern we saw are going to be lingering issues throughout non-conference play. I think the KU guys will rise up to play Indiana & Duke, Self will demand they do. Practices should be good leading up to next week.

@KUSTEVE said:

Sunday

The officiating was absurd in this game. Very little rhythm could be achieved when every 5 seconds there was a stoppage. It was over a 2 hour game for an exhibition. I hope we don't see that crew again

@Crimsonorblue22

1st double double last night in 25 minutes. He's insane

First off great to have basketball back. It's been too long. It's nice to see Allen Fieldhouse rocking again.

Without being too critical this was by far one of the worst exhibition games Kansas has ever played. I know a few years ago we had some struggles so it's not surprising. But there was some very alarming habits noticed already.

The lack of rebounding:

I think at one point our "big"s had 4 total rebounds late in the 2nd half. Frank Mason led the team I believe and Lightfoot was 2nd? Little effort was made to rebound last night.

Defense:

Didn't exist, we know Self will be on them this week.

Devonte Graham who I thought would be by far our best defender was dogging it last night.

Quickness:

We were noticeably slower then Washburn. Self talked playing fast, we didn't do much of that.

Post Play:

Hard to be excited about what we saw from anyone in the post against an over-matched, undersized team.

The Positives

Mason looks improved, this is his team and his smart play + aggressiveness will be key all year long.

Vick can score with the best of them. I commented in the game chat that I think Vick was born and immediately was making baskets. Natural scorer, the rest of his game needs a lot of work though.

Lightfoot was tough and fought for rebounds. Struggled shooting the ball. The 1 three point attempt looked solid although he missed.

Svi plays his role really well, can really shoot it from outside when he has confidence and see's the ball go in.

Jackson's aggressiveness in the 2nd half. After the jitters went away he was much better going to the hoop. FT shooting needs work, has to be smarter with the ball as well.

We should see a different product on Sunday, I'm sure practices will see a big change.

Fumble fingers carlton

Josh up to 11 now. Has only missed about a dozen other shots he could have made. Like his aggressiveness this half

JJ with a nice move just missed that shot

Devonte just dogged it on another shot attempt

Graham not even trying on defense, never thought I'd day that

Finally JJ on the board

Regardless of what happens the rest of this game this is about the poorest defensive effort I've seen from a self team in years

Vick wow

This is some ugly basketball, not even close to acceptable

3 things

Mason is filthy

The refs have diarrhea of the whistle. Get some new ones at half

We can't rebound

Did the refs just call breathing foul. Come on you guys

@approxinfinity said:

Coleby flat footed. Damn shame if he can't get his hops back.

Definitely still favoring the leg

Good lord vick