Bad possession - Devon needed to take that open corner shot...
DCHawker
4842 posts
Free throws only thing keeping us in the game right now. 14 more points on the FT line - on the road...
Given how important this game is and how depleted they are, the last 5-6 minutes are probably the worst stretch of the season....
@DanR Ha - although it doesn't seem to affect the Pokes ability to hit from deep...
wtf guys. Have the lead, their second leading scorer and only big out and we just piss it away - give them open looks and commit stupid turnovers...
How many traveling calls have we had 4-5?
Dammit Q - weak ass off the screen...
Dammit guys - just overplay the 3 pt line on McGriff, Jones and Dziagwa. They don't have anyone else who can score the ball...
Asked and received....
They are not deep. Let's get a 4th on Anei - they will be into their walk-ons...
What was that Devon????
Quiet double-double already for Dedric...
Nice little run - let's sustain it...
Make that 2-8
Pokes are 54% from the field and 3 point line.
Wow - its a wonder that we're only down 5. Can't get good looks and we stopped playing defense after the first 5 minutes...
Once upon a time, KU was known for its fast breaks....
@BeddieKU23 Grimes 3-4, rest of team 2-13...
2 more shot attempts, 9 more FTs, 5 more rebounds, fewer TOs - seems like that would translate to more than a 7 point lead. KSU can't feel that bad with Wade and Mawein on the bench most of the half....
Leading KU scorers - Mitch Lightfoot and Quentin Grimes. Who'd a thunk it...
Mitch slapped D-Wade....
@BeddieKU23 Funny, but I'm not laughing....
@Crimsonorblue22 How did they get in to AFH?!
@DanR That's what he has done all year when he makes any move toward the basket...
4+ minutes gone and zero points. Will we match the 20 we had in the first half at TTU?
@Kcmatt7 I agree with your characterization of HCBS's approach of "break them down and build them up" - and, how it contrasts with K and Cal and how it may not work with perhaps more fragile egos. But, it seems that the issue may be more than just lack of confidence. It may be that Grimes doesn't have quite the skill set or mental fortitude that his HS stats, the video and his class ranking would otherwise suggest. Perhaps competition (or lack thereof in Houston) as @benshawks08 suggests may be part of the problem.
When I look at the video, what I see is a decent handle, good vision and passing ability, a solid looking stroke, and pretty good hops. But, what I really don't see is him attacking the rim - unless he has a clear path. In all but the last image, whenever he is driving toward the basket and there is a body somewhere in the way, he either falls away or throws up a floater. He simply doesn't go at anyone with authority or purpose. And, that's against players that were mostly smaller than him - at least not the size and bulk he is up against every game in D1. And, that has clearly been an issue during his tenure here - he seems to shy away from ANY kind of contact (whether driving, defending or rebounding).
Whatever the root cause, his lack of production across the board is actually stunning, esp. for someone as highly ranked as he was. There are 6 players on the team who have averaged between 26 and 33 minutes per game (including Vick for this purpose). Of those six, he is second to last in PPG (barely ahead of Garrett), last in RBs, next to last in assists, last in steals, last in FG%, last in FT% and second to last in 3pt%.
He is 4th on the team in total minutes played. Yet, he is 9th on the team in total offensive rebounds. He's 6'5" and 210 lbs for goodness sake - on a team that needs everyone to contributed on the glass. He has just 11 offensive rebounds the entire season. He's 6th on the team in steals. He has attempted just 38 FTs all season.
Confidence can affect your shot. It can affect whether or when you shoot. But, confidence shouldn't really come into play fighting for position, battling for rebounds, diving for the loose balls and so on.
He may not ever be what we thought he would be - but he should and hopefully still can be much better that what he has shown through the first 26 games of his freshman year. Whether he is too broken, or whether he can be built back up, I guess time will tell....
@approxinfinity Grimes is Charmin soft. HCBS must think that Mitch can handle it, but that Grimes not so much....
@approxinfinity Grimes is simply inexplicable. Some have suggested he has been "more active" over the past few games.
Consider this. He has made exactly two buckets in each of the past 5 games. Over that span, he has averaged more TOs and fouls than FGs, RBs, or assists. He has made exactly ZERO FTs over those 5 games - only 2 attempts.
He made the first shot of the game tonight and then was 1-7. An early assist - and then the disappearing act - as has been the case in almost every game. He simply doesn't impact the game in any meaningful positive way. What is truly astonishing is that a guy who is 6'5" and 210lbs averages well less than 2 RBs a game on a team that needs everyone to contribute on the boards.
The "good news" is that he only played ~20 minutes - probably 2-5 minutes too many.
@BeddieKU23 He is way ahead of where Frank was as a freshman....
It is now clear that the best 5 on the floor for us - at least without Garrett - is the Lawson brothers, Mitch, D Dot and Ochai.....
@BeddieKU23 Major addition by subtraction....
The ball movement with this group is SO much better...
WVU is 3-15 from the field - but 7 ORBs
If we play with any focus on defense today, we should be able to hold them to 50 or so - they are going to struggle to score. Just need to avoid second chance points...
One not very good sign - WVU has 5 offensive rebounds already - their 2 buckets off putbacks...
@KirkIsMyHinrich Well, at least they have the App option, which is what I'm watching now...
Sloppy start by both teams...
McCormack is big and active, but is REALLY raw. Only reason to start him is to avoid having Mitch pick up early fouls.
@tis4tim That has been my concern - that what we are potentially facing is a "lack of institutional control" finding, which could come with multiyear probation, vacated wins, postseason ban, loss of scholarships, and recruiting restrictions. Especially as KU is a repeat offender.
@BeddieKU23 He goes after the ball. In contrast to Grimes - only KU player without a RB in the 1st half...
Bill not really interested in chatting with Holly there........
Clanking shots left and right. 9-27 FGs - 4-15 on 3s. Not going to win many games...
Give Self credit - he's belatedly realized that Dotson needs to be off the ball and spot up more - he's our best outside threat...
@BeddieKU23 He saw all the love that Mahomes was getting with passes looking away from the receiver and he wanted some of that....
And in the first 5 minute top ten recruit vs. burned redshirt frosh comparison - Ochai with 5 pts and 2 RBs - Grimes on the stat sheet with a TO!
They are scoring at the rim or wide open 3s - and we are struggling to get any kind of decent shot off...
Twice as many assists as TOs today, rather than the other way around....
Raining 3 balls all of a sudden......
Apologies - I can't recall who said we needed the 10-0 run and I scoffed....
@nuleafjhawk Really hope you have bigger dreams that one lonely Grimes 3 or even 2....