Given the poor defense, absolutely nothing from Vick and not much from DG or Svi, it's stunning that we have the half time lead. All Newman - basically half our points...
DCHawker
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@BShark Well, at least they've taken it to the rim the last two times...
@BeddieKU23 Other than early Malik drive, settling for jumpers, no defensive intensity - they are scoring VERY easily - and giving up ORBs (season long problem)...
@BeddieKU23 Interesting that all of the focus is on Vick's offense - or lack thereof. We don't need him to be a primary scorer - we have 4 others that can do that - he just needs to be a threat to score. What we do need is for him to be halfway interested in defense and helping out with rebounding. Notwithstanding his athletic capabilities, there are way too many instances in which he just stands around on defense. And, the next time he blocks out his man on a missed shot will be the first time. I really thought he had a chance to be our best defender - a stopper - but it hasn't played out that way. It appears to be primarily an effort issue rather than capability. I don't think he needs to score more than 7-8 points a game if he is really engaged and contributing in other areas - which hasn't been the case...
@justanotherfan Good analysis. Would observe that the Committee has demonstrated in the past and I expect this year as well inconsistent application of their "rules" and the metrics. My own view is that the top 2 lines are fairly well locked in, but not the order of seeding: UVA, MSU, Villanova, KU, Duke, Xavier, Purdue and UNC. Really don't see anyone else moving up. My guess is the Auburn's ceiling is a 3 - they beat absolutely no one of consequence outside of conference.
UVA is locked and loaded as a 1, even if they lose early in the ACC tournament. KU is certainly a 1 if we win out, but iffy with another loss, and definitely not a 1 if they lose to OSU and in the B12 tournament. The Big East will almost certainly have a 1 and 2 seed - even if someone other than Villanova or Xavier win the BE tourney. Given that Villanova beat Xavier twice, I think they have to win the BE tourney to get a 1; if not, Villanova will get the 1. Notwithstanding the weakness of their overall profile compared to other teams, I would be VERY surprised if Michigan State did not get a 1 if they win out. I also think Duke or UNC would get a 1 if they win out and neither KU nor MSU do. Purdue is the only one of the top 8 that doesn't have a shot at a 1 seed.
After the 1s and 2s, I think the 3s will be Auburn, the winner of Cincinnati and WSU, Gonzaga and a gaggle for the last 3 and the 4s among TTU, WVU, Tenn, loser of Cincinnati/WSU, Ohio State, Michigan, Arizona, URI and Clemson.
@mayjay It's not a league without talent, but does the talent compare with the other power conferences (i.e., ACC, SEC, P12 and B10)??? Look again at that list. How many are NBA all-star caliber? It's been almost a decade since someone other than KU (and even KU hasn't produced many all-stars (Embiid the only one during Self-era?)) from the conference made an all-star team. Actually, how many on that list from the past half dozen years are even starting for an NBA team? Getting any real playing time? The fact is that when measured by NBA-caliber talent, the B12 simply doesn't come close to matching up to some other conferences. Which, IMO, is the primary reason for KU's dominance and the flame-outs in the NCAA tournament. For the most part, the B12 has really good coaches, which makes for a lot of competitive games in the conference and overachieving in the regular season/non-conference schedule, but in the tournament, it is the more talented (not necessarily most) teams that tend to win titles (UConn being a notable example, although even there, one of the UConn title teams was carried by a future NBA all-star).
@BShark Well, if you hit 7-13 3s and 62% from the field and only turn it over 4 times, you would think we would be up by at least 10.
On the other hand, every one else is active and sharing the ball...
@Crimsonorblue22 It appears that this is one of the games where Vick is NOT focused - doesn't seem to have his head in the game right now...
@HawkChamp TTU does have a much better defense than OU...
Why not put Cunliffe in for a while now???
@Texas-Hawk-10 15-27 right now...
They are getting all of their points right at the rim...
@Texas-Hawk-10 True, but he also didn't put much effort to tie up the ball when it was on the floor...
Most points by the 'Hawks in a B12 half this year, but how come I feel nervous about just a 10 point lead? We shoot 60% from the field, better than 50% from 3 (9 makes) and outrebound OU by 8. With those stats, we should be up 20. Not a good last 3 or 4 minutes, esp. with transition defense (or lack thereof).
@Big-Clyde52 TTU without 3 starters now, and still might win...
@Big-Clyde52 They say doubtful to return. All the more impressive that TTU is tied on the road without their best player. Think we could do that without DG? Oh, forgot, we couldn't win there with him....
The problem is not that they might have missed one bang-bang call, it's that we've scored 63 points at home against WVU while only turning it over 8 times. If WVU doesn't force a lot of TOs, they really don't have a very good defense, but we are still "sped up" as HCBS would say....
Newman and Vick are 2-12 from 3....
@Hawk8086 Newman is not the guy we want chucking quick 3s from the corner. I'm fine with him driving and occasionally taking 3's when he is squared up higher on the circle, but he is awful from the corner....
@BeddieKU23 We seem to be up-chucking...
What the effing offense are they running?????
@StLJhawk Svi has 5 points - 1 three.
@BeddieKU23 We have no offensive flow at all. Plus, they have 9 more FG attempts. Good thing Doke is 5-7 from the FT line, or this could be really ugly. Another very flat performance at AFH - just can't figure it out...
@Hawk8086 They've only made 2 more than we have. Problem is that we've been outrebounded by 5 and haven't make them pay (one exception) for their TOs.
@BeddieKU23 Totally agree with the last sentence. Others are noting the awful + - when DG isn't in, and the offense looks disjointed (it can even with him in at times...). The problem is that they are trying to run the offense without the most important cog - it isn't pretty. So, for 2 or 3 possessions ahead of a TV timeout when DG can get a 2 minute plus timeout blow, don't run the regular offense - just milk the clock and let Newman take it from the top of the key. That ends up happening on many occasions in any event. Newman is probably a bit better at DG penetrating and finishing. And, notwithstanding his frustrating tendency to take too many rushed and off-balance 3s, he has demonstrated decent passing ability. He had a nice penetration and kick out to Vick last night.
Missed 3 of last 4 FTs when it counts most. We may hold on, but that is just weak....
One more 1 and 1 to deal with...
Can't make effing FTs and best FT shooter just fouls out...jeez
FFFFFFFFF
I don't like that we have 3 1 and 1s to get through...
@BeddieKU23 Uh, not over yet, but they likely will...
So, gotta make some FTs in the next minute....
If Svi or DG could ever learn to finish, we might be dangerous....
Getting sloppy and lousy transition defense.
@jaybate-1.0 The problem is that he realllllyyy isn't a true PG - more of 2 guard or one of Bill's combo guards.
Why did DG take that quick shot? Two straight wasted trips trying to extend/protect the lead....
Doke got a freebie rebound on the FT miss!
ISU has missed 22 shots. Doke has 1 rebound. How is that possible???
@DanR I get the 2 inches wide, but playing D???????
Blew by Vick and zero help....
@BShark I don't know about that, but he definitely is no Frank when is comes to driving and scoring...
@BeddieKU23 Pretty remarkable that we are up with DG and Svi a combined 4-21 from the field....
I don't know who is supposed to be guarding Young, but he was completely alone for the put-back...
One random observation - had Sam and Silvio in the game at the same time for the last 2 minutes of the half and the world didn't come to an end, we didn't implode, and didn't give up a lead. Have played 9 guys so far. Maybe try this again some time, Bill, and lessen foul trouble and freshen legs...
@BShark You are right - just checked and we've taken almost 30% MORE 3pt shots than ISU this year.
@BShark Thought that HCBS was too... ;)
You know that something is askew when we have more than twice as many 3pt attempts than 3ptU...
A Cunliffe sighting!!!!
Matador defense...