@chriz said:
Josh and Frank are too hungry to go out in the 2nd round. This is the best lineup we've had in a LONG time.
Best lineup? In terms of scoring ability, it is one of the best Self has had. But, it also is the worst defensively during the Self - at least as measured by defensive efficiency metrics - and, it's not really close. One of the worst in shooting percentage defense, rebound margin and, if with being a high scoring team, middle of the pack in scoring margin.
@BShark said:
@Texas-Hawk-10 said:
TCU is significantly better than any 16 seed KU will face. Whatever league KU's 16 seed comes out of, TCU is good enough to go undefeated in that league.
Very much agree with this. The 16 seed could be worse than any team KU has faced all year given the nature of conference tournaments.
Yes, TCU is much better than the 16 seeds - at least this year - but not better than most of the 8-9s. Gotta step it up....
@mayjay said:
ESPN noted that the last two NCAA #1 seeds to lose in the opening round of their conference tourneys were UK in 2011-12 and UNC in 2008-09.....
.......both of which went on to win the NCAA title.
Buck up, Bucketeers! All we can do is try to cheer our guys on. Bitching and moaning afterwards never changed a loss into a victory, and being spiteful about guys who have been working their butts off for KU is just ugly, really ugly.
Actually, I think they were ranked #1 at the time that they lost in the their conference tourneys.
But, I don't get why this is or has to be a black or white or pollyana-ish vs. bitching and moaning dichotomy. On the one hand, as reflected in the fun fact to know and tell, this loss doesn't have a direct impact on what happens in the tourney. Yes, UK and UNC lost and went on to win it all. And, KU has done well in the tournament in instances where it didn't when the B12 tourney.
But to say that the game today is wholly irrelevant is perhaps a bit delusional? I don't think HCBS would agree that it was irrelevant - he was certainly fired up and had a pretty good perspective afterwards. I don't think Frank thought it was irrelevant. The concern is what it revealed and what it augurs for the Big Dance. What is revealed about a fairly consistent pattern of pattern of performance.
To be clear, we lost to a team that had lost 7 consecutive games to end the regular season. We gave up 85 points to a team that had not scored more than 74 during its losing streak - that had only broken 70 points twice. We allowed easy baskets at the rim and wide-open 3s - as Self noted.
If we're being honest with ourselves, do we really think that kind of defensive performance is likely to lead to a deep tournament run? And, this game wasn't a one-off in that regard. It is simply a fact that no team in the past 15 years has won the national title with a Kenpom defensive efficiency rating at low as ours is now (30). Not saying it can be done; it would simply be unprecedented.
At least until today, we demonstrated the ability to tighten up and get stops at the end of games - but to allow way too many easy baskets before then - which allows teams to hang around and runs the real risk of a couple of breaks not going our way resulting in a L.
Don't get me wrong - I like to watch this team. Frank is a warrior and easy to root for. JJ is a real alpha dog. I like the never say die attitude (excepting Morgantown). I love the fact that HCBS has been willing to depart from rigid adherence to his system to adapt to the talent and personnel he has. Of course, we will root for the Hawks through thick and thin.
At least I don't mean to belittle or denigrate anyone by making observations about what I see on the court and how it compares and contrasts to other teams and what it might mean for our tournament prospects. IMHO, unless we are, as HCBS said after the game - able to "tighten up a few things" then a deep run would be a hope more than an expectation. Just one persons opinion. But, I will be watching and rooting (and undoubtedly getting a few more gray hairs along the way).....
The bright side to this is that it won't affect seeding and we avoid the risk of injury until the Dance. But - and I know I'm a broken record on this - this game highlighted our very real weaknesses and vulnerabilities. We can beat anyone in the country, but we aren't anything close to a dominant team - we simply aren't going to blow anyone out. Yes, we can close, but skating close to the edge game in and game out is a recipe for disaster. Worth noting that other teams that are NC aspirants like Villanova, UNC and Oregon blew out their opponents today - and, in UNC's case, a pretty solid Miami team. They took care of business; we did not. Sure, we were without JJ, but is that an excuse for giving up as many easy points as we did?
Again, I hope this is a wake-up call for these guys that short bench notwithstanding, we can't afford to coast during games - we certainly can't afford to give up 16-3 runs and get just 2 baskets in a 10 minute span against an average team.
I remain optimistic, because we can beat anyone, but I won't be surprised if we lose early, either --- unless, all of the sudden, out of nowhere, we find a renewed commitment to playing defense.....
Let this be the lesson or wake up call - let the the other guys hang around - esp. with inferior teams - and we're going to lose some of them. Can't do this for 6 games during the tournament....Have to have intensity and focus the entire f***ing game!
Can we get an f****ing stop!
@Crimsonorblue22 Yeah - but lame ass call - let them play...
@DoubleDD said:
We have to play Bragg. We need the Kid. You only become dependable by playing. Practice is important and needed, but nothing compares to game minutes.
With him, I'm not sure if it's a playing time thing. Seems that the light is either on or off - no middle ground...
@JayHawkFanToo said:
I said tha a while ago...
Sorry 'bout that - you get full credit for the strategy if they follow it....
With their guards in foul trouble and we're almost in the double bonus, we should just let Frank drive every time down...
What are they doing out there - everyone of their 3 points shots is uncontested???
Hard to do, but Graham has had an even worse game than Bragg so far...
@JayHawkFanToo said:
Come on guys...have a little faith...
I don't know about faith, but they've demonstrated they are perfectly capable of coming back. The issue is the constant digging of deep holes. TCU is a decent team, but that's it. Average 74 points a game. They're going to blow by that at this point. Shooting 56%. There really isn't much excuse for the less than lackluster effort (or at least results) on the defensive end....
These are freaking wide open shots they are hitting...
@kjayhawks We certainly do allow our opponents to routinely pad their offensive stats against us....
@Crimsonorblue22 Frank may have to carry us this half...as he often has!
I've never understood this WSU animus - other than I get Marshall can be irritating (but he's a damn good coach). Would WSU have anything close to the record they do if they played in almost any other conference? Almost certainly not, especially as they didn't beat any of the better teams they played earlier in the year. Having said that, I've watched them a couple of times and think they are a really solid team and will be a tough out. I would really not want to play them as a 8-9 seed as many have projected them - they're better than that. But, I would love to play them in the Final Four!!!
@DanR said:
how 'bout that half by Bragg?
You mean the one with 1 point, 1 RB, 2 TOs, several missed bunnies and no blocking out on the boards??? What's your point???
@BeddieKU23 said:
Great 16 minutes. Forgettable 4
I don't know about a great 16 - O maybe, but we allowed them to shoot 57% and outbound us by 9. Realize the game doesn't really mean much, but that kind of effort in the tournament will result in a quick exit.
Defense after the first 5 minutes has been just awful...
@Crimsonorblue22 Is that a technical basketball term???
@KirkIsMyHinrich said:
Thank you for donating to the Frank Mason NPOY foundation, Jamie.
That foundation has already been laid. Contributing to the 1st ever B12 player with 20 and 5...
One of those frustrating stretches where we are flat and sloppy...
@DoubleDD Just saying that with foul trouble or an injury, even if temporary, we might need to steal a couple of minutes from him at some point...
That's running the O effectively!!
@DoubleDD Surprised Mitch hasn't seen action yet. Would be a good game for him to work off the rust...
@kjayhawks said:
DG down wow this is why I hate these conference tournaments, too high of risk for nothing
Keep JJ way away from cars for the next 3 weeks....
@DoubleDD said:
If Bragg can ever put it together? He's going to be dangerous. He so quick of the blocks.
He has no lower body strength - high center of gravity - throw a hip into him and he flails. Not sure how correctable that is by Hudy???
Svi watch - now as many FGs and almost as many total points as last 5 games combined....
@Crimsonorblue22 said:
Foul
Yeah, but if he had gone up strong instead of wilting, he probably would have gotten the call...
@RockChalkinTexas Of course!
@BShark 3 FGs - more than the last three games combined....Not to mention a ever so slightly higher shooting percentage...
@Crimsonorblue22 The thread? A 70 post head start over usual....
Doesn't appear to be a thread - but note that Svi already has more buckets than the last 2-3 games....
@approxinfinity Hope springs eternal...!
@Crimsonorblue22 said:
Svi needs a charge
He needs something. HCBS ran a play for him early and he hit the first shot. Thought that might get him started, but it was all downhill from there. 7th straight game where he not only hasn't scored, but has contributed anything else - and is a liability defensively. We're effectively a 6 man rotation now. If we get into any foul trouble in a game, we're going to need him to deliver something, anything....
If OSU is making shots in the big tourney, they can win 2 or 3 games. They may have the second best backcourt in the country....
@wissox Still 20 minutes from tip-off. Travesty with the quick cut away when you have the #1 team and the NPOY....
Gotta make the FT...........
@wissox There is one of the two...
BIFM line : 25 - 8 - 7 = NPOY
Evans is REALLY good...
Frustrating possession - great ball movement and hitting the boards, but can't finish...
Saw that coming - Svi was completely lost on that...
@globaljaybird Vick - sorry, he started second half.
@Texas-Hawk-10 said:
Why was Svi guarding Forte?
He may have him as an assignment - but he can't guard him....