@Crimsonorblue22 Great pix. Of course, if % held, his two FT attempts would have netted us about 8/10ths of a point - much closer game...:smile:
DCHawker
4842 posts
A loss on the road against a quality team is certainly not the end of the world. Villanova and Kentucky both lost on the road last night (although 2 point losses each). We've lost 4 in a row in Morgantown. Baylor was spanked there earlier (although OU won there???).
The issue is the way the game unfolded and the way we lost. Defensive shortcomings that have been widely discussed clearly manifested themselves last night. The glass half full view has been - yeah, but we can out score the other team. That has been and probably will continue to be true against fair to middling competition, but much less likely against higher NCAA caliber teams.
The fact is that our glossy record was built largely on probably the weakest non-conference schedule we've had in years. And, the first 7 conference games lined up as about as favorably as possible. Really, what are the sure NCAA teams we've beaten until now? Duke - yes, but seed is slipping. ISU and KSU - possibly (probably for at least one), but they won't be high seeds. That's really it.
Heretofore, we've managed to out score inferior teams, masking our defensive shortcomings. But that certainly wasn't the case last night. Giving up 5 straight lay-ups to start the second half. Getting out-scored by 18 in the last 9 minutes. Once again yielding a career night to the one of the opponents front court players (how many of those so far this year?). Seemingly no ability to keep their guards and forward from getting to the rim. And, then no rim protection.
This wasn't one of those 3-18 from the arc nights. We hit our 3s - a lot of them. We couldn't score from inside the arc. And, of course, 6-15 from the FT line. And, getting badly outrebounded in the second half.
The good news is that it is only one conference loss and we still control our own destiny. Same position as Baylor right now - tied with the same road lo. And, playing in KC in the tournament is very much in reach - I expect all the top teams save Gonzaga to have 3-5 losses. But, we can't count on out scoring the other team every game. It is worth noting that our Kenpom defensive efficiency rating after last nights game has fallen to 41st - by far the worst of the Self era.
We just don't have the right mix or skill sets to be an elite defensive team, but we have to do a better job. I just don't know what the answer is? Mixing in some zone depending on match-ups? At this stage, can the guys really be taught to keep their man in front of them and cut off driving and passing lane? It's not rocket science - look at a team like UVA; not that athletic or talented, but but they play rock solid defense - shut down Notre Dame last night in South Bend - and ND had been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country.
It's gut check time - if we can get through the next two weeks with no more than 2 losses, we're in good shape. But, is that likely? Are you confident about wins at Baylor, OSU and KSU? What needs to happen? What can we do differently, if anything, to improve on the defensive end????
@Bwag There was only a 4 foul differential - we were 6-15 with a couple of missed 1-1s. They hit 83% of theirs.
@globaljaybird Will again same come on.... We are 10 of 28 on 2 pt shots. 6 of 13 on FTs. 12 3 pointers are the only thing keeping this close. We've committed half the TOs they typically force and yet we are going to be well below our scoring average.
@KansasComet Yes, but silly foul to pick up his 4th...
We have exactly 2 points total from our 3 "post" players - and, they're not exactly a big team. Odd state of affairs for Big Man U and definitely not your father's Self team or whatever....
Ahmad is the latest front court player to have a career game against us....
Warming back up from 3 - keeping us in this game....
@Bwag Fair enough - my guess is that our opponents complain mightily about homer calls at AFH over the years....
@Bwag said:
@DCHawker except that there are 2 fouls against them not called for everyone called.
Come on - the reason that we are behind - and at risk of losing - is because we are giving up easy baskets; we're shooting 40% from the field; 50% from the FT line; and, while we are not committing many TOs,, we're not turning them over - which has been a big problem for them in their losses....
They are 8 0f 13 this half - almost all lay-ups and put-backs... Not gonna win many games that way...
Hate to be the contrarian here, but I don't buy into the ref conspiracy. 12 fouls to 10 away. I'll take that every time. And, we're at risk of getting more fouls called if we constantly play matador defense and chase them into the paint. They are simply executing better than we are right now.
WVU was shooting 40% at the half - now at 49%. We gotta play some defense and get stops...
Might need to throw some zone at them just to mix it up....
Wow - interior defense is just non-existent. Exacerbated by the fact that our perimeter guys aren't squared up and their guards are blowing by us....
Kind of an odd 1st half - at least relative to expectations. Very few TOs on either side after the first couple of minutes. Has turned into a half court game - and they are beating us at that right now - where you think we would have an advantage.
Even FG% - we have the advantage from 3; they do from the FT line. They have the RB advantage - product of LL pine time.
@Crimsonorblue22 As noted by @wissox but still a bit surprised that he wouldn't leave one in - but it's paying off as Mitch is playing at least as well...
Several minutes now with Mitch in the post and no LL or Bragg......
@Crimsonorblue22 nice try to help, but still....
@wrwlumpy He was in the 1st half last game and then disappeared. Hope he stays on all game....
@Texas-Hawk-10 said:
Bobby Knight would love that pump fake Jackson used.
Yeah - just wish Perry had learned that move, but that's water under the bridge...
We're shooting 50% from 3 and 30% from 2 - bombs away guys!
We have the best players on the court in Frank, DG and JJ - if we can keep them on the court, we will end our streak in Morgantown...
Of course Huggy is intense - he's got 25 large riding on this.....
Through the first 9 minutes, the Frank of last year has shown up - forcing it in heavy traffic. He just needs to calm down - seems to be taking the last 3 losses in Morgantown personally and trying to do it all himself....
@BeddieKU23 said:
@DCHawker said:
HCBS may have to go much deeper on the bench than he would like to....
What bench?? Walkons
Kinda the point -- what happens if we run into a situation where 2-3 guys foul out late - seems like we may have several guys with 3-4 fouls in the middle of the second half.
HCBS may have to go much deeper on the bench than he would like to....
@drgnslayr All good questions, but is it a coincidence that our defensive efficiency rating has deteriorated significantly since he has been out? Perhaps - could be a function of the quality of opponents. Definitely limitations and negatives - wouldn't want him in close, late game situations, but the fact is that he was our only rim protector and shot alteror in the post. Still has more blocks than LL in 1/3 the minutes. More than twice as many as Bragg in half the minutes.
Bottom line is that I would sure like to have had him available for 10-15 minutes a game to eat up fouls (and so LL is not so tentative) and for certain match-ups. But, I agree that offense runs a lot better with LL....
@BeddieKU23 Just one observation about the stats to date - they've come against a schedule in which every team we've played has at least 5 losses. This week and next will reveal the true character of this team against much higher quality competition. The guys will need to step up their games....
@wrwlumpy The scoring stats really drive home the point (pun kind of intended) that the B12 is completely guard-dominated this year.
@BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 said:
I think this is the first game where I'm upset of how they have played. I can't believe this game is within 10
This is a really weird team.
It has been a long time since we've really coasted at home....
@BeddieKU23 said:
Devonte Graham where are u?
Has he scored this half? Think he had 15 at the break...
@BShark said:
Get used to Lucas not scoring. We could be looking at a 4 game drought with the upcoming match-ups.
Allen and Cleare now at 32 and 20; LL and Bragg at 8 and 11....
@stoptheflop said:
Allen is 17 and 15 so far.
Allen and Cleare have 28 -17; Lucas and Bragg have 8 and 10....
Texas offense B12 ranks - PPG - LAST; off. efficiency - LAST; FG% - LAST; 3PT% - LAST.
@globaljaybird said:
JJ arm strength needs much improvement His passes are weak Miss Hudy...
But that might throw off his soft touch on 3 points shots....
@approxinfinity said:
Frank is great at picking the ball up with one hand on his drive and using his body to shield.
And, while he is scoring more, he's doing a much better job this year of kicking it to the wing rather than trying to score himself every time...
7 -11 from 3 --- just 5-15 from 2. Shooting the long ball is the only thing we're doing well right now....
@BShark said:
Lucas can't handle Shaq
We haven't been able to handle any halfway decent bigs all year....
@Texas-Hawk-10 said:
KU's currently on pace to win 140-20.
I think we're going to fall a bit short of that.......
14 - 5 run by the "Horns - that should simply not happen as challenged offensively as they are....
@BShark A recurring problem - we seem to routinely let up when we get leads - esp. against much inferior teams....
@autohawk No, you're not...
This should improve our defensive efficiency ratings.... Let's hope we can keep it up and give the guys a few minutes blow along the way...
@KUSTEVE @BShark Can we split the difference? Not major contributor, but not end of the rotation? Solid contributor? I have fairly favorable memories of his contributions. His senior year, he averaged about 14 minutes per game, scoring about 5 ppg with 3 rbg. Scored double figures a handful of times. Played bigger than his size. Definitely don't think he was end of the rotation, but obviously not a major contributor, either...
@drgnslayr said:
"Anti?"
Reminds me of my college days. Does the term "anti panties" ring a bell for anyone? Remember panty raids?
But seriously... I'm not always thrilled to read the antis comments... but I'm glad they are around and often they spark positive responses. We really don't want KUBuckets to just become another "rah rah" website. And if we start filtering out those on the far end of the "antis" eventually the line will continue to move and then no one will be able to say anything even slightly negative or controversial.
We are all adults in here... (I guess).... so we have to be able to deal with differing opinions. I believe I get some therapy out of this site. The media/internet world today is all about people hanging out only with people that think the same way. That is very harmful (as we see it play out in our national politics). KUBuckets helps me. It is an exercise for me to try to keep my mind open and not just lash out at those I disagree with.
Obviously... I have a lot more therapy to go but I'm working on it!
Well said, good sir... Whether glass half full or half empty perspectives, for the most part the folks that participate on this board are passionate about Kansas basketball and very much want the team to do well. To the extent that someone might come off as more critical or Pollyannaish, it's mostly around the margins (sure, there are some that seemingly like to provoke just for the sake of it, but that's okay, too).
Some of what might be characterized as the "anti" comments maybe more of a function of results in the moment relative to extraordinarily high expectations; expectations that are the residue of extraordinary success over the past 3 decades (and beyond).
I don't know if I find the site to be therapeutic as do you, but it is often informative and occasionally quite entertaining. I appreciate @Crimsonorblue22 posting links to stories I wouldn't otherwise have seen - @wrwlumpy's wonderful pix from opponents's campuses - and, those rats who take the time to troll recruiting sites and report back the latest gossip. I welcome commentary, whether it might be characterized as negative or positive, to the extent that it is supported by data and/or thoughtful analysis and insight. What I do find to be quite tiresome is frequent bloviation wholly unsupported by any kind of fact or data, but, hey, people are entitled to their self-important aggrandizing and I or anyone else can choose to ignore it or not.
The bottom line is that we can choose to be a spectator or participant in the site - and, to the extent it no longer fulfills some need, then one can move on. For better or worse, I'm sticking around for a while....
A bunch of youngsters chiming in on this???? Love Frank, Mario, Kirk, Jacque and others, but JoJo White should be on the list - perhaps at the top (2x All-American and 7x NBA All-Star) - as well as Darnell Valentine.
@BeddieKU23 said:
So we only get the good version of Josh Jackson at home. Alarming you betcha
We definitely need him to show at Rupp...
@BShark said:
With Josh gone we can't afford OT
What we can't afford is to miss the front end of this next 1 and 1....