🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@Crimsonorblue22 I always wear my gear everywhere I go (well, if I'm wearing Tshirts and casual stuff, that's about all I have!) I got a "rock chalk" down at the Tulum Ruins in Mexico a few weeks ago (had a KU cap on) and a "Hey--Go KU!" in Paris last year on the metro... that one surprised me because I forgot I had a little Jayhawk pin on my camera bag. Someone actually came running out of a bar in Prescott, AZ, one time to give me a high five when I was visiting my brother. Pretty fun!

What chaps my @ss about this list is Missouri is actually two spots higher up the list than KU.

@Crimsonorblue22 Well, there are a lot of them--everywhere!

@JayHawkRock78 Good point--the music/entertainment industry is pretty bad about parents whoring out their talented kids. But Cliff was 19 as of 11/16/14, so he wasn't a minor even last August.

I don't get it. Who the hell cares if the parents are borrowing on their kid's future. Kids borrow on their parent's reputation all the time.

Furthermore, if all those sh*tbag corner title and payday loan scum suckers are legal at 300%, how in the hell is getting ANY kind of loan "illegal" in this country? If someone wants to lend you some money... so what??? Please explain any recent situation where finding one dumbass to loan money to another dumbass has ever been prevented in the business world. Do we really have any moral or legal problem with that any more?

F' the NCAA and the NBA too.

@crimsonorblue22 I thought it was going to say "SQUID" (HEM's nick for Oubre with his 7 footer arms), but I think it says
"SQUAD."
Nice technique though.

Hey, this is kind of good news to me...

A Hunter Mickelson transfer sounds unlikely.

Interview ↗ and story ↗ in the LJW.

At the very end of the interview, a reporter asked if he was getting close to graduating and Hunter said he was on track to graduate NEXT YEAR.

So, it doesn't sound like he's planning to take advantage of the graduate transfer option. I'm fine with that--a 5th year 6-10 guy over any OAD or +80
ranked last ditch freshman offer.

@brooksmd @wissoxfan83 Well, nothing brings cubs and white sox fans together better than mutual hatred for those stinkin' cheeseheads! Kumbaya, my friends. RCJH / Go Bears!

@wissoxfan83 What? Hold on, you're a badger fan? You heretic!

Maybe we need to sign a loyalty oath or something around here.

Just kidding! I grew up in Illinois too and didn't know or care that there were other conferences besides the Big 10 until I went to college in Big 8 eight territory. And, as a recovering Cubs fan, I can forgive your apparent poor choice in white sox fan-ness, @wissoxfan83, but please, please, please tell me you're not a packer fan.

Still seems like a lot of speculation from multiple yet unnamed Yahoo sources.

Can't watch it. I really, honestly, wouldn't be rooting for ISU to win, I'd be rooting for OU to lose. I vowed a few years ago never to watch any sporting event (except the superbowl) just hoping one team would lose. It's almost always a big waste of unsatisfying time.

I hope OU loses of course. But if I watch it, Niang would flop three or four times and piss me off and then I'd just end up torturing myself like I'm starting to do right now.

I don't think we've seen KU hit on all cylinders yet, so who knows who we could beat. Definitely can beat any of the #2s.

I'm still expecting an ice cold night or a "fab five Chris Webber moment" for Kentucky either in the SEC tourney, or--better yet--sometime in the NCAA tournament, possibly against whatever 8-9 team they face in the second game.

The states of Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan might be in the Eastern Time Zone, but they aren't "east coast." Solidly industrial midwest.

So, even including FL (which is special in many ways), only 20 of the last 40 are really east coast.

But, you make an interesting point, Blown! I know quite a few west coasters don't follow BB as much as they did prior to moving there, partly because of the national media.

@JayhawkRock78 On one of those replays the other announcer even said, "Well, maybe Ellis got him?"

Sure, the three could be KU's strength, but it's just not a magic bullet. We have to have a go-to guy when you need points.

Iowa State... also 2-2 last four games. Averaged 23 3-point attempts per game and made 35-92. That's 38% which is pretty close to KU's season average.

How did ISU do in those last 4 games? Same as KU 2-2.

Cold (6-20 from 3) @ OSU and won

Hot (12-21) @ TX and won

Ice Cold (6-24) Baylor and lost

Warm (11-27) @ KSU and lost

This is deep in the b12 and opponents know what you've got. So what do I get from that? Both KU and ISU need to have more than one weapon in the arsenal.

As far as I'm concerned, if the last 4-5 games have given Perry the lift he needed to be the go-to guy we didn't have previously in crunch time, then GREAT. We can build on that better than shooting 25 three pointers the past four games.

All self has to do now is tell the little bulldog and Perry to kick it out once in a while, and maybe have Brannen actually move around to get open instead of pitching a tent out there at the arc. Get him him and Wayne out of the corners out another 2 feet and give them some space.

I'm actually happier with where we're at now than after the TT game.

He has his sore-loser side, but I love Rick Barnes and I hope he stays at UT for a long time.

1. Always gets a ton of pre-season attention, giving the Jayhawks some chip on the shoulder mojo.

2. Rarely beats KU, and when he does he seems genuinely apologetic/humble about it.

3. Gets some top Texas recruits that--truthfully--would never come to Kansas, thus keeping them away from the other 'good' coaches in the B12.

4. His teams collapse like cheap folding chairs every January falling into a hole they rarely can climb out of.

5. Occasionally represents the conference well in the big dance.

What more could I possibly want??!

(Oops. originally posted this in the wrong thread!)

I'd rather be slumping now. It'll even out.

In the post-game interview, Self said KU has done nothing wrong, and it's a Cliff issue.

But I'm sure the NCAA would love to attach some stink to the KU program.

Hunter never touched the ball on offense today that I recall. In the post-game interview, Bill Self complained about the 5th man not contributing, but they don't bring the ball up the court. Perry missed Landen for a couple easy cuts when he was double teamed in the second half. And Frank was in a pissing match with UT's Taylor and didn't dish the entire game. Can't put all the blame on the big guys.

Pretty sure I saw an interview with him where he said he never even stepped foot on KU campus or met coach Self before transferring. He inquired about the transfer possibility and took the scholarship when it was offered. I'm guessing an assistant coach might have met with him, but I thought that it was a pretty bold leap of faith for both sides.

I don't see him practice, but--when he's seen the court in games--he seems like a pretty savvy player. It sure seems like he could be a contributor.

Why do people want ponies for Christmas. Seems like they'd be a hassle.

@bskeet Well, it could be that the UK guy knows how cheating could (hypothetically
) be done

Nine fouls and six points for Cliff the past four games. I don't think we're going to miss him a whole lot today.

@wrwlumpy I thought Darnell's mom died after he left KU ??

I first moved to Lawrence right around O's freshman year. He's one of my favorite Jayhawks despite his 2" vertical.

Being a retired professional basketball player sounds pretty rough. Greg Ostertag--bored with golfing every day--decided to become the world's tallest hockey player.

Seriously, here's the story ↗.

Interesting quote:

“I’ll be the first to admit that I never reached my full potential as a basketball player. I took it for granted that I was 7 feet tall, and I rode that.”

Yeah, well we all kind of figured that!

I don't think that's the old circus typeface.

I guess I'm rooting for HANSAS this weekend?

@Crimsonorblue22 LOL... you're right! I meant two tough home games left and one on the road!

@wrwlumpy I predicted the team that wins all their home games will win the conference. (went way out on a limb there!) We have two pretty tough road games left, plus one at home. I hope that's going to be enough.

Coincidentally, the sculptor (Elden Tefft) just died last week...

Story ↗

more about the statue ↗

@wrwlumpy Not like Kentucky is a high-scoring team either--averaging 73.3 points per game compared to 71.8 ppg for KU.

@JayhawkRock78 Marian Washington coached for 30 years + Bonnie for the past 10. There's your 40 years! Sweet 16 is the farthest either of them ever made it, and it's pretty sad that the Jayhawk fan base doesn't really give a s*** about it.

I guess we have to keep in mind that women's college basketball is essentially still in its infancy, with just a few pioneer coaches able to build dominant, successful programs (winning, profitable, marketable and well attended). Some guys will never follow women's basketball, but it IS possible to win over a dedicated fan base.

For example, I lived in Knoxville TN for 10 years during Pat Summit's last hurrah and final two national championships. UT filled their 24,000 seat arena more consistently for the Lady Vols than the Man Vols basketball (until Bruce Pearl). Granted, the TN fan base was pretty ignorant in general about rules and what constituted a personal foul on the home team, but they bought tickets and gear. People actually followed recruiting the same way we do for the KU men. On the court, the women played fundamental, athletic basketball, and it was fun to watch. Hell, I went to more lady vols games than men's games while Jerry Greene and Buzz Peterson were cashing their big paychecks and putting crap on the floor for the men's teams.

Of course, with Pat gone, the good ol' boys at UT are dismantling the power structure in the athletic department that Summit created to maintain a winning program. Marian W. never had enough success to build the foundation or momentum for a dynasty at KU, and Bonnie can't seem to compete for the top tier athletes. It's a shame that KU missed out on being a significant part of history in the inaugural period of women's basketball.

Anyway, with some of the first generation coaches starting to exit, now would be the time to grab a piece of the action. Unfortunately, SZ doesn't seem to care. Fans don't care.

There's my rant, and I'm not even drinking!

Bonnie needed to go about three years ago. The fan sentimentality surrounding womens' BB coaches at KU is ridiculous, but the real obstacle for success in the women's bb program is that any great women's BB coach and recruiter the AD could hire would demand and deserve a little of the love that the men's team gets. And that, my friends, makes people very nervous.

So, enjoy the poor to mediocre team with a really, really nice coach who knows her place.

The mock draft projections always remind me of why I don't, and never will, watch the nba.

@Paloma KU employees do not have annual training on code of conduct. I thought you worked at KU and had insight into some specific policy that JH violated.

I've mentioned it before: Traylor has been mopey all season... weird on-court transition from cheerful exuberance to angry defiance from last year to this. I don't know what the deal is. The gum? Haircut? Family? Something else? There just is no joy in his playing like he had last year. I didn't expect him to become TRob II, but his development is the most disappointing part of the season so far to me.

Self seems to be doing everything he can to encourage him with the highest of praises all the time, so hopefully he'll get it together.

@Paloma What KU policy, if any, did he break? None of this occurred on campus.

Doubt he'll resign at this point. What would be his reason--for the good of the team/he's become a distraction... something along those lines? Very few details to the story. Frankly, it really seems unbelievable that no one knew about it until one day before his court supervision ended.

I'm sure Self can point to some personnel policy to justify whatever decision he makes, if it's even his to make.

Regardless of whether a substance is legal (or not), it doesn't mean people are on it ALL THE TIME. Just like alcohol. I doubt Earnhardt Jr. chugs a bottle of gin before a race, so why the hell would he smoke pot? There are already laws in place for being illegally under the influence.

Reefer madness around here. Keep your daughter and her trike out of the Taco Bell drive through lane and she'll be fine!

Great illustrations, wrwlumpy. Greene getting burned was seared into my brain, but I'd forgotten it was right after the sideline meeting with the coach. LOL.

If you're a fan, the only purpose of your superstition (e.g., stinky 1988 shirt, special underwear, lucky beer, crazy game day routine) is just to make you feel like you're a contributing member of the team. You're not on the team. You're not on the floor. You're not a 20-year old kid with girlfriend problems trying to make a free throw. Which cushion you're sitting your ass on in your man cave has nothing to do with what happens on the court. It doesn't make a bit of difference.

Sorry to break it to you. It's not real. You'll feel better after losing when your choice of shirt LET THE WHOLE TEAM DOWN if you can let that whole concept go.

But, I guess that takes the fun out of it
.

I think Wayne has his mojo back. There were two or three plays today where Selden drove inside, made contact, and went up for his shot. He's certainly solid enough to take the contact and still score. He made one, had a charge on one and was fouled on another, but that's what he needs to do. Combined with solid defense (which he has) an outside shot and rebounding, Paul Pierce made a decent living for a long time in the league doing that.

ESPN replayed it during the game from the backboard camera, and I thought it looked like a good block. Ball was not in the cylinder.

Worth repeating from Jesse's liveblog...

Comment From HighEliteMajor:

I rewound the DVR .. Graham said "Your coach looks like a pianist."

I loved how Hosmer got all excited ("Look, it's us!!) to see himself and his buds on the scoreboard video... Dude, you were just in the World Series and are on TV like 800 times a year. Still just kids is all they are.

I've seen a few KU players around the streets of Lawrence over the years and they are not the majestic human specimens they appear to be on TV or even watching in AFH. Ostertag was actually big in real life. Withey... uh, no. The Morrii twins... not really that imposing. T-Rob was not a superman.

But then again, I wasn't trying to shoot over any of them. :-)

Keep in mind that your average walmart shopper man or woman probably outweighs most of the football players.

Weird game. I hope Self didn't spend much time on prep because it would have been a waste of time.

3-6 from three. Good game to just let those fly

@Kip_McSmithers said:

Why is Cliff wearing a rib protector??

He's been wearing it all year. Lucas too. Jamari once in a while I think.

Kind of wussy, IMO.

3.6 lbs/inch. @ 7'

That's like a 260 pound six footer... sort of.

(He's kind of fat!)

I was expecting a win yesterday too. I kept waiting for Cliff to check in during the second half and that never happened. So, I don't know what's up with the chemistry of the team (including Self) but it sure stunk in that game, and we still had a shot to win it at the end. I guess we'll see tomorrow if Self's head games are working, but the process is not fun to watch in the OAD era.

I can't hear Bill Walton's voice echoing around in my head, so I'm going to have to go the other guy, BAYBEEEE.

Never been to Ames, but Iowa has sort of a corny capitol:

!IMG_0575-iowa2.jpg ↗