🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@drgnslayr I understand your point about team play, but I have never thought that any of our March losses resulted from the other team figuring us out or too much team play. Coming ready to play and being smart (such as one of the Morris twins having 6 turnovers against VCU) have, in my opinion, been the reasons we lost. The team that won the Big 12 tournament in 2010 is not the same team effort wise that played a week later against UNI. Totally different effort and focus. Stanford was a little different - probably had more to do to with coaching.

Had 35 points and led all scorers.

@tundrahok Yes, leave the tournament as it is.

He made two big threes at the end to seal the W. SMU still undefeated!

@Lulufulu Not many teams would win, even on an average KU game. My list would be Virginia, Maryland, Xavier and maybe Iowa. MSU, OU, KU and UNC are currently the probable one seeds.

Wiggins. I really like Buddy, but Wiggins has unreal potential and has plenty of time to improve his jumper.

@drgnslayr Of course, but I am referring to games where we are down 2 and need a basket. This sort of thing could happen in the tournament. We have Frank, Wayne, Devonte, Perry, and to an extent Hunter if he is in the game, though he is not as potent as the others, but does stretch the floor because teams know he can shoot. So that is all five guys that you have to guard everywhere (despite what Seth Greenberg says). But yes you are right. If I guy is hot, keep going to him. But in crunch time, we have several options.

The problem with having one "go to guy" is there is a tendency for everyone else to stand around and wait for that guy to do something. Also, having 4 or 5 guys that can get their own shot makes it much harder for the other to anticipate who is going to make a move.

@joeloveshawks Did you know that Self is the only active major coach besides Jim Boeheim to not take his team to back to back final fours? The list of people who have done it include Izzo, Donovan, Calipari, Pitino, Brad Stevens, Roy, Bo Ryan, and Consonants. Time to change that!

@DoubleDD I agree, we need their collective strengths to win a title.

@drgnslayr You are right - it just feels like any day Bragg and Diallo's minutes will increase because they are more comfortable. I think we all need to be patient and wait, as Coach knows how talented these guys are and what they can bring to the table.

@DoubleDD Does Hunter not play on the team anymore?

@Bwag During the middle section of the game (8:00 in the first half to about 7:00 in in the second half), I didn't think anybody besides Perry and Jamari played well. I am not so sure it was all Jamari's fault, specifically the transition defense.

@Bwag Yes, and hopefully they can get more time Saturday and also play stronger and tougher. They will get better and have more of a feel for how Self wants them to play.

@benshawks08 I was disappointed that Hunter did not play tougher. Really hurt himself for playing time. He is the one I wanted in instead of Lucas.

@Bwag There is more productivity when Perry, Hunter, and Bragg set screens, as they can shoot very well from the outside.

@Lulufulu I thought it was funny that Seth Greenberg yesterday said that KU doesn't have any offensive threat at the 5, comparing us to last year's Wiscy and Duke teams. Did he forget about Hunter who has a good jump shot, or Bragg and Diallo once they improve? I guess it sounded a bit uninformed.

@MoonwalkMafia I agree, but Bragg and Diallo can't play when the game and a big 12 championship and number 1 seed are on the line - they are just not comfortable with Self's system yet. They should only play extended minutes in blowouts.

@tis4tim Agreed, but I would only want to face them in Houston.

@tis4tim It would be a very tough challenge. Do not want to see them in our bracket.

@ajvan They say that not because they have defeated other top ten teams, but because they have the most talent with several capable shooters. Their defense is not elite and they were behind at home to Georgia Tech for a good portion of the game.

@DoubleDD Like I said on another thread, transition and perimeter defense was the reason why we didn't go up double digits at half.

Vitale mentioned during the first ten minutes how well we were getting back on defense and forcing OU to play in the half court, but then got very careless about covering shooters in transition.

Second, since OU is just as good as us from 3, you have to cover their shooters better, even when Hield drives into the lane. Except for one three, all of Woodard's threes were open jumpers. Hield will get his, but you have to force Cousins and Woodard to make individual plays and play one on one defense with them.

In my opinion, guarding perimeter shooters and forcing them into a tough guarded shot is the improvement. Not the rotation, not playing Diallo more (though it would be nice if the light bulb goes on this season) and not subbing more. And it's not like the defense was bad, but when facing an elite shooting team, you can't just collapse into the paint to stop penetration and hope the open shooter misses. Strong individual defense stops both.

Fortunately for us, KU and OU are the two best trey balling teams in the country outside of St Marys. The only top 25 teams that I have seen that could pose the same problem like OU are UNC, Maryland somewhat, and Villanova, though Vill is streaky.

@DoubleDD I don't necessarily think the threes disappeared, but rather we were looking to drive and dish, like Mason driving in the lane and passing to Graham for a tying three in the second OT. The second half and overtimes were basically a half court game, and I was actually excited that they had that sort of success playing a slow grind it out game. That to me is the most positive aspect of the game.

@DoubleDD OU knew they needed this one to have a chance to win the conference. They were definitely the hunter, but fortunately KU pulled it out.

@pa_grape OU is definitely legit, but we did not play as well as we could have. Poor transition defense was one area. I would say the only thing OU does more of is ball screens, but KU does of bit of that too, and Perry and Wayne do a bit of their scoring off of pick and rolls, specifically Perry. Remember he made a three off a pick and roll to tie the game at 88.

@bskeet I hope so! This is his last chance.

@Crimsonorblue22 Sometimes he is hesitant to shoot open threes when I think he should step right into it and launch. He is a good enough shooter to do that.

@jaybate-1.0 It sure looks like it. Having 3 point shooters all over the court really helps to open the floor for Perry to score inside also.

@jaybate-1.0 I think you might be right JB. Bragg and Diallo are not ready for this level of play, and may not be this year. I do not think that Self sat Hunter because he was protecting him. Most likely because Jamari and Landen are a little tougher inside and we needed rebounding, though I think Hunter would have been fine. Again, Self preferred Landen in this situation, where Hunter might be better in another.

@kjayhawks This is all the inside presence we will get this year, but doing everything else well negates that defficiency, like Uconn in '14 and Duke in '10. Both of those teams played smart, made open shots, made free throws, rebounded well, and played tremendous defense. This team will be fine as long as they focusing on improving the little things.

@truehawk93 Also, I did not mean Durant pro potential. I meant Durant level college production. And yes, Hield had a Durant level performance.

@truehawk93 maybe. I think they are this good, but the guys need to work on playing smarter and transition defense. OU had too many open threes in transition, and that can't happen.

@JRyman good points. Bragg and Diallo need to stay for their sophomore years. They make too many mistakes to be left on the floor in a tight game.

@globaljaybird I agree - watching the replay,I noticed contact that should have been called but wasn't. Someone needs to suspend these idiots.

@Texas-Hawk-10 no I think it would be really hard for them to win with just Bragg and Diallo.

@wrwlumpy I have been thinking about that a bit and I think Self went with the best players and ones that would not make silly mistakes. Anyone wonder why Carlton wasn't playing more? Self puts him in either in the second half or first OT, and he fumbles a pass out of bounds. Even if he is fresh, you CAN NOT afford stupid errors like that.

More important were transition defense and perimeter defense. Other than those two things I'd say it was a pretty well played game. They definitely have matured and were tough to overcome a double digit deficit. At times it reminded me of the San Diego St game a few years ago when they lost the lead and couldn't take the lead back. But last night, when OU and Hield were on a roll, they overcame some poor first and much of the second half play, made solid defensive plays and really attacked, something that was missing the last two years.

That trip to Korea has really improved this team and has made them into a title contender.

@drgnslayr I also want to point out that Buddy is on record saying he wanted to win at AFH, so he was going to give it 150% and get his team fired up, which they were.

@drgnslayr Exactly - that is the key when playing Oklahoma. Even though they still had a good game, the disruption kept it from being much worse.

@pa_grape yes. Would probably have helped if Hunter had played more.

@VailHawk Probably defensive reasons, except for Mickelson - not sure about him. Even though Brennan has improved his defense a lot, OU is too good to take any chances, which is probably his reasoning.

@brooksmd No, this coverage is well deserved by both teams.

@Texas-Hawk-10 There seems to be a trend.

@JayHawkFanToo Yes, the officiating was sickening. Not surprised about Higgins - he has earned a reputation as being a dip.

Well, for all the poor passes, turnovers, bad calls, and questionable defense, the guys showed a lot of grit when Oklahoma was looking almost unstoppable. Mason, even though Hield still scored, made it a lot tougher for him. It was disappointing to see Mason and Graham have a tough first half, and the turnovers, plus poor transition D, allowed OU to gain momentum that almost got them the win. Fortunately, they both were much better in the second half and overtimes and made several really good defensive plays.

I do not want to hear anyone, ANYONE, ever say that Ellis is soft and not aggressive. We do not win tonight without him being aggressive, driving inside, and that huge open 3 to tie the game. I was also impressed with Selden. Still looks totally different than last year and made several huge plays.

Oklahoma and Hield are definitely as good as advertised. Hield was dreaming of a chance to beat KU at Allen Fieldhouse, and he almost succeeded. When they are on, I would say maybe only KU and UNC could keep up with them. Hield is Durant level good and can carry them to the Final Four.

I know that a lot of people wanted Self to sub more, but I can not blame him for going with the guys that could play defense the best, although I think Hunter should have been in more. I thought they made some very timely plays and showed championship level defense when needed.

Right now, I think Oklahoma, KU, and UNC are probably the best teams, as I feel they can play at a higher level than MSU, Maryland, and Xavier. What are your thoughts?

Selden!

@Bwag yes, much better under control

@JayHawkFanToo I just hope they don't have big heads because they are ranked number 1. They need stay hungry and focused.

@Mikey-P yeah, that was a terrible game. Ksu just played out of their minds for just that one game.

@jaybate-1.0 I guess the better question is, do you think there is a way to reduce or eliminate the C5's weakness? I think there is.

@DoubleDD exactly. There is a possibility of back to back final fours.