🏀 KuBuckets Archive

With Perry returning and the possible addition of Diallo, this team certainly has the talent to win it all next year.

@Crimsonorblue22 Good one!

@drgnslayr I am often frustrated with people who say that Perry should go because he can't improve anymore. This couldn't be further from the truth. He could improve his defense, outside shot, and fade away jumper. There is still plenty of room for improvement.

@drgnslayr I agree - there is very little coaching going on, almost to the point where I don't want to watch.

A move that I wish our post players would learn is the fade away. I could make fade away jumpers in middle school when my coach taught me how to do it. It is a very effective move when playing against taller players. Very disappointing that they can't do it.

Really, this whole OAD drama should be put to rest after Wisconsin won. Give me 3 and 4star recruits that stay in school and want to improve instead of prima donnas.

@drgnslayr Yes, that is exactly what happened when we played them. I think Self was a little intimidated as well.

Personally, I am not a big fan of the one and done rule. However, if HCBS is going to hop on the OAD merry go round, then it would be a smart idea to take a move out of The Squid's playbook: recruit height. Look at how formidable this year's Kentucky team is with four footers. The ideal situation for next year is to add Throne and Diallo, which would mean that we have four guys 6'9 or taller, plus Perry and Jamari. That's not quite equivalent to UK but it's not too bad.

@jaybate-1.0 Sorry JB, but I think you're wrong on the ND - UK game. ND had a very average game in terms of three point shooting (I think they only made 4 or 5). ND was the better team for most of the game because they fought hard getting position for rebounds, they played physical, and were crafty enough on offense to have a chance to win even without making double digit threes.

This game proved that you don't have to play a perfect game to beat UK - you just have to not beat yourself. If it wasn't for a couple of errors in the last minute and a half,ND would have won.

@Lulufulu Woooooah, cool the jets there buddy. Wichita is actually a pretty nice city. Have you ever even been there? "Entrance to the underworld" is just wrong on so many levels. Wichita actually has one of the lowest crime rates in the US for cities its size. Not to be rude, but don't sound so ignorant please.

@Bosthawk This happens every single year.

@Blown hahaha How true!

@tis4tim Yep, typical ISU. I think they care more about beating KU than winning in the tournament.

@drgnslayr Amen brother! If all these analysts picking against them doesn't motivate them, I'm not sure what will.

@HighEliteMajor Yeah, I haven't seen one analyst picking us to play UK in the elite eight. Myron Medcalf thinks that we won't even make the sweet sixteen.

@HawksWin One of the keys to beating UK is to get hot from three. That opens up the lane to drive and kick out for three point shots.

@jaybate-1.0 I sure hope the trey shooting slump is over. Because if its not, its going to be a short tournament.

I am seeing that other posters want a rematch with UK. I personally do not, but if it happens, they probably have the best chance at beating UK because of the three point shooting. Playing hard and playing smart, like not trying to put up floaters in the lane, could get the W. That is a game that the shot fake was made for.

@drgnslayr That is an aspect of Self's coaching that I have long wondered about. What methods does he employ to motivate and inspire his team? That is definitely a question that I would like answered.

@Crimsonorblue22 Yep. One game at a time.

@truehawk93 Hopefully he'll do his best coaching in the tournament.

@truehawk93 Excellent point truehawk.

While I agree with a lot of what you are saying HEM, I think what Self is trying to do is develop some sort of an inside game to complement the already existing perimeter game, though he could have said it in a much better way.

To what you said truehawk, you are absolutely right about pointing to our past losses in the tournament. In the past, we always seemed to finish the conference year strong, then fizzle out in the tourney. Personally, I like being overlooked and not having any expectations. As some have said here, if KU plays it right, they are probably the best equipped team to beat UK because they can spread the floor and have a stretch four.

Of course, in the end, it really is a crap shoot and is so hard to make a deep run every single year.

Who do you guys think will make the final four and win the championship?

@VailHawk For sure. I would be elated if they get past Kentucky. But realistically, they aren't getting out of the region.

Well, I was hoping that we wouldn't get in Kentucky's bracket, but it happened, though I wasn't expecting an elite eight appearance necessarily.

I agree with other posters - just don't have high expectations and enjoy each game.

@jaybate-1.0 But that's the thing: it should not be meaningless. They should have some pride and play their best. Same goes for Self.

@DoubleDD Self has not exactly done very well with in game adjustments the last two years.

@wissoxfan83 Yep, just like last year.

@Crimsonorblue22 Me too. The only problem is that the odds are just too low to count on somebody else beating them if we are in the same bracket. The last thing we want is being in their bracket.

@HighEliteMajor I agree. Since Self has clearly made a decision about grinding out every single game, then we better win playing like this. I too am tired of first weekend losses.

I personally have a very hard time thinking that we could beat them in a rematch. I do not share the same sentiments with others on this site about wanting to be in the same bracket.

IMHO, I would much rather get to the Final Four before playing them instead of the elite eight.

@Shanghai_RCJH Yeah, I would hate to have to play them to get to the final four.

@jaybate-1.0 Why should they be?

@joeloveshawks You are absolutely right. The only way this team has a shot at a final four is to play bad ball and out tough the other team, just like in 2012.

So does anyone have a preference with who the 1 seed is in our bracket?

@Crimsonorblue22 I am not referring to Embiid going pro. I am referring to recruiting post players that can execute Self's inside out strategy.

@benshawks08 I disagree. A huge part of loss was due to turnovers, not a flaw in the outside in offensive strategy.

@HighEliteMajor Excellent posts regarding Self's recent comments.

What some on here are failing to understand is how out of place and, to an extent, inappropriate Self's comments are. A lot of this is on him for not having the personnel to have an inside out game that we have become accustomed to. This is the team he has and he needs to let them shoot. And if the other team does its job and compensates for the trey shooting, then drive and dish.

Good perimeter shooting really opens up the middle for guys like Perry to have room to operate.

And also, just because we are not on the coaching staff does not mean we are inept or stupid. Yes, Self is most likely a better coach than any of us or any two of us put together. But that does not mean that he is perfect or all knowing, because he is far from that. He has two very apparent weaknesses: lack of flexibility and choking in the tournament, both of which have resulted in losses that are bizarre and perplexing (UNI, VCU, etc.), and should never have happened.

That said, I think he is still a very good coach and wouldn't want someone else in his position. But at the same time he needs to work also on improving his weaknesses and not repeating those same mistakes, which is exactly what we all have to do in our everyday lives.

@REHawk Very well said. He's got to know that his post players can't score in the post and that it hasn't worked all year. This is a final four team if Self completely let's them loose from the perimeter.

@JayHawkFanToo Excellent post.

The way you described the first OU-WVU game where OU was not ready is exactly what happened to us against UK.

I noticed an article today on ESPN that talked about the five teams that can beat UK. Surprise, surprise, KU wasn't on there. The teams they mentioned, IMO, are not going to be able to beat them because they can't spread the floor and bomb the trey well enough to win. As HEM mentioned before, KU probably has the best chance of beating them because they can spread it out, drive and dish, and shoot the three incredibly well.

Good discussion everyone.

I was glad to see Self make the adjustment of having guys get back on defense to stop ISU when they try to run. Kind of a novel idea, I suppose.

And once again, Self has them start out in the stagnant inside-out, but eventually switches to outside-in. As we have discussed before, playing outside-in is the only way they have a chance at a final four and challenging UK.

@HighEliteMajor I agree 100%. I too was worried about Self playing more inside - out, but to my liking played outside - in.

Most importantly, though, is that they played with energy and intensity for almost the full game.

I like what you and Jaybate said - "Kentucky be forewarned...You're next!" If they play like they did this afternoon, there's no question they could beat them.

I hope that HCBS will quit trying to make this team play inside-out. It is just not who they are. They will not win number 11 pounding the ball inside. I agree with you HEM and others that playing outside-in and playing fast is the key to a deep run in March and a winnable rematch with Kentucky in the championship.

On a side note, Texas is having their predicted mid season collapse earlier than expected, and Oklahoma lost at home to K State. It really helps us out when the other contenders beat each other up.

@Crimsonorblue22 Yeah, no more showing up a half hour late.

I think what we need to do is go after guys that fill a need, ie rim protector. To fill this need, I say we land Diallo.

Top talent + experience + length + trey shooting = National Title.

Kentucky has set the example on how to have the potential for an undefeated season by having a lot of height and shot blocking ability. Combine that with seasoned veterans and good three point shooting and very few teams will come close.

Now I'm not saying that Self turns Kansas into D League team.

What I'm saying is that The Squid is trying to put together a team like this year's UK squad every year. Self has to find a way to compete against him or else we are always going to be very good, but never capable of beating Kentucky.

Hypothetical scenario -

Oubre leaves for the NBA. Selden, Alexander, and Svi stay. Green is a junior and hopefully less of a wild hair. Mason and Devonte remain the point guards. Jamari, Perry, and Bragg are the other power forwards. Self also gets Diallo plus Jaylen Brown or Thon Maker (given that he reclassifies).

This hypothetical team, which is actually somewhat realistic, would have the potential to beat the current UK squad.

@jaybate-1.0 Earlier today, slayr posted a video of Bragg playing against Trey Lyles last year and they appeared to be the same height. Lyles is listed as 6-10, so I think Bragg is probably a legit 6-9 or 6-10.

I was happy with the effort that they gave the second half. I was concerned that UNLV would extend the lead, but they came out with a lot of energy and never gave them a chance.

Everyone lately has been thinking that Cliff doesn't have a low post game. However, I saw a couple of pretty good moves yesterday against the trees of UNLV.

The most important aspect of this game is something that has not been mentioned once except by Greg Anthony yesterday, who I think is a very good analyst and like that he is doing more KU games this year. For the first time since the UNC vs KU game in 08, we finally ran consistently for the ENTIRE game. Frankly, late in the first half, it was reminiscent of the San Diego State game: a lot of shots getting blocked and missing bunnies. Around the time it looked that game is when they stopped running and looking to push the ball up the floor.

Last season, in ponderance of the team's half court offensive struggles, slayr and I proposed a Roy Williams style run and gun offensive strategy in which Wiggins and Selden could use their athleticism to get easy points. If Self had done last season what he had them do yesterday, I firmly believe that the Stanford loss never happens and they play Florida in the Elite Eight.

Let's just hope that Self makes this a trend.

@jaybate-1.0 Actually, if you take a look at Arizona's roster, they have the same amount of McDonalds All Americans as KU does.

@drgnslayr Very good post. This is the way to beat Kentucky. The problem is I don't think Self would do this. If we play them again, he probably won't change a thing just like a couple seasons ago.

One thing I would like to add to your strategy is that when the guards drive the paint, thy need to not only shot fake but also jump stop then fake. I am frankly tired of seeing guys drive into the lane and put up a floater instead of jump stopping and evaluating their options.

@Crimsonorblue22 You'd think that they would be giving 110% every second on the court but that is not the case.

@Crimsonorblue22 Agreed. We desperately need a rim protector.

@Crimsonorblue22 What amazes me about Calipari is that he is able to get his players to hustle and gel even though his teams are composed mostly of freshman. I just wish that Self could learn how to get the guys to always play with energy.