🏀 KuBuckets Archive

As KU fans we are quite blessed. Every year our beloved Jayhawks are ranked in the top 10 and mostly top 5 of the preseason rankings. Just like leaves turning colors and falling from their host tree. KU is perceived a final four team. Oh KU may not bring in the star studded classes like Kentucky or Duke but Coach gets what he wants. It's good to be a Jayhawk fan.

Yet this year is different, or is it? After last years near miss trip to the final four to the eventual champions Villanova. The players, program, Coach and the fans are pretty pumped for this year. Sure losing and replacing like Selden, and Ellis is no easy task, yet neither were really superstars. Besides Coach always gets what he needs in recruiting. Steps in Josh and Doka. Josh a superstar that plays like a junkyard dog, and Doka a towering man child that loves to block and dunk.

Except for blip in the Indiana game, everything seemed primed and ready for the long march to another conference championship, and possibly a brass ring. Sadly as it happens in sports injuries can change the course of destiny of a team. KU's big bad Doka was injured and is now lost for the season. Leaving behind more questions than answers.

Talk and perception has already begun to change. For sure KU is still the favorite to win the Big 12 conference. Yet with the loss of Doka it appears that West Virginia and Baylor have picked up ground on KU, or at the very least have moved into the conversation as legit teams to upset KU"s conference winning streak. KU is still the favorite among most to win the Big 12 conference again. Yet is it because they have the best team this year?, or is it because you have to pick KU until someone knocks them off?

Again KU is a favorite to make the tournament and make a run. However some are starting to whisper their doubts that KU can make a deep run or make the final 4 without a true rim protector that Doka was.

Myself I have a problem with all this. First losing Doka hurts, but lets be honest us KU fans really didn't know what we had with Doka. Lets not forget at the beginning of the year the consensus was that Doka would be hard pressed to get any serious playing time as he would be in foul trouble. I'm not sure many thought or dreamed he would be a starter as quickly as he did?

Losing Doka really hurts because we all got see what he could become. We got a taste of what was to become. It's like sugar on top, or getting your cake and eating it too. Doka was a surprise and just added fuel to an already highly rated and star studded team with big expectations. With Doka coming along so quickly it confirmed KU fans perceptions. That this was a KU team truly of destiny.

So what has truly changed? Nothing. KU is still the star studded team with high expectations it had before Doka. Nothing has changed.

Besides we have Coach manning the clipboard and calling the shots. Sure he hasn't won as many championships as we think he should of. Yet lets not forget we are the fan base lucky enough to be in the conversation year after year.

Sometimes in life it's about the next man up. It's not always about us and what we think, or feel. I mean after all we all experts right ??? :satisfied:

Enters Mitch Lightfoot. Oh listen to the arguments right now. He's to light, needs to gain some weight. He's a project player, he'll be good as a junior. He'll foul to much (like Doka was supposed to do). Well you know what Coach recruited this kid for a reason. He seen something in Mitch that coach said I want this kid. Sure Coach would rather take his time and bring Mitch along slowly. However as life circumstances change. The one thing that doesn't change is Coach seen something in Mitch to give a place on his team, in his program.

I have know doubt that Mitch can never be Doka. Yet maybe Mitch can be Mitch, or like the Diallo we never got to see. All I'm saying is go easy on the kid. Give him a chance. Lets not break this kid before he ever really gets a chance. Who knows what could happen. Next year we could be talking about how sic our front court will be with Mitch and Doka?

Just a couple of pennies I found today.

It was no secret to Coach Wooden success.

"In an interview with The New York Times in 1995, Wooden said his coaching philosophy revolved around three main ideals. One was to get his players “in the best possible condition.” Another was “quickness.”
“I wanted my centers to be quicker than the opposing centers, the forwards quicker than their forwards, and so on,” he explained.
The third was teamwork: “You better play together as a team or you sit.”

It isn't rocket science boys and gals. Recruit the fasted players you can. Condition them to hell and back. Then demand they play like a team.

@JayHawkFanToo

Lets not forget those star studded players stayed 4 years in college.

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Nothing like the oldies to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. :gift:

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Merry Christmas you rascals..

I have often struggled with this issue of the NCAA. It's creation was to maintain a fair and balanced playing level. It was to protect the integrity of the student athlete. In theory it was a great idea.

The problem I see with the NCAA is that it's controlled by to many Alums that have connections to their school and the conferences they play in. In many ways it's to much like our own federal government. To many cats running around more concerned about filling their pockets with cash and protecting the perception of their image.

Another grave problem is they make their money off College Basketball. That money comes in at the tune of billions of dollars. Who said College Basketball isn't a money maker? Well its hard to be fair and blanced when you're decisions could affect not only the money pie, but upset the apple cart all together.

Ever wonder why it takes the NCAA so long to react or find a conclusion, a verdict? Notice how a lot of schools impose self bans, by passing the NCAA all together?

This UNC scandal is an open and close case. UNC broke the cardinal rule of the student athlete. It's just mind numbing this case has dragged out this long. How many investigations do we need? Hell people in the know are writing books about what took place at UNC.

The NCAA is toothless, and contrary to popular belief it has no power. It's time it goes to the wayside. At the very least give back all the money it makes off college basketball. Then we can at least start mentioning the college basketball power houses in the same breath as Alabama and the Texas's of the college world.

I would say just my two cents, but I'm broke.

@mayjay

Nope, A chip is exactly what this team needs.

@chriz

It's been a while since Coach has a team that could blow teams out at will.

So get ready for a full conference season. The boys and gals will talk up KU then give you the But. You'll hear how great KU is. Yet you're going to hear how much better UCLA, UNC, DUke, and Kentucky are better.

No matter what happens on the court, or how big the blow outs will be. The same mantra will be thown out. UCLA, UNC, Duke, and Kentucky are just better. It will be like the Trumpster in that nobody really gave him a chance. Nice story, Nice team, Nice players but you just aren't as good as UCLA, UNC, Duke, and Kentucky.

You won't see any brackets filled out with KU in the final 4. You'll hear no commentaters say that the championship runs through KU. In fact KU could fall in the polls without losing. A step further listen for the drums to start beating in the flavor of WV and Baylor.

You see KU plays without a true inside game. The Historians well say you can't win this way. The ones in the know will say how can they compete against the inside presence of UCLA, UNC, Duke and Kentucky?

Well I say piss on them. If Golden state can win with a spread offense so can KU. Welcome to the revolution.

These games before Christmas are always hard. The boys are always working hard with school work, practice and playing basketball at a school like KU. It wears them down I have no doubt. Sometimes us fans forget that these men children are just that children playing a man's game.

Throw Christmas, a break to be with my family I'm not sure I could stay very focused.

Just remember my Jayhawk fans at the end of the day conference championships, national championships or a road game against UNLV means' nothing compared to family. Especially around the holidays. Lets not forget there still kids and not paid pros.

Merry Christmas.

@RockChalkinTexas

I could say I know what you feel and tell you everything will be alright, but I can't. To lose someone dear to you. only you know the true pain and the strength that is within you. I will pray for you though.

Man you guys are a tough bunch. These kids are about to fly to see their families after the last tick on the clock goes by.

I'm pretty happy with the effort.

@BeddieKU23

come one it's right before Christmas. They've just lost Doka. They're playing a true road game and are up 20. Ease up

Besides Coach will get'em LOL

Frank doesn't need to be getting hurt in a game like this.

Time for coach to put him on the bench.

@BeddieKU23

I think if you can get his energy level under control as @BShark pointed out. He can be a minutes eater for us. And who knows maybe put in a few baskets.

@BShark

I totally agree with you. He needs to control that energy. Damn we need him too.

@BShark

That's it my friend. He has to be ready we are short in front court. Whether we like it or not we need this kid. Has to be ready. Us fans don't have the luxury of breaking down this kid. We need to build him up.

@BeddieKU23

I thought the foul was questionable at best. Yet I do see your point.

Ease up on Lightfoot. We need this kid. Besides his second foul was questionable at best.

@BeddieKU23

Frank is a tank. He can't help himself.

@BShark :thumbsup:

@DanR

Damn you. I spit my beer up and damn near dropped it on the cement floor. LOL

JJ is a man everybody else are boys.

Man I love seeing a OAD going to the floor. JJ you the man.

CBS pays big money to have KU play on their channel. Yet instead we have to watch overtime verses a nobody and a nobody. LOL

@Texas-Hawk-10

Well here's hoping your wrong.

I know you don't mean too, but man you coming off as a downer. One of the key attributes of this KU team is to pump up the volume on defense. At times it just overwhelms the opponents and me as a viewer.

If you're correct then KU becomes no more than a team chucking threes. I was impressed with Doka, but it never dawned on me that he was the key piece to making a championship.

Are you sure about this?

I'm not sure what is worse here? The now famous dubbed Tripper Allen or Coach K himself.

As someone that just watches the game Coach K seems to have changed in his demeanor. It appears the win at all cost has replaced that civility must be practiced when playing the game.

I know every coach has a moment, that can be questionable. Yet this kid Allen is an obvious problem that hasn't been dealt with in the least bit until now. That now is the decision has been taken from and made without Coach K's blessing.

Man maybe those Nike dollars are cursed.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Are you saying that KU guards only play aggressive when Doka was in there? I'm not sure I agree with that. Don't get me wrong losing Doka is a game changer.

No doubt.

Yet I don't think it changes everything we do now. In fact I think it enforces and affirms the spread offense that Coach currently has KU playing right now.

@approxinfinity

My fear is the international game keeps whispering in his ear too. I don't know the numbers, yet I get this feeling he could make more money going to the International game for a couple years and then enter the NBA draft. I read something the other day that SVI is still a month younger than JJ.

My hope is Svi's parents are big on education, and would apply the pressure on Svi to finish up is education at KU. Then again I've been presently surprised by his play this year, and he seems to be getting better by each game. There is still a lot of games to be played.

We can't replace a Doka type player. His size alone says it all. Yet I know Bragg and Lucas will be fine. Maybe this is just another reason why Coach went with the 4 and 1 or now being called the spread offense. This type of offense run well saves the bigs from foul trouble and fatigue.

Now my crazy thought. I don't know why but I like this Lightfoot kid. I know he has been a bit wild in the few times he's played. Also needs to gain a few pounds. Yet there is just something about this kid I can't shake.

I'm not sure we can count on Svi being back next year. His game is really starting to open up this year and we're not even into conference play yet. His ability and talent his showing that he his more than a spot shooter.

Don't get me wrong another season would be great for Svi, but I'm not sure that happens.

Man this blows.

@globaljaybird

Thanks for trying, but I feel Hem maybe to stubborn to come back. To sad. As we both agree his insight is sorely missing. But hey it's all good. I would say we can just lock horns, but the damn thing is I agree with much of what you post.

@Kcmatt7

I know from reading a lot of your posts you're a pretty cool KU cat. Yet lets be honest last summer or year this site was rocking with so many points of views it was hard to keep track. So many were coming out of the woodwork. Maybe some trolls and maybe some not so much. Yet the honest truth was this site and it's stalwarts were not ready for so many different views of KU basketball. So much that it damn near killed this site completely. Remember it got so bad @approxinfinity created a whole another section for the so called dark siders trying to appease everyone.

If this site was run on money? Last summer or year would have been a money maker. This year not so much. Look I locked horns with HEM more than once, but I never took it personal. Besides we all Know it's hard to admit we are wrong.

Just saying I kind of like that different point of view. Sometimes it's hard to get engaged when everybody agrees with you. When everybody agrees it can create a false impression. Sometimes a loss can wake a KU team up. Well sometimes a poster posting that Coach and KU isn't all that and a bag of Doritos is what us fans need.

But I understand.

Ah so many so busy trying to mock an prove a point. @HighEliteMajor is a coach/mentor by his nature. You can tell that by his posts, or what he used to post.

A Coach/Mentor never accepts the norm. I'm sure the Great Coach Self doesn't turn to a player or his team and says hey you guys are the greatest. I'm sure the words your the best at everything you do and you no longer need to practice passes from his lips. I'm pretty sure Coaches dialogue consist of hey pretty good game but you can be better.

I know some of you are just happy that @HighEliteMajor has moved on. His post on how Coach could be better made you feel uncomfortable. His break down of what Coach did or didn't do made you feel sleazy. Also his desire to raise the bar for KU and Coach was damn near sac religion, and must be met with mob rule and pitch forks.

Rest easy there are no more posters here to stir the pot To make you think beyond your living room tv. No longer do you have to worry about engaging in some taboo line of KU basketball. Nope now we can all just hold hands and sing about how great KU and we are.

There are all kinds of KU fans. Fans that feel KU should win every game by 25 points. Fans that demand wins no matter what. Fans that think every game is a growing experience. Then there are fans that are just happy that KU won.

Yet what you truly missed was a thing of beauty. I know the Sprint Center is supposed to the be the second home for the Jayhawks. And though KU has had some success in the Sprint Center it's hardly a place that KU just dominates. If a team brings their a game? A victory can be had. The Sprint Center is like a site in the NCAA tournament. Sure KU fans will dominate the tickets sales, but they are not the usual fans you would see in a true home game at the Phog.

So many times KU after a great year of winning a conference championship roll into an NCAA tournament site only to be undressed by a hot shooting lower seed. They come out shooting the 3 like they've never missed the shot in their lives. They come out fearless with no respect for the name on KU's jerseys.

The game against Davidson was no different. Davidson was hot from three land and KU wasn't. Davidson was getting easy baskets in the paint as KU was in panic mode from the air attack Davidson unleashed on them. Yet something was different. No longer would history leave it's mark on this game or this KU team.

JJ a super star was throwing himself around on the court like a man that has nothing to lose. When in fact he has everything to lose. Yet he's a pit bull first and super star second. He can't help himself. He's a dog and the basket court is his battle ground. JJ is the OAD player us KU fans have always wanted. A stud that cares more about winning than looking good. This kid is a pit bull. Yet it wasn't just all JJ.

JJ has two dogs he looks up too. Two dogs who can hold themselves against anybody. These dogs will hunt any timber or back woods. They are fearless. Ghosts and folklore have no bearing on them. Graham and Mason are the dogs that will hunt. If you've ever hunted with great dogs, then you know what I'm talking about. When they get a scent, they're eyes glaze over. They run when they have to. They jog when they have to, and they sprint when they have to. It's all about the hunt. The tracking and destroying the hunted. You want to see a thing of beauty. Give Mason or Graham the ball and tell them they can't score in the paint or at the rim.

Yet it doesn't stop there. Svi an international kid is learning to be an assassin. If Svi has learned anything from playing under the teaching of Coach. Is it doesn't start and end with you. Play with in the system and when the time presents it's explode and take all that belongs to you. Own it and claim it. Svi my KU fans is becoming a man. Sleep on Svi and he will kill you, and he will smile when he's doing it. This kid is most likely the best at going left or right in the country. Kid is a killer.

I can and would continue but I feel I'm getting away from my point. Here's what you missed. Davidson came out on fire. Hitting every shot they wanted. KU came out cold as a witches tit. Yet KU held the fort until the shots started falling. KU didn't let Davidson get away from them even though the stats showed Davidson should have been up double digits and on the cusp of bring the knock out punch. Yet KU with stood Davidson's best even when things weren't going well and won.

That's what you missed.

@jaybate-1.0

I appreciate and love your respect for the big man and his place in the game of basketball. Yet JE the lion killer is a rare, once in a life time type player. There is no inner city magic mass producing bigs of the elk of JE.

Unless Nike drains it's banks accounts to genetically modify DNA. Small Ball is here to stay. The days of just showing up at someone shores with a bunch of marines and piss pounding someone are gone. You light them up from the skies first, then you bring in the ground game.

Man this KU team has major problems. Geez Vick sucks. OMG KU is going to die by the three. KU can't hit free throws. KU can't expect to play this way and win. The veterans no better than to play this. way.

UM Side note KU won by 20. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Geez guys. There is no major problems with this team. Just merely bumps in the road.

@HawkChamp

It's a long season Kids have ups and downs. As long as they pull it together. All is well. KU wins coach gets a chance to rip his guys in practice.

LIke I said all is good.

@Crimsonorblue22 I know noticed that too. LOL

Anybody notice that after a made Davidson basket if they can they will bump into the ball. Bouncing it back up the court.

Or am I just seeing things?

Davidson getting away with to easy of a game. Time for KU to rough them up.

Bragg is very lucky man. I know justice prevailed here. Yet there isn't always a camera to show your innocence. So many think that stars at big time schools can get away with anything. Maybe in some schools (cough sec). Yet all it took is one phone call from a female screaming abuse, and Bragg is picked up arrested and charged. It took stone cold evidence for the charges to be dropped. Luckily every thing turned out as it should.

Kids will be kids and Bragg is still just a young man. KU players have to realize everybody wants a piece of them good or bad. Staying out after midnight is not a good idea. No matter what Braggs intentions were. The first question was what was he doing out after midnight.

Hopefully Bragg has learned from this experience. He might not be so lucky next time. The world is no longer about right and wrong. It's about mob rule, and class warfare. Bragg got lucky this time. The powers to be were loading up and ready to make a deal out of this. Just ask Kevin Keitzmen from 810 am. I know he's nothing but a douche when it comes to KU and Coach, but he still has a platform. A lot of people listen to the man.

@drgnslayr

Your are correct. We have to root for the others. It's our saving grace as the true fans of college basketball and fans of College sports in general. Basketball started with KU and we must be the ambassadors of the game.

(( A tip of the cap ))

@drgnslayr

I'm afraid I have to disagree on the capitalism theory. To me capitalism is letting those to big to fail, to fall. Capitalism to me is indeed about the underdog, the lesser being if you will. I chance for a man or business to cut a piece of the pie for themselves.

What is happening in the NCAA is far from Capitalism. It's more like politicians afraid of losing power they never really had. Just glad KU has a seat at the table with all this greed. I would hate to see the real history of basketball go to the way side with this movement.

Texas mantra basketball.

Hey our coach beat KU once, long time ago.

Damn a Coach beats KU once and he is set for life.

Come on.

After KU sleeped walked to 20 point win vs Nebraska. The wheels in the old and crusty mind began to turn. They truned so hard the cat jumped and left the room and the dog began to bark nonstop like it had seen a ghost.

What in the world has happened to College sports? What has happened to our love affiar? There was a time being a stundent athlete really meant something. It meant you were apart of something. It meant a chance at an education that you might not otherwise reciece. Most of all it meant tradition and family. What happened?

KU and NU have been playing each other every year for over a hundred years. Not anymore. KU and MU's rivarly was up there as one of the best. Now we don't even look at each other. OH how money has changed so much of what we used to love. I know we want to blame Texas in our world of thinking, yet this is bigger than Texas. Yes even bigger than Texas.

After the KU vs NU Game I channeled surfed for a bit and seen WSU and Oklahoma trading punches. Why can't the Shockers trade punches in the so called Big 12? Why can't Boise St. trade punches in a big time conference?

Money it seems is trying to shorten the list of big time programs, yet in the process it is killing some very great matchups, and pureness of the college athlete and college sports. Why is this? Every year the NFL draft is full of kids that didn't play in the so called power 5 conferences. Every year a star is born in the pros that didn't play at a power 5 conference.

Remember the old big East? Not much in football but just crazy in basketball. Gone like an ancient relic and why? Remember when Maryland played in the ACC? Remember when NU was a Big 8 team?

Oh we as KU fans are happy because we have a seat at the big boy table. Yet are we really happy? We are one big conference shake up from watching our brethren Kansas St. fall into obscurity. Sure they don't know it and deny and deny. Yet we know. We all know. KU has something they don't have a national brand. Our basketball.

I know the money tells guys like me to shut up and just be happy. And maybe I should. Just be happy that no matter what happens KU is going to be in. Yet as a fan it kind of saddens me. How long before money destroys the ncaa tournament, laying it wagers on a all big boy tournament?

Just a couple cents I have.

KU sleeping walking to a 20 point victory.

Go figure.

For get every thing the biggest thing for this KU team is free throws. Lets just be honest they're terrible.

I digress this current KU team has that magical aura of greatness. They play such solid defense and score at will it seems. It is truly pick your poison, because somebody on KU's team is going off.