Way to go. Look to the future.
I'm going to say we will be better. Selden needs to stay for that to happen and I believe that he will (he certainly should).
More experienced. Selden will be much better and ready to be a leader.
Traylor will continue to improve.Maybe not tremendously, but continue to get better.
Perry will be better... again maybe not tremendously, but better.
Mason, CF, Greene....can't help but better as sophomores.
Oubre and Alexander replace Wiggins and Embiid (most likely). A bit of a dropoff there as we won't have Embiid's game changing skills on both ends and Oubre probably won't be able to take over as Wiggins did some of the time.
Obviously, the big question is....who is our PG next season.?
Yes, it is an open competition.
Despite the issues he has had, I am not ready to give up on Tharpe.
Right about now, I feel like I am the only one that feels that way.
I don't know about our schedule, but I have to believe it will be easier, so our record should be better.
Competition for the next B12 title?
I haven't looked at exactly what the other teams lose, but I would say Texas and OU, as I think they both have a lot coming back.
Advancing further in the tournament?
Wildcard, but Jeez I hope so.
@HighEliteMajor Well I can't disagree. Poor (or non-existent) in-game adjustments. The Former Pro commentators were unanimous about how to attack the zone....get to the middle of it.
Our efforts inside reminded me of SDSU.
I got sick of seeing Traylor and Ellis trying to take it inside with no results. Stanford's length intimidated and / or altered our shots.
I would like to have seen Perry step outside, or in the middle of the zone and hit the jumper. He must have Spaulding (or whomever makes the bballs these days) stamped on his forehead.
We couldn't match up inside and should have tried something.....anything else.
As a fan, I consider it my privilege to look ahead and hope for an easier path down the road. I hope Florida loses, just in case it helps us.
Me, or any one of you, looking ahead doesn't affect our chances of winning.
We just need the team to take it one game at a time....and that is Self's job.
In going over the Stanford roster, I forgot about the KU connection on their roster.
I remember when he committed.
Christian Sanders....son of Brad Sanders from our 75-79 teams.
Doesn't look like he plays as a freshmen, but kind of cool.
@drgnslayr I can understand wanting Syracuse again. I also understand your point about the lower seeds.
But, at some point these lower seeds run come to an end.
That's why I like the odds of playing the lower seeds.
Sometimes the path to the final four (or wherever) is made for you.
You couldn't ask for more than to have a 10 and an 11 seed in your path to the Elite 8.
Now....that doesn't mean we will win or that it will be easy. But whatever happens, I still prefer this path than the "chalk" path.
@Crimsonorblue22 Don't read too much into that.
I didn't say that it would be easy.
@FarSideHawk That is my view.
This sets up nicely. Just need to beat Stanford.
@drgnslayr On the surface, I feel the same way. But...I have to imagine that AW3 has been getting outplayed in practice as the season has progressed.
I don't think his lack of playing time is due to what he has done, or not done, in the brief minutes he was in earlier in the season.
So, if he is getting outplayed in practice, Self is not going to play him in the games.
@REHawk No question that the PG position will be wide open next year.
I'm not as sure as many of you that say Tharpe will be a reserve player.
I understand the rationale...based on what Mason and CF have showed as freshmen. I just think that Tharpe has shown us enough in spurts that he may be able to rise to the challenge.
But it will be interesting.
@drgnslayr Fair enough.
And we did see that Self was already there by telling CF to expect to play more.
Agree. You can't let him continue to play and make mistakes.
But you continue to start him.
Symbolic? Maybe, but I still think it is the right thing to do.
@nuleafjhawk Fair enough. That is why, if he does not perform, others have to get some minutes...but I would still start him.
@HighEliteMajor I posted on another thread. If he benches Tharpe, don't we have a confidence problem...both with Tharpe, and potentially with the whole team?
Making a switch in the middle of the tournament is a tough deal.
I would say continue to start Tharpe, play CFand Mason more, and give the majority of the minutes to the guy who is the most effective.
If that is CF one game, so be it, if Mason another, so be it.
Tharpe has proven to be effective in some games.....if he plays to the same level...he gets the majority if the minutes.
I think there is a downside to not starting Tharpe. Tharpe loses confidence and the team loses confidence in him, and maybe themselves also.
I think benching your most experienced player in the middle of the tournament could have a negative effect on the whole team.
Now....is it any better starting him and then taking him out when he makes too many mistakes? Debatable, but I think it is.
He could also bounce back and have a game or two like he has in the past and could win us a game or to.
I would start Tharpe, but give Frankamp more time, and ultimately give more minutes to the guy that is the most effective in that game.
@VailHawk Wow. I didn't even think about Greene not playing. Probably because in the 1st half the lineup with Mason and CF brought us back. Self decided to stay with those 2 only off of the bench.....guess it worked out.
Well I know there will be lots of hand wringing over Tharpe's play. If he struggles, we will continue to see more of Mason and now Frankamp.
Connor was key (even though he didn't hit a 3!).
Loved the energy and hustle that Jamari brought.
When we went up by 7 early in the 2nd half you felt like....OK this is where we pull away. Then that quick 10-0 run and I thought...Uh oh we've still got a game.
I finally started to breathe when we got back up by 5 again.
Survive and Advance, Baby.
@DanR Whether you agree with it or not, tats don't go over well in the business world. There are plenty of people who are not close to retirement age that would not hire someone or want someone to work for them that have tats.
If you are in a job where you have contact with people outside of your particular company, or if you are in certain types of professional jobs, you might not get a job because of tats.
Of course, some are not noticeable.
@HighEliteMajor Great points and well expressed as usual!
I was thinking simply that he has been great due to his humility and buying into the team first mentality. You delved deeper.
Couldn't agree more.
@Crimsonorblue22 I think it could mean that Turner got tired of waiting, but who knows.
@JRyman Agreed. Selection Sunday is my Christmas Eve and Thursday morning is my Christmas morning.
If possible, I take Thursday afternoon off and go to a Sports Bar that shows all of the games on separate screens on one wall. It's perfect.
@JayHawkFanToo I remember that the word going around was that they had us for worse stuff and we "copped" to the Askew thing.
Of course, this was never verified.
@HighEliteMajor The same goes for you!
@JayHawkFanToo I hope you are right, but I am inclined to agree with bskeet. If play UNM and win without a problem, I will come right to this sight and congratulate you on your insight.....and be glad to do it!
@JayHawkFanToo Regarding UNM, I am worried.
1. Embiid got their big guy in foul trouble and he was a non-factor. Can Black do that?
2. Embiid is worth more than the point differential between he and his replacement. It is hard to quantify how many points he prevents by altering shots.
3. Their guard, Greenwood, did not play against us due to injury. He is back now.
4. They appear to be playing their best ball right now.
5. They beat SDSU......and they are good.
Now...should we win? Yes, but we have to play well for that to happen.
Given our inconsistency, I think that is a reason to be concerned.
My concern is probably having to face New Mexico, whom most of the "experts" think should have been higher than a 7, without Joel.
@globaljaybird Fair enough!
@globaljaybird So....you are worried about Eastern Kentucky?
I don't think we are in the toughest bracket, but we got a tough #7 in UNM. Even though we beat them in KC, it will be tougher without Joel. Also, they are playing better now. (Of course most teams, in theory, should be playing better now than in December.
In fact, Vitale, for what it is worth, says we can't beat them without Joel.
I don't know if that is true, but without Joel, I would prefer Stanford.
@Crimsonorblue22 That was my assumption. Probably should have said hinged on Selden "leaving".
@Crimsonorblue22 Regarding Lyle, I assume his / our interest hinged on Selden coming back?
@icthawkfan316 I agree. I don't think I ever felt like Tharpe was playing out of position. Remember.....he was not that highly rated coming out of high school. Originally committed to Providence. We got in late after missing on higher rated point guards.
Don't get me wrong, I love Tharpe and still have high hopes for him.
But it did appear that he was our backup plan. That happens a lot.
@MoonwalkMafia I was just getting ready to post the same sentiment.
Yes, they lose their 2 best players but will still have Niang, Long, Hogue, Morris, and Thomas. Morris was player of the year in Michigan last year and you could see him get better and better as the year went by. Niang ate our lunch Friday. Thomas could turn into a dangerous, consistent 3 pt. threat. Long and Hogue are good. It wouldn't surprise me if they get a transfer or 2.
Hoiberg is a good coach.
I agree...they are not going anywhere.
The Custer kid from Kansas state champs will be there next year.
Anyone know what the feeling is about how good he will be at ISU?
@HighEliteMajor You really have thought this through and in theory it sounds like it could work.
But I can't see Self doing anything like that.
Call it belief in your system, stubbornness, or whatever.
Of course none of us knows what he really thinks, but I believe he will try to continue to prod a better defensive effort / performance from this team, scrape by into the sweet 16 and hope for Embiid's return.
He knows that is the only way we win even 4 games.....at least without doing something like you have suggested.
I have been continually frustrated by Tharpe's defense.
Why can't he stay in front of his man more? Is it effort? I don't think he's that slow, is he? Same for Ellis.
I was also going to comment that I thought Traylor's defense wasn't as bad as you said. Then I saw a highlight of one of Niang's baskets and Traylor just stood there in front of him....it was probably late when we had obviously "given up",...but still it was bad.
@drgnslayr But, wouldn't that make our team slightly above average?
We don't want that.
@dylans Or if you remember this one.....
"Oh, Danny Boy"
Off topic, but I have been watching the other conference championships. It is fun to watch the close games in the smaller conferences where the teams haven't been to the dance in a long time or, maybe, never. Plus, you never know if you are watching a future KU opponent in the first round.
Just saw Coach Manning's Tulsa team beat La. Tech for the Conference USA berth.
Congratulations to an all time KU great!
@KUSTEVE Agree 100%
@KUSTEVE I agree about a lot of the posters on the other site. I can't stand the negativity.
Yes, our team has issues, but there are ways to express your feelings on those issues without sounding like a negative nancy.
I just scan the comments and look for Oak's post. His posts are right on the money.
@wissoxfan83 You are basing that, I assume, on the recent losses to WVU and ISU. The committee looks at the entire season's body of work, while also looking at recent trends (and I do see your point on that issue).
I don't see them penalizing us for losing to ISU....they are a good team.
Other teams are having some problems also.
But as you say....not a lot of difference between a 2 and a 3.
I would like to be a 2 in the Midwest, though.
@wissoxfan83 I will be very surprised if we are lower than a 2. I don't think the committee penalizes us for losing to a good team in the conference tournament. Unless they move us down one for Embiid's injury.
I still expect a 2 seed.
@DinarHawk I woke up this morning thinking the same thing. In theory, we will not face anyone as good as ISU until the Sweet 16. Sure, someone could shoot 11-18 from 3 in the first 2 games against us, but it's not likely and I'll take those odds.
But, clearly we need Embiid back to have a good chance at winning in the Sweet 16.
Actually, we couldn't guard any of their guys.
Offense was terrible in the 2nd half. Nobody could guard Niang. Wiggins wasn't hitting. Tharpe was invisible, for the most part.
They were hot from 3.
Did I miss anyting?
I will say Perry steps up tonight. ISU appears to be a good matchup for him.
Plus, he is due for a good game.
You folks are making good points about Black tomorrow....I don't know who he is going to guard.
@bskeet Thanks, I took it for what it was...helpful hint.
@jaybate 1.0 Greatly, thanks.
But, we gave up 44 in the 2nd half....not good.
Of course, we'll take the win.
@konkeyDong Can you give me your thoughts on the game?