🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Wow. That's laying it on the line JB. Certainly we didn't play well. I walked away from the TV wondering how we just won.
The first thought is......luck. I also was amazed at some of the shots that Tech took and made as the shot clock was winding down. It seemed to be their night.
I'll take it.

I think the point about Perry stepping outside and hitting the jumper (not necessarily a 3 pointer) when he is matched up against a bigger guy is a great one. I have often yelled at the TV for him to do just that. If he does that a few times, he then might be able to use his quickness and drive right around some of the bigger guys.
I think Embiid is the one key (if forced to pick one) to our success.
However, teams will double him. He has to be able to continue to learn to properly handle the double and we have to make teams pay for that. I think he / we will.

KSU's loss to Baylor now means that Texas is the only team with a plausible chance of unseating us as Big 12 Champs. But, they still have to play at ISU, at OU, and of course come to AFH. If we beat OU and Texas at home (and if we can't do that we deserve whatever happens), we would have to lose all 3 road games and have Texas win 1 of either OU or ISU to tie us. Which I can see happening.
That is why Tuesday's game at Tech is important. And as I said before, in earlier posts I think some of us are taking them too lightly.
Have you seen their conference scores? They have been in every game and are tough at home.

I think we are better with Wiggins. I don't think our record would be as good. I don't think whomever played in his place would have been as productive or, as Crimson points out, would have played nearly as good defense. Certainly someone else (Greene/) would have developed more.
I, also, view Embiid's departure as likely. I think he will want to stay....but won't be able to turn down being possibly the number 1 pick.

@JayhawkRock78 On TV, they did show "Jeanie" on the screen and mentioned that her husband is a Jayhawk Alum (cool!). Seeing her brought back similar memories for me.
I missed Rush, but did see Withey and Young behind the bench.

@nuleafjhawk. Your 1993 Livestock Judging Championship comment cracked me up!

@KUSTEVE Hilarious! Also, a more relevant question!

In earlier posts about Joel, people have said the next 2 games might be good for him to miss (if that is needed).
I think some of us might be taking Tech way too lightly. Look at their conference results. They have not been beaten badly. I think their biggest loss has been about 11 to ISU in the first game. I recall ISU pulled away late. They've played everyone tough and won some big games.
True....they might on paper be the 2nd worst team in the conference (ignoring the standings), but I think this will be a tough game.
I agree that if Joel is hurting we would all want to take the long view and get him healthy....miss the Tech game by all means if that is what is best for his health and performance in the tournament.
I don't think victory is as "certain" as some have inferred.

A couple of other thoughts....
That pick and roll play that KState ran time after time late in the game was driving me crazy....we couldn't stop it.
After the comeback and Black's bucket to start the OT, I really felt like we had the momentum and were going to be alright.
But.....we couldn't stop them....not one single time in OT.
Brannen's TO, Perry and Wiggins each going 1 for 2 at the foul line.....and we were basically done because we couldn't stop them.

We now know what life with our perimeter defense (this year) and no rim protector is like.
Lots of points for the opposition in the paint.
KStates defense on us reminded me of how we usually are against other teams.
Not this year.
If Embiid gets healthy, and everything gels, we have a chance for a NC.
The loss itself was no big deal. Young team, tough environment.....it happens.
4 losses still probably wins the league out right, 5 probably ties. But I haven't looked at everyone else's schedule recently.
As HEM, I think, said some time ago, each loss brings us further from a number 1 seed.
I'm seeing a 2 or maybe a 3 seed.
I'm hopeful, but I'm just not feeling a NC run here with this team. Feels like we're too young. Kentucky 2 years ago was an exception, I think.
I hope I'm wrong......

@dylans You bring up a point I meant to make earlier. Smart's actions didn't border on assault......they did constitute assault.
Now, recent reports seem to indicate that a racial slur was not used. You would think that one or more people could confirm what or wasn't said.
If a racial slur was not used.......did Smart think he heard something? Or did he use that as an excuse? If so, crying wolf hurts all of us. Or did he not even make that claim?
And yes, I think it is important what Orr said.
That is a line that you don't cross and it is worse than calling him a piece of crap.

@tundrahok Agreed. Obviously, you can't strike anyone at anytime. I was referring to the specific case at hand.....going after someone in the stands.

No excuse for going after a fan in the stands. Smart should and will be suspended.
That said, If the fan used a racial slur, he crossed the line and should also be punished. Which I think he will. If you read Smart's lips......it sure appears that he heard something like that.
One thing.....something like that could have come out of the mouth of someone else in the crowed....not the Orr guy.
Either way, I agree, a middle aged guy has no business constantly yelling stuff at a college player.

This is a game we could lose if we don't play well. Staten and Harris are very good.
We should have the advantage inside, though. They are not very big and certainly not as deep as we are up front. Hopefully, Embiid can dominate like he has in the past. If not though, or if he gets in foul trouble, we can bring in Black and Traylor.While their offensive games are not real dangerous, they can both get the job done. Agree that this is a team against which Perry could dominate.
Tharpe, or Mason, or both, have to do a decent job on Staten or he could dominate all by himself....he's really good.

I don't see Wiggins getting 40. Even if you argue that we are less balanced than before......we are still balanced enough. 30? I'll buy that.

@drgnslayr I always thought that Martin just went too far. Kids can only take so much. SC isn't doing much. We'll see how he does long term.

HEM,
That is what scares me about this team. I think we will win the conference and be considered a contender for the NC. However, matchups could get us in the tournament. We don't match up well with long, athletic, tough teams. They've killed us. Except Baylor.....and I'm worried about Tuesday because they are coming off the win at OSU and tend to put short streaks of good play together.
We'll have to have faith in Self to figure out how to win with the very good players that he has even though they aren't all the type of players he usually has on his team.
After years of watching teams that win ugly, and when they don't have any offense because they keep other teams from scoring........this is different for all of us.
I usually don't care about officiating because it goes both ways and rarely impacts games.
I didn't see that the call on Selden made any sense at all.
Also, after watching games all day yesterday, flopping is becoming almost as big a problem in the college game as it is in the pros.

I noted with interest Turner's comment on Self's feedback on his attending KU if Embiid stays. It makes sense and I love Self's honesty with recruits. I find these tidbits really fascinating since very little of those conversations come out since the coaches can't comment. You always wonder how the coaches handle these uncertain scenarios.......at least we know with this one instance.
Clearly one of the reasons he is waiting is to see if Joel leaves or stays.....probably waiting on other uncertainties also.

@oldhwkfan Well I'm not a scout, obviously, but I think that LaFrentz was a decent, but not great player iin the NBa was because he wasn't the athlete that many of the players at the next level were. There also is that intangible basketball IQ......maybe that is why the scout didn't know. I recall that Ricardo Patton, the coach at CU at the time. when asked by the Denver GM, whom he thought would be the best pro between Pierce and LaFrentz.....he said LaFrentz. So, it's hard to tell.

@HighEliteMajor I agree that Lucas's production in the short stints is very good. However, that doesn't mean he would be able to do it for a long period of time. I'm not ready to say he's better than Black.....yet.

@HighEliteMajor No question, a # 1 seed is preferable. I think the reason #1 seeds win the NC more often is twofold...they are good to begin with and the path is easier. I always want to get a #1 seed so we don't have to PLAY a #1 seed until the final four.
But, I think if we don't get a #1, then we lump our chances, based on historical statistics in with the 2,3,4's.
One thing in our favor is that the non #1's win for a reason. In our case, it would be because we are young and lost games early in the season. That is a legitimate reason for thinking that we could be one of the non #1s to win.

I have to give the TCU fans credit for the signs. The YMCA sign was funny. Do you think they'll have the 9169 score at next year's game? Probably not.

@approxinfinity Very true.

Random thoughts. Wiggins makes everything look so easy. I love his infectious smile that comes out every once in a while on the court and more often on the bench. Our depth really is incredible. You can tell that Greene, if playing major minutes, could be really productive. Lucas, again, looked good. He needs free throw improvement lessons from Traylor, though. Man, Perry missed some layups again. We'll need him to make those in some of the upcoming games. Great balance on his team. Some games, Tharpe has carried us. Didn't seem like he did much this game but it didn't matter.

Off topic, but a special shout out and Rock Chalk to Gary Woodland (KU alum) who is leading the golf tournament at Torrey Pines. His caddie has a Jayhawk on his name tag banner. Pretty cool.

@lighthawk You are right and I have been thinking that that could very likely happen. The tournament is all about TV and they love to set up those kind of matchups.

I think TCU is underrated based on the fact that they are better than you would think being 0-6 in the conference. Decent showing in non-conf., played OU tough at Loyd Noble and some other close conference games.
The only thing that worries me is that sometimes these types of things can be on the players minds so much that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Shouldn't happen though.....

I'll go with Arizona, Syracuse, KU...obvious reasons.
Michigan State....assuming they get healthy....Dawson is out for a while and joins Payne on the "injured" list.
OSU....Smart, Nash. and that pest Forte get to the elite 8....but no further.
SDSU.....not just because they beat us but because of that defense.
Iowa....I think 2 from the Big 10 is a good bet and they are as good a guess as any.
Florida.....based on their record so far.

Of course there will be some interloper.....impossible to predict who that might be.

Not making the cut:
WSU.....guess I'm just not sold on them based on their schedule....although their seeding will make it easier for them to get there....also I think they had their run last year.

ISU.....too dependent on the 3
Villanova.....ditto.

I thought about picking Missouri........Ha! just kidding!

@globaljaybird With all the joy at winning the OSU game, I forgot that my first thought was that Frank actually made the wrong play.......he shouldn't have tried to knock the ball loose.....could have been a disaster....but it worked out.

@Hawk8086 Ahhh!. Sweetheart.

@dylans Good night ladies. Hit it, sweatheart.

@Kip_McSmithers Hilarious! Thanks.

@jaybate 1.0 I like it! WSU may yet find out what it is like to be "the favorite" on a consistent basis.......very difficult.....especially in the Big Dance.

First of all.....
I have often thought that some posters are too sensitive about comments / opinions made by the TV commentators and just can't handle the truth. I try to be as objective as I can, but I think Gottlieb was obvious in his bias against KU and it came off as unprofessional.
What did Embiid do to earn the T? Just his language? I couldn't tell from the TV coverage.

@iowajayhawk2005 Tubby won a national championship. I don't think you can win a national championship (no matter how much talent you have....almost) without being a decent coach.

@DoubleDD Embiid was not well known until late in his senior season, I believe. I think UK already had locked up Randle by then. I don't know if they recruited Joel or not, but his finalists were KU, Florida, and Texas.

@Blown I was not worried about making the tournament, but the thought that this was the year where our string of championships ended sure was at the top of my mind. I felt it was way too early to worry about the Dance. Plus, Self's track record speaks for itself...this team reminds me of the 2006 team but with higher end talent. When that team lost 2 of the first 3 in the conference.....I was worried at that time. Also, our 4 losses were teams that (at this time.......we'll see what Dinwiddie's injury does to CU) are tournament teams and you don't get penalized as much for losing to good teams.

The TV guys have made a big deal out of Joel getting a F1 and F2 in back to back games. Guys that keep making dumb plays that hurt the team could be referred to as knuckleheads. From all reports, Joel is about as far from a knucklehead as you can get.
Could it happen again? Sure, but I don't see it being a continuing problem.

@JayHawkFanToo Well, I get a little nervous thinking that way. Their problem is a lack of size. When they hit their shots....they can play with a lot of teams. The problem is, as the saying goes.....live with the 3, die with the 3.

Great win that puts us in the drivers seat....although only 3 games in. While we wouldn't have won without Tharpe or Wiggins having the game they did, the biggest impact was by Embiid. In the 2nd half he dominated at both ends. They couldn't stop him on offense. On defense, not only did he block shots (even a 3!) but he changed shots and also got into their heads.
No question that we need to clean up the turnovers.....we can't always count on a team missing so many 3s.
If we can win the next 2 home games.....we'll really be in good shape.

@Crimsonorblue22 Love the picture! The sweetest sound of the night was the sound of silence as the fans started to file out before the game was completely over!

@HighEliteMajor Another interesting questions that, again, cuts to the heart of the OAD dilemma.
I take Embiid. By the end of the season he could be the talk of the NCAA.....seriously. He could prove to be a once in a great while player.
That being said, your underlying point that very good, but not OAD players are best for building a NC is true.
However, no matter what we think, Self will continue to recruit the very best players that he can. Just about any other coach will do the same thing. In the winning is everything environment that operate in, the best players give them the best chance of winning.

@HighEliteMajor Agree that it is possible they both transfer....hopefully not probable. Certainly a higher risk that we lose 1....White being the greater possibility, I think.
I would think (hope) that one of them would see Selden, Oubre, and CF being the competition for playing time and think they could earn minutes as part of that competition, as a 3 man ration at the 2/3 is standard. Of course, we don't know how the experience in general has colored their perceptions of that.

One thing that makes no sense to me is a comment in an article (maybe KC star?) that said that if Williams had taken a swing at Embiid after getting elbowed then they both would have been ejected and missed the next game for fighting. I believe that is a true statement, but it seems unfair.
Shouldn't Embiid's actions stand alone? Why should his penalty depend on Williams' reaction?
Does not make sense to me. Glad it didn't happen.

Has Wiggins taken plays off and hurt the team? Maybe he hasn't had the intensity everyone would like to see. I think that he gives the impression of not hustling sometimes because of his laid back, fluid style.
He is our leading scorer. If he hasn't done what coach wants, maybe he takes him out for a period of time.....which he had on occasion...maybe not as much as everyone apparently wants.

You saw what it takes to beat ISU. Oklahoma can shoot. Will this be the game where we wish some of our shooters had played more? Will CF get more minutes? I expect Kane to play. We'll see how much the ankle affects his play.

@CaptnMo Yes. Greene came in for mop up minutes only. I would have expected some of the guys come in earlier for some meaningful minutes with such a big lead.

The other thing I liked is how we handled the double teams in the post. We made them pay for doubling.

This was a good day. We pound the purple kitties and ISU loses. We are now one up on the Clones (since we won at OU), even if they beat us on Monday.
I, also, was wondering why, with 5 mins. left and up by 20, Greene (or White) did not come in the game for something other than mop up minutes.
Monday will be very tough. A loss won't hurt us as this is one of the toughest road games. A win.....really puts us 2 up on ISU.

@VailHawk Good point about Knight vs. the others.