@brooksmd pretty solid
HawkChamp
3175 posts
We will be fortunate to get out with a W. Is some of this the result of coaching?
@wissox no excuse for college players shooting under 60% at the line
@DoubleDD I get that but the play has been underwhelming all season. North Carolina returned numerous players just like we did and they are playing at a high level.
I hope the guys play with more focus going forward. This is unacceptable for veteran guys.
@RockChalkinTexas Bills teams have done that for years. You simply can't over help on drives. Force them into a tough two over the top.
@Texas-Hawk-10 right now, no one should be expecting that game to be close. Too often our guys space out on defense, miss layups or wide open shots and commit bonehead turnovers. Those things should not be happening with a veteran group.
@BeddieKU23 I disagree. You blowout inferior teams, not putter around with them. If we face an inferior team in March (UNI, VCU), we can't let it be close.
Man need to play better than this if we want to play with UNC, UCLA, etc.
Have to make open shots.
Should be up ten or more. This Davidson team is not good
@DCHawker I agree - UNC would be a tough match but we could beat them.
@BeddieKU23 I disagree. Carolina getting closer by forcing them into tough shots in the half court. That's exactly what UCLA did
@BeddieKU23 I think Wall was faster.
@BeddieKU23 yep. I can see UK winning by 20. This is exactly why you have to keep them in the half court like UCLA did.
@jayballer54 At this point, especially with the win at Kentucky, UCLA should be a one seed no doubt. Baylor's biggest win is against Louisville - what has Xavier done in the last three years to warrant a top 15 ranking? I agree - don't see Baylor getting a one seed, just way too much competition for it.
Honestly, Kentucky looks like the same team from last year, just substitute Fox for Ullis (though Ullis was better) and Monk for Murray (though Murray was a better slasher). Very little inside scoring from their bigs. The biggest key to getting a W against them on 1/28 is keeping them out of transition. There is a reason Cal wants them to run all the time - they have a hard time scoring against a good team in the half court.
I foresee only one team in the ACC getting a one seed - Duke. My guess is they will end up having two conference losses - at UNC and somewhere else. Too strong to lose any more than that when fully healthy.
In the end, Villanova and UCLA, IMO are already locks for one seeds. Why? Because they play in cream puff conferences and will lose one, maybe two games all year. For KU to earn a one seed, which will be very difficult, we need to hold serve at home (do this every year) and win at the places we normally don't win at - ISU, WVU and OSU. Not a huge deal if we lose at Baylor, but we have to win against teams that aren't as talented. I think two losses in conference will get a one seed. Anything more than that and we risk not getting that top seed. That loss to Indiana would have helped tremendously but it happened and the only thing to do now is win.
@BeddieKU23 Oregon does not look like the same as last year - I have no idea what is going on with them.
MSU has not looked good either and is not deserving of a top 25 ranking.
Tennessee is also not a top 25 team - even without Berry, Carolina should never ever have been down double digits to them at home.
With this behind him, hopefully he will put all of his effort in class and on the court - I would expect no less than extra effort and motivation.
@Statmachine thanks for the info man. If you hear anything else, keep us posted please.
@Lulufulu yep - all about priorities. I think we have found the reason for his on court issues
@JayHawkFanToo I'm referring to both halves.
@kjayhawks he really doesn't get enough credit around here for how much he has improved his post game. The hook shot and fadeaway are the hardest shots to defend which is why the running hook is a great shot for Dok. Like I have said before, he needs more touches down on the block so that he can work on his moves during real game situations, not just practice.
@JayHawkFanToo yes, "at the end of the game". Some act like teams will just foul him at random points during a game, which would be a terrible strategy. Like Jay Bilas says, you can get points back but you can't get fouls back. "Hack a Shaq" is only a strategy that would be employed, as you suggest, at the end of the game in desperation mode. Otherwise, fouls, for example, during the first half would be accumulated which obviously goes toward getting in the bonus and of course separate fouls against the players. In essence, I am not worried about this strategy because we would only see it in a close game at the end of the game. If that occurs, we would simply put Landen in, who is a proven capable foul shooter.
@benshawks08 I realize that, but until team defense is at that level, I think the guards shouldn't defend like they have been if we're going to keep giving up layups.
Like you all said, Duke has the talent to be the best by March. Will they? I don't know. I'm not going to crown them before they earn anything. If they win at UNC and Louisville, win the ACC and the ACC tournament, then I'll say they're the favorite. They will never be as good as they could be without a true PG, and Grayson is not really a distributor. He does do a good job for not being one.
Slayer, I don't know if we have to improve at a "rapid rate". There is only so good a team can get. How much better is UNC going to be? Or UCLA? They have been shooting lights out and practically everything they throw up (15-23 from three the other night IIRC). Is it possible to sustain over 50% the entire year? Remember - Indiana shot I believe 15-29 from three against us and yet we were in a position to win despite Devonte playing with cramps the whole game, Landen not playing well and Josh not yet established, and Indiana is at the top with UNC, UCLA, Kentucky, and NOVA. I am not convinced that other teams are going to get so much better the rest of the year just hard to see that with any other team other than Duke.
The key as others have said is defense. The perfect example is NOVA last year. They did not improve necessarily throughout the year, but played to their personal potential in the tournament (yes I'm aware of their regular season games). Largest average margin of victory in a long time. It was their defense that lead to production on the other end. What I get tired of seeing from our guys is giving up an easy basket because someone was overplaying the wing or just plain lost their man. Those are the kinds of mistakes that can't happen and hint at a lack of focus.
Villanova is still good - Josh hart is frontrunner for NPOY, but like you said before slayer, they aren't sneaking up on anyone and they have had several close games that shouldn't have been close. North Carolina, after having been declared the best team by numerous media folks has really struggled the last couple games. THey looked good in Maui, but did not exactly play top ten teams out there.
UCLA is an offensive powerhouse like I have not seen since Carolina in 2009. If they even shoot their average, they will have little resistance en route to Phoenix Their defense is OK, not great so if shots aren't falling they could be in trouble. As for Duke, if they get Giles back, no one would be able to match their talent. After watching Bolden, it is going to take him a little bit to get back in the groove. Giles would probably be in a similar situation.
The teams at the top this year are very strong. All the blue bloods are in the top ten and it will be a toss up who cuts down the nets this year. All the sports pundits are going to predict Duke to win it all, but just like every year, it is anyone's to win.
As long we focus on improving each game, we will be fine in March. The one seed and home field advantage in KC is an opportunity not to pass up.
@chriz I know right! Hard to believe
@JayHawkFanToo if true, that bodes well for Carlton. Hopefully this will be resolved quickly and he will be on the court by conference play. Maybe she is part of the reason for his questionable play? Off court issues can do that
@jayballer54 considering that he struggled against Washburn and Emporia State, I will take this
@brooksmd I know! I wake up this morning and the world is coming to an end. Man, I thought our first half was really good. I guess no one else thinks so.
@drgnslayr I think Landen understands the situation and is starting to figure out how to play in his new role. He figured it out last year and he will figure it out again. I think some people forget how the beginning of last year went and how disjointed it was at certain points. The 08 team did not jump out of the gate as the best team either. Like you said, we all knew Dok would be raw but has a lot of potential. To me what I am seeing is not surprising at all and I don't why anyone else is. He has come a long way in the first month and has several nice moves in the post, something that people were saying he wouldn't be able to do and yet he can. It's the old question - play our vets a lot now or play the freshman with a lot of potential to get experience. IMO, Dok has too much talent and potential to sit on the bench, even in a tight game. If he doesn't get PT now, then we can't count on him in March, and we will need him.
Despite what people are saying, I thought the first half yesterday was pretty good - seemed like the guys thought the game was over and didn't play with any energy the second half, simple as that.
I think everyone forgets that the season is a marathon, not a sprint. If it was, UNC and UCLA would be in the title game, but it isn't. Coach and the team know what needs to improve. Those areas just need a little tweaking and improvement in order to take this team to the top. I have said in the past this team is at no disadvantage when compared to other teams. Not having Bragg would make things more difficult but I am staying positive that something good will happen for him. Just because we don't have a NPOY candidate in the post doesn't mean this team can't compete for a championship. I think OU, UConn and Nova have proved that exceptional guard play is the foundational piece to make the final four with the big guys rebounding, not fouling and making smart plays, and I believe that Landen and Dok can do more than those three items.
@KUSTEVE yes lets wait and see. I will only call our post play a disappointment if there is no improvement by March. Landen says he is feeling better and Dok's post play is looking smoother every game.
@Crimsonorblue22 yes - teams like Villanova would give them problems. Michigan is not a great defensive team.
UCLA is the best college shooting team I have ever seen. If they shoot well, I don't think anyone will stop them in the tournament
Michigan and UCLA in a shootout. Michigan has made 13 threes in the first half
@jayballer54 even Frank missed two in a row. There is still time to improve on this, so I am not very worried. However, if there is no improvement by March, then I will be concerned.
@wrwlumpy yes
@JayHawkFanToo really encouraged by how our big guys played. Solid performance
Great block by landen
There seems to be a natural tendency to relax when up big. Even the '08 team did it.
Great focus this half (sarcasm)
Our bigs are playing solid - and not fouling!
Great moves by Dok also
Dok's free throws look better
Great shot by Devonte!
@RockChalkinTexas A poet who didn't know it! Why even your feet, they show it!
@BShark Amen brother
Well, if there was such a thing as good or positive news, this would be it (other than Carlton being found not guilty). As slayr said on the other thread, these things are often he said she said and if there is not sufficient evidence either way, the case isn't going anywhere.
@drgnslayr good point. Maybe this situation with his girlfriend was part of the reason for his on court performance? Can't know for sure, but I do want him to stay on the team and be a contributor this year. It is possible nothing will come of it and he will just receive a suspension. Lets hope for the best.
Notre Dame shooting themselves in the foot with difficult shots