🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@BeddieKU23 I agree - give me the games all day!

I can't wait either - the summer wait is too long!

@Crimsonorblue22 good, not great coach. Did do a decent job at OU though

@Crimsonorblue22 can you imagine how good this year's team would be with a healthy Embiid? Probably wouldn't lose a single game

@drgnslayr He would be hard pressed to say no to a program like Duke. Overall, though, there just aren't a lot of coaches at that level to take over for K.

@Crimsonorblue22 what channel is the game on?

@drgnslayr Who would they get as a replacement for Consonants?

@jaybate-1.0 me thinks it is no coincidence

@Crimsonorblue22 can't forget about him!

@joeloveshawks you think we beat 'em by double digits? With or without Giles, I see this game going either way.

@wrwlumpy Good article - thanks for posting.

One thing that I think Frank and Devonte need to do more of is look to attack more often. At time last year, it looked as though they were content to pass the ball around the perimeter. While I don't think they need to be forcing shots all the time, it is important that they put pressure on the opposing team's defense by driving into gaps and look to pass. If anything, just doing that collapses the defense to possibly allow for scoring opportunities elsewhere.

I hope Carlton has been working on his handles. I mentioned before in another thread that his ability to drive and score from the three point/free throw line area will be one of the most important aspects of success for this year. I am not expecting him to do it as well as Perry, but we will need some of it going forward.

@wissoxfan83 interesting it was only about a 13 or 14 point game 13 minutes to go in the second half. I think ou just gave up or something.

@Crimsonorblue22 had they not crapped the bed against Seton Hall in the big east tournament they would have been a one seed. Yet Nova fans think their team was on another level the entire year. I watched that game - they let Hall's best player beat them. They definitely just got hot in the tourney.

@drgnslayr I am surprised that UNC is not being discussed more - only Paige and Johnson are gone. It will be tough for Nova to recreate last year, especially since Spellman was declared ineligible.

Btw, I was re watching the highlights from last year when we pounded Texas on their senior night - the look on Shaka's face when we went up 15 - 0 at the beginning was classic.

@justanotherfan I agree, we should still be in good shape next year. I can't wait to see what Udoka will be like with experience under Self. Shaq Lite?

Some really good games. Glad that the guys will have some tough games to help prepare them for the tourney. Kind of surprised media darling Duke is not being favored in our game with them.

@dylans we're not really talking about iso ball, but rather instances where, for example, Bragg has the ball around the free throw line area or so. In essence, it is about can he exploit the matchup if a slower defender is on him? Can he put the ball on the floor in a similar fashion to Perry and score? Far from being iso/hero ball, this is an evaluation of a likely scenario, given that Bragg last year, when he was in the game, had the ball had numerous times in that same area. Making a one on one move is not necessarily Kobe Bryant selfish ball. Two different things

@jaybate-1.0 I agree about taking three point attempts from Devonte, Svi, and Lagerald, but if he is wide open I think he needs to take it and prove he can hit some.

@jayhawk-007 I agree about playing fast. If you watch the '08 team, they looked to run quite a bit - remember the concern was "Can they keep up with North Carolina?" We all know how that turned out. I disagree with those that say Self will hold them back. I'm just not convinced that he intentionally designs his game plan around playing a slow half court game. I think teams do a good job of getting back and preventing run outs, but there are still ways a team can get easy transition dunks. And with an athlete like JJ, we really need to utilize his athleticism and talent, something that was not done enough with Wiggins.

The good thing about Bragg is that teams will have to guard him to the three point line, just like Perry. The key for him will be if he has good enough handles to take his man one on one from the free throw line extended area. I think Bragg and his development is the most important part of this coming year, and the reason we will or won't make the final four. Bill talks about Bragg needing to score inside more, and I think that can also mean driving into the lane like Perry, not necessarily a post up and hook shot. It will be interesting also to see Landon and what post moves he has this year.

@Texas-Hawk-10 no, playing good d without fouling is what I want to see. Don't want to be giving up free throws unnecessarily. He just needs to keep his arms up and not be reaching for the ball, or anything like that. I see big guys do that way too much instead of staying vertical and forcing a tough shot over the top.

Don't forget Bragg - he is a good shooter also. Or are you just referring to guards?

If I'm not mistaken, didn't Duke win the championship playing four guards around Okafor?

@joeloveshawks Great point about Jamari and Perry. Svi and Josh are both as big as them yet more mobile with better handles.

I'm not really worried defensively with a four guard lineup. We have seen teams go to the final four and win the championship with smaller teams- Villanova last year, UConn in in '14, and Butler back to back years in '10 and '11. It is more about rotations, staying aggressive and clogging the paint than it is about height, although that can help. Josh is known for being a good defender and having a lot of committment on that end of the floor, and he is as tall, maybe taller, than Perry and Mari, so we should be fine there.

Iowa State returns the most talent for teams outside of KU. Not sure about WVU. If my memory serves me correctly, we have a losing streak at both places. Got to change that this year.

I agree - coach seems to have a chip. I have always thought that the most important person to have a chip is Coach. He is right - we were robbed of a championship. We were in a position to win and even had the lead late in the second half. This is good news for this year.