🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@JRyman Ok, did you actually say "Wesley could step in ..." I checked to see if the sun was rising in the west. Or if any signs of the apocalypse were present. Please take that back. Or tell me you were kidding. Please.

Remember, this is not about anything other than winning a national title. Who here really thinks that Tarik Black could step in as the starter for Embiid, and in a month, we're cutting down the nets on April 7? Or Traylor? No way. Unfortunately, I've watched Florida, Syracuse, Arizona, Duke, Louisville, Michigan, Creighton, Villanova, Virginia, North Carolina, and some of our Big 12 friends (OSU, ISU, Texas), and even (gulp) Wichita St, just like everyone else. Without Embiid, would anyone here wager hard earned money on KU straight up against any of those folks? I'm not saying we can't win, I'm saying we lose a distinct advantage.

I'm not saying Lucas can do it. I sense that he has better upside than both Black and Traylor. Just a hunch. But I'm also saying that Lucas is the only one that we don't have enough information on. He's the only one that could play to a higher level.

Ok, Self starts seniors on senior night. Fine. But I'd play Lucas 25 minutes. And I'd start him Saturday.

With Embiid hurt, we are seeing our hopes of a national title go right down the drain. We know it. And I'm afraid, if Embiid is out, that reliance on Black and Traylor will caste our fate in stone.

Sorry, but I look back on that knee injury at TCU and can't help but thinking that the knee issue led to the back, and led to the predicament that we're in now. Self's choice to have Embiid play before the knee was healed compromised our entire season. Just because we had a tough stretch of Big 12 games. Yippee.

I do think undefeated is possible. It would be the type of team that would have some strong veterans, guys that in the range of Greene, Frankamp, Ellis. Perhaps a lower ranked guy that surprises, like Mason; A guy that should be an OAD that stays (like Embiid). With an infusion of presumed OAD talent (like, say, Alexander) and near OAD talent (like Oubre). All that combined with a good schedule, not great, in non-con, that allows wins while building confidence. It would also require a down year in conference play. No key injuries. And luck.

So I've pretty much talked myself out of it.

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

One thing I can tell you, beyond any doubt, is that we will not win the national championship with Tarik Black starting alongside Perry Ellis. We certainly won’t win the title with Jamari Traylor in that same role.

The national title is all that matters. Repeat that – it is all that matters. And our only chance for a national title, if Embiid is out, is to catch lightning in a bottle.

Enter Landen Lucas.

Lucas’ stats aren’t appreciably better than Black’s. In fact, per minute, their stats are pretty similar. But what are the chances that Black excels in the tournament? What are the chances that the senior suddenly becomes more than he’s ever been? With Traylor, we’ve seen the level of his performance this season. He’s an adequate sub. That’s it.

What we’ve seen from Lucas, though, are flashes. The baby hook. The step back. Good footwork. The ability to get higher than others for a rebound. The soft touch. And the ability to be a bit of a rim protector. Lucas has shown all of us glimpses of a real player. He’s shown us a higher ceiling than Black or Traylor. It’s that ceiling that we are seeking – if only for an 11 game stretch.

With that in mind, Self should start Lucas against Texas Tech and West Virginia. The idea is to see how Lucas performs in a 25-30 minute role. There is no doubt that Lucas could flame out. He could show that he isn’t ready for prime time. His performance could be disastrous. If he is a disaster, what have we lost?

This calculated roll of the dice would be made on the hopes that the long shot comes in. It’s like betting $20 on a 50-1 long shot. Losing $20 is nothing. You’ve wasted $20 on bad Italian food. But that $1,000 pay-off is one you might remember. There’s virtually no risk. Because there is virtually no risk, and because the alternative will not render a pay-out (the national title), it also becomes the logical thing to do. Lucas is the only post player that is still a bit of a mystery. If Embiid is out, Lucas will have to play important minutes anyway. Why not start him? It’s a bold move. But titles are won because of bold moves.

If, by some beautiful convergence of luck and preparation, Lucas excels, we are suddenly back in the discussion. It is quite easy to imagine Lucas elevating his play. I can see it now. CBS sends Seth Davis to Lawrence to interview Lucas the week before the Sweet 16. This after Lucas, taking the place of Embiid, has averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds in KU’s last seven games. Seth asks Lucas, "Landen, do you feel vindicated now? I mean, HighEliteMajor gave you little chance of ever being a starter and here you are, starting as a redshirt freshman for the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA tournament."

You have to dream it before you can live it.

Sadly, without Embiid, we are an also ran. We would no longer be in the same breath with Florida, or Duke, or Syracuse, or Arizona. We'd be in the muddled middle. Lucas taking his level of play to a different level is the one event that would give us the chance to overcome the loss of Embiid. Is it likely? Probably not. But it’s possible. And we will never know if it’s possible unless Self provides the opportunity. This week presents that opportunity. Now is the time to be bold.

@REHawk I have to say that I think Self has done a better job this season of giving guys roles. Self has used his bench much more this season, to the degree that I think multiple guys can contribute. White is the only guy I would guess would be rusty. I have confidence that Greene, Frankamp, and Lucas could play 15+ minutes if needed. I feel much different than, say, 2011.

And there, I did it again .. mentioned 2011. That can ruin one's day.

@Crimsonorblue22 Exactly. But that is the peak. I fear the valley.

@drgnslayr I made a follow up post kind of rephrasing the "wimp" thing. I prefer not to name call. It seemed that it aptly described the way he projects himself on the court. I will be very interested in how he reacts at WVU.

He can still put us on his back, as others have noted.

Well, I'm in the camp of continuing to start Tharpe, but really actively trying to get Mason more minutes.

Mason provides some head scratchers, and is drives too many times when nothing is there. I'm not a CF fan, really, as anything more than an emergency minutes PG.

Not sure that any option right now provides anything but uncertainty.

@nuleafjhawk Tharpe actually has a child (a situation that has been common to a number of Jayhawks, including Frank Mason). But you bring up a tremendous point -- we just never know. Girlfriend problems can dictate a lot. Could be a lot of things.

@jaybate - "Got to hope Joel is okay, or else."

No truer words have been spoken. I am really, really concerned.

I would shut him down until the Big 12 tourney without any hesitation.

@drgnslayr I'll tell you, after I posted this last night I kind of wondered if I should have taken a deep breath and waited until morning. I literally wrote that in 10 minutes. Very frustrated, but it wasn't a momentary frustration. When I did the post on wanting more from Tharpe, it had been building a bit. A questioning of where his level of play could take us.

The only thing I would change in the post is when I referred to Tharpe as a "wimp." I about edited it this morning. I think I'd rather say that he "projects himself as a soft and disinclined player, and plays many times without any apparent grit." I think we're all saying the same thing.

I think what I am having more appreciation for each day is the mental and physical toughness that coach Self tries to teach these guys, and how much that impacts every facet of the game.

@globaljaybird said above that when Embiid is "60-70% we are virtually screwed." And he's right. If Embiid is down, all of this discussion is immaterial. He truly is the key to our assent as we pretty much all agreed early on.

But Tharpe is the key to our possible descent -- to our unthinkable plunge into the abyss. Assuming we're healthy, he really is the one guy that can drag us down. But there is not much choice now. He's the card that Self has put on the table -- it's just a matter of whether we match that 8 of clubs with a face card, or 7. Right now, it seems a bit like luck of the draw.

@jaybate 1.0 You are so right about Selden; terrific defensively, really.

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Tharpe, the team’s stated leader, drops in on Gallagher-Iba with seven well-earned turnovers. Don’t believe the boxscore. It wasn’t six -- it was seven. Tharpe also caused at least one other turnover as he wasn’t paying attention when Selden threw the ball cross after a press break (a particular situation when Tharpe needs to be looking). Tharpe got lucky when we escaped a turnover after Embiid bounced one off his head; again, Tharpe wasn’t paying attention in a situation where he had to be attentive. Inexplicable.

I’m now beginning to understand the pursuit of Jaquan Lyle. And I’m beginning to wonder if we should have all chipped in for more tutoring for Anrio Adams.

This all is on top of the fact that Tharpe compromises our defense night in, and night out, with shoddy angles, low intensity, and a genetic predisposition to getting “beasted.” I have described Ellis and Tharpe as Mr. and Mrs. Finesse … I now have no doubt who the Mrs. is. And for those somewhat offended by gender references, that means that Tharpe played like a woman. Which is not like a man.

Tharpe was plainly not ready to play tonight. On a huge stage, ESPN game day, against a team that was a preseason favorite to make a run at our crown, with a #1 seed hanging in the balance, Tharpe slinks on and off the court as if he was waiting for a whippin’ from his mommy.

Self stuck him on the bench in favor of Mason and Frankamp late in the first half. That’s our junior leader? That’s the guy that’s going to lead us to the promised land? Benched for Frankamp at OSU on March 1? Unbelievable.

Earlier in the season, Tharpe is reported to have questioned whether Self “liked him.” He pouted. He was replaced by Mason as a starter. I kept my thoughts on that to myself as I did not want to jump to a conclusion. But as the season has played out, the picture is becoming clearer. Tharpe is a wimp. He’s not a guy that you would hitch your wagon to. He won’t be there through thick and thin. When the going gets tough, Tharpe might get going. Maybe. If he’s not too intimidated by it.

I was a big Tharpe proponent heading into the season, but the guy has lost me. His shooting has been a God-send. No doubt the best shooter in the rotation. But can we survive his obvious passivity and lack of intensity?

Until tonight, I have felt that we can survive our claimed point guard deficiencies. Right now, I don’t think so. This non-performance by Tharpe vs. OSU was like a life changing event -- it's hard to put that toothpaste back in the tube. Despite Tharpe’s lack of leadership and production, we still should have won the game. Our season may come down to whether we can survive a Tharpe no-show or two in the tournament. Count me a skeptic. It's not where I want to be in early March.

@Hawk8086 I think Selden will be back too. He'll be the conference POY in 2014-15. Mark it down.

Much agreed .. a picture from my seats at a game I attended this season. Nothing like it. !AFH.12.30.13.jpg ↗

@icthawkfan316 Very good list.

Another topic: You all will have to listen to me explain why I think our 2014-15 team will be better than this year's version, even if Embiid and Selden join Wiggins turning pro. But that's for another day.

@globaljaybird "And starting at center, out of Portland, Oregon, a 6'10" sophomore, Landen Lucas ..... "

"What will you do to replace Jayhawk basketball for half a year?"

We always find something to talk about, don't we??

@JayHawkFanToo All the wins, and conf. titles, etc. are all little niceties compared to the behemoth -- the national title. How about we win that one a few times here pretty soon?

That said, the best sign that could be in the crowd next season: "Let's Repeat"

@ralster I'd much rather have and experienced AW3 than Lyle. No doubt. But my guess is the ball handling thing is big. We can hope the best for AW3, but the dude is gone. He and Oubre could split time, but Self seems to have Greene ahead of him. Greene could start at the 2 assuming Selden is gone. But If I'm White, why would I stick around to play 15 mpg behind a freshman my junior season? With that scenario being perhaps remote? VCU, or the Richmond Spiders, or maybe a Maryland might have themselves a starting 3 come 2015-16. And yes, I do think Mason could surpass Tharpe by next season. Absolutely. Just tossing out a speculative scenario. My humble opinion on Mason is that he is way past Tharpe in a number of areas already -- we've discussed a few of those. Total package, if I had to take one or the other for next season, I'd take Mason.

@drgnslayr .. you're right, of course. There's a lot going on with the recruits that we don't know. Heck, you never know. A kid may be negotiating to get the number he wants or he won't come (maybe why Selden got the number 1?).

@ralster Yea, I know. But I am impressed with the guy. Just what I see. And I guess I'm not saying I would be comfortable with him starting. Just wouldn't feel like we were staring into the abyss. And @jaybate , you don't think we could win another conference title with Ellis, Lucas, Traylor, and Mickelson as our post guys? For some reason, I kind of do ... kind of feel "entitled" to the league title, if you know what I mean. Will we ever not win a league title again? You are right, though. As we can be impressed with Traylor or Lucas, that is many times in small sample sizes. Over the long term, a lower talented guy will get exposed. And it's pretty doubtful that Traylor or Lucas would drop 30 like Ellis did. But from what I've seen of Lucas in particular, I do think he could certainly be more than just serviceable. And, actually, if Embiid leaves and we don't bag Turner, I really expect Lucas to play quite a bit next season.

But hey, let's get Turner and not have to find out. Maybe let Lucas' breakout season be his junior year.

@jaybate 1.0 My speculation -- I've always thought that it is Lyle driving it. Lyle had posted items on twitter with KU stuff, etc., within hours of his decommitment. Like this is where he was going. Kind of made me uneasy at the time, thinking we might have dipped our toe in the water with a guy who had committed. Seemed like an easy fish at the time, but we never pulled the trigger. I tend to the think Self has stated interest, but has hedged based on scholarship availability as you mention related to Selden.

@ajvan - Now, I'm not changing my opinion on Mason. But I bet Mason in 2017-18 would be better than Mason in 2014-15. We would have Tharpe next season, so redshirting Mason might make sense long-term if selling Lyle on immediate playing is what Self wants to do.

@justanotherfan I really like your take on Lyle. "You also have to consider the 2015-2016 season in this equation ... the perimeter guys would be Greene, Mason and Frankamp, plus a top 25 recruit."

Lyle comes understanding that his PT next season may not be much. If he can accept that, he could have a primary role for three seasons. In that scenario, I'd bet those three start with CF the first off the bench. That makes sense. I have just been dissuaded from that possibility because Lyle said adios to Louisville because of playing time concerns. Maybe the lure of his buddy Cliff trumps that.

I just don't see how he gets PT next season. I would understand it if he were a top 10, presumed or near OAD guy -- meaning how he could squeeze his way in. But he's not. He's ranked as low as the 40s by ESPN.

One other possibility. Self really likes Lyle. Is tired of little guards. With that, Lyle could ... could ... displace Mason. Mason then would get back into the rotation once Tharpe leaves. So, Tharpe/Lyle/Selden at the 1/2 spots, Oubre/Greene at the 3. CF maybe redshirts, or a crazy thought, Mason redshirts. Then @justanotherfan 's scenario plays out for the next season.

Quasi off topic - but what if Embiid bolts, Alexander is ineligible, and Myles goes elsewhere? Four months ago that would have been pretty scary. Now, given Lucas' play, it's not quite as much of a worry.

I would say that if Self wants the guy, there will be a scholarship available. Right now we have Wiggins, Black, and likely a transfer (White). But if we can get both Turner and Lyle (highly, highly unlikely), someone else will get shown the door. Of course, unless Embiid goes.

But I doubt the value of the zagsblog info. Sure, he could have a "chance" to start. So does Lucas. I just fail to see how Lyle fits. We don't need him. And he's not top 10ish guy whose talent overwhelms his "freshman-ness" so to speak.

Lyle backed out of Louisville because of his concern for playing time. Would be a surprise to me if his desires has changed.

We're fine where we are at on the perimeter.

I have no worries in March. I'm just going to enjoy the ride ....

@nuleafjhawk -- the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Actually, the same things that worry me every March, 1) poor/inconsistent officiating, and 2) coach Self.

The nightmares of VCU.

@jaybate - So, I didn't see you mention Perry's long neck? Kind of like the "short legs" thing with Tharpe a bit. One of my favorite topics was your analysis of Perry's height being a bit over stated because he had low shoulders (and a long neck), as the shoulder height was really what mattered. So he's really 6'5". Good stuff.

@wissoxfan83 - I would agree completely, except for one minor point.

The simple fact of consistently being at the top, year in, year out, is impressive. All of the events, players, coaches, bad luck, good luck, etc., that could occur in 10 seasons -- and every season, we win the league. I do think that's impressive at least. It is a testament to coach Self and his consistency. But it's like a nice salad before the meal.

Now, to your real point -- what makes you "go." I can't agree with you more. For me, while I can try to enjoy the ride and the fun of the season, if we don't win the title, it taints the season for me. That's how it is. Title or bust. Title or pain. Title or crap.

I choose Title.

@JRyman Hmm .. I'd say "sold" if I were offered this bracket, right now.

@jaybate 1.0 I think you know this, but I'll be one that is quite surprised if Ellis ever plays any significant role at the 3. I think it sounds good. I think we wish it could happen. But is there anything about Ellis that says "3" other than the things about Ellis that don't say 4?

When I think 3, I think Dr. J. I think Dominique Wilkens. I think Larry Bird. I think Brandon Rush. I think Andrew Wiggins. But really, I also think guard, not big guy. Meaning I think it is much more likely to see say Tharpe/Mason/Frankamp in together than Lucas/Traylor/Ellis, for example.

Literally the only reason for the "Ellis at the 3" discussion is his inadequate defense at the 4. That standing alone justifies the conversation. He shrinks from contact on the offensive end. However, that alone does not justify it. It's something we would accept whole heartedly if he played decent defense.

If Black and Ellis platoon, I would think that it would simply mean a decrease in Ellis' PT, and not any move to the 3. Just my opinion there.

And by the way, the idea of decreasing Ellis' PT is a great topic as Ellis' effective appears more match-up base than any other player on the team.

A few thoughts in follow-up:

1. Embiid was clearly hurt the last game vs. Texas. His knee was way below 100%. And I think that, in part, accounted for his poor performance. The other part was that Ridley shocked him a bit. Ridley was physical and simply played his game without regard to Embiid. I sensed that Embiid was ready for that this time around. He played stout, if that's the right word. Part of maturing as a player.

2. Wiggins was ready too. He put us on his back there for a stretch. The kind of guy that could carry a team to a title, if he continues to stay aggressive (and can you ever discuss Wiggins without using that word?). I just see him being active. Maybe that's it. He isn't disappearing anymore.

3. Mason was spectacular in the open floor. The thing I look forward to most in 2014-15 is the leap he will certainly take.

4. This was a our best, most complete game of the season, when considering the quality of our competition and the circumstance (rebounding from a tail-kicking by the same team). This is our conference. That was the statement. Period.

5. Probably most importantly, great credit to coach Self for having these guys absolutely ready to play in every phase of the game. But perhaps, most importantly, psychologically. Remember the talk after the last Texas game? The discussion was concern about facing a team like Texas in the tournament. That meeting a team like Texas would spell doom. The kids knew that, too. But look what coach Self did with that? We played hard, we played physical, and we dominated. That bodes very, very well.

6. The only negative takeaway for me was Ellis. It is apparent that no matter the circumstance, or importance of game, or demeanor/disposition of his teammates, big men like Texas' will cause him fits on the offensive end. He did try to stretch the floor a bit. But his offensive m.o. is to shrink away from contact and avoid taking the ball through the defender. That pretty much is what it is.

7. And @jaybate is right -- @drgnslayr 's pace discussion after Texas Tech was on point. The pace yesterday was terrific. I think Mason had a lot do with that in his minutes. As I'm recalling correctly, we really took it to them with Mason in the game .. both when he was in there on his own, and with Tharpe. However, Texas did not try to slow it down. I am interested in seeing how we would handle that moving forward, after being controlled by Tech. The rematch in Allen will be interesting (and thanks to Tubby Smith for making Tech relevant).

@AsadZ Thanks. I value your opinions here, too. It's a good discussion.

Ok .. that sounds fun. Here's how I'd rate them as point guards. And I spent some time thinking about it. Changed numbers a few times before posting:

1. Tharpe 5.5
2. EJ 4.5 (obviously a 2 guard -- at least obvious now; a little slam on myself there).
3. TT 4 through December/2011, 8 after December/2011
4. Collins 7.5(always thought he was more suited at the 2).
5. Chalmers 9 (when he was on the ball).
6. Robinson 7
7. Miles 8.5 (his senior season when he added the 3 ball).

To me, when Chalmers was on the ball, he was the best. Could stroke the 3 at a 45% clip, could throw the lob, make teammates better.

The 5.5 for Tharpe basically means a tick above the average to me.

How about you?

@AsadZ First, let me compliment you on your impassioned defense of Tharpe.

I am a Tharpe fan. However, my humble opinion on Tharpe is that he simply is bumping against his ceiling. That is all we're seeing.

He has one aspect of the game that is excelling -- shooting. There are other positives, too.

But my opinion is that he is just a pretty good passer, and just an average creator off penetration. He does not run the break well -- very importantly, he does not sense the break or exploit opportunities in the open floor. In my book, he is below average in that regard. Perhaps he's playing it safe -- fear of the hook. I don't know. But his full-time role has demonstrated that significant weakness. And his defense is atrocious at time. He is limited by the famous short legs (see jaybate, 2011). And he lacks passion on defense (it would appear).

All that being said, it's really just a critique. It is very hard to ever be completely satisfied with any point guard.

Tharpe has the ability to change a game with his shooting. He's displayed the cool hand to shoot when necessary, to take over a game. That's big. And that emergence was a touch unexpected. What we can hope for a perhaps some incremental gains in the areas that he has been deficient.

Again, just opinion, but certainly not the gospel.

@drgnslayr First, pretty much the best thread yet. Wish I was able to participate more. I can't believe I let work actually interfere with posting.

But terrific point. I wanted that game as well and this was my exact thought. OSU controlled that game.

I would honestly assess that it was 50% offense (pushing the ball and pace), and 50% defense (with pressure? Your thoughts there?

"It is true because it is fact"

Bugs Bunny

@VailHawk Cool .. thanks for posting. I've been a little lax in the updates this season. I do miss the rivalry.

@drgnslayr - Late to the party here, but great thread.

On pace, I would say that the best way to change the pace of game is through defense. Meaning, the pace of the game changes by speeding them up, not necessarily by us playing faster.

And that is where Self's philosophy permits us to be sucked into a low possession game. He plays conservative on defensively, rarely pressing or taking chances. We don't inspire turnovers. We don't inspire opponents to rush. We permit them to be methodical, guarding against a breakdown.

That works most times -- but with this team, that is defensively challenged, we see that we give up many, many late baskets.

This team could benefit by playing a bit more aggressively in its defensive scheme. But we know Self won't do that.

In a game like TT, that is how we could have increased possessions, in my humble opinion of course.

**Sorry if I missed anyone's similar thoughts above.

Wonder if players read websites, etc.?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10474958/marcus-smart-oklahoma-state-cowboys-criticizes-blogger-suspension ↗

Oak has always been a go-to guy. Not a flashy, volume type scorer, but more the "bring the lunch bucket to work" kind of guy. It's unfortunate that his talents have been wasted at kusports.com here for a few months. If he ended up agreeing to come to kubuckets.com, I'm quite sure that he'd move immediately into the starting lineup. Talent like that demands p.t.

Uh oh .. he said "next" to @jaybate. Hide the women and children ...

Idea .. in the link, we can each post our recruiting pitch. Then send over the link. Here's mine:

"Oak has always been a go-to guy. Not a flashy, volume type scorer, but more the "bring the lunch bucket to work" kind of guy. It's unfortunate that his talents have been wasted at kusports.com here for a few months. If he ended up agreeing to come to kubuckets.com, I'm quite sure that he'd move immediately into the starting lineup. Talent like that demands p.t."

@drgnslayr I like it .. so we are going to recruit him. You starting the thread? "KUBuckets Targets Oakville"? Something like that?

@ajvan So, do you think that Lyle, the #22/#41 (Rivals/ESPN) would step in at point guard as a freshman and be an instant upgrade over Tharpe and Mason?

If so, I'm curious as to what information you have on Lyle that would lead you to believe that.

@globaljaybird - I post over there from time to time, and have suggested to Oak to come join us over here. But he doesn't seem interested.

@DinarHawk I like your point, as well. While he doesn't match up well inside, he has the skill set to change the match-up from simply being a post match-up, to a "whole floor" type game. The Niang example pointed out by @ralster is an excellent one. I like it ..

But on the topic from above, @ralster, don't you think part of the reason Embiid struggled vs. Ridley was because of his knee injury? I think so. I am really anxious to see what happens next time out.

@ralster - Also, on the press -- your macro view is absolutely correct. Elite athletes can beat a press. Well coached elite athletes (men, at least) will destroy it. But I would say that running a full court press all the time is not what really anyone advocates. I certainly don't.

To start with, my view is pressing against a team like TCU is not necessary. Why blitz and take the risk, so to speak, when your base D will win you the game? Vs. TCU, we got a steal and a bucket off the press. Then TCU broke it immediately and scored. But I like Self doing it to at least work on it.

Couple things on the press. First, you can't just "press" in my opinion. You have to practice it and be very good at it. Otherwise, breakdowns are more frequent. It's like anything else. Second, I like using it sporadically. Spring it on them, then go base D, then use it again -- all situational and sporadic. The element of surprise being a part of its effectiveness. Third, the use of a full court press (like we saw vs. TCU) and a 3/4 court press (like OSU's 2-2-1) are much different animals. The latter can be used regularly.

I think a 3/4 court press can be more incorporated as a regular part of your defense, perhaps 30-40% of the time. But a full court press very sporadically, as your point about elite level athletes killing it is dead on point. I'm not a man to man guy. I think you have to have the right personnel to rely on man to man. You have to have the right type of defenders. If not, then you have to go zone. @jesse_newell and I had this discussion back in November. With this team, I thought we are tailor made to play zone. But that ship has long since sailed.

@imajayhawk "But once he drives, I want him to finish, not pass"

Right, I'd like him to finish. But his "finish" rate is well below 50%. In a recent game, Wiggins drove from the wing, the backside post defender came to help, and Black was standing alone on the far block. Wiggins tried to dart between defenders and lost the ball. Could have easily passed to Black.

Just one of many examples.

I want Wiggins to score, too. But asking this stellar athlete to simply dish to an open man created by help defense is not a lot to ask. It's routine, really.

To demonstrate the absurdity here, can anyone even remember just one time when Wiggins drove to the hoop and dished to an open man? Just one? And how many times has a defense collapsed on Wiggins as he drove? Most every time, right?

Again, this isn't asking a lot. On a defensively challenged team, any opportunity to increase scoring should be welcomed I would think.

If I'm an opposing coach, prepping my team, do I fear Wiggins dishing to an open man? Do I even concern myself with it? Or do I strategize to simply stop the drive? This logically makes Wiggins less effective on his drives (the more defenders that collapse and assist).

We can't think of Wiggins' drives in a vacuum. We have to consider the dynamic of the game, and opposing coaches, and how they approach defending Wiggins.

If Wiggins were to incorporate dishing the ball on occasion, it would have the effect in time of opposing coaches taking that into account, perhaps making help defenders hesitate, thus having the net effect of making his drives more successful.

@DoubleDD I don't think I agree that Ellis is "the" player that our tournament success relies upon.

Ellis has an easy time winning favorable matchups, or as he did against TCU, exploiting a bad zone defense. All positive qualities. But against PFs that are long and athletic, he many times disappears. That's not the horse I want to hook my March fate to. Ellis, to me, is a key part, but not near "the" most important part. We've seen Self sit him in favor of Traylor. We've seen Ellis struggle mightily on the defensive end.

What player impacts the game most?

What player brings a unique skill set?

What player makes this team a "different team" when he is on the court?

Joel Embiid.

Without Embiid, we are not a top 10 team.

Joel Embiid is "the" player that our tournament success relies upon the most.

In my humble opinion, of course.

@icthawkfan316 / @Wishawk - Both you guys make too much sense on Wiggins. I know I'm in the clear minority (maybe the only one). While I'm a big believer in rankings, I can't stand the high-talent, OAD drama -- which would seem to run wildly counter to team chemistry. And OAD drama is the worst. But I think that has been handled well here so far. Self does a good job with that, so I'm pleasantly surprised. So I don't have any real gripes there. I also see how guys develop, and how playing time irons out the kinks. Guys who will be here next season have lost PT due to Wiggins. But I'm heartened by Greene's progress and his handling since Christmas. Self gave him a defined role and he took to it.

Most likely, Wiggins does increase our chances to win the title this year. His style of play is not my favorite. I wonder if he's the kind of guy that will step up with the season on the line. The Florida performance late made me think he does have it in him. But we won't know till we get there.

But it would have been interesting to see how all this would have played out if Wiggins had chosen FSU, wouldn't it? Would we be 19-6?

The team dynamic is a real interesting thing. Guys get hurt, other guys step up. Scorers are lost, and a guy you wouldn't expect steps in and is, well, Tom Brady. Coaches form opinions on players but their in-game performance exceeds the expectations. Guys get playing time and they show what they can do. Removing a superstar type can make a team better. It's because the pieces fit better, and work better together.

When I see Wiggins' drives and never a pass, I think about the pieces fitting. If we notice his lack of passing, don't you think his teammates do? Would this team be better as a final product if Wiggins would have never came to KU?

It is such an interesting question to me, one that I will never be able to definitively answer. But I don't think the best team is formed by simply trying to get the best players. The pieces have to fit. Look at the make up on our team now -- how could a vocal leader, a fiery competitor, help this team?

But I am still contemplating the OAD stuff. Still wishy-washy. Feeling peer pressure. Oddly, the improvement of Lucas and Traylor makes me more likely to be ok with OADs like Alexander. I was very concerned with the quality of our post depth moving forward. I really enjoy Lucas' play in particular ... it's like a Christmas present. Alexander, though, is a "need" OAD, given Embiid's likely departure. I've always viewed Wiggins as a "luxury" OAD. We didn't have a hole to fill. We had extremely talented players ready to play.

@Wishawk I like the kid too. But I do hope he transfers ... for his own sake. He deserves to go somewhere where he can make the most of the rest of his college career. As White said in the article, Self just has more confidence in other guys. White's candor doesn't indicate to me that he will be back.

If White stays, he's putting his faith in coach Self, who has bypassed him for 4 freshmen (Wiggins, Selden, Frankamp, and Greene)? Now Oubre is coming in. If White places that faith and returns, he could be staring at wasting another season on the bench for guy that doesn't have faith in him. If he redshirts, he's rolling the dice that he rises in Self's eyes. I wouldn't do that if I were him.

I would say that a transfer is a near certainty.

I guess I would like him to stick around, too. But not if he's going to be banished to the bench.

When Wiggins signed, I unfortunately pointed out that a transfer was the likely result -- it was the price of signing Wiggins. If Wiggins hadn't signed, White was the likely day one starter. Don't know if he would have held that job. To pose my ever present question -- If we don't win the title, was Wiggins worth it? This is part of the consideration. On the flip side, if White can't beat out Greene and Frankamp now, then is it really a tremendous loss? Still, I hate to see this develop.

It is the on-going war of attrition for scholarships. Part of the deal. Looks like White is the odd man out. Too bad.

@Blown very nice .. I never thought of Syracuse as being schedule-aided. Of course, though, simply being undefeated even if the schedule isn't tip top is very impressive to me.

Doubtful we get a #1 seed unless there is a huge collapse among others, and I don't see that. The draw will be a big deal ... would you rather have WSU as your #1, or Florida? Easy choice there.

@wissoxfan83 I posted a while back some stats on three point shooting and winning the NCAA tourney. I don't have access to the stats right now, but I recall the lowest NCAA tourney winner since 2001 making 5.4 threes per game. At the time I posted before, we were like 4.9 threes per game.

Another important item is options. If some guys are cold, who can we turn to? And will Self have the confidence to turn to them when needed? It appears that Greene and Frankamp are the options we might need, and it appears that Self does have confidence in them. It also appears that they are being developed in a way that results in both of them being effective, especially the consistent approach with Greene. Emphasis on "appears." He turned to them vs. KSU with solid results. Would he turn to them in the sweet 16?

Cynical view .. with Embiid out, my guess is that any "suspension" was promptly reduced to time served.