🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@JayHawkFanToo To answer your age old question, yes, I read your post. You aren't tracking. The reference to Albany is an ANALOGY. An analogy is something that is similar, or comparable, that explains the point. Your point is that the win means something. I'm saying just winning isn't unique, and isn't anything that changes the narrative of this season.

No one said the win does not "mean" anything. Who said that? Not me. It of course can help us win the conference title -- and that goes back to the analogy - -the simple act of winning means something, like beating Albany and increasing (or not harming) seeding. I agree that it means something. Tracking now?

Further, I did not refer to any player as a cancer. Take your own advice and read my the post again. I simply posed a question. Further, the most I said was if I was forced to bet either way, I'd bet yes. In fact, I said we don't have a "for sure" answer. Of course, falling back on that conclusions makes it easy for you and "others" to then create the false narrative of vindication somehow if something good happens.

And back to the use of the word narrative. Perhaps that's what is confusing to you. The season has a pattern, things we've done, we've accomplished, we've failed at. Winning at ISU doesn't change any of that. In fact, it fits the pattern. For example, before the home games vs OSU and TCU, I said it would fit the pattern if we lost one of those. Did losing one of those surprise anyone? Probably not. That's the narrative. This team has been wildly inconsistent. Simply winning one game doesn't "move the needle" on that at all.

And that's my point, if you or "others" that get offended, care to try to follow.

@Hawk8086 I would take that right now. Win at OSU for a share.

@tundrahok I am curious, what about this performance indicates everyone's heads are in the right place?

I mean, we've won at KSU, at WVU, at Texas. After all those wins were in the books, that looked no different than this win, Bill Self agreed chemistry was an issue with this team and that some players had not bought in. We won at WVU with that going on. This seems lower on the difficulty scale, than that.

Bill Self said nothing after the game that guys had now "bought in." He said activity levels were better.

I would also suggest that if we have chemistry issues, and if everyone has not bought in, that is a problem of much greater proportions than lacking depth. I understand your use of the word substance, though, and what you meant -- meaning, on court stuff. And you're right.

@JayHawkFanToo My post was based on the fact that we've done this all year. Nothing in the narrative with this team has changed. By the logic of your post, every win means something. Beating Albany would mean something because a loss could hurt seeding. That's all true, of course, but doesn't change the narrative of this team. The point of my post was that us going to ISU and winning fits exactly the pattern with this team. What would indicate a break in the pattern might be winning both of our next two home games.

The win at ISU changes nothing with this team.

It is entertaining to listen to some that apparently think that this win changes something. It doesn't even move the needle on the narrative of this season one degree. This is the pattern, if one is paying attention. Only future games, and consistency, say winning our next two at home, might suggest a change in the narrative.

Just comical. We are 3-4 days removed from Bill Self agreeing this team lacks chemistry and affirmatively saying that some guys aren't buying in. And suddenly, because we beat the worst team in the conference (even if worst, relatively, is different than in the past), it's a new day. Good grief.

The reference to "negative neds" completely misses the point. Negative? The commentary on this team, at least on this site, has been based solely on the reality of the performances. It's also interesting, the need to croon against some imaginary chicken littles to attempt to prove superiority of fandom.

ISU is likely the worst team in the conference. It's further difficult for me to understand why some can't understand what is being said. The conference this season is tighter, 1-10. The difference between 1-10 is much closer. So perhaps this year the #1 and the #10 are as close as the #1 and #5 might have been in past seasons. Or that we have a group of teams that are more like 2-3-4s and 5-6-7s from previous years. What is confusing about that? And that doesn't even mean the conference is good.

@BeddieKU23 @jaybate-1-0 @Buster-1926 @drgnslayr @BShark @JayHawkFanToo @justanotherfan @Ralster @hawk8068 @truehawk93 @DCHawker @REHawk @dylans @BucknellJayhawk3 @StLJhawk @Crimsonorblue22 @KUSTEVE @RockkChalkk @mayjay @HawkChamp @CRH107 @Big-Clyde52 @welladjustedhawk @Statmachine

Really appreciate all the input on this thread. My question was posed because we have never really seen chemistry and guys not buying in, in mid-February. Lots of possible answers that were explored above.

This could simply be that we are outmanned, but the outmanned thing only flies related to the lack of another big man. But what did we have last season? Mitch is as good or better than Bragg was last season, and we have Doke vs. Lucas. We also had Coleby, who didn't do a lot until late.

Using what I saw as each players best rankings, we have the 8 (Malik), 22 (Doke), 36 (DG), 36 (Sam), 50 (Garrett), 51 (Vick), and 67 (Mitch), with Svi easily being considered at least a top 25 guy. Look at those rankings. This is a team chalk full of talent. Don't ever say we're not talented enough. We have the most talent in the Big 12 -- easy.

On top of that, we have 2 seniors (DG/Svi), we have a junior (Vick), and we have a 3rd year player (Malik). Four starters who are upper classmen. What do we want?

Self has not said that we are outmanned. We all know Billy Preston would have been a big deal, and likely a big positive. But when we hear Self agree on chemistry being a problem, and then citing that some guys aren't buying in yet, mid-February, the answer seems easy.

We are better than we've performed. We're underperforming. Does anyone think that's because Self has mismanaged on the court? I don't.

We are underperforming not because of lack of talent, or being outmanned, or Self doing something wrong on the court.

There is something else. Putting our finger on that, exactly, is the difficult part.

@mayjay I think the BP situation impacted the team far more than most of us speculated. The continual, "wait until Billy is eligible" is a frustrating dynamic, but if it is built up as him being something that makes the team complete, I can see why perhaps the psyche of the team might take a hit.

I've always been one to suggest we play for March. That can mean a lot of things, including winning for a better seed, as I've been told by a few folks.

Make no mistake, though, this is Self's baby. As all teams have been his baby. I guess this season I do believe that he is fighting more than just the normal issues he's faced with teams on the court. A rebellion? No. But perhaps an undercurrent of resistance. An interesting drama as we move forward. Something is going on.

KU 78 ISU 73

A rudderless ship?

Final Four. Because if you don’t go there, you can’t win the real championship. Big banners beat small banners every day

But this is the one year I can actually comprehend wanting a conference title over a FF, given it would break a record. It would be incredible for this team. Self already has the most in a row by any coach.

And yes, we CAN make the FF. Who can’t we beat?

It appears my proclamation that Malik Newman had the switch turn on was a bit premature.

Unfortunately, the tea leaves indicate that we may be venturing into "cancer" territory. As in, is Newman a cancer to this team? A question worth considering.

Newman arrived here a noted prima donna. Newman has been in the Kansas culture now since summer of 2016. But read Bill Self's quote, from February 10, 2018:

“No, not at all,” Self said asked if KU’s team chemistry was where it needs to be. “We know what we need to do to be pretty good and have a chance to really compete at a relatively high level. The players haven’t quite bought into that totally yet. It’s getting late in the season to see if they are going to buy into it."

“I thought his attitude in practice was better,” Self said of Garrett. “Malik in my opinion didn’t deserve to start. I’m really kind of tired of starting guys that don’t really put themselves in a position from what we need to do (from an) intangible standpoint of being out there.**

“Because to me it’s not about winning and losing from that perspective. It’s about, ‘Hey this is what we need to do to be good. This is what we need to do in order to give us the best chance.’ If guys won't do that … I’m tired of rewarding guys to start whenever I feel like those things are not taking place. It doesn’t have anything to do with making shots. You can miss all the shots you want to. At least from an intangible standpoint, give us stuff.”

Is Malik Newman a cancer on this team?

There clearly seems to be issues between Malik and Svi. Don't know the details, but it seems obvious. Go to 2:24 of the first half yesterday. Newman was subbing in for Svi on our defensive end of the court, in front of our bench. As Svi goes off the court, he angled toward the scorer's table where Newman was entering the game, presumably to slap hands. But Newman completely ignores him, with the kind of look past him thing. Svi stops before getting to him and goes at an angle back to the bench with a kind of "whatever" body language.

This appears unmistakable and obvious.

Now, ask yourself, have you ever seen Malik and Svi slap hands or acknowledge each other all season? One thing I can tell you is that I've been looking for it since @jaybate-1-0's observation in the first quarter of the season. Just one time, to place in my memory bank. Don't have one. The very obvious item back last year that @jaybate-1-0 pointed out, and that was clear in looking at the video after Svi has a nice assist to Newman. All this seems to demonstrate is that there is something wrong in the dynamic between Malik and Svi. We don't know anything more.

However, when we piece together all that we have seen, all that we have heard, Newman out of the starting lineup at various intervals, Self now blatantly calling him out in mid-February -- what is going on with Malik Newman? We know what we see. We know that Newman is one of the most talented players on the team, between his ability to get to the rim and shoot from outside.

Why would a guy like this ever be out of the starting lineup? The answer lies elsewhere.

Is Malik Newman a cancer on this team?

Bill Self before yesterday's game, in the pregame radio interview, said quite clearly that he had hoped that Newman would be our second point guard, a guy that could initiate the offense. But that "hasn't worked out." He cited Vick, as well.

Newman's NBA aspirations rely upon him being a guy that can function with the ball in his hands. Yet, he cannot even handle the role of "initiating the offense" on this team, for say, 6 minutes a game? That is more of an indictment that anything else -- Bill Self saying, "that hasn't worked out." Why? What is a reasonable conclusion? I'd say selfishness might be -- a refusal to do what the coach wants him to do. Me first.

Is Malik Newman a cancer on this team?

I do wonder about one player's impact on other players on the team. The cliques that develop. And I don't know how those cliques involve players that don't have the most stellar reputations, that are sitting out (Lawsons). Here's what I do know. Bill Self has won 13 straight Big 12 titles with varying personalities and talents. I do know that we are on the verge of doing something that Bill Self's teams have NOT done in the last 13 seasons. And Bill Self is acknowledging chemistry in mid-February.

When you take transfers, you take a player that reached a point of dissatisfaction that he would leave a situation. In many cases, that player is someone else's problem.

What I find interesting, and again, just taking pieces of info we see trickle out -- we know Evan Maxwell left midway through last season. We know Dwight Coleby and Jack Whitman left unexpectedly, with Coleby's departure tied to playing time. We know Dedric Lawson was suspended and didn't make the Italy trip. We know that Mitch had the suspicious broken nose. None of this has implicated Newman.

But I just wonder what cliques have developed and how that is impacting the team. I wonder if certain players were purged or had simply had enough. Guys that don't "buy in" can impact guys that do. And I wonder how attitudes that don't "buy in" are impacting this team right now.

Is Malike Newman a cancer on this team?

Bill Self very clearly agreed that "chemistry" is an issue. That is a huge warning sign -- chemistry -- not "buying in." The way the team interacts and reacts. To me, most fingers point Newman's way, knowing that those might not be the exclusive fingers that deserve pointing. Bill Self removed Newman from the starting lineup, pointed out is failings, and said generally, "The players haven’t quite bought into that totally yet." He referenced the word "compete." Clearly, Newman is at least one of those players, but possibly the main culprit.

What I do know is that Self purposefully identified that what Malik was doing was not giving us the "best chance" (presumably to win) in mid-February. Maybe the guy with the most overall talent on this team. Certainly the highest rated player.

Is Malik Newman a cancer on this team?

The fact is, the question is now worth considering.

But the truth is, I don't have a "for sure" answer. But if I was told I had to bet $1000 of my own money either way, I would bet yes.

When I see what I saw on the tape yesterday at 2:24, something I don't recall ever seeing in the recent past of KU basketball, it is striking to me. I couple that with zero interactions between the Newman and Svi. I add that to Newman's prima donna reputation. I see him not assimilating until the premature light switch call, and now that seems gone. And I hear the words from our coach, again, about a supposed star. It is striking to me when I hear Bill Self discussing a top 10 player who is now in his third year of CBB, second season under arguably the best coach in CBB, being taken out of the starting lineup (again) for still not getting it. All this with the coach acknowledging chemistry issues on a team rolling out uninspired, poor performances.

On Hawk Talk last week, Self discussed how a team cannot succeed if a coach is required to coach "effort" at this point in the season. The guy was telling us what we needed to know.

If Malik Newman is really a cancer on this team, then we really are doomed. Are there co-conspirators? Vick? If Newman is a cancer, then it's a disjointed mess destined for a first weekend bow out. If he's something short of that, if it is a situation that has room for movement, then all is not lost. But I am more concerned about this team now, than I ever have been this season.

@JayHawkFanToo Please go look
at 2:24 of the first half. Then, ask yourself, have you ever seen Malik and Svi slap hands or acknowledge each other all season? Then in looking at 2:24, tell yourself it does not look like Newman completely ignored him and blew him off.

Observation .. back to @jaybate-1-0 Svi/Newman thing from earlier in the year. Go to 2:24 mark of first half. Newman subbing in for Svi on our defensive end of the court, in front of our bench. Svi goes off the court angling toward scorer’s table to presumably slap hands with Newman. Newman ignores him, and Svi stops before getting to him and goes at an angle back to the bench.

Interesting.

On the bright side, DeSousa managed a foul and a turnover in what seemed like 20 seconds of game action. The kid can fill the stat book quickly.

@mayjay No, I understood exactly what you said. I have a very easy solution to not getting charged with trafficking — don’t possess the quantity that results in the charge. Zero sympathy for the pothead.

@mayjay "draconian statutes", what a laugh. It's even more of a laugh when you thus arbitrarily condemn trafficking (apparently the law you think is ok). Of course, one could argue the trafficking laws are draconian as those helpful folks are just providing the drug that other folks possess in "a silly minuscule amount." To get addicted. To create havoc. To sap our money. To then request our sympathy and understanding. To further and continually deteriorate our society. That's just your value judgment on what law is worth enforcing and penalizing, and what law isn't. Heck, we see federal appeals court judges flat ignore and disrespect the law because of their personal opinions. Why should we be any different?

@AsadZ You could replace "kids" with "adults", and then we'd simply be ignoring any semblance of personal responsibility. Brannen Greene is an adult. He should either go to the county jail or state prison (depending on the charge), or get probation in lieu of jail/prison if the charge, his record, and sentencing guidelines permit. I'm curious, why is it my responsibility to pay for rehab for folks that choose to use drugs, and then get addicted? Personally, in most cases, I'd rather just pay for prisons and accept the collateral damage from that. At least then those folks aren't near others they can hurt. And in most every case, there is a sob story as to why it isn't the offender's fault. Pick the excuse.

It is interesting that if the drug or substance is suddenly not available, one might not then be addicted for too long.

Perhaps Andrew White would have been the better choice. A coach force out that went south.

http://m.ljworld.com/news/2018/feb/09/drug-distribution-case-involving-brannen-greene-st/?templates=mobile&sports= ↗

Something tells me that Greene and Bragg bonded in their one season together here.

"I question Shaka Smart’s coaching ability" -- that will get @JayHawkFanToo upset. He's Shaka's biggest fan.

@wissox I have (had) read the sports page each morning since I was in first grade. The last thing I want to do I the morning is eat my breakfast while looking at a computer screen or my phone. Now I can hardly get the paper in my drive before I leave, and it's down to nothing.

@dylans Correct -- they assign non-sports hacks to write attack pieces, like Laura Bauer. Re-hash specials, questionable and biased slants to the info they provide (and the info they don't provide) based on their preferred narrative, and timing the canned, re-hashed for game days (such as running the Tyreek Hill hit piece the day of the playoff game a year ago).

@wissox Really, the question is, what's good about the KC Star. Sports page sucks, down to nothing. Sports columnists are weak. No insight. Boring. Heck, I don't even get my paper anymore until 6:45 at the earliest and I'm out the door by then. I'll leave the politics out of the criticism.

Just a rumor, but I hear he has two or three transcript issues; a booster might have helped with some travel money a while back; he drives a late model car given to him by his cousin's, half-sister's, domestic partner; his mom may have borrowed some money from a "friend" within the last week; he enjoys shooting at passers-by with his airsoft rifle; and, of course, he partakes in a bong every so often.

Now, of course, I could just be confusing this kid with someone else.

We'll see how quickly he zooms into the top 100. Might be lightning speed.

@BShark You're probably right on Cunliffe. There is a window though, I think. Vick and Newman leave. We don't get Langford or another ready to play wing. Our starters could be Dotson, Grimes, and Cunliffe. Why Cunliffe over Garrett? Shooting. We go from a shooting based team to team that really can't shoot. Who can shoot? Sam. The more Garrett makes shots, the more that window closes, of course.

But if Self is constructing a lineup, he'll be thinking about shooting. Still, I admit the window is small.

@Lulufulu You said, "I also doubt we win our big 12 tournament ( Sprint Center ) and I doubt we make it past the second game of the NCAA’s."

Ah, but how many times in years' past did you, me, and everyone else predict great things in March? Embrace the chaos for the chaos is normal. This is a roller coaster ride. All we can do is hang on and enjoy. And you never know, teams like this can find a crazy little hot streak. Not one doubt in my mind that this psychotic team can win it all (just so long as no tourney games are at AFH).

Best we can say is that sick Svi at least drew significant attention. If Newman would have had a decent performance, which we should expect, the game would have looked differently. But then again, why would we want to cruise to a 15 point win at home? Where's the fun in that?

@Kcmatt7 I get what Grimes wants to be, as @BShark mentions. And I do not doubt for a minute the PG in the NBA thing you state (though at 6'5", that path is available too as a SG). But I think you will agree, when you see "combo guard", that at least means that ball handling is a work in progress. I recall this same discussion about Selden. I was a big naysayer when it came to Selden at the PG spot, mainly because of ball handling (D-1 ball handling is many steps above anything these guys have seen). But I just don't know Grimes' ball handling competence. I'm making some assumptions.

With Self's love for ball handling, I don't think it's far-fetched to think we could see Moore, Dotson, and Grimes together. If Newman/Vick leave, and we whiff on Langford, and grab a four year guy, this seems like a possibility.

Just a query .. given how DeSousa looks, might it be possible that McCormack is better, perhaps more ready to play next fall (at least we shouldn't assume the opposite)?

Also, @Kcmatt7, good stuff. A few non-astute observations - I see no situation where Newman returns and doesn't start; I imagine Moore will get back up PG minutes (why do you favor combo guard Grimes there? I'm not a Moore fan, but combo guard tells me ball handling ain't the priority); I'd be shocked if three freshmen start.

@JayHawkFanToo My concern is here that Vick may be wading into territory that makes Self question whether he really wants Vick back. Further, if Vick is struggling with Self, doing things Self's way, it's a losing proposition for him next season. Not the best NBA resume to not be a starter.

There are many paths of speculation as to "why" with Vick. Whatever it is, Self's tone when discussing him was pretty insightful.

@wissox That seems reasonable, but I think a transfer is also a distinct risk here. Self's tone of voice was one of being a touch disgusted, befuddled, and upset all in one.

The young man needs to listen to the coach.

Did you say Trae Young is a whiner? Yes, I thought you did. Whiner.

@Jayballer54 I'm with @BeddieKU23 on this. While Moore could get the nod a few games early, I think the talent difference between he and Moore is more than Grimes perhaps Vick/Newman. But it sounds like we all are expecting a lot from the freshman.

Try this .. If Vick and Newman are gone, and no Langford, could Moore, Dotson and Grimes all start? Lots of ball handling there.

@FarmerJayhawk Dotson will be on the ball I would bet, not Grimes.

Forcing a guy to transfer is part of the deal. Self's pushed guys out before. But Cunliffe has already burned a redshirt year to come here. That would be pretty disappointing if he got pushed out.

@dylans When Self described it, Self denied he was "injured." Said it was a "bruised knee", and then said "bone bruise." He also said it wasn't limiting him, but that DG wouldn't likely tell him anyway. I heard this on an interview with Hanni. Sounds like he got banged on the knee is all.

@drgnslayr The excuses are piling up. At some point, there has to be a realization that we have flaws. We aren't going to be good at everything, we're going to miss shots, we're going to suck on the boards, we're going to lose games that appear as if we should win. Self has us ready to play from a basketball end. We aren't prepared mentally at home. I'm sure he's searching for the right approach with this team. It's clear a home game is different.

@BeddieKU23 Man, I really DO think he's as good as we think he is. The word "coasting" is concerning. We don't know him. Don't know his motivations. Logic would say that coasting would cause a large drop in his NBA prospects. But logic isn't always the determining factor.

At this point, I would try the Newman treatment. Start Garrett.

@BeddieKU23 Right, just something impacting him mentally. Whatever it is. Your observation on the leg thing and the change in his shot is interesting, something really worth paying attention to.

If I were the kid's family, I'd look Self in the eye and ask, "If my kid comes to Kansas, works his tail off, and is a starter by his junior year. But you will still look to recruit over him, and you'll bump him out of the starting lineup, if the next OAD flavor of the month is available, correct?"

Since a good conference opener against Texas, Vick has avg. 7.2 pts, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.8 turnovers a game. Basically a big nothing.

The best I can come up with is girlfriend issues to explain why a guy drops off so much.

Here's a flyer .. he took 55 shots in a three game stretch vs. Syracuse, Washington, and ASU. He scored 20, 28, 25. Pretty good efficiency shooting. But I wonder if with KU losing 2 of those 3 (losing the last 2) if there was some conversation about his scoring not leading to wins. The next game he only shot 9 times. I don't know. Grasping for straws here.

Truly a surprise to me. I was very much on the Vick bandwagon, thinking he might lead us in scoring this season. The flip in the calendar year has been like night and day.

@dylans Every game has sold out since 2001 or something like that. Seems like they have the right price-point. I've never really heard of students that wants to come to the game that can't get in.

@kjayhawks What exactly are you wanting the people "down close" to do? Adults, generally, are not going to stand up and jump around like the students do. There will always be older folks that aren't going to yell and scream. Not sure of the point. AFH has nothing to do with the team losing. It's hard for me to fathom someone complaining about the environment at AFH.

This game was no surprise. This is the 2017-18 Jayhawks. Up, down, all around. Ride the roller coaster. But we know it, right?

Our coach isn't doing anything wrong on the court. There are no huge omissions, or major errors to analyze. Our team has significant warts from a personnel perspective. Self has the best scheme for this team.

The subjective element here is whether we are mentally ready to play. We clearly aren't sometimes. This seems be the area that Self has to really look at and challenge himself on.

This team is not going to ever make us comfortable. We know we can beat anyone. We can legitimately lose a 15/2 game and it would not be shocking. That's a pretty wide berth.

It's almost a peaceful feeling.

@wissox what is predictable now is unpredictability with this team. It is predictable that KU will lose at home to either OSU or TCU over the next two games. That would seem to fit with this team. If they win the next two, that seems to demonstrate that we're moving to a different place. We would then have a five game gauntlet then that will really determine our fate.

We go to Baylor and ISU, then home vs. OU and WVU, and then to TT.

Winning the next two gives us some leeway to lose 2 of those 5.

Our apparent underperforming at home is the story of this season really, to this point.

When I look at the schedule, that's what catches my eye the most. TT and OU are one game back and play each other at TT. So one will go to four losses. TT has other games at TCU, at KSU, at WVU and at home vs. KU. OU has other games at Texas, at KU, home vs. WVU, and home vs. KSU.

I think OU is best positioned to challenge KU right now. I think we want TT to win that game because TT has really three games that are legitimate possible losses on the road.

@Blown I really don't recall anyone suggesting kids don't get tired, just that it is over-Blown, no pun intended.

I think if Devonte were injured, he wouldn't be playing 40. I think he's playing 40 because Self is Self (and much like most other coaches). He thinks winning equates to playing your best players. Seems simple. I do think that many coaches, in the heat of competition, can miss the important point of "peak efficiency." I had posted a stat that DG's shooting percentage in the last 5 games he's played 40 minutes, his shooting percentage is 28.8%.

What I don't know is if his shooting percentage is decreasing in the second half.

I am hoping that that coach Self has analyzed this and feels that the team is better with DG playing 40 with his peak efficiency compromised, vs. playing 34 minutes per game at perhaps a higher efficiency. And that is the reason. I speculate that another reason for 40 minutes might be that when he gets in a game situation, he just can't stomach having him out of the game. Something that simple. It sickens him to have DG on the bench.

My personal opinion is that 40 minutes per game is compromising his peak efficiency. I'd try to give him one good blow each half, perhaps two minutes or more before each TV timeout.

We all know legs are important in shooting. This might help recharge the batteries.

@mayjay One thing about basketball practices, pretty much all coaches do this, is that there is a block of time for just free throw shooting (maybe not every practice, of course). There are gyms with multiple rims, like KU has set up at AFH, guys break off to the their rims, usually with a partner. Many coaches do this at times right after some high exertion activity, so they are shooting a bit fatigued.

In any case, the dynamic at practices are that there are ... bing, bing, bing ... coaches that interact with players during this time.

Further, when you talk resources, if you have excellent free throw shooters, and guys with good form -- but you have this anomaly, the sore thumb -- who should coaches direct attention to?

Further, you have a big man starter, a guy that you'd like to draw fouls, a big guy that will get hacked, and you permit that atrocity of form to exist?

Some folks will try to defend anything. This is such an extreme example of complete coaching staff negligence it is unbelievable. But still, folks try hard to defend. It would be easier to just admit it was a staff oversight and move on. But no, there is this need to rationalize the irrational.

Bill Self was well on notice of this. Here's a link to a story from November of 2016 (first one below) noting poor free throw shooting for the freshmen, which included Udoka. Heck, he shot below 40% last season. He was horrible. And he had multiple months to shoot proper free throws with his left wrist injured. Good grief. Self even said the that the poor free throw shooting "will cost us" -- again, in 2016, speaking of Udoka and JJ. Further, in a March, 2016 article, he said this, “You don’t make free throws in the postseason, the chances of you advancing against a comparable team is not very good,” Self said.

So, our big guy, down low, subject to being fouled, a guy you'd like to draw fouls, a guy you need to play, shoots like that?

And magic, in one week all of a sudden his elbow is trying to get to the right spot, pace is being focused upon, and form is suddenly something that can be addressed with our "resources."

When asked what they could do to improve in November of 2016, he said, "Obviously practice them more … that’s what we need to do.” Uh, no coach, not with Udoka. He needed a form overhaul. Practicing horrible form further ingrains horrible form. We are really debating this?

@dylans is exactly right. We've heard Self say that players do free throw shooting reps on their own. That is supported by Self's statements in the article. Nowhere does he say they are coaching or working with them on form.

http://kuhoops.com/ku-basketball-news/120294748/ ↗

http://www.gctelegram.com/58881e29-2e85-5139-a3f6-b9a28f27f01d.html ↗

@cragarhawk Some find any criticism of Self as unacceptable, as we know. Any criticism is an attack in their bubble. But you have made a fatal error in trying to explain this as you liken Self to "all men." Self a mere man? Somehow, someway, no matter what Self does, it is the wisest path. Even when it isn't. And even when he contradicts himself.

Here, it's laughable. An obvious example of gross negligence. That's what troubles some -- any challenge to what Bill Self has done is an attack on all things Bill Self, in their little bubble. There is no ability to differentiate between valid criticism and irrational attacks.

Also, I love the zone defense. We were screaming for that a few years back -- in the "3 pointer is evil" days.

@JayHawkFanToo The reality is that you can teach free throw shooting and do all that you have said. It's not rocket science. Everything you say can be done at the same time. Resources have zero to do with it in this case. I mean none.

You are venturing into the territory where you are working very hard to defend the staff, when they blew it. It is indefensible. Anyone ... I mean anyone with any knowledge of this game ... could look at Doke's free throw shooting and see that it was an outlier of major proportions, so far beyond the norm it was really outrageous, and was a complete disaster. Given how he'd shot free throws in the past, the percentages screamed that as well.

Gross negligence. There is no defense.

I guess I'd toss in that I felt that it was a pretty standard 2-3. I would agree with @kjayhawks. KSU's spacing dictated how our players moved, and that can create a different alignment. Example, when the ball moves from the top of the key straight left, the top right defender will be head up and the defense will resemble a 1-3-1 as ball side baseline defender and the top left defender flank the back line middle defender.

Further, when it comes to a matchup zone, remember that man principles dictate when you are guarding the ball. Some folks will say they are playing a match up zone, but they aren't. Match up doesn't mean that you simply go to the player in your area when they get the ball -- that's not the match up being referred to. A true match up zone is when you guard the player in the area as if you are playing man defense -- the same kind of in your face defense you see in man. The wing on the zone may deny the touch to the man he matches up with. The on ball defender will target and close out on his "man" in the area. When the ball flows from areas of the zone, it almost looks like a switching man to man defense. Zone principles blur a bit. I know some folks will say you still play zone away from the ball, but in a match-up zone, you will play a true "ball-you-man", and you will play more angled with both the ball and your "man" in clear sight. In a true zone, you will see the chest of the defender more often facing the ball. It's why the lob over the top is so lethal against a zone.

Anyway, just my perspective.

On paper appears to be a good deal now with the stud corner. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22273770/dj-swearinger-rips-washington-redskins-trading-cb-kendall-fuller ↗

We have $17 million now in cap space. We'll need to spend on a back up QB. But if we can translate some of that to perhaps some more defensive help, this gets more exciting.

@nuleafjhawk Don't despair. We have moved into the "risk" area now. High risk, high reward. We'd enjoyed steady winning. This is a gamble for a higher level of achievement. But it has downside to be sure.

@mayjay So if Self is so omnipotent and perceptive, why in the heck did he not address Doke's horrific free throw shooting earlier? I mean, anyone could look ahead and see that it could be a late game issue.

The obvious conclusion is that Self and is staff were negligent on this one. They let the guy slide by for over a year, and then when an opponent exposed their negligence, they decided to act.

The only way the alternative theory works is if Udoka wouldn't work on it, wouldn't change, and was belligerent when it came to free throw shooting.

In the last five games that DG has played 40 minutes, he's shot a combined 28.8%. If you add in the other games that he's played 40 minutes, one or two that were pretty good, the FG % creeps up to 35%. Not sure they are connected. I would be interested in his first half/second half FG % to see if there is any link. If the 2nd half is lower, I'd think there is. If the second half isn't lower, then probably not.