And for what it is worth, this stat has nothing to do with context. The stat shows that we, by and large, have difficulty scoring at the rim. UK is tremendous at the rim.
And you don't think the 5" difference in height for the front lines makes a difference when scoring at the rim? wow and I mean WOW!
On ESPN bracketology discussion, the analyst picked Indiana over WSU and indicated that Indiana's plethora of guards matches well with WSU. I can see where Marshal would be upset, the Shockers were heavily under seeded and as a result they have a tough match against KU when they should have had a much easier game. I know WSU fans and many Kansas politicians are happy, but I am sure the two coaches are not.
UK's very capable front line averages just about 7' where KU's averages a generous 6'-7" and their back court is taller as well. KU just does not have the height inside or outside to compete with UK. Can KU win? Sure, but the odds are against it...but then...It is March Madness and anything can happen.
He averages 4.1 mpg, 0.6 ppg and 0.2 rpg; a non-factor. New Mexico State went 10-9 in their non-conference schedule.
New Mexico State has 5 Canadian players, 2 French players 1, from South Africa and 1 from Cameroon for a total of 9 foreign players and 6 American players...they make Gonzaga and its 4 foreign players look like the All-American team.
Average height of KU's most used front line (Ellis, Traylor, Oubre, Alexander) - a generous 6'-7"
Average height of UK's most used front line (Cauley-Stein, Towns, Lyles, Johnson) - a conservative 6'-11"+
Context, context, context...
Two life time KU fans that came to play for KU, Conner Frankamp and Zach Peters did not work out well...on the other hand, the pair from Iowa, Collison and Hinrich worked out great.
UCLA got in based on its 40 year old reputation and big market location. All the brackets I was tracking (10+) had them out and Dayton as #8-9 seed.
On the other hand, 4 Big 12 teams in the top 12...that is a full 33% of the top 12 teams. Looks like the Conference got some respect; let's hope it does well.
I agree. I thought we should rest the starters, play the bench and lose to TCU. A #3 seed would have been better.
Indeed. The 3 other #7 seeds are all unranked. WSU got screwed the same as KU.
To add to my previous post, the #7 in the South is Iowa, unranked in both polls and in the West #7 is VCU, also unranked in both polls. WSU got screwed as much as KU.
So Wichita got screwed maybe?
YES, that is the point, both KU and WSU got screwed as they both should have had easier opponents in the second round.
See my post about Dayton, they got royally screwed as well.
Again and with all due respect, you really do not know what you are talking about. Dayton was the runner up in both the regular season and conference tournament in the A-10 and were slated as #8 seed instead they will be playing in the play-in round which happens to be played in Dayton every year,...how is that doing them a favor? They will have to play AND wind one game before getting into the real Tournament.
WSU has been ranked in the top 15 all season long and currently sits at #12 in both the AP and Coaches Poll and #14 as per Pomeroy...how in the world do they end up with a #7 seed? A #7 seed indicates that there are are between 24 and 27 teams better than they are and I think that is plain BS any way you look at it WSU should have been a #4 or #5 but no way they are a #7 seed. The other #7 seed so far is Michigan State that is not even ranked in the top 25 in either poll.
Pleas explain to me how this is non-sense? Please note that I used actual numbers from different sources to back my comments.
Yes?
That is worst case scenario for KU.Somebody had it in for KU, not only it is in the same bracket with UK but it has the ubber motivated WSU Shockers to contend.
Hey...at least we got the post-season loss out of the way; better at the Conference Tournament than at the NCAA. Now on to victory!!!
I agree, I mentioned that Lunardi is at best a middle of the pack bracketologist, but his projections are readily reachable on the ESPN web site. Most bracketologists tend to get the seeding right, it is the location that usually trip them...and a few hard to explain NCAA Committee choices.
I am so sorry. My daughter said that last night and since you are both such huge KU fans I got you two confused... my bad... :) :) :)
Slayer, I believe you are making our point. You say that he should hire someone like Sherron that has played here 4 years and has lived the KU experience. Coach Self has been at KU what? 13 years? Don't you think that he would have a lot more stories to tell after 13 years of 24/7 KU basketball than Sherron would after 4 years as a student/player? I certainly think so.
Quick question that someone already asked...how many coaches that won the NCAA title as coaches played at that school?
BTW, and FWIW I did accept your challenge...
As I posted on another thread, according to Lunardi, KU is a #2 seed and in the Mid West bracket with Kentucky (Omaha) while ISU is a #3 seed in the South with Duke (Louisville). Other than the location, I would trade places with ISU since they seem to have the easier path to the Final Four. @Crimsonorblue22 had it right indicating that it was better to be the top #3 seed than the bottom #2 seed.
According to Lunardi, KU is a #2 seed and in the Mid West bracket with Kentucky (Omaha) while ISU is a #3 seed in the South with Duke (Louisville). Other than the location, I would trade places with ISU since they seem to have the easier path to the Final Four. @Crimsonorblue22 had it right indicating that it was better to be the top #3 seed than the bottom #2 seed.
PEPSI CHALLENGE:
"Anyone in here saying Self isn't a Cowboy? Want to place a little wager? If Self had to choose and could only be ONE... a Cowboy or a Jayhawk... and it didn't effect his paycheck or lifestyle... anyone want to bet what he would pick?"
I will take that bet any day of the week and twice on Sunday. If Coach Self wanted to go back to OSU he could have done any time in the past. If after the Tournament Coach Self hints he is interested in going to OSU, they would dump Travis Ford faster than a vacuum-aided toilet can flush a small turd and up his salary by at least 50%, and I would not be surprised if T-Boone doubles his salary. So in answer to your challenge, coach Self is in all likelihood making less at KU that he would at OSU...so this leaves the lifestyle part and the test will be when Tyler graduates, right?
What do you want to wager? A public retraction in this forum would be good enough for me...but we can go higher...
Slayer, I don't know what you posted 13 years ago when Williams left so I cannot comment on that; however, comparing Self and Williams is like comparing apples and oranges. Williams attended UNC, was an assistant there and was groomed by KU alum Dean Smith to be his successor and other than KU he has not coached anywhere else. All the Jayhawks fans I know knew that Coach Williams was "on loan" form UNC and it became even more apparent after Williams became very successful at KU and showed he could lead a big program. I never blamed coach Williams for leaving, since I knew it was bound to happen, although I have a problem on how the move went through, and for this I blame Dean Smith.
Coach Self attended OSU but got his coaching start at KU under Larry Brown. He was then an Assistant at OSU but was not given the opportunity to be HC so he went to Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois before KU where he got his real big break. Keep in mind that programs like Missouri passed on him and hired Quin Snyder instead. I believe Coach Self remembers this and he is now a loyal and lifetime Jayhawk; if he wanted to leave, he could have done it many time over the last few years but I am convinced he will stay a long time and retire with a number of records, both at KU and nationally.
I have to join the other posters and respectfully but strongly disagree with you. Coach Self might have played ball at OSU but don't forget he got his coaching start at KU as an assistant to Larry Brown. With the exception of Duke, UK and maybe UNC and Louisville, I cannot think of a program that would not love to have Coach Self; in fact, if he wanted to go to OSU, they would dump Travis Ford in heartbeat and probably double his salary...and yet he stays at KU. We know that he has had feelers from NBA teams where he would likely earn a lot more money...and yet he stays at KU.
Coach Self is as big or bigger Jayhawk than any of us. He has taken KU to a true elite level and is on his way to becoming KU's most successful coach and I believe that he will stay at KU until he retires.
If you want better results look at the original, Jeff Sagarin. You can also check Kenneth Massey, who many think has the better system and his web site also lists a summary of all 40 computer rankings so you can see for yourself how well they correlate to reality and each other.
The problem I have with some of the systems is that they were developed by people that might know a lot about statistical methods but are really clueless about basketball and try to explain everything with numbers, even when they really do not duplicate reality.
As I indicated before, I develop (engineering) models for a living and the fist test we run is what we call the "reasonableness test" in which you look at the results/predictions and match them against the real world results and see how close they match; the better the match the better the model. For example, if I develop a model to sort KU players by height based on various physical measurements, the logical order would be:
Or something very close to that, based on numbers presented in the KU Official Roster.
Now, if the model has Lucas and Mickelson reversed or Alexander, Svi, Traylor , Perry and and Green in different order but grouped together it would also be acceptable since they are all roughly the same height. However, if the model had Tyler Self ahead of Ellis and Mason right behind Oubre and Traylor and Selden at the bottom, you would know the model has some serious flaws, right? It does not make a difference what numbers you use to justify, we know it is wrong because we can simply put them side by side, and unless you are 100% blind, you can see the difference clear as day, and again, regardless of the numbers, the difference is obvious, and it is even more convincing when 38 out of 40 models list the order as shown above or with slight variations. Of course the model creator can say the he used a "subjective factor" (Pomeroy's Luck) to arrive at the "true" height and justify the numbers, but the end result still does not pass the reasonableness test. I guess the justification would be in the words of Groucho Marx ...who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
I am not sure how closely you have followed Pomeroy's rankings throughout the season in relation to KU, a few of us in this forum have, and like I indicated, I documented the numbers and the discrepancy with the great majority of the other rankings. I believe this is as much as I can write on the subject, you can decide for yourself which predictor your trust the most...unfortunately there is no model to predict that...:(
In the end there are no right and wrong or blacks and white answers and its is really 50 shades of grey...minus all the kinky stuff...:)
My first choice would still be Brad Stevens...Bennett is high on the list as well. Danny still has to prove that he can lead a major program; his first year at Wake Forest is nothing that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling. Turgeon, on the other hand, has had a great year and is leaps and bounds ahead of Manning in HC experience.
Great news. Hasse is one of the toughest players to ever wear the KU uniform. Floor Burns is an apt description for the title of his book.
Again, look at my posts on the subject and you will see extensive documentation, including screen shots, of the disconnect. I am not making this up, it is recorded and readily available in the forum archives.
By the way, the Badgers have one too, in 1941!
I knew Bo Ryan was old...I did not know he was THAT old... :)
...yes...but KU has a recent National Title where Wisconsin does not...right?
Again, not need to get defensive, I did not say that Bo Ryan is a poor coach, I simply said the the knock on him is that even with superior teams he has not made past the Final Four, right? I even mentioned that former KU Coach Williams had the same reputation and to a certain extent Coach Self does as well, although that one title and the finals a couple of years ago have largely offset that perception.
In any case, this is a discussion for WisconsinBuckets forum not the KUBUckets forum, right?
He and the algorithm he uses are one and the same. His algorithm does indeed "rank" teams and it is out of whack with most other computer rankings out there, so I am not the only one that feels his algorithm is flawed. I am on record as saying that some of his data, i.e. tempo is good and helpful, but the ranking portion is seriously flawed. Do a search for posts of mine where I have compared and documented his rankings against other computer and human rankings and you will see that he is consistent at odds with the great majority of other rankings.
Kenneth Massey has a table comparing 40 computer rankings and it is very easy to see where he is off the norm.
Last year UVA won the Regular Season and Conference Tournament Titles and made it to the Sweet 16. Bennett has been building the program gradually from sub .500 team to a contender. This year it won the ACC Regular season Title and will likely be a #1 or worst case a #2 seed; not many programs have done better than that.
MR. POM POM...I like that. Of course he still ranks KU and other conference teams lower than most.
You have to remember that @jaybate-1.0 sometimes likes to act the part of an "agent provocateur," as it were, just to start spirited discussions...not really a bad thing...
There is no way Bennett goes from UVA to Texas. UVa is now a premier program in a premier conference with lots of fan support and East Coast exposure. I can see Bennett eventually moving to a more prestigious program but Texas ain't it. I can see Marshall going there though...
I will grudgingly agree with you. KU will not be a #1 seed; it looks like a solid #2 seed, barring a disaster later on today.
Indeed, I have been saying for long time that Lunardi is average at best.
I love your sign? Is this just a picture or something you have at home? I will see if I can Photoshop just the sign, print it and hang it on the front door for my game time guest to see.
In all fairness. you can read this board on certain days and certainly get that impression.
I have to disagree with you. I have seen UVa play several times and, IMHO, UVa is a very solid team any way you look at it, and Bennett is a coach a I would not mind having at KU after Coach Self retires. Just my personal opinion.
He obviously is well known and brings a lot of hits to the ESPN site, particularly at this time of the year, which translates to advertising money...and money talks...you know the rest...
That would be for the upcoming season; as far as I can tell, he is a field goal kicker.. By the way, his Facebook Cover photo ↗shows Memorial Stadium. Here is a short bio ↗of him, originally from Missouri, he is only 5'-5", 165 pounds, so rather on the small side. He also played soccer and wrestled so he is likely a pretty tough guy with a strong leg.
Isn't the knock against Bo Ryan that he always chokes on the big games? A lot like Coach Williams at Kansas...
Lunardi work for ESPN and has no association with the NCAA. Many sports analysts are invited to a mock selection selection session conducted by the NCAA that tries to replicate how the committee works, but that is as far as it goes. As far as "bracketologists" Lunardi is really middle to bottom of the pack and there are many that predict consistently better than he does.
Look at this link ↗, Lunardi is ranked 44 out of 76. He is only famous because he has the largest ESPN audience. If you go by results, there are many I would pick over him.
Wisconsin has good and capable size inside that could give UK headaches.
A lot of KU's inconsistencies are/were due to the top conference competition. There is no doubt that you cannot take a game off in the conference. Look at the latest rankings according to Ken Pomeroy
No. 9. KU
No. 10. OU
No. 15. Baylor
No. 16. ISU
No. 19. Texas
No. 26. WVU
No. 36. OSU
No. 57. TCU
No. 81. KSU
No. 155. Texas Tech
The conference might not have a legitimate top 5 team but it has 6 teams in the top 26. and other than the two bottom feeders the other 8 teams are all ranked in the top 57 and 7 of them in the top 36. No other conference comes even close. Look at KSU the #9 team, it went 4-2 against the top 3 teams and swept OU, and 5-3 against the top 4 teams, or look at the #19 ranked Texas which is in the last four group in the latest bracketology...that is top to bottom balance.
Are you talking about McKay? I would start with Traylor who has the speed to keep up with him, but neutralize him by drawing fouls on him. Oubre definitely has the athleticism to go against him and either score or draw the foul...or both.
KU's defense is working on all cylinder now and if they can hold ISU 3 point shooting to a low level, the key will be containing McKay. He might not be the best player or the star of the team but, much like Mason at KU, he is the team's MVP...he is the Conference Defensive Player of the Year for a reason. If McKay is neutralized, the inside advantage shifts to KU. I would say drive inside and get him in foul trouble early.