WSU has 5 players signed including 2 - 3star and 3 not rated players including the 7 footer, Bush Wamukota( from Kenya) you mentioned:
WSU signees..." target="blank" rel="noopener">http://espn.go.com/colleges/basketball/recruiting/school//id/2724/class/2014) ↗
By looking at his resume, its does not look like he will be setting the world on fire.
You have to consider that yesterday, WVU shot/played well,well above its season average.
FG - vs. KU = ,529, season = .443
3 Pts - vs. KU = .563, season = .386
FT - vs KU = .725, season = .725
RPG - vs. KU = 37, season = 36
APG - vs. KU = 15, season - 13
Steals - vs. KU = 7, season = 6
Blocks - vs. KU = 3, season = 3
TO - vs. KU = 13, season = 10
In the fist half the shooting percentages were even higher. Turnovers is the only statistic that was worse than the season average; all the others were better. Sometimes a team gets hot and shoots/plays well above its average; yesterday was one of those days.
I agree with @Crimsonorblue22, to concentrate in Wiggins 2 assists and nothing else is absolutely and unadulterated BS.
First, no one else other than Perry was consistently scoring and chances are that Coach Self told him to take any available jumper or drive to the hoop and score or draw the foul. If he does this without the coach's approval he would be sitting on the bench; he has before.
Second, Wigging plays the 3 and his job is to score, rebound and get to the line as much as he can; assists are not his responsibility, you have other players charged to do that. Wiggins shot 12-18 or 66%, the rest of the team 16-44 or 36%; why would coach Self ask him to pass when he had the hot hand and shooting 30% higher than the rest of the team? it makes no sense.
Third, Just because he has only 2 assist DOES NOT MEAN HE DID NOT PASS THE BALL. An assist is recorded when the receiving players scores, if he doesn't then no assist is recorded. Unlike other statistics, the assist is dependent on two players completing the task. Does any one have a count of the times he passed the ball and the receiving player did not score? He could pass the ball 2 times and the receiving players score both times and he ends up with two assists. Likewise, he could pass the ball 30 times and the receiving players score two times and he still ends up with two assists. Given the two choices and how well he was scoring and how poorly the rest of the team was, I am glad that he played like he did. Apparently Coach Self agrees with me as he indicated that yesterday Wiggins was the best player in the country.
To take one statistic out of context and and present it as fact is nuts. Again, his job is to be at the receiving end of an assist not a the passing end. He makes the team better by scoring after receiving the pass and not by making a pass that might go to waste.
Wichita State is losing Cleanthony Early, a big loss, and a few other role playing seniors; the core of the team is coming back. Baker and VanVleet are sophomores so they have two more years unless they bolt to the NBA.
Most of the mock drafts have Early as a second round or not listed; I saw one that had Baker listed as second round pick.
Marshall has at least one more year and likely two with the current core. My guess is that he will take another good ride next year and maybe the year after and then he is gone.
So many good players in the Big 12, it is difficult to pick a first second or third team because many third team players could easily be first team; the difference is that small.
It would be nice to have a tournament after the NCAA, where all-conference teams from the top 4 conferences play each other in a conference tournament. The #1 plays the #4 and the #2 plays the #3, and the winners play for the championship. NBA scouts and fans would love to see this.
I hope the comments above are made in the spirit of thinking outside the box and not seriously. Wiggins can dribble the ball in the open court and when no one is guarding as well as anyone else, but then, so can Perry. and most any other player. The problem is when he gets in traffic, he loses the ball more often than not; this is the weakest part of his game and the part that a point guard must absolute master.
As far as Wiggins not having enough assists, I am sure that once KU got so far behind, Coach Self told him to take any available open shots or drive to the basket and score or at least draw the foul, and this is exactly what he did.
In any case, his role as 3 is to score and rebound and get to the line as much as possible, and assist are not his primary responsibility. Considering that no one other than Perry was scoring consistently, taking the open shot or driving to the hoop was the logical thing to do. Had he passed the ball more often he would still have the same number of assist and we lose by 20 points.
@HighEliteMajor
Quick Post Game Thoughts:
Tharpe was not "feeling it" today, he knew it and Coach Self knew it. I don't; think we can write him off yet; after all, he has had some very good games.
Agree. Many of us did not think he would score 40 points...and darn it if he didn't.
I believe they actually got within 4.
Frankamp plays good, disciplined defense (he is a coach's son after all); however, he must be able to score; he did not do that today.
As I said before, Tarik is consistently inconsistent. Anything you get from him is a bonus but I am not sure we can rely on him to produce consistently.
Many analyst indicated before the game that losing without Embiid dose not necessarily doom KU from #1 seed. A run through the Conference Tournament and we are right back on the conversation. Having said that a #2 seed seems more realistic..
Mr. Wiggins has entered the building!!! Let's hope he has finally awaken and will be in "beast" mode the rest of the season.
I had predicted that 14-4 would win the conferences; this is one of those time when I wish I had been proven wrong. This loss stings.
You and Fraschilla are obviously wrong. Durant and Beasley did not play in the same year; in 2008 Durant was already in the NBA, he left in 2007.
Here is a link to the conference official press release that verifies the information I provided in my previous post:
Of the 30 games KU will play in the regular season, 18 are pre-determined conference games, which leaves about 12. Of those 12 there are a few that have been scheduled for while plus the "tropical" tournaments and the Series with Duke. MSU and UK, so in reality he is scheduling 6-8 games per season, but what a good job he did to find the right teams that would contribute to our RPI.
As far as good wins, 6 conference teams in addition to KU have been in the to 25, and any win against those teams is a very good win. Add to that wins against Duke and New Mexico, both top 25 teams and you have a boat load of good wins.At one time. KU had 4 consecutive wins against top 25 teams, something that had not been done in a long time. According to Sagarin, KU has 12 wins against to 50 teams; this is two more wins than second place Arizona. Just because KU beats at team that is ranked lower it does not mean it is not a good win.
Of the teams that KU has played this season, close to 15 will make it to the tournament. Compare that with Wichita State that only 1 team they have played (St. Louis) will likely make it to the tournament.
The kind of team that Coach Self would like to see, unfortunately is no longer feasible; the new rules have ensured that the "Self-Ball" that we grew accustomed cannot exist anymore. Some of the defensive bastions from prior teams, such as RussRob, Mario, Rush, Releford would foul out in the first half.
This tournament might be remembered as one in which the refs and not the coaches or players dictated the style of play. If the refs swallow their whistles and let the players play, KU could be lethal. If they call every single ticky-tac contact, it would be a nightmare for some teams with short benches.
These are the last five conference games of the season:
KU @ WVU - West Virginia desperately need the win to have any chance of post season play.Edge KU in a close game.
Baylor @ KSU - KSU plays tough at home and Baylor has Scott Drew. Edge KSU.
OSU @ ISU - If ISU hits from the outside, they win comfortably, if not it could be a close game. Edge ISU
OU @ TCU - OU wins comfortably. Edge OU
Texas @ Texas Tech. - Close game but Texas wins. Edge Texas.
These are my predictions, any thoughts?
Too much caffeine Crimson?
I believe HEM said Wiggins "OR" Embiid, which by the way I agree.
Now, think of something nice to say...like TGIF? :)
But...TCU would still be last, whereas Kansas Sate finishes in the bottom instead of the top half.
I know, semantics. A case can be made for several players, again, depending on how the award is defined. Probably there should be two, one for best player (most outstanding) and one for most valuable player.
Yes. Maybe not "exactly" as good, but the drop off would be minimal and KU would still win the Conference... and Green and White would have a lot more experience.
I don't think you recall correctly:
Brandon Rush - All Big 12 1s team, second player in big 12 history to be first team 3 years in a row.
Darrel Arthur - All Big 12 1st team.
Mario Chalmers - All Big 12 second team.
Darnell Jackson - All Big 12 third team.
Big 12 All defensive team - Mario Chalmers and Russel Robinson, both for the third time.
Big 12 Sixth Man Award - Sherron Collins; first KU player to receive the award.
Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team - Brandon Rush (Most Outstanding Player), Mario Chalmers.
NCAA (Midwest) Regional All-Tournament Team - Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Sasha Kaun.
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player - Mario Chalmers.
The 2008 teams was one of KU's more decorated teams.
Actually quite the opposite. I said that if Wiggins would not have come, KU would be equally good.
Iowa State and Oklahoma will continue to improve under Hoiberg and Kruger both very good coaches.
Kansas State had a good thing going with Martin and now that Weber is there, he will have one or two years until he get his own recruits in and then it will rapidly go down.
Baylor will continue to get top players (who knows why) but as long as Drew is there, thee will not be a factor; BTW, I noticed that lately the assistants are doing a lot more coaching during time outs while Drew just stands there, likely a reason why the teams is doing better. Drew is without a doubt the worst coach in the Conference and one that has wasted a lot of talent.
Once its current top players are gone, OSU will be at best middle of the pack; Ford has proven to be an average coach at best, and a well below average leader.
Barnes is a good (not a great) coach and Texas will have up and down season depending on recruiting.
West Virginia has a lot of potential if they can get top players, Huggy, love him or hate him, is a very good coach and future hall of famer. If he can get good recruits to Morgantown, West Virginia will do well.
Texas Tech will improve under Tubby but I don't believe will ever be a contender; much like the other Teas schools, it is a football school first and foremost . TCU will continue to be what it is now, weakest team in the conference.
You are indeed correct. OU was the typical Billy Tubbs run and gun type of team lead by future 1st round picks Harvey Grant, Stacey King and Mookie Blaylock.
Apparently Coach Brown wanted a slow game and the players decided on their own to run with OU and completely surprised them in the first half. The game slowed down in the second half and KU finally prevailed as we all know. Good times :)
Putin visualizes Obama and comes up a winner every time :)
When selecting players for awards, sometimes it gets lost in the translation what the award is for.
We use the words "Best Player" and "Most Valuable Player" interchangeably when in reality they have quite different meanings.
There are several players that can make a case for either term. For example, Wiggins would and should be in the run for "Best Player" since he is arguably the best player in the league; however, if he would not play for KU, it is more likely than not that KU would be equally good.
When you look at the "Most Valuable Player," to me is the player without which the teams would not be nearly as successful. I think that a player like Kansas State Marcus Foster would be a candidate, not only because he has excelled as a player, but more importantly, without him Kansas State would not have nearly the success it had this season.
I cannot think of a single player, Joel comes the closest, without which KU would not be nearly as good, particularly in view of how well Tarik played the last game. Who would you nominate for MVP?
Mason was a volume shooter in High School and sometimes he reverts to his old habits. Many times when he takes an ill advised long shot a the beginning of the possession or drives into a forest of trees, you can see Coach Self cringing on the sideline; I am sure this is not what he is being told to do and coach Self has said that much in a couple of occasion on the after game presser.
When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important then the name on the back.
Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.
Pain is only temporary but victory is forever.
Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.
Vince Lombardi
"If practice makes perfect, and no one is perfect, why practice?"
At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don't
Andy Roddick
In men it does; in women it does not.
The Baylor women's team is the equivalent of KU men's team. In the last ten years they have 4 sweet sixteen, 1 elite eight, i final four and 2 National Championships. Much better record than the Baylor men's team.
Nice!!!
Rock Chalk at least has some historical significance...and a hell of a lot more tradition and success than the Baylor's "Sic Em."
The freshman rule was lifted in 1973 after Jabbar was done and while Walton was still playing. The both played one year in the Freshman team and 3 years in the varsity team.
A lot of good points presented and my thoughts on some of them.
The fact that KU has won "only" 23 games so far cannot be attributed to the OADs. Although KU has had to replace its entire starting lineup before, it never had to deals with the "toughest schedule in 20 years" with a team this experienced and playing in the top conference. Let me repeat:
All new starters including 3 freshmen, one (fairly green) sophomore and 1 junior. Previous team had 3-5th year seniors, 1 senior and one red-shirt freshman starting.
Playing in the top conference.
Playing the toughest schedule in 20 years.
Anyone that thought KU would win more games under these conditions is completely delusional. Many of us thought that a 14-4 record would win the conference and it is true; a 14-4 record would win the conference. KU has a chance to beat that prediction by winning at West Virginia and hence exceeding realistic expectations.
The second point is that it is very easy to criticize and come up with all kinds of theories anonymously and from behind a keyboard. Coach Self, on the other hand, does not have the luxury of playing what if games or take a year off to rebuild the team with players that will stay more than one year. If he did that we all would be screaming that Kentucky is increasing its lead in all-time wins and we are not winning enough; yes, were are a pampered/spoiled fan base with high expectations.
Up to now, Coach Self has done a masterful job of blending returning talent with OADs. Is this his first choice? I will guess it is not, but as Rumsfeld famously said...you go to war with the army you have. Coach Self did not create the OAD system, but it behooves him to take advantage of it as long as he continues to produce consistent winners...and he has done that in spades.
Maybe we should all relax a bit and enjoy the fantastic season KU has had, and how some day we will tell the 'youngens" we witnessed the start of the careers of at least two future hall of famers. If KU ends up winning the NCAA tournament, we will all be commenting on what a genius Coach Self is (he really is) and how well he handled the OAD system. As the expression goes...Success has many fathers and failure is an orphan.
I posted earlier that Tarik might have Jeff Graves like game...and what do you know, he did.
Thanks Tarik for what you brought to the program..and for making this Jayhawk fan very happy.
If KU wanted to send a message to the college basketball world that "Embiid or not we are equally good" it could not have done a better job. KU placed itself smack in the middle of the "who will be the next champion" conversation. Several analyst are now calling Florida and KU the favorites.
Also, in most brackets, the Big 12 is the only conference with 7 teams which, percentage-wise, would be the highest since the introduction of the current format.
Well...
The new dreaded Adidas uniforms are back in time for March madness and KU is schedule to get new unis.
Here is link to one of the many articles...
At least KU's don't look too hideous or say "Sic Em" on the front like Baylor...or have sleeves, like the pajama-like uniforms wore at the NBA all-star game.
Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abadul Jabbar) like Walton came back THREE times (both played 4 years), and Jabbar won 3 titles and Walton 2, losing in his senior year in the finals in double overtime to North Carolina State.
I think you are missing my point. You are naming specific teams and I am trying to compare the top 10 teams in any one year. 30 or 40 years ago, there were a few dominant and a bunch of also run teams every year. Look at the current top 25 and many of those have been as high as #1, such as Kentucky and Michigan State and now they are in the 20s. Yes, I grant you that the top 2 or even 3 teams from long ago would have and edge, but below that it would not be close. Realistically, any of the current top 25 teams, with a couple of breaks, could be a top 3 team. 30 or 40 years ago, there were a few teams that dominated and the rankings did not change much throughout the season like they do now.
Correct me if I am wrong but in 1988, the year KU won the National Championship, KU finished 3rd in the conference and not 1st as you have it.
KU lost to Kansas State in the second round of the Conference tournament and split their games during the regular season; KU beat Kansas State in the Elite 8 game. Kansas Sate had Mitch Richmond and a very good team that finished second in the conference ahead of KU. Oklahoma won the regular season and the tournament beating Kansas Sate in the finals.
That finish got my attention because the year KU won the National Tournament, they had not won the regular season or conference championships. Oklahoma was the big dog that year.
We have Google and its super fast Internet/TV coming to Olathe in the near future; it will surely change things quite a bit. At the very least it will give us an additional option. In my area, the only current option are Surewest and Comcast and Surewest is by far the lesser of two evils.
Comcast is as bad or worse that TWC.
I use Firefox on Windows PC and it works perfectly, in fact it works better than the latest IE which does not seem to update the "recent" list.
I also use Firefox on an Android pad in landscape mode but I have to turn it to portrait to post, otherwise I cannot see the box. Not really a big deal. In the landscape mode all the menus show at the top while in the portrait mode only a blue bar shows and need to click the options icon on the right side of the bar to see the menus.
The blackout kicks in when the game is not on national TV or the Jayhawk network so it will not compete with Metro Sports. A very missguided and stupid idea.
When you travel you use the internet provider to which you are connected at the time, not the one you have at home...unless you are using a dial-up connection and modem. I can get all the ESPN3 programming except the blacked out KU games.
I have a couple of programs that changes the IP address but not the provider and since Surewest does not have a national presence. you can't really do it. Hopefully after the full merger goes through and East Coast nets are added we might be able to access it as we can spoof an IP in, say, Pennsylvania where Surewest will have a presence..
If our team is worthy of a #1 seed then parity has made college hoops totally lacking in quality teams.
Actually I would argue that the opposite is correct; parity has created a lot more quality teams. Where before we had a few that dominated, now we have a number of them than on a given day can beat any other team. I would say that if the top 10 current teams played the top 10 ranked teams of 30 or 40 years ago, the current teams would wing at least 8 out of the 10 games; maybe even all of them. Basketball is now that much better.
Other than perhaps the first Texas game, I would not call our losses ugly; BTW, Texas was ranked in the top 20 at the time.
KU started 5 true freshmen against Florida and gave up a lot of points in the first half; however, the team recovered and beat Florida by 9 in the second half. Obviously not enough to win the game but a good indicator that KU can beat any team; keep in mind that Florida is currently the unanimous #1 ranked team.
I have done all the usual tweaks but they do not work on Surewest, now Consolidated Communications, since their area of service is limited to the Johnson County area (and Sacramento, Ca).
In any case, ESPN3 is scheduled to stream only the game starting at 7:00 PM.
... It's sad for the coaches not having KU prepared for a battle...
I respect your opinion buy I could not disagree with you more.
I cannot imagine Coach Self, arguably the best college coach in college (and staff), not having the team ready to play and with a good game plan in place. It is up to the players to follow instruction and execute the plan. Coach Self has not won more games than any other coach, in the last ten years, by not having his teams prepared for a battle.
KU is still a very young and inexperienced team and, at times, they will not follow the game plan. Teams as well as players have bad days, it happens, but it does not necessarily translate to the coaching staff not having prepared the team properly. Maybe knowing that they had already won the conference outright had something to do with their performance, wouldn't you agree?
Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?
It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.
I was talking abut the NBA. The NCAA takes a dim view of "improper benefits."
Only if his name is Casey Daigle...
After the Marcus Smart fiasco, the chances of a potential lottery pick coming back have dramatically decreased.
No problem. The team will hire him a driver...and she will be gorgeous.