I would call him well, well above average player and athlete. He was Big-8 Offensive Player of the Year and Big-8 All-Conference selection in 1975 in football. He was also All-American in Track and Field.
JayHawkFanToo
13427 posts
Me too. He brings so much energy to the game, you can tell he really wants to play. His personal story is also compelling; hard not to like him.
With a trainer like Hudy and today's technology, Wilt would be one of the greater if not the greatest athlete of all time.
@jaybate 1.0
Here you go...
I seem to remember that Tayshawn was also suspended at least on another occasion, maybe related to his part in the fight with the football players and ensuing twitter posts or his romantic encounter under the bleachers with a member of the women's basketball team???
This site has height and weight measurements for Wilt at different stages in his career including KU.
When it comes to discipline, Self has always been very strict and has never compromised. Having Jamari in the game last Monday could have been the difference needed to win that game and yet he did not budge. He suspended Tyshawn and EJ before and they returned when the suspension was over and not before. I am sure Jamari has a good idea when the suspension will end based on the transgression, and he will return then.
Just to keep thing in perspective, keep in mind that Florida plays in very weak SEC so the regular season competition has not been strong.
Also, going back to the KU game, Florida won the first half 36-21, but remember that KU started 4 Freshmen and 1 sophomore and Greene played 14 minutes. All together they used 122 of the 200 minutes available or 61%, a pretty green team. BTW KU won the second half of that game 40-31.
He has been there on multiple occasions...
As an adopted Kansan (36 years and counting...), I was very proud at that the game between the top two State schools, the 4 Kansans, Ellis, Frankamp for KU and Spradling and Williams for KSU, had good games.
KU like KSU has other Kansan players (Manning, Self) but they do not play much. The only Kansans that played substantial minutes at KU recently (say 10 years) are Reed, Hawkins, Morningstar and Simien; Releford attended Bishop Miege HS in Kansas but he was from Kansas City, Mo, so he kind of counts. Which other players am I missing?
I predicted it would be a close game the entire game and one team would pull away at the end; I surely hoped it would have been KU.
Also, at the beginning of conference play I predicted a 14-4 record would win the conference, although in retrospect, I thought OSU, ISU and Baylor would be the competition. The Big 12 is super tough and every game and road trip is like running a friggin' gauntlet. The team roles have changed and now, UT, KSU and even WVU seem to be the competition, but it sure looks like a 14-4 record may indeed win the conference.
Wiggins has what I call the "Perry Ellis Freshman Syndrome."
Last year, when Perry was a freshman, he was without a doubt one of the more technically sound players we ever had; his moves in offense were textbook perfect.
At the beginning of the season he would use his offensive moves, fake out the defensive player and smartly play the ball off the backboard; the only problem was that his shot were always a few inches off. I am not sure if it was depth perception playing in a large arena as compared to a HS basketball court, or the heft of the backboard and rim themselves, again as compare to HS, but he was consistently inches off.
Then, towards the end of the season and particularly in the Big 12 Tournament all the pieces fell into place and his shots became accurate and started to fall and he became, and has continued to be, one of our more consistent players.
Wiggins is exactly the same way. He has the agility, speed and moves to get consistently to the rim, but his shot seems to be consistently off by a few inches, and instead of getting the basket and one, he just gets the free throws. I am very confident that one of these day, hopefully soon, every thing will click into place and he will be deadly finishing at the rim...just like Perry did.
He does whine the entire game. Must be annoying for the refs to constantly listen to that voice.
On a related note, Weber needs to get off the Helium; he sounds like a cartoon character...and I guess he looks like one as well. :)
Yes, Green had a good game, but his unforced, careless turnover in OT was an absolute killer; maybe enough to name someone else? Brannen has so much potential...
By the way, what's the deal with Tharpe? He is passing wide open threes and settling for paint floaters over a forest of bigs; not a good trade.
Its is on ESPN now...
ESPN link to Kentucky new arena ↗
I am too old fashioned and probably in the minority, but I find it hard for an institution, whose primary charge is education, to justify spending $310M to upgrade a perfectly good arena, when there are probably tons of other education related needs at the school that will go unmet, so they can build a shrine to the squid.
More importantly, what will happen in a few years when someone at the NCAA grows a pair and decides to really investigate the squid and the true story comes out, his entire record at UK vacated and they go on probation?
Maybe something like this...
or this...
Other costly abandoned venues ↗
Absolutely sad what happened to all these venues designed to enhance China's coming out party to the world but ended up instead as gigantic "white elephant' monuments to vanity and lack of foresight. I wonder if Brazil's multi-billion investment (grossly behind schedule) will see the same fate.
I have always considered my dogs to be part of my family and I know most dog lovers do as well. As members of our families, they are also members of the extended Jayhawk family.
I cannot imagine any of our players doing that. However, I am going to guess the Conference has issued guidelines to the schools about controlling fan behavior, this is why I think some signs that may have been allowed last week may not be tonight.
Dang...I always thought it was "e-meow," as in little kitties crying. :)
I am so sorry to hear about you friend, We lost our two dogs not that far apart a couple of years ago and I still miss them very much and I have still not been able to bring myself to get another one; maybe in time I will.
It will be a packed house all right, no question about it.
I am now wondering that, if in view of what transpired at TTU, some of the more obnoxious signs will not be allowed...
Javon Thomas played 28 minutes (2nd most) in the game at AFH and scored 9 points. Foster and Gipson are the go to guys and Southwell can be dangerous from deep; last year he had a good game at Bramledge.
I am confident our bigs can keep Gipson under control but Foster can and likely will be a problem. He went off for 34 points against Texas and penetrated at will and scored at the rim against Texas front line; he could give our guards fits and hopefully Embiid can block his first couple of shots, make him think about penetrating and take that edge away. He is still their best 3 point shooter and maybe Selden can help Tharpe and Mason preventing him from scoring from the outside like he did with Heislip.
Last year the game in Manhattan was close and a blowout at AFH. I am sure that tonight's game will be a lot closer than the one at AFH. KSU has momentum after thumping Texas. Bramledge will be all amped up and they will be eager to get back at KU for the beating at AFH. I think the game will be close and one of the teams, hopefully KU, will pull away towards the end.
In view of the OSU meltdown, looks like from the remaining road games, this will be the toughest test. A win tonight and I cannot see any other team catching up.
I am going to guess that the conference will split the bay, sort of speak. Smart will get a suspension no less than 3 games and possibly as long as the rest of the regular season; the TTU fan involved will be asked to not come back. It will also issue some guidelines for fans and like any good bureaucracy, it will appoint a panel to study the issue and come up with recommendations.
I heard rumors that he might be kicked out off the team, but I cannot imagine Travis Ford agreeing to that.
But...we still don't know what the fan said; for all we know he could have said something that is said hundreds of times by hundreds of fans at any one game. At this time all we have is WAGs and conjectures.
Did you see my post above where an Oregon staffer was spit on by and ASU fan? Fad fans everywhere.
I agree that in the long run, it might end up hurting the program as a whole more that it will Smart. I can see recruit's parents thinking twice about OSU in view of how they have handled the Smart situation.
If Smart would have come to KU, I can't imagine Coach Self putting up with that.
Part of me thinks Smart is a punk and part of me feels sorry for him. Dude needs help...as LeBron would say.
As per twitter from ESPN's Goodman:
"Oklahoma State news conference slated for 5 pm CT, and sources told ESPN that Big 12 expected to make announcement prior to presser."
And Blayne Beal TTU department's assistant athletic director of media relations:
"Texas Tech is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident last night. Looking for facts - not speculation. Ask you for patience."
I will guess that the Conference is going to send a strong message so nothing similar will happen again.
On a related note, Oregon staffers allege that ASU student spit on them:
No shoving in this incident.
Best pass yesterday...Selden is double teamed and with two WVU players all over him manages to thread a pass to a wide open Perry Ellis under the basket for an uncontested dunk. NICE.
There is zero evidence that the fan in question called him by a racial slur. The closest any publication has come to imply is this one:
And you will have to take it in context as the article has been substantially edited since last night when they had it as fact. Even Dougie Glotlieb has confirmed that the "N" word was not used...and we all know how "unbiased" he can be.
Had that word been used, it would be first page news in every publication and web site in the country and you would have the Reverends Sharpton and Jackson calling for a boycott of Texas.
If I were a betting man, I would guess he said get up "effin" flopper, which for the record, a lot of people scream at the TV every time they seem him flop...to be fair, very few would say that to his face.
All Smart had to do is get up and walk away, this is what players are told and trained to do, and this is what players do regularly in hostile venues under similar circumstances.
Short of using the "N" word, which by all available evidence was not used, nothing he could have said compares to what the Antlers said regularly to opposing, particularly KU players, and they did it with impunity for years until they got a token temporary suspension this year, which really was no more than a slap in the wrist.
Smart (what an oxymoron) continued to rant until he had to be physically removed from the court by an assistant. I see this event as a logical progression of recent events including the flopping, the leaving of the court during a game, the kicking of the chair and the overall attitude. OSU personnel should have done something long before it got to this point and failed to do anything at all; they bear a good chunk of the blame, although the blame ultimately falls on Smart himself. Maybe this a desperate cry for help by a young man that appears to be seriously troubled.
@wissoxfan83
Every sports venue, college or professional, has a number of fans that do nothing but heckle opposing players.
If as you suggest this fan gets his ticket revoked, then how about the Antlers or the entire Mizzou crowd for that matter? How about the KSU crowd that at one time threw live chickens on the court? How about Spike Lee that is constantly heckling opposing players from his court side seat? Heckling is common place and does not justify Smart going "Ron Artest" or is it "Meta World Peace" on a fan. Interesting that, unlike Smart, the fan did not flop...it would have been hilarious if the fan threw himself on the floor ala Marcus Smart.
I noticed that the majority of ESPN analysts were withholding judgement until it was learned what the fan said, as if this would justify the shove. A sports publication indicated that the fan used a racial taunt, but the fan in question twitted that this was not the case, and there is zero evidence that this was the case. If a racial slur would have used, it would have been immediately all over the news. I will guess he called him a flopper with a few "choice" words added.
I cannot think of any college player slowly unraveling in front of a national audience like Smart is. It is like watching a car wreck in slow motion. I anticipate a substantial suspension coming from the Conference, which might actually do him some good as it would give him the time to set his head straight. What a mess the OSU program is.
I know that KU was called for at least a couple or more charges, so all together the game had an innordinate number of charging fouls called. I guess this refereeing crew did no get the NCAA memo :-)
I don't know if it just me or did it look like the refs called more charging fouls today than they did the entire season?
I mentioned before that charging fouls were becoming and "endangered" call, but today they were the flavor of the day...go figure.
Some days players get in what they call "the zone" and some others it is the opposite. The key to success is to overcome the days when you are just not feeling it.
Today Tharpe was not feeling it and it was obvious, as he was passing wide open 3s that he normally would make. He played better towards the end of the game and he hit a very timely three, Hopefully he will be in "the zone: against KSU.
Oklahoma State is spiraling down and Marcus Smart is in full melt down. Pushing a fan is something the conference cannot allow; there is a good chance that he may get a suspension.
I have a lot of respect for Frank Martin. He is a very different person outside the court, and one that deeply cares about his players. Also, he has always been very respectful of the KU basketball program and its history; I wish he would have stayed at KSU. Once all the players he inherited are gone and following tradition, Bruce Weber will drive the KSU program into oblivion...hopefully it starts this coming Monday.
Rick Barnes looks like a young Vladimir Putin :)
It was one of those games when Kansas State could do no wrong and Texas could do no right. One played well above its average and the other well below. It happens.
Hopefully KSU cools off over the weekend, otherwise it could a looooong game.
Kansas State cleaning Texas Clocks so far. With 3 minutes left in the first half they are ahead 33-14 and shooting free throws.
If Kansas State and KU win, KU is definitely in control of the conference race.
All KU needed was for McLemore to be eligible, instead of sitting out the season, and likely there is another banner at AFH.
Texas has had other good players before Durant. LaMarcus Aldridge comes to mind as do TJ Ford, Daniel Gibson, Royal Ivey and P.J Tucker; I believe they all made it to the NBA
I have tickets for Sunday...after lunch downtown.
Very nicely put, excellent post.
It is highly unlikely that Wiggins will score 40 points. Unlike other teams that heavily rely on one or two players for the bulk of their scoring, KU has several scorers and a more balance offense that does not lend itself to one player having a monster game. Wiggins is an unselfish player and I cannot see him taking the number of shots needed to get to 40. On the other hand, I can see Mason getting hot and taking very available shot and possibly getting to 40 :)
I am sorry but I will disagree with the posters that claim KU does not get recognition and only the East Cost teams do.
Recognition translates to dollars that programs receive from the networks and merchandising. Every game KU plays is on National TV, even when our infamous AD chose to have some of them blacked out in our own State of Kansas.
Anyone that follows basketball, and yes, this includes the East Coast, is familiar with KU's history and current success. I have lots of friend in both coasts and the ones in the basketball-first Est Coast follow KU regularly, and they know that year in and year out, KU is in the National Title conversation.
The best indicator of the value of the "not-East Cosat" programs is the financial evaluation Forbes, the leading financial magazine, did of the various basketball programs:
Forbes ranking of basketball programs ↗
Look where the majority of the top 25 programs are located...surprise, the Mid West, with KU being the #2 most valuable program behind Louisville. Look who is #19, Kansas State. Look at the top two conferences in the land, the Big 12 and the Big 10, both Mid West conferences.
I know that some analysts are biased towards East Cost programs, after all, they have much bigger markets. but when the rubber hits the road, the Mid West rules; $$$ tell the story.
Yes, there are announcers that go gaga over East Cost teams, such as Duke Vitale, who is almost a cartoon character, and who has little influence, other than with fans of Duke or North Carolina, the programs he worships. Many other such as Fran Fraschilla, Bob Knight and even our nemesis Doug Gotlieb have a more Mid West bias.
As far as Coach Self not being in the conversation of Coach of the Year, it is not quite right because he always is. However, he is probably the victim of his own success, by being consistently at or the near the top, not only of the conference, but the national scene as well. Coach of the Year award, now-a-days are awarded to lesser coaches that had unexpected success, such as Bruce Weber last year that had KSU unexpectedly tied for first in the conference, and not to the ones, such as Coach Self, that are always at the top...such is life.
I outlined yesterday the remaining schedule for KU and UT and KU has its hows that KU has already played the tougher portion of the schedule with the easier part ahead; UT, on the other hand, has played the softer portion of its schedule and the remaining portion is tougher than KU's.
The latest Bracketology show the PAC 12, Big 12, Big 10 and ACC all sending 6 teams to the dance. At this point the 4 #1 seeds are Syracuse. Arizona, Florida and Wichita State. Arizona and Florida have a good chance at running the table, since their conferences are weaker. Syracuse can lose 1 or maybe 2 games and would still be a #1 seed. Wichita State has the best chance or going undefeated and keeping their #1 seed as they are heavy favorites in all their remaining games; however. if they lose 1 game, they would likely drop to a #3 seed. Barring some heavy upsets, which do tend to happen at the end of the season, looks like the 4 #1 seeds might be already set, if one goes by subjective rankings. There are number of teams all bunched up competing for the #2 seeds.
Now, if you look at the BPI and RPI, like the NCAA committee supposedly does, then KU has much better chance at a #1 seed, since their numbers in these two metrics are very good.
In short, If KU loses one more game, their chances of getting a #1 seed decrease quite a bit; two loses and they are pretty much out of contention, based on the projections for the current top ranked teams outlined above.
Funny, Aaron Rodgers hat still has the display hook and tag attached...can you say Minnie Pearl? the older poster will know what I mean...
According to Sagarin, WSU is 0-0 against top 25 and 3-0 against top 50 teams. I watched the game against Indiana State and I was not impressed. ISU could have won that game but they are are not a particularly good team either. WSU is a solid, experienced, well coached team with a few very good players, but much like Ohio State, their record is based on beating lesser teams.
I predicted that they had the best chance of going unbeaten and they well might do just that because they play in a reletively weak conference, and as such, not geting much love from the computer ratings.
Good game for Huggy and West Virginia over a good Sooner team. if my prediction of a 14-4 winning the conference, which I still think is likely, holds true, then any team in the conference, other than KU or UT would have to run the table to end with that record. At this time, the race seems to be pretty much down to KU and UT.
If @ralster words made you flop out of you chair, he must have taken lesson from Embiid whose stare alone made Smart flop...
Under the new rules:
"When it comes to an elbow above the shoulders, referees will be allowed to use a video monitor to determine the severity of the blow. If deemed inadvertent, the referee could call a player-control foul or even nothing."
Link to Article on new rules... ↗
I guess they decided to call nothing...I did not know they could do that. I will guess that many ref don't even know this, otherwise some of Smart's more outrageous flops could have been reversed.
Sorry if I confused you. I just mentioned flopping because when discussing it. they always mention that once a foul is called, it cannot be reversed. Review can be used ONLY to determine if it was a common or flagrant foul but not to overturn the call.
I believe this is pretty much what happened last season. Now they are no longer intimidated, he is not as dominant as he once was.
I have compared him before to Mike Tyson that used to bulldoze opponents until he was exposed by Buster Douglas, and he was never the same after that, because boxers were no longer intimidated by him.