🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@wissox

Plausible deniability simply indicates that the process is done in a way that allows Duke or UK to deny...with a straight face...they were aware of illegal stuff done on their behalf or for their benefit even when they knew full well it was going on.

As far as UNC blowing the whistle on Duke it is very unlikely to happen since it usually does not happen with same conference members, UNC does not recruit the same players Duke does and more importantly, UNC, after all its shenanigans with fake classes and improper benefits, has no moral authority to accuse anyone else of illegal behavior.

@BeddieKU23

...and Sherron as well, he would drive full blast the base line and get trapped there...

I watched the second half of the Gonzaga- Washington game and Gonzaga barely got away, at home, with a Hachimura basket at the buzzer after being up by 11 with 5 minutes to go. Gonzaga's interior defense was not good and Washington penetrated and scored consistently. Gonzaga played only 7 players and the bench played a total of 28 minutes and contribute 9 points and I am sure they are missing Crandallr; frankly, I am not sure how they beat Duke.

@Woodrow

Duke has completely replaced UK as the featured destination for top prospects; Nike has probably realized it gets a better ROI from Duke than Kentucky. UK is no longer looking that good and fans are tired of the revolving door approach and not having players to cheer for more than a few months before they are gone. The squid must be looking at the NBA because the Kentucky natives are getting restless. Coach K will eventually retire barely one step ahead of the law.

@BShark

Tech will definitely be in the conversation, Beard has done a great job getting the team ready considering the personnel losses after last season. TCU and Oklahoma are also surprisingly good so far. On the other hand, West Virginia looks pretty bad and Texas is also under performing which seem to be normal for Smart; the loss to VCU must have really stung.

The Big 12 will once again be a strong if not the strongest conference in college basketball, MSM ACC bias notwithstanding. The top 6 teams in the conference are a combined 41-4; the top 6 team in the ACC are 45-6 and the top 6 in the Big 10 are 46-7. The latest Bracketology has 7 conference teams in the Tournament withe TCU in the last 4 out which makes it a potential 8 teams. TCU will likely replace WVU and 7 teams is realistic with Baylor WVU and OSU likely out.

@wissox

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously said that he could not use words to describe pornography but "I know it when I see it."

Likewise, while it would and actually is very difficult to find incontrovertible evidence that programs like Duke or Kentucky cheat since the gist of the process is aimed at plausible deniability, we can see the appearance and results which would appear to indicate they do. We cannot prove they cheat but we know it when we see it.

@BeddieKU23

Several KU players have indicated Moore is the best 3 point shooter on the team. Ha has been coming in as a backup and has not had a chance to get in rhythm quite yet. There will be games when he is in the zone and hits several.

This team is still a work in progress and trying to find its identity, we have seen glimpses of what it can do when it has the right lineup and hitting on all cylinders. Unlike last year when the option were very limited, this year the options are numerous and it is a question of finding the optimal lineup to use at the right time against the opponent at hand. Good problem to have... :smile:

Crimsonorblue22 said:

@BShark I remember watching the ou game Tharpe "won" for us. We celebrated big 12 championship win that pm, glad I was there. Holly interviewed tharpe after the game.

Yes, that is the one I was thinking. We should remember both, the good and the bad.

@KUSTEVE

I seem to recall Tharpe winning a few games for KU as well. Tharpe's issues were primarily off the court but ended up costing hims his spot on the team.

@BShark

is your new avatar a character from City Hunter...Mammouth???

@BShark

I strongly disagree. One or two years at KU would have done wonders for Preston. He basically went from playing HS games against mostly poor competition to playing against grown men in the NBA and the transition was a failure. Playing college would have prepared him not only physically for the rigors of top competition but more importantly, mentally. He has the basic tools to play at the higher level but at this time he is just not ready for it and will have to do some time in the G-League or more likely China.

I bet his mom is wishing she could have placed her greed on hold for a couple of years now that the big payoff just evaporated.

Nike's co-founder Phil Knight is an Oregon Alumnus and the schools is often referred as Nike University because of the influence it has. Any violations that affect Oregon would almost have to involve Nike; it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

@KUSTEVE

It's all about match ups. Doke is perfect against certain opponents but ineffective against others. Luckily KU has great depth and versatility this season that can play many styles effectively and we saw last night how good it can be when everything is clicking. Wofford was supposed to be the team with the ideal skill set to beta KU and te they got destroyed. Teams will think twice now about trying to beat KU with the 3 and many will still try but we know now that KU has an effective plan to defend the 3...now, if we could hit some 3s...

@HighEliteMajor

...and I bet you will take credit for last evening's 3 point defense as well...SMH.

@BShark

I was thinking more along the lines of a KU record.

@DanR

I was trying to figure out if the 27-0 run is close to a record.

Does any one recall a better run than the 27-0 we just watched?

We finally saw a glimpse of the Grimes we were waiting for. :thumbsup_tone2:

I told you we would see a better 3 point defense. Wofford shot 5 -26 from 3 or 19.2% and a couple of those came in garbage time.

@BShark

LeBron James, 4 years...
.

.

.

.

...in HS. :smile:

@jayballer73

For a minute I thought you were talking about Shaq...:smile:

@mayjay

...while playing a tough schedule, #1 Massey, #5 Sagarin, #6 Pomeroy and no other team in the top 50 or even 100 comes close since the toughest schedules, at this time of the season, are usually reserved for minor programs that travel to big programs to take a beating and collect a pay check.

@dylans

You are right, last year team had no depth but the starters were solid and could hit the 3; don’t forget that Newman was also a good 3 point shooter and the key player down they stretch.

This version has arguably more talent but different kind of talent and they still has not found the right chemistry. Once Grimes starts playing to his potential and Dotson and More start hitting 3s the team will be much, much better.

@dylans

The problem with some of the OAD is that they are so young when they join the league that even when they are physically ready, mentally and maturity wise they are far from it. Wiggins is still pretty young and he will ride his current funk out and will be better. He was Rookie of the Year and also on the all sophomore team so he definitely played well enough to get the nod and he will get better and have a pretty good career when all is said and done.

@BeddieKU23

Good points. Some games are scheduled years in advance and some are not and there is always the opportunity of buying out a smaller program to play a bigger one. 3-4 years ago CFU was probably getting paid to play bigger schools but now probably pays to play smaller schools like most better programs do.

Again, to the major programs there is little upside and too much downside playing a team like CFU.

mayjay said:

@JayHawkFanToo Yeah, it is the same exact situation. Schedule either one, take your pick. Guaranteed national television, huge revenue stream, etc.

Sarcasm? Any team with championship aspirations is already on national TV and has sold out before the season even begins regardless of who they play.

@dylans

Wiggins is averaging 2.2 APG this season.

@BeddieKU23

I expect a much better 3 point defense this evening; I will guess the coaching staff has been working on a game plan that suits the current skills of the team,

@kjayhawks

He will probably join one of the sports networks and so commentary for the rest of the season. A subpar season at ISU and he might be right back there. It takes a unique personality to coach in the NBA than it does college putting up with prima donas that make a lot more money than the coach; his style is probably better suited for college where the coach is king.

@HighEliteMajor

Here is the entire original “fool’s gold” comment as reported here ↗. Unlike you, I cite the sources and post the links instead of patting myself on the back and citing my own posts. Posters can form their own opinions and again, unlike you, I don’t claim to be infallible and it is fine if they disagree with me,

Morgantown, W.Va. — Kansas University’s basketball team, which lost its first Big 12 game of the season Tuesday night, 74-63, actually led, 14-9, early in Tuesday’s loss at West Virginia, thanks to some early three-point success.

“It was fool’s gold. We were up 13-9 and hadn’t thrown it inside but once,” KU coach Bill Self said.

“We made three threes, but if you go back and watch the tape, I bet you we had not gotten three 50/50 balls that should have been ours,” the coach continued.

“How many times did Devonté (Graham) have the rebound and (Jevon) Carter come right behind and steal it immediately? It happened to Wayne (Selden, Jr.), Brannen (Greene). They have active hands.

“We talk about them being more dangerous behind than in front of us,” Self added after his team committed 22 turnovers and had the ball stolen 12 times.

Kansas hit 10 of 20 from three-point range in the loss after going 4-for-11 in the first half.

@justanotherfan

UCF has played one team that was ranked in the top 25, Cincinnati at #24 and which is not longer ranked. In comparison KU has played 4 top 25 teams. Last year their only regular season win against top 25 teams was against Memphis which was #20 but finished the season at #25. Yes, it is unbeaten in 2 years but the wins have been against weaker competition. Notre Dame does not even belong to a Conference and yet manages to schedule much better competition.

As of the last poll and a quick count shows: SEC 8 (57%) teams in the top 25, Big 12 4 (40%), Big 10 4 (29%), PAC 12 3 (25%), MWC 2 (17%), ACC 2 (14%). Granted that because of the two divisions in the SEC, Big 10, ACC and Pac 12 and MWC teams do not play every other ranked team but it still shows the strength of the conferences as a whole...no question the SEC is the top football conference.

@dylans

Newman...

@kjayhawks

Alabama scheduling UCF is like KU scheduling Wichita State, very little upside and way too much downside and unlike basketball, you don't have 30+ games to make up for it, one loss to UCF and you are out of playoff contention; too much money at stake to risk it.

@justanotherfan

Going to an 8 team playoff is doable but any more teams than that is not. I thinks it is realistic to expect that while there would be controversy about the last 1 or 2 teams inthe top 5-6 teams would be without a question the better teams in College football.

There are currently 41 bowls which means 80 teams go bowling (2 play twice) and they all make some money while a 24 team playoff would do away with most of the bowls and only the top 24 programs would benefit...it just will not happen not even considering the nightmarish logistics of organizing a 24 team playoff.

@wrwlumpy

This bad boy was assembled in Greer, South Carolina; First BMW model fully assemble outside Germany...

!0_1543868024186_Z3_small.jpg ↗

BeddieKU23 said:

If Miles wants, he can have the half-dozen or more players that quit playing hard for Florida St this year. I'll gladly send them this way

Wouldn't they have to sit one year? KU needs some immediate help but also needs to build the team with 4-5 year players. Perhaps some graduate transfers or even that rare JuCo player can help but concentrating on long term players should be the priority. Getting Lance LeGendre to recommit would be a really good start; AFAIK, he has not committed to any other program so he is still in play.

@mayjay

Good points. Jeff Withey had an interesting interview when he made it to the NBA. He indicated the experience was similar to when he moved from HS to college...the game was so much faster and he had to wait until the game "slowed down" before he was once gain effective. Players at elite programs are so much better than the competition in HS that with little effort they can dominate at that level. Once the get to college they find out that every player is as good or better than they are and the playbook considerably more extensive and complicated that what they are accustomed and takes time to get acclimated. Some players adapt fairly quickly and some take a lot more time; I believe this is the case with Grimes.

@justanotherfan

It is my understanding that he "fool's gold" comment was taken out of context. All Coach Self was saying is that a teams should not rely primarily on 3 point shooting but have a more inclusive repertoire on offense so, if the 3 is not going in, you have other options; in any case, the comment was related to KU offense and not defense. KU has been shooting 3s extensively for the last couple of years when it had players capable of doing it with some consistency. Last season KU had Graham, Svi, Vick and Newman, all of which could hit the 3 at a good clip; right now, other than Vick KU does not have another reliable 3 point shooter.

The 3 point defense is a different subject and one that seems to be in flux at this time but I expect will be fixed in the next few games...or at least I hope it does.

@HighEliteMajor

I did not say the players were the only reason but there is no question they are a great part of the issue as shown by Coach Self continuing to experiment with lineups to find the optimal combination, both on offense and defense. Frankly, other than Garret most of the KU players are more used and better suited to playing offense rather than defense but, as Grimes is finding out, if you don't play defense you will ride the pine.

Do you honestly think Coach Self tells the players leave the man in the corner open to shoot the 3 and we will take our chances? To me, the problem seems to be more of one of execution rather than design and I am sure you disagree but then...you think you are a better coach than Self so naturally know more than he does.

Maybe they can start recruiting these two players ↗ that just de-committed from Texas Tech.

@HawkChamp

Bilas is pointing out at the obvious consequences of leaving shooters open but he is really not addressing WHY they are open. You are saying that a Hall of Fame coach does not how to coach and purposely leaves the corners open? Have you consider that maybe the players are not executing the way they should?

@BeddieKU23

Future Ron Baker type of player?

Before we start over analyzing Coach Self let's take a minute and consider that only two players in the primary rotation have played decent minutes before and the rest of the players are really new to this team, even when some have played elsewhere before or sat for a year.

A lot of the problems I have seen are players not doing what they are supposed to be doing, i.e. covering their man or properly switching and leaving the corner man open; this is particularly obvious with Grimes who has been an enigma after such a promising start but seem now lost on the court. Once the game "slows down" some that team will be fine. It is obvious that Coach Self is still does not have a set starting five and is sill tinkering with various lineups to see which is more effective against the various styles.

The GIF below shows Calipari physically shoving a player to the position he is supposed to be; I am sure all coaches feel like doing the same thing a lot of the time.

If the GIF does not work here is a link ↗.

@stoptheflop

As far as I know, Beaty is the only one that has been told he will not be coaching, all the other coaches and personnel are still technically employed and should be doing what is expected of their positions. I read somewhere that Bowen and Hull have been recruiting.

@kjayhawks

I agree. My picks would be Alabama, Clemson Notre Dame and Oklahoma. I would not surprise me a bit to see either Georgia or Ohio State replace Oklahoma.

@stoptheflop

I am not surprised. Many of the candidates are likely coaching teams that are still playing and announcements will not happen until they are done; just professional courtesy.

!0_1543761788279_upload-05a2fa62-3733-4aad-af55-f570dd6423a8 ↗

!0_1543761724916_upload-cf4d7b60-4d7a-4169-97af-25c0dd0bf111 ↗

@BShark

Wink, wink. UNC does not seem to be very good this season, got destroyed by Michigan.