The WV game makes it harder for me to see who this team is. What's our identity?
At worst, we’re a team with one reliable ballhandler and no scorer we can rely on game to game. We’re streaky offensively because we’re most comfortable shooting threes. There is a constant risk of settling and when threes aren’t falling, we look average. We don’t have a back to the basket scorer, don’t finish through contact, and don’t shoot 2pointers very well unless they are uncontested layups. We don’t have a shot blocker and we can’t count on winning games away from home. Losses at OSU and (especially) WV resonate more than the win at Baylor. Our identity is neither a team that wins without playing well nor one that gives consistent effort. We haven’t beaten a team ranked higher than Utah, so there are questions about our ability to win against second-tier title contenders. Winning in March is a crapshoot and we’re trending downward.
At best, we are a team set up to win in March. Those teams tend to have good coaches, good guards, and good play from the best players. Our coach is Bill Self. Our toughest, most reliable player is our point guard. And our best scorer is a junior that, one layup aside, is trending upward and bleeds Kansas basketball. Our defense is improving, and at any given time we can put five players on the court to match the talent of any other team in the country. We are balanced and have at least three players – Frank, Wayne, Brannen - that we feel comfortable shooting in the clutch. Talent and three point shooting give us a reasonable chance to win any single game. If Kentucky falls, the bracket is wide open and Vegas suggests there’s a 50-50 chance of that happening. Our ceiling is high and our best basketball is in front of us.
Before WV, I was firmly in the second camp. Now, I'm not sure