Graham, Selden, Oubre, Perry, Cliffie. Then Jamari, CF, Frank, and Greene.
KUSTEVE
6008 posts
@konkeyDong Great stuff. Breakfast of Champions. I think he turns over the team to Devonte in quick order. I think we have a great opportunity to be much quicker than last year. I'd love to see more screens, but I do wonder if having Devonte, Oubre, and a healthy Selden driving to the basket won't open up some gaping holes as well. It would be nice to see some screen action on the perimeter, but that would only work if he quits using the quick hook, and lets the kid relax, and find their shots.
Two years of sloppy point guard play has left a few marks on all of us. Neither EJ, nor Dr. Tharpe were playing their natural position, and it showed. Devonte' is the game changer, imo. He will take control of this team nearly immediately, and will change the way we play for the better. Just try and trap that kid. He will eat it alive.
I watched the Graham highlights again for the third time. I think we have a killer there. He is such a better ball handler than Tharpe...wow. That's aggressive authority, folks. We can teach him to quit throwing the ball away, and not try to take all the shots, but we can't teach him heart and passion. I think this kid wants to be great, and he's found the right place to do it. I think we hit a grand slam. I think Coach Self is amazing.
Anybody else feel like we just hit triples 7s at the casino? I know I do. Naadir, thank you for your tenure here. Welcome, Devonte' ( I might just call him apostrophe ).
I am shocked how good it makes me feel that Naadir wants to spend more time with his child. I assume he will now devote more time to reality, and less time to playing doctor and nurse. Or maybe, the woman who bore his child also saw the picture of Dr. Tharpe's close examination of his nurse, and had a conniption fit. I realize my hypothesis is pure speculation, but stranger things have happened. Wow, the one day I work really late, and don't jump on the internet, and all hell breaks loose ...in a really good kind of way. This is great news, indeed.
@HighEliteMajor OMG...I feel like we just won the lottery, HEM.
I think we enough talent to be very, very good. I wasn't of the school that thought Turner was essential for our success. I'd rather have a good point guard.
Hey, while you're pondering the worst losses, think Francamp for a moment...overlooked in the loss to Stanford was CF's shining moments in that game. The steal, the perfect pass that ate Stan's defense up, those beautiful, clutch 3 pointers from a mile away...OMG. Let Naadir go play doctor with his little nurse, and get that Mister Francamp into the lineup every minute you can, Bill.
@HighEliteMajor I like Naadir less than you. You're alot kinder than I am about him. I think he plays his way onto the bench, like last year. I think Mason will be a dynamo, but I think Francamp will end up being our saving grace. What I saw at the end of that Stanford game tells me we've got a true star, a real leader just sitting there, waiting for the right time. And I think that time comes this year.
I think Coach Self's devotion to Perry Ellis will prevent Turner from signing with us. He is not going to bench Perry, or move him to the 3, so Turner would have to come off the bench. So, we're looking at :
Naadir/Mason/CF at point guard, Selden/Greene/CF at the 2, Oubre/Greene/White? at the 3, Perry/Jamari at the 4, and Cliffie/Hunter/Lucas at the 5. That's a really good team, folks. Much more experience than this year. Hopefully, we'll play much better defense. I can't wait to see Selden's breakout this year. It'll be beautiful.
The loss that hurts the most is all of them, simply because I have no perspective, and I feel like we should win every game. Welcome to the world of KU myopia - I live there every year...
@drgnslayr It might have some relevance if Myles was a football player.
@Virgil_Caine That was horrible...and i loved it...
I think Haith wanted to get away from the meth addled trailer trash fan base. When you think wanna-bes, and never was, you think Misery...By the way, I made sure I mentioned to Misery fans that Pat Knight was available...
@icthawkfan316 Watch Devonte's highlights : ME LIKEY...
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@JRyman The characterization of those who criticize Coach Self as "haters" is revealing to me. I read a lot of boards, and beyond Rodney the ridiculous, I don't see this "hate" you seem to see everywhere. Seems like they overreacting to our loss, and you are hypersensitive about it. Openly pondering Coach Self's exit strategy certainly is a strange way to show your support for our coach.
In 2008, we had Mario, Russ, and Sherron. In 2012, we had Tyshawn. In 2013, we had EJ and Naadir. In 2014, we had Naadir, and two freshmen. When this team had a good point guard, this terrible, inflexible, arrogant coach was one of the best coaches in America. Do you think for 1 millisecond if the Harrison twins had signed here, we wouldn't be playing in that title game Monday? It's all about match ups, and I think we need a great point guard a lot more than we need Miles Turner.
It's all a matter of expectations. Danny walks into a place where if he makes the NIT, it will be a step up. He would've been crazy not to take the position.
He takes the job. He would be out of his mind to not take it.
@globaljaybird Naked Naadir and Nipples Mcgursky. Is there an "unlook" button anywhere?
@wissoxfan83 The effect on our recruiting could be massive. I don't know how you can rate the exposure element, but I don't remember a time when KU was featured so much in the media. I'm not saying it was all Wiggins, but Embiid's coming out party certainly got a huge boost from all the attention drawn to our program.
@nuleafjhawk "I want every loss to hurt the players and coaches as much as it hurts US." Because they just don't understand how much we mean to Jayhawk basketball.
@MoonwalkMafia Turner would be nice, but I'd like to see what Hunter can do if we don't get him. He could be Withey, jr. with better post moves. I was thinking 1-Francamp/Mason 2- Selden/Greene 3- Oubre/Perry 4- Alexander/ Traylor 5-Hunter/ Lucas
I didn't list Tharpe because I'm hoping he turns pro.
We'll probably see : Naadir, Selden, Oubre, Perry, and Alexander as the starters, with Traylor, Mason, Francamp, Greene, and Hunter as the top reserves.
@KULA I apologize- I shouldn't have said that. You have a right to be as critical as you want.
@Hawk8086 Hawk, I am so grateful for KU bb, for the level of excellence we maintain every year. I am absolutely astonished how utterly insane the expectations people put on our program. It is almost beyond rational comprehension.
@KULA I know why you're so butt hurt over Coach Self - when we lose, all the people you've antagonized all year talking s*** about KU being better than their team come back to get their lb of flesh. I know guys like you...you have a personality disorder.
@KULA yeah...that's it..Coach can't coach. Click your heels 3 times, Dorothy ... you've landed in Oz. Name me 3 coaches who have better than a 77% in the NCAA the past 8 years. Don't even try to use the SQUID as 1 of them, because we all know how good Kensucky did last year in their monumental battle with Robert Morris in the NIT. Over the same time frame, Wisconsin made the tournament all 8 years, and until this year, had only made 1 Sweet 16. Does Bo Ryan suck? In 2010, Izzo got beat in the 2nd round...does he suck? Izzo has 3 first round NCAA losses, 2 2nd round losses ...is he a failure? Coach Rat got beat by....MERCER. Pitino has 2 NIT trips, 5 1st or 2nd round exits since 2000 at Louisville. So, 7 out of his 14 years, his teams either were in the NIT, or lost their first or second game. Did he simply coach badly those 7 years?
@icthawkfan316 We have national championship expectations every year. It's who we are. We play at a level that puts us in the Final Four conversation every year. I haven't thought we should've lost a tournament game in at least 8 years. i think part of the disconnect is Coach Self goes so hard at the conference, he always manages to get a very good seed. Sometimes, I think we get seeded beyond our ability. Go pop over to cbssports. Under basketball, there is a page called "rankings". Go and look, and there you have KU ranked 4th in the nation in Parrish's 25 and 1. This was after we went 3-3 our last 6 games. So, we were thought better of than we probably deserved ( myself included).
As much as the Big 12 was ballyhooed as the "best" conference this year, only two out of the 7 teams made it past the first weekend, and both promptly lost their Sweet 16 games. Now, the Clones losing Niang had something to do with them losing, but the point is still we won a league that didn't place a single team in the Elite 8.
2006/2007 - Elite 8
2007/2008 - National Champions
2008/2009 - Sweet 16
2009/2010 - 2nd Round
2010-2011 - Elite 8
2011/2012 - National Runner up
2012/ 2013 - Sweet 16
2013/2014 - 2nd Round
The past 8 years, we've made the Sweet 16 6 times, the Elite 8 4 times, the Final Four twice, the national championship game twice, and are 1-1 in national championship games. Our NCAA tournament record ( done with double knot accuracy) is 24-7 over that period. If I'm not mistaken, that would be a 77% winning % in the "only thing that counts". I know, I know...it should be 100%.
@ralster I take it having a sense of humor isn't big on your list, Mr. Serious. As the movie " Stripes" says, "lighten up, Francis".
@jaybate 1.0 I would say perimeter shooting and turnovers. I can't remember who wrote up ( maybe Tait) a chart on kusports that showed what we shot at the rim, and it was astronomically high. That was the reason our FG% was at the top of the leader board in the country. When teams took that away, our offense was generally abysmal. Without looking, I will bet our 3 point shooting % are far lower than average. Take away the dunk, and we were less than an average team.
Our ball handling, from an entire team perspective was one of the worst I've seen from a KU team. We had trouble passing, dribbling, holding onto the ball the entire year. Any form of pressure worked tremendously against us.
I'm pouting tonight. I refuse to watch Stanford play. Damn them. I hate them... I hate them...
@konkeyDong Me likey. He looks like a complete beast.
@icthawkfan316 With a heavy, heavy heart, I suppose I will be having to admit I was wrong..dead wrong about Embiid at some point. I became emotionally invested in the idea he would be back, and the longer the process takes, the more I think you'll end up being right, and he leaves. I'm not sad over being wrong- I'm sad because I think it would be a really bad decision for Joel. I know I'm biased, but I think the kid needs another year to be a kid, and find his way on and off the court before he goes pro.
@globaljaybird OMG..it's all your fault?...LOL. it's all over every sports website known to man, my friend. I read it on CBS, and rushed over here, and found your post. You beat any number of us to it.
I have been defensive about Joel remaining, and I was dead wrong. I wanted to believe he was different - I really painted an imaginary scene in my mind where Joel would come back.
@Crimsonorblue22 Hey, I'm a double knot spy...lol. People are going to scream after a loss. Then we calm down. Then we begin to reflect. Then that reflection turns to hope for the future. Let the flamers flame, so to speak. Let them have their say ( Rodney Crain excluded), ignore the stupid stuff, and next thing we know, it's September, and we're getting ready for late night...
@Crimsonorblue22 Come on, crimson. No real fan ever said that.
@JRyman We're not talking badly about your wife or your kids, even though KU does seem like your...and our family. I remember huddling around the tv years ago, hoping and praying that KU got an NCAA bid. Now, we're front page news everywhere, we've got number 1 recruits playing for us, number 1 NBA picks playing for us, we have national titles, national runners up, we're always a 1, 2 or 3 seed- we don't have to worry about the "no respect" tag lines anymore...and all of that is due to the hard work and dedication of one man and his players...and that's Coach Self and the KU Jayhawks. He has done a magnificent, tremendous job. More than anything, he has raised our expectations. As such, we expect to win. When we don't, we examine why we didn't win. When your father scolds you for making an F, when last semester you made an A, it doesn't mean he doesn't love you. Or he wants to get rid of you. It means we have raised expectations due to past experience of success. People wouldn't gripe if they didn't care. So, take what you can- ignore the parts you disagree with, and get ready for next season.
@ajvan I thought we saw our new point guard in the tournament. You know, the guy that immediately broke down the other team's defense, scorched the nets, and almost single handily brought the team back from disaster. The guy that no team could afford to leave open, not even for a second. I wasn't sold on Francamp until the tournament, but I'm sold. That's our point guard.
@Crimsonorblue22 I can't find a better word than intimidated to explain going 9 for 22 at the rim. Normally, we would make 60% +. Perry looked over matched again, and had a poor game. The 2nd half, he would get the ball on the block, and he would simply kick it back out because he didn't even want to try to make a play. Their length messed with our minds, and changed our shots. Once Tarik was gone, so were we.
@drgnslayr We were a different team with Francamp on the floor. The zone stymied us until Francamp came in. After Francamp led the comeback to take the halftime lead, I don't think we saw Francamp until about...10 minutes left in the 2nd half..maybe later? I think your criticisms of Coach Self are missing the target - I think you could show Naadir every videotape of every 1-3-1 until the end of time, and he would still dribble around, throw a wobbly pass on the perimeter to Selden, and look like the most frustrated player on the court with every turnover. I think the right target is the unyielding loyalty Coach displays by giving huge minutes to a player who is honestly clueless how to run a team. When EKU's primary gameplan is to pressure Naadir because they knew they could turn him over, and it worked again and again, and again, and finally, after we are literally getting destroyed, he relents, and gives Francamp a few minutes. And then the team begins to run 1000% better. Francamp knew more about how to attack that zone than Naadir ever will in his career.
Naadir Tharpe's 2 tourney games: 47 minutes 9 points/ 5 asst/ 7 T.O.
Francamp 2 tourney games : 43 minutes 22 points/ 4 asst/ 0 T.O.
@drgnslayr We're spoiled rotten to the core. We have an embarrassment of riches. We're discussing if our Number 1 NBA lottery pick ( Embiid) sticks around, or will we have to sign the number 2 ranked recruit ( Turner)...SIGH..... Oh it's so tough being KU... hehe...
@justanotherfan It's like this : the scoffers will say you're over rated anytime you get any attention. When you lose, they show up again to say I told you so. If you win, then they're there to say you really weren't that good, or you cheated, or you paid off the refs. If you cut down the nets, then they say their team from 1984 would've beaten you by double digits, or the tournament field was weak, or you won't repeat. It's really ridiculous watching critics turn themselves into pretzels in order to run down your team. I noticed that there were plenty of congratulatory Misery tweets after we lost on the kusports.com website. Now, their team ended up getting their ass handed to them in the NIT by the powerhouse Southern Mississippi later that day, but that didn't stop Meth U from talking trash.
@nuleafjhawkYou know what the rest of the college basketball world thinks? That we suck- that we're choke artists ... do you know why? Because they DON"T ROOT FOR US! Do you know what the rest of the college basketball world would've said if we had won the national title? You got lucky...you got a sugar coated ride...an easy path... you weren't that good!!! It's like asking a Misery fan if he's impressed with KU. I frequent way too many college bb boards, and the entire year, all I've heard was that Florida is over rated, Florida isn't that good, Florida plays in a cupcake league, etc. Now, Florida has 3 straight Elite 8s coming into this year, on top of back to back national championships within the past 10 years, and are a virtual lock for the Final Four this year ...and "they're over rated". It's almost like the question pondered in War Games... the best way to answer the question of " oh golly, what do they think of us"is with this response: I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY THINK OR SAY ABOUT US. and if that sounds defensive, sensitive, overreactive, so be it. We will win another national championship shortly. Not sure when, not sure how, but we will win another one. The rest of the clowns talking trash about KU are going to be shut up one of these days. And when it happens...how sweet it is!!!!
@justanotherfan I thought we looked intimidated against Stanford, which is why we were 9 for 22 at the rim. Which is why we lost the game. I don't think Cliffie would have the same problem.
@Crimsonorblue22 LOL. WSU needs to save their strength for the likes of Indiana St.
@wissoxfan83 I found this on Kusports.com:
The schedule: In 2014-15, KU will play Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis; Georgetown in Verizon Center, the home of the Washington Wizards; and Temple in Wells Fargo Center, home of the Philadelphia 76ers. KU will meet UNLV in Allen Fieldhouse and Utah in KCās Sprint Center. KU also will play a team from the SEC in Allen in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The opponent likely will be Florida.
The Jayhawks also will play in the Old Spice Classic with Georgia Tech, Marquette, Michigan State, Rhode Island, Rider, Santa Clara and Tennessee.
As far as future tourneys, KU will likely play in Maui in 2015 and the CBE Classic in Kansas City in 2016. No tourney yet is on tap for 2016-17, with the Battle 4 Atlantis a possibility.
@icthawkfan316 http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/1/20/5328430/joel-embiid-kansas-not-ready-nba ā
Unless he was completely misleading everyone, there's no way he declares. I think people are not understanding that Embiid's great dream wasn't to star in the NBA from the time he was a young boy. It's not to get rich, as the family appears to be very comfortable. He makes a point of emphasis in the ESPN article to state that he did an exhaustive study of big men in the NBA that had the best careers, and his analysis resulted in concluding those who did the best stayed in college for at least 2, sometimes 3 years. BUT, we have talking heads floating around Embiid to the NBA, we see him on the mock draft lists, so it appears that everyone except Embiid has him going to the NBA. Read the ESPN article, and tell me if you think it sounds like a guy pining away to get to the NBA.
How many times does Embiid have to say he's not turning pro before anyone believes him? For all those who are constantly speculating that Embiid is declaring for the draft, what do you know that Embiid doesn't?
We're not the same team when our point blank shots get challenged. I saw a stat where we were 9 for 21 in the paint. We finally begin to press, because we're playing a team with no point guard, and immediately the game changes. Of course, we wait until 3 minutes left to employ that, which was about two minutes too late. It reminds me eerily of the VCU loss.