🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@stoptheflop Thanks for that explanation.

I notice I wrote "girlfried" instead of "girlfriend" - unintentional but I'm leaving it...

Without better information I'm not giving credence to anything other than the police description of the video.

There are a few elements surrounding the Bragg arrest that have not been made clear:

• Why did the police think "domestic battery"? We don't know.

• The claim that they were boyfriend / girlfried was not substantiated. The basis for that claim has not been made public.

• The police "suspected" that drugs or alcohol were involved, but nothing was made public about the basis for that suspicion.

Since the charges were dismissed, Bragg's lawyer may obtain that no additional information is published.

No one can act on unsubstantiated claims. On the other hand, Coach Self could take (and probably has taken) take the opportunity to relecture the whole team on certain subjects.

@mayjay said:

most studies show that most people look for information (or opinions or even “fake news”) that confirms their already held opinions.

Did you just look at the studies that confirmed your opinion, or did they just study the phenomena that confirmed their opinions?

Be careful how you answer, or I may have to move to a site that confirms my prior opinion...

@BeddieKU23 said:

The Big-12 likes to stick it to KU when it comes to it’s traditional Saturday/Monday turnaround games.

According to the ESPN announcement, KU plays 4 Big Monday games, UNC, Duke and Oklahoma 3 each - so yes KU has lots of short turnarounds.

Is it really the Big 12, or just ESPN?

@JhawkAlum said:

Does anyone know why is it when they both go to jail for it, Bragg's mugshot and name are everywhere but the woman has to be kept anonymous?

The kusports.com story explained why they did not state her name: she was not charged and she is not a publicly known figure.

@JayHawkFanToo said:

I can’t think of a better or more impact player going back to Manning.

Embiid ? Maybe Jackson makes the other players better more than Joel, but Joel erased lots of mistakes and made some great outlet passes, in addition to his individual accomplishments.

@ralster I don't think any freshman, including Mason and Sherron, was called on to play so many minutes in his freshman year - and at the end of games he was often put on the opponent's most dangerous offender. Iron man.

Jackson is kind of a blend of Rush and Julian Wright as far as talent, but with more of a Jackie Robinson attitude: whatever it takes to beat ya. This year's team is a good team for him to be on.

@BShark said:

@ralster Hack-a-Doke has been a concern of mine again. The one thing about it is, they can't do it too early, or it puts KU in the bonus super quickly and then you can just pull Doke out at that point and reap the benefits.

Aha, and that's why it's better to start Doke and insert Landen later.

Jamari.

I would rather get back eligibility due to injury for the should-be senior Joel Embiid. I swear not to use him more than 28 minutes per game! Talk about guaranteed National Championship...

Another thread references a KC Star story that the alleged victim is now in jail on suspicion of battery: not charged as of now.

Hypothetically speaking, if both parties used force of some sort - and depending on who "started it" - it could be complicated to adjudge blame.

In addition to all the other negatives, this could be a mess to figure out.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article119896743.html ↗

According to the article, still being held at the moment.

@Kcmatt7 People don't mention that Bill Clinton ended his second term with a surplus, and economists were predicting at least 10 years of surpluses.

Bin Laden ended all that.

Are Medicare and Social Security part of the federal budget? In France they are not.

Really nice post but Joel was never poor.

@BeddieKU23 In honor of the 12 days of Christmas: the Five Golden Fools.

@jaybate-1.0 Rush was never a senior. He did have a very important role as a freshman and was an iron man, but that wasn't a ring team or close to it. His problem was the accident as a kid that shortened one of his arms and kept him from driving with either hand. Also not a terrific passer.

Even so, a truly great college player.

If the 76ers continue to make the right moves to keep Embiid healthy, I will be forever grateful.

Embiid has more reasons than most players to remain loyal to the team that drafted him.

@justanotherfan Like my Dad said of Jackie Robinson: "whatever it took to beat ya!"

@jaybate-1.0 Korean?

@drgnslayr Thanks for the very kind words from a greatly respected poster!

I just want no injuries, no cramps and few "nicks"...

@jaybate-1.0 OK thanks. I still miss him.

@kjayhawks said:

Its still early, overall i have little issue with our guards, they are playing at a high level. Now bigs thats different story. Vick and Svi will come around.

I agree. My point was we need everybody, without exception, to come around and play at a high level to be playing in April.

Also free throws.

Also figuring out what the referees are calling.

Also global warming at 3 point range.

In my opinion, there were astonishing optimism and surprisingly high expectations for this team before the season started. Anything but 5-0 and clicking on all cylinders would be considered a disappointment.

I read that Mason and Graham would improve significantly, despite the fact they were already darn good last year.

I read that JJ would impact more than Wiggins.

I read that Lucas, a fifth year senior with limited talent and athleticism, would improve over his unexpected surge late last season.

I read that Bragg would make a big sophomore leap.

I read that Vick and / or Svi would make big leaps and start to contribute mightily.

Leaving aside Coleby and Lightfoot, we have 3 bigs and 5 guards who were all expected to either impact right away or improve by leaps and bounds.

The fact is we don't have enough bigs to play 3+2, and we don't really have enough guards to play 4+1 if any one of our 5 guards is in foul trouble, injured or playing poorly.

We are thin and need every wish to come true in order to go all the way.

I am hoping that happens. Hope is not expectation. Hope means encouraging effort and not giving up when things don't go as well as "expected".

How about more hope and fewer expectations?

Right now I am just awed and happy for the guards who are killing it, and wondering who this new coach is who plays outside in on offense and zone on defense. Fascinating season!!!

@jaybate-1.0 What makes you talk about 100 in the past tense? Have you actually heard some news? I have missed him for years.

@BeddieKU23 Anyone have any news of HEM? Did I miss something?

@RockChalkinTexas For me, flying east is harder to overcome than flying west.

Trust the Process !

@JayHawkFanToo Was not a blanket statement, that is all.

There will be no (non-medical) redshirts among the 10 eligible scholarship players. Having just 10 is already risky.

We really should have 5 scholarship bigs and 6 scholarship guards/wings. We are short 1 guard/wing and the 5 we do have are going to have to play additional minutes with "small ball".

@JayHawkFanToo Yes, agreed, but that wasn't the question. I trust it was clear we were talking about normal redshirts. Lightfoot is not injured.

Unless the rule has changed this year, freshmen can play in exhibition games and then redshirt. Once they go on the court in a regular game, no.

Non-freshmen can only redshirt if they have played in no game, even exhibitions.

Both in the above comments and in the press I've read, it's like Lucas just doesn't exist.

Was he bad, blah or mediocre?

@dylans said:

Embiid leads the team in points 18.5 rebounds 6.5 and Blocks 3.0 per game thru 5 games. While being limited to 24 minutes per game.

Limited now to 24 minutes a game, but he has averaged less than 22 thus far, so even more amazing.

Extrapolate to 36 minutes and you get 30 / 10 / 5 - equivalent to Anthony Davis - as a rookie coming off two years of injuries.

Can't make this up.

@Kcmatt7 Self said recently they have to be careful with Udoka's body because he is so young.

So for talent we can really count on, there is more at the guard positions.

Maybe Self is thinking matchups too, since most everyone else is smaller this year?

@BeddieKU23 Isn't there an ACC team in that list? And isn't the ACC the very best conference??

(no fiction, all malice)

@wissoxfan83 The NCAA already has a tiered system with divisions like in European countries.

Europe also has the Champions League which is more like what you are talking about. Top teams from the previous season are eligible and play at intervals during the regular season. The equivalent would be the NCAA Tournament with one round every 2 or 3 weeks - but eligibility based on the prior season's results.

Very un-American...

@drgnslayr Embiid is my "whatever"est Jayhawk.

@stoptheflop Maybe you mistyped: I said 34 minutes each, not 38.

• 30 minutes together

• 4 minutes Frank without Devonte

• 4 minutes Devonte without Frank

• 2 minutes both sit

That makes 34 minutes of playing time for each.

This is a prediction, not a wish. My wish is for less. The only way I see my wish coming true is if we blow out a lot of teams.

I'll "defend" last year's defense a bit.

Paraphrasing remarks made last year by an unnamed Big 12 assistant coach: "Ellis knows our plays better than our players do. We call the play and he's at the right spot to defend it before we get going."

I doubt many fans saw what never happened because Ellis prevented it beforehand.

Playing team defense probably requires more experience than playing team offense.

Josh may be a superior individual defender, but can he compensate for his lack of experience, or else learn at Embiid-like speed? I will gladly hope...

@BeddieKU23 I read you with great respect as always, but what about Frank's minutes and his degree of nickeduptness in March?

Self has to have the 4-guard option. That doesn't mean he will necessarily use it.

If Lucas and Bragg can both play 30 minutes and Udoka / Coleby share 20, then for that game the 4-guard option is...optional.

Those are ifs.

There are ifs in the other direction: if there is foul trouble; if there is injury trouble; if Udoka / Coleby don't come through. In that case playing 4 guards becomes a necessity.

I am sure playing small would be pleasing to the eye and to the won/loss record.

I am also sure it would mean more minutes for Frank and Devonte. How many of you want that?

Please, bigs, carry your weight!

@Statmachine said:

If he matches Wooden’s record

Folks, PLEASE let's remember that the 13 straight conference titles is NOT a Wooden record!

How many times have I read this? Hard to count since many of them have disappeared...

Wooden started the streak, left at 9 and two other coaches got 10 through 13.

It is a school record, not a Wooden record.

Wooden is legendary enough without giving him credit for what he didn't accomplish alone.

Why doesn't anyone in the media ever mention: Self already has the record for most consecutive conference titles by one coach.

@justanotherfan said:

with five guys, we can give everyone 20-30 minutes without over-taxing anyone.

But we won't.

That being said, nice post as usual.

@chriz said:

Vick will rarely play the 1 because that will go to Mason and Graham 95% of the time.

That sounds right. So Mason and Graham will sit together for 2 minutes.

For 38 minutes, at least one of them will be on the floor.

Self will want them to play together for 30 minutes at least.

That leaves 8 minutes rest to split between the two players. So on average they will play 34 minutes a game, unless the wheels come off when one or both are sitting.

Mason's twitter handle should be @NickedUP

So that leaves 10 minutes at the 2 spot and 2 minutes at PG: Vick

Svi replaces Jackson for breathers, foul trouble and occasional brain lock.

The dynamic will change with foul trouble or injuries, until which I'm giving Vick the preseason "Hunter Mickelson Cryogenic Award".

@BeddieKU23 said:

The new rule with the draft that just passed, pushing back the date for declaring and staying in the draft is now into May. We’re likely going to see him test the waters at the very least, I severely doubt he’ll just say he’s coming back without dragging it on.

Excellent point. Here is an NCAA tweet that sums it up:

Students can also enter NBA draft multiple times without jeopardizing eligibility & participate in combine & 1 tryout per NBA team per year.

Every player who is invited to the combine should go every year. It just makes too much sense to work with pros, establish contacts and get experience with tryouts - even if you plan to come back to school.

Recruits and coaches are just going to live with less certainty.

@drgnslayr "Campenile" - @jaybate-1.0 realizes he is guilty of obvious phallic overtones and takes keyboard.

This is a great debate, but if I had my druthers we would talk a bit more about individuals.

In one corner we have C5. In the other corner we have C3 = F2+M1 (the two freshmen + Mickelson). What about C4?

I see Mickelson who bothers on D, threatens on O and runs in T (transition).

I see Lucas who has improved (in D and O, not T), and Traylor who hasn't.

How about just C4? Reduce Traylor's minutes and increase everybody but Lucas.

I'm for Mickelson getting lots more minutes, except when he fouls up like last game.

Beautiful stuff, thank you. I wish there were name tags on more people, I'm ashamed to say I don't recognize everybody.

@drgnslayr Coach, when's the next signing period?

Magnificent!

@MoonwalkMafia said:

On the one hand you have the fans that stand behind Bill Self no matter the circumstance.
...
On the other hand is the group that is trying to push our fan base in the direction that the vast majority of sports has gone.

Aren't you the one being "divisive and polarizing" by exaggerating the position of one camp and extolling the position of the other?

Yes there are some posters who tend to stand behind Bill Self. There are even a few who seem to object to discussion or constructive criticism concerning his choices - or who object to criticism of certain players. I disagree with them.

There are also occasional posts that go too far in their criticisms of certain players. When you speak of "erasing" two players from the roster, you are making a blanket statement that I think is lacking in respect for their efforts - and their occasional contributions.

Which side of the schism am I on?

I would try to bridge the divide,

• first by accepting that posters here have slightly different priorities: for example, I join @drgnslayr in giving the Conference title more importance than @HighEliteMajor does.

• Then by giving credit where credit is due, as @HighEliteMajor has done: Self has adjusted to the team and so far has done a great coaching job this season.

The discussion points lately have simply revolved around the post players other than Ellis. There is no reason to use big words like "schism", "divisive"' and "polarizing" for that.

If I were allowed to discuss these points without being accused of defending Self at all costs, I would start by saying that Mickelson wasn't given a fair shake before this season and I'm glad he is getting his due now.

Then I would remind you that the NCAA screwed Diallo and made it harder for Self to develop him this year.

Finally, Bragg / Diallo may have higher ceilings, but they also have lower floors. Do you deny that?

@Hawk8086 I'll settle for 43-45% in Conference play - not 35% to pull our season average back to 43%.