Mr. Atticus Finch, Jeremiah Johnson and Coach Bob Knight. YEE-ha! Jaybate, you set my molars to grinding about a current pet peeve: insidious university boards of regents and their upper echelon hirelings who sell out for the sake of false glory, overlooking undignified travesty within their reach, bringing to lowly heel fabulous athletic programs for which rabid fans are more than eager to be hoodwinked and beguiled.
The Baylors and Penn States and North Carolinas and Louisvilles and SMUs of the past two decades...and a host of other sites less visible or not yet exposed as cesspools detrimental to collegiate sport.
REHawk
1583 posts
@jaybate-1.0 Well, looking at the staging one game at a time, our bigs are in for a huge test Friday eve. Unless we can keep a reasonable balance on the stat sheet with that Bryant kid, foul for foul, the 4&1 structure will be on full display after the break. Perhaps it is a case of Self buying time, or Self whimsically selling pregame wolf tickets, or (more likely) a season-long adjustment in coaching philosophy, matching talent to opportunity. Our coach is becoming more flexible on offense. But if the 4&1 looks to be here to stay this season, there had best be some early player determination toward lock-down defense. My take: Bill Self is not wasting practice time with polishing a plan which will not be tried and employed, at least thru November.
So much summertime talk about Bragg needing to become our next Perry Ellis, putting up substantial numbers; is little wonder that this soph, who really didn't play significant minutes last season, is struggling to find and establish his game. CB has the talent to rise from his current "funk," given time and opportunity. Jaybate probably on target re Self's "toughening box." Seems as tho someone every season must endure that specific role! And Lightfoot: gonna be tough for Self to seal this freshman to his bench. An early riser, for sure.
Thanks to those who have posted videos of this block. "The Process" is a real treat to follow. A very bright spot in this early NBA season.
@Crimsonorblue22 Bonus to watching Wiggs: Brandon and Cole are also with Wolves.
Speaking of big guys, did anyone see those historic numbers posted by Anthony Davis for the Pelicans last night? Gee whiz! But Buddy and support crew struggled.
When Embiid and Okafor get completely healthy, and if they learn to play together, O MY! 76er fans are in for more very exciting home games this season. Tickets should sell like hot cakes!
Embiid and Philly host the Thunder tonight, ESPN 7 p.m. central, season opener. Dandy new article, Sports Illustrated. JOEL EMBEIID: 'I Am The Process'. By Lee Jenkins. Lengthy insight.
If he stays healthy this rookie is going to inject a season-long buzz into NBA Hoops.
I thank the powers what be that I never got toughened up by a Bob Knight or any nut punching coaches. But I did play football for a high school coach who was very stingy concerning rehydration during late summer and early fall sweltering practices. I would imagine that most of us oldsters faced such ignorance in our schooltime athletic years. After Bear Bryant lost an Alabama player due to dehydration, water breaks for athletes became a national concern. One of my best buddies was almost lost to heat stroke during one of our football practices. I recall the wife of the coach stomping onto the practice field, lambasting her husband for his insensitivity.
@JayHawkFanToo Kinda looks as though UNC's "gaming system" was a bit bigger than Dean and Ol' Roy, perhaps even mightier than the reach of NCAA jurisprudence. Seems to have taken media attentions and national public disdain finally to have shut it down, or at least pretty much brought it to heel. Roy's reported fraudulent Championships are likely to survive.
No wonder that Larry Brown got himself in hot water once more. He must have figured, while watching this NC case, that the governing body had become a shilly-shally outfit, powerless to do anything about just about anything...if a member institution was willing to cough up necessary dollars for "expert" legal support. It might be posited that KU felt pretty much the same when at least $100,000 of someone's money was laid out to counter the Diallo eligibility situation.
Boy O Boy, I really hope JoJo kicks his foot ailment. With his brand of humor he can easily become my favorite NBA player to watch. The guy is just made for tv and the internet!
Our fairly recent March results says to me that we are playing a very tough 5 month schedule, one which has fostered injuries that have affected our losses. Bill Self, mentor of an Adidas program, has been forced to play his five league starters too many minutes. Finally, this season's team talent might allow for less 34+ minutes of action for many of our starters. Lucas might be the exception, as his backups do not appear to be at full physical recovery, or are not experienced college players.
If Graham, Vick and Newman are all aboard 2017-18, our back court should be superb, no matter who Bill Self brings in to join them. 3 experienced bluebloods. This current year of practice and serious NCAA Tournament team determination should really bolster Newman's know-how and desire. I envision his stepping right in alongside Graham to replace Mason.
Just imagine a scenario, during a really tough contest, at the 33 minute mark Self's bringing in the fresh legs of Vick or Svi or Udunka to spend four minutes changing the pace or pattern of a tight game.
If Jackson or Bragg are found to be struggling on any given night or in any given situation, or if tired legs should dictate change, Bill Self has considerable extra ammo to fire into the fray.
Well, at this juncture, from what I am reading, there appears to be no way that Coach will keep Vick glued to the bench. And Svi has got to be on the uptick. So....
I don't know what it is about Scott Drew, but that guy stirs in me what barely remains as a snort in an aging old stumbling bull. I suppose that my animosity hails back to Drew's AFH pre-game shenanigans several seasons ago, My wife cannot comprehend the level of bitter vetch which I display in ceaseless fashion when Drew's mug appears on our tv screen. I transform from a gentle old spaniel into a pit bull, teeth bared and snarling. Praise be to the just and mirthful gods that Bill Self was bestowed with a special lift to his loafers as he passed through that post game handshake line last night. My only regret: our lads should have scored 150!
Man O Man, what a quandary for Bill Self and his staff! I can understand and appreciate his leaving Jamari on the floor so many second half minutes vs. the Aztecs. But then I can't come to grips with his passing up the opportunity to secure more experience for his two budding super frosh. Flip sides of a valuable coin. Current Jayhawk Basketball at its core. Gotta hope it all pans out for the best. The MAN is very human in administering of micro decisions. In a macro sense, a very rare winning coach.
@Crimsonorblue22 Any identifying Wild Wild West birthmarks or tattoos?
Am I not hearing the name Mickelson on this thread? This team can go a long way with the experienced C3. If healthy, further than last season. Bill Self is going to work Bragg and Diallo into the lineup when it is prudent and productive to do so. Too much is at stake for him to shut the door on such potential difference makers. Not merely an NCAA Tournament run, but future recruiting of top level talent. From what I have read and seen, he likes those two kids and yearns for them to develop quickly, respond to his coaching. That said, I am just as dead certain that he will not jeopardize a conference win by leaving them on the floor for too many crucial errors. A 12th league title equates with Division 1 Hoops History, not just for Bill Self but for Kansas Basketball, KU Athletics. I readily admit that I am more than somewhat myopic in my craving for league rings. This season's Big 12 title looks more than customarily up for grabs. For Kansas, the championship looms HUGE.
@jaybate-1.0 Shucks, and here I've been thinking you only wrote your best stuff in dark hours with a fiery familiar bottle at hand....
I'm certainly not arguing with or taking a contrary approach to any fan or poster who wishes to see more minutes for Bragg and Diallo. Their game experience and development is essential to our going all the way this season. Outside of a few adjustments in past game minutes, I think BIll Self is protecting wins as well as the progress of those two in a steady forward fashion. The one huge factor in such development: the 2 freshman recruits are getting to practice with and against the C-3, a trio of experienced teammates who have accumulated 14 collegiate seasons among them. In terms of topflight Division 1 programs or future NBA drafts, our 3 experienced bigs might rank as only "B" class players; but they possess a world of savvy and know how. We are blessed with a C-5 who, at this juncture, appear to be injury free and on the incline. For another 30 days I see no way that the coaching staff can reduce the lineup to 8 primary players, except for game-to-game matchups and situations. There are 11 essential players on this current squad...not counting Vick.
@jaybate-1.0 Ah, Man! Opie and Luke...Chantilly Lace and a pretty face. PHOF!
@jaybate-1.0 Landon needs more than a pat. He deserves two thumbs up!
@wrwlumpy Tom could probably meet a lot of deadlines, while upgrading his "style," by keeping his good eye on this site.
I was thinking of Vick last night, at the first half moment when 4 of our guys were miserably outrun by a UCI guard who raced downcourt for a layup. Told the wife, "I bet that Vick could have stayed with that kid!" Heartening to see LaGerald get a brief opportunity to show his stuff in the second half. Here's hoping that he springs back to fine fettle.
Say, Roy, does the echo of all this sound familiar? Kansas athletic directors bumbling with the sport which keeps KU Sports in the national spotlight.
Seems as tho it took forever for Hunter Mick to arrive; but that is a big part of this new Jayhawk Package. Amazes me, the slow tedious process for most talented freshmen to adjust to Winning Division 1 Basketball.. As with freshman Ben Simmons at LSU, spectacular NBA lottery futures can be built from their immediate impact. But at what cost to their collegiate teams, in the W/L columns? At this juncture, it is satisfying that Bill Self and his current squad can post steady victories while gradually developing Bragg, Diallo, Vick. Gotta hope they, too, arrive in time to help this team ascend to trophy moments.
@nuleafjhawk Maybe that poster is flying in supersonic from Wuxi, China. Already Tuesday, tho probably not the 28th....
@nuleafjhawk Year 2015 or 2038?
...and speaking of Ridley's broken foot, that injury should loom huge for developing New Texas. How does a guy that big come back quickly from a broken foot?
I would like to see the Sooners open league play with a home loss. At this juncture, I view them as the most likely squad to tie us for the championship. As they are still ranked above us in the Coaches' Poll, an early Jan. loss, esp at home, might set them back on their heels to allow nagging doubts to affect subsequent play. Only negative to that scenario, it is hard to imagine them losing 2 in a row, even tho their second game is at AFH. Sooners return a seasoned unit containing a topflight player, something which historically seems to haunt Bill Self teams. Solid experienced coaching, too. So long as Hield and Cyclone Niang remain healthy, those two teams present serious challenges to our Jayhawks. Deficit for Iowa State: coaching turnover.
@nuleafjhawk Ah. Reminds me of my friend Jim who, while snowbirding in S. TX a couple of years ago, got stopped for speeding late one night in radar-treacherous Los Fresnos, near South Padre. Officer asked, Have you been drinking? No, sir, I haven't touched a drop since 1988! Jim got off with a warning to cut back on the throttle. Nowadays, he limits himself to two beers when he goes dancing.
@HighEliteMajor Thanks for the current stats.
@wissoxfan83 If Bragg or Diallo can manage to jump completely astride or over this guy, Bill Self will have to start him until midApril!!!
Man, I hope he gets well soon. Mason and Graham appear to be playing too many risky minutes.
I betcha that Cowboys and Cyclones, come late February, will yearn for a bench like that of the Jayhawks. BIll Self's bench is the ingredient which will propel the program to at least another tie for the league title. Right now it would help considerably if Vick could get healthy and savvy enough to relieve Mason or Graham from so many risky minutes.
The way I read Bill Self's decision to go with Jamari and Brannen for so many minutes at San Diego: currently, they are the two team members whose mental/emotional well being needed a boost. Of course, Brannen might not have gotten such an opportunity if Wayne hadn't fallen into foul trouble two and a half minutes into the game. The second half flow was running smoothly with Jamari, so Self chose to ride with it. Will lack of game minutes slow the development of rising superstars Bragg and Diallo? Probably. On the flipside, maybe they will concentrate more in practice sessions, determined to correct errors which their coach saw in limited game minutes.
I will side with the thought that Coach knows best how to advance team play while risking less chance of a pre-Christmas loss. After all, the Aztecs went on a Denzel Valentine- type tear, closing the gap to 4 points before getting hammered. Self's the guy earning big bucks to keep his thumb on the pulse of a 13 year Jayhawk run with an 82% winning record. Gotta hope that Bragg and Diallo stay hungry and determined to advance. Perhaps, at this stage of the season, BIll Self is protecting them from the dismal headlines and criticism recently earned by the likes of John Calipari's struggling Labissiere.
However, I could handle 5bc (by committee).
@JayHawkFanToo For now, I'm happy with C5. Or C-5. Or C/5.
@jaybate-1.0 Strange and effective is right! So long as we can keep winning I think Bill Self will enjoy the task of mixing and matching this season. Lose two in a row, however, and the C5 had best brace up for lotsa C2 or C3.
@jaybate-1.0 HA! I just reread your opener for this thread. Sorry if I wandered somewhat astray.
I'd say that the "something going on here" has lots to do with big money and promotion. Would not you?
But of course, the flipside is that colleges, too, are reaping the benefit of huge ticket sales and media contracts from those same one and done recruits. So....
@jaybate-1.0 On another thread I just posted the most recent Draft Express projections. In top 60, no Ellis, no Selden. I think Labissiere was maybe #5, Cheick #10, Svi #23, Valentine #16, Buddy Hield way back in the mid 40s. Seems like a real insult to talented experienced college players.
These young guys in whom the NBA envisions so much potential, I wish to all get out that they would never set foot on Division 1 ball courts. Universities are dupes, highlighting these teenagers as draws for professional franchise ticket buyers and advertisers. Bill Self seems to have done better than his peers in limiting the number of those recruits on his rosters. And he continues to send a message: Remain on the bench until you can be trusted to play as coached! Bill squeezes a bundle of wins out of squads which embody quite limited game minutes for developing freshman superstars.
For what it is worth, this week Draft Express.com listed Cheick #10, Svi #23. No Ellis, Selden or Bragg in top 60. Valentine 16, Buddy Hield in the 40s.
@jaybate-1.0 Well, one thing for certain: if Bill Self continues to utilize all of the Composite Five, the Jayhawks are gifted with fouls to distribute.
@wrwlumpy Lumpy, I join you in high praise of Salk and his discovery. Spent a month in basement polio ward of old KC General Hsptl summer 1949. Eight years old, and my parents could visit infrequently only from outside hospital's screened basement window. Probably the basis for my cherishing lifetime moments of intermittent solitary pursuits: running, pedaling, reading, fishing, working in remote Ozark woods. I was mighty fortunate to have survived lasting effects of that malady before Salk rescued probably millions of people from crippling misfortune.
Cheick is going to have to compromise. Shed some of his balls out athleticism for crafty savvy. I recommend that he spend Christmas days studying film of the great Div. 1 block artists. Perhaps very best move for coaching staff to make at this juncture: securing and offering instructive film for Cheick to study. I'm betting that he will arrive at film room more than 15 minutes early.
Aw, come now, guys, you think that man ain't toying with us???