@Jayballer54 I am definitely not an X's and O's guy. There are folks on this site who appear to know the hoops game inside out. That is not me. I coached in a different venue, public school level. So I did come to understand athletes, parents and fans fairly well...and opposing coaches. I, too, learn lots on this site. Am long retired, so have lots of hours to click onto cyberspace. My pessimism and inclinations toward social snarkiness obviously bother a few posters; I like to stir up conflict, occasionally. This is a very enjoyable site. I revere the forces which set it in motion.
REHawk
1583 posts
@Jayballer54 Happy New Year 2018 back atcha, Jayballer. I think you might be a pretty good guy. Although a bit too snide about the most exciting talent to appear in the Big 12 since Kevin Durant. Ya gotta ease yer toe off the throat of the young Oklahoma Wonder.
That kid is a marvel. He won't earn the immediate NBA millions of Duke's Bagley, but he should help fill Big 12 arenas so long as he stays in Norman. In my opinion, a very fine WATCH, the best in our league other than, of course, our entire Jayhawk squad. That said, I figure that Bill Self will find a way to throttle the Sooners, at least 2 out of 3 occasions, if such scheduling should occur this season. But that freshman will certainly disturb the sleep of our coaching staff.
Anyway, your posts really help keep things rolling on this site. Best wishes for 2018 good health and optimum sharing of Trump hand outs!
@JayHawkFanToo Thanks for the link. I knew that Shaka had shoved his foot in mouth; just could not recall precisely what he crowed. Maybe someday he will move on to the Wichita job where he can whine to the Kansas legislature to make Bill Self shut him down at a new site.
I have always considered our Jayhawk hoop coach's skin to be more than ordinarily thick...but for the occasional surfacing of some vocal slight from a professional cohort. It does appear that his level of reaction undergoes an intensity which ebbs over time, giving way to attention toward newer and more current slights. Our mentor is capable of easing the force of a toe from a rival's throat. For instance, I give you Mr. Weber, then I give you Mr. Smart. And off in the distance do I detect a fart escaping from the training pants of a Mr. Marshall?
The way I recall it (and I do admit that my recall has begun to fade) when Shaka took the Longhorn job, moving up from VCU, he was asked how he thought he might be able to compete against the likes of perennial league champion Kansas and Coach Bill Self. I think he might have committed the grievous cheeky error of referring to his previous win over Self in an NCAA Tournament. If that did indeed occur (and I am rather certain it did), Mr. Smart might live to regret his bold slip of tongue. It appears that humility might have been a better avenue to establishing himself and his program as respectable contenders.
@AsadZ Young is the best Big 12 point guard I have watched since the inception of the league. If his teammates could have hit half the missed shots Young delivered at TCU, the kid would have approached 20 assists. He is a marvel. Will give us fits. But if his teammates don't improve considerably I predict that Bill Self will figure how to win around Young's spectacular play. At the moment, I would worry more about TCU, esp. on their home court. A balanced team with fine rebounding, esp. on the offensive end. Gonna be a matchup nightmare.
Surely that's not Texas Girl...with puffier lips, flashy makeup and a new hairdo?
I tell you what, folks, we lose Doke for the long haul and we might as well start thinking about next season...as well as the end of The Streak. Bamba was quite impressive yesterday, but Doke also recorded some huge numbers. If he was entering that game with a "tweaked" back, there is cause for concern, esp. after he took the big fall. Doke is progressing nicely.
@Fightsongwriter What was that Shaka whine that drew the technical from Higgins? Wife and I couldn't decipher what Bilas was saying about that situation. Shaka had better learn quickly not to go head to head with one of the best officials in the league. Self looked amused.
@KUSTEVE Someone said their Hooker in Chief was sunbathing with his lady lawyer down in the Caribbean.
Keegan seems to do a decent job of mop up writing, after games, when he can study the stat sheet. But as for his predicting outcomes, well, I'd about as soon read Dagwood and Blondie. Even if he possessed a really astute handle on Bill Self Basketball, Keegs would twist his article into convoluted disarray.
Hang onto yer shirts, Jayhawk Fans. Shaka plans to make a mighty late run at our weary Jayhawks. I look to see Self try to take out the Longhorn center before that freshman can exert any control in the final minutes.
@KUSTEVE Did you see final score? Kentucky blitzed Louisville.
KU wins...and I am not sure how the hell they manage to pull it out, the way the score looks at 6 min. left in the game.
Gotta win this game in Austin Folks. Gotta win the first two contests. Then we might have a bit of league breathing room. Unless we get a power forward onto the floor to do some damage in that third game at TCU I would not wager a nickel on the outcome.
@wrwlumpy Strike that midnight talk. Before suppertime Saturday!
@wrwlumpy Man O Man, this weekend will really kick off the W/L column for Big 12 Hoops! This TCU vs Oklahoma contest could loom huge for the league's final outcome. Trae Young and Co. are gonna face a real challenge, right off the first pitch. If Jayhawks can come away from Austin with a win, KU will be one game up on TCU or Oklahoma before midnight Saturday.
Of course fans are frustrated that the Preston scholarship is not reaping visible rewards in game situations. But just imagine the practice squad which Bill has developed! That squad could be a top 25 rated talent. A red team of Preston, Dedric, Mitch, CJ, Cunliffe and Charlie Moore. WOW! What other topflight program gets to work daily against such competition? This is why and how Bill gets to rest our starters more than usual. Preston is a vital member of that unit. There is precedent for a first round NBA selectee never playing in a regular game for a school where he burned an NCAA scholarship. The league is following Billy, whether he plays or no. Those McD's kids with his size represent POTENTIAL running out of the ying yang. Now Bill has fetched DeSousa, eventually to man the spot which had been reserved for Billy. I think we've got to ride with the scenario of the status quo. Recent FBI investigative pressure has exerted a big thumb on all university compliance offices. Billy's problem could have been serious enough that KU has never even turned the matter over to the NCAA. Just a quiet quid pro quo between the program and the Prestons. Mom might have made that trip to Lawrence for a sit down and a handshake.
As to other programs, I think many top level Division 1 programs go thru the same negative news, though some of it different from our recent array. And some of those programs don't earn quite the level of news scrutiny as does the greatest program in D1. Roy and Izzo and Calipari have dealt with their share. Focus is always cast upon the annual winners.
C J Giles. How could I have forgotten that name?
@Blown Well, we do seem to be accumulating a questionable array of eligibility cases, esp. among promising though reputationally borderline big men. But the scatterbrained incidents, such as Giddens, Greene, Tharpe, those fall into a different category., in my opinion. Pressure cooker explosions, I would call them. Guys who couldn't handle the silver spoons distributed by a storied program constantly subject to news highlights. Those three kids were loose screws. Collins almost got swept up in such a minesweep, his elevator incident. And B Rush...O My! Brandon was probably a land mine waiting to explode.
A lot of this is just part of the game, dealing with high caliber extraordinarily talented but young and yet immature individuals. They are probably very different than you and I. Bill Self has to be a master magician, juggling such jugheads. And maybe that's what Preston boils down to. Jughead.
@Crimsonorblue22 I don't remember details of the Mitchel Robinson situation, but here's the thing. Bill Self and staff got stuck with this Preston situation. He was already on scholarship with every intention of playing this season. Then the car incident and subsequent eligibility issue. And of course, like Billy proclaimed, You people really don't know me! Nope. Who would have thunk it?
What we do know, and perhaps this is just a presumption, we are now heading into second semester play, league contests, and Billy is yet not eligible to take the court. Mystery guy. Suspicions abound. What's the staff to do, tell him to take a hike? Then he loses value to the program. No one to challenge the development of Doke and Mitch and Svi...except a walk-on from the football field.
This kid locked up a scholarship, then unknowingly or carelessly abused the contract. To date, it appears that Bill Self and Co. have made the best of the situation. A big talented practice guy.
Why hasn't Billy departed? Lots of possibilities. Maybe he will yet get cleared to play. Maybe some NBA organization with early draft rights has guaranteed him a first round selection regardless of his current eligibility. Who knows. All we do appear to know is that he is practicing but not playing. And the Self-speak occasionally rolls forth about the future of Billy's status.
@Crimsonorblue22 Go to class? Spring semester? You think?
Looks to me as though Big Mitch has developed and attracted a mighty solid following among the buckets fan base. To date, he has persevered through much fan criticism; but now is earning his true due. These photos posted by wrlumpy are fantastic portrayals of the Mitch Lightfoot we are coming to know and respect. Mitch represents topflight Division 1 Basketball at its very best. Josh Jackson and Wiggins were a season of joy to host in this storied program. But guys like Mitch and Frank and Devonte and Tyrel, the 4 year developers and keepers, are like family. I know this sounds like a stretch, listing Mitch, at this stage, alongside those stat blazers; but I believe he is an essential representative to the health and future wellbeing of collegiate sport. That is why I hope that he can pull down a red shirt, perhaps next season. So that he can continue to grow and develop, returning to game action with a body and polished skills more conducive to personal and team success. Like Travis and Conner and Brady, his 5-year predecessors.
@Crimsonorblue22 Naw, it's not the eggnog. Ever since that guy, a day or two ago, nuked me for my sacrilege I seem to have waxed into a very happy and merry tear, appropriate to this fine holiday season. But seriously, regarding Billy, it would appear that the coaching staff, for several weeks, might just be perpetuating the myth of Billy's return mostly for the purpose of throwing a wrench into game planning of upcoming league opponents. Billy looks to be alike to former Kentucky ineligible recruit Enos Kanter, a player who spent a full season in Lexington as a practice player before moving on to the NBA. Would not surprise me one iota to learn, eventually, that KU saw the writing on the wall, then never even turned Billy's case over to the NCAA. Just quietly kept him aboard to work against Doke and Big Mitch in daily practice sessions. Itinerant NBA scouts can watch him on the practice courts. Billy gets a full year of free room and board, sleeping on silk sheets.
@chriz Billy can't depart. No transportation. His Dodge is still nestled outside The Palace with a blown tire hanging off a front wheel.
@wrwlumpy Though, technically, Big Mitch is not 4th in blocks, if he had 2 more he would be tied for third most blocks. I know, I know, if your aunt had balls...blah blah blah blah. But gosh, I'd like to give Big Mitch the courtesy of a twisted White House Style declaration and yet announce his blocking proficiency as among the best in the business. Those current Big 12 stats probably amount to fake news....
I am willing to go out on a limb involving these first 3 games vs TX schools. Without this eligibility thing of our power forwards resolved satisfactorily, we are bound to lose one of those contests.
And hopefully, no more than one. Even if Preston and/or DeSousa gets cleared, they must play in the neighborhood of 100 minutes before they reach full stride. And FULL STRIDE is a most subjective assessment, considering they will eventually take the court in the shoes of FRESHMEN...if indeed this season they ever take the court at all. Now approaching the hour to hang onto jock straps, hope to avoid cold shooting outings...and defend, defend, defend. The word GRIND steps to the fore.
@Texas-Hawk-10 There you go again, attempting to denigrate Lon Kruger's very probable and real path to 2018 Sooner GLORY! And even after I made it very clear that his KID was dining on TEXAS BEEF.
Admittedly, I have been having fun, at Mitch Lightfoot's expense, referring to him as 'Lightfeet...our 6'8" 115 lb. vunder kine.' Or maybe that should have been spelled VUNDERKIN? Anyway, now that someone has pointed out that Mitch is well ensconced as a top 10 shot blocker in the Big 12 (I just now checked, and he has blocked more shots than our resident giant Doke; and he is 2 blocks shy of tying for 3rd best in the league), I am inclined to take our lanky sophomore's efforts much more seriously. And to pay him his just and reasonable due. So, I propose that henceforth we posters begin referring to him as BIG MITCH LIGHTFOOT. Or BIGGIE, if you should prefer. BIG MITCH. Or maybe just BIG. Normally, I spend more waking hours admiring or critiquing the fine array of Bill Self's current brood of guards and small forwards, the lightning quick assassins who light up scoreboards and stat sheets. But, SHAZAM!, I now find Big Mitch to be deserving of his own statistical followings. So....
@Crimsonorblue22 You are, indeed, an extraordinary Jayhawk woman. You watch K State FOOTBALL?
@drgnslayr And Mario likely would have missed that shot if Collins hadn't delivered one of the most spectacular timely passes in Jayhawk history.
@Crimsonorblue22 Mr. Weber pace the sideline tonight, conduct himself with customary restraint and dignity?
@Crimsonorblue22 Yer stayin up kinda late, eh Crimson?
BShark and beddie know. Lon knows. Cindy is jabbin' Bill in the ribs, tellin' him, Listen up! On the 23rd of January Norm Roberts and that Hudy lady are gonna be gnawin' their Doublemint. This Okie kid was BORN READY!
And High Elite Major, you needn't jump onto the shoulders of this kid neither. Just wait....
@Lulufulu Don't be givin' even one inch on this situation, Lulu. You and I both know precisely what we've seed. No stoppin' this kid.
@Texas-Hawk-10 I'm just sayin'...
@Crimsonorblue22 Nope. The KID is too quick for Doke. Don't be for buyin' in to any of that jaybate skepticism. Yer gonna eat crow!
@jaybate-1.0 Nah, nah, nah, not THIS kid. He might be born and bred an Okie, thru and true, but he eats Texas beef for breakfast. I'm tellin' ya now, and I don't plan to tell ya again, THIS KID IS THE REAL DEAL! LOOK OUT!
4 losses and a tie for the title. None of us had best forget about TCU.
@kjayhawks Not to mention how well it works for transfers who come to Lawrence and practice for a year with the team, essentially but not technically wearing a red shirt.
@kjayhawks ...and C. Teahan.
@HighEliteMajor You have covered most of the bases, the vital points to this future decision. Right now, at this very moment, it would appear that Udoka would benefit his game and bankroll in a huge way by returning for a 3rd season. A silent but significant factor in this discussion: will Dedric walk the straight and narrow, then play to his super capability? Preston? Who knows. I have kinda written him off and away already; but, obviously, there is yet a tiger in that tank. The new tall and h.s. talented recruit (shucks, I haven't even nailed down his name yet) will be green, but will post some shining moments...combined with the flipside. So, back to Mitch. I should think that he and his parents would cherish the opportunity to his spending 5 years in the program. From my distance, I can't see a downside. Mitch is content in Lawrence, and appears bent on doing whatever he can to contribute. If I were he I would snap up that once in a lifetime opportunity in a heartbeat! Self already is bracing up his brood of guards for playing more New Bill Self Style Basketball next season. This might be the best chance for the offering of that red shirt.
@whipperboy73 That Okie kid is gonna swoop into Lawrence and first thing we know you're gonna be chompin' on an old bath towel like that colorful dude who used ta sit on the UNLV bench! Oops! But hang on a minute. Looks as though our first meeting that kid will transpire in Norman the eve of Tuesday, 23 January. Prior to that grand event, there's lotsa hours for you to shake off your nerves by overeating or dropping to yer knees to mumble some ave marias!
Whatever you best choose to do, PLEASE DO NOT JINX OUR JAYHAWKS! (Likely, we will need that win.)
Article in today's LJW about Mitch's roommate, fellow state of Arizona transfer Sam Cunliffe. One of Sam's 8 sisters, Hannah, sports some super speedy genetics. She is a sprinter who is a member of Oregon's pair of NCAA record holding sprint relay teams.
Merry Christmas to all of you. You folks are important and essential ingredients to my waking hours.
@wrwlumpy WOW! All posters really should think about that key stat. Mitch at 6'8" sits in the #4 slot in the league for blocked shots!
And just think about how few minutes he has played. A non-starter playing way out of position.
Seems as though every season my wife and I pick a Jayhawk favorite player. This season, Mitch is our guy. I really derive chuckles, referring to him as Lightfeet. The kid is blessed with "B" level topflight Div. 1 skill and "A++" enthusiasm. We hope he is around for 5 seasons. This program needs a Mitch Lightfoot.
@Lulufulu Suddenly, national pollsters have caught sight of Big 12 Basketball...again. They are tentative about the Jayhawks right now, and probably with good reason. Let's hope it whets the appetites of our lads to devour some rare Texas beef these next 3 games. Then we will be encased in the Top 10 once more, with the opportunity to relax, then lose!