@globaljaybird These are great quotes! thanks.

Also see today's News Digest, March 17, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 16, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 16

Our Daily Threads for March 17:

KUBuckets Brackets on ESPN - @approxinfinity

I thought a KUBuckets bracket group on ESPN would be fun, so I'm going to start one once the brackets come out. I'll post the group info here when it's ready. Hope you guys are able to join!

Done! - Group is named KUBuckets. here's the link to it - http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2014/en/group?groupID=370930 ↗

Self Loss To ISU Smart? - @jaybate

What would Bill Self have gained for KU's seeding by pulling out all the stops to beat ISU?

Before we even try to answer, let's consider what Self might have done differently against ISU in terms of pulling out all the stops?

He might have zone pressed intermittently during the first and second halves...

Did we draw the toughest bracket? - @konkeyDong

I gotta kind of think that the NCAA seeding committee doesn't want us to do anything this year. Florida, 'Cuse, VCU... Add in 'ville and that would complete my list of teams I think we match up the worst with.

Worst 3PT Team of Self Era? - @jaybate

As of the end of the B12 tournament, these are the 3pt shooting percentages of KU's perimeter players.

Wiggins 35%

Selden 34%

Tharpe 38%....

USA Today All-American lists - @REHawk

Wiggins 2nd team. Embiid and Smart Honorable Mention.

Very Good without Jo, Great with Jo - @jaybate

I feel juiced about the team, because...

• On no day of rest after an OT game, KU without its star center, with its star forward shooting 7-21 FG, and shooting 27% from trey ville, ALMOST BEAT A RANKED TEAM that played its best game of its season. This means KU is very good without Joel and ring grade with him.

• Perry Ellis had a great game with 30 and 8 against a ranked team proving he is out of his slump....

Mar 16: Our Best Chance To Win Six Games - @HighEliteMajor

How do we best attack the NCAA tournament? What is our best chance to win 6 games?

Coach Self relies upon strong man to man defense as his philosophical center point. This season, the team’s defensive inadequacies threaten that philosophy.

This team is now ranked 189th in points per game allowed. That has gone up since we lost Embiid, but even with Embiid, our points per game allowed ranking was significantly more than normal -- 51, 35, 69, 62, 106, and 21 in past years, with the #21 being the title season...

Mar 16: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs ISU - March 14 - @drgnslayr

I feel bad for Perry Ellis, The Impaler. When a guy goes 11-12 from the field and hangs 30 points on the stat sheet, you expect him to be the player of the game on the winning team. Perry was the player of the game for both teams, unfortunately he didn't get to celebrate on the winning team.

Perry also snagged 7 rebounds and had an assist.

Mar 16: Rethinking SOS - @nuleafjhawk

For years I've harped ( to my wife, kids, pastor, cashier at Dillons ) that it is to our benefit to play the toughest teams we can all year long, here, there, anywhere.

I was wrong.

Mar 15: Why We Lost to Iowa State - @DinarHawk###

I have to admit, I agree somewhat with the Debbie downers over on KU Sports that not having Embiid hurt us in this game. Niang wouldn't have been able to do half the things he did with him in there.

That said, Black and Traylor did not play good post defense at all. Therefore, Niang did whatever he wanted.

There seemed to be an overall lack of energy, and Iowa State seemed faster to the ball than KU did.

Mar 15: Well, that wasn't good. - @Hawk8086

Offense was terrible in the 2nd half. Nobody could guard Niang. Wiggins wasn't hitting. Tharpe was invisible, for the most part. They were hot from 3. Did I miss anyting?

Mar 15: Who? Part Two - @JRyman

Who will step up tonight vs Iowa St?

Sure the easy pick is Andrew

I am going with Traylor, I think his quickness on D is going to help us out vs the spread floor of ISU.

Mar 14: Did Bill Self really call.... - @JRyman

At the post game on floor interview did Bill self call Holly Rowe "Babe". I swear he said, "thanks babe".

Maybe it was "thanks bye". But I'm not sure and that doesn't sound like a Self quote but either does babe.

Anyone?

Mar 14: They All Stepped Up.. - @jaybate

They ran the stuff and everyone stayed plugged in. And 14 TOs against that kind of pressure was solid.

Wigs walked the tight rope between over impact and under impact. He stayed plugged in beginning to end. He had 30 and 3 assists and was on AWACs radar screens for three or four get-ups. Still think he can and will get 30 with 5 assists, and when he does it, KU will super nova on someone. Regardless, his defense and boarding was what stood out the most to me. He just guarded the best he has guarded all season and didn't just grab boards with hops, but he got in and mixed it up on the glass on lots of plays. Still wish to heck he would look for two more dishes to anyone and two more post feeds for Tar, but he was plugged in beginning to end. But man did I love that defense he played, especially early in the game. His 5 TOs were excusable this game considering how well they were guarding him and how much we were asking him to work in traffic. 5 is high, but if we ask him to shoot 17 in traffic AND handle against that much pressure, and rebound, its probably the best we can hope for. And look at those 3 steals and a block!!!! Sweet.

Mar 14: Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid - @konkeyDong

Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid:

The question that's on everyone's mind, or at least should be, will be answered around 4pm this afternoon. Was the WVU game last Saturday an aberration, or was it the true KU-sans-Embiid exposed? My take is neither, but that doesn’t mean changes won’t have to be made. As @HighEliteMajor and others have pointed out, Self, as talented as he is, is about as flexible as a 2-ton i-beam.

Mar 14: Who? - @drgnslayr###

In your opinion... who will step up?

Mar 14: Today's over/under's - @JRyman

Margin if victory by KU. 7.5

Points by Andrew Wiggins. 21.5...

Mar 13: Making a run without JoJo - @icthawkfan316

So by now the disappointing news has sunk in for most of us regarding Embiid's back injury. While we may speculate as to if/when he will be back, it is in the best interest of the team to prepare as if he will not be back. After all, they've had a whole season's worth of preparation playing with him, so if he is available at some point, re-inserting him in the line-up will not necessitate any adjustments. So make plans to play without him.

Mar 13: Revisit last game of last season-EJ was hit first. - @JayhawkRock78

I was at the KU Michigan game last year, and watched in agony as we let it slip through our hands. By the time I got home, the EJ -McGary hit was everywhere. Since I DVR'd the game, I had a hint something preceded it, and boy it is there on tape. I am not defending EJ's low blow, but 12 months ago I wasn't posting.

Mar 13: KU gets OSU tomorrow... - @JayHawkFanToo

OSU dominated Texas Tech and won going away. Forte was hitting 3 pointers from 5 feet behind the line; hopefully he has scored his share and will go on a drought tomorrow. Murphy played only 14 minutes but the rest of the starter played over 30 minutes each, but there were minutes that did not require a lot of effort, nothing that would affect tomorrow's game .

Mar 13: Andrew and the Miracles... - @drgnslayr

For some of us that go back a ways in Kansas basketball, we've been in this situation before.

We lost a very special player in Archie Marshall.

We were well on our way to having a disappointing season with a big pile of losses and expectations dashed.

Mar 13: Kietzman and the KU Conspiracy Theory - @wrwlumpy

Yesterday WHB brought back a Spinal Specialist for a second time to delve into Coach Self knowing more than he really was saying about Joel and went down the road to accusing him of being a coach who plays kids when they are hurt. This brought back memories of his 3 day rant wanting to portray Roy Williams as a person who disrespects the American Flag and all of the brave men and women who have fought and given their lives for this country - http://cjonline.com/stories/021502/spo_kuflag.shtm ↗

Mar 12: Making Up for Joel - @jaybate

So we are probably 1 and 1 in the B12 tourney.

The B12 Tourney is meaningless, except as 1 or 2 practice games for learning how to beat muscle without Joel, and more if he doesn't come back.

Pruning back the lion killer luv, Joel gave 12/10 plus rim protection.

Mar 11: Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

Mar 11: jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Also see today's News Digest, March 17, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 16, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 16

Also see our Daily Threads, March 17, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 16, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 16

NCAA Tournament 2014 Schedule: Times, Dates, Live Streaming and TV Info ↗

BRACKET: PDF ↗ | Join KU Buckets Group on ESPN ↗

!KU in the NCAA Tournament ↗

** KU gets No. 2 seed in South region for NCAA Tournament ↗**

The Kansas University men's basketball team earned a No. 2 seed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament and will open its run at 3:10 p.m. CDT on Friday in St. Louis against 15th-seeded Eastern Kentucky. The game will be broadcast on TBS.

The Jayhawks (24-9), who won their 10th straight Big 12 regular season title earlier this season, were put into the South regional, where Florida sits as the No. 1 seed.

Newell: Expect Eastern Kentucky to pressure defensively, fire tons of 3s against KU basketball ↗

The good news for KU is that Eastern Kentucky ranks 129th in KenPom's rankings, which isn't that scary of a number.

The bad news? The Colonels exhibit a unique style that lends itself to a high variance of outcomes. They shoot a lot of 3s and force a lot of turnovers, and because of that, they landed on ESPN's Giant Killers list earlier this month.

No. 15-seeded Colonels draw comparisons to Iowa State, Michigan ↗

** It's go time: Bill Self talks March Madness ↗**

Even though Self barely had time to read up on KU's Friday opponent, Eastern Kentucky — let alone scout the Colonels by watching some game video — a room full of reporters awaited him at 6 p.m. inside Allen Fieldhouse to talk about the matchup between No. 2-seeded Kansas (24-9) and the No. 15 seed, EKU (24-9), out of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Mellinger: In season of change for Kansas Jayhawks, coach Bill Self has adapted, too ↗

LAWRENCE — The screaming is more connected now. With more context. More understanding.

The same mistake that caused Bill Self’s face to turn tomato red and practice to stop for three minutes now causes him to roll his eyes and use a sort of angry shorthand.

A man can only go nuclear so many times and, besides, at this point in the season Wayne Selden knows he can’t let the ball stick for this particular play to work. He knows what he did wrong before anyone says anything.

** What's in a seed?: How Kansas has fared in the NCAAs on each of the top 4 seed lines ↗**

Believe it or not, this is just the second time in KU coach Bill Self's 11 seasons that the Jayhawks received a No. 2 seed.

Since Self took over the program in the 2003-04 season, Kansas has entered the Big Dance as a No. 1 seed five times, and now two times apiece on the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 seed lines.

Video: NCAA chairman Wellman explaining seeding ↗

Pattani: NCAA, BPI correspond, to a point ↗

Comparing the top of the NCAA men’s basketball championship field to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index shows a lot of similarity in how the selection committee and
ESPN’s rating system evaluated teams. Although 31 of the 36 at-large teams in the field would also have been selected had only BPI been used to select the field, there are notable differences in the seeds of some prominent teams and how BPI would have placed them.

BPI rankings corresponded with the first three No. 1 seeds, as Arizona, Florida, and Wichita State are the top three teams in BPI (in that order). But unlike in the previous two official seasons of BPI, the No. 1 overall seed (Florida) is not the No. 1 team in BPI as of Selection Sunday.

Keating & Brenner: Giant killers: South region ↗

No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks (88.2) vs. No. 15 Eastern Kentucky Colonels (18.5)
Upset Chance: 5.6 percent

If our model could weep or drink, it would be crying in its beer over this matchup. We had an eye on Eastern Kentucky way back when its extreme stats lit up our spreadsheets last year, and then this season, the Colonels bombed their way to the OVC championship. Their defense, relentlessly pressuring, forces bushels of turnovers (24.2 percent of opponent possessions, ranking fourth in the country), while their offense, relentlessly passing, opens shots on the outside (38.6 percent on 3s, ranking 28th) and under the basket (56.2 percent on 2-point attempts, ranking second). Eastern Kentucky's aggression constantly puts opponents on the line (55.3 percent of points on free throws, ranking 343rd) and lands the Colonels in foul trouble. And their lack of size (effective height: minus-3.0 inches) leaves them markedly vulnerable to box outs and blocks. But on the whole, their tradeoffs threaten to make them a much more lethal Killer -- against the right kind of Giant. The Colonels are an example -- in fact, the only halfway decent example this season -- of a "Steph Curry Killer," the kind of David that uses sharpshooting to fell a Goliath. And they badly needed to face a Generic Giant, an opponent without dominant rebounding tendencies, to have a shot at an upset.

Instead, they got Kansas. The Jayhawks are tall, blast opponents with 55.6 percent inside shooting (ranking eighth in the nation), and seize 37.1 percent of offensive rebounds. They've also played the hardest schedule in the country, while Eastern Kentucky's SOS ranks 301st. The sad truth is that Killers similar to Eastern Kentucky have beaten Giants similar to Kansas just twice in 13 tries since 2007, and never by overcoming a gap as yawning as the canyon between the Jayhawks and Colonels. Eastern Kentucky is always fun to watch, but sometimes the best advice is to avoid picking an upset that's not going to happen.

Sports Science: Andrew Wiggins ↗

ESPN Sport Science examines what sets Andrew Wiggins apart from everyone else in college hoops.

Bedore: Kansas assistant Townsend recalls days at EKU ↗

Former Western Kentucky basketball standout Kurtis Townsend remembers catching a lot of flak during a reception held before his one and only season as assistant hoops coach at Eastern Kentucky University.

“There were a lot of hard feelings about that. One of the first things they did when they introduced me ... they said, ‘Hey, a Western Kentucky grad,’ and they all booed me,” Townsend, Kansas University’s 10th-year assistant coach, said with a smile.

AP: Study: Eight teams fail to meet standard; KU perfect ↗

Orlando, Fla. — An annual study of the schools in the men’s NCAA tournament shows a slight increase in teams that fall below graduation rate standards.

The University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport said in its report Monday that eight teams that made the 2014 men’s bracket fall below the NCAA-mandated Academic Progress Rate score of 930, equivalent to a 50 percent graduation rate. Last year six teams didn’t reach that benchmark.

Pattani: Filling out a bracket with BPI's insight ↗

While ESPN’s Basketball Power Index wasn’t designed to be purely predictive, there has been interest in using BPI to help with picking NCAA Tournament brackets. It’s one thing to just look at the BPI rankings and pick the higher-ranked team to win each matchup. If you do that this year, you end up with a pretty chalky bracket with all four No. 1 seeds making the Final Four and Arizona over Florida in the title game.

A more nuanced way to look at things, however, is to determine the percentage chance of each team getting to each round. This can help not only by taking into account the effects of opponent strength round-by-round (beyond just “better BPI”), but it also helps illuminate what might be considered smart upset picks and undervalued or overvalued teams.

Dodd: KU knows it has to win while awaiting Embiid ↗

If you believe in the aura of advanced statistics — the formulas and algorithms that dominate the modern sports landscape — the loss of a promising freshman center can be overcome.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/17/3352253/ku-knows-it-has-to-win-while-awating.html#storylink=cpy ↗

Also see our Daily Threads, March 17, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 16, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 16

@bskeet ha I thought about stating it but refrained. I will now.. You may choose Kansas to exit at any point and should be exempt from ridicule for having done so. If you find yourself irreconcilably divided on a course of action do what my family does, do two brackets. One homer, one realist, wherever the Twain shall part ways.

Ok, I created the KUBuckets group on ESPN... here's the link to it - http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2014/en/group?groupID=370930 ↗ ↗

The group is not password protected, but it will lock at tip off before the first game, which means you won't be able to add other brackets after that. There's no limit to the number of brackets you can add before the first game, should you want to have multiple brackets.

Good luck!

I thought a KUBuckets bracket group on ESPN would be fun, so I'm going to start one once the brackets come out. I'll post the group info here when it's ready. Hope you guys are able to join!

Done! - Group is named KUBuckets. here's the link to it - http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2014/en/group?groupID=370930 ↗ ↗

The group is not password protected, but it will lock at tip off before the first game, which means you won't be able to add other brackets after that. There's no limit to the number of brackets you can add before the first game, should you want to have multiple brackets.

@Crimsonorblue22 Ah, see it now http://rockchalkblog.com/2014/03/15/recruit-talk-kansas-no-longer-interested-in-jaquan-lyle/ ↗ ↗ - thanks for this.

Lyle

@MoonwalkMafia Didn't think about the Ok State game being important in the Lyle recruitment.

http://memphis.247sports.com/Article/JaQuan-Lyle-has-cut-his-list-to-three-schools-182961 ↗ ↗

Let's hope for favorable match ups. If they put us as the 2 in Wichita State's bracket, as Lunardi has projected (and I don't like Lunardi), with something similar to the teams he's penciled in there, I'd feel pretty good about our chances to survive past the round of 16, and not totally hopeless about a Final 4 run with something less than a healthy Embiid.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology ↗ ↗

Also see today's News Digest, March 16, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 15, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 15

Our Daily Threads for March 16:

Our Best Chance To Win Six Games - @HighEliteMajor

How do we best attack the NCAA tournament? What is our best chance to win 6 games?

Coach Self relies upon strong man to man defense as his philosophical center point. This season, the team’s defensive inadequacies threaten that philosophy.

This team is now ranked 189th in points per game allowed. That has gone up since we lost Embiid, but even with Embiid, our points per game allowed ranking was significantly more than normal -- 51, 35, 69, 62, 106, and 21 in past years, with the #21 being the title season...

FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs ISU - March 14 - @drgnslayr

I feel bad for Perry Ellis, The Impaler. When a guy goes 11-12 from the field and hangs 30 points on the stat sheet, you expect him to be the player of the game on the winning team. Perry was the player of the game for both teams, unfortunately he didn't get to celebrate on the winning team.

Perry also snagged 7 rebounds and had an assist.

Rethinking SOS - @nuleafjhawk

For years I've harped ( to my wife, kids, pastor, cashier at Dillons ) that it is to our benefit to play the toughest teams we can all year long, here, there, anywhere.

I was wrong.

Mar 15: Why We Lost to Iowa State - @DinarHawk###

I have to admit, I agree somewhat with the Debbie downers over on KU Sports that not having Embiid hurt us in this game. Niang wouldn't have been able to do half the things he did with him in there.

That said, Black and Traylor did not play good post defense at all. Therefore, Niang did whatever he wanted.

There seemed to be an overall lack of energy, and Iowa State seemed faster to the ball than KU did.

Mar 15: Well, that wasn't good. - @Hawk8086

Offense was terrible in the 2nd half. Nobody could guard Niang. Wiggins wasn't hitting. Tharpe was invisible, for the most part. They were hot from 3. Did I miss anyting?

Mar 15: Who? Part Two - @JRyman

Who will step up tonight vs Iowa St?

Sure the easy pick is Andrew

I am going with Traylor, I think his quickness on D is going to help us out vs the spread floor of ISU.

Mar 14: Did Bill Self really call.... - @JRyman

At the post game on floor interview did Bill self call Holly Rowe "Babe". I swear he said, "thanks babe".

Maybe it was "thanks bye". But I'm not sure and that doesn't sound like a Self quote but either does babe.

Anyone?

Mar 14: They All Stepped Up.. - @jaybate

They ran the stuff and everyone stayed plugged in. And 14 TOs against that kind of pressure was solid.

Wigs walked the tight rope between over impact and under impact. He stayed plugged in beginning to end. He had 30 and 3 assists and was on AWACs radar screens for three or four get-ups. Still think he can and will get 30 with 5 assists, and when he does it, KU will super nova on someone. Regardless, his defense and boarding was what stood out the most to me. He just guarded the best he has guarded all season and didn't just grab boards with hops, but he got in and mixed it up on the glass on lots of plays. Still wish to heck he would look for two more dishes to anyone and two more post feeds for Tar, but he was plugged in beginning to end. But man did I love that defense he played, especially early in the game. His 5 TOs were excusable this game considering how well they were guarding him and how much we were asking him to work in traffic. 5 is high, but if we ask him to shoot 17 in traffic AND handle against that much pressure, and rebound, its probably the best we can hope for. And look at those 3 steals and a block!!!! Sweet.

Mar 14: Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid - @konkeyDong

Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid:

The question that's on everyone's mind, or at least should be, will be answered around 4pm this afternoon. Was the WVU game last Saturday an aberration, or was it the true KU-sans-Embiid exposed? My take is neither, but that doesn’t mean changes won’t have to be made. As @HighEliteMajor and others have pointed out, Self, as talented as he is, is about as flexible as a 2-ton i-beam.

Mar 14: Who? - @drgnslayr###

In your opinion... who will step up?

Mar 14: Today's over/under's - @JRyman

Margin if victory by KU. 7.5

Points by Andrew Wiggins. 21.5...

Mar 13: Making a run without JoJo - @icthawkfan316

So by now the disappointing news has sunk in for most of us regarding Embiid's back injury. While we may speculate as to if/when he will be back, it is in the best interest of the team to prepare as if he will not be back. After all, they've had a whole season's worth of preparation playing with him, so if he is available at some point, re-inserting him in the line-up will not necessitate any adjustments. So make plans to play without him.

Mar 13: Revisit last game of last season-EJ was hit first. - @JayhawkRock78

I was at the KU Michigan game last year, and watched in agony as we let it slip through our hands. By the time I got home, the EJ -McGary hit was everywhere. Since I DVR'd the game, I had a hint something preceded it, and boy it is there on tape. I am not defending EJ's low blow, but 12 months ago I wasn't posting.

Mar 13: KU gets OSU tomorrow... - @JayHawkFanToo

OSU dominated Texas Tech and won going away. Forte was hitting 3 pointers from 5 feet behind the line; hopefully he has scored his share and will go on a drought tomorrow. Murphy played only 14 minutes but the rest of the starter played over 30 minutes each, but there were minutes that did not require a lot of effort, nothing that would affect tomorrow's game .

Mar 13: Andrew and the Miracles... - @drgnslayr

For some of us that go back a ways in Kansas basketball, we've been in this situation before.

We lost a very special player in Archie Marshall.

We were well on our way to having a disappointing season with a big pile of losses and expectations dashed.

Mar 13: Kietzman and the KU Conspiracy Theory - @wrwlumpy

Yesterday WHB brought back a Spinal Specialist for a second time to delve into Coach Self knowing more than he really was saying about Joel and went down the road to accusing him of being a coach who plays kids when they are hurt. This brought back memories of his 3 day rant wanting to portray Roy Williams as a person who disrespects the American Flag and all of the brave men and women who have fought and given their lives for this country - http://cjonline.com/stories/021502/spo_kuflag.shtm ↗

Mar 12: Making Up for Joel - @jaybate

So we are probably 1 and 1 in the B12 tourney.

The B12 Tourney is meaningless, except as 1 or 2 practice games for learning how to beat muscle without Joel, and more if he doesn't come back.

Pruning back the lion killer luv, Joel gave 12/10 plus rim protection.

Mar 11: Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

Mar 11: jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Also see today's News Digest, March 16, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 15, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 15

Also see our Daily Threads, March 16, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 15, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 15

! ↗

Mellinger: In season of change for Kansas Jayhawks, coach Bill Self has adapted, too ↗

LAWRENCE — The screaming is more connected now. With more context. More understanding.

The same mistake that caused Bill Self’s face to turn tomato red and practice to stop for three minutes now causes him to roll his eyes and use a sort of angry shorthand.

A man can only go nuclear so many times and, besides, at this point in the season Wayne Selden knows he can’t let the ball stick for this particular play to work. He knows what he did wrong before anyone says anything.

Please add stories here

Also see our Daily Threads, March 16, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 15, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 15

Also see today's News Digest, March 15, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 14, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 14

Our Daily Threads for March 15:

Why We Lost to Iowa State - @DinarHawk##

I have to admit, I agree somewhat with the Debbie downers over on KU Sports that not having Embiid hurt us in this game. Niang wouldn't have been able to do half the things he did with him in there.

That said, Black and Traylor did not play good post defense at all. Therefore, Niang did whatever he wanted.

There seemed to be an overall lack of energy, and Iowa State seemed faster to the ball than KU did.

Well, that wasn't good. - @Hawk8086

Offense was terrible in the 2nd half. Nobody could guard Niang. Wiggins wasn't hitting. Tharpe was invisible, for the most part. They were hot from 3. Did I miss anyting?

Who? Part Two - @JRyman

Who will step up tonight vs Iowa St?

Sure the easy pick is Andrew

I am going with Traylor, I think his quickness on D is going to help us out vs the spread floor of ISU.

Mar 14: Did Bill Self really call.... - @JRyman

At the post game on floor interview did Bill self call Holly Rowe "Babe". I swear he said, "thanks babe".

Maybe it was "thanks bye". But I'm not sure and that doesn't sound like a Self quote but either does babe.

Anyone?

Mar 14: They All Stepped Up.. - @jaybate

They ran the stuff and everyone stayed plugged in. And 14 TOs against that kind of pressure was solid.

Wigs walked the tight rope between over impact and under impact. He stayed plugged in beginning to end. He had 30 and 3 assists and was on AWACs radar screens for three or four get-ups. Still think he can and will get 30 with 5 assists, and when he does it, KU will super nova on someone. Regardless, his defense and boarding was what stood out the most to me. He just guarded the best he has guarded all season and didn't just grab boards with hops, but he got in and mixed it up on the glass on lots of plays. Still wish to heck he would look for two more dishes to anyone and two more post feeds for Tar, but he was plugged in beginning to end. But man did I love that defense he played, especially early in the game. His 5 TOs were excusable this game considering how well they were guarding him and how much we were asking him to work in traffic. 5 is high, but if we ask him to shoot 17 in traffic AND handle against that much pressure, and rebound, its probably the best we can hope for. And look at those 3 steals and a block!!!! Sweet.

Mar 14: Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid - @konkeyDong

Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid:

The question that's on everyone's mind, or at least should be, will be answered around 4pm this afternoon. Was the WVU game last Saturday an aberration, or was it the true KU-sans-Embiid exposed? My take is neither, but that doesn’t mean changes won’t have to be made. As @HighEliteMajor and others have pointed out, Self, as talented as he is, is about as flexible as a 2-ton i-beam.

Mar 14: Who? - @drgnslayr###

In your opinion... who will step up?

Mar 14: Today's over/under's - @JRyman

Margin if victory by KU. 7.5

Points by Andrew Wiggins. 21.5...

Mar 13: Making a run without JoJo - @icthawkfan316

So by now the disappointing news has sunk in for most of us regarding Embiid's back injury. While we may speculate as to if/when he will be back, it is in the best interest of the team to prepare as if he will not be back. After all, they've had a whole season's worth of preparation playing with him, so if he is available at some point, re-inserting him in the line-up will not necessitate any adjustments. So make plans to play without him.

Mar 13: Revisit last game of last season-EJ was hit first. - @JayhawkRock78

I was at the KU Michigan game last year, and watched in agony as we let it slip through our hands. By the time I got home, the EJ -McGary hit was everywhere. Since I DVR'd the game, I had a hint something preceded it, and boy it is there on tape. I am not defending EJ's low blow, but 12 months ago I wasn't posting.

Mar 13: KU gets OSU tomorrow... - @JayHawkFanToo

OSU dominated Texas Tech and won going away. Forte was hitting 3 pointers from 5 feet behind the line; hopefully he has scored his share and will go on a drought tomorrow. Murphy played only 14 minutes but the rest of the starter played over 30 minutes each, but there were minutes that did not require a lot of effort, nothing that would affect tomorrow's game .

Mar 13: Andrew and the Miracles... - @drgnslayr

For some of us that go back a ways in Kansas basketball, we've been in this situation before.

We lost a very special player in Archie Marshall.

We were well on our way to having a disappointing season with a big pile of losses and expectations dashed.

Mar 13: Kietzman and the KU Conspiracy Theory - @wrwlumpy

Yesterday WHB brought back a Spinal Specialist for a second time to delve into Coach Self knowing more than he really was saying about Joel and went down the road to accusing him of being a coach who plays kids when they are hurt. This brought back memories of his 3 day rant wanting to portray Roy Williams as a person who disrespects the American Flag and all of the brave men and women who have fought and given their lives for this country - http://cjonline.com/stories/021502/spo_kuflag.shtm ↗

Mar 12: Making Up for Joel - @jaybate

So we are probably 1 and 1 in the B12 tourney.

The B12 Tourney is meaningless, except as 1 or 2 practice games for learning how to beat muscle without Joel, and more if he doesn't come back.

Pruning back the lion killer luv, Joel gave 12/10 plus rim protection.

Mar 11: Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

Mar 11: jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.
Also see today's News Digest, March 15, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 14, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 14

Also see our Daily Threads, March 15, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 14, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 14

Bedore: Notebook: Andrew Wiggins remains confident Kansas can win NCAA tournament ↗

Kansas City Mo. — Kansas University freshman Andrew Wiggins, who has yet to play in the NCAA Tournament, has heard there’s a significant difference in a team being a No. 1 or 2 seed.

“It’s always a factor. A one seed ... you are playing the easiest route,” Wiggins said after the Jayhawks’ 94-83 loss to Iowa State in a Big 12 tournament semifinal on Friday night in Sprint Center.

Bedore: 'Unacceptable' performance: Jayhawks lament lack of defense in loss to Iowa State ↗

Kansas City, Mo. — Soft-spoken Perry Ellis issued a stern warning to his Kansas University basketball teammates after Friday’s 94-83 loss to Iowa State in a Big 12 tournament semifinal in Sprint Center.

“After the game, he told us, ‘No more, no more. We can’t let this happen any more,’’’ freshman guard Frank Mason said.

Please add stories here

Also see our Daily Threads, March 15, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 14, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 14

@drgnslayr well said.

I kept waiting for us to make a run. But to make a run you have to make some stops, and usually that starts with perimeter pressure. There was none.

When we did make the stop, we never pushed the ball. Where were the transition points? Did we get a single lob?

I'm starting to wish Bill Self would take a couple pages out of the Shaka Smart playbook. Even if it results in some easy layups for the opponents. I thought this team would be athletic enough and deep enough to be capable of creating havoc, but we're not challenging teams on the perimeter and then allowing them to get the shot they want all game long.

Watching Niang drive from the top of the key all the way to the basket was disheartening. It feels like we were consistently giving him too much room to operate, and were content to let him go and then try to challenge at the rim. Does that guy really have the footspeed to drive all the way to the cup on us, over and over? Something is broken here.

Why did guys not named Selden or Wiggins hesitate to shoot the 3 ball early in the game? Perry hit 1, but he hesitated to shoot a couple others where he was wide open, and Naadir did not attempt one.

@DinarHawk He didn't shoot a 3. He needs to shoot 3's to contribute to the offense, especially when it isn't going for Wiggins/Selden.

We exerted no pressure on defense. Aside from a few scattered plays, we never made them uncomfortable. It was like we were content to wait around for a rebound that often did not come. Did we roll out half court pressure at all or hedge at all? I don't remember seeing it.

If our defense doesn't improve, we won't go far. There is no doubt of that.

But, on offense...

Naadir turned down a few open 3's. He didnt shoot a single one, and was 0 for 3 from the field. Why?

Checking the box score, I was shocked to see that Naadir had 9 assists vs 2 turnovers. Why did he feel ineffective as a facilitator, other than the lack of scoring?

Perry was 11 for 12... Why wasn't he 11 for 15.. it seemed like he was unstoppable, so why didn't we keep feeding him? Look at Niang. He was 11 for 22.

These are maybe nitpicking, as the game was lost on the defensive end, clearly.

! ↗

Newell: Iowa State's offense knocks out KU basketball, 94-83 ↗

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas men’s basketball team had no answer for Iowa State’s high-powered offense, falling 94-83 to the fourth-seeded Cyclones on Saturday night in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament in Sprint Center.

ISU made 17 of 25 shots in the second half (68 percent) on its way to outscoring KU, 48-35, in the final period.

Dodd: Iowa State knocks out Kansas 94-83 ↗

There are certain general rules about basketball. If an opponent connects on 11 of its first 16 three-pointers, it’s going to be difficult to win.

If that same opponent — let’s say Iowa State — shoots 54 percent for the night, it’s going to be even harder.

CJ Online Live Blog ↗

ESPN Box Score ↗

Box Score ↗

Kentucky ink: 2014 title or bust ↗

! ↗

@konkeyDong She certainly is everything Cindy is not.

I was digging the alternate uniforms today:

! ↗

Also see today's News Digest, March 14, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 13, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 13

Our Daily Threads for March 14:

They All Stepped Up.. - @jaybate

They ran the stuff and everyone stayed plugged in. And 14 TOs against that kind of pressure was solid.

Wigs walked the tight rope between over impact and under impact. He stayed plugged in beginning to end. He had 30 and 3 assists and was on AWACs radar screens for three or four get-ups. Still think he can and will get 30 with 5 assists, and when he does it, KU will super nova on someone. Regardless, his defense and boarding was what stood out the most to me. He just guarded the best he has guarded all season and didn't just grab boards with hops, but he got in and mixed it up on the glass on lots of plays. Still wish to heck he would look for two more dishes to anyone and two more post feeds for Tar, but he was plugged in beginning to end. But man did I love that defense he played, especially early in the game. His 5 TOs were excusable this game considering how well they were guarding him and how much we were asking him to work in traffic. 5 is high, but if we ask him to shoot 17 in traffic AND handle against that much pressure, and rebound, its probably the best we can hope for. And look at those 3 steals and a block!!!! Sweet.

Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid - @konkeyDong

Adjustments I'd like to see Self make for OSU and going forward without Embiid:

The question that's on everyone's mind, or at least should be, will be answered around 4pm this afternoon. Was the WVU game last Saturday an aberration, or was it the true KU-sans-Embiid exposed? My take is neither, but that doesn’t mean changes won’t have to be made. As @HighEliteMajor and others have pointed out, Self, as talented as he is, is about as flexible as a 2-ton i-beam.

Who? - @drgnslayr##

In your opinion... who will step up?

Today's over/under's - @JRyman

Margin if victory by KU. 7.5

Points by Andrew Wiggins. 21.5...

Mar 13: Making a run without JoJo - @icthawkfan316

So by now the disappointing news has sunk in for most of us regarding Embiid's back injury. While we may speculate as to if/when he will be back, it is in the best interest of the team to prepare as if he will not be back. After all, they've had a whole season's worth of preparation playing with him, so if he is available at some point, re-inserting him in the line-up will not necessitate any adjustments. So make plans to play without him.

Mar 13: Revisit last game of last season-EJ was hit first. - @JayhawkRock78

I was at the KU Michigan game last year, and watched in agony as we let it slip through our hands. By the time I got home, the EJ -McGary hit was everywhere. Since I DVR'd the game, I had a hint something preceded it, and boy it is there on tape. I am not defending EJ's low blow, but 12 months ago I wasn't posting.

Mar 13: KU gets OSU tomorrow... - @JayHawkFanToo

OSU dominated Texas Tech and won going away. Forte was hitting 3 pointers from 5 feet behind the line; hopefully he has scored his share and will go on a drought tomorrow. Murphy played only 14 minutes but the rest of the starter played over 30 minutes each, but there were minutes that did not require a lot of effort, nothing that would affect tomorrow's game .

Mar 13: Andrew and the Miracles... - @drgnslayr

For some of us that go back a ways in Kansas basketball, we've been in this situation before.

We lost a very special player in Archie Marshall.

We were well on our way to having a disappointing season with a big pile of losses and expectations dashed.

Mar 13: Kietzman and the KU Conspiracy Theory - @wrwlumpy

Yesterday WHB brought back a Spinal Specialist for a second time to delve into Coach Self knowing more than he really was saying about Joel and went down the road to accusing him of being a coach who plays kids when they are hurt. This brought back memories of his 3 day rant wanting to portray Roy Williams as a person who disrespects the American Flag and all of the brave men and women who have fought and given their lives for this country - http://cjonline.com/stories/021502/spo_kuflag.shtm ↗

Mar 12: Making Up for Joel - @jaybate

So we are probably 1 and 1 in the B12 tourney.

The B12 Tourney is meaningless, except as 1 or 2 practice games for learning how to beat muscle without Joel, and more if he doesn't come back.

Pruning back the lion killer luv, Joel gave 12/10 plus rim protection.

Mar 11: Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

Mar 11: jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Also see today's News Digest, March 14, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 13, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 13

Also see our Daily Threads, March 14, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 13, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 13

Please visit: **Mar 13: Post-game Roundup - KU vs Oklahoma State **

! ↗

Medcalf: Wiggins doesn't have to change we do ↗

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andrew Wiggins rose. But when gravity pulled a trio of Oklahoma State defenders back to earth, he kept climbing.

Wayne Selden Jr. could have thrown that pass anywhere and Wiggins would have grabbed it and flushed that breathtaking alley-oop in the second half.

If there was anyone in the Sprint Center who could stop Wiggins, one of the most hyped freshmen in the history of the college game, he never emerged. If any doubts about Wiggins' assertiveness remained prior to his effort on Thursday in Kansas' 77-70 overtime win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals (30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals), they’ve probably ceased.

Kegan: Tarik Black brings passion to Big 12 tournament ↗

Kansas City, Mo. — Some college basketball fans view conference post-season tournaments as a chance to exhale between the regular season and NCAA tournament.

Anyone in the Sprint Center for Kansas University's 77-70, overtime victory Thursday afternoon against Oklahoma State who still feels that way needs to press a finger against a vein and check for a pulse.

Bedore: No doubt: Andrew Wiggins explodes for 30 points in OT win over Oklahoma State ↗

Kansas City, Mo. — Andrew Wiggins has sensed some gloom and doom — outside of Kansas University’s basketball locker room — regarding the Jayhawks’ chances of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament without injured big man Joel Embiid.

“A lot of people were doubting us, saying we wouldn’t be any good with Joel out,” Wiggins said after scoring 30 points off 9-of-17 shooting (3-of-6 from three; 9-of-10 from the line) in KU’s 77-70 overtime victory over Oklahoma State in Thursday’s Big 12 tournament quarterfinals in Sprint Center.

Tait: Jamari Traylor makes up for miscues with hustle plays vs OSU ↗

Kansas City, Mo. — Thursday's 77-70, overtime victory by the Kansas University basketball team over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament served as the stage for arguably the most Jamari Traylor night of any the Jayhawks have had all season.

Overflowing with emotion and packed with raw power and critical hustle plays, the 6-foot-8 reserve forward contributed six points, nine rebounds and two blocks in a career best 27 minutes while helping pick up some of the slack for the absence of starting center Joel Embiid.

Bedore: Notebook: Joel Embiids father says center will return "soon" ↗

Joel Embiid’s dad, Thomas, says he believes his injured son will play in the 2014 NCAA tournament.

“Yes he can play before the end of the NCAA. I don’t know if it will take one or two weeks, but I know he will come back soon. He will be back soon. The only thing I can say is he will be back soon,” said Thomas Embiid, in town for the Big 12 tournament with his wife, Christine.

Smith: One more time: Iowa State takes on Kansas ↗

Iowa State didn't have to go to overtime to beat Kansas State in the first game of the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals Thursday afternoon at Sprint Center, but that game was just as intense as the one that followed it — an OT thriller between Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Now that both the Cyclones (24-7) and Jayhawks (24-8) have lived up to the old March motto of "survive and advance," they will play each other for the third time this season Friday night at Sprint Center for a chance to advance to the Big 12 title game.

Video: Wiggins and Self post game interviews ↗

Also see our Daily Threads, March 14, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 13, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 13

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Dodd: Kansas beats Oklahoma State 77-70 in overtime ↗

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the final seconds, Bill Self moved toward the end of the Kansas bench, handing out high-fives as the Rock Chalk Chant began to echo through the Sprint Center.

Perhaps it was harder than it needed to be, but the 10th-ranked Jayhawks had survived a second-half lapse and overtime in a 77-70 victory over Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

Newell: Andrew Wiggins' 30 points leads KU basketball to 77-70 overtime win over Oklahoma State ↗

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Just before sending his players on the court for overtime against Oklahoma State, Kansas coach Bill Self wanted to leave one final thing in their minds.

“What else would you rather be doing on a Saturday evening at 5 p.m.?” Self said.

Tait: Kansas defeats Oklahoma State, 77-70 ↗

Kansas City, Mo. — For the third time this season, the Kansas University men's basketball team watched a double-digit lead over Oklahoma State disappear.

This time, however, it didn't cost them.

After controlling much of the first half and leading from the 11-minute mark of the first half all the way to 4:08 of the second half, the Jayhawks built a 32-23 halftime lead and went up 34-23 in the first minute of the second half.

Tait: Cowboys: Jayhawks just as good without Joel Embiid ↗

Kansas City, Mo. — Even though his presence would have added a 7-foot shot-blocker in the paint who averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and blocked 72 shots during the regular season, Oklahoma State senior Markel Brown said he would rather have seen Kansas University's Joel Embiid on the floor during the Cowboys' 77-70, overtime loss to KU in Thursday's Big 12 tournament quarterfinal match-up at Sprint Center.

CJ Online Live Blog ↗

ESPN Box score ↗

Also see today's News Digest, March 13, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 12, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 12

Our Daily Threads for March 13:

Making a run without JoJo - @icthawkfan316

So by now the disappointing news has sunk in for most of us regarding Embiid's back injury. While we may speculate as to if/when he will be back, it is in the best interest of the team to prepare as if he will not be back. After all, they've had a whole season's worth of preparation playing with him, so if he is available at some point, re-inserting him in the line-up will not necessitate any adjustments. So make plans to play without him.

Andrew and the Miracles... - @drgnslayr

For some of us that go back a ways in Kansas basketball, we've been in this situation before.

We lost a very special player in Archie Marshall.

We were well on our way to having a disappointing season with a big pile of losses and expectations dashed.

Kietzman and the KU Conspiracy Theory - @wrwlumpy

Yesterday WHB brought back a Spinal Specialist for a second time to delve into Coach Self knowing more than he really was saying about Joel and went down the road to accusing him of being a coach who plays kids when they are hurt. This brought back memories of his 3 day rant wanting to portray Roy Williams as a person who disrespects the American Flag and all of the brave men and women who have fought and given their lives for this country - http://cjonline.com/stories/021502/spo_kuflag.shtm ↗

Mar 12: Making Up for Joel - @jaybate

So we are probably 1 and 1 in the B12 tourney.

The B12 Tourney is meaningless, except as 1 or 2 practice games for learning how to beat muscle without Joel, and more if he doesn't come back.

Pruning back the lion killer luv, Joel gave 12/10 plus rim protection.

Mar 11: Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

Mar 11: jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Also see today's News Digest, March 13, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 12, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 12

Also see our Daily Threads, March 13, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 12, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 12
! ↗

Newell: No change: Joel Embiid participates in shoot-around but won't play in Big 12 Tournament ↗

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For most of Wednesday’s shoot-around at Sprint Center, everything appeared to be back to normal for the Kansas basketball team.

Seven-foot center Joel Embiid, who has been battling back issues, was in full practice gear, shooting 18-footers, 3-pointers and even briefly getting in a stance to shadow-guard teammate Andrew Wiggins as if they were playing one-on-one.

** Dodd: KU’s Ellis, others will have to kick in for Embiid ↗ **

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was late on Wednesday afternoon, and the biggest teenager in the Sprint Center picked up a basketball with his right foot and started to juggle. Joel Embiid flipped the ball from one instep to the other, showing off some quick soccer moves while the rest of the Kansas Jayhawks went through a light shootaround on the eve of the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals.

Embiid did a little more than juggle, of course. Two days after Kansas announced that Embiid was out indefinitely because of a stress fracture in his back, the big man moved around the floor leisurely, smiling as he shot three-pointers and worked through some light post drills with the KU big men. One minute he was juggling a basketball, the next he was playfully trying to guard fellow freshman Andrew Wiggins.

Yahoo: Jayhawks' Embiid participates in shoot-around ↗

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Injured Kansas center Joel Embiid remains unlikely to return before the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, even though he participated in a light shoot-around Wednesday.

Finkelstein: Charting best fit for Myles Turner ↗

Kansas

Personnel: Turner’s choice will be tied to Joel Embiid’s NBA decision. If Embiid rejoins Perry Ellis up front along with incoming McDonald’s All-American Cliff Alexander, Bill Self has already told Turner it wouldn’t be worth his time. However, if Embiid were to leave, Turner essentially slides right into his spot. That’s a scenario that should enable him to be utilized inside and out, as Ellis is especially good in the mid-range area and Alexander, while an undeniable horse inside, is a better shooter and passer than he is often given credit for.

Style of play: While both Kansas and Duke would present the opportunity to play with other high-level big men, Duke would be converting from more of a four-out offensive style while Kansas’ high-low system has been their calling card since Self’s arrival. There’s a long line of big men who have flourished in the system that is often predicated on strong-side ball screens (where Turner would be allowed to pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop) and weak-side duck-ins (where he’ll show his back to the basket game), it’s much easier to envision how he would be a quick fit.

Bottom line: If Embiid stays, Turner will go elsewhere. If Embiid leaves, this is likely to best fit from both a personnel and style-of-play standpoint.

Please add stories here

Also see our Daily Threads, March 13, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 12, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 12

Also see today's News Digest, March 12, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 11, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 11

Our Daily Threads for March 12:

Making Up for Joel - @jaybate

So we are probably 1 and 1 in the B12 tourney.

The B12 Tourney is meaningless, except as 1 or 2 practice games for learning how to beat muscle without Joel, and more if he doesn't come back.

Pruning back the lion killer luv, Joel gave 12/10 plus rim protection.

Mar 11: Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

Mar 11: jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...
Also see today's News Digest, March 12, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 11, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 11

Also see our Daily Threads, March 12, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 11, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 11

Seeding Kansas: Now what?

!Embiid ↗

Committee to be in contact with KU ↗

The NCAA tournament selection committee will be in contact with Kansas throughout the week regarding the injury status of freshman center Joel Embiid, committee chair Ron Wellman said on ESPNU's Katz Korner on Tuesday.

"I can assure you it will be a detailed discussion as to when he is going to be available, and we will be monitoring and communicating with Kansas throughout the week as to what his availability will be going forward," Wellman said.

Tournament preview: Big 12 ↗

The sun rose. And Kansas won its 10th consecutive Big 12 title.

There’s more, though.

The 2013-14 campaign for the Big 12 orchestrated a shift in the conference hierarchy. The Big Ten has been the king of regular-season college basketball for years. But the Big 12 can make that claim this season. The league will enter its tournament with seven teams positioned to earn at-large NCAA bids. That’s 70 percent of the conference.

Joel Embiid's absence isn't crushing blow to KU basketball, according to Las Vegas ↗

Jay Kornegay, vice president of the LVH Casino SuperBook in Vegas, says playing without Embiid will only affect KU’s point spread by about one point on a game-to-game basis.

“I can understand in your part of the country that you would think a player of his caliber would be worth more than that,” Kornegay said, “but in the Vegas world based off of history, we know that he’s just part of the puzzle and not the entire puzzle.”

KU coach Self outlines timeline of Joel Embiid’s back injury ↗

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self took the time Tuesday night in a telephone conversation to clarify any confusion as to when freshman center Joel Embiid suffered a stress fracture of the lower back and how he and his family were informed.

Self shared a “medically documented” time line of events. All quotes in this story are Self’s, unless otherwise attributed:

** Prep coach: Embiid had back pain last year, too ↗**

Kansas University freshman center Joel Embiid has experienced back discomfort off and on during the early stages of his still-young basketball career.

“He had that a little bit last year. He tried to fight through it, mostly after the season,” Embiid’s high school coach, Justin Harden of The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla., said in a phone conversation Tuesday.

Nations hottest teams ↗

5 Kansas Jayhawks

The interesting aspect of KU's very good track record over the past 10 games is that Joel Embiid sat out three of the contests. The Jayhawks are naturally more dangerous with a player of Embiid's potential, but also bear in mind they're not helpless without him -- if they have to play without him.

Video: Wiggins potential ↗

Also see our Daily Threads, March 12, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 11, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 11

Also see today's News Digest, March 11, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 10, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 10

Our Daily Threads for March 11:

Have Faith - @HighEliteMajor

Faith.

We hear the word every day. What does it mean?

Two definitions to choose from:

1) Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Or

2) A belief that is not based in proof.

jaybate Basketball Intelligence Estimate (jBIE): Joel's Back Injury - @jaybate

SigInt (the brief camera shot of treating Joel's injury court side) tells jBIE's basketball spies a whole lot about Joel's back injury.

Observed treatment: Joel laid on his back and a team official treating Joel pulled his right leg over his left and appeared to stretch the lower back in a spiral/twisting motion.

Mar 10: Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Mar 10: Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Also see today's News Digest, March 11, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 10, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 10

Also see our Daily Threads, March 11, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 10, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 10

!Joel Embiid ↗

Goodman: Joel Embiid out indefinitely ↗

Kansas Jayhawks freshman big man Joel Embiid is out for the Big 12 tournament and will likely miss the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

The 7-foot Cameroon native went to Los Angeles for a second opinion on his ailing back on Monday. Jayhawks coach Bill Self told ESPN.com earlier in the day he was confident that Embiid would play in the NCAA tourney, and thought there was a chance he could play in the Big 12 tournament.

Medcalf: Forget March: Embiid should prep for pros ↗

In just a few hours, the narrative changed.

Bill Self began Monday with a “nothing to see here” routine. Joel Embiid, the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year and a critical element in Kansas' Final Four aspirations, would return eventually, he said. The freshman’s weekend trip to California, where he visited a back specialist, was the “plan” for the potential No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA draft who missed the final two games of the regular season.

KUSports.com: Joel Embiid ruled out for Big 12 Tournament ↗

The specialist confirmed the original stress fracture prognosis he received in Lawrence. His current treatments have Embiid in the middle of the healing process, which renders him unavailable for the Big 12 Championship and unlikely to play in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Tait: Emiid absence a big blow for KU basketball, but not all hope is lost ↗

It's crazy to think that the next piece of significant news we get about Kansas University freshman Joel Embiid could come with him sitting at a table in the Allen Fieldhouse media room, a microphone in front of face and his decision about the NBA on the tip of his tongue.

That reality became true in a very harsh manner on Monday evening, when KU coach Bill Self revealed the results of Embiid's second-opinion visit with back specialists in California, news that indicated Embiid was out for the Big 12 tournament and likely would miss the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis.

Also see our Daily Threads, March 11, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 10, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 10

This is a very temporary placeholder to generate the post.

Also see today's News Digest, March 10, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 9, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 9

Our Daily Threads for March 10:

Random Thoughts: Greg Marshall's Future & KU Defense - @MoonwalkMafia

Following VCU's impressive (and heartbreaking) run to the Final Four in 2011, many college basketball pundits questioned whether Shaka Smart would be leaving the mid-major ranks and jumping into the deep end with the big boys. Smart ultimately turned down offers from bigger programs to stay with what he had built.

Equipment Changes for Redemption Season - @drgnslayr

Our "Redemption Season" starts March 20th.

We need to makes some tweaks to several of our current players' equipment.

EQUIPMENT CHANGES CHECKLIST...

Mar 9: Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Mar 9: Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Mar 9: Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Also see today's News Digest, March 10, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 9, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 9

Also see our Daily Threads, March 10, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 9, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 9

Goodman: Joel Embiid out indefinitely ↗

Kansas Jayhawks freshman big man Joel Embiid is out for the Big 12 tournament and will likely miss the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

The 7-foot Cameroon native went to Los Angeles for a second opinion on his ailing back on Monday. Jayhawks coach Bill Self told ESPN.com earlier in the day he was confident that Embiid would play in the NCAA tourney, and thought there was a chance he could play in the Big 12 tournament.

Dodd : KU’s Joel Embiid heads to California for evaluation of back injury ↗

LAWRENCE — Kansas center Joel Embiid boarded a plane on Sunday and flew to Los Angeles, seeking a second opinion from a back specialist in the area.

Embiid, sidelined because of an undisclosed lower-back injury, was to meet with a doctor on Monday morning before heading back to Lawrence. If it sounds ominous, well, that’s the nature of back injuries.

Goodman: Joel Embiid visits back specialist ↗

Despite Joel Embiid's trip Monday to Los Angeles to see a back specialist, Kansas coach Bill Self is "100 percent confident" the freshman center will play in the postseason.

"This was the plan all along," Self said by phone Monday, referring to the second opinion his player was getting. "We don't anticipate anything new, but we owe it to Joel and his family to know exactly what we're dealing with."

AP: Andrew Wiggins also earns Big 12 freshman of the year on AP ballot ↗

Kansas' Andrew Wiggins made it a sweep of the Big 12 freshman of the year awards, as he earned the honor Monday following the release of the Associated Press' all-conference teams.

Biancardi: #AskCoachB: KU's chances with Turner ↗

Myles Turner has taken official visits so far to Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Duke. He has been saying for a while his last visit will be to Texas.

I believe Kansas, with all of its prior success with big men under Bill Self, is being seriously considered. It's hard to imagine that Joel Embiid will stay in college with his progress and potential.

Keegan: Column: Big 12 really is best league ↗

It happens every March in every power conference. As Selection Sunday draws closer, coaches take the podium and talk up their league as “the best in the country.”

Such words scratch the backs of fellow conference coaches, and it helps everybody in the league.

KUSports.com: Joel Embiid ruled out for Big 12 Tournament ↗

The specialist confirmed the original stress fracture prognosis he received in Lawrence. His current treatments have Embiid in the middle of the healing process, which renders him unavailable for the Big 12 Championship and unlikely to play in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Please add stories here

Also see our Daily Threads, March 10, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 9, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 9

Also see today's News Digest, March 9, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 8, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 8

Our Daily Threads for March 9:

Does Wiggins become our point forward? -@Hawk8086

Some have brought up Carmelo. After thinking about it, given all of the concerns with Tharpe, does Self try running everything through Wiggins? At least most of the time? He looks inside for the big men first. He breaks down the defense and then either takes it to the hole, or dishes off? Tharpe, or whomever brings the ball up the court, but maybe Wiggins does that part of the time. I know his ball handling skills could be better, but is he the other option we're looking for? Ride him as far as he can take us. Is this completely crazy? Desperate times make us all think of desperate measures.

Wiggins 41 points and 2 Assists and Other Take Aways - @jaybate

~The WVU game was such a bitter pill on so many levels. Let me count the ways.

~The WVU game made starkly clear that even a Herculean, come-from-behind, scoring performance of 41 points by Andrew Wiggins cannot carry this team to a victory over a 65th ranked KENPOM team. How can this be? How can such an obviously exceptional talent putting on such an awesome individual performance (he scored efficiently, rebounded his own misses well, made steals, and blocked shots) not succeed? How could Andrew putting his team on his back not yield a W against a good, but not exceptional team?

Big 12 Teams - @TheDrunkenJhawk

Now that the Big 12 Season is over, I will post my superlatives:

1st Team:

Marcus Smart (I don't want to put him here, but I have no choice)...

Mar 8: 7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Mar 8: Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Mar 8: Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

Mar 8: "Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Also see today's News Digest, March 9, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 8, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 8

Also see our Daily Threads, March 9, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 8, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 8

!Wiggins ↗

** All Big-12 Teams Announced ↗**

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, F, 6-6, 220, Sr., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Joel Embiid, Kansas, C, 7-0, 250, Fr., Yaounde, Cameroon

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, G, 6-8, 200, Fr., Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

COACH OF THE YEAR Rick Barnes, Texas [Career: 582-298, 27th season; At UT: 380-164, 16th season]

Newell: The advanced stats All-Big 12 team ↗

After examining KenPom, Win Shares and Value Add player-evaluation formulas, I tried my best to come up with the top five players in the conference based simply on what the numbers say. In other words, if you had to pick an all-Big 12 team based only on advanced numbers (and without seeing anyone play), who would you pick?

Naadir Tharpe frustrated with his play; Joel Embiid to be evaluated Sunday ↗

A few steps away from the team bus, Naadir Tharpe wasn’t making excuses for his off game following Kansas’ 92-86 loss to West Virginia on Saturday afternoon.

The junior point guard scored no points on 0-for-3 shooting in 16 minutes. He also was benched by KU coach Bill Self for the final 9:17 of the first half and 4:52 of the second half.

Dodd: KU coach Bill Self: Joel Embiid's back injury more "significant" than strain ↗

LAWRENCE — Kansas center Joel Embiid boarded a plane on Sunday and flew to Los Angeles, seeking a second opinion from a back specialist in the area.

Also see our Daily Threads, March 9, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 8, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 8

!Wiggins ↗

** All Big-12 Teams Announced ↗**

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, F, 6-6, 220, Sr., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Joel Embiid, Kansas, C, 7-0, 250, Fr., Yaounde, Cameroon

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, G, 6-8, 200, Fr., Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

COACH OF THE YEAR Rick Barnes, Texas [Career: 582-298, 27th season; At UT: 380-164, 16th season]

West Virginia unwelcoming to Andrew Wiggins, Jayhawks ↗

Fans in the state where Kansas University freshman Andrew Wiggins played high school basketball booed him and/or chanted “USA, USA” in derision pretty much every time the Canadian sensation touched the ball on Saturday at WVU Coliseum.

Newell: The advanced stats All-Big 12 team ↗

After examining KenPom, Win Shares and Value Add player-evaluation formulas, I tried my best to come up with the top five players in the conference based simply on what the numbers say. In other words, if you had to pick an all-Big 12 team based only on advanced numbers (and without seeing anyone play), who would you pick?

Tait: Wiggins' 41 not enough for KU in 92-86 loss at West Virginia ↗

On a day when none of his teammates wanted to help him until the final 6 or so minutes of the game, Kansas University freshman Andrew Wiggins did all he could to keep No. 8 Kansas in the game, but the Jayhawks fell short in a 92-86 loss to West Virginia in Morgantown.

Wiggins' 41 points were the most by a single player in the Bill Self era at Kansas and marked the second most by a freshman in Big 12 history, behind only Michael Beasley, who once scored 44 for Kansas State.

Naadir Tharpe frustrated with his play; Joel Embiid to be evaluated Sunday ↗

A few steps away from the team bus, Naadir Tharpe wasn’t making excuses for his off game following Kansas’ 92-86 loss to West Virginia on Saturday afternoon.

The junior point guard scored no points on 0-for-3 shooting in 16 minutes. He also was benched by KU coach Bill Self for the final 9:17 of the first half and 4:52 of the second half.

ESPN Boxscore ↗

KU Sports Live Blog ↗

CJ Online Blog ↗

Also see today's News Digest, March 8, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 7, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 7

Our Daily Threads for March 8:

7 losses: Advantage or disadvantage? -@bskeet

Some say you need some losses to expose the chinks in the armor and allow you to neutralize approaches that are likely to lead to defeat. This school of thought suggests that it is possible to grow stronger from failures if you learn from the mistakes.

Some say you don't need to lose -- in fact losing is a sign of weakness to opponents. That a loss brings confidence to the enemy and doubt to oneself.

Is This Team Finally Ready for 'Self-Ball'? - @drgnslayr

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

Tarik vs.Tech: One More for the Road... -@jaybate

Black gave a clinic in the process of post play against a weak team. If he can do it again against the muscle of WVU, then we mAy have the missing piece to take the team beyond talent to a well-oiled machine. Either way, Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play. As Sade once sang, Tarik was a "smooth operator."

"Forensics: Self Saying Wigs Should Be B12 POY" - @jaybate

Bill Self threw Gary Bedore an interestingly timed bone today.

Seemingly out of nowhere, to this reader, since Gary Bedore did not provide the circumstance in which the question was asked, Gary asked Bill who Bill thought should be B12 POY.

Some Suggestions for a Big 12 Near Eastern Division - @jaybate

WVU needs an eastern division, so it doesn't have to keep playing schools out west in the Big 12 Natural Resource Conference. Here are some suggested adds for a Near East Division for WVU.

Crimean A&M--Russian carriers not only secure the area at Svastopol, but games could be played on them thus allowing easy pre game air connections right to the flight decks.

Mar 7: 30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Mar 7: Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Mar 7: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Mar 7: Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Also see today's News Digest, March 8, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 7, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 7

Also see our Daily Threads, March 8, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 7, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 7

!bracket ↗

Newell: KU basketball has secret weapon when it comes to NCAA Tournament seeding ↗

Much like the early-2000s Oakland A’s, who valued on-base percentage when other teams ignored it, KU seems to have found its own market inefficiency in today’s competitive college basketball landscape.

KU basketball signee Cliff Alexander chosen as Naismith high school player of the year ↗

Kansas men's basketball signee Cliff Alexander has been selected as the Naismith boys high school player of the year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Friday.

Alexander, a 6-foot-9 forward from Curie High School in Chicago, is the second straight KU signee to earn the honor, as freshman Andrew Wiggins won it a year ago.

Kansas’ Wiggins makes his return to the Mountain State ↗

The teenage basketball prodigy from Canada had been in West Virginia for just a few months when his host father came home with an idea.

For two years, Scott and Lesley Thomas had been opening up their home to blue-chip recruits at Huntington Prep, a prep powerhouse that attracts youngsters from all over the world. The Thomases had two sons at home — Luke, 12, and Clayton, 9 — and they loved exposing their boys to new cultures. So in the fall of 2011, after Wiggins had joined Huntington and moved into the Thomases’ house at age 16, Scott gathered his family in the kitchen and explained the night’s entertainment.

“Andrew,” Scott remembers saying, “Our kids need to learn the Canadian national anthem.”

KU men wrap up Big 12 regular season at WVU ↗

Kansas University’s basketball team has compiled a remarkable 86-5 record in Big 12 Conference home games during the 11-year Bill Self era.

That’s 12 games better than Texas, next best in the league at 74-17.

Also see our Daily Threads, March 8, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 7, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 7

@bskeet thanks!

Also see today's News Digest, March 7, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 6, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 6

Our Daily Threads for March 7:

30 years - @JRyman

No not my life span. But Thirty years of KU being something great.

1983-84 Second in Big 8

84-85 Second...

Myles Turner: You are one Lucky Man! - @drgnslayr

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs TT - March 5 - @drgnslayr

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

Welcome to the OAD Merry-go-round! - @jaybate

It was about as strong of a signal as potential recruits could get short of an official announcement.

Wiggins, Embiid and Selden appear to be goners.

So: it's unofficially official: Self and KU are on the OAD Merry Go Round.

Mar 6: Tarik Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Mar 6: 2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Mar 6: Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Also see today's News Digest, March 7, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 6, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 6

Also see our Daily Threads, March 7, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 6, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 6

!Wiggins Waves Goodbye ↗

Bill Self says Andrew Wiggins Big 12’s best ↗

“To me, with our team 14-3 and the next best team 11-6, to me it’s almost a logical no-brainer,” Bill Self said. “I don’t believe his numbers blow anybody away. That’s not who he is. To be the best player on a team that’s had quite a bit of success in the league, I’d have a hard time going in any other direction, not that other players can’t play as well.

Newell: Quietly, Wayne Selden Jr. improving his turnover numbers ↗

One of the biggest reasons for KU's improved ball-handling has been the play of Wayne Selden Jr. The freshman had just one turnover in 23 minutes against TTU, which made it the sixth straight game that he'd recorded one turnover or less.

KU basketball, Adidas unveil 'Made in March' uniforms ↗

KU and Adidas unveiled the "Made in March" uniforms Thursday morning, a collection that will be debuted starting with the Big 12 tournament.

The uniforms feature a perforated print pattern on the leg and are made with additional ventilation to attempt to keep athletes cool.

Future Jayhawk Cliff Alexander named Naismith high school player of the year ↗

Kansas men’s basketball signee Cliff Alexander has been named the Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Friday.

Currently listed as the No. 4 overall recruit by rivals.com, Alexander, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward from Curie High School in Chicago, was one of three finalists for the Naismith honor — an elite list that included fellow KU signee Kelly Oubre, a guard from Henderson, Nev.

PHOTO GALLERY ↗

Also see our Daily Threads, March 7, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 6, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 6

@brooksmd Cheers!

@brooksmd I haven't seen that. I'm running firefox too. Guys, has anyone else had problems with firefox? If you maximize the window and ctrl+f5 it, it still has problems? This is on a pc (not tablet) right?

Also see today's News Digest, March 6, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 5, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 5

Our Daily Threads for March 6:

Tarick Black: Future Coach - @jaybate

Let's see. Tarick Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

2009 vs 2014.... Similarities - @drgnslayr

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Senior Day Pre and Post game ceremonies - @jayhawkfantoo

Does anyone know if the pre and post game ceremonies (speeches) will be televised or streamed on line somewhere?

It would have been ideal programming for ESPN 3 but their schedule shows only the game and it would be blacked out in Kansas anyway.

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Feb 18: Embiid: TXTech and Beyond -@truehawk93

I'm sure Embiid is fine and thankful there is no structural damage. We'll need him a whole lot more down the back stretch of the season. Let's not jeopardize a crucial piece of our chances to win the conference and a deep run in the tourney. Embiid is a huge key to that run.

Also see today's News Digest, March 6, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 5, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 5

Also see our Daily Threads, March 6, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 5, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 5

Decade of Dominance

[Decade of Dominance](

Tarik Black scores 19 points as KU routs Texas Tech, 82-57 ↗

In his final home game, Black scored a season-high 19 points on 9-of-9 shooting. The 6-foot-9 forward topped his previous season high of 17 set against Georgetown on Dec. 21.

Tarik Black controls paint in Senior Night rout of Texas Tech ↗

Tarik Black’s Senior Night at Kansas University truly couldn’t have been scripted any better — or gone any better.

Black, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound transfer from Memphis, went a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and finished with a KU career-high 19 points in the Jayhawks’ 82-57 annihilation of Texas Tech in Allen Fieldhouse.

** Andrew Wiggins experiences mixed emotions in home finale ↗**

Kansas University one-and-done freshman Andrew Wiggins didn’t speak to the fans after his final game in Allen Fieldhouse.

But the Canadian sensation was implored to stand up after Wednesday’s 82-57 victory over Texas Tech — before the senior speeches — by coach Bill Self, who had a throng of 16,300 give the freshman guard a standing ovation. Self also had fellow frosh Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden stand, as well as soph Perry Ellis, junior Naadir Tharpe and soph Jamari Traylor.

** Joel Embiid, Wayne Selden Jr. noncommittal on future; Embiid's back 'better' ↗**

Kansas coach Bill Self had all his players stand one by one to be recognized by the crowd during senior night ceremonies following the Jayhawks' 82-57 victory over Texas Tech on Wednesday.

A pair of freshmen — Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden Jr. — said afterwards that they still aren't sure if Wednesday was their final home game at Allen Fieldhouse.

Post-Game Press Conference

Tarik Black, Andrew Wiggins and Naadir Tharpe discuss home finale, where Jayhawks go from here ↗ - MP3

Bill Self on celebrating KU's seniors and the Big 12 title ↗ - MP3

Boxscore ↗

Also see our Daily Threads, March 6, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 5, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 5

Also see today's News Digest, March 5, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 4, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 4

Our Daily Threads for March 5:

Mar 4: Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Mar 4: Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Mar 4: Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Mar 4: Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Feb 18: Embiid: TXTech and Beyond -@truehawk93

I'm sure Embiid is fine and thankful there is no structural damage. We'll need him a whole lot more down the back stretch of the season. Let's not jeopardize a crucial piece of our chances to win the conference and a deep run in the tourney. Embiid is a huge key to that run.

Also see today's News Digest, March 5, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 4, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 4

Also see our Daily Threads, March 5, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 4, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 4

!Tarik Black ↗

Salute to the Seniors

Tarik Black: KU 'is where I was supposed to be' in final season ↗

Though Black transferred to KU for his final college season with high expectations — he was voted the preseason Big 12 newcomer of the year — he didn’t drop his head when Embiid emerged as a star and took away much of his playing time.

Black, who will start alongside walk-ons Niko Roberts and Justin Wesley on senior night at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Texas Tech, is averaging 12.4 minutes per game in conference play.

Single season at KU ‘life-changing’ for senior Black ↗

Kansas University senior pivot Tarik Black, who will start tonight’s Senior Night game against Texas Tech and possibly beyond, says he’s had a great time at KU since transferring from Memphis. “I learned so much about basketball, life and myself in this one year being in this program than I have ever learned playing the game of basketball leading to this point,” Black said.

Bedore: Center stage: Tarik Black controls paint in Senior Night rout of Texas Tech ↗

Tarik Black’s Senior Night at Kansas University truly couldn’t have been scripted any better — or gone any better.

Black, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound transfer from Memphis, went a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and finished with a KU career-high 19 points in the Jayhawks’ 82-57 annihilation of Texas Tech in Allen Fieldhouse.

Justin Wesley: Before acting, KU senior, left mark as key big ↗

Off the court, Justin Wesley is best known in Lawrence for his film portrayal of Wilt Chamberlain in the recent movie release, “Jayhawkers.” On the court, he’s the walk-on transfer from Lamar University who averaged 8.6 minutes a game — 7.8 minutes in Big 12 action — for KU’s 2011-12 NCAA runner-up/Big 12 championship team.

Bedore: Hoops ‘junkie’: Senior Niko Roberts lives, breathes ball ↗

There are days Kansas University senior walk-on Niko Roberts leads the Red (Scout) Team in a two-hour basketball practice in Allen Fieldhouse, then heads over to Lawrence High’s gym to watch his brother, Justin, direct the show for the Lions.

** Gambling site has KU as hypothetical 2-point favorite over Wichita State ↗**

Earlier today, I received an email from the folks at www.bovada.lv, which provided the gambling web site's current odds to win it all and an interesting look at a few imaginary lines if the Shockers were to face 12 of the top teams in the country.

The eighth-ranked Jayhawks (22-7), who still are in the running for a No. 1 seed themselves, are currently the second favorite to win the national championship at 8/1. KU is tied with Arizona (8/1) and behind only Florida (5/1) while staying just ahead of Wichita State (9/1), Duke (10/1), Syracuse (10/1), Michigan State (12/1), Louisville (14/1) and Virginia (14/1) as the top favorites.

Bedore: Notebook: Andrew Wiggins experiences mixed emotions in home finale ↗

Kansas University one-and-done freshman Andrew Wiggins didn’t speak to the fans after his final game in Allen Fieldhouse.

But the Canadian sensation was implored to stand up after Wednesday’s 82-57 victory over Texas Tech — before the senior speeches — by coach Bill Self, who had a throng of 16,300 give the freshman guard a standing ovation. Self also had fellow frosh Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden stand, as well as soph Perry Ellis, junior Naadir Tharpe and soph Jamari Traylor.

Tait: Red Raiders fail to keep pace in rematch with KU ↗

Three weeks ago in Lubbock, Texas, Tubby Smith's Texas Tech basketball team came within a couple of seconds of knocking off Kansas.

With that gut-wrenching, one-point home loss still fresh in their minds, the Red Raiders took the floor at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday night hoping to unleash another inspired effort against the No. 8-ranked team in the nation.

Goodman: Big 12 is nations best conference ↗

At the outset of the season, it was almost a forgone conclusion. The ACC -- after adding Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame -- would regain the mantle as the elite college basketball conference in America.

Just a few issues: The Irish have been thoroughly disappointing, the bottom third of the league has been dismal and North Carolina’s erratic play has had the Tar Heels as a fringe top-25 team for much of the season.

Please add stories here

Also see our Daily Threads, March 5, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 4, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 4

Also see today's News Digest, March 4, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 3, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 3

Our Daily Threads for March 4:

Want A Bold Move? Start Lucas - @HighEliteMajor

Opportunity presents itself in the face of adversity. Kansas will be without Joel Embiid for the final two games of the regular season. That we do know. But could we be without Embiid for the rest of the season? That we do not know.

Time for a contingency plan. Planning requires consideration of how we can win a national title without Embiid. If we lose our second game of the tourney, or in the Elite Eight, no one will care if it’s done without Embiid. If we lose before the Final Four with Embiid, it will be a bitter disappointment. Without Embiid, our expectations are quite limited.

Is Undefeated Possible? - @justanotherfan

1976.

That's the last time a men's D1 team went undefeated and claimed the title.

Virginia???? - @JRyman

With the blue bloods of the ACC UNC and Duke along with the newcomer and perennial winner Syracuse it is hard to imagine that Virginia, yes Virginia won the ACC.

Especially when you look at how UNC surged after a rough start how 'Cuse was undefeated for so long all season and well Duke has the Coach Consonants along with freshman headliner Parker.

Embiid to sit for two games - @REHawk

Gary Bedore just announced on BLEACHER REPORT that JoJo will sit out the next two games, be re-evaluated Sunday.

Mar 3: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1 - @drgnslayr

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

Mar 3: A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Mar 3: Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Mar 3: Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Feb 18: Embiid: TXTech and Beyond -@truehawk93

I'm sure Embiid is fine and thankful there is no structural damage. We'll need him a whole lot more down the back stretch of the season. Let's not jeopardize a crucial piece of our chances to win the conference and a deep run in the tourney. Embiid is a huge key to that run.

Also see today's News Digest, March 4, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 3, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 3

Also see our Daily Threads, March 4, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 3, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 3

! ↗

Newell: KU basketball center Joel Embiid will sit out final two regular season games with back injury ↗

LAWRENCE — Kansas freshman center Joel Embiid will sit out the Jayhawks’ final two regular-season games after tweaking his back in Saturday’s 72-65 loss to Oklahoma State, KU coach Bill Self said Monday afternoon.

“We’ve also spoken with experts with this particular injury and have been told the same thing we were told before: Rest is the best remedy,” Self said.

Dodd: Self: KU never planned to cut down nets at OSU ↗

LAWRENCE — Bill Self never planned to cut down the nets at Gallagher-Iba Arena had Kansas won at Oklahoma State on Saturday. He never said as much, either.

But that didn’t stop Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart from implying, during a postgame interview on ESPN, that the Cowboys had seen such a quote from the KU coach.

Hurricane celebrating 1993-94 Sweet 16 team, coach Tubby Smith ↗

In a preseason poll of Missouri Valley Conference basketball coaches, the 1993-94 University of Tulsa team was picked to finish fifth.

"We felt like we were better than fifth, with the pieces we had," recalled Shea Seals, who was a freshman guard on that Golden Hurricane squad.

KU Sports: 10 years of Big 12 supremacy: 2006 ↗

From the time of Big 12 divisions, through realignment and the subtraction/addition of teams and a new 10-team format, one thing has remained constant in the conference for the past decade: Kansas University's men's basketball team has always finished in first place.

All week long, we'll be looking back at KU's 10 consecutive Big 12 championships by highlighting the top players and moments of each conference schedule, from 2005 to today.

Also see our Daily Threads, March 4, and the News Digest for Yesterday, March 3, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 3

Also see today's News Digest, March 3, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 2, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 2

Our Daily Threads for March 3:

FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU @ OSU - March 1

Well... it is March, and we know what comes in March... March Madness! I'd say I've started my month of March in total madness!

Joel Embiid is the clear winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD in this one. His stat line was impressive, especially knowing he did it all in 29 minutes of play, and some of those minutes of play were in pain. JoJo was good for 13 points off of 4-of-6 from the floor. He accomplished yet another double-double by adding 13 rebounds. And he rounded out his performance with one assist, 3 steals and a block. JoJo was a big part of the defensive force in the first half that limited the Cowboys to only 25 points.

A must read re: Coach Cal - @REHawk

Yahoo Sports just published a scathing Pat Forde article regarding Kentucky's 5.2 million dollar mentor. Cal must not be sleeping well tonight.

Something to prove - @JRyman

OSU played like they had something to prove.

Marcus Smart played like he had something to prove.

Its March and Sans Embiid KU Is Still Too Young -@jaybate

Getting punked by a jerk, like Smart, hurts, but as great a player as Smart also is, Smart isn't why we lost.

TOs, numerous as they were, didn't kill us.

Mar 2: Tharpe's Performance Inexplicable - @HighEliteMajor

A number of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on wanting more from Naadir Tharpe. Against Oklahoma St., in what may unfortunately be a preview of our NCAA tournament exit, Naadir Tharpe played a horrific game. Inexplicable, really. I’m not really left wanting more. What I am wanting is some intestinal fortitude.

Much worse than Tharpe’s actual performance vs. OSU was his whipped puppy demeanor. Definitively for me, this game proved that Naadir Tharpe is no leader. I have never seen a true leader act the part of the victim. I have never seen a true leader present such defeated body language. I have never seen a true leader bring his team down to this degree. And I’ve never seen a true leader appear so utterly unprepared for such a big stage.

Mar 2: Things to Do in Stillwater After the KU Beat Down of OSU - @jaybate

Drive by a title insurance company and ask them about clouded title on 1889 land run lands.

Quote from Washington Irving's A Tour of the Prairies" describing the area of present day Stillwater saying, "The deep and frequent traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their frequent grazing grounds;" then ask if Irviing were referring to buffalo pies?

Mar 2: Disclaimer: Two Items NOT Related to KU Basketball That Are Bugging the Heck Out of Me - @nuleafjhawk

In order of bug-ness to me:

1) I was meditating on the couch last night (OK, I fell asleep) and woke up around 10:15 pm or so. I glanced at the TV and thought I had accidentally turned to the Sci-Fi Network or FearTv. Here's this hideous, greasy, shiny foreheaded little troll that looked just like Gregg Marshall scowling at me telling me about something that Carlos O'Kelly's is putting on and the Wichita State team, blah blah blah, but he wouldn't be able to attend because he was going to be busy. (smirk, smirk, har har har)

Mar 2: Getting ready for spring football - @eastcoasthawk

Here's the latest from LJWorld sports team

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/double-chin-music/2014/feb/28/in-defense-of-kansas-football/ ↗

http://www2.kusports.com/chats/2014/feb/28/matt-tait/ ↗

Mar 2: It's been too long - @eastcoasthawk

This thread is for any Jayhawk fan that hasn't been to a game in a long time for whatever reason. Last weekend, 33 years after I packed up my drumset after beating OSU to finish the Big 8 season in 1981, I was back in Allen Fieldhouse for the game against Texas. Just walking in and seeing the hallways (minus the track) started rushing many memories back. All the time spent trying to register. And mostly all the great games we had. The great crowds. Hardly lost at home.

Saturday was amazing to see the crowds, old and new traditions. Being there brought such a huge comfort level. I couldn't stop smiling.

Mar 1: I want to cry! - @drgnslayr

There are only 3 more regular season games left.

I am looking forward to March Madness... but it goes by so quickly!

Why does it always feel this way? Why does the season end when it just starts to feel like we are getting into the groove?

Life just isn't fair!

Mar 1: Keys to beat OSU - @jaybate

Break the press away from Smart.

Route the half court offense away from Smart.

Deny Smart his 5.5 steals and OSU cannot win...

Feb 28: Signs in the crowd - @JRyman

(I missed this one a few days ago)

While watching the game on TV like I always try to do I like to see the signs in the crowd.

Yesterday one of the ones I kept seeing was "LOL Texas"

A few weeks ago someone had a sign that read, "Thats what we do"

Feb 27: More Jaquan Lyle Fodder -@ajvan

Lyle was on hand for KU's victory over OK and Alexander is still actively recruiting him. Here's the money paragraph from Adam Zagoria's article:

"Kansas expects to have several guards returning in Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason, Conner Frankamp, Brannen Greene and possibly Wayne Selden, and also brings in wing Kelly Oubre.

Feb 27: Myles Turner to Visit KU -@konkeyDong

Didn't see this posted elsewhere, but according to zagsblog Turner is back on with KU, slated to visit on Senior Night. It was first reported here. The big question is, what does this mean with regards to Joel Embiid? As the zagsblog article points out, Self has told Turner straight up that he shouldn't bother if JoJo comes back. Is this hinting that JoJo is leaning in the NBA's direction or is it that Self is being over prepared? Either way, at this point, I was a little surprised that Turner would burn one of his visits with us. Thoughts?

Feb 26: What's Your Biggest NCAA Worry/Concern/Fear? - @nuleafjhawk

Mine is two-fold.

1) We get a number one seed and, as inconsistent as we've been throughout the season, we become the first number one to lose to a sixteen seed. Yikes.....

2) Wichita State wins the whole damn thing. Puke.

Feb 25: Joe Lunardi has lost it - @JRyman

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology ↗

In his lastest bracketoly he has all three Kansasschools in the same Midwest bracket.

WSU as the one. KU as the two and KSU as the 8.

Feb 25: TRob -@brooksmd

Congrats to a hustling TRob for being ESPN's #1 Play of the Weekend. WHOOP! WHOOP! and RCJH!!!

Feb 25: Platoon Tarik and Perry? -@jaybate

The highest compliment I can pay Tarik is I wish he had been here as a freshman, so I could have watched him more. He is hard to categorize, but I feel like he has a lot more game in him. I also think he contributes massively to the team. With how far he has come this season, and having played against a great player like Embiid daily, I still think he has more impacts in the stretch. If Self were to start emphasizing Wiggins and Embiid sets, as Slayr has suggested, Black would become the perfect complement at 4 during those minutes. Black rebounding and sticking back off the interplay of Embiid and Wiggins for 10-20 mpg, plus backing Joel up 5 mpg each half would get KU's resident Great Bear optimizing the team.

Feb 24: "Some Stickies on Lon Kruger's Monitor Before OU Plays KU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Hmmm, we couldn't beat them in Norman, so why even prepare a game plan for Lawrence?

~Self Beat Texas by a bunch and his team only shot 30% from trey. Check job openings outside B12.

Feb 24: "Some Things to Do with Oklahoma Fans Before the Beat Down of OU in Lawrence" - @jaybate

~Show them the 1988 National Championship Trophy.

~Ask them how in the heck their Wikipedia page doesn't mention former head coaches Bruce Drake, who invented the shuffle offense, and Doyle Parrack, one of the greatest legends of Oklahoma hard scrabble basketball?

Feb 24: FLOOR BURN AWARD: KU vs UT - Feb 22 - @drgnslayr

Picking the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game seemed easy at first. This was to be an easy trifecta... until "Black Death" entered the picture with his ferocity and prowess. So I made it to the window in time, and changed my selection to a superfecta:

Joel Embiid was not going to be denied. His pride dominated every part of this game; offensive firepower with 13 points off of 4-for-6, rebounding zeal with 7 rebounds, assist generosity with 3 assists and oppressive fascism on defense through dictating control with 6 blocks and countless shot diversions.

Feb 24: Vote Early and Often on Manute Bol's Thighs - @jaybate

True or False: Manute Bol has the longest thighs in human history.

Feb 24: A One and a Two and a Three and a Four - @drgnslayr

I'm an old guy. I remember so many great dance duos... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a ballroom pair that brought romance alive through their graceful steps and subtle gestures. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart, partners on the stage of ballet and in real life, masters of the pirouette.

And now the new pair of high steppers, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid!

Feb 24: Hook That, Horns! - @jaybate

Marvelously sweet beat down and payback.

KU punked Butcher's Boyz without decent trey shooting. Inference for horn fans for B12 tourney? Wait till we bring our A game, you petro-cretins!

Better Dunk? - @JRyman

In the past three years there have been more than 3 memorable dunks, but I have three that stand out.

Robinsons base line throw down vs Baylor.

Feb 23: Smart vs Intelligence - @drgnslayr

Marcus Smart has finally met his match:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/07/smu-biomechanics-experts-team-with-mark-cuban-to-research-phony-falls-in-basketball/ ↗

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/06/could-you-detect-a-fake-nba-flop/ ↗

Feb 23:Welcome to the turning point. - @bskeet

Today marks the turning point for this team. But not its destiny.

One path leads to an almost certain 10th B12 championship in 10 years and an opportunity to spring into the post-season with a decade of momentum and confidence on our backs.

Feb 21: Pre UT andK U Keys to the Game -@truehawk93

I think this game is huge. I hope the guys realize how important this game is at this time of the season. I am convinced the winner of this game will be the B12 Champion and at the very worst, a share of the championship. I don't like to share with anyone, especially UT. So lets take care of business and drive for that 10 straight title and keep it at home where it belongs

Feb 21: Joe Dooley: 17-10 - @jaybate

Joe Dooo has not gotten any upsets of D1 bigs this season, but he is off to a solid first season and he ain't shoveling any snow either. 😄

Go, Joe, go!!!!!

Feb 21: Mizzery Analysis by H.E.M. - @VailHawk

@HighEliteMajor hope you don't mind me re-posting a classic from last March?!?! I was looking for something deep w/in google drive tonite and ran across this post that I saved as a pdf for future viewing. Enjoy

Feb 20:Tharpe's Lesson: Own the Pace, Own the Game - @drgnslayr

In the middle of the first half of this game it appeared Kansas was going to give TTech their typical beat down. The Jayhawks were up by 10 and making it look way, way, way too easy!

Then something changed. Then the war over who owned the pace shifted over to TTech's advantage! They didn't really change their game as much as just kept trying to slow the pace of the game down... to a snail's pace. This entire game they probably didn't shoot the ball with more than 10 second on the shot clock more than a handful of times. We knew they would attempt this before we arrived in Lubbock. It has been their strategy all year, and it has helped them lead the B12 in holding down opponents to 68.5 ppg. Their strategy definitely worked against the high-powered Kansas offense, holding us to 64 points.

Feb 20:6? 6 Gawddang assist is all we got? - @JRyman

OK I cleaned up the Harry Doyle quote and changed the number, but really?

64 points and only 6 assist? 6 assist for the whole team!!!

PASTA-GATE @ OU - @JayhawkRock78

Three Sooners Penalized For Too Much Pasta

This is absurd. How much time and money did the NCAA and OU waste on this, let alone distract and hassle some young student athletes.

Feb 19:Mr. Ellis, meet Mr. Smith - @REHawk

Ol' Tubby drew up a masterful game plan. How fortunate are we that he is not coaching Baylor or Okie State!

Feb 19:Embiid, Wiggins and 3 Place Holders Beat TTech - @jaybate

There was a reason Self brought Embiid back against Texas Tech. It wasn't to use Texas Tech as a warm up game for Texas, as I at first thought. As JNew pointed out on the blog, Tech was ranked 69th by KENPOM. To put that in perspective, Colorado is ranked 60th. No, Self brought Embiid back, because he realized this KU team had zip chance of beating TTech without the Mighty Joel.

And don't let Wiggins getting the last bucket fool you. Andrew had to have Joel to win the game. Joel was 6-7 FG and 6-8 FT and had 8 reebs. Compare that with Wigs' 5-10 FG and 6-8 FT 6 reebs.

Feb 19:Oklahoma State's loss is KU's....loss - @MoonwalkMafia

With every loss that Oklahoma State accumulates, Travis Ford's seat is getting hotter and hotter. With the amount of talent that he has on that team, it is inexcusable to have had such an atrocious season. This is compounding the fact that OSU hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament since 2005. Marcus Smart, Lebryan Nash, and Markel Brown all decided to come back for another season when each of them could have easily jumped to the NBA all to compete for a championship. But as of right now, they may not even get the chance to be in the field.

Marcus Smart has imploded on himself, showing immaturity on several occasions this season, and showing more importantly that nobody has sought to develop his character, as well as his game.

Feb 19:Kansas targets 7'6" PG recruit OK Oakville! - @drgnslayr

Kansas Buckets is now recruiting an All-American 7'6" point guard from Oakville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) by the name of OK Oakville.

The recruitment process has begun with a simple list asking the question "why?"

WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD BRING HIS GAME TO KUBUCKETS...

Feb 18: Embiid: TXTech and Beyond -@truehawk93

I'm sure Embiid is fine and thankful there is no structural damage. We'll need him a whole lot more down the back stretch of the season. Let's not jeopardize a crucial piece of our chances to win the conference and a deep run in the tourney. Embiid is a huge key to that run.

Also see today's News Digest, March 3, and News Digest for Yesterday, March 2, as well as Daily Threads for Yesterday, March 2