🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@wissox Saw a stat that Bobby Witt Jr. would have 9 (NINE!!!) more homers this year if he played his home games in Yankee stadium.

@FarmerJayhawk I’d ask who of the current options is most likely to enact any at all of the things you list?

I think if I’m not wrong several of those are fairly in line with a lot of Walz’s positions.

@approxinfinity wasn’t trying to be insulting honestly. Just has always seemed like the overall position from @FarmerJayhawk was more that the government should stay out of the way and do less. Maybe I’m wrong. But thought he’d agree with that.

@FarmerJayhawk said in Tim Walz:

He reminds me of the teacher everyone liked because he was easy and gave good grades but was actually grossly incompetent at everything lol

This reminds me of the opinions of the teachers who nobody liked and gave Fs to kid so they would learn. And who thought if too many kids passed their class it wasn’t hard enough.

The fact that KIDS asked a football coach in the 90s to be the GSA sponsor is literally the biggest green flag Ive ever seen in a politician. Kids don’t mess around with stuff like that. Those kids felt safe and seen and that he said yes speaks to his willingness to go above and beyond to help someone else. You don’t get paid to sponsor a club. It’s extra time that most football coaches just would never give because they are already pretty significantly involved in the school culture.

It’s refreshing to see some straight up decency in a candidate. Someone who got into politics because he thought it might be a good way to help people. I know that goes against the fundamentals of @FarmerJayhawk beliefs because the government isn’t supposed to help people. But surely he can admit it’s better than the grifter and just about every other junk that’s been thrown at that office for the last decade or so.

@Texas-Hawk-10 Would have been fun to get Arizona twice. Wonder how they will rotate year to year who plays home and away. You'd think KSU KU is always gonna be a home AND away but are they definitely thinking that way?

@Crimsonorblue22 said in Vermont Food Musings:

@FarmerJayhawk my son and his wife are dentists 😳

I believe he’s referring more to the dentist lobbies rather than actual dentists (though there is some crossover there) but the maintaining of the teeth as separate medically from the rest of the human body is an absolutely wild piece of the healthcare system. Like, why is dental insurance separate from health insurance? Particularly with the research showing the many connections between dental health and other forms of health (specifically heart health is a big one). It’s almost as if the teeth are in fact a part of the human body and an integral piece of a persons overall health and therefore should be covered by standard health insurance.

@approxinfinity Did he commit elsewhere? Can he undo his uncommitment and recommit to committing?

@approxinfinity I’m hoping an actual backup center might give Hunter some more motivation and freedom to be more aggressive defensively. Same for every position really. But hard to imagine losing Kev and getting better defensively.

@kuballin10 said in Keeping track of the ever changing 24-25 roster:

@dylans negative ghostrider but good guess….

Bills stubborn he doesn’t change up his core philosophies

When Bill trusts his team defensively he employs many types of defenses. I don't think the team last year every got to the point where they could do the easy stuff well enough for him to even attempt to implement anything more sophisticated.

The most notorious example is the triangle and 2. Not sure I've ever seen anyone else run that but it has been a staple late in the year when KU needed to put the kibosh on a couple of guys going off. It won us some key games late in regular seasons to get the big 12 title and was a staple of the 08 team and made a few appearances in each of the final four runs.

Those years he also would drop in a 2/3 zone from time to time as well. I think particularly in 08 there was also a 3/2 with B rush playing at the top of the key.

I do think Self has a bit of rigidity in that he wants guys to earn it playing man to man before letting them play zone. But if it is a big game that matters, he WILL play whatever will give him the best chance to win. But him be willing to play zone or not is more a reflection of his trust in his players to execute the plan rather than of his willingness to be flexible philosophically.

We have an aspiring coach in our ranks who thinks he could outcoach Self. Maybe they should give @kuballin10 a call.

@kjayhawks said in 2024 Coaching Carousel:

No sure it would be anything but a side ways step for Hurley. The only way I could see him leaving is insane money. Supposedly they are ready to offer Drew 10 million a year.

It’s a step down right now. UConn is a machine right now. Why in the world would anyone leave? Does Andy Reid wanna coach the patriots?

@Gorilla72 could be interpreted but definitely does not MEAN innocent.

@Texas-Hawk-10 it’s like someone types the same prompt into chat gpt over and over and over again!

@FarmerJayhawk not sure if this is sarcastic or not but it really is my point. She plays with competitive fire. Does it go overboard sometimes? Sure. But that’s kinda the way competitive fire works.

Kelly Oubre was just a huge joke on twitter for telling every ref they were a bitch. It was funny when he did it but Caitlyn is a spoiled crybaby child.

Rewatch some games and pay attention to Kevin on just about every drive and what comes after it. He also almost got in a fight with an opposing coach. I’m not trying to say Kevin is bad or anything, just pointing out the double standard.

@jayballer67 to be fair I do think Clark is dealing with being under a microscope like no women’s college basketball player before ever has while also dealing with a double standard. Kevin McCullar and Iowa state fans whine to officials way more than her.

@kjayhawks it’s really smart that the women’s game has figured out the value for them IS in getting the best teams to the later rounds for big match ups and keeping stars in the field. Both tournaments feel like they are playing off of each other well right now and I hear lots more talk about both.

But I sold out and work for the district now, so having a game up on my phone while I do other things isn't totally impossible. Just having a hard time really getting into the tournament with where KU is at right now.

@wissox LUCKY! Usually opening weekend is Spring Break for me, but not this year.

@Texas-Hawk-10 maybe Nick will be more comfortable against a mid major…

@approxinfinity Bill is notorious for starting guys but finishing with other guys. There's no reason roster spot 6 and 7 shouldn't be getting BIG minutes unless they just aren't producing. Which is what is happening this year. Those 8-10 spots are really role dependent but we always need a back up big and a back up guard that can come in without any drop in level of play or even provide a spark or a little different look. If the dudes were there, Self would play them. He always has.

Ok. I have a different tournament question rolling around in my brain than usual. Do I want KU to play early on Thursday so if they lose I can just give up on basketball til next season or late Friday so I get two full days of hope and hoops?

@rockchalkjayhawk I honestly felt a little better after the Baylor game. Several things didn't go the Hawks way that game, yet they hung around and were in it to the end despite not being able to stop Baylor at all down the stretch.

That is the one hope I think this team has in the tournament is that it’s possible they get some more fouls and a little cleaner game. Hunter gets fouled every offensive possession. They get a few of those early in a game and could open up some more space.

@FarmerJayhawk said in BYU Thread:

@kjayhawks based on what? In football we've had very good player durability and conditioning. Or is all the other sports where we've had issues if you can name them?

I think it's more mental than anything. Bill's system is pretty demanding and being that mentally geared up that long has to be tough.

Man, can’t think of one high profile football player dealing with a lingering injury and consistently wondering if they’ll play or not. Lol. Jk. I know there’s a lot more than one player on the team.

Maybe Baylor will play zone so we can get back to lobs.

@kjayhawks KJ, Furphy, and Nick are all above average athletically in my opinion. Have we seen many Furphy lobs though? He's had plenty of jams in transition but has he gone back door for the classic Kansas lob?

@DanR To be fair, KJ attacks the basket through contact but defenses have such little respect for his shooting that they are generally set by the time he gets there leading to not too many foul calls in those situations. And then I do feel refs just kind of stop calling it ANY time KJ draws contact.

As for Hunter, I honestly believe if we had any kind of reliable big back up, Hunter might have seen significant bench minutes and endured the Self toughening box. But as is, he's been allowed to play his game. There's a reason he was productive and his team was still unremarkable at Michigan. (Parker is fine but not a game changer in any way, kind of a budget mitch and that's saying something)

Yeah, it's funny to consider perspective. I think the reason some may seem disappointed currently despite having a top 10 team is that the expectation this year and every year is to compete for championships. This team has basically failed to reach their own stated first goal, which is win the big 12.

For me, I count making the final four as a successful season. It generally means you had a successful regular season combined with some good post season wins as well. This team can still do that. Worse teams than this have made it to the last 4 out of the tournament for sure. But am I confident that they will make it there? Absolutely not. I do think this is a driver in the Kev situation as well. If we aren't winning the league, how much do these last few games mean to the progress towards the next goal which is post season success?

Kansas fans are certainly spoiled and Self and the expectations for his teams are a result of his previous success.

@BigBad I do worry there is also an increasing divide between core Bill Self Defensive principals and the way offenses are being built by competitors. His focus on inside out defense and eliminating "easy buckets" (i.e. close shots) sets his team up to be vulnerable to teams like BYU who will commit to launching as many threes as possible. We've seen that in the tournament in recent years, and multiple times throughout this season as well. Some of it is poor individual defensive play and effort by the players, but it's seeming increasingly likely that some of the key defensive principals of this coaching staff may just be allowing those things to happen and hoping it doesn't bite you at the wrong time.

@kjayhawks said in BYU Thread:

@BeddieKU23 I’m gonna ask a Honest question here, is this Bill Selfs worst coaching job? This team has 2 all-Americans likely, 3 draft hopefuls and a Cousy award finalist. In 2019 we had no talent and 2015 we had super young talent. I think this team may end up worse than those 2, tho on paper should beat those teams by 25 points.

Yeah, probably. I think the transfer portal is also in part responsible for where we are. It's gotta be difficult to maintain a culture while only returning 3 players (and one of those is a transfer as well).

I, like someone else said above, think Hunter is the issue. And for me it's not even the missed free throws. It was his demeanor after every missed shot. As the 7'2' big man who we try to run the offense through, he has been made the leader, particularly on the offensive end. We knew he was coming in with a big personality and has said all the right things to media, but I gotta wonder what is happening relationally behind the scenes with this team. And a lot of that is on Self.

@DanR I do think something like a technical foul especially if the storm is early like with .2 on the clock or something. Free throws for every person in the field of play before time fully expired? That could get fun! "Kansas blows out KSU in dramatic fashion! Dejuan Harris finished the game with 135 points after going 131-196 at the free throw line in the final second of the game. His free throws erased a 13 point lead and allowed KU to notch the second ever victory by 100 points or more in school history."

@approxinfinity said in Other bball games:

@Texas-Hawk-10 sure Paul George’s injury is preventable: ban basketball.

Thats my point.

Dropping f bombs doesnt validate yours.

Court storming is also preventable without banning it. Don't lose the game... I'm with you @approxinfinity storming the field, the court, taking the goal posts, etc. are part of what keep college sports unique especially as the athletes themselves become more like the paid employees they've always truly been.

Didn't Wake call a timeout with 1 second left and a 4 point lead? To me, that is almost a gift to the opposing team to figure out exactly what the plan is because at that point, you know the storm is coming. Having your frail, soft, 7 footer on the other side of the court and him making no effort to exit the court quickly are, in this case, his and his coaches problem. Have some awareness. Take some responsibility for your own actions. It's a lot easier to manage 5 players than thousands of fans.

And sorry @Texas-Hawk-10 the argument is valid whether or not you agree with it.

@BShark that second game of the first weekend game will have me nervous no matter what.

@kjayhawks Juan and KJ making some plays. No doubt they have their limitations but I love watching when they start impacting a game.

@wissox said in Chiefs season long game thread:

Repeal the 2nd Amendment. Or I don't know, can you keep it but rewrite it?

Or at least learn to read it.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

That first clause is kind of important. Any of y'all members of a "well regulated Militia"? And what might "regulated" mean?

People focus on "shall not be infringed" as if it's the only clause in this sentence.

And then often those same people want the rest of the document interpreted as it was written in the time it was written, but never seem to apply that logic to this phrase allowing the people only to bear muskets.

@BeddieKU23 Can't overcome adversity if you're never faced with it. Hopefully this stretch gives them something to grow from. If we get everyone healthy we could still be a monster of a 3-4 seed.

Still I'd be more worried about getting upset by a lower seed than being able to hang with the big dogs.

@BeddieKU23 I wouldn't be shocked if this team made the final four. But I do think it is rather unlikely. They just aren't that good. Their flaws are very apparent and it doesn't appear that there is any real solution or counter to help mask them. We thought Furphy could come in and spread the floor if he could knock down some shots. He did. It didn't make us demonstrably better. We thought if Juan shot the ball more and was more aggressive it could open things up for everyone else. He has, we are still losing.

I think a lot of people see this as an experienced team because we have 3 seniors and a junior starting. But this is still Hunter's first year at Kansas, and while it may feel like Kev has always been a hawk, this is only year 2 of him.

The leaders of this team really need to be Juan and KJ and they play like leaders in that they give their all every game and attempt to lead by example but I'm not sure guys like Hunter, Nick, and even Elmarko have really bought into the Bill Self culture of what a winning team has to do. Kev bought in right away last year and was rewarded with a bigger role this year but his injury (and anytime he plays bad tbh) really kills the overall demeanor of this team.

I've hinted at this in other posts but I think Hunter is maybe our biggest bust (outside of Terio obviously). I think he's soft. I think Bill thinks he's soft too but doesn't have another option. This whole team is soft if we are honest. When is the last time this team was faced with any kind of adversity and rose to the challenge?

I could be wrong, but I feel like we've had teams in the past go into games short handed and actually come out MORE fired up and ready to compete. I think it's telling that we all knew this game on Monday was a loss waiting to happen and the team seemed to as well. I love the transfer portal for the freedom it gives players but it does put a premium on building and maintaining culture. I think some of these guys are just too used to losing. They've done it for years at other schools and don't realize what it means to compete at the highest level. I'm not saying they don't care or they don't try, but they haven't been exposed to what it looks like to be a part of a high level, championship type, team. The chiefs aren't in the super bowl every year because they have the 22 most talented players on the field. And other teams don't make it for lack of effort.

I’d be interested to see the amount of fouls called in KU road games compared to home games. It feels like a lot of low foul games when we are on the road and just getting mugged up and down the court but that could be recency bias.

He had a nice block…

I’m thinking maybe Nick had high bball iq at the end there. Way harder to make a wide open clutch shot than a guarded one. Give them all the time in the world to think about it. This is also why Nick takes every guarded 3 he can. Knows instinctively they are better shots.

Heard Jamari is out too

Counterpoint. They should call that many fouls every game until teams stop hacking on every trip down the floor.

@RockkChalkk said in KU vs Octagon of Tang Doom Game Chat.:

I can't wait for the day we have a scoring PG again. I know everyone loves Juan but the truth is he limits us so much. I just don't see whats so great. He did take a nice charge though. That was one thing I had thought was lacking this year, didn't see many people taking charges like in prior years. KM was good for taking 3-4 per game last year it felt like, maybe he is too big time now?

Praying our next PG is in the mold of a Mason, Graham, Dotson type.

15/8 with a couple of BIG time steals in key moments. Got a few buckets when we really needed them. Had a few possessions where he stuck to Perry like glue (almost all of that dude's points came after a switch to get Juan off of him). This is what Juan needs to be. He wasn't the problem last night for sure. I'm not going to complain anytime Juan gets more that 6 shots in a game. As long as he's at least that aggressive and keeps up the D and limits his turnovers, he is what we need at point guard with a guy like Hunter etc.

@kjayhawks Oh I'm in full agreement about needing to beat KSU 2 or 3 times EVERY year. It was just the underachieving in March stuff I don't buy.

@kjayhawks I'm not sure I'd go that far. Certainly not a "hard truth." It is very hard NOT to underachieve when you are a 1 seed EVERY YEAR. I think it might be more accurate that he overachieves in the regular season. There are maybe a handful of coaches in HISTORY that have had more success in March than Bill Self.

And while I had my doubts about this game, I have very few about when they come to the Phog... KU will crush KSU when they come to town.

You can pick one play in almost every championship team's run that could have changed everything.

@dylans said in KU vs Octagon of Tang Doom Game Chat.:

@kjayhawks Tang didn’t outcoach Bill. The wildcats game plan was to mug KU every time down the court while the refs only called it one way. The leg bar that kid put on KJ when tripping him up was pretty egregious- flagrant 1 type stuff that didn’t get called. If the refs clean up the game coaching could be seen, but that was a rock fight.

I was watching without sound so I didn't hear any of the commentary around the KJ take down or the late review where it looked clear to me Kev got the ole "hook and hold" that was already called a flagrant earlier. Did Bilas talk about it?

@kjayhawks This game had worried me since UCF because that was when it became clear to me that this team doesn't always want it more than the other team. And I knew of ALL the games, this one would be incredibly difficult to want it as much as KSU. I knew KSU would play harder than our guys and that feeling kinda sucked. But here we are. When they want it they can be great so maybe that will be enough for a couple of weekends in March. But those first two games are going to scare me because I'm afraid they'll think they can coast when really what they need to do is grind. I imagine it is driving Self (and Juan) crazy that this team still hasn't figured out how to grind out a win.

To me, this loss is on two players. The first is obvious. This just wasn't Kev's game. I feel like he owes Juan an apology or something because Juan certainly tried to win that game for us multiple times down the stretch and the team, particularly Kev, just kept letting him down. The free throws are the biggest issue (side note: is there a lane violation on every one of Kev's free throws or is that just me?). But he also blew some lay ups, turned it over in critical moments and maybe most egregiously lost Perry for the dagger three that we were never coming back from. I'm sure he's tired, hurt, playing too many minutes, etc. but he's our super senior, player of the year candidate, and these are the kinds of things that are asked of leaders at KU.

Speaking of player of the year candidates... the second player I blame this loss on is Hunter. That may seem odd considering he had a double double and led the team in scoring on a night we didn't really score the ball that well for stretches. And I've said this elsewhere but it just seems to me that Hunter doesn't COMPETE at the same level of the rest of the team sometimes. He has the skills and the size, but for me, I still question his toughness. Yes, KSU was literally hanging all over him all game and he (and kev) get fouled almost every time they try to score but again, that is what you sign up for when you say you want to lead a Jayhawk team to a championship. The biggest issue to me is the boards. I know he had 10+ but I still feel like when we NEED a board, he's not going to go get one. He collects the ones that come to his admittedly very large area, but I've yet to see him out compete another guy for a big rebound.

Juan and KJ are competing. Their heart is on the floor every game. Furphy was due for an off game and is still just a freshman who joined the team rather late so he gets a pass on this one. He also had a couple of calls go against him and another couple mistakes that are just going to happen to freshmen in a game like that. Kev is trying but maybe too hard. But to me Hunter is just going to get his and it may contribute to a win or might not. To be clear, he's not playing selfishly or anything. He's a good passer and seems to fit in and not demand the ball all the time or anything, but to me, he doesn't make winning plays the way Juan and KJ do.

Still think this team has a chance to get hot and/or lucky in March and make a final four and then who knows what happens but it is clear they are also extremely capable of getting bounced round 1 or 2 and I'm not sure their is much they can do between now and then to make me feel any different.

@BShark and that includes TWO games where the other team shot ridiculously well from 3 which a lot of evidence points to being more luck than anything else. (And one game where KU might have done the same…) [edit: checked the box score and we only made 6 threes??? Felt like a lot more]