🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Isn't it crazy that we can win the Big 12 without a first team player in the conference? Is that something to be proud of? Seems like Oubre is talented enough that he should be on this list. But he clearly hasn't produced well enough to be considered. Mason is obviously our man, but even his numbers don't jump out at you. Selden should be better than Forte but his numbers certainly aren't. Ellis has not been as consistent as Niang or Nash. Sorry to reference another thread but maybe if Cliff played...

Does the conference put players on for showing great energy? Because then we could get Traylor in there! (that was for you HEM!)

I worry that Cliff is really struggling with the back issues. Self got burned last year when his best big had back trouble mid-season, struggled with it throughout the year, and then was done by tournament time. Perhaps he is trying to avoid this worst case and save Cliff for the big dance. However, I cannot reconcile this with his use of Mason who is clearly wearing down and the more important piece of our team this year. It may be the combination of all the reasons above.

Truth is Cliff can't score one on one. He can dunk. He has shown the possibility of a jumper but not consistently. He has a hook shot that is just not that great. He can't drive. He's probably only 6'8. He runs well (but not for extended periods or big minutes) and he jumps well (when the back isn't bothering him). So therefore, low minutes.

His biggest strength is his rebounding. He is a really good rebounder. He pulls balls down in a crowd as well as anybody. TRob would go over people or through people which are more effective ways to rebound. But Cliff just seems to end up with the ball without out jumping opposing bigs or even bullying them around. I assume this must mean he has really strong hands. But even with this great rebounding, you don't see him snag offensive boards and go immediately back up and score too often, unless it's an uncontested dunk.

Should he play more? Probably. Will he play more? Maybe. Is he ready for the NBA? No. Will he go anyway? Most likely. Can we win the big 12 with him still not playing much? Yes. Can we win the National Championship? Nope.

Don't fret. Lunardi always does that stuff in his brackets. While he has a pretty good record predicting who's in/who's out, his seedings and placements are often quite a bit different from what the committee decides. I don't want to be in UK's bracket either. I do think if they go undefeated they will slip up in the tournament. But I doubt that slip up would be vs. Kansas. No way they don't get up for that game.

I also think we come back after this loss with a nice win in Lubbock. And big picture I still don't see us losing more than 2 more games in the league. Our schedule is really favorable to those of the other contenders. I see at least 5 losses total for ISU and OU. Probably more like 6 for WVU. I just don't see us sharing this year. The league is too tough for someone else to win games on the road.

@jaybate-1.0 No doubt on Greene! Surely he can't continue his pace in conference play. Can he? Is his stroke slump proof? Is he such a wild hare that he either doesn't understand the law of averages or simply thinks it doesn't apply to him?

My hope is that the misses come but on more difficult attempts. We have already started to see more confident shots from him. But with that I think the open ones still go down. I just don't see him going 1-7 or 0-5. I might be crushing a bit though. Man that stroke is pretty!

I agree that Frank is probably our guy. But it seems like Self is trying to prod the team towards Jamari. What else would explain the crazy stats Jesse posted comparing he and Cliff? Isn't about this time of year when the 08 team looked like a mess? Lost on the road, maybe 2 in a row? or 2 of 3? There was a much talked about players only meeting that righted the ship.

Do these hawks have that in them? Who calls the meeting? Who speaks up? Frank might just be too tired! Come on, Jamari! Be the man! You don't have to score or rebound to be the leader. Stats can't determine who will speak up and take charge. Be what you were for this team in Austin! Do it because it needs to be done!

@drgnslayr Don't you think this is why Jamari gets the time over Cliff? He is a junior, a fourth year junior even. He and Perry are our only truly experienced players. Perry is way to quiet to be a leader of a bunch of youngins. After the game Self mentioned that in situations like that we need to look to Jamari but he just didn't have it.

I know HEM and others often talk about how Jamari just isn't talented enough to be a starter at Kansas. He was low in the rankings coming in and has never really shown the talent to be a star. However, as a junior, he should know the system as better than everyone else, he has in the past been our best hustler, and he is a guy that when Self looks down the bench, he recognizes! He can look at Jamari and know he has an experienced player. Someone who has been through a lot and knows what it is like to overcome adversity, both in real life and on the court.

People talk about the long leash that Jamari gets. He gets it because Self trusts him in only the way Self can trust an upperclassman. Is Cliff the better prospect? Of course! Could he go out and get you more points and rebounds? Clearly! But obviously this is not the role Self has in mind for Jamari. Should he score? Some. Rebound? Sure. But the big role for Jamari is Jaybate's favorite, GLUE.

And this is why they lost on Saturday. They fell apart. As any structure would when the glue melts. Traylor tried. He tried very hard. Probably too hard. OSU turned up the heat in that second half. The young guns were thinking, "hey, we beat these guys once, we have a nice lead, this is in the bag!" They looked to the elder statesman of the team to show them the way and we know the rest. Six turnovers, especially bad ones in crunch time, game over.

@jayballer54 has a great point about this team's youth. They are young and therefore inconsistent by nature. Jamari should be, needs to be, the one who brings stability. Frank is doing his best to fill that role, but as a Sophomore who is taking an absolute pounding, he just can't keep it up. We would all love for Perry to do it but know that isn't who he is.

Think about it. Jamari Traylor practiced on the team that went to the championship game. He was there. Only he among the team has seen what it takes up close. We saw how far he can take us in the Texas game. He led by example and the kids followed along. He doesn't have to score 15 points or pull down 12 rebounds like we know Cliff could. He has to play with energy, and show the rest of the team how much they have to want it.

Is Alexander's motor really that big of an issue? It wouldn't be if there were another player who could lead the way on that front. But if Cliff wants to replace Jamari in the starting line up or the ending line up, he has to match or surpass his energy output. Energy is contagious and Jamari is this teams patient zero.

@Shanghai_RCJH I'm with you there. Just seemed like that idea didn't get much other support! I really like hating them. It is really the only thing in my life that I allow myself to hate so vehemently.

@Shanghai_RCJH I know! If only we had some historical relevance to the game of basketball!

So who might be a good non-conference game to get going? I know @drgnslayr wants WSU, and many of you feel ISU is becoming our conference rival. Any other good options people feel would be a good home and home series? I love the champions classic. Georgetown and Temple seem to pop up pretty regularly. What about a Creighton or Missouri State? Maybe UNI? Someone we could play consistently who plays at a high level fairly consistently. Tulsa is up and coming but who knows if they can sustain it without Danny. Maybe Memphis?

What I would really like would be a series with North Carolina. I know it is a pipe dream as long as Roy is there. No way he signs off on a game with KU that he isn't forced to play. It would certainly give us another game against a blue blood though!

Well ethically that seems to me like a pretty good way to handle that situation. You certainly don't want the kids paying for it. It is better than taking the money away from other sports or education programs at the school. I'm not sure how it fits with other NCAA rules. It seems to be at odds with some others but I am certainly not a rule book expert. I'm sure our own beloved Bill Self does some questionable things within the rules in attempt to get an edge. Do you know if that counts as one of their preseason tournaments? Like when we go to Canada and what not? Now don't take this as me defending Cal. His record speaks for itself as far as playing by the rules. Nothing has ever stuck to him personally but I'm sure that is not accident. It is only a matter of time before he leaves Kentucky and we find out all the under the table stuff that was going on "without his knowledge."

So do you think we should add Missouri maybe as part of the Big12/SEC challenge? I know that has usually been our Florida game. And I like that game. It usually does more for our SOS than MU does. I still think WSU is a no win game for KU but we need another rivalry. KSU just isn't cutting it. And now Foster is out?

I hate comparing Kansas and Kentucky (well maybe not hate since I am about to do a whole lot of it). I think as Kansas fans we would be happier celebrating our successes rather than trying to compare ourselves to other schools. We are the home of basketball, or history speaks for itself. We should feel inferior to no one. With that said, recently I have been having a strange feeling. One that I am not used to as a Kansas basketball fan. It really just popped up in the last few weeks. I’m almost embarrassed to share this shame with other true basketball fans. But I can’t hold it in any longer. This may seem like blasphemy but stay with me here and you might find you agree. Hi, my name (internet name) is benshawks08 and I am jealous of Kentucky.

You might think I am jealous because of Kentucky’s recent success. They beat us in 2012 for the championship and got back to the finals last year. But the way I look at it, we won in 2008 and were back in the finals 4 years later. Add to that our 2003 run and the recent history isn’t too different (depending on your definition of recent!) I think Kentucky will get beat in the tournament this year, and while we may not make the finals this year, I think by Mason’s senior year we will be back to the Promised Land. So when looking at recent championship play, Kentucky DOESN’T make me jealous.

Overall, we are 17 or so wins behind Kentucky in the total win tally. However, with Kentucky’s shady past with point shaving, paying players, etc. and slimy present, I am happy with our place in the win total race. So Kentucky’s wins DON’T make me jealous.

Kentucky’s current record stands at 22-0. They have some good wins vs. KU, UT, UNC and UL. They clearly look like the team to beat this year and many are thinking they will be undefeated going into the tournament. I, however, like our hard fought 19-3 record. Yes I wish we could have beaten them early in the season and the Temple loss doesn’t look great but we have played twice as many games against ranked opponents this year and that number will only continue to grow. So while I always want KU to be ranked 1st and the undisputed best team in the country, Kentucky’s current status DOESN’T make me jealous.

Rupp arena holds 23,500 while Allen Fieldhouse only holds 16,300. I am not even going to finish this paragraph. Kentucky’s venue DOES NOT make me jealous.

Kentucky is recognized as a school that puts players into the NBA. This year Kentucky had 19 players on opening day rosters. Stars including Anthony Davis and John Wall. They always have multiple lottery picks. But Kansas has 17 that is a difference of 2 for those who might struggle with math. And last year we had the number 1 and number 3 pick. Wiggins will be a super star and if Joel stays healthy he would not surprise me if he made some All-Star games. So Kentucky’s NBA roster DOES NOT make me jealous.

Kentucky plays in the SEC. They should go unchallenged this year and most years leading to them racking up lots of conference championships. HA. Not it.

Coach…Please!

Current players? They are good and I’m sure they are not all terrible people. But I wouldn’t trade anyone Jayhawk for ANY Wildcat. Their players DO NOT make me jealous.

Kentucky is consistently one of the best teams in the country. They make the tournament as a high seed fairly regularly. So does Kansas. So, no, this DOES NIT, oops, NOT make me jealous.

So what does? Two things actually.

1. Kentucky has an in state rival that is really good that they play every year. Kentucky v. Louisville is a game that people mark on their calendar as a big game and it usually involves two ranked teams with two highly regarded coaches. Kansas has no such game. Some suggest adding WSU to the schedule and I have thought that at times too. But I just don’t believe they have the staying power to make that a relevant game every year. In the years where WSU is down it would be no-win for KU. Marshall is a KU trolling slime ball who likes to take cheap shots at KU without ever even asking for a game. KSU could be that team but State just isn’t good enough.

2. Kentucky gets to beat Missouri EVERY YEAR. Self made a comment the other day about waking up every morning knowing you hate someone and how that was a good thing for a rivalry. Iowa State is close but as even that other site’s Keegan pointed out,
   “Almost seven weeks later, Elijah Johnson’s 39 points led KU to a 108-96 overtime victory. His final two points came when the right play was to dribble out the clock. That sent Iowa State booster Melvin Weatherwax into such a rage that he nearly got himself arrested. That tirade aimed at KU coach Bill Self landed him on the average KU fan’s list of all-time villains, most of whom have played or worked for Missouri.
   You won’t find the names of fifth-year Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg and his players on that list. The Cyclones are a classy rival. And at the moment, they are undoubtedly KU’s No. 1 Big 12 basketball rival.”
   Iowa State is definitely getting closer to being a true rival but it isn’t there yet. That was a great game and I was certainly pumped for it. You could tell Self and the players really wanted it. There was a little scrappiness and emotions were high. I started to feel a little ire towards ISU as they shoved and bear hugged as a form of block out especially on free throws! Go rewatch it. It was crazy! I just can’t muster the same level of hate I have always had for Mizery.

I didn’t use to think this but we need to play Missouri again. Not that they are as good as Louisville or ever will be. But at least we can feel comfortable hating them and getting our shot to prove just how terrible they are every year. They may have a resurgence at some point and get back to Top 25 caliber basketball. I never thought I’d say this but I miss Mizery. And it makes me JEALOUS that UK gets to stomp them every year while we just watch hoping for injuries (I don’t actually do that… usually).

I think the problem with Kenpom's rankings are they are purely statistical. And always with statistics there are outliers. From what I have read from Jesse and Kenpom, he never claims his system is perfect. I don't think he believes that Oklahoma is currently the best team in the Big 12. His rankings focus mostly on Points per Possession. So if you have a lot of blow outs those will have a great effect on those statistics. OU has a few against some bottom feeders which KU didn't stomp. There is definitely some weird mumbo jumbo in there especially with the idea that close games come down to "luck." But mostly I find Kenpom to be a database of statistics arranged in a way that people can access them to learn more about their team or someone else's. Jesse has been pretty on target with his score predictions this year basing most of the information on stats from Kenpom. I have read enough Jesse to have a pretty good inclination that he is not a stupid guy. The stats are to be used and analyzed, not taken as truths about who is best.

@jaybate-1.0 Don't forget at Oklahoma. I believe Self's statement after that game was, "those cats can score!" I think we lose 2 more between the ones you listed and the game I just mentioned. I simply can't agree more about Mason. What a stud! Anyone see this coming from him last year? We all saw the speed, agility, and toughness, but this? The calmness of his game just blows me away when comparing him to last year.

I agree the Big 12 is probably a little overblown this year. It really is just a bunch of pretty decent teams who racked up a lot of non-con wins. K-States early play should have been evidence of that. Once again the only real championship contender has risen to the top. If we lose more than 2 more the rest of the way, we probably aren't good enough to win 6 in a row in March. But we are a shooting team this year which means even if we stumble, if we get hot at the right time, look out!

Me too. Imagine if Greene gets in shape to play big minutes. If he takes 5 threes a game? And if Svi can turn it on like some have hinted he could that would be a very solid perimeter with Selden, Graham, and Mason. Doesn't mean I won't be happy if we land another blue chipper! Imagine how much tougher practices are this year with such a deep bench than last year with all those freshman!

@drgnslayr I also think a big reason for Wiggins's success in the NBA is the defensive 3 seconds or whatever the rule is that keeps bigs from hanging out under the rim. Our biggest problem last year was with zones and as you pointed out, sagging defenses. They just packed it in and didn't give him any room to operate. His only option was that step back jumper which is a low percentage shot when it is the only choice. We also did not have (or utilize) the shooting we have this year. I agree that Self is progressing and this is probably one of his best coaching jobs yet. I don't know that we can blame philosophy 100% for the "freeing" of Wiggins. The games are different. Though like you said, the Mayor, is proving maybe not as different as we thought.

I like the team concept stuff though. I like the idea that you never know who will beat you on this team. I like the open man takes the shot philosophy. I love how when we have seen zone this year, we moved the ball and got open looks. I do wonder if this is what sometimes hurts us in March though. You see teams like Uconn go through with guys making tough guarded shots. Our guys (except Wayne and sometimes Frank) never even take guarded shots.

There is certainly a level of control Self would have to give up in order to more fully adopt that system. You notice Hoiberg's calm demeanor and you rarely see him chastising players for taking bad shots. Compare that to Self's sideline tirades and quick hooks and you have some of your "playing free" without changing a single x or o. I think with that though you start accepting some lax defense with that overall philosophy. That may be a stretch. But it feels that way.

@icthawkfan316 Oops! My bad on the Stewart/Little mix up! Not sure where my head was at. The only way I see a possible transfer or Svi going back home is the situation you brought up of Self landing another elite wing freshman. He is too talented and Self has talked so much about his upside and potential. Svi has a lot more to offer than Stewart did in 2008. With Kelly gone we would need Svi's size and length at the 3. It's still possible for him to even compete for a starting job next year. While Greene is playing well now, there is no guarantee that Self doesn't get fed up with his ever tangled feet on D. We have to remember that Svi is seventeen (is he still?). He has so much room for growth I just don't see Self letting him go.

@icthawkfan316 I'm not so sure Svi is gone. There just isn't room for minutes right now. Greene is finally playing well enough to get off 2 to 5 threes a game which is basically 6-15 points of instant offense. It would be interesting to see if Svi could take some minutes at the 4 but being so young (aka not strong) that seems unlikely. But with the 4 out 1 in he is just as tall as Traylor or Ellis. Defensive would be the problem which is what this all really boils down to. He's not going to out hustle Jamari. He can't defend like Oubre or Selden or Graham. He can't shoot as well as Greene. His handles aren't as strong as Graham. He can't rebound as well as Perry. There just isn't room on this deep of a team for him to get minutes.

Self had a quote saying he looked down his bench and saw 8 starters. I don't know that I've ever heard him say anything like that in the passed. He's talked about not having a drop off. Or finishing games matters more than starting them. 2008 was certainly close with Sherron and Kaun coming off the bench and Sherron usually in at the end. But even that year was really a 7 man rotation with the occasional 8th man being Little or Cole. This team is really deep. So when can we get Frank some REST!?!?!

Probably never. He's too important to sit.

@drgnslayr Frank is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite Jayhawks. Fearless is the perfect word for him. I am so excited he is 5'11 not 6'2 so we can watch him progress all four years. He has grown so much from the ridiculously fast, out of control, fireplug we saw last year. This is his team without a doubt. They all look to him. They all rush to help him up after every drive. They look to him when things get bad. The know it is because of him when things go well. I don't remember who it was but a poster in here said Frank might be the best dribbler we have ever had. I think that is true and he is only a sophomore! He dribbles right through presses. He gets into the lane at will. His finishing is better. He is driving and dishing a little more. I can't say enough great things about him.

But he looked tired last game. And he seems to be wearing down. Graham has been good but he needs to step up so Frank can have a break. Frank is cringing every time he has to drag his butt off the ground after getting pounded at the rim. And for the first time on Saturday I saw his defense start to noticeably suffer. If we have any chance of going far in the tournament, it will be on the back of Frank Mason the Third. We need to realize this now and start protecting our most prized commodity. Yes Frank is a tough SOB who can play 35 minutes every game. But wouldn't he be better later in the season if every once in a while he only had to play 25? Tonight isn't the night to rest so I guess it's more of the same for our ferocious Frank. Love the 3f's by the way!

I'm slightly worried about Mason's health. Watching the KSU game there were several times where he just did not look like himself, especially on defense. One time in particular someone went right by him and he just stood there and tried to poke it away from behind. Are the minutes finally catching up to him? Was he told to take it easy once we had the lead? Did he just decide to take it easy? We need Mason, BAD! I'm concerned.

@drgnslayr Also, thanks for the encouragement. Praise has always been what motivates me!

This is probably why we see so many inner city low-income types on our team. We get so many stories about the struggles these young men have endured to get to this point. Self seems to have a way with the Jamari, Darnell Jackson, Chicago, big city, types of players. That could also explain the difficulty we saw last year with a team that just wasn't that way. Not that Wiggins and Embiid are less motivated than others, maybe just that Self had a harder time identifying how to push their buttons.

@drgnslayr I'm the same way. But I deal with kids everyday who just aren't. There are all types of people in this world. As I teacher it is my job to try to figure out what makes each one tick and it is different for almost every kid. Even then it changes. Motivation is a very tough thing to unlock. It takes deep understanding of an individual, of a group, and of yourself to truly be successful in motivating others. That's why the movie "Whiplash" grabbed me. This guy, who is the exact opposite of a good teacher (to me) is able in his own way to motivate this young man to greatness. I know you take issue with Self's ability to motivate. I think he is better than most. And I prefer his method to WSU's "play angry" which I know you like. Angry is only one way to be motivated, and I would argue one of the least productive.

Svi certainly looks tall! I think this is a combination of perspective and shoes. As I look at the shoes I see all manner of sneakers, dress shoes, boots, etc. Not saying your wrong. Cliff certainly has not looked "tall" at any point this year no matter who we play or what shoes he is wearing. (He would look quite tall standing next to me!)

@wrwlumpy I think we already have our guard like Staten and by his Senior year everyone else will see it too. What is the difference between Frank and Staten? Staten has some better decision making maybe, he is a better scorer. Frank will never score as much as Staten because he won't be asked to, but by his Junior/Senior year he will be every bit as good of a scorer. He's already our rock as a sophomore playing ridiculous minutes. I agree we should go get another guard for the future but Frank is and will be our point guard until he graduates.

On Cliff, I still wonder about his conditioning. He is very fast as many have pointed out and has done well in the games where he has had more minutes but when you look at him at the end of those big minute games, he is really huffing. He is a big boy and it may just not be feasible for him to play 27 or more minutes a game. I do think he should play more but not 35 a game for sure. Frank can barely do that and he is a lean mean fighting machine.

When considering why Selden seems to get "a pass" while Cliff and Kelly have had to earn their minutes might have something to do with motivation. It is easier to motivate beginners with positive feedback. Put them in situations where they can be successful and succeed and then praise them for it. Selden did not get this treatment last year simply because there was no other option. Now that he is more seasoned, he is more likely to be motivated by negative feedback. Let him make mistakes and present criticism so he can know what to work on to reach his goal. This is a delicate balance that Self plays with each and every player. When are they ready to receive the harsh criticism that will motivate them to get better? When do they need the positive interactions to help build their commitment to the pursuit of the goals laid out for them?

@KJD @drgnslayr I have also really enjoyed the discussion. I know a lot of posters in here have really well thought out theories and are very good at defending them, but I like throwing out some of the weird ideas in my head and watching others pick them apart. Thanks!

I wonder if some of this is about team dynamics. I think Self sometimes purposefully puts himself in opposition to his team to try to help them come together. He forces them to rely on each other instead of him.

I don't know if anyone has seen "Whiplash" but it is great! Spoilers ahead if you are planning on watching it. Not that knowing anything about the movie would change how great it is. My girlfriend and I talked afterward about whether in the end Simmon's character was vindicated by the outstanding performance of his protege, or whether the young man succeeded in spite of the abuse from his mentor. The comparison to KU Basketball comes in that the players, like the drummer from the movie, are already at an extremely high level of skill. And it sometimes takes some extreme tactics to breakthrough to the level of greatness. To me the central questions the film raises are "what does it take to be the best?" and "how far is too far in pushing someone beyond what they thought they were capable of? The film is incredibly well made and a lot of fun to watch (even though it gets pretty intense).

Anyway, I think Self uses strategies somewhat similar to J.K. Simmons character. He uses a combination of encouragement and criticism to drive the improvement of individuals but also the team chemistry. You often hear high praise one press conference followed by biting remarks the next. You see smiles and fist pumps one game, and purple faced barking another. This could be the result of honest emotions relating to his teams performance, but it could also be a calculated maneuver to influence performance. Now, I am not saying that Self is as abusive or manipulative as the character in Whiplash, but it is certainly possible that there is calculation behind his actions. The modulation between friend and foe creates an environment that encourages the athletes to be more reliant on each other than the "unpredictable" coach. Players are always striving for the approval that comes almost randomly. This could also explain the high number of transfers from KU considering this would be a very stressful and difficult process to go through every year. But when it works you get a hard as nails team that plays for each other and are all driven to improve themselves everyday not just for the coach but for themselves.

This is the point in the season where we can start to expect reports of player only meetings and increased togetherness shown on the court. I almost wonder sometimes if Self doesn't expect his team to at some point say "forget coach, let's go win this like we know how!" Ironically it will be exactly how he taught them to win.

P.S. In no way do I advocate using this tactic with children of any kind!! It takes a very strong will and great understanding of people and their breaking point to be effective. I have mentioned that I am a teacher on this board before and want to make sure it is clear I do not treat people (especially students) this way!

@drgnslayr So do you think come tournament time, we will see such motion every game or will Self gamble thinking his team can conserve some energy and still find a way to win? If there is no concern for the law of averages why does Greene not get 5-6 opportunities from 3 every game, with at least a couple drawn up specifically to get him looks? Surely Greene is in good enough condition and his defense has improved enough (still needs more) to allow him some opportunities. Why reign in that horse if he can go 4-6 every game? 12 points in a game to 65 are a big thing to miss out on. Is Self missing this like HEM suggests, or is something else going on?

Many people are upset or at least annoyed that the Jayhawks were only able to beat TCU, the bottom feeder of the Big 12, by only 3 points in a game that was close for nearly the entire game. After defeating Texas on the road, many thought the team had found their identity and wouldn’t be turning back. Several have zeroed in on one key stat for the Jayhawks this year and have made some very compelling arguments regarding the correlation between the number of three pointers the team takes, and the success of the team offensively. Unlike past years where a high number of long range attempts usually meant settling for jump shots instead of attacking the paint, this year the 3 point shot is our most powerful weapon. Kansas is shooting almost 40% as a team from deep. This leads to the general assumption that as a team they should always shoot a significant amount so as to capitalize on this strength. This is true but it also is not.

Bill Self is a very good coach. He wins lots and lots of games. He is especially good at beating good teams, historically. However, for some reason he seems more likely to be upset (or played close) by not as good teams. This is not coincidence. He is not lucky or unlucky. As Jaybate pointed out several years ago, Self appears to “amp” the team for some games and send them out “flat” others. “Amp” meaning sending them out with energy, wrinkles, and a strategy that will crush the other team, “Flat” referring to low energy, basic game plan, and a strategy that makes the team work. I doubted for a long time the validity of this assertion, but I now see it likely has at least some truth to it.

It may have taken some time this year, but Self has figured out that this team’s biggest strength is their ability to shoot the three. Even though that style of play goes against Self’s traditional basketball values, he has utilized it recently in the games against the best teams. Against “weaker opponents” (though TCU is not necessarily a weak opponent this year) we have seen a dramatic difference in style of play. Where this team struggles is scoring inside. So, Self, a man who loves toughness and balance is demanding his team play inside when he thinks they can win that way, and maximizing their shooting strength when they need it. We have seen this for whole games and half by half. And on the surface this works as a decent explanation.

However, I feel there is some deeper, mad scientist, work going on here. I think Self this year is trying to beat the law of averages. My biggest fear for this team relying on 3 pointers is the inevitable 2 or 3 for 20 game from deep that just happens sometimes. It is very difficult, nearly impossible to win such games as GREAT shooting teams like Utah and Gonzaga have shown. Too many possessions are wasted without points or opportunities for fouls to really have a chance to win such a game where the shots just don’t fall. We barely missed such a game in Austin purely on the shooting of Greene. Everyone else was off from deep.
So this year, I think Self is actively trying to encourage bad shooting nights against teams we can beat inside while limiting the actual number of 3 pointers taken. So here is the strategy as I see it. On a night we are playing a team we are supposed to beat, guards and Perry can take a 3 if it comes to them but we aren’t going to work for those shots. Also, if you make your first one, you are done. No player can waste a hot shooting night against a low level team. If you keep missing, keep shooting. That is how we have come to several 3-8, 2-7, and 3-11, shooting nights. Yes Mason shot 5 three pointers but he only made the last one so no harm done to the law of averages.

The key is to keep the 3pt% low in these games. Other strategies Self might employ in these scenarios include: frequent subbing to prevent game flow, focus on feeding the post, sitting Greene, the “quick hook,” harsh/negative timeout talks. On the flip side in games where they need to play their best to win strategies include: minutes for Greene, opportunity to get into the flow, 4 out 1 in, faster tempo, more positive bench interaction, encouragement to take open shots even if they miss.

HEM has suggested that a sound strategy this year would be to give Greene minutes early and if he is on “ride the wave.” This clearly works. However, Self is not the kind of man to leave his game plan up to the mood of a “wild hare” like Greene. No, he wants to be the one to make the wave. Save Greene, and his other sharp shooters, peak performances for when he needs them. Make sure they don’t get the opportunity to breakout against weak competition and the law of averages allows them to crest when he wants them to.

Unfortunately for HEM specifically, this means that during the tournament there will be a game or 2 (or 3 if we are lucky) where Bill Self appears to intentionally throw a game by going away from a strategy he knows works. We will play a team we should handle easily and win (or lose) a close one while only shooting 10 or less three pointers. We will not make more than 5 that game. HEM will be furious.

Self will make this gamble. Because the law of averages is real, and he refuses to let it rule him. Bill Self makes waves, he does not ride them.

I don't remember who, but someone, somewhere, has an effective height measurement that is much more useful. Obviously height at the 1, 2, and 3 can be helpful, but when discussing specifically block percentage the only 2 that really matter are 4, and 5, unless like Texas your 3 is 6'9.

I think this team can go all the way. I have posted in other threads about how they compare to 2008 (my favorite team) so that right there shows my level of optimism. If they stay on this track and win the big 12 and get to the Elite 8, I would say this is Self's best coaching job. This was THE YEAR someone else was supposed to take the Big 12 but here they are again, in charge, on top. The guys are young with no senior leadership. They have battled through a few injuries, Graham, Cliff (though he always played), and others who were battling small pains. The team clearly doesn't fit Self's preferred style and he has had to make adjustments. I read somewhere on ESPN, I don't remember who, "I don't know how Bill Self does this" in regards to leading the league once again. I have to agree. I too think we will drop one or two more and probably win a few playing ugly. My hope is that the team take ownership of itself and start truly caring for each other and playing for each other the way that 2008 and especially 2012 team did. I think Jamari is the emotional charge for this team and the rest feed off of him for that. Mason is the stability where we look when things get bad. Graham brings the Joy, Wayne the toughness, Kelly the talent, Cliff the muscle, and Greene the swagger. Perry is the x factor that if he turns it on and starts to really spark this team, everyone should watch out. His role is still growing, still progressing. It is a role no other player has really had before. He's like the glue guy we expect to go 15 and 8 every game. Overall, Self has molded this team from a mess into a true contender. Where they take it is up to them.

I still don't know how to beat UK. They are not nearly as slow as the Texas front line. Either we shoot 70 threes like Jaybate suggested or just hope someone else takes them out for us. I really just don't see us beating them.

@wissoxfan83 I'm right there with you. Yes it is sad, but really a 19 year old is legally not supposed to be drinking, and no one is supposed to drink and drive. He is big news in Wichita, the prodigal son returning. He left Kansas to go be "the man" somewhere else. This is not how you do it. There is lots of talk about the pressure put on him by his father to transfer or do this or that but at some point it is time to step up and be at least a man even if you aren't the man. Do people make mistakes? Of course. Should he be forgiven? Yes. Does that mean we should feel bad for him? NO! He made a poor decision and should now face the consequences. Unfortunately for him, because of who he is and what he has done both on and off the court, those consequences come with publicity.

I have to say I feel like this team has 1 or 2 more slip ups in conference play. At OSU always scares me as well as 2 games against Huggies WVU boys. I think 15-3 is solid and will do the trick. BXII Champs and a 1 or 2 seed. It will be tough to get a 1 seed with UK and Gonzaga unlikely to lose. Put UVA and Duke in there with Wisconsin and there isn't much room for KU at the top.

Like many of you, I assume, 2008 was my absolute favorite year of basketball. I loved that team and especially the result! So I am always comparing the current team to that one. Even if we don't win the title (still tough to figure out who will beat UK) I think this team is shaping up to be the most like 2008 we have had since then. We've got shooters, we've got defenders, Kelly has hands that remind you of Mario (maybe without the anticipation) and Frank reminds me more and more of Russ Rob every day. Jamari is a slightly smaller version of Darnell, Perry is our smooth 4 who can stretch it like Arthur. Greene and Graham combined have the skills of Collins with shooting, handles, and toughness. Cliff is a difference maker off the bench like Kaun. They are starting to really understand TEAM defense. The way they were able to deny the post against Texas was awesome (either that or Texas was just stupid! Haven't rewatched to see!). They play their best at the end of games. We don't have one star, but 8 players who could take over any game. I find Self said it best after the Texas game, "I think I could fall in love with this group!"

I think we will be ok simply because our 3 pt attack is so well diversified. Yes Greene is our poster boy, go 5-5, and stomp the will out of you long range bomber. But almost quietly Frank, Devonte, Kelly, Perry, and Wayne are taking their 2-5 attempts per game. If one or two of them manage to make the first couple they can catch fire and we can "ride the wave" as HEM likes to say. I don't see fatigue being that big of a factor with this team because the depth is becoming so good. There is so little drop off when we go to the bench that everyone has a chance to really rest in game. Self's trust in the 8 man rotation vs Texas proves that. Cliff, Brennan, and Devonte are ready for 20 minutes or more every game now. I expect we see a lot of Svi and Lucas vs. TCU but the solid 8 man back against the last two.

The 2008 team was really only 7 deep with the occasional appearance of an 8th man (Cole mainly). This team is deeper and actually a better shooting team all around. I think we have so many options chucking it from deep and we will be so emotionally charged to beat Iowa State that we win that one going away. Look for about 4-6 made threes v TCU (Self will limit shots from anyone who looks to catch fire), 8-11 vs. KSU (riding the wave of the hot hand) and a slight decrease 7-10 vs. ISU (a more balanced attach from all spots).

P.S. Those are total number of made threes not percentages! I wish though!

What impressed me the most about this Texas win was our threes. Not that we shot them well, we didn't (33%). Not even that we made that many (6). What was great is that we shot 18 even though they weren't really falling for anyone outside of BG. Everyone got multiple looks but no one, outside of Greene, went crazy hunting threes. This seems to me to signal the final change in the offensive strategy. Each player had 2 or more opportunities within the flow of the offense. Once it was clear BG was hot (isn't he always?!) we made a few extra looks for him. But overall, Frank missed all of his 3s, Devonte was 0-2, Kelly missed all his attempts, and so did Perry. But Self never had a moment where he said, "forget this, lets throw it inside and let Perry and Cliff go to work."

This team is reminding me more and more of 2008. The tough D from the guards, no true center, and most importantly, the open man takes the shot. We weren't working to get the ball to Perry, he just got it. We ran a few plays to get Greene some looks but mostly he just shot it when he was open.

The only thing that would make me a little more comfortable is if Jamari could hit a 15-18 footer consistently. He has tried the last several games to develop that, and you know he is working on it. But other than that I have no fear when any player takes an open shot, especially from 3!

Saying all that, it wouldn't surprise me to see diminished 3pt attempts at TCU. Especially if guys are hitting them. I think Self will do everything he can to keep from having a hot shooting night with the games he has coming up. Expect to see players make one, and not take another unless it is Frank racing the shot clock. Self was hoping to be hot against Texas, and really got a break in that only Greene and Selden shot it well and we won. Selden didn't take enough shots to it really be seen as a hot shooting night. That leaves everyone but Greene due for at least a decent shooting performance in the next 3 games. And Greene may be "law of average" proof. His stroke is so pure I don't know how he ever misses. The boy never even hits the rim! If he misses his first 1 or 2 expect Self to let him shoot till he makes one. Get all the misses out now boys.

The worst result for Wednesday would be a loss, obviously. But I think a blow out where we hit 11-15 threes might be almost as bad. It is so tough to shoot well for multiple games in a row, and we are going to need them vs. KSU and ISU next week.

@RockChalkinTexas Took me a while but I found your comments about the crowd. That was really a very different experience from mine. I might have actually appreciated a little bit of fire from the fans around me. They were so lack luster and apathetic it hurt. At least the a@$hole near you cared, kind of. My seats originally were up in the rafters but I moved down right before tip. 25th Row near center court. No one ever came for the seats. The entire row behind me remained empty until near the midway point of the second half. Quietest basketball I have ever attended. Literally the loudest they ever were was when the balloons fell from the ceiling prior to the tip. Did notice many longhorn fans were able to turn their balloons into many different forms of Longhorns. Did they all go to clown school? Some were quite creative. What a weird talent to have for soooo many people around me. All in all a weird game for fans I guess.

@drgnslayr I was also surprised by Texas's inability to use their clear advantage in the post, especially with Ridley, Turner and Holmes. Any time they got the ball down low we were toast. I just can't figure out how they got away from it. I'll have to rewatch the game on TV because being there i couldn't really tell if we were just doing that good of a job denying the post or they were content to just play the perimeter. At one point they even got a switch so that Devonte Graham was guarding Holmes. Holmes posted up and they settled for a 3 pointer from a guy that was 6'10. Blew my mind. Several times during they game they went absolutely HUGE with 3 out of Lambert, Turner, Ridley, Ebeh on the court at the same time! It worked well to defend the post with a zone having a huge back line. Many of the 9 blocks came with that line up in.

I understand why we shot 18 3s, but why did they? Talk about a gift! THIRTEEN 3 pt attempts by guys over 6'8 who had clear advantage in the post. I'm not as sure as you are that Texas will get this figured out. I do not think they will beat Iowa State. Certainly not if they get into another shooting contest with their bigs.

Another factor in that game (or really lack of a factor) was the crowd. I've been to several of the KU-UT games down here and the crowd is never good but Saturday was especially bad. The "sold out" arena had a ton of empty seats. I can count on one hand the amount of times the crowd tried to "be a factor" but as soon as Texas missed a shot or Kansas made one, the moment was over and everyone politely sat back down. Man it made me miss the fieldhouse so bad. It felt more like a Jazz concert where they would clap every once in a while for a solo but mostly just relaxed and enjoyed the music. 7 lead changes in the opening of the second half... crickets.

Enough hating on the Longhors. How about those hawks. If you would have told me we would win by 13 making only 6 three pointers I would have laughed. I told the guy I went to the game with that the first team to 65 would win. I was right of course but didn't think we would make it into the 70s. Consider it was really only an average to below average shooting night for everyone not named Greene and this win continues to look just better and better.

I'm prepared for a let down at TCU. We will still win but it might look ugly. But overall I could not be more excited about this team right now.

P.S. Don't' know if anyone cares but... Conner Frankamp just got arrested for a DUI. Such a sad, sad story for that boy.

I thought perry did a much better job using fakes while at the same time attacking the rim. One play in particular he spun and faked all the way through the lane for an easy score. The Texas fan I was sitting next too was like, "what are you supposed to do against that?!" My response, "applaud!" Yes he did still get blocked. But each time it was because he was going to the rim. I think the block on Greene was the only one that wasn't a strong challenge at the rim. Great game to watch as both teams played well until late in the second half.

@JhawkAlum True that on the no win situation. It was great for the University to get all the attention and I don't think that part is still over. His doing so well in the pros can only help Self. He is a future (maybe sooner rather than later) all star. He did what he had to do and I don't blame him for it. He was simply too valuable to let bang in the paint both to the team and for his future. I love Oubre's (and Mason's) all out hustle but think how much it would have cost for Wiggins to get injured. How many millions of dollars did he save by occasionally avoiding contact or settling for jumpers. It will be great to have a true star in the NBA who can talk favorably about his time at Kansas. Wiggins seems like a great kid and in no way do I (even though I agree about preferring Kelly on my team right now) take anything away from the great things Andrew had done and will continue to do.

I also think our offense had something to do with our transition troubles. It seemed anytime Frank drove and scored, or drove and dished for a score it was a quick 2 or 3 the other way. I assume the normal transition stopping concept is that the point guard is the first one back or is pressuring the inbound pass. With Frank out of commission after his basket (usually falling down or out of bounds) that primary option wasn't available. This is where I think Wayne and Kelly should take some blame for the poor transition D. If Mason is driving someone else has to rotate to get back and/or the bigs need to put pressure on the inbound pass just to give him a chance to get back. I guess you are right! It's kind of counter intuitive but full court pressure could have prevented some of our troubles since they would already be in the right side of the court to play it.

@drgnslayr I agree it could work in Austin. I'm not so sure about Ames. The biggest problem in Iowa was that they were scoring before we could set up any kind of D. If one guy can't get back, surely two couldn't to trap!

The biggest issue with the trapping style defense is if a team breaks it, it is easy buckets a lot of the time. And Bill Self hates nothing more than an uncontested shot! He HATES it when guys are open. You can see it on his face every time we try something like this that doesn't work. He immediately forgets all the steals and the pace and everything else. He yanks whoever was supposed to be guarding that guy off the floor and goes back to man to man. I think Self thinks trapping is soft. why should it take two guys to guard one? Just shut him down yourself and take the ball away from him! I think that is his gut. Obviously his brain knows better and does try stuff like trapping ball screens and other things to mess up the other teams offensive flow but I don't think deep down he feels that is the way to play.

What I would like to see more on defense is simply more mixing it up. Remember in 08 all the crap/junk defenses we threw at everybody. Box and 1, Triangle and 2, at one point I think we played a 2 man zone with 3 m2m. It was crazy. It drove teams nuts! It even drove announcers crazy as they couldn't figure it out! I imagine there is such a level of sophistication in these types of D's that just isn't possible with mostly freshman and sophomores. Self talked about those teams (the top D in the country for several years) as being so tuned in on D. They looked at their defensive stats first. They didn't just help, they helped the helper. I think we can get back there with some stability at guard with Frank and Devonte over the next few years. I hope we can because to me that was fun to watch.

Self v Self
13-14 Self was handling so much off the court with Wiggins and Embiid being such top prospects. Expectations were through the roof, and like I mentioned above, we simply didn't have quality depth. I know many thought White should have had more of a chance and Self wasted the talent on the bench. IMHO, I never saw much out of White. He was a slow footed defender and while we all thought he should be a dead eye shooter, he never really was. Conner was too slow with the ball to beat out Frank for back up minutes (thank god he didn't!). So I don't think we can blame Self for squandering depth. I think were Self struggled last year was how to utilize the amazing gifts of Andrew Wiggins while helping the team. We saw some Iso which led to standing around. We saw some posting from Andrew but not enough to let him get a good feel for it. So for me Self did about as good as he could with the youth he had.

14-15 Self has been on top of his game. I didn't think I would say that this season after Temple, but I think letting these boys get whooped was good for them. These guys hate to lose so much more than last year, so a couple of stompings has done the job of getting there attention. I feel like Self has been very strategic in his bringing along of both Kelly and Cliff. Hustle is not the issue it was last year. And many have broken down his evolution on offense. He seems to be trying more things this year, giving his team more options. You hear him talking about how coachable his players are this year. He is having more fun (did you see the post OU talk?). The team is having more fun, playing tougher. However, his job is somewhat easier than last with quality depth at every position, and a true leader on the court with Frank.
ADVANTAGE: 14-15 Self but only by a little. He was dealt a great hand last year but it had so many pitfalls that made it tough.

@drgnslayr Comparing Embiid and Cliff I would still go with Embiid. He was so tall, so smart, and so smooth. Now, I do believe we are "tougher" with Cliff, but the skills just aren't really comparable. We may never have any prospects as good as Wiggins and Embiid again and they were on the same team!! Too bad we didn't have any experienced bench to give them some pressure and some help.

The last thing I wanted to compare was the bench:
13-14 Traylor, Black, Mason, Greene, Frankamp, White:
This gets tricky because many here have argued that the bench was good just not properly used. My perspective is Perry and JoJo were so much better than Traylor and Black at their positions that too much time for them just wasn't going to happen. Black had some good games and brought some leadership. Jamari pretty much was what he is, a serviceable 4th big man. The backcourt of guards again just couldn't stay on the court long enough to make an impact except for Mason. Even Frank was always 100 mph often out of control last year.

14-15 Alexander, Lucas, Greene, Graham (that's pretty much it at this point but you could add Svi and Mickleson):
Cliff is huge off the bench. He hasn't been quiet good enough yet to take the starting spot like Joel demanded last year, though that is questionable. Lucas shouldn't really be relied upon for anything. But Greene and Graham and maybe Svi are the huge improvement. This is why I think Conner leaving was so good for this team. Not having another player demanding playing time has allowed Self to truly develop some depth. Greene is downright dangerous off the bench (sometimes both good and bad!). Devonte is so solid a back up as a freshman it is crazy. He is better than Frank was last year. Now, more was asked of Frank as a back up last year than of Graham this year but so far the production is better.
ADVANTAGE: 14-15 by a mile.

Overall, I really like this team much better than last year. We were SOOOOOO young last year and so soft that it was pretty clear without Joel we were not going to make it far in the tournament. We are still young this year but we are certainly more mature and way tougher. The pieces last year were individually better in many instances but the cohesion and full picture are much stronger this season.

Perry v. Perry
13-14 Perry was in pretty good form. With Wiggins being the focus, and Joel drawing so much attention, Perry was able to be the "silent assassin." He excels at this role. Some of his tendencies to struggle with length and athleticism were coming to light, but he was a legit post option next to Embiid. You could throw it in to Perry and he could score. His rebounding was somewhat lacking but Joel cleaned up so well in there it didn't really matter. He had shown some flashes of some trifecticating ability but wasn't really reliable out there.

14-15 Perry has clearly been in a funk but is starting to come out of it. He has clearly worked on his shot and is up to almost 40% from three with increased looks. Recently he has been rebounding better with a few games with 7 or more. He has almost lost all back to the basket ability as everyone knows when he is going to spin. He gets blocked against taller players and everyone, including Perry, knows it. He had some confidence issues but could be showing more promise with the 4 our 1 in approach. He has been part of the weave and is driving more as well.
ADVANTAGE: None (this was a tough call. I can't decide which Perry I like/dislike more!)

Embiid v. Traylor
Embiid was really coming into his own at this point. He had taking the starting job without a doubt. His inside presence was huge for the team. All the lack of defense was erased by his height and shot blocking. He had great feet on offense. He was making better decisions and drawing all sorts of double teams that opened stuff up for other players (particularly Ellis). He was supposed to be a project but it was starting to be clear he wouldn't last that long at KU. He was the real heart of the team and THE guy they all looked to. He was becoming the emotional center of the team.

Traylor has had some good moments this year. He has at times been our best energy guy. He has had some struggles as well, turning the ball over, taking bad shots, etc. As HEM has said, he really just isn't a starter at a High Major program, especially and Elite school like Kansas.
ADVANTAGE: Embiid

Well by this time last year we had just finished off a win over #24 Baylor, our fourth straight win over a ranked conference opponent, and fifth straight conference win. We had been through a tough non-con with 4 losses all to decent teams. We had a BIG win early over Duke. We were all lamenting our lack luster defense. Jesse was posting steal updates constantly reminding us that we couldn't guard on the ball, or get in the passing lanes. HEM was complaining about lack of offensive flow as it was mostly throw it in to Joel or Perry or stand around and watch Wiggins. Sometimes, Wayne or Tharpe would get hot from 3 and have some big scoring games.

1: Tharpe v Mason
Tharpe had some great scoring games but never could "cut the head off," a phrase held over from Tyshawn's time that was repeated many times by self. But Tharpe was inconsistent. On one or two games, off several. Jaybate commented often about his short legs leading to shortcomings on the defensive end. The team is searching for a leader hoping Wiggins will be THE guy.

Mason so far this year has been the opposite. He is the model of consistency. He hasn't gone for 25-30 or 5-5 from 3 but has been solid. His on the ball D is tough and aggressive making the opposing point guard make difficult passes that have lead to more steals (not necessarily by Frank). The team is a reflection of Franks tenacity. Turnovers are down. Many, including Self, have said that Frank is by far our most valuable player and this seems to be his team.
ADVANTAGE: Mason

Selden v. Selden
This is a tough one because not too much has changed. 13-14 Selden, I think, had just had that huge hustle play vs Baylor. He'd had a couple of 20 pt games vs Oklahoma and KSU that had us thinking he could be the key. Turnovers were an occasional problem, and his defense was sometimes questioned.

14-15 Selden has had some good hustle plays but Kelly seems to have taken that role from him. His scoring has been down somewhat. His 3pt% is up and he has become more consistent defensively.
ADVANTAGE: None

Wiggins v. Oubre
Wiggins was starting to turn it on by this point. He had some big games. He was considered our "lockdown defender" on the perimeter. His athleticism was never questioned but his toughness and heart were still at times up for debate. Jaybate was already beginning to wonder about 1/2Wig or 2/3 Wiggy implying he was saving something for the future and playing not to get hurt. We all had the Duke game in the back of our minds hoping he would shine brightest on the biggest stage and go FULL ANDREW WIGGINS come March. He brought a circus to every game of people heaping unrealistic expectations on him and the team.

Oubre struggled early, but has come on recently. His on the ball defense and quick hands and hustle have lead to more transition play and infectious "pace" with the whole team. His 3pt% is better than Wiggins, he takes better shots, and nobody watches him to see what he'll do next. He makes better decisions because he is allowed to not be THE GUY we all wanted AW to be.
ADVANTAGE: Oubre (in no way am I saying Kelly is now or will be a better basketball player than Andrew who is currently showing he will be just fine, but Oubre is better for the team)

To be continued...

@drgnslayr Exactly! And Where does most of the fight from a dog come from? The head! Our head is ferocious, mean, bulldog of a point guard. Compare Frank this year to Tharpe last year. There is no comparison. Mason will NOT let Taylor torch us like he did last year.

@drgnslayr I'm thinking Jaybate's MBAP might do some good against the Texas Bigs. The starters, especially Ridley are slow. Pulling them out and running them using screens, cuts, and face ups even if it doesn't work early could give us the edge down the stretch. Plus with the way our guards are shooting this year they have to help on the high ball screen. Mason has shown a couple of times that if you don't show he will bury it, Graham is at something like 46%, Greene is Greene, and Kelly has a smooth stroke that at one time was up to 50%! Selden is the one weak link here at 35% which still needs to be respected.

Last year UT clogged the lane and waited for Wiggins and Selden to drive and stuffed them. Wiggins started settling for 2 pt jumpers. Selden made a few late. We dumped it into Joel and they hammered him until his back broke. Perry took 0 three pointers and avoided contact. They shot 45 free throws to our 19!! They were more aggressive and our soft team last year melted away.

Fact is, they are pretty much the same team this year plus Turner, who is pretty good. But our team is radically different. You can say what you will about the lack of inside presence on this team, but it would be tough to argue that this years team is as soft as last year. I don't think they can rough us up like they did last year. Rick "the Butcher" will be up to his old tricks. You can expect slapping, hacking, body slamming, and all the rest but my gut tells me this team fights back where last year all but Selden broke.

This year we will not get stomped by Texas. Yes, we have been destroyed twice this year by teams with length, but we are better for it. New wrinkles keep coming every game and these "coachable" boys seem to me to be turning into men. Men who will not back down. Jaybate says 17-1...Hell, why not!

P.S. If we shoot less than 15 3s we lose in spite of all I just said.

Don't suppose anyone has an extra ticket sitting around waiting for a fellow bucketeer to fill one of those nasty orange seats with a beautiful blue shirt? If not I'm going to have to check stub hub and for some reason I hate that place!

@KUSTEVE I don't think Cliff will start but he probably will finish. He needs to be up around 25 or more minutes moving forward. And some of that will depend on Traylor and Ellis. I still think Self has a little more trust in them than Alexander. The Big Red Dog's leash is getting longer though!