@ralster said:
Can you imagine Thomas Robinson doing a cameo in a KU uniform again?
I was just having that fantasy play-out in my head as I read the thread! Good God! T-Rob working inside with the shooters around him would be fun to watch.
bskeet
4171 posts
I think the players have to be Americans-- like born in the US. JoJo probably will want to play for Cameroon national team in the future, so I don't think he or Wiggins are likely to be on that team. (I would love to be wrong about this.)
@Jesse-Newell Congratulations! Well-deserved, high honors for someone we all know is a ground-breaking thinker and a trail-blazing sports journalist.
We have been very lucky to have Jesse covering the Jayhawks. Elite-level journalism on the hometown team is a rare privilege.
Now I know Jesse's headed for the national media.. just a matter of where and when. Selfishly, I hope he's able to hang around until early April, so we can enjoy a final analysis on this team, including the (im)probability of a KU upset over a certain other team that ended 39-1.
2-week suspension:
Kansas University men’s basketball assistant coach Jerrance Howard will serve a two-week suspension from all team activities as punishment for a July 2014 arrest for possession of marijuana, KU coach Bill Self announced Thursday afternoon. The suspension is effective immediately.
-- KUSports.com
Let the debate ensue ;-) (in a civil way, of course... nods to @CivilHawk )
@ralster You may be right about the outcome... but that doesn't mean it will be a decision made without a lot of hand-wrenching and soul-searching. There's a painful tension between the good of the program vs compassion for the individual in these situations where there's clearly a relationship hanging in the balance.
This is a pretty complicated one given that marijuana is legal in a few states -- obviously not Illinois or Kansas -- but as crimes go, this is one that states don't agree on.
This happened in the summer. Plus, it happened in Peoria, of all places, which just sounds kind-of small-town. I know that's a stereotype, but it doesn't seem hard to imagine that he got burned by folks that wanted to burn him.
I'm not justifying what he did. He needs to be a role model for kids that he's recruiting and coaching. And most of all, Self has to be able to trust him. The fact that this incident wasn't disclosed to Self until Weds is not confidence-building. That said, Self has known him for a long time.
My point: this is complicated.
I think that was as good a 3-point shooting I've seen a KU team display in a game.
If we keep that and improve our rebounding and eliminate the turnovers, this team is lethal because the scoring can come from anyone.
We're athletic enough, quick enough.. Only thing we don't have is the giant presence under the basket.. But our 3point shooting is good enough and diversified enough that it more than makes up for it.
We miss the premium blocking of the past, but this team is working on steals. That would probably be even better than blocks.
All in all, the team is getting more dangerous.
They just need consistency.
Part of the problem is rebounding -- don't know the numbers, but we had quite a few one shot possessions.. That and 8 turnovers. Sheesh.
Mason really is the savior most of the time. That bucket was pretty amazing and broke a cold streak.
that's really the FIRST blocked shot.. The first two were uncalled fouls.
WTF
@Crimsonorblue22 looked like a pass to Traylor for a Jam... except no Traylor
Pretty decent recovery after the first two possessions were 2 turnovers.. Let's see if they can keep the pedal to the metal for 40 minutes.
The weakest 2 seed is supposed to play the strongest 1 seed.
If we remain #8 (unlikely), UK remained #1 (more than likely), and the committee faithfully followed according to the AP or Coaches rankings (which they don't.. they use RPI and some other voodoo), we would be matched with UK.
That said, the committee can jumble that logical pairing if they want to avoid a matchup with a team previously played (typically same-conference opponents) or to help keep a team in it's geographic region.
And depending on your level of cynicism with the NCAA, you might conclude, as @KUinLA has, that compelling matchups and ratings might influence the committee..
Bottomline: it's all just fun speculation at this point. One difference between us and Joe Lunardi is that he gets paid for his speculation.
@KUinLA great avatar :-) I get it.
Note that the categories that Traylor dominates are steals and assists.
Interesting pair: Assists are about your ability to impact the rest of the team. Steals are super valuable because they benefit defense and offense (end a possession and create an opportunity to score).
Given that Alexander dominates every other category, it's probably not an excuse to hold him back, but that may be a part of it.
My prediction is that he starts next game.
Regardless of who starts, this team needs BOTH to play well in order to go deep in March. You can't get to the promiseland with a backup who is dramatically weaker than the starter (or vice versa).
@drgnslayr said:
Frank wearing down and teams have him scouted. He may also be a bit banged up and we don't know it.
yes. all three and the third might be the most likely.
@wrwlumpy Nice tribute.
One thing we are learning about this team: Never feel comfortable when this team has a lead, no matter who or where or when.
Should make for some pretty tense and dramatic games in March.
Despite the negatives, the Jayhawks lead by 11 on the road at half. The February version of this team is better than the January version.
If the team can keep improving at this rate, they will compete with anyone in March.
Said it before and worth saying again: BG reminds me of Ronnie Kellogg. He's so pure.
It's hard to say this (because there have been so many great shooters), but I don't think I've seen a better shooter in a KU uniform.
@wissoxfan83 Agreed.
If we look a bit deeper into the crystal ball, I wonder what folks think next year will bring?
That team promises to be a bit more seasoned... but much depends on who jumps to the NBA... much like in 2007. While Julian Wright signed with an agent that year, the pivotal moment was when Brandon Rush got hurt in a pickup game and withdrew from the draft.
The rest is history.
Wayne Selden?
Kelly Oubre?
Cliff Alexander?
Brannen Greene?
Perry Ellis?
Those guys will play in the league at some point... The timing of their departure will make all the difference.
Ford will wear his pants on backwards... the players will wear their shorts on backwards... and the crowd will wear their pants on backwards.
@Crimsonorblue22 I know! It's hard to believe but there absolutely were times where the crowds were well under 10k.
@JayHawkFanToo True..
Impossible for 2 teams (TCU & TT).
Virtually impossible for Texas.
Improbable for two teams (KSU & OSU).
Unlikely for three teams (OU, BU and ISU)
Still possible for WVU.
But Texas doesn't have to win conference to feel good about the season; they just need to finish in the top 3 or 4. If they are below that, I think Barnes will be questioned.
@drgnslayr said:
If KC has a competitive NBA team, would it damper KU attendance?
It just so happens that KC once had an NBA team (we can debate how competitive they were) from 1975-1985. I would say that the program has experienced this effect.
During that decade, KU had 5 NCAA appearances and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen once (and lost to Wichita State). Three seasons were .500 or below. One conference title. Finished 7th twice.
Not sure what the attendance numbers were, but during that period, I attended many games where I could walk in and pick my seat. It was easy to run up and down the bleachers during a game. And for the games during break, when students were out, they would invite local high school basketball teams to come watch the game.. There were blocks of seats given to them so they could watch a college game.
Is it a coincidence or causation that this period was when the Kings were in KC?
This year's team reminds me more and more of the 2007 team which was a bit older but not quite as deep maybe. The juniors were Sasha, D-Jackson and Rus Robinson. Fantastic sophomores, J Wright, B Rush, M Chalmers, and great freshman talent in D Arthur and Sherron Collins.
That team lost to UCLA in the Elite Eight, so I'm going to say that this team should reach the same spot, plus or minus one game.
Underachieve: They miss the Sweet 16
Overachieve: The Championship game
In thinking about these scenarios, it's important to look at the competition and consider who they would match up with along the way, and how durable and immune the team is to the various styles of play they could encounter. This is where it gets a lot more difficult to know where they end up in the tourney.
@cragarhawk I think the jury is still out.
First of all, the conference title is not out of touch for at least 6 of 10 teams.
Second, Texas has the talent. They theoretically match up well with a lot of teams that they could meet in tourney. While unlikely that a team with a lot of losses in league play would make a run in the national tourney... we all know it's not unprecedented.
Barnes has been to the final four. He knows how to make a run. I think things may look wobbly, but it's too soon to tell.
@Crimsonorblue22 Hey, no complaints here.. Every seat is hallowed in thine cathedral of basket-ball...
(If I could put that in a gothic font, I would...)
@Crimsonorblue22 now you're just rubbing it in our faces!
BTW, great energy in AFH tonight. The crowd shots brought back some great memories...
@drgnslayr said:
I'm loving every second of this! If we go on to winning #11, I think this will be my most-satisfying conference crown ever!
If we win #11, it should be the most satisfying ever, because this team is still very young and the B12 is so good from top to bottom. Still a LONG way to go. We are in a good position, but haven't played WVU yet. Still have some tough rematches.
Love the way the team is finding it's identity (and HCBS is accepting that identity, as foreign as it may be to him).
True..
And I'm thinking an even more powerful opening line (especially in Chicago):
"Hello ---- my name is Kirk Hinrich and I'm an assistant basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Can I speak with you for a minute?"
@DoubleDD In the live-game chat, I mentioned it when it happened.. Others were not so sure.
I think it's one of those that is questionable..
As for the rule (btw-- thx @JayHawkFanToo), I don't think it was downward, but it looked like the ball was over the rim.
I'm not sure what is meant by "entirely above the rim..." It certainly appeared to have the possibility of entering the basket.
I'm fine with it being a no-call as long as other officials call it the same way. I think I've seen goal tending called on swats like that before.
@Lulufulu Yes-- this is as good as we could hope for, I think. The next month is a doozy.
looked like Traylor got a hip pointer, not moving well.
That was good!
Kitties 2 Bunnies 0
it was in the cylinder. Close call for sure
no goal-tending?
@approxinfinity Amen
@Crimsonorblue22 I thought he was fouled on the shot... he brushed his nose to stop the bleeding
Appears he can scream all he wants. They are still kitties.
Weber was pissed at that OT.. expect a push by the kitties
@cragarhawk is it a guessing game? @Crimsonorblue22 is in AFH!
Oubre earning a living with rebounds!
I like the start!
According to ESPN, K-State beat us in Manhattan earlier in the season.. Hmm.
Kansas vs. Kansas State
Allen Fieldhouse
Lawrence, KS
ESPN at 1:00p.m. CT
Today's game and Monday will be good for tournament preparation.
I keep coming back to watch this because it's just hilarious.