I hope for the most part this discussion is over now that Cheick is available.
I'm sure there will still be minutes to award to either Jamari, Landen or Hunter. But surely they will all lose some minutes and this discussion becomes less prominent.
Jamari had a couple of bad TOs in this game. The kind of TOs that can shift the moment of the game over to the other side.
I think the smart thing to do is to start Cheick in his first game. Make a point that he is valuable to us this year.
What we should be doing is thinking about March now. Cheick needs as many minutes as possible to season him for March. And we don't give up a lot by giving him his minutes... across from Perry.
We need to let the kid play through his mistakes and treat every moment of PT like classwork... preparing for his big final in March!
"Give me your tall and athletic, your poor, your masses of huddling players yearning to play D1."
Kansas has just become the "de facto" choice for foreign players with potential eligibility problems.
“I think there are a lot of places that would not have fought, not because they wouldn’t want to. They may not have the financial means to,” Bill Self added. “You are talking $100,000 on representation of something that obviously could have been handled in one week without representation if everybody was in partnership (NCAA with KU) and worked together."
That is the first time I heard Self speak a little bit like John Calipari... creating a sound byte for possible future recruits.
I've been hollering about this for quite a while. The game has changed steadily over the years to become more of a perimeter game.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my Jayhawk brothers and sisters!
Go, Wayne!
Once he can actually play... I believe there will be an immediate impact. It might not be all positive at first, but will continue to be more productive as he blends in with others and gets used to the speed of the game and playing before big crowds and TV cameras.
His pace is as much of a game-changer as his ability to rebound and defend. I'm pretty sure he will increase our speed significantly, especially if he is already trained to look for a quick outlet off a rebound.
Let's hope he is quick to learn how to play aggressively without fouling!
There you go!
Funny, today I was thinking of wearing my old, vintage (now collectible) "Free Selby" tshirt I bought back in the day.
I guess now may be the time to snag some "Free Diallo" memorabilia. Imagine 50 years from now... That $9.95 shirt might be worth a fortune to some avid Jayhawk memorabilia collector...
"Selby? You mean Shelby, Alabama? Wasn't that a hotrod Mustang?"
If we ever want to attempt to recruit another OAD-level player, Cheick will instantly receive lots of minutes.
Last year we had two examples that seem to be giving us a black eye now on the recruiting trail... both Cliff and Kelly were throttled down by having restricted minutes.
"I still don’t understand why not tonight? Why dec first?"
They are hedging their bets. My bet is they are still using these 6 days to find something wrong where they can still pull his eligibility. By making the announcement now (even though he still can't play) they are addressing the public-debated argument "innocent until proven guilty" which is about letting players play until found guilty. Problem with it all is those games then have to be forfeited. He still can't play tonight... but... it is their way to address it.
Cheick has not been freed until AFTER he has played his first game. Even then... they will continue to keep his case file open for review and then if they find "something" later they can go back and forfeit our season.
What they should do is promise not to later forfeit our games.
I just found it this morning... I would have jumped on this months ago!
I wasn't expecting an answer until right before conference play.
Go figure...
Months and months of screaming fans, sports people, and then the university.
But it took a farmer spelling it out to get the job done! (actually, I'm thinking petrol producer)
I look at it this way...
If we have a shooter, like BG, and he is wide open from 3. Except for late game strategy where we might want to run clock... is there any reason why Self would object to him taking the shot?
Over the past 5-7 or so years I have seen a huge shift in the NBA perspective... and now it is influencing D1 more and more.
Teams used to "settle" for 3s. Now.. they "promote" for 3s, by running offense trying to open up the trey.
I noticed this a lot in the past few years with the SA Spurs, sometimes running elaborate schemes to open up the trey.
Now, Golden State will sometimes give up an uncontested dunk to throw it out for a trey shot.
I'm not sure there is so much a shift in attitudes as there is just the realization of more offense run specifically to free up the trey shot. By making that adjustment, the percentages are climbing and bean counters are going wild with this, now proclaiming the "trey offense" as the way to go.
We have experienced our guys ice cold from "bunnyland." So what risk are we taking by using an offensive scheme that frees open the trey shot? In the least, it can help open up more post scoring. Outside-in.
I think, in the past, our issue is that we always run the same set, and run options through just one set.
If we run more sets and fewer options for each one, we open up more possibilities for trey exploitation.
It didn't always work... but I am liking the use of Traylor sometimes receiving the ball in the high post and driving the ball. That seems to totally rattle defenses. Typically, there are few post players with the same quickness of Jamari. The quicker defender is over guarding Perry. I think that is the potential we can realize with a player like Jamari... and I hope, soon, we can replace some of Jamari's minutes for Cheick.
NCAA 2015/2016 "WORK" SCHEDULE
November 20 - 30 Thanksgiving Break
December 1 - 31 Christmas Break
January 1 - 15 New Year's Break
January 16 - February 28 Valentine's Day Break
March 1 - 31 Easter Break
April 1 - 30 Thomas Jefferson's Birthday Break
May 1 - 15 Mother's Day Break
May 16 - 31 Memorial Day Break
June 1 - 30 Father's Day Break
July 1 - 31 Independence Day Break
Etc... etc... etc....
"Will we tolerate anything less than him being able to play?"
They better have some damn good evidence to prevent him from playing.
How frustrating is this?
So... we are over in Hawaii and Kansas is told they will receive a response, and the response is "we are working on it."
What the F$&K does that mean?
So, we can infer from that statement that they weren't working on it before (we already knew, but now we get an acknowledgment concerning their lameness).
We don't want to hear they are working on it. We want a resolution and action.
N O W !!!
I'm not sure this is good or bad, but one phenomenon that is happening in the league is they are expanding the d-league.
On one hand that is great because it gives more opportunities for players to make it to the league.
On another hand... players make the same pay as a McDonald's employees flipping burgers, and for many it just prolongs the agony of not facing the reality music. It is getting tougher for guys to make it overseas, too.
I'm concerned it just encourages more guys to leave early, thinking they have more of a cushion to fall back on.
"This KU team will be defined by the ability to drive and kick to open shooters, or the ability to throw into the post and make the extra pass on the rotation to get the ball in the hands of an open shooter. "
That is what we need, no doubt!
We try a bit too much to just position players right and pass around the horn to develop a good shot. That works to some degree, but it is also a "lazy man's" version. Guys need to set screens and stay in motion. They should be running schemes to free up shooters.
Another thing, as you said, is to see more guys driving the ball and kicking out to open shooters.
We have put so much energy into proper spacing for an offense to just make fast, sharp passes around and catch the defense not sliding quick enough and someone being open. But yet, we don't put the energy into proper spacing off of running offense in motion. That should be the next step... work on proper spacing so a driving player DOES create a wide open shot for someone on the perimeter.
Svi is starting to produce and that is great to experience from a fan's perspective!
Once again... I just don't buy that he is ready for the league, like the hype is selling. He should stick around for 4 years, finish his education, and advance his game to the highest level before he pimps himself out to pro ball.
His ceiling is high, but he still has a long ways to go. A big part of it is just him aging into manhood and "ripening" his body.
" I’m just happy - ecstatic - that we got a big lead TWO GAMES IN A ROW and didn’t blow it."
According to Self, we did blow it. The second half we played them even.... and we all now know how bad UCLA is. They are in desperate need of more talent. I guess it isn't easy recruiting out west...
Fran mentioned this during the game...
"Would you rather have Karl Anthony Towns for one year or Perry Ellis for 4 years?"
I don't think he asked the right question.
What about:
"For one year, would you rather have an OAD freshman, like Karl Anthony Towns, or a senior Perry Ellis?"
To me, that is the real question. Perry may not be as flashy, and show a huge amount of untapped potential... but he knows the system, has a chemistry with the players, and definitely doesn't hog practice time requiring the coaches to turn away from the team and help him individually because he doesn't "get it." Perry "gets it."
I'll take Perry.
Well said.
When the message even fires up our rural folks... better watch out, NCAA!
"I bet there is no one that works at The NCAA head quarters that can speak 4 languages. Talk about irony."
Or think in one.
Golden State has lots of talent... but their post isn't the top of the league (at playing low post).
Even some of their bigs shoot good from trey. Green, Iguodala, Barnes...
I would hardly say their stack is a traditional stack. Bogut is their traditional center and he is their low post presence.
You are on a roll!
How about we stink so bad we don't even get an invite to the NIT? Yikes....
"Now KU has had the Canadian LeBron and the Ukraine LeBron playing for them! Who’s next?"
How about the African LeBron?
"WHAT'S YOUR WORST SPORTS NIGHTMARE?"
!brush-head-coach-john-caliparis-hair.jpg ↗
That's a no-brainer....
You are spot on!
"I don’t think we have enough data right now to reach this conclusion – that we will shoot the three well vs. poor teams, but not against good teams."
I'm still waiting for proof that we can shoot a high percentage from trey against a quality team that also plays decent defense.
Spot shooters disappear when they are guarded.
Same for rebounding.
"Oliver Luck joins NCAA"
What a strange article...
""Hopefully they'll get somebody that talks with a twang," Baylor coach Art Briles told ESPN.com's Heather Dinich. "Let's get somebody that understands what fixin' means. Let's get somebody from down in this part of the nation. Oliver was our representative, but last time I checked, West Virginia is a long way from Texas and Oklahoma. That's nothing to do with him, that's just the reality of the situation. I would certainly hope that we would influence the committee with somebody from this part of the nation."
Are you kidding me?
No wonder the Big 12 gets no respect.
Why don't we make the Big 12 slogan:
THE BIG XII
"FIXIN' TA PLAY US SUM FUDBALL!"
"Luck seemed to have a role in his own NCAA Violations."
Heck yes. Corrupt organizations hire corrupt employees... intentionally. My bet is there was a lot more dirt at WVU... but the settled arrangement is what we read about in public.
I bet KU would serve the death sentence if they had athletes calling and texting out on the wrong lines.
This is like a bank hiring a convicted bank robber to be in charge of their own security.
Excuse me while I upchuck on the ceiling.
If the NCAA is targeting us... that means we have a clean program and we refuse to "woo" them.
I feel fairly confident that if we do win the NC this year, we will have it removed from our possession.
Only one way to find out!!!
Ha.... or perhaps Louisville gets spanked because they excluded the NCAA from the "recruitment process?"
Kind of funny (not really)... the NCAA (itself) does not regulate their own recruitment for areas like venue selection. Just one of hundreds of areas where there can be complete corruption.
"Local boosters on Wednesday wooed NCAA staff and members of the women’s basketball Final Four selection committee during a tour of the American Airlines Center."
NCAA site selection committee touring Dallas for women’s Final Four bid ↗
I wonder what their full definition of "wooed" is?
I halfway believe the following:
NCAA clears Cheick to play
Kansas plays Cheick
Kansas wins National Championship
NCAA then declares Cheick ineligible because of his handler and Kansas must forfeit season
Let's remember... the NCAA is a dictatorship. Fairness has nothing to do with this. It is clear to me that they are targeting Kansas.
Donovan may have left for the league... but I bet we could get Florida on board with us.
Read this story carefully... Chris Walker was dragged through a long process over his academic eligibility... then the NCAA went after his handler, who may have paid for his unofficial visit to Kansas.
I wonder... I wonder if the further investigation was more about the NCAA possibly nailing Kansas over this?
Florida Forward Chris Walker isn’t Sitting Out Because of Academics ↗
"This is a story about the avaricious, corrupt machine that is the NCCA; a system that has produced—and will continue to produce—atrocities that make McCants’ joke of a scholarly career look like unpolished brass on the Titanic."
I wonder if Frank Uryasz was invited to some of their in-house parties with strippers?
I haven't finished the letter yet... but liked how Zenger mentioned "damages."
This is the kind method for inferring they have a potential lawsuit as an option.
"How long will it be before we hear a rebuttal from the NCAA?"
Well... let's see... a possible scenario....
They read it today and instantly panicked and paranoia set in.
Under panic, tonight they decided to quit their party drug usage. They swore to put the crack pipe down.
Tomorrow.. their worst day yet. The paranoia set in and now they don't have drugs to keep in balance. Nothing gets accomplished as they run around in total chaos... step one with chemical withdrawal.
On Wednesday, they also do nothing and realize this might blow over if they put it off past Thanksgiving.
The following Monday... Okay... Thanksgiving is over, but still not responding. Most employees have tremors and are begging for additional medication. In the least, they want to bring the prostitutes back in under lock and key.
Tuesday comes and one of their crew researches how long it takes to get all the drugs out of their system. If only they had stayed off the pot! Even though their is no mechanism for drug testing, their paranoia is so rampant that they want to prepare for drug tests. On this day, they decide to wait at least 30 more days before responding to this letter. Meanwhile, some of their members start buying masking kits on the internet that are supposed to help hide their drug usage on a drug test.
On Wednesday, a major fight breaks out between NCAA staff when one of them locates more drug paraphernalia hidden in a cleaning closet. Turns out, some of the staff were cheating on their pledges to remain clean.
Kansas should have hired private investigators by now. These guys should be planted in the NCAA parking lot with secretive video cameras. Also... look on the pavement for roaches and broken paraphernalia.
The drug angle is the only thing I can think of to explain their gross negligence on the Cheick situation.
My story sounds crazy... heck... we like using the word "insane"... I'm good with calling it insane. But this scenario is outrageously common today, especially in covert organizations. It could have started with a couple guys suffering from back pains that got hooked on pain killers from their doctor, who now can't openly pass pain killers out like candy any longer. It wouldn't surprise me if they were shooting heroine.
Wow! What a read!
I'm starting to think the NCAA is operating like "The Wolf of Wall Street." Lots of parties, open sex and major drug usage. What else could explain their complete disregard for personal (and organizational) responsibility? They hide behind a cloak of secrecy... what do they have to hide?
I'm guessing every night they party with Nike execs, who keeps them all happy with coke eight balls and Gran Patron tequila.
They are more secretive on their actions than Isis....
This whole BG situation just sounds like "tough love."
It is quite possible that Self has a lot of love for BG, So much that he won't let him skate through his playing days only putting in a half-ass effort and leaving his potential to his dreams only.
Without question, Self has been pushing BG. We saw it start this year a few months ago when Self talking about players "not getting it" and it was clear BG was the target for that comment.
Sometimes... this is what it takes to break a mule. You have to be strict and be willing to use heavy discipline to free up the attitude so improvements can be made.
I would respect BG's side more if I saw him working hard to improve himself.
This is the difference I see between BG and AW3. We could see AW3s progress... both in his body and in his game. I have a lot of respect for AW3 and what he had to deal with. It didn't seem fair, but AW3 had a lot of competition for PT and he didn't have the shot BG has.
Because of the AW3 situation, I'm not sure there is a life line available for BG. He should figure out his path between now and Christmas. He can transfer and still have 1 1/2 seasons for another school... plenty of time to integrate and get far enough to perhaps catch the eye of some NBA scouts.
To some degree last year he did flip to "earn your time" except there were inconsistencies. Wayne had a bad year, and through most of it he struggled and that really hurt us... yet he started and got lots of PT.
Regardless if Cheick is suddenly cleared or not, it is time to go after the friggin' NCAA.
Kansas should form an alliance with a few other schools that want to see change (and can substantiate damages) on this and they should file a lawsuit. This would get major press coverage, and the more elite teams we can get involved would just increase the coverage that much more.
If we don't do anything, then the problem continues beyond Cheick, and I guarantee everyone in here that we aren't making friends with the NCAA on this one. We are driving a wedge deeper between us and them.
It is already clear that we are on the NCAA's s#it list!
I hope we don't lose Self...
But if we did, the only guy I see coming in (at this moment) is Danny Manning. He has been cutting his teeth for a little while now. We know he can develop players, especially big guys. We could regain the title "Big Man U."
Mark Turgeon is building some steam, too.... I just don't see him as being as popular as Danny.