🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Gosh... what was the guy's name we lost to Roy? That was painful... especially since Roy would never recruit in the east when at KU.

Anyone else catch how Kaleb runs? Pretty interesting stride for a big man.

Missing on Kaleb was one of those deals that changed Self and his recruiting methods. Self had put all his eggs in one Kaleb basket that year.

Can't believe he has played this long at Arizona. Had he become a Jayhawk the media would have convinced him to go OAD.

@Statmachine

So was Buddy Hield... down in Wichita.

I noticed how well Wayne played when his dad sat in the second row. He was a completely different player.

How do we get him to play like that for 30+ games a year?

Everybody in here likes our guys. I know I do.

But if we realistically think we can advance in March.. we have to put expectations on players to perform. We needed more out of Wayne this past year. And Wayne needed more out of Wayne if he really wants that NBA shot.

Unless we can figure out a way to get Wayne to perform like he can when his dad is in row 2... we need to change something and Wayne needs to change something.

I carry "hope" with me... it usually ends up being my crutch to the reality I wasn't willing to face.

@Statmachine

I'm not really hanging out in restaurant kitchens... but I bet there are plenty. Maybe these guys aren't washing dishes. But unless they are starting their own businesses and finding success through that, they probably aren't matching the financial success they could have had in basketball. Pretty sad to reach NEAR the mountain top, and then fall down the mountain.

Right now... Wayne is tumbling down the same mountain EJ did.

No one else sees that?

These guys get one shot at college ball... and college ball is where the door opens for pro ball (of various sources).

@joeloveshawks

I'm not arguing with you... just saying it is less about us and more about the player (in this instance).

EJ is probably washing dishes right now. That guy could flat out ball. He is on my all-time favorite list because he sacrificed his future trying to be the PG he never was just for the good of the team.

Right now... in some restaurant kitchen out there... there is a towel just waiting for Wayne to come use it.

Wayne can flat out ball, too. But for some reason it ain't happening here for him.

@dylans

Gosh... I don't know that I can stomach another poor perimeter defensive team. Perimeter d is something learned over the entire season. We don't have good perimeter d early on (typically) unless it is the same guys coming back and were good the year before (cough, cough... Releford).

Withey had record blocks because of the perfect storm.... he was a great shot blocker and our guards opened the flood gates to the paint for other guards. Remember how many 3 balls we gave up, too?

@joeloveshawks

We would or we wouldn't... but I'm talking about the good of EJ. He didn't end his career well and what is he doing now?

Anyone know? Playing in Bulgaria?

@dylans

"I'd like a 7ft center or a wide bodied 6'10" center. It just makes things easier for Bill and Perry to do their things."

I hear what you are saying.

Having the footer in the post gives us our security blanket.

My heart says yes, but my mind questions if it is the best for us. I remember when Withey became a shot blocking phenomenon. From that point forward, our guards wouldn't guard any longer. We had capable talent on the perimeter, but no one would guard.

We had pretty good perimeter defense this year. The guys knew they had to guard.

Maybe a guy like Cheick is our happy medium. Doesn't have the height of a 5, but plays with passion and strength. He's definite going to be a shot blocker!

@Crimsonorblue22

I think the question is: "Did Wayne improve this year?" I don't think he did. Are we going to get another year out of him where he doesn't show up for 80% of the games? We have a logjam at the 2. Lots of talented guys that need a chance but Self has a promise to Wayne and he'll keep it.

Wayne COULD improve this next season. But will he? We've thrown those dice before with EJ. The guys that get psyched out would seem to do better if they changed their environment with a fresh start. I wish EJ had transferred out after his sophomore year. Not thinking just for us... but for him.

I really like Wayne, this is about Wayne. What would be best for him? Maybe even a college transfer might help him.

I think he needs to go somewhere like WVU. Huggy won't cut him any slack like Self does. I think it would be great for Wayne. Get him over the plateau he is stuck on. He needs to be pushed and for some reason, he has a complete pass by Self to perform or not perform. It isn't right. This year... he was given far too much rope to not only hang himself, but also his teammates.

@Statmachine

Lets sign a 5-star 2 so we can have Wayne, Brannen, Svi, Devonte and Frank backing him up!

@truehawk93

"Selden needs to leave. He's digressing for some reason. He needs to review his stock status and if he's late in the first round, GO. If he's in the first round go and get picked up somehow. If not, there are a lot of options for his development. If Selden returns, he must return in beast mode with something to prove. I just don't think a return will do him much good. His fate is pretty much sealed."

I hate to say it... but I agree with you.

I think Wayne was coddled too much at KU. We've sort of enabled him to get into a psychological funk similar to what EJ did (except EJ's was also caused by our coaches and forcing him to PG).

Wayne will get pushed trying out for NBA teams. He is medium on talent, medium on athleticism... but he has a great body for the league. And if he gets his mind right, he might turn the corner at the next level. On a higher note, Wigs did. Throw him in the river and see if he can swim. He seems to be riding a plateau at Kansas.

"Here's why...John Calipari and WWW have the recruiting world in their back pocket and it's all CLEAN as a baby's bottom."

I really liked your post here. Makes sense. But what doesn't get answered is how they are able to keep so many 5-star recruits happy sitting on the pine or not producing big numbers or coming back for another year. Imagine if we had kept a player like Oubre on the bench the entire year? The kid would be freaking out and we'd never sign another 5-star recruit. Alexander was a different case. He didn't show enough for anyone to question why he wasn't playing.

@dylans

On offense our 4 and 5 can be considered interchangeable... or... left and right... or... the guy that can handle the ball and shoot from the perimeter is the guy that steps out.

On defense, the assignments will be based on how who our coaches think match up the best.

The missing variable in this equation is what other teams think and who they have guard our 4 and 5.

Cheick is the toughness we need. Wish we could have him for more than one year.

@jaybate-1.0

I'm thinking in the future guys will get injured and have surgery at halftime and be back in play for the second half. Maybe in about 30 years from now. Advanced healing with some kind of electrical current device.

@JRyman

"I believe in my opinion that he has to choose one or the other ideologies of recruiting though."

Really nice post.

As @DCHawker stated... we are "all in." Those executive suites aren't being built for recruits in the 50-100 bracket.

I don't really care if we go after the top guys, the middle guys, or both. Ultimately, I think our goal should be grab the best talent that FITS in with the team we have. We have to spread things a bit and try to prevent having years where our first 7 guys are going to leave in the same year. That was devastating two years ago and we are still trying to get back to a mix of players.

The real key is DEVELOPMENT! To the best of my knowledge (please someone prove me wrong) our current crop of assistant coaches are here because they are recruiters and all have geographies where they recruit. Someone must not be doing their job if we can't even fill a roster with scholarship guys. What is that number... 12? So if these guys aren't getting the recruiting done and they aren't development coaches... what they heck are they doing?

Personally... seriously... we need a DEVELOPMENTAL STRATEGY! One that addresses the super uber athlete, right on down to the guy who sits on the 100 spot in the charts. How are we going to make these guys better? If we figure that one out, our recruiting issues are over, and so is our problem advancing in March.

We should have paid closer attention to last year. We had the #1 and #3 draft picks. Okay... we lost JoJo.. but even with JoJo there was no guarantee we would have even got past Stanford (NIT Standford). If Wiggins had played half as well as he is playing now (in a league 10-times more talented than college ball), then we should have been a Final Four team last year. It wasn't Wigs fault. We didn't use him properly. We didn't develop him in the small time we had him either. We could have taught him a few simple pull up moves. A bit of advice about when to take it to the rim and when to pull up. It really got old watching Wigs follow Self's instructions to muscle it to the hole. That was pathetic. And it put Wigs at risk, too.

Truth is... we can't coach offense. Our only ace in the hole in the past was having Danny Manning to teach our bigs for the hi/lo.

All this talk about recruiting strategies is giving me a headache. I don't think it will impact our program unless we can get 9 or 10 McDs AAs like Calipari has. Even then... what is making them a contender this year is that most of them are returning for year 2.

This is going to get worse if we don't address this. The frustrations will grow even more if we continue to get the elite recruits and still puke out in March.

What good does it do to have a group of HS stars that don't even know how to use a simple shot fake? Or have a highly-touted footer that doesn't know how to seal off the boards?

This is the stuff that makes me tired of watching Kansas basketball. Guys so very very underdeveloped. The second issue I have is we aren't properly motivated in March. We come out and play stiff. Fix those areas and Kansas will kick some big time butt in March! Something we can COUNT ON!

@wrwlumpy

This came up earlier in the discussion. Do you think Self has the same spark he had back in '08? I don't think he quite has that spark... but I think that is just part of human nature. He's already won it. I know coaches say the second trophy feels as good as the first... but that's like saying the first time you made whoppee wasn't something extra special.

I see a fire in a guy like Gregg Marshall... that dude is on a mission, probably to achieve what the rest want, a NC. I think if Mario didn't hit that shot in '08 and Self still hadn't won one, that game with the Shockers would have looked completely different. You would have seen TWO coaches standing up and coaching up their players all game instead of just one.

I think coaches that have won it have an advantage in some areas. First.. it looks pretty good on their resume. But also they have a certain ease to them because they are just going back for seconds (or thirds, or whatever). I also think they are at a disadvantage because they are being challenged by coaches that don't have #1 yet. It is "the chip" for coaches in D1.

I'm not saying this to bash Self... or throw out ideas to get rid of him. I'm glad he's here. But am I the only one that sees a lack of spark in our guys in March most of the time? I'd say it goes all the way back to '08 except for '12... which was a unique set of circumstances with TRob losing his mom.

I'd just like to see us as sparked up as the teams we play in March and I'm friggin' sick of hearing excuses!

@sfbahawk

Really nice post. I agree.

I think, ultimately, the strings from Brannen run to his father. It is hard to guess if he and his dad are totally on the same page. Hope so. His dad sounds solid!

Maybe his dad doesn't respect his defense yet? Or his overall hustle. Hard for anyone not to respect his spot up shot. But we all know (as does his dad) that it takes more than just being a spot up shooter to earn PT. Especially at the next level.

@VoyagingJayhawk

I still support Self... but I think it is a natural, healthy situation to challenge him on this. If you look at it like an organic process... perhaps all the chatter drives him harder now to improve his coaching. The results may not be seen next year... but maybe the year after or the year after that.

I wonder what gave him such a spark that led him to 2008?

It would be great to see him with that same hunger level again.

@JayhawkRock78

Sounded like a good trade... your signature for Abe's.

Anyone catch the auction flyer for Phog Allen's rule amendments?

Think it says, "Teams must recruit, recruit, recruit!"

@dylans

"You loose (on average) 10% off your shooting percentage when you dribble first."

Maybe even higher! Brannen can't shoot a lick off the dribble. Problem there was structure. Our offense was all about feeding the ball into the post or driving it into the post and then not feeding back out. Half way through the season our goal became "get our shots in close."

So we didn't run offense to feed the post, draw in the defenders, then feed for an open 3. It looks so simple, but that all has to be choreographed with timing and proper spacing.

I wonder what Brannen's attitude would be like if we actually built and ran real offense to feed his spot up shooting? Might he be more responsive on both sides of the ball? I'm thinking he would treat his PT as more valuable if he was averaging 12 ppg.

I wonder if he feels a bit disrespected. We didn't value his shooting ability. We didn't. We traded it for some marginal interior (and inferior) scoring. Didn't that play in his head? It would mine.

@Crimsonorblue22

If I recall... some players just announce and they say they are in the market for an agent. Other players wait and announce after they hire an agent.

Others in here could better answer our questions.

My question:

Is this where we blow it because we wait around on Cliff?

Even if Self is telling Cheick that Cliff isn't coming back, don't you all think recruits want to hear less promising words and more actions?

Every day we go without word on Cliff we are sealing our fate.

Sorry... but it is time to cut Cliff. Every day he remains a mystery he becomes a monstrous liability. Self should deadline him before the end of the tournament... that would be MONDAY!

I would hate to see this guy go to ISU. We have enough problems beating their juco guys.

@BeddieKU23

"Self tells everyone they work for what they get.."

That was the old Self before the 2012 Finals. He is promising minutes to players now... (for example: Wayne Selden).

@ParisHawk

When I use my mind instead of my heart... I choose #1. But it is hard to do. My guts are still suffering from our recent March loss and from past March disasters.

Funny... but I thought we were involved in a study or in a program to try to peak our performance in March. This was part of Self's answer for last year's disaster (or was it the year before?)

Something having to do with Hudy and getting our guys to their peak physical performance in March.

Maybe it is time to look at how to get their minds to peak performance in March?

One this one, I prefer mind over body, any day of the week and Sundays!

@nuleafjhawk

Unfortunately... the American masses can't focus on too many things at one time. Sports is about all they can handle.

I know it would suck to be without sports. But if we had no sports, and nothing else having the same addictive potential, might Americans spend more time studying history and politics? Might our country be a lot better off?

I think if we had another hockey event like with had in 1980.. winning the gold over those tough Russians... the goalkeeper could run for President and it would be a landslide! Who knows... maybe we would be better off!

I'm saying this because I am VERY GUILTY of poor time management.

@jaybate-1.0

Most every college basketball fan in America is aware of the banner in AFH: "Pay Heed, All Who Enter. Beware Of The Phog."

But few fans know of the banner in the locker room: "Pay Heed, All Who Enter. Beware Of The Capt'ns Hook!"

!captain_hook_is_a_pirate_by_thedrawingtree-d4wg3sz.jpg ↗

Oh yeah... it's my avatar name. Funny coincidence.

So we are back to square one; having a deep conversation if we should be going after OADs or not.

These players seem like a mixed bag. They are the pistachio nut of the nut family. Ever bite into a bad pistachio? Yeah... perhaps the worst taste you can have and hard to get that bad taste out of your mouth.

Why is Self suddenly a dragon slayer? Who is the dragon?

The dragon is Kentucky and Calipari.

If more schools don't start stepping up and challenging harder for top recruits, Calipari will continue to have his way with that entire elite top shelf. If he does that, does it really matter if we develop a good team of 4-year players?

Kansas is taking some recruiting pages out of Kentucky's book. We are developing luxury suites for players. And we are adding on to AFH. Glass building? Seems I saw a similar development at another school? In Lexington.

Until recent, Kansas really wasn't fighting for many of the elite recruits. These days, we do seem on many of their lists, even if we are still fighting to get a bigger share of them.

I'm not posting this to support a revolving door recruiting policy. Right now, I wish we were the Michigan State or Wisconsin program in the Final Four!

Does the results of this year's March Madness impact schools like us? It seems our 2012 loss to Kentucky in the Finals impacted Bill Self to take on the duties of dragon slayer!

Are we doing all of college basketball a favor by continuing to push harder for OADs and become one more school to help dilute all that elite talent from just being able to sign with Kentucky?

@HighEliteMajor

"The reality is we expect more from freshman than we should .. but we should expect a lot from the OAD crowd."

We have to expect great things from OADs because we pay opportunity costs every time we take one. They are using up valuable PT and coaching for a season that could be given to a guy who will take the accumulation of PT and coaching and bring it back for up to 3 additional years of payback.

@nuleafjhawk

When you chew out a player and leave him in you are sending the message that you trust in him to get the job done and he is so valuable you are willing to put game focus directly on him. Kids always respond to that. I did.

@wissoxfan83

You might have cared more about the "Summer of Love" in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco.

Peace Out!

!Humanbein-p.jpg ↗

'Human Be-in'

I was young, but recalled the WAR... followed by LOVE... followed by PROTEST.

I just missed the Vietnam draft by 2 years. Many of my friends went and one died.

@dylans

I really don't know what it will take to straighten out Brannen. I can see that guy wearing a "Question Authority" tshirt on his days off. He seems like an intelligent kid. I think I'd try to find what makes him tick and explore other ways to motivate him. I may have him all wrong and perhaps he just has an attention disorder. Lots of kids have that these days. The thing is... kids are unique of each other, so "one size fits all" discipline doesn't work. If these college kids can't understand that it takes different strokes for different folks, then they aren't ready for prime time. They are supposed to be young adults. Therefore, it shouldn't be an issue to apply different techniques to different kids.

I never had a coach that gave the quick hook. My experiences usually involved coaches that seemed more about psychology, or coaches that should have been Marine drill instructors, or one coach that was a minister and could get us all high on his words. After those experiences, I don't think I could have handled a quick hook guy. It would feel like he isn't really on my side or doesn't trust me to give it my all or whatever, or he just doesn't have the time and energy to talk to me so he just pulls me. I know it always worked for a coach to call timeout just because of my dumb azz, and he'd verbally let me know it loudly. But the last thing he'd do is take me out. He wanted me to go back in and prove myself. I never disappointed after that. The only thing on my mind was the fear that he might call timeout again and really let me have it!

I don't like Huggy's foul language... but I appreciate the guy as a coach. It is said that his players would take a bullet for him. Maybe Bill gives off confusing messages. I noticed he doesn't always talk much during games. I find that very odd. Most coaches barely have a voice by the end of a game.

I say all of this... but we do have a successful program. The only missing piece is March Madness (and finding 5s)...

@FarSideHawk

Very interesting take. Could be right. I need to try to remember back. Not easy for me. I have severe memory issues. I don't think Bill is the same guy that came to Kansas initially.. but then, I'm not the same guy either. He seemed hungrier to win a NC back then. Like he was carrying a chip. I think he needs to carry a chip again. If he doesn't have one, how is his team supposed to have one? Makes me really appreciate our 2012 team. Those guys really got it done!

@Hawk8086

They sure don't seem to be sad... they seem as jacked up as anyone on that team. I don't understand how Calipari is able to do that to players? If we did that, we'd never sign a 5-star recruit again. Wiggins was given the key to our team when he was here. Even Wayne is given "golden status"... even when he goes long stretches without producing. I can understand that Wigs is a special case... but can't we fairly compare Wayne to Marcus Lee?

I guess we are to believe that Calipari just has a magic personality with recruits. These kids work their butts off.... and by the time they reach their senior year in HS, they've heard every con man in the universe, pitching one thing or another.

@DoubleDD

"And the drums are beating again. I wonder how many early exits from the tournament before it would take the most die hard HCBS fans to say ok enough is enough. It's time to go?"

Or how about telling Self.... IT'S TIME FOR CHANGES!

Many have been saying it for the past several years... but if a larger crowd says it, maybe he changes, or maybe he leaves if he can't embrace change. Basketball is not a stagnant game. Even the best have to adjust to the game.

We are all focused on March... but where exactly is the problem? Recruiting? Developmental coaching? Game strategy? Offense? Defense?

This was one of our better M2M defenses... well.. on the perimeter. And we still couldn't get to the Sweet 16. Self is really known for one thing only... defense. So we had pretty good defense, and our post did it's best to hold down the fort there, too. Except for not having a back-to-the-basket big, this was a typical Self team. We needed the shot blocker... but actually... our defensive stats were pretty good.

We spend more money than any other program in the nation on recruiting... but we can't land a big? Even a 4-star big? How about a 3-star big?

I think fans are going to erupt if we don't find some real post solutions between now and November. How can we stink so bad at recruiting bigs?

So obviously the hi/lo is not the kind of offense top bigs want to play in.

Look at Bragg's recent comment about why he chose Kansas... "“They play up and down and use the pick and roll and the pick and pop. That fits me well.”" Nothing about him playing back to the basket. We typically need a 4 and 5 to play that style to really incorporate the hi/lo. They rotate sides and circle through the paint. The 4 can pop out for other offense, too... but I think Self would also like a 4 that can play back to the basket. He can suck over the defense and feed the 5 for easy dunks, too.

There are few to none big men out there that want to just be saddled in the paint. Most of them have ambitions similar to Myles Turner. They all think they will be hitting as many 3s as anyone else. 3s is where basketball has gone... whether Self wants to admit it or not.

@jaybate-1.0

"Look at the black lingerie on the knees!!!!!"

Bet this guy is a zillionaire!

!jayhawkneedtire.jpg ↗

I made this a hard question for myself!

I'm mixed. And I'm only further confused by reading all the opinions in here... very good discussion.

I kind of feel like @user_RCJH it's like almost finishing swimming across the lake and turning back.

Does this conference title streak count for something? It does with media. Any mention today about Kansas and Self and you hear about the conference streak. If we win a NC.. we get mentioned for that until the next NC is declared that isn't Kansas. So... we literally get 12-months of mileage out of a NC with media.

I think we all have to ask what recruits think. I'm going to guess they heavily value a NC over a consecutive conference streak.... but then... if I'm a visiting recruit I'd probably get pretty giddy if a current player showed me his hand full of conference title rings. Would I rather see a NC ring on one finger instead? Probably... But for people to say the conference streak doesn't mean anything... no... it definitely means something.

I've noticed how much the media has chimed in on this streak ever since we reached 10. It was constantly mentioned this past year while the season was going on, and afterwards when we clinched... and then mentioned as we failed in March!

I do believe it will become a monstrous media event if Self can reach Wooden. Wooden's conference streak may not have been near his biggest accomplishment (especially when looking at his NC streak), but it is a huge thing now with media and Self reaching the milestone.

Today... what counts for programs is media exposure. That knife cuts both ways. I cleverly aligned this question where we make it to the Sweet 16 in choice one. Making it that level means we won't get singled out as a crushing upset (unless we have a Kentucky-like team). And making the S16 means we don't continue to add to our record losses in the first weekend.

I think back to 2012... and we received NOTHING for being runner-up in the Final Four. So... just making it there isn't really a prize. Of course it is better than going home the first weekend... every game in March counts big and it gets our game in front of more recruits, too. But we don't continue to get a bump beyond that weekend. I like to think the conference streak gives us a minor bump all year long. The question is how valuable is that minor bump?

As you can tell from what I've written so far... I'm trying desperately to hold on to my opinion that I would choose Option 1. If I think just with my head, I think I would go with 1. My heart is a different story... because it is attached to my ego, too, and my ego is sick of getting beat up in March!

So we have accomplished #11 this year..... yippee! Why do I feel like a piece of elephant dung?

@Lulufulu

I wouldn't want to have a heart issue and be a NBA head coach. Fred is already pushing it by coaching ISU.

If you noticed his mannerisms this year... even when his team had some bad breaks or a bad call from the refs, Fred stayed calm. He showed very little emotion on the sidelines. I think he is just being as careful as possible with his heart at least until he has another operation.

The life of a NBA coach is brutal. They typically go around 100 games in a year. The travel schedule... these guys don't see their own beds a lot. Hard to stay on a disciplined diet and get the right amount of sleep. It's college ball times 3!

I know ISU is a real thorn in our side... but that is what we need! No one questions Fred's character or his coaching ability. He is the real deal! I will be sad if he leaves the Big 12!

I know a lot of single guys out there that miss their old girlfriends. They traded them in to try to get something they didn't have while not realizing what they lost!

NEXT QUESTION:

What if Self takes the Izzo strategy next year? What if he plays a deeper bench in conference play (important minutes) to keep more players in the mix for March? It could cost us a conference title and doesn't guarantee a FF finish.

Do we take the gamble?

Why I'm asking this... Michigan State finished in a tie for 3rd (with 3 teams) in the B10.

I always think Izzo ONLY cares about March.

What if we lose our conference and don't make the Final Four?

Is there any value with "one in the hand is worth two in the bush?"

"Terminating Travis Ford's contract would trigger a buyout of at least $9.6 million for Oklahoma State, according to The Oklahoman."

Best paid high school coach in the history of the game!

@joeloveshawks

"Why can't we do both? Wisconsin and UK did this year!"

Of course we can do both... but this is to see where fans' minds are at. Is the conference streak worth more or less than a final four appearance (that could also mean a NC... to be determined)?

@Crimsonorblue22

For those who think Self might consider going back home to coach... can anyone see Self doing this? He's not crazy. Going to OSU for him would be like stepping back in the dinosaur age!

@Crimsonorblue22

Yep... I'll go look for it and change this post to the visuals...

Here it is:

Andrew Wiggins and Rudy Gobert played a little game of Dunk, Dunk, Block ↗

Go down to the very bottom. Wigs was very successful in this game, but had one major setback!

The still photography from this block is actually better than the video.

@jaybate-1.0

"Interestingly, Kentucky and Duke recruits DONT want to go where there is playing time.

I wonder why?"

Maybe their recruits actually think they'll get developed there regardless of PT?

Maybe more people want to jump on board with my focus on paying the super bucks to acquire the services of John Lucas as an assistant coach? It might set us back about $2m a year. Cheaper than luxury apartments...

@Statmachine

I think it is too soon for the Mayor to move on. First... I don't think his health issue will be completely resolved with surgery. There will remain an unknown factor for some time.

Another thing... Fred is a king in Ames! Not sure he would want to go from king to a flogged peasant over night. He is really integrated in his community.

Last... he has a great thing going on! Coaches constantly screw up by giving up great things for a new challenge that doesn't pan out. If he stays at ISU, great things are coming their way. He will be immortalized eventually in the HOF and will have a legendary status in his town. In the NBA, he will be nothing more than a statistic unless he can figure out how to be one of the greats. Not many have succeeded there.

Wigs also got smoked in what might be the worst smoke in the last 10 yrs in the league.

What I like about Wigs... that won't slow him down a bit!

I think he has already proven my point that Cleveland made a Bowie-like NBA mistake!

For all those over-ambitious coaches (like Gregg Marshall)... THIS COULD BE YOU!

[link text](

@dylans

I've never agreed with Self's quick hook. It demoralizes players. Total confidence killer. That is one of Self's biggest coaching areas I have a problem with.

Self should leave players in, and he should get off his butt and stand up and coach the team while they are playing. He should verbally rip guys when they screw up out there, but leave them in. In some more extreme cases... coaches will waste a timeout just to rip a player. Amazing how that can really get players to suddenly perform well!

I think some of Self's coaching habits are the reason why we never play with enough enthusiasm. You will never hear one of Self's teams described as "enthusiastic." Pity... because that is THE key factor for winning in March! Enthusiasm helps lift team's energy level... helps them overcome slumps... helps them maintain hot shooting... helps defend and fight for 50/50 balls.... helps close out games in March!

When players are worried about getting the hook, they play cautious basketball instead of playing with optimism and enthusiasm!

Ever wonder why we always look stiff in March?

@jaybate-1.0

Actually... I kind of think that the biggest negative event that hurt Kansas basketball this year was Devonte's toe injury.

Perhaps... if he had stayed healthy all year.. he may have led us into March. He would have definitely received a bunch of extra minutes in the year, and maybe that would be enough to earn him the PG spot over Frank. Frank sharing minutes as backup PG and half the minutes of Wayne.

I look at Devonte and I see another Tyus Jones... but I think Devonte plays at a more-controlled pace. Yes... he is that good! He may end up being the best steal Self has ever pulled off at Kansas! He is that good!

I'm not sure what Self is thinking with Newman. Newman is a SG, but he wants to play PG. This guy has OAD written all over him. So we disrupt the apple cart, take Newman. Basically put Frank or Devonte in the "Self deep freeze" and hope we can restore Frank and Devonte a year later? Devonte is a guy who can actually bring us a National Championship in two years... he'll actually give us two solid years of NC contention, maybe even next year, too. Newman is total "fool's gold." I'm not biting that bait.

Or maybe Self knows something none of us know. Maybe Wayne is gone. If Wayne is gone, then we can keep minutes going for Devonte, Frank and Malik. Problem is... the same problem we've had since TT left in 2012... whose team is this? Who is the leader of the team? We going to ice down Devonte's desire to lead the team for another year? Might that backfire? That kid is eager as all heck to take ownership of this team.

@jaybate-1.0

It is hard to really assess Wayne's ability to make it at the next level. We all got frustrated when he tried to do too much with his drives and lose the ball. But didn't Wigs do the same thing? Remember how he couldn't hold onto the ball on his drives? It looked like he was trying to run with a greased pig.

Wayne doesn't have the athleticism of Wigs... but he does have the right body. He may end up pulling a minor version of what Wigs has done this year when he does get his shot.

I still think it would be a major mistake for him to leave. Total gamble. Too much gamble.

"Devonte can transfer and start most places. Will he take a cut in PT for a year with the risk of more OADs later, or will he transfer?"

If Devonte wants to leave, I know a coach that will jump through hoops to get him to his school... RAT FACE! Coach K has a high hard one for Devonte!

Okay... we've had a little time to process our recent failure in March. Back to clear thinking...

Two choices... which pill would you take for next year?

1. Conference Title #12 and make it to the Sweet 16 before losing

2. Lose Conference but make it to the Final Four (outcome to be determined)

It's a pot that has been stirred often, just trying to prevent burning on the bottom.

Note: I didn't say a National Championship... just a trip to the Finals and a chance at a National Championship.

@REHawk

"Does that Okie oil man plan to sweeten the pot for Gregg Marshall?"

Gosh... now I know where Marshall gets his frenetic personality from... his agent!

@BeddieKU23

Interesting choices. I need to read up!

@BeddieKU23

From everything I read about Myles... he went to Texas because it made him very popular in his HS. How short-sighted was that!

If he had gone to Kansas and wasn't in a hurry... he'd be over in weight-training this morning going over his charts with Hudy trying to not only get stronger, but develop his legs so he can actually run for the first time in his life!