I haven't a clue. I just know what college kids are like, and what they like to do.
I wonder how it goes a CU?
drgnslayr
11251 posts
"Self say's irresponsible."
"Irresponsible" like Snack's "irresponsible?"
Just curious... do any of these kids get drug tested? Anyone know?
It was like taking the ugly girl to the prom, and being happy as a lark!
Great game! Lots of fight. Tough defense.
Sprinkle in some offense in the future and lets see what happens!
RCJH!
Oh so true.... the team with no identity.... creeping up on others this year. Love it!
Ever see the movie "Dead Man?"
Our role in that movie is the Native American named "Nobody."
"Guess who's announcing game and has a senior son on the team?"
Didn't we break his kid's nose a couple of years ago?
"Cue the self-serving "NCAA tourney is all luck" discussion."
In any one given year, the "luck card" can be played and supported. But over a long period of time, the luck factor vanishes in the numbers and trends.
You hit on it... the B12 needs another contender besides Kansas.
But I do think we are moving in the right direction. I point to ISU, OU and even WVU. Texas has been a gigantic disappointment, especially knowing how much money they dump into their athletic program, the Longhorn Network, being situated in the best state for recruiting.
Even though we know Scott Drew isn't a good game coach, the guy does bring in top talent to a non-basketball school. Hence... he has been a net plus for our league (unless he gets nailed for recruiting violations).
Truth is, Texas is still a football school. They don't really have a basketball standards bar set high enough. I think most people down there think Barnes is successful. Anyways.... it is just something to do until football season comes around, and another year of Texas football also underachieving.
Our conference basketball championship might go through Lawrence... but the success of our conference (as a whole) goes through Austin.
I'll take that a step further....
There are times that when we take it all the way to the rim... it is definitely "fool's gold!"
(reference: UK vs KU, Nov 18, 2014)
My big question, concerning 3s.... how can we shoot a bunch of 3s and go 50% and lose, while in another game go 0% and win?
I think it points to this young team getting lax when they score easy points.
If all of us could combine our thoughts into one path going forward.... it would be to have a balanced offense (and sets enforcing that) and take what the defense gives. We wouldn't be relying on the 3 or the 2.... but relying on getting good looks and executing well.
And last... when we get several 3s, we stay focused and continue to play just as tough as when the 3s aren't falling.
If we can get to this level of basketball, we will be successful in March.
I believe there may be some half-truths in this story, but it is swimming in a river full of speculative "wishful thinking.'
A story like this can take off like wild fire. And the fact that it can is where the real story is.
Truth is... Calipari is the most-hated head coach ever to be a part of college basketball. The fact that a story like this can ablaze the entire nation is proof of that. People want to believe it. That is enough for it to be accepted as truth and continue to spread.
If this takes off to the point of making mainstream, Kentucky administration should start weighing the worth of one John Calipari. Is it worth being hated in 49 states just so you can claim a few more National Championships? Really?
Most of their fan base will probably answer that with a resounding "yes!" And that is where the rub lies.
I am thankful we have a coach that is respected and admired in all 50 states. I wouldn't trade him for Calipari and a slew of National Championships.
Imagine most of America hating KU? We may have picked up a few haters in Memphis in '08... but just a few... not a nation full!
I think the key for the B12 is to get a few teams into the Sweet 16. It would be great to see 3 make it. FF is such a crap shoot. But we stand a chance by having more in the Sweet 16.
It's just hard to say. A team gets hot. Goes on a streak. Gets a few breaks.
I'm just saying we have an interesting resume this year. Teams with unique talents. Hard to prepare for. How many teams in the tourney face pressure like WVU dishes out? And the thinking is their rough style (hacking) will be allowed more in March. ISU... when they swagger... turn the game into a race. OU can play with anyone on any given night (or not). Baylor is streaky, and full of talent. KU? Just seems to find a way to win.
I like our chances of showing well this year (as a conference). Reaching the FF? I don't have a clue.
I do agree it would be nice to see someone from our conference make it beyond the Sweet 16 besides KU (I mean... WITH KU!).
I like your B12 dream. I'd even go a step further and say it would be great to see 2 teams in the FF!
"What was Hield ranked?"
I thought he was something like 88. But Self goes after plenty of guys in that range.... most without the body and athleticism Buddy has. I know guys blossom later.... but when we are taking chances on recruits down on the list, shouldn't we at least consider their build and athleticism? It is hard to overlook his strengths, because they are showing before he even dribbles a ball.
I don't know... I guess other coaches missed him, too. I just expect Self to be the "wizard" and catch the "diamonds in the rough."
I don't look at Self to change too much until the Mayor finally starts landing 5-star recruits. Kansas will be in trouble then...
I think there are several B12 teams that could make a mark in March. ISU is predictable now to B12 teams because everyone played them twice. Same goes with WVU... but they are sure to do some damage in March. And ISU can go far if they can regain some swagger. Baylor? You just never know. I'm doubtful that Texas makes it to the prom... but they should. How would you like to be a #1 seed and draw Texas in your first game? Wouldn't it be great to see Kentucky or Duke get them?
My question mark is with OU. They don't seem to have an exact identity. Often... it's just Buddy taking over. How does a team scout and prep against that?
I know we are weak in the post... but if I had to add one player from the B12 into the current KU mix, it would be Buddy. The guy can score anywhere on the floor and has the alpha-dog to take over when needed.
I'll never understand why we didn't recruit him hard. Major blunder.
OU strategy... fall behind, but not too far behind. Encourage OU to soften into some bad habits. Maybe mix the tempo up. Come on strong down the stretch and leave Norman with a "W!"
Yikes.... I wonder what JONATHAN TJARKS thinks about Cliff and Self?
I think my definition of BAD BALL takes more of a Huggy attitude.
The idea is to intentionally play poorly in some areas to induce another team into bad habits... but play tough enough to not get blown out during the process. Later on... we start correcting certain areas of our game while buckling down even harder on defense. The opposition can't recover in time to make a run. So we make the last run.... enough to pull us into victory.
Huggy doesn't play exactly like this... but he does (knowingly) give up some easy break points off his press to entice teams to play sped up ball on offense. We fell into this trap for parts of both games. Once a team plays sped up, it is hard to get them to ever return to their half court offense.
The key for us to win at BAD BALL is to practice on bouncing out of bad habits later in the game. Go from ineffective execution to effective execution. I guess that can (to some degree) be practiced.
It helps when a team KNOWS this is the strategy! They are less likely to lose confidence during the bad parts.
The ultimate goal of BAD BALL is to force the opposition to play a different game then what they intended. Make them play outside of their norm. No one we play is ready to do this.
The shot fake is a nice addition to this. As well as trying to draw charges. I'm not going to say "flop" because I don't believe flops are necessary. Getting a team in foul trouble is one more way we can get them out of their norm.
Game pace is another aspect. Maybe it takes a few contrived fast breaks to open up the speed, while on other possessions using the entire shot clock. Alter pace and see what works.
"Both Self and @drgnslayr played college basketball in a similar era."
I didn't play college ball. I played in city leagues, on tournament teams, and a bit in Europe on what is referred to as "semi-pro"... meaning... I was giving a few bucks here and there, and had my expenses covered. In my peak, I would classify myself as a respectable D2 player (level). I was no where near the level of competitive ball Self played at. But "yes" we played in the same era.
"This drive away from three point shot was engineered by coach Self. You don't make such a marked change without the boss man being on board, and directing traffic. It's was not a natural matter of course."
I believe you are right on the mark. This is "Self engineered."
He may have gone as far as tell guys when to shoot 3s and when not to. If he is orchestrating that from the bench, it is a guarantee that they won't hit the shots because they are focused on the bench commands, not on a flow out.
Go back to your DVRs and look over the past 4 or 5 games. Watch our guys lining up on the lane during a FT. They are all visually glued to the bench... waiting for commands. It is normal for guys to look over now and then... but to just stare at the bench is unnatural.
I don't think it took much for Self to pull out of the 3-game. He only had to go to practice and re-install the hi/lo or some other derivative that doesn't involve perimeter shooting. And then he barks out a few commands to feed the post and score from the post. In games, he just has to keep a short pull stick on the sidelines. He has been pulling guys out quickly... is it because they fail on defense or offense?
The "fools gold" comment was the beginning of the end. For a coach to criticize his team for shooting 50+% from 3 is simply mind-boggling. I guess the NBA all lives on fools gold, too.
I am every bit as critical as HEM is on this... except I've started to loosen up my view to accept what Self is doing. And I believe there is no way this team would have toughened up without dumping the 3. Everything we need to know is in that OU home game.... and how this team went on cruise control after one hot half of 3s. Truth is... these kids go soft when anything comes too easy, or they don't have their backs against the wall.
So I applaud what Self did... but won't give him a standing ovation until he figures out how to re-install the 3 somewhere in March.... and keep the guys playing tough even if they score a few easy points.
My one issue is that I feel Self wasn't really honest with his approach. I'd rather he just shoot it straight from the hip. Let the Jayhawk Nation (and his team) know that he is abandoning the trey until his guys learn to play tough, including after easy points. He could have easily referenced the OU game and I think everyone would get it. He didn't need to drag his own reputation down in order to have the same impact.
Now I'm focused on BAD BALL. I like the concept. Bring something even further out of norm than "Huggy ball." No one expects this from the university that brought the game "institutional basketball."
If you have a category in your model for "luck"... shouldn't you have a category for "bull snit?"
As much as we would all like this to be true, and for this to reach the US Justice Department for scrutinizing....
This is a bogus website. It was started just a couple of days ago and there are no other media stories besides this one.
There is no "Pasadena Post" except a post office in Pasadena.
Total rubbish.
UCONN didn't pass many peoples' eye test last year.
"I don't respect Lunardi."
Me, either. What does this guy know about basketball? He didn't even play basketball in his youth and we are supposed to trust his "eye test?"
His background is marketing.... how appropriate!
He is proof how news media has the depth of ant poop!
Guess I can repost what I had above... except change the gender....
"Says??? The family attorney?
I am skeptical about sources like that. They don't have access to any privy info from the NCAA. From sources you can trust (like KU) they would never leak out news ahead of the NCAA.
Hate to be Negative Ned on this one... but I'm not getting my hopes up, especially on a timely resolution. Seems "timely" would be more like the middle of March."
The rumor leak was from McAfee.... he is doing what all civil litigators do... establish damages.
Cliff will not be playing tomorrow. Unlikely he will be cleared for March. Possible, but unlikely.
"WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BIG 12 TOURNAMENT?"
To give Texas a chance at an automatic qualifier to the big dance!
I think we only have to win one game to guarantee a 2 seed... but maybe it matters what we do in Norman tomorrow. It shouldn't because of our SOS.
I agree that Ollie has to still prove himself. I'm not one of those National Championship idolizers that put everything on those as the determinant of what makes a great coach.
But he definitely hit the jackpot.
Curious if he can recruit... or as you say... is he just another Weber!
Fridays are days for buffalo wings and fake-out practices.
Kansas is about to embark on another post conference season. March Madness is the time of year where teams let it all hang out. Often, Kansas has been victimized by teams with players that hit game-winning shots and no one can pronounce their name. "Ali Farokhmanesh".... are you kidding me? We got beat by the next Volkswagen model name? The "Farokhmanesh!"
Those days are over. In fact... this is our year to be the sleeper. Jayhawk fans are already prepared to go underground. Enough of being the "blue blood institution" playing "institutional basketball." What team in America even needs to scout us? "Hi/lo... hi/lo... it's off to work we go... (whistle) hi/lo... hi/lo..."
It's time Kansas has a new image. "Bad boys!"
This won't be a team matching the dirty play of the old Detroit Pistons. This team will be experts at BAD BALL!
Our entire goal is to disrupt the flow of our opponents, while we have become the "masters of disruptive flow" or MdF!
We don't need a lot of points to win.... because our foes will not score many points.
@jaybate-1.0 and I have been working on the formula. Something between "Smokin Joe" Frazier and "Sting like a Bee" Muhammad Ali.
Every Jayhawk fan and their logos from around the world know by now that I have been preaching the need for shot fakes for months now. Actually... it was the Kentucky beat down that got me going in this direction. No team, regardless of height or athleticism, should ever suffer with double-digit blocked shots put upon them.
Starting today, Kansas will begin a new practice theme to be used on every Friday, from now until we collect the NCAA championship trophy in April.
Thank God It's Fake-Out Friday!
Friday practices will be completely dedicated to the fake. Shot fakes, ball fakes, body fakes, no-look fakes, penetration fakes, shoulder fakes, head fakes, stutter fakes, jump fakes, pump fakes... even fake fakes. Also play for the charge calls on defense. The idea is we want the FT line to become our bread and butter.
And to go along with our focus on fakes, every Jayhawk will be put on the FT line to polish up our new main scoring avenue. Forget the "fool's gold" 3s and low-percentage mid range and post attempts. This team will be earning a ticket to the Final Four at the charity stripe. What a fitting logo above. Stripes!
Since our coaching staff is obviously unfamiliar with teaching the fake, I am more than happy to help them along. The biggest key to a successful fake (in most cases) is the proper use of footwork. Ali could have never "stung like a bee" if he didn't do proper footwork to position him to pummel his opponents. He may have been one of the weakest punching heavyweight champions the world had ever known. But the guy understood footwork better than any heavyweight ever to fight. In fact, few lightweight fighters could match his footwork.
The best time to use a shot fake is when your opponent is lunging out to contest your shot. This is an automatic foul, even if the shooter lunges into the defender. It may look ugly... but ugly is one of the key definitions of BAD BALL. Footwork, running sets, quick passing... this is the way to create scoring space within a team concept. From an individual execution, footwork and the ability to create scoring space will be just as effective.
Every team approaching March is thinking the same thing: how do we beat Kentucky? Proper use of fakes should be a major part of any team's strategy to defeat the "ogre in the room."
Kentucky's strategy is to overwhelm teams with their height. A big part of that is to block a lot of shots. They constantly lunge in order to do so, or they swat at balls. None of their trees have the artfulness of a Withey to keep blocks in bounds. They all strive to make the SportsCenter Top 10. Kentucky should be one of the easier teams to beat in March. Play their egos against themselves. Push them to be aggressive. Push them to overplay. The twins do not play under control, especially in March. They should have 3 fouls each half way through the first half. Remove the twins from this team and you have cut the head off of the ogre.
Even teams like Kentucky, with their mega-depth, will lose if getting into deep foul trouble. We should be in the double-bonus half way through each half. Teams in foul trouble can no longer play aggressive defense. Teams in foul trouble can no longer play aggressive offense. Brannen Greene should be shooting 3 foul shots several times in a game. He is our biggest weapon on this. Teach the guy to bend his knees and fake the jump from the 3pt line, then jump into a lunging defender. After a few of those, he will have uncontested 3s.
If we are willing to dedicate Fridays for this strategy, we have enough time to really execute it down the stretch.
I can see another trophy in AFH!
"And do we want to get matched up against past demons like VCU, UNI. Suddenly the list is close to 15 or so teams."
Heck yes! We DO want to get a rematch shot at VCU and UNI and any other ghost from our past. Self will dust off the old videotape from our previous loss and get out guys jacked. I believe these guys make a very capable team but they always need to play for something. Self has to find a way to push their buttons. Avenging some of our past dark moments in March is the perfect recipe for this team! Plus... would we all like to see that!
"If the Hawks can channel the grit from that WVU win and shoot 15+ threes a game (without going, ahem, 0-15) in the Big Dance, I like them for the Elite 8. If they can play with grit and shoot 20+ threes a game, I could see them getting on a roll and gutting their way to the Final Four. "
Love your spirit!
I consider Greenberg to be one of the better commentator analysts... I just don't think he has the depth of knowledge any of us have for Kansas basketball. He has to have the scoop on so many teams there is no way he can know enough to give a straight up view.
I'm not sure we need 40 minutes of perfect basketball to win most games in March. Maybe some... like against Kentucky. Look back at most of our March losses. We usually play poorly for most of those games and lose by a bucket or two. Most times, it comes down to executing for victory in the last 2 minutes. We've won many of those types of games this year. That is a big part of why we have such a good record this year with such a young team.
Right on! I like your analysis. I think the key will be toughness. I like how you put that on the plus side. I hope they keep it up. If we do, then I don't know why we won't do well.
"We're Kansas and we always expect to win."
That is true... but many of us in here love to speculate and make it challenging.
Someday we are bound to lose this streak. It has to be. It has to be... well.. ha... NO... WE CAN CONTINUE TO WIN IT THROUGH PERPETUITY! WE'LL SHOW THE WORLD WHAT A REAL STREAK IS.... Anyone know how I make the infinity sign on my keyboard? ~
I liked Norton, too... and talk about unorthodox! The way he crossed his body with his arms... it looked like he was given up the entire fight and then WHOMP!... here comes his heavy punches!
That was the golden period for boxing... at least for heavyweights.
It was exciting in the welterweight division with Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez, Thomas Hearns, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Roberto Duran added a twist to it all, too. I was a big fan of his long before Sugar Ray came around. He was credited with around 120 fights in his career, but he easily had twice that many... unrecorded from his youthful days in Panama.
Enjoyed the read!
I've got to step in and add a bit more about "Smokin Joe."
I like your connection of "Smokin Joe" to Jayhawk BAD BALL. It is the right analogy. Smokin Joe represented brute force. Joe only knew one move... COME FORWARD! Nothing fancy, just bring the fight in tight and leverage his punches, usually on a bigger opponent. He won a gold medal in the Olympics in 1964 with a broken thumb. He didn't want anyone to know it was broken, so he kept quiet so he wouldn't be denied.
Smokin Joe proved that brute force can (from time to time) beat someone more skillful and with the right physical attributes. He beat Ali the first time in what was labeled "Fight of the Century.". And though Joe was not the most graceful athlete, he was very precise and timely when it counted most in this fight, coming in with his left hook when Ali dropped his right. He, then, turned around and lost to Foreman. Foreman represented an unorthodox style and was another case of brute force.
Ali needed the championship back so he had to fight the guy he always feared fighting... George Foreman.
!The_Rumble_in_the_Jungle_poster.jpg ↗
I watched that fight live at one of the satellite venues.
This is the fight where Ali did his version of BAD BALL... introducing what later was defined as "rope a dope." He brought ugly to the ring, and was rewarded. It was the only way for him to win that fight. Had he gone toe-to-toe with Foreman, he would have been knocked out. Fans were caught off guard from his tactic (including his trainer, Angelo Dundee), even though they were warned by Ali that he had a "special plan" for George. Fights broke out around the world where the satellite showings took place. Ali's fans were taunted during those first 7 rounds... until Ali stopped Foreman in the eighth.
I think Kansas needs to incorporate some of Frazier and some of Ali to have the right one-two combination.
At times, we need to be Ali... sitting on the ropes, absorbing punishment while getting our opponents to expend all of their energy. We have to do it carefully and artfully, just like Ali did. Only a few punches can get in to hit us, so we stay within reach of a victory later. Then we need the brute force of Frazier... a bit throughout the game to help tire out our opponents, and down the stretch to level the knockout punch!
If we believe in this strategy, and how it worked for Ali... then we should be able to use it against Kentucky. Even with their platoon system, we should be able to tire and disorient Kentucky. Use Ali's plan... use footwork and absorb their punches to tire the giant.
Sounds good, until you consider a guy named Kevin Ollie. Second year in he took home the gold. And he only had 2 years as an assistant coach before that.
I think we get too focused on stats. I don't know which guy I would prefer. I'd base it on investigating further and interviews... lots of interviews... with both coaches, old staff members and faculty members... and also players.
I think both of these guys are qualified and capable.
Gosh... just looked over the list and Scott Drew is on it! Seriously?
"we need to get us a KU homer in the analysts ranks."
We tried that once....
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Not this time because we know what is coming. Kick back and enjoy watching all those Okies get hustled by another Okie.
If anything, take a page out of the Riverboat Gambler and call your bookie at the 1o-minute mark of the second half and make him give you fantastic odds on a comeback.
"But it is important to go down and beat OU with BAD BALL without Perry."
I agree!
Our strategy is:
-
Shoot BAD BALL from trey - We still need to dog the trey. Shoot it, but make sure it stumbles. Bring Brannen in and out all game. Tell him to shoot the trey, but don't run any perimeter offense and make him develop his own shot, like off the dribble. That will guarantee he goes something like 0-6. Tell Wayne to shoot a few treys when he is heavily guarded. Just tell him to elevate over the top. And sometimes Frank throw up a 38-footer with 2 seconds left on the shot clock.
-
Let OU push out a lead - Don't panic because we are expecting the OU lead through 3/4s of the game. But make them earn it. They get a lead because our offense totally sucks, not because their offense is running well (this is the key). Just don't let them get ahead by more than 20 with 10 minutes left in the game.
-
Scrutinize all our guys - Through the 30 minutes of BAD BALL Self needs to pull out every guy at least 10 times and bark at them while they take a seat at the end of the bench. Surely he can find problems with all our guys... like... low hustle.
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Flip at the 10-minute mark - With 10 minutes left in the game, call timeout. Self needs to bark out the Pavlovian hypnosis trigger word which activates our troops to suddenly go out there and kick some butt. Feed the ball to Jamari, Hunter or Landen and have them drive it to the hole. Hopefully Kelly can drive it, too, if he hasn't fouled out. Maybe even Wayne drive, but this time, pull up for the mid range shot.
-
Hit our foul shots - Make sure we are prepared to shoot a lot of free throws this game.
"Lessoned learned. :grinning: Thank God for DVR. LOL"
And lesson learned to add at least 1 more hour to the record time!
Had I not done that, I would have missed it.
Thanks for posting that... especially loved the Mizzou dig! Ha! I'm sure some of the Antlers are waking up right now from a long night of crystal meth use and pooping in their already-soiled britches.
Ha... I'm not going to put you all through another one of my doomsday scenarios. Not a word about how we under-develop players (oops, except here).
I'm just sitting here thinking how few games we have remaining. Obviously... we will decide how many games we do play.
Whatever...
But the end is near! Another great year for Jayhawk fans. So many quality games and wins.
I'm already starting to miss this team. I know most guys will be back, but adding and subtracting, even a few, makes a different team.
I have become very fond of this group. They have managed to do well (up to now) and without the monster shot blocker/rebounder we are used to having in the post. It has been fun to meet that challenge, and we've had to play some tall teams this year.
How many in here expected us to win #11?
I have to admit that all the negative press weighed on me, but I remained hopeful because of who we are and who we have as our coach (and who our competitors have coaching them, too!)
Even with all that, in my cloudy subconscious I had us at 50/50.
I am avoiding giving a prediction for March. I know it is a crazy concept thinking I (or anyone else) could jinx this team.... but I have many decades of proof how I've made predictions far inflated from the results. However... that doesn't stop me from asking any of you to predict the future.
Are we a Sweet 16 team this year? Elite 8? Final 4?
Or is this going to be like many years where we under-perform and get swept under the rug by a sleeper?
Speaking of sleepers... which teams do you all fear the most on a Kansas match-up?
I know one of mine... it was Miami... but it appears they may be NIT bound.
Big shout out to our team for giving me a basketball season full of excitement and another conference trophy at the end!
Next year is going to be tough in the B12. ISU and Texas... I'm trying not to think about it yet. I just hope Kelly returns. We really need him to.
And I hope we land a footer. Zim, to be exact.
Self should win NCOY just for having to take the media assault all year that "this is the year Kansas won't repeat..."
"Could it be?"
"Texas has all the horse!."
"Iowa State is as gifted of a team as you will find on the planet!"
Self has had to endure all the bull snit, he should now get to eat the steak!
I know. Me, too. And after last night... who wasn't banged up?
On the other hand... these kids all think they are ready for the NBA. Better get used to getting beat on constantly...
I think all our scholarship players are going to see PT in Norman.... and should.
But I'm also thinking Self wants to win this one. Continue the "play tough" teachings. It wouldn't be good to let off the gas now and expect them to pick it up later.
I kind of wonder if this hasn't been a problem in other Self March performances. We've often dogged through the B12 tourney, perhaps to get rested and not risk injury. But then the guys also come out slow in March games.
Not sure how well it goes to "amp down" players and then expect them to "amp up" with the snap of Self's fingers later.
Even though we are struggling through these recent games, it seems they are becoming tougher guys. Often feels more like a team of men now instead of boys. But we need to keep the push on.
Yep... She's Serbian and doesn't accept anything lame. Always pushes hard.
Interesting that you have to pass through the low post(s) to enter the store...
There is even a "NO PARKING" sign in the post area.
Says??? The family attorney?
I am skeptical about sources like that. They don't have access to any privy info from the NCAA. From sources you can trust (like KU) they would never leak out news ahead of the NCAA.
Hate to be Negative Nancy on this one... but I'm not getting my hopes up, especially on a timely resolution. Seems "timely" would be more like the middle of March.
Hahaha.... Yeah, I'd like to read about his tough career in the NBA. He must have learned lots of toughness in his tryout with the Mavs.
Scary to think of ISU landing 5-star recruits.
It is the next step for the Mayor. I'm not certain we can maintain our conference streak when he starts landing big recruits.
I guess the hope has to be that he makes them so good their first year they go OAD. We need to send some of the sports media guys that convince our freshmen to go pro too soon over to Ames.
Talks about it on Twitter? Now that is a tough marketing approach!
So maybe I don't expect him to bring his book to inner cities for book signings. He could sure impress some of those kids with his toughness.
:-)
Jay Bilas wrote a book about toughness? That sissy?
OU is playing for a better draw in the conference tourney and definitely for a higher seed in March. We are set for the conference tourney, and pretty much set as a 2 seed in March.
"Do you suppose that if they ever reach the summit and play WORST ball that the NCAA Championship is attainable?"
Gosh... you just never know.
What most people haven't figured out yet is Huggy plays some intentional BAD BALL, too. It's part of his lure for opponents. Huggy wants his opponents to get SOME easy break baskets off his press. It lures them into not running real offense. When teams don't start running real offense early in a game, it is hard for them to flip to it later. We fall into that. We never got our offense on track last night. We started scoring late in the game because WVU players melted down (or fouled out). But it wasn't set offense. It was one-on-one Frank, etc.
Can we bring our "melodrama" basketball to March and win with it? Yes. Can we win it ALL with this strategy? Who knows?
Can we beat Kentucky with BAD BALL? It is possible. If we can drag them through hell for about 35 minutes then flip into another gear for the last 5 minutes. Maybe. Maybe not.
Never say NO to toughness as a strategy. But could we have mounted a comeback like that against Kentucky? Unlikely.
Like I said in earlier posts today... can we keep the toughness when we get some softness on offense (hit some 3s)?
It seems to me that we will need toughness and a game with effective offense to beat Kentucky. Seems that way, but not necessarily.
Toughness conquers every other aspect of the game.
Hunter knew his team needed him to play tough. And he did.
Outside of Perry, I think Hunter may bring the most offensive skills to the post than any other big we have. Jamari is effective when he sticks to doing what he does best, drive the ball when in the post. His mid range shot should be off limits. Maybe he can pick that up in the off season.
With Perry out, this is a perfect time for us to work on our depth in the post. Run some offense for Hunter, Jamari and Landen. Push the fellas to get some results.
I'm 99% sure that Cliff is gone for the year. Perry will be back, but we can't tell if he can be effective on a sprained knee.
Self toughening... nuthin' like it!
OU on Saturday... B12 tournament to follow.
We know Perry will miss Saturday. Why not rest him through the B12 tournament, too? It's a throw away tourney for us... on the other hand...
I believe we should go without Perry until March Madness. Put the pressure on the boys to win without Perry. Keep hammering down on "Self toughening."
Look how hard WVU fought without their two guys, one of them being Staten. I'm sure Huggins would have liked to close this game out, but he still has to be pleased with the fight his guys brought to AFH.
The clear coaching that needs to occur moving forward... first... the emphasis has to be on toughness. We'll win more in March by bringing toughness than any kind of slick offense or defense.
But at some point, we have to get back to Xs and Os. Our current strategy is one for teaching... and useful for winning. But somewhere down the road we need to get back to attempting to run effective offense.
Can our guys continue to play tough when points come easy?
That is the most-important question to be answered moving forward.
Right now, I am very skeptical. But I've also been amazed at how Self has turned these guys into toughness warriors in these BAD BALL, grind games. Can he take them to the next level and have them playing tough when the points rack up quick on the long ball?
At some point, even if we aren't running perimeter offense, some of those 3s are going to start dropping. Is it bad news when they do? Anyone remember the OU game at home?
I think we are a ways from playing tough when the going is easy. The first half of last night showed me that. It was senior night, and we were playing in our own building for another clean B12 title... and we were playing a team without 2 of their key players. We were coming off a big lesson toughness game against Texas that was successful. Why did we let up in the first half? Why were we on auto pilot?
Saturday's game with OU should be very interesting. This is the next test. OU has something to play for. We have nothing to play for except our pride. Will we bring our pride to Norman? Will we want this game just as much as we wanted games when it mattered in league play?
This is a game we could take a rain check on. And regardless of what happens, we will be playing our entire bench. But isn't this the ultimate game prep for March? Remember all those upset losses in March? When we thought we could rain check on an opponent and instead they sent us home.
OU will be a great barometer game. Just how bad do these guys hate to lose? We are the B12 regular season champions for 11 straight years. Don't we want to end our regular season with a tough win?
Heck yes.
What an opportunity! For the team with a weak post to have the all-conference post player in street clothes along with the promising post newbie.
Jamari, Landen and Hunter... the big lights are on you!
What an opportunity!
"That was fun."
Unless you forgot to take your high blood pressure medicine! Ha!
The new motto for this team is: "Show Me Tough!"
Outside of the '08 NCAA Championship game... oh yeah... and the great Mizzou comeback in our own building... this win must rank up there with the best for Self.
The team showed grit, scratched and clawed back into the game, and they finished the job.
Traylor finally figured out he can drive the ball when around the FT line and score.
Frank realized he can get fouled and hit FTs.
Hunter... where you been, son?
So Self keeps hammering on them until sometime in the NCAA tournament, then decides to unleash some 3-ball offense... Does he?
Or does he just see how far these guys can go strictly on grit.
What he has to teach them now is how to play tough when the points are coming easy off the 3-ball. They play tough when pushed by opponents (and Self)... can they play tough when getting easy points?
Once again.... thanks, Huggy Bear, for bringing the toughness test to our league! He has done more for the B12 than anyone else. Definitely, he will be a HOF'er one day.