Don't fret too much about Calipari getting inducted.
I'm sure his induction can eventually be vacated, just like some of his seasons.
I do have to give it to Cal... he seems to test the waters in every aspect. It wouldn't surprise me if he eventually tests the waters of the HOF....
I believe you could put Calipari's knowledge of the game in a thimble planted in just a corner of the minds of both Knight and Chaney.
I don't know how Calipari has been able to acquire so much talent over all these years. Perhaps he has cheated, but I can't believe he can cheat any longer and get away with it. Surely, every aspect of his recruiting is scrutinized by everyone around D1.
I wouldn't be bothered with Calipari if he wasn't winning. I just don't like the message it sends out there. It focuses too much of the game strictly on recruiting, and not about the abilities to coach, work hard as a team, and fight through tough situations to come out on top.
I've kept an eye on Kentucky basketball this year. Very boring basketball. They have plenty of individual highlight reel plays, mostly blocking shots. But their game stinks. Their offense really sucks, especially knowing how much talent is on that team. They have the ability to win strictly by putting 3 footers on the court at the same time and block shots. They don't even need any kind of strategy to win. Just block shots, effect shots, and have enough offense to eek out victories.
When a player is 7" taller than his opponent... he doesn't need to learn the skills required to lock down on his opposition. He just has to learn to make up the distance between his hand and the ball when the opposition shoots.
What could I take from a Kentucky basketball game and show my kid to help him with his game? Nothing. Not a damn thing.... except maybe, "hey kid, eat your Wheaties and grow to be a footer."
There has never ever been a coach so hated in college sports. Why is that? Because he is successful? Then why wasn't Wooden hated 10 times more than Calipari?
I can see us taking 10 current players and a couple of past players.
"I don't think Self changes his starting lineup."
We already have his starting lineup:
Frank, Wayne, Kelly, Perry, Cliff.
I believe he will be ready with Devonte if things start off badly for us.
I would like to see us establish a healthy lead in this game.... so we could go deep in our bench and give all our guys an opportunity to play against this kind of pressure. Mari... he would be a guy that could use a lot of help.
Really... all our guys will benefit from this game, win or lose.
Thanks for the test, Huggy!
Simply put, I am the Jinxmaster. So there is no way in heck I'm going to lay down a prediction for tonight.
But I see both sides to this coin.
It really will be "which team shows up?" We just never know which team it will be. The positive side looks at our overall record and sees that we've only had 4 games where we didn't show up for all or the important parts down the stretch.
We are very capable of winning in Morgantown. But will we? That is the frustrating part. The fact that everyone in here knows we should win this game. But I don't think everyone in here is running down to their bookie to place a bet.
Positive side:
Devonte is healthy enough to play and should be another good ball handler.
Cliff may be the guy who scores 20 points strictly off dunks. Beat the break and look for Cliff, sending Cliff down and instruct him to take it to the hole with authority.
Frank is a solid ball handler, and capable of driving through tiny paths.
Self knows how to coach out of this.... he should be able to tweak them during the game, too.
Negative side:
We don't have much rest or preparation for this game.
Wayne is definitely a liability in a game like this... (unless his esteem is 100% restored).
We are still one of the youngest teams in college basketball.
WVU and their fans will bring lots of noise and energy.
This will really be a test of poise.... something hard to establish with such a young team. I hope we succeed. It will not only solidify #11, it will help us build team esteem moving forward.
I have to admit my ignorance on this thread. So.... I'll just speak from the hip. Everyone... please forgive me for my ignorance!
From what I understand of Title 9... it is devastating to schools that play football. Many have stated that there should be a different formula used for schools with or without football. The numbers in football simply knock out any hope for males in other sports.
Anything having to do with basketball at the University of Kansas should be treated with importance. We like to consider ourselves as one of the key components to the origin of the game. As such.... women's basketball should be raised to the importance of the men's program. Gosh.... look at UCONN. I have to give them credit... what a basketball school! And the crowds pack in for their women's games.
Surely, there must be ways of lifting support for the women's program. What about scheduling some of their games in AFH right before the men's games? Offer ticket holders for the men's game to come in and see the women for free. I know I would be happy to show up a couple hours early to see two games.
Up until a few years ago, not too much of women's basketball was really watchable by general fans. But today, the women have stepped up their game, and they put on an entertaining show. Very watchable, and enjoyable!
Anything saying "Kansas" and "basketball" should be sacred ground for all of us.
I don't know enough about Bonnie's situation to throw out any comments. I'm sure she could use some help from all of us. It seems like attendance would be a key factor in recruiting. I think it is shameful if she has to go out on the recruiting trail and mention the historic significance of KU will having to deal with a last place standing and low attendance numbers.
Back on to football.... it would help our entire athletic department if football could start pulling it's fair share of the weight. It seems that all our athletes should canvas their networks trying not only to get fans to attend their events, but also to buy season football tickets and go to games, regardless how we are playing.
It is vital that we build a respectable football program. Vital!
I recall OSU's press... very marginal pressure. We definitely did not look prepared for it.
Since WVU will be running this for 40 minutes, it is more a question of tweaking during the game. Will our guys listen to Self during the game and execute his plan (and tweaks)? Or will they mentally zone out to a packed house of Mountaineers?
We are approaching that time of year when you want your team to win these tough battles and start building their momentum and poise for March. I know many people think it is important to win every game... but during the year, the losses should help strengthen the team later. Now it's time to build esteem... going on a winning streak all the way through April!
Win tonight then talk about winning out the remainder of our conference games.... and.... beyond!
"“We’ll have a 30-minute practice to work against West Virginia and play Monday," said Coach Bill Self."
This is what I was afraid of. Some teams, like West Virginia, you have to put extra time in far ahead of the game. 30 minutes of practice does not prepare a team to go to Morgantown.
Self is clearly taking this as a "toughening experience." Throwing his guys to the wolves and see if they survive.
Unless.... unless.... this is just one more bluff from the "Riverboat Gambler!"
One of my nieces lives in WV... working for the VA. She always has lots of crazy stories to tell about the inhabitants. Many of these areas are mostly reliant on public assistance. She told me the inhabitants show true creativity when it comes to soaking up public assistance.
So I guess they don't want feds or State officials snooping around their territory, but don't mind cashing their checks.
The nature must be really something. And if you can visit with an open mind, there must be some unique cultural experiences available.
I'm thinking WVU needs to make every basket they can, so they can set up their press. 2-pt baskets are (statistically) easier to make than 3s (unless it is KU).
But... if WVU would shoot quick 3s every time down the court, they might be able to speed up both sides of the ball. Something which is part of their plan. Their press is only half about making steals... the other half is to take teams out of their offense by speeding them up.
The only hope WVU has of beating us tonight is to speed us up. You want to talk about "fool's gold"... Huggy wants teams to beat him some off the press and score a few easy baskets early in the game. It sticks a carrot out there for them to keep attacking his press. His goal then is to hunker down later in the game and not give up the easy bunnies off the break. Then the other team has to suddenly find their half court offense half way through the game, when WVU is still running half court traps, too.
Beating WVU is all about maintaining poise. Something that could be in question with this young Jayhawk team.
Yes.... I've caught several of their home games. Very obnoxious fan base which is also encouraged to be obnoxious from their obnoxious coach.
Not exactly a choir boy. He calls it "motivational profanity."
Welcome aboard!
It must help us with recruiting.
And I think it will help us improve as a team (as long as we have enough depth). Kind of hard to imagine how good these guys are going to be. Frank, Brannen, Devonte, and whoever returns..... We should be in solid contention for #12 (if we can hold on to #11).
Kentucky is playing some bad ball right now, but they have no motivation from playing game after game against creampuffs. I think we'll see the real Kentucky in March, when the marbles are on the line. That doesn't mean they win it all.. but seriously... they are the heavy favorite.
"Huggy think's that people have solved the full court press."
I think there are several things involved here.
WVU is wearing down. I've watched several of their games this year and they don't have the intensity they had a month ago.
Teams are playing better as the season goes along. That has to help against pressure.
Many of the teams are now seeing WVU for the second time. It's really tough to beat a team twice with this strategy.
I still think we will be in for a big test. The crowd will be amped up, giving their guys more juice, and we rely on a couple of freshmen and several sophomores. We had no time to prepare for this and we are fresh off a game where we had to run our main guns the entire game.
Plus.... I see this as one of Self's learning experiences.
West Virginia is on my list of prospecting vacations.... not gold, but wild ginseng!
Purple is just mixed up crimson and blue. They don't realize it, but they are really Jayhawk fans!
I love me some purple!
They seem to help us every year!
Two wins on OU.... extending our lead to 3 games over the Sooners.
Thank you, Bruce Weber!
She's fairly strong....
I only complained about that one call late in the game.
Actually, Duggy pointed out the one call where it was clearly out on Baylor under the goal, but the refs missed it.
These guys were getting on my nerves for just saying stupid things, not really about being anti-KU. Like the need for a second banner when the image on the screen showed two banners. Even my wife spouted out on that one, and she usually sits there in silence while tolerating my verbal tirades.
I liked the game Landen Lucas put up.
When all else fails, go with the guy who has post fundamentals.
I see "journeyman NBA player" written all over Rico.
Me, too.. It was close and for a while I forgot we were playing against Drew....
Duggy.... like a nuggy... except brown not gold...
I'm so upset because at halftime, after I heard we were 20 minutes away from losing to Baylor, I burned all my KU memorabilia. Dang. Now I've got to go shopping this afternoon and start over.
Hey.... OSU is just a mule's butt hair away from winning a B12 title! :-)
Who can we protest to about announcers?
Gottlieb was his typical horrible... and what's his name (the other guy) was just as bad.
This is a thread to post up all the bad statements those guys had today.
My "favorites" include:
"Baylor just 20 minutes away from their first victory in Allen Fieldhouse..."
"They are going to need a second banner to put up all their championships." (as the camera showed 2 banners already hanging)
"That looked like a charge.... players can slide over and still get the charge." (Gottlieb's call when Mason was clearly fouled on his drive with around 5 minutes left in the game)
"Drew has to leave here satsified." (at the end of the game when Kansas pulled away with the win)
It was hard to follow any of the logic of these two clowns.
Baylor is always dangerous... especially because you can catch them when they are streaking upwards.
Rebounds - They are a dangerous team on the offensive glass. But I like our chances at home. Self never likes to lose the battle of the boards, but especially at home. It is usually one of the keys how we win such a high percentage at home, because Self pushes our entire team to hit the boards. It should be no different today, but now we have Cliff playing on an uptick.
Attacking the zone - This is another area where we should do better in this game than we did the first game. We've seen Drew's defense once already and know how to attack it. Might he throw something else at us? Yes....
TOs - I'm looking especially at our TOs today. If the numbers are low, perhaps we've already been practicing up for our big game at Morgantown in a few days. If we still have high TOs today, then WVU could be our 3rd major beat down this year.
If we bring high energy to this game, Baylor doesn't stand a chance. If....
They actually look nice. Been a long time since I saw a pair I would own.
Subtle to some, not to others....
I never considered Lucas a candidate for Kansas HC. Saw his role as only in player development.
I think this is where the problem is in college coaching. Every assistant just trying to be a head coach. That's because assistant coach jobs are only viewed in that scope. I look at Lucas more like a specialist like Hudy. She's not head coach material either.
Lucas is my dream catch.... but @JayHawkFanToo helped bring me back to reality. It's unlikely we could get him here. But I wonder what kind of money he is making now and what could be appropriated through our AD?
This is taking college basketball in a new direction. The focus has never been about assistant coaches, and I'm sure athletic department budgets have never opened up to this possibility before.
What I'm talking about is major bucks for an assistant coach. Something unheard of. And the assets the guy brings with him is as enticing as the luxury flats we are now bribing recruits with.
If we can build palatial accommodations for players, we can spend the bucks on real developmental coaches.
I hate paying taxes, too... but I'm not complaining since moving back to the USA. Try living in a "social democracy!" The taxes are criminal.
" I remember you telling this story before, so lots of(ladies?) searched you all over? Is that what you are telling us? Jk! If your valentine is 9 months pg, you better throw a massage in too!!"
Yep... that was back in my single days. I'm hitched now. And my wife is the only one that knows where my ink his hidden!
Ha.... surprise... I'm back! Just bought candy for my sweety's v-day.
You just voided yourself from being buried in a Jewish cemetery. No tattoos allowed!
I have one hidden tattoo. In my single days I offered women a $1000 if they could find it. I never had to pay out. The benefits were worth every penny! The reason I got it... one drunk night in my youthful days (nights) I was with my crazy biker friends and we ended up in a tattoo parlor and everyone was required to face the needle. I was threatened with a forced facial tattoo if I didn't comply. This was not in the USA, so the parlor also complied with the threat. I think I can still qualify for a Jewish burial, though I'm not Jewish.
No sweat, bro, I'm a loon, too!
I don't think it will be too many more years from now when mainstream looks back at a story like this and giggles about it... (without having to be high).
I think the key is to stay away from "endorsements."
Me, too!
What I really miss in college is hedge defense. It's something I have to journey to the NBA to see, even though it is less of a factor as it could be in college because NBA players eventually develop more skills.
I love to watch players get forced into doing something else than their bread and butter. It's important to the game. Michael Jordan was definitely one of the best at "creating on the fly."
Dunking will never leave the game because it is one of the main things that gets teams and fans excited.... along with the shot block.
But it is only worth 2 points. I'd rather have the 3!
Like the big shot block that goes in row 43. Fun to watch, but I'd rather have a Withey block where he keeps it in bounds.
Thanks for the links.
I knew he had a cocaine problem back in his playing days. Glad to see him helping others. Didn't know he was so involved in it.
He has always had college players come in the spring/summer. I just don't think it is a listed program on his site. It is by invitation only or by others who have the inside track.
Awesome!
"Tyshawn did not attend his camp while at KU, although he might have attended one after graduation and prior to the draft, as I indicated, Lucas does not work with active college players."
I recall that he did over the summer between his junior and senior year. It was on KUSports.com. The talk was that Lucas helped him on his shooting form on the perimeter. I know that was part of it, but I knew he helped him learn to finish at the rim, too, an area where TT was very close to learning, but couldn't quite get there until his senior year when Lucas showed him how to take control of the end of his drives.
TT did go through the Lucas' 2012 NBA Draft Camp.... but I believe this is after his experience the year before.
[Tyshawn Taylor 2012 NBA Draft Workout with John Lucas](
This past summer, Christian Garrett attended a Lucas camp and was the rage when he scored on Andrew Harrison. The Harrison twins have been actively coached by Lucas since the 8th grade.
KU basketball walk-on Garrett driven to win ↗
Let the Harrison twins' hype begin ↗
All I'm saying is offer Lucas a fat deal during the basketball season and a facility for his summer camps. He may not be interested, but who knows? I don't see him returning to the NBA. That time has passed and he wasn't really a successful head coach. I think he'd like something where he could put down some roots and stability, especially at his age.
Dear Cyclone Friends,
Quit buying in to the fable that "the road to the B12 conference championship goes through Lawrence."
Before worrying about that illusive feat, try winning at TT first.
We appreciate your efforts to help hold up the pants of B12 basketball. It has been OUR responsibility for the most of 100+ years (going back to the B8).
You should praise the Mayor for a job well done. If you are frustrated with him not being able to dethrone the institution that brought you the game, perhaps you need a refresher course in history:
Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball ↗
Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball ↗
Notice the slight difference in resumes?
Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will winning the power battle with a blue blood like Kansas. Look how far you have come in a short time. You may still be losing the war, but you are winning some battles. Continue to fight hard and be hungry. We appreciate your efforts in strengthening our conference.
Not sure? Does anyone out there know?
"would that fly w/ncaa?"
I guess you mean, "could Kansas players participate in a summer clinic in Lawrence?"
There are some gray areas, but I'm sure everything could be approved by the NCAA prior to making the commitment. Players play all summer now and in organized developmental situations. Maybe it just means Lucas can't be directly involved with Kansas players during the summer.
"In-season time is limited because there are almost always games, but in the preseason you could really get some things done."
I think most of what would give Kansas a huge advantage in basketball wins is to have a coach like this during the season. Now we get a big part of the "NBA advantage".... this is what the Mayor has... his ability to scout teams and exploit match ups. For example, no coaches in college teach hedging. It's a part of the game completely missing in college. This is something Lucas will bring. So we scout our opponents, discover not only their team tendencies... but also player tendencies. Player X can only drive to his right, so hedge him right. Force him away from his strength. etc... etc.. etc...
I'm thinking Jacque has too much ambition to come back to Kansas. He is well-connected and has a lot of opportunities in the league. Lucas has had his day in the league, both as player and coach. He is older and most-likely not quite a risk of flight based on ambition. This could be his retirement nest egg, both financially and lifestyle.
I agree that 2-weeks is a joke. But it would also damage current players to disrupt the flow with him being fired. I expect this isn't over. I expect to read that Snacks will be involved in other activities after the season to show his dedication not only to the reputation of Kansas but to help youth with drug issues.
One week from today! It's necessary for a c-section, so the appointment is next Friday!
The Snacks incident just got my mind turning, along with the post on Danny recruiting Maker. This is my wish list only. Nothing out on John becoming a Jayhawk.... yet!
This is the next smart move in college basketball. Not only give your school one more great recruiting tool, and development tool throughout the season... give your players reason to stay more than one season. The carrot for players to stay another year is to go through massive development.
College basketball is going through a talent drain as players leave early.
The NBA is experiencing a shortage of players with adequate skills for the same reason.
College ball needs to actually develop into what college is... a center for learning. I'm not criticizing Kansas or other schools, but the focus really isn't on development. The focus is on recruiting. Snacks was brought in as a recruiting tool, especially in the Chicago area.
Instead of investing in recruiters, why not invest in developers? Give recruits what they really want, instead of just recruiters who talk big and show lots of love.
AAU ball is a joke. Kobe has it right:
Why Kobe Bryant's AAU Basketball Criticism Will Fall On Deaf Ears ↗
"“Teach players the game at an early age and stop treating them like cash cows for everyone to profit off of,” he said. “That’s how you do that. You have to teach them the game. Give them instruction.”"
We all see the potential in Svi. He's just a pup. Imagine if we had someone to teach those skills on our coaching staff? Clearly, we do not have that person now.
" "They just did this so that Howard won't take his recruits to K-State.""
Then the players would definitely smoke weed!