I hear you. I'm sure we are all old fashioned compared to these teenagers.
But I still think if I was a young hotrod player, I'd want to go to a school that was pitching me on what they had to offer, instead of what celeb was coming to campus. Doesn't it say a lot that Cal has to sell Drake instead of his own abilities?
I took some time to think about your post. I wonder if there are some cultural diversity issues with perceptions of Chicago kids and UofI. I'm thinking those kids want to get further away from home. It really doesn't make sense that they can't land more in-state talent.
I certainly remember lots of talented teams built by Henson. The Illini developed a big reputation with talent but also there was disappointment. I always thought Lou was just too nice of guy to coach there and win it all, but he came dang close. Let's face it, Lou's heart belongs to the Aggies.
So sorry for your news. It's Friday now... so ROCK ON, my friend!
Hahahahahe.... yeah... I grew up with the Winter boys and Derringer. "Roadwork"
"Lawdy mama, light my fuse"
How about some "Iron Man" today? Live from Paris - (got an hour to kill?)
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So you wouldn't sign with Kentucky? Drake is coming to Kentucky this year and the squid is selling that to recruits!
“(Calipari) said Drake might come this year. That would be a really good event to go to,” Malik Newman said.
I like the way you did that.... bringing in comparisons of other players. I think that is probably about as accurate way to predict stats than any other. We need to bring back your post after March and see how accurate you were.
It is tough making predictions and hoping they stick. I try not to get too caught up in zeroing in on numbers because then I will develop some stiff expectations that may not be fair. Take Wayne Selden. I think many of us expected more from Wayne last year, and he would have produced more had he not been injured (and was hiding it from us).
There are so many factors involved with this. Like... how about the competition? Who will these players face this year? Let's say this year Oubre will face a couple of super tough defensive hombres in the conference. Those two defenders may get as many as 6 total games facing Oubre (could even be more in March!). That will impact almost 20% of Oubre's stats for the year!
Last year we experienced how Ellis tends to put up much bigger numbers against smaller post players. He seemed to struggle against certain teams.
I don't think any of your numbers are out of line.
"The thing I am concerned about from this video more than the other video is that he takes a lot of shots that are very, very difficult and I can't tell if that's just poor decision making on his part or if its a reflection of something else."
Right on the mark.
I believe he just hasn't had good enough coaching for an extended period of time. He could use some discipline on shot selection. Self is one of the best at teaching shot selection discipline... sometimes maybe too good! Svi will ride the pine for taking about half of the shots on that tape.
I miss the basketball rivalry we used to have with the purple petunias. There were many years when we didn't dominate the league and KSU had good players and coach. One of my favorites was Jack Hartman. A class act and solid coach. The rivalry with KSU heated up at times, but it never got on the same level as the hatred between KU and Mizzou. KSU has a decent student body. Mizzou... well... I don't think I need to go there.
I'm not that fond of Weber... but I really liked Martin. Other quality coaches... Kruger, Fitzsimmons... and how about Tex Winter?! Winter had 2 FFs, 4 Elite Eights, 6 Sweet Sixteens... Coach of the Year, and even an undefeated conference season!
The purple kiddies have a solid basketball heritage... It would help us all out if Weber could pull his head out! We need to continue to improve our league!
I always heard that growing guys start clunking the back of the rim on their FTs.
"Hey.... I gotsta know!"
Svi should work on drawing contact. Hope he's good at the FT line! If this kid can shoot 85% or so from the line, it will be hard to keep him from playing in the league someday soon.
Most guys just don't get it how they need to raise their FT%. When you are a dead-eye from the line you not only lift your scoring stat, you put pressure on the defense to not foul you on the shot. That's the kind of leverage every big time scorer likes.
It may take Svi some time to adjust to D1... but I see much of his D1 future will be spent on the FT line!
What?
Svat loves me to kill UK?
But seriously... I agree that he will be the guy who will learn quickly to create his own shot. Not sure if he does it this year or next year.
This guy is skinny. That doesn't really show up in his youth play, but it will in D1. Still... there are thin guys who refuse to be pushed around and can hold their own. Attitude goes a long ways. I think he's a pretty tough kid and he won't easily get pushed around in D1!
Our secret weapon for this coming season isn't a 7-footer with a 7'7" wingspan. Our secret weapon for this coming season is a mole! Yes... a mole! I'm not talking about a double-agent spy who will infiltrate enemy camps. I'm talking more about the velvety fury creature with small eyes, strong forefeet, and the ability to dig and live under the surface.
Our subsurface creature is Frank Mason.
Frank is small (short) and Frank has strong forefeet. I'm defining "forefeet" as his entire body below the neck.
"Mole" was a term of endearment I learned back in the late-70s-early-80s. "Mole" was the name given out to short, strong players who were lethal threats in all facets of the game.
Moles have no desire to play "big." Moles utilize their advantage; to play as close to the ground as possible! Moles lower their bodies.... way... down... low. So while 99% of the basketball world only recognizes height and tries to play the game above the rim, moles invert to the opposite strategy of bringing the game to the floor, where few other players can play.
This gets to the very essence of x-axis basketball!
Here is a question for you. How much of the game of basketball is actually played in the "high air" around the rim and above? Think carefully. Put it in the time perspective of a 35-second shot clock. How many of those seconds are played up high? Maybe 3 seconds... maybe 4? The rest of the game has players playing on their feet... running... cutting... standing around (unfortunately)... setting screens... fighting through screens... reaching... faking... dribbling... defending... passing... creating space.
Most of the game of basketball is played from the ground up to 6 feet. Yes... 6 feet! Even the tallest players tend to bring the ball down to 6 feet or lower, even in the post!
There will always be opportunities for short players... especially moles!
If a mole is going to earn his name (and reputation) he will have to learn to burrow. Burrowing in basketball involves stealing space away from an opposing player by going low and pushing through his feet. That space is not protected by rules. Fortunately, basketball refs don't recognize "mole space" any more than the "over-6" crowd!
Moles prefer to remain incognito. Moles like to keep their identity as underground as they like to keep themselves. Many moles have made it big in the league. The current World Champions, the San Antonio Spurs, are a team driven by a mole. Tony Parker makes his money by playing small. Tony Parker doesn't score OVER anyone. Tony Parker drives by, like a vintage VW bug, beeping his horn as he is laying the ball up on the backboard for 2 easy points. We call that a "blow by."
Frank has those abilities. Frank has the perfect build and strength to be one of the true mole greats of all times. Few, few moles have ever had a body build like Frank, with all that strength and quick athleticism to go along with it.
We are fortunate to have Frank around for another 3 years! He only has to realize that there is only one part of his game that he will always be at a disadvantage; low post defense! Frank must broaden his scope and realize he can become a real weapon in all other facets of the game; perimeter defense, rebounding, perimeter shooting, penetration and finishing, master thievery, assists.
Go low, young Frank! Run your chin along the hardwood floor and dominate the game! Realize that you can own the biggest chunk of vertical space that the game is played in 90% of the time! Go low and burrow! Drive below the defense and blow by them! Burrow low on defense and become invisible so you can dart out and lead the Big 12 in steals! Bend your knees, run and cut and create scoring space on any defender, especially the clumsy tall players! Build your rebounding stats by studying the shot and move quicker to the space where the ball will go off the rim.
We may not have the ultimate shot blocker this year and player who plays above the rim. But we do possess a player who may one day become one of the best players for dominating the game from the ground to 6-foot, where 90% of the game is played!
Frank "The Mole" Mason. It is a nickname that is unflattering only to those who don't get it!
@justanotherfan and @HighEliteMajor
Good posts!
@justanotherfan - you really nailed the details of how it works.
@HighEliteMajor - you gave us the Mayor (ISU) NBA philosophy... take advantage of mismatches.
Scoring in the low post really is a unique skill set. Size can be a factor, but it is more about the skills of the player. Some guys are really good at scoring in a one-on-one situation, regardless of where they are on the floor. I believe Svi will (eventually) be one of these players. I'm guessing he will need a year of college ball (and Self) seasoning... and, of course... he needs to be "Hudy-ized!"
Some guys can score with their backs to the basket, some guys can't.
I just think we are a distance away from making these situations work. We never seem to get far enough with some of the basic execution of our offense first, before utilizing twists like posting perimeter players.
I'd first like to see our perimeter players learn to create offense. We have too much of a "team offense" based just on basic plays (that are known by everyone). We always lead the world in assisted scoring. That sounds great, and it is great (from a team perspective). But at some point, when the team play isn't working, someone has to be able to step up and take his man. We continually get further and further away from players being able to create for themselves.
If I was a big-time scoring guard I'm not sure I would consider coming to Kansas. What would be in it for me? Where is the proof that my skills would be utilized well for the team and for my own advancement to become a high draft pick in the league? Sure... Wiggins went #1. Did that have anything to do with how he was utilized at Kansas or was it all Wiggins? I believe the later. Granted... it is a rare deal when a freshman can come in and create his own offense in D1.
I'd like just a bit more of a Wooden philosophy... force my players to be accountable to produce, not only within the team concept, but individually.
I like your post on "all offenses are predictable."
I think this conversation came about after I mentioned us being predictable. What I was really getting at was how defenses can quickly learn how to play the simplest form of our offense... which is to take 3 guards on the perimeter, and throw it back and forth rapidly to see if the defense bounces back into position. We are looking for a passing lane and a guy to pop open.
There are many variations we run through that offense. Or let me say... we CAN run through it. Where I get frustrated is when we use very little of that offense, and our guys are standing flat-footed for most or all of the shot clock. It doesn't take a lot of great defense to guard this offense.
I'd like to know how we get in those ruts? If I'm yelling at my TV during a KU game it is usually on our offensive game when guys just stand around.
No matter how much these kids get taught, what really should happen is players learn to create on their own. Maybe they will use specific schemes drawn up by the coaches... but players have to be proactive and create their own opportunities. Even better... players learn to communicate with each other on the court to create as a team.
What I liked about Embiid (when he was healthy) was his ability to create in the low post. Self and staff didn't teach him those moves.
A big part of all of this relates more to players playing aggressive.
Many of us have been critical of Self pulling players too quickly. Sometimes the focus is too much on structure, when it should focus on creativity. When we play bad it is usually because we play too tightly in a structure, where there is no breathing room. Where guys don't want to be the one who flubs the play, so no one steps up and we have 3 guys on the perimeter, standing flat-footed, throwing the ball back and forth while our post guys are jammed up in the post. We all know what I'm talking about.
Compare our offense to ISU. Typically, in their periods of bad offense they still have guys making cuts and setting screens. Sometimes they have a sync problem but they still have movement.
It really clicked on me when I was watching the show "The '84 Draft" and they were talking about Jordan breaking loose from all the structure at UNC where he could finally play his game and flourish. Granted, I don't think we typically recruit Jordan-quality players, but there is some truth to that and the stiffness of our offense.
I have a hard time recalling KU players that were really cut loose to score. I think I would probably go back to Keith Langford. I truly miss Keith Langford and what he brought to Lawrence.
Had BMac stayed, he might have picked up more game to become a real threat like Langford was. Same with Wiggins. But then, Self would have had to let off on some structure. He'd have to push these guys to do some creating on their own.
The NBA is mostly very predictable basketball. Offenses are run off percentages. And the guy that can best score at a rapid clip will be given the ball in his favorite spot with a clear out. It is a team game, but the isolation breaks it down to one-on-one. The game gets pretty boring without some of that play. The game can also get boring without any team offense. It usually works best to mix it up.
Some of the most dynamic offense of all times came from some of those Laker teams with Magic, Kareem and cast. They did manage to create some level of unpredictability because they had so many weapons, and all those weapons liked to score on their unique spot on the floor. For the reason, it was tough for teams to defend against it... especially trying to help out with team defense.
Bravo!
Your new nickname is "Fireslayr!"
You are really bangin' on all 8 cylinders today!
We'll have everyone in the world fighting to get into AFH (except, perhaps Lauda)!
Perhaps the next suggestion involves getting Adidas to make their wear flame-retardant! But before then they should burn all the camo and bring in flame art!
Imagine a Kansas uniform with a flame motif!
Come on... we are in the Midwest for God's sake! We are all car nuts and we love our custom flame art!
I promise to buy anything with a Jayhawk and flames on it!
How about some metal flake, too? I'd love to see our crimson in a candy apple red!
"Like we were saying, this is a national championship season .. until it isn't!"
That has become one of my favorite college basketball quotes of all times! I put it up there on my Wooden shelf! Thanks, HEM!
There just isn't an exact definition of what it takes to win a National Championship. A dash of this, a dash of that...
Look at Kentucky this past year. From a talent point, even though young, they were stuffed with talent, and that helped. But they got lucky in several of those games that was on their path to the championship game. Their talent remained right through the championship game... but they didn't quite have the luck in that final game. Oh yeah... maybe it was lack of experience!
Good coaching, talent, experience, a good floor general, no injuries, no situations that divert team focus... and luck... This would be my dash ingredients if I was baking a NC pie.
There are other things that could happen. A player with tons of potential could just suddenly figure out part of his potential in March. That could happen to several players. The twins at Kentucky definitely figured out parts of their game in March.
Knowing this shouldn't take away from the goal to have great coaching and talented players. It is hard to win without them. Even a guy like Calipari, who isn't known to be a good Xs and Os coach, is (obviously) learning how to get the most out of OAD talent. I expect he will be back in the FF soon... quite possibly this year!
Here is a stat on Self comparing him to the coaching herd that really stands out:
Number of stupid remarks said by coaches that make them and the university look bad, get in hot water, etc.
Self - 0
I agree Self is a great public speaker but he has had a few notable gaffs, probably notable because they can be counted of a few fingers. The two that stick out in my mind are 1. ripping EJs senior team in the middle of their 3 game conference skid including TCU. Maybe that's how you make men but I thought it contributed to the skid. And 2. Saying we don't have a point guard about Naa. As others have recently said Self has his system, and that system has historically included ripping a few ppl publicly. Rush responded favorably to it. EJ and Naa appeared to not respond favorably. Maybe this is more an issue of Self not having PGs that he knows can take that kind of public heat from him.
No doubt... he does need to strengthen up. He could use more coaching on his game, too.
Definitely didn't miss that part! And if he was unsuccessful I'm pretty sure Cindy would have straightened him out!
And Self said... "Welcome aboard, Samurai Josh! The first thing you must do is go downtown and NOT get a haircut!"
"There is an expression in business that goes something like...behind every successful businessman there is a wife telling him he is doing it all wrong."
You left off the last part... "and they are usually right!"
Good post. Yeah, Wooden didn't like to call timeouts, and a big part of that was because he taught his players to be accountable for their actions. I recall him saying... "who is going to call time-out for you in your life after Bruin basketball?"
The best coach I ever experienced once taught us a lesson. During a big tournament game he left the bench. He went to the concession stand and had a hotdog and didn't come back. He told his assistant and the other guys on the bench that he was going to take a break, since the rest of us were on break, too. He didn't return to the game until we built a solid lead and we picked up the pace (considerably).
This game is all about coaching.
Nice assessment!
Yes... I've been amazed at how much Svi can already do at his age. He must be a quick learner, and that means a guy who will develop quickly. I just hope we have someone who can spend the time to help him with his game, not just a strength coach teaching him how to lift weights.
I point most of our issues being about not developing the right tempos throughout the game.
Our guys need to build momentum. So when we have a break away dunk or an excellent 3 or a nice defensive play, we need to back that up on the next possession by being in total attack mode. It is hard to be in total attack mode when you are taught to be disciplined throughout the shot clock. Kids need to feel it. The game is largely won on emotion and when the focus is strictly discipline, then kids get away from emotion.
Seems we need a better blend of emotion and discipline.
I wonder if having more emotion would lead to better 3-point shooting?
I am very thankful we have @approxinfinity and @bskeet donating their time for everyone and for the love of Kansas basketball!
I've been on several other school sites but haven't found anything near the quality of our site. I do have to admit that Kentucky fans possess a lot of energy. And some of them do have a decent knowledge for the game. But... they don't maintain the same consistent high-level of threads, creativity and respect that everyone in here keeps up every single day!
I totally follow what you are saying... but when was the last time Kansas had a team that was shooting the long ball with a high degree of accuracy? When was the last time our team 3-ball percentages were towards the top of college basketball?
We've had a big chunk of major perimeter talent come through the doors at AFH. Why didn't their outside numbers match with the rest of their game?
This has bothered me for quite a while. I try to discover the problem then think of a way to fix it. But where is the fix?
I know CF was a freshman this past year but he gave very little evidence of what he had accomplished in HS. Where did his shot go?
I'd like a bunch of people in here to respond to that. I'm curious what others think.
HEM and I have both mentioned how CS yanks kids quickly and they have to be disciplined throughout the shot clock and only shoot towards the end. We notice a stiffness and players maybe thinking too much rather than playing. But can we hang all our poor perimeter shooting on that? Could it be our offensive structure that negatively impacts our 3-balls?
Help me out, folks...
I thought he was coming to late night?
"3 pointers can leave scars."
I think everyone in here should give that an "Amen!"
Please, please... post that over in the the quotes archive thread!
What the heck... now is the only time of the year when you can totally cut loose on a dream. We really don't have anything to be skeptical about yet. As far as we know, all our returning players improved 500% over the summer, and our incoming freshmen will jump right into playing solid D1 basketball.
This is the time of year I enjoy the most. It's all theory, philosophy, dreams...
Expand your dream HEM. Talk about having a good story for the next thread in here... Cut loose on your perfect dream come true and let us all in on the magic in a new thread!
Made me think we have a hotter iron in the fire.
Okay... football season is here. We should at least acknowledge the lead-in sport for basketball season.
The internet is a strange place, and sometimes you make a few mistaken turns and end up in a bad neighborhood. That happened to me, and here is the result:
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Is it just me, or should the fight song you sing every week only be focused on a team in your own conference?
"You said of our offense - "It is predictable and teams can easily scout and prepare to play us."
Sounds like a new thread to me ..."
You are right... it should be a thread. I'm trying not to focus too hard right now on struggles. This time of year is that brief period when we all sort of earn back our virginity. I'm still in dream mode. Once the games start, the innocence is gone! hahahe.
Did you see the ESPN film on the '84 draft? That was the amazing draft with Olajuwon, Jordan, Barkley and several more. They were showing how Jordan just jumped right in there and kicked butt in the league because no college system coach was holding him back any longer. Funny, but once you leave the college game everyone at the college level gets smacked around because college ball isn't the real world... even Dean Smith.
Now you know why they are called "smart phones." Your durn smart phone hacked you back in so you could post! No wonder these devices are so costly.
I think Svi will get a hard look this year because he brings a unique toolbox with him. First, his size is a definite plus. Especially important because we will face teams with big guards. Second... the guy can create. This is the biggest reason to give him a hard look. We don't know yet how well his game will translate quickly to production. That is the big question. But Svi is a guy who can handle the ball and create floor space... he's also a guy that can create shooting space with fakes, fade aways, and by just having a good vision of the court and basketball IQ.
I believe it is this second reason, more than the first, that will help give him potential PT. I think one guy that should pick up a lot of improvement on his game because of Svi is Greene. The guys have similar builds, but they carry themselves completely different. Greene has been too much of an upper body player. He needs to play with a better balance of his entire body... use his entire body on the court. He needs to bend his knees more and widen his stance, especially while cutting pathways on the floor. His focus has been a bit too much on just being a good shooter, which puts the cart before the horse. He needs to be able to create scoring space on the floor, then create scoring space when guarded. Svi is light years ahead of Greene's game. I'm not discounting Greene because he does have excellent potential. But he really needs to evaluate his game and make several changes to compete at D1 level, and he'll really need to change if he expects to make a living with basketball.
I think it is a great idea to have a graphics thread. It shouldn't stop anyone from posting graphics in other threads... but when someone wants to archive a graphic in a place where it will be easy to find, this thread will serve that purpose.
It should be placed over in Featured Content.
It's most-likely spammers. They've taken to blogs with the same tenacity they started with emails.
SportsCenter Play Of The Day -
"Colleges tapping into cash sales for beer flow."
It may require a double-take...
Is "SportsCenter" one of the new Scrabble words?
The best you can hope for is to ask someone a generation older if they flipped out in midlife, too, and they console you with a pat on the back while pouring you a stiff cocktail.
It is not going to get any easier moving forward. When you have your estate sale to trim down what you will be bringing to the sanitarium, make sure to SAVE all that old KU basketball footage you took for granted in the past. It will come in handy, I guarantee.
I have been fortunate from having many quality conversations with players a generation older. They have helped cushion my fall with our current state of affairs. I can't imagine how they deal with today except to think that they "cut the cord" a few decades ago.
I started my post in sarcasm, and ended with a eulogy.
Defense is what worries me this year. It will have to come from all 5 spots on the floor, and all 5 spots are unproven.
If our guards play the same defense our guards have played the last few years we are in trouble. They will be counting (once again) on our post guys rescuing them. Not gonna happen this year. And then imagine the foul trouble we will have in the post when guys like Cliff fight to adjust to D1 ball by battling other talented, big post players he isn't used to facing, while having to protect the rim from perimeter players that are skilled above what he is used to facing on team defense. That spells foul trouble, any way you look at it. Perry will have to earn his spot on the floor this year... the soft defense he has played until now simply isn't going to cut it. Enter Jamari Traylor!
The closest starting player on the floor that has some background in playing defense is Wayne (mostly before he was hobbled). I'm expecting big things from Wayne this year. He should be the overall leader of this team, and he should lead with defense.
I'm also putting big hopes into Frank. Here is a guy with lethal talent. If he can make the transition this year from HS ball to college team ball, we are in for some big time help from Frank!
We (typically) do not play the best offensive sets for 3-point shooting. The hi/lo can open up the guys outside, but that is only when we are really successful in the hi/lo in the low post. We need our 3-point shooters to fight through the post and pop out on the other side for a quick (open) 3. That is something these guys need to rep on from now up through next March. When guys are on the run and catch the ball, pivot and shoot, it seems it would be a tougher shot because it introduces more mechanical aspects. But when guys work on it with reps, they end up being better shooters doing this than a flat footed spot up shot. All the mechanics involved create a flow that really works well after so many reps. The spot shot is vulnerable to nerves because there is not much going on with that shot so guys stiffen up.
We so often run a set offense with 3 guards standing on the line throwing the ball back and forth until they spot a seam open up. I'm not really big on this offense. It is predictable and teams can easily scout and prepare to play us. And it seems like it would be easier to hit 3s with this, but we have years now of not being a good 3-pt shooting team (even though we have talented shooters). Obviously, it is not the right offense to run to hit 3s.
Watch players like Heslip for Baylor. He'll get out there and fight through the crowd trying to get open. He's not even very athletic and is always a danger on offense.
I hardly consider that piece journalism. Myron didn't read up on his Jayhawk basketball. Self said it has been a long time since we had this much depth at point. I would have thought the piece would be about us missing a shot blocker in the post. Even Self has commented around that story and the possibilities we have with playing small.
I believe we will be starting a new era out at point. New ideas and skills will be shown this year from the perimeter and there is a good chance we will start reducing all those nasty TOs that plague us every year. We might even create a few TOs. Who knows, maybe we end up in the plus category on TOs! Wouldn't that be a pleasant new way to pick up some possessions? And maybe some additional run-outs?!
"My friends KU is more than just winning championships. KU has always giving more to the game than it has taken. ( a tear is coming from my eye) KU is basketball. Without KU who knows what basketball would be today."
It just doesn't get any better than this!
No other entity on the planet has done more for basketball than Kansas!
And no other school has done more for Big 12 basketball than Kansas!
But the link I gave above shows a broad view of conferences. It is more than National Championships. I like the Big 12 but I'd like to like the Big 12 more!
There are some good things going on in our conference. The Mayor deserves the most credit for lifting another program to new heights. ISU fans do not have the heritage we have, but they are becoming pretty FANatical and are quickly making ISU into a real basketball school.
I'd do anything to get all our Oklahoma and Texas schools as excited about basketball as we are here at Kansas! Yes... eventually it would bring us a few more losses. However our conference would be stronger and we'd start competing at a higher level as a conference. We have all the tools in our conference to compete with all other conferences in basketball. We just don't have the fan commitment at many of these schools like it needs to be.
It seems that we could do something to build conference enthusiasm. It isn't going to come from our conference heads. These are the folks who didn't target schools like Louisville and Florida State for our conference and instead went for West Virginia and TCU. I don't want to get into that now... we have to make the best of what we have.
Back in my day, schools built momentum and rivalries by students often doing negative things to other schools. I'm sure that would still work, but it seems like we could all keep this positive and make it more of a competition between schools and who can build the most enthusiasm in their own school. We should be able to design something smart that creates an easy, fun way to get excited about your own team. We don't have this problem at Kansas... but if we could help build our own conference, we would have as much to gain from it as all our other schools.
"That's like wishing in one hand and crapping in the other. Wander which one will fill up first?"
I got to remember that one!
It is hard to be overly critical on Bill because of his record. But... I do think some of our bench guys need more minutes during the year, and sprinkled throughout the year. Take a player like Greene. He didn't get enough minutes towards the end of the year and I doubt he could knock the rust off in March to be a weapon when we need him most. Guys can't just sit all year and then perform to a high standard.
That says a lot about Conner. He did step up with very little PT behind him. My guess is that he is an absolute workhorse 24/7/365, so he acquires very little rust!
I agree with you that bench guys get pulled too easily. Because of that reason, they play tight and too conservative. It is hard to break them out of that mindset and really contribute. Funny... Self always talks about the guys needing to just play and not over-think the game, but as long as he keeps an "iron hook" over on the side, pulling players for any mistake, then he can expect the guys to over-think the game.
This gets into one of the few areas where I have a real beef with Bill.
I wish we had this kid for 4 years. We won't, but nice to dream.
Svi has some skills that few (if any) of our players have. Like how to ball, body and eye fake. I hope he can teach his teammates how to use (and sell) fakes.
You want to know how we beat a super-sized team like Kentucky? That's right, with fakes. It is one of the key fundamental weapons in x-axis basketball. There is no reason why we can't put all their bigs in foul trouble, including the twins.
Congrats, Tar! I hope he can make the roster.
Let's face it... we are all getting giddy waiting for opening tip-off. It has become such an issue for me that I'm diving into MLB now instead of waiting until October (like I usually do). Football? Bring it on! I'd watch frogs fight for a fly right now!
@KUinLA ... I'd trade 10 Conference titles for a tip-off tonight! :)
Is there anything stopping us from forming a website to promote the Big 12? What if we made something that was compelling, driven by our sports lust, and creating something that would build enthusiasm for our conference?
It feels like we do have a fan enthusiasm issue with our conference.
What if we created something that would take off like the Ice Bucket Challenge? We don't have to raise money with it but just draw energy towards the Big 12.
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your stories, and for remembering those who bravely serve (and served) so the rest of us can enjoy our lives in safety!
I lost part of my hearing in the Korean War. No... I didn't serve... I wasn't born during the active years of the war, but my father served in the Navy (in Korea) and lost most of his hearing from being too close to the big guns on board. My entire life has been spent listening to televisions on full blast, and being screamed at and screaming back because of my dad serving in Korea. I am positive it has contributed into some of my own hearing loss. I now have to do my best to prevent hearing loss of my own son (and soon-to-be baby!) by dealing with my own hearing loss and not letting it continue. As far as I am concerned... the Korean War in my family will end with me! This is a strange story, but it illustrates how war impacts so many people and in unique ways!
I think HEM pushed your button a bit... and I don't like seeing people get upset in here, but you wrote a humdinger of a reply! If that is what it takes to get you to write like that, then let me be the next in line to try and yank your chain! Good post, my friend!
We all have to accept that this is a blog for Kansas fans. And what I like about this blog is everyone really is a Kansas fan! So far we have avoided trolls and we are all the better.
But everyone sees Kansas basketball through their own eyes. Some are going to be more critical than others. However, I feel like everyone in here speaks with the desire to express themselves and help expose a cumulative view of our team through so many unique visions.
KansasComet... you can view HEM as a cynic.... a pessimist.. someone who "badgers the team the entire year." Or you can realize that a part of his personality is to try and fix things. The first part of accomplishing that is to point to what needs to be fixed. It wouldn't surprise me if HEM has had a career where he fixes things.
HEM has been fixing me for a long long time! I am one of those fans that gets waaaay tooo sucked into the possibilities, and my imagination gets the best of me, and I'm looking through glasses so darkened with crimson/blue that I can't see anything else because I've been blinded! HEM has helped me keep my feet on the ground and look at other aspects of the game that I haven't paid well enough attention to.
HEM isn't the only one in here who has done that for me. I'd say, at one time or another, just about everyone in here has smacked me back to reality before! That is just one more reason why I started this thread... to acknowledge HEM for helping open my eyes on several things. Most of what I posted above is new ideas in my own head. I wouldn't have found those ideas without HEM.
We all gain from struggle. We need to embrace all the feelings here... the ideas... the perspectives... There is good, bad, positive, negative.... but it is all good! It takes everything to find the right balance and to keep from flying away like a Jayhawk in Lala-land!
I hope we see plenty of small ball utilizing speed and an open court game. I hope for that, but I'm not counting on it. I'm with HEM on this one... I'll believe it when I see it. Self has spoken these words before.
And just because we are relatively small on our front line doesn't mean we can't lead the Big 12 in rebounds. First thing I would do with Cliff is show him footage of Charles Barkley in the league... dominating the glass at 6'6".
I was taught something interesting back in my day. Never consider length alone. You measure a guy's size by adding length and girth. Inches wide are every bit as valuable as inches long (obviously within a certain extent).
Our front line guys have meat on their bones (maybe Perry being the leanest). They should be able to hold their own on rebounds and defense... offense, too. Cliff will definitely become a factor on the Self hi/lo.
If these guys believe in themselves they can match up just fine with teams like Kentucky. They just have to take advantage of their pluses... speed, agility, brains... hustle!
Who knows.. this may even be the first year we see a Jayhawk use a ball fake on a shot and draw a foul! I'm willing to bet a dollar to a doughnut that Svi already knows how to use fakes.... ball, head and shoulders...
I hope this is the team that plays with brains. Lets starting counting on brains to win games more than natural ability and size.
We've got all the right bodies to win a National Championship. Let's use our minds this time to get one! Let's push the ball on the defender who already has 3 fouls... Let's use off-ball screens and create size mismatches... Let's all take personal responsibilities for our defensive assignments, then let's also help out and play good team defense.... Let's hustle hustle hustle! There are few games we will and can lose if we just focus and hustle for 40 minutes!
This isn't rocket science, but let's pretend it is and use rocket science minds to attack and conquer!