🏀 KuBuckets Archive

I think I agree with everyone on here.

But look at this team again. Squint your eyes this time. I see a blurry vision of Self past.

We all know the issues...

Naadir's consistency

Perry's defense and aggressiveness

Officiating nightmare preventing lock down defense

Young and inexperienced

Those are huge hurdles. But let's not forget what we DO have going for us....

Joel is a monster

Andrew is coming on

Wayne hustles with less TOs and a range of scoring

Naadir is awesome when he is 'on'

Our bench is deep and talented

Through all of the hype and disappointment of fans and media from watching this team play like a NBA team one night, and the next time out look like high school... from blistering shooting or unforced TOs by our PG... to a superstar man from Cameroon capable of owning a game or fouling out quickly or tweaking his back... eventually, I knew it would come to what is really important. It comes down to this team executing Bill Self's game.

We can pinpoint a million reasons why this team should fail (we all have done it already).. but let's pinpoint one solid reason why this team can win!

S E L F - B A L L !

Going back to the Texas game and ever since then, we have seen periods of solid defense. I can't say that statement often before the Texas game. Offense wins games, defense wins championships! We've had offensive firepower for most of this season.

If we can play solid Self-ball defense from here on out, we will be a contender. And if we can't... we will fall victim to just about any team out there that shows up with a hot hand that only needs to be a touch hotter than ours.

Is this team finally ready for 'Self-ball'?

In recent weeks we have seen moments of solid defense. We almost played 40 minutes of defense versus Texas. We can't compare this team to any other Bill Self team because the NCAA decided to make lock-down defense a thing of the past. But we can still play a decent M2M with plenty of weak side team help.

And over the B12 season we have seen this team put up some of the best offensive numbers in the nation, thanks to the patented Bill Self hi/lo.

Could it be? Could this team be ready to peak at tourney time by playing solid Self M2M while running effective hi/lo on offense?

It seems the biggest part of this puzzle is Joel Embiid. He will be back soon, with a new set of batteries.

Can you imagine what this team can do if they finally play the kind of team basketball envisioned by Self?

If I could have one dream come true... it would be Andrew coming back next year. Meanwhile, Andrew and Frank would get a training session with John Lucas this summer to help both of them work on ticks on their jump shots and drive finishes.

Lucas did wonders for Tyshawn, especially helping him finish his drives.

It is such a pity to lose Andrew from college before he learns even a little bit to enhance his talent. The guy didn't even get going on his upside yet...

@jaybate 1.0

“In the 1980 Olympics the Russians (Soviet) team did the following scientific experiment to boost the skills of their athletes:

I) Group one did 100% of physical training.

II) Group two did 75% physical training and 25% mental training (visualization).

III) Group three did 50% physical and 50% mental training.

IV) Group four did 75% mental and 25% physical training.

Result: The fourth group showed the greatest improvement in performance. The Russian Olympic coaches concluded that mental training (creative visualizing) produced the following: a) Increase in personal motivation. b) Boosted athletic confidence because they visualized themselves winning their events. c) Improved Attention-Span by eliminating distractions from intruding on their training sessions.”

http://wishfulthinkingworks.com/tag/visualization-studies/ ↗

Google "creative visualization" and find several good sources.

Now... if we could just get Putin to try it every time before he makes a decision....

Andrew Wiggins is still just a human. He doesn't have magic fairy dust that will allow him to go backwards in time and rewrite history. He is just like the rest of us, and if history proves anything it is the fact that he has only one crack at making it.

Very soon, the national spotlight on Andrew Wiggins will intensify to a brightness he has never encountered before. Our entire country, and many parts of the world, will be glued on his every move.

Andrew has already proven to us this season that he doesn't fold to pressure. His ability to endure heaps of criticism and accolades, moments apart, speaks volumes for his attitude and intelligence.

All that is left for him to accomplish at the college level is a few more games. He could vanish in the wind, like a Kansas storm, or he could explode arenas, like a Kansas twister. What will he do, who will he be?

History exposes life as a one-shot deal. The greats in any endeavor always leave their mark, something for historians to write about.

What mark will he leave behind?

Andrew has verbalized little. But what he did say was he wanted to face the ultimate challenges, and he would do his best to succeed.

The ultimate challenge awaits him now.

This has always been about March Madness for Andrew Wiggins... that is why Self is juicing him now!

@ajvan

These kids are suddenly rich. But they aren't wealthy... Wealth is reserved for the guys who sign their checks! And then there is extreme wealth.. the guy who signs the checks of the guy who signs the checks of the players.

Most likely, there are levels of check signings above that, but we aren't privileged enough to even know of the trail. Doubtful the IRS has that privilege either!

@HighEliteMajor

You touched on a major flaw in Wiggins game... assists.

He doesn't hit the open man on his drives. That should tell every coach in America how to scout him... everyone squeeze in on him on his drives, because there is little risk he will outlet the ball.

But then... part of why he doesn't have more assists relates to another flaw in his game... his inability to control the ball on his drives! Half of his drives end with the ball going off in any direction and Andrew's arms continuing through as if the ball is still in his hands. He either turns it over or gets a foul call.

It is a tough call for POY of the B12. Andrew's stat line could be better, but then, we have a team of star talent so Andrew doesn't carry the scoring load. Another thing... is we (sometimes) run our hi/lo. Our hi/lo builds our offense around our post players, instead of a guard. Andrew doesn't touch the ball nearly as much as Staten or Kane.

But I'm going along with @Crimsonorblue22 ... Wiggins is easily the best defender of the bunch, and defense is half of the game! That makes it a shoe-in for me to decide. Steals-per-game are a part of defense, but definitely doesn't reflect defense in total. Andrew is a decent lock down defender, even in this period of "Bilas ball" where the game is being sterilized from contact.

@jaybate 1.0

"Joel needs to watch the tape to add the craft of post play to his growing knowledge of the techniques of post play."

Absolutely! Joel may even improve more right now by studying the game and visualizing how he should play instead of spending his time and energy running up and down the court. The Russians proved it years ago by studying their Olympic athletes, and when they took time away from physical training and put it towards mental training, they lifted their performances.

@jaybate 1.0

"The thing is Greene, as limited as he was in capacity to perform this year (i.e., as low as his foundation was coming in), he still gave us quite a bit of rotation time and flexibility and injury insurance, while he was learning to play the game"

True... but he is taking up a scholarship. A scholie that could go towards another OAD.

I'm just playing devil's advocate.

Players like Greene will most likely do our program as much good as his scholie going to a OAD, as long as we get our share of OADs to fit our needs.

I think it is all about getting the right OADs. Someone like Andrew is so capable to help a team as a freshman. Some potential OADs are not as helpful, and still think they should jump to the league even without ever being effective at the college level. Those are guys to avoid... unless we think we can get them to stay at least another year.

A guy should at least give one dominant year before heading to the league... anything less is a recruit we don't want!

We will all be watching WSU in the tourney. They will be another example of a team without a OAD player. They might not be filled with recruits 20-50, but they are athletic, play well as a team, and they have one of the best PGs in the country, if not the absolute best!

@JayHawkFanToo

"Baylor tradition?"

I'm sure that qualifies as an oxymoron!

@justanotherfan

"So is four years of White better than one of Wiggins? Probably not. Is four years of Greene better than one of Wiggins? Doubtful, but its more comparable because Greene could give you two years where he helps give you a shot at a title as a key cog."

Man... I liked your post!

And in this analogy.. perhaps Greene's talent level increases and we only have him 1 year where he really shines. He could become a two&done or three&done. That means we had to spend 2 scholarship years developing him where he didn't exactly help us as much as we needed.

I also agree with you on BMac... I would have loved to have him against Kentucky.

Really... last year was a testament to only going for 4-yr players. BMac was like a One&OneHalf&Done. And the rest of our team was 4 and 5-yr players. We were a long ways from playing for a national championship. And the moans that came after our Michigan loss were mostly directed at EJ... a senior!

Plus... no one is talking about injured players. Go back to EJ... we still don't know... was he banged up his entire junior and senior year? Who knows? Even though he was forced to play out of position, he didn't show improvements in his game solidly over 4 years. So we were stuck with his talent level for 4 years. That equates to 4 scholarship years. 4 OADs.

But no matter what... perspective is key... and the key is to mesh super talent with high talent players with experience.

@icthawkfan316

Right on! Embiid is a projected OAD and we still don't know if he is going or not.

Most likely, without our presumed OADs this year you could kiss B12 #10 goodbye, also perhaps our string of 24 NCAA tourney appearances... along with any hopes of a national championship!

We lost our entire starting 5 from last year... none were OAD... closest thing was BMac.

This year, even if all 3 go OAD (unlikely), we will still be left with 2 starters and a plethora of bench talent with some experience.

It isn't fair to put us on the level of a Kentucky... even in a year like this one.

I will be surprised if Wayne departs, and I am 50/50 on JoJo.

Self may have tweaked his recruiting strategy somewhat... from, say, 1 potential OAD per year, up to 3. He knows even if he lands 3, good chance only 1 or 2 actually go OAD.

The experimental season this year is a success! Everything we win (moving forward) is gravy because it is unlikely any of it would exist without our OADs.

I am straddling between HEM and the pro-OAD folks. I totally understand where HEM is at. I just think it will be hard to maintain our winning ways (and streaks) if we eliminate recruiting many of the top recruits.

I do, however, think we need to be selective on recruiting OADs. Just because I guy can run up a stat sheet doesn't mean he'll be a good Jayhawk and teammate.

I think Calipari makes some big mistakes by just picking the top 10 players and going after each one, regardless of their personalities and styles. He has some tough issues with his team this year and I am doubtful to see them in the Final Four... but you never know!

Last... I think it is hard to just zone in on a mid zone of players to recruit. Eventually, we are left with some pretty big holes that don't get filled. It seems like a better strategy to start from the top and work our way down, being selective along the way.

BTW: A year ago I was solidly in the HEM camp! I started changing my mind after BMac.

Just look at the strategy of Self vs Calipari:

1. Calipari wants all the Top 10 players. He isn't selective and just goes off of ranking. He signs up at least 5 or more every year, knowing his current starters will be gone. That is a revolving door. So every year he has to start fresh, at ground zero! No experienced starters in the lineup to help the rookies and offer stability.

2. Self is selective which top players he recruits. He doesn't sign 5 or more Top players immediately, so he has time to go through and pick the right players from the Top 50. Many of those recruits will be returning players, some will last their entire 4 years, and may even red-shirt and make it 5 years! The starting lineup always includes at least 2 returning players... typically more. So new superstar players have experienced veterans to help show them the way and to be there to help keep play consistent.

Everyone back up. Last year wasn't a typical year. We lost all our starters. So relax... because our inconsistency this year wasn't caused by our projected OADs... it has come from our two returning players who start; Naadir and Perry! And most of our bench this year was new players. That certainly won't be the case next year!

We are going to have an awesome team next year, even if all 3 projected OADs leave! Imagine if one or two stay!

The key moving forward is to only go after 3 potential OADs... have 2 returning starters... and a bench full of experienced, quality talent!

It is starting to look like that might be a pattern Self can shoot for.

@JayHawkFanToo

I'm surprised we didn't get "Rock Chalk!" on the front of ours. I'm sure that is next... followed by "Beak'em, Hawks!"

@jaybate 1.0

That may be your best post all year! You nailed his performance last night! He ran hi/lo like it is supposed to be run, and with all the nuances and with all the high ball screens.

What really came to light is how much of the game JoJo still needs to learn. He has come along faster than any player I can think of in my lifetime... but the game is complex, and last night we saw the difference translated into execution.

Self's hi/lo is a thing of beauty, but it takes more than putting a tree in the post who can play with his back to the goal. Tar showed that clearly!

We all want to see players like Andrew and JoJo reach their potential... I do.. but I also want to see players like Tarik reach their potential. I'm not expecting him to build more on his toolbox between now and April. I just want to see him reach his potential with this team! He already has tools, basketball IQ, a heart the size of Kansas, and a dream to see Kansas win it all. Now, we need to illustrate to him that he is more than a tiny piece in the cog that will churn out another trophy for AFH!

We need to go back and rewrite Tarik's journey to Kansas. He WAS a senior transfer with one year of remaining eligibility and came to Kansas to be a role player. That piece of history needs to be erased.

The new history for Tarik is that he came to Kansas to become a MAJOR PLAYER for bringing home a national championship! He needs to lose his old identity of reduction that says "role player means minimal impact."

Tarik has the potential to be the missing piece for this team. Last night wasn't the first time he lifted this team to better play. His actions always get a major reaction from his teammates. He is the spiritual leader of this team. Naadir is the floor general. Big difference. Naadir calls out plays, sets pace, executes from the point position. Tarik's role is to inspire his teammates. Tarik's role is to reassure his brothers that we have to lift our heads up, feel positive, play hard and go win!

JoJo will return eventually... and it will be a welcome site for everyone. But moving forward we will still NEED Tarik to be the spiritual leader, and also to perform well when he is on the court.

Tarik needs to accept his new role as being a MAJOR PLAYER for the Kansas Jayhawks! With this new role comes the need for him to stay out of foul trouble, because we need him to play longer so he can make an impact. Tarik's new role it to do what he did last night in every game; to set good screens and run the offense correctly... and he needs to keep fighting for his shot, because his shot is important for this team moving on! He can easily create his own shot in the low post... he has the size and strength to do whatever he wants!

Tarik should be a good option for us to use him beside JoJo in many circumstances. We have two post positions for him to play... two times the potential to make his presence felt!

And when JoJo needs to rest, Tarik will remove the slack... keeping us playing well as a team!

It isn't about who starts a game... it is more about who finishes it! Sherron Collins proved that in '08! He was the difference off the bench, and we would not have brought home the trophy without him. Sherron knew he was a MAJOR PLAYER with that team, and that knowledge proved to be the deciding factor in winning the championship!

Tarik needs to know that he is a MAJOR PLAYER with this team, and no longer a role player! If that clicks in his head, you can start building the next trophy case for the new hardware that will be here in April!

@nuleafjhawk

I thought he had more than a million... since what he had we can't measure!

Tarik Black! Tarik Black! Tarik Black!

I can't stress it enough. Tarik Black's performance last night not only won the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game, he may have won it for the entire year! That was the most-inspiring play of any Jayhawk all year!

And it couldn't have happened for a more-deserving player and human being!

Tarik is the spiritual leader of this team, and he has become the spiritual leader of the Jayhawk Nation! We are all feeling his love. And we all know he is feeling it back!

Normally, I start posting players' stats in this piece. Forget it. We all know what Tarik did on the court. It was magnificent. But what Tarik has done in our hearts and souls must be recognized above everything else.

Last night was more than Tarik's break-out game... it was OUR break-out game! It was the realization that Tarik is a special man, and we have been so blessed to have him even if it is just for one year of basketball. Truth is, we will have Tarik forever! He will always be in our hearts and we will be in his.

This is what Jayhawk basketball is all about!

Conference Season Tally:

Wayne Selden 7

Andrew Wiggins 6

Joel Embiid 6

Tarik Black 5

Perry Ellis 4

Naadir Tharpe 4

Frank Mason 2

Brannen Greene 1

Landen Lucas 1

Conner Frankamp 1

Jamari Traylor 1

Andrew White III 1

Justin Wesley 1

Evan Manning 1

Niko Roberts 1

Christian Garrett 1

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man! You came to the right Jayhawk game to experience.

Even though we captured our 10th straight Big 12 regular season championship, this has not been a typical Jayhawk season. We are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that youth comes the need to educate; to learn what college basketball is all about, and further, to learn what Jayhawk basketball is all about.

Last night was the product of a young team coming to the realization of what it is like to be a Jayhawk. The fans have been there all year, through thick and thin. But the relentless, faithful support provided by our fans is not totally appreciated until our seniors realize it is their last opportunity to bask in the garden we call AFH.

Last night was an example of what all that positive energy can generate; inspired performances mastering execution; players floating in the air like a cloud while carrying heavy hearts fulfilled perhaps for the first time in their lives.

Myles Turner, you are one lucky man!

The door of opportunity has cracked open for you. The clutter of other school offers have now been pushed aside, and the path to becoming a Jayhawk is right before your eyes!

Will you realize the exceptional experience last night was not just a dream? It can be your reality, too!

Rock Chalk, my friend!

@jaybate 1.0

"The 09 team fit together better and faster and played much more aggressively. They seemed fiercer competitors. "

I've felt that way through about 94% of this season...

Then Texas happened... then last night happened.

When our current team decides they want to get after it, they are unstoppable, while stopping their opposition.

@Crimsonorblue22

" well dragnslayr????"

You know I have to plea the 5th on that one. All I can get away with is a limp affirmative on the photo from @JayHawkFanToo .

@Crimsonorblue22

".. maybe, just maybe, he's got a few things to learn before the NBA, driving a car?"

I bet he hasn't had banjo lessons yet!

Sounds like a funny comment... until you watch the expression of Africans when experiencing live banjo playing for the first time. I've experienced it with some guys before and you would think the banjo was from Mars!

Somewhere I have it on video... packed away...

@HawkInMizery

I would be willing to send a 1/32" string from the net to OSU. They should have something to display in their trophy cabinet!

;)

@ralster

" They just cant find the intensity consistently (yet), and the turnovers makes you wonder about focus."

When our junior PG leads the way in TOs, it is hard to point fingers at freshmen for following in his footsteps.

I've got the hammer down on Naadir... all the way until we are off for summer.

I hope he can stop at least with the unforced TOs!

@HawkInMizery

My hopes and prayers are there... we know they can do it!

@Crimsonorblue22

Ha... I won't.

What makes our humor work is the fact that my wife is athletic... she really doesn't do anything athletic that seems feminine (athletic or non-athletic feminine). So I can really pull her strings when I say something like that.

In reality... all of the time it is her that makes statements about other females... "throwing like a girl!" And she constantly tells other women to "man up!" I don't have the cojones to throw out a comment like that!

I bet my wife can throw an 80 mph fastball!

@JayHawkFanToo

I haven't stayed on top of the bracketology as well as you have. That is clear to me now!

Your logic is sound... I think I've been weighing the wins/losses too much on its general count, without putting enough focus on SOS.

I do know that I am very happy we played such a tough schedule this year. It seems to benefit us by making us more prepared, and it seems to give us opportunities in the polls without too much risk of being brought down.

Take the flip side of that coin... and Wichita State. They played perfect basketball and can't advance beyond 2nd in the polls.

@Crimsonorblue22

Actually it wasn't what I meant because I totally respect women's basketball... especially all the discipline! The comment is a bad tick I've developed from an on-going joke I have with my wife. She teases me about several boy issues and I tease her about girl issues. It is all sarcastic humor based on generalizations... but we've carried on enough for me to overlap those comments into the real world.

I'm glad you caught it!

@jaybate 1.0

I think your post hit on a lot of spot on observations.

My biggest gripe with Naadir are his TOs that are unforced. There just isn't any excuse for any player to make these mistakes often, especially our starting PG! Out of all people who should take care of the basketball, PG must make it his #1 priority, especially since he'll be handling the ball every position and for a big part of the possession.

You hit on something... about Wayne and Andrew not being effective off the dribble. Andrew does get to the line often when he goes off the dribble, but I wonder how many possessions that cost us? He often loses his dribble or handle on the ball trying to bring it up for his shot. The ball goes flying askew while Andrew's arm motions continue with the follow through. Very odd sometimes.

And teams are starting to realize they would rather have these guys penetrate, then have them sit back and run some spacing so we can get into our real offense... which is the hi/lo. All a coach has to do is look at our individual FG%s and notice that all our interior players average over 60% (as a group). That means... shut down the post and we are left to live off of the perimeter. And since treys give 3 pts instead of 2, you can bet the preference is to force our perimeter players to drive.

So it turns out that the one area of our game where we all felt like we would be very dominant this year, turns out to be our Achilles heel!

It isn't like we can't drive the ball... but comparing it to the rest of our offense, it is where our opponents want us to spend our possessions. So they work hard to choke off our interior with double-teams, and they try to get a hand in the faces of our trey shots.

We aren't too bad of shots from mid range... when we actually take those shots.

I don't know about you... but another scoring option I like is what Virginia did to Syracuse... bring someone slashing around the FT line for an uncontested baby jumper! I think I'd put everyone but Embiid sometimes in the position to take that shot. And once you nail a few it forces open the rest of our offense.

@JayHawkFanToo

Really good post... especially on the NBA. I heard they were "de-urbanizing" the game. They wanted to attract more kids... especially from suburbs. Makes sense... these are the kids with more spending power to buy merchandise.

@Crimsonorblue22

Sorry... I've actually coached girls teams before... and they played tough basketball... I don't know why but girls always do the best job of boxing out for rebounds. I'd bring in some of my basketball bros to scrimmage them and the girls would always have them boxed out well.

I think I'll edit that comment...

@wissoxfan83

At first I thought this year's team was a shoe-in pick. Then I thought about it more... now I'm not too sure.

Two things stick out at me. A healthy Embiid is a game-changer.

Second... I always think of the twins as they were on their final year. In their freshman year they played like high schoolers. We kept blogging about whether they could dunk or not.

Those two things made it obvious.

Then I think about our last game. Sherron would eat Naadir on a piece of toast as he drives the lane. No matter what, this game would be close, because Sherron was capable of keeping games close.

Then think about our current foul trouble. How many FTs would Sherron and Tyshawn have in this game? And could they stick Embiid into foul trouble? We only possess one Wiggins, and he can't guard both Sherron and Tyshawn!

And who would win the battle between Perry and a softer Kieff? I'm leaning Kieff....

Now my skepticism steps in on our current team.

@jaybate 1.0

"Black should give the NBA a shot, if he wants to, but he has "coach" written all over him."

Bingo! Or he could be a minister... or adviser for kids in trouble... Whatever he chooses I see him trying to continue his role as a spiritual leader. I bet he would develop into one heck of a good coach!

@nuleafjhawk

I think that might even get him passed Wilt! (maybe)

KUSports is running a blog on our 2009 team. Amazing... some of the similarities with our current team!

http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/ ↗

Back then we had our experienced junior guard running things... Sherron Collins. We now have a junior guard running things in Naadir.

We had a great shot blocker in the paint, Cole Aldrich. We have a great shot blocker today in Joel Embiid.

Key players back then included: Collins (JR), Aldrich (SO), Mc Morris (FR), Mk Morris (FR), Taylor (FR). That is a junior, sophomore and 3 freshmen... like what we start now!

So here comes the obvious question: Which is the better team?

The story on Tar really confirmed my belief that he is the spiritual leader of this team.

He doesn't have to score a million points tonight.. but if he has a few of his explosive plays... a big dunk or monster block... the entire team will be juiced and will win the pace battle that we all know Tubby is going to bring a game of "crawl ball" with him into AFH.

Go Tar!

@globaljaybird

Interesting story!

I still have a feeling he will return for another year. Just a hunch.

The thought I have that challenges this is the period right after the tourney, and I am of the opinion players can talk to teams (but without agency) and still have the option to return to school.

I think JoJo might decide to go pro if he is assured that he will be given an intelligent developmental path to follow on his way into the league. That means some D-league and lots of training to build his strength and condition in order to help keep him safe from injury.

JoJo really seems like a different guy since his injuries. His battle scars are starting to accumulate and he is an intelligent young man who cares deeply about his health. I believe he values his health more than a pile of greenbacks. And he has nothing to prove by becoming famous... in fact, I doubt fame is something he desires.

I bet the money side of this plays a bigger role when he realizes how many people he can help back home. Even though JoJo has been in the US for a few years, the concept of wealth and prosperity still have to be quite detached from the concepts most people have here. Like... does he want an estate home? Or would he rather open up a community center for kids to play at?

@nuleafjhawk

Very good post, and you stuck your neck out to do it (with the "hate Smart" crowd).

So many things I like about Marcus. He just needs to pull back 1/10 of his competitiveness. That's the tenth that goes over the line of scruples.

I have a feeling he will be the next Charles Barkley in the league... minus a few inches and pounds. Marcus needs an agent more than any player in the last zillion years. The guy needs someone he respects to keep him straight and out of trouble. Actually... in our f&%# up culture we reward some level of trouble... so it is hard to say what makes him worth more money... and that is what our culture is all about (unfortunately).

Even with his troubles, I think Marcus is going to do well at the next level, unless he screws up from the money. One can only imagine what he will be like when he has dollars with 6 digits behind them. I can almost see him starting a petting zoo for kids, or something bizarro like that. The guy has a truly unique mind.

@bskeet

"With a loss from one of those teams, KU is in the conversation for a #1 unless they bow out in the first game of the tourney."

Syracuse should definitely be out of the picture now with their home loss to VT.

I basically gave up on our hopes of a 1-seed because of 7 losses...

Maybe someone in here knows...

Has there ever been a 1-seed with 7 or more losses?

@Crimsonorblue22

Thanks for the thought... so you go to the game and give an extra shout out from me.

I'll be flanked behind the 3rd bush outside of the south exit of Gallagher-Iba, waiting to dart in with my clippers duct taped to my back.

Everyone in here can PM me their mailing address later for a strand of history!

@JayHawkFanToo

Good clarification... I agree!

I've decided to go down to Stillwater tonight with my hedge clippers and cut down their nets.

Anyone want to go along?

@jaybate 1.0

Love both of your reads today, my friend!

Do you know HOW Self won #10?

Of course, everyone contributed.... but we had 2 main weapons...

Weapon #1: Embiid on defense. He became a blocking machine and a shot changer. Embiid made up for a lot of bad perimeter defense. Embiid has pulled down a lot of boards, too.

Weapon #2: Embiid on offense. Embiid has shot an amazing 62.6% from the field! Okay... he doesn't score a ton of points... but HOW did Self get Embiid his points? The Self hi/lo, which also then feeds in all our bigs %s... Ellis 53.6%, Black 66.2%, Traylor 74.6%... add in all our post players and that is why we are one of the most efficient offenses in the country! Most teams we won because of our offense, not our defense.

Embiid is our main weapon.

But let's not discount all the help from Wiggins, Selden and sometimes Tharpe. All of these guys played gigantic roles in several games.

However... minus out Embiid from our season and we would be fighting to get a spot in March Madness.

Go back 2 years ago and that Kentucky team didn't have a shot at that NC without the unibrow!

@JayHawkFanToo

"Coach Self has said numerous times on his radio show and at press conferences that by tournament time he likes to have the team down to 7 and no more than 8 players taking the bulk of the minutes;"

It still will be except Embiid is out for now and must be replaced. Do you think it realistic to only play Black and Traylor? Aren't you forgetting something? Foul trouble?

I will be completely surprised if Landen doesn't get some minutes, starting on senior night. Plus... Jamari also subs in for Perry, too. It isn't realistic to think we only have 3 guys covering our 2 interior spots. We've been in foul trouble all year in the post.

@nuleafjhawk

"I just wanted to point out that there are so many factors that contribute to a team's chemistry and it's hard to say what kind of effect having another "star" on the team would have."

True dat!

Or how teams play without a star. On the other thread about missing Embiid I mentioned the potential this team has for growth while Embiid is out.

Sometimes stars enable other players to not put out 100%. I feel sure we have some of that going on this year. I've definitely felt it with Perry. Perry should step up harder with Embiid out because then Perry is our #1 threat for interior scoring.

I think a lot of our guys don't quite push as hard because we have Andrew and JoJo.

In the least, they feel like they don't want to outshine our star players. And they think people (and coaches) want the star players shooting more and doing more.

It shouldn't be that way. That is where you want players to be competitors. A true competitor will not only compete against other teams, but will have a certain amount of competitive spirit with their own players. I think at some point players can be too competitive and prevent the team from coming together and playing as a team. We are no where near to having that problem. We need guys to step up and be more competitive. Perry comes to mind... Naa, too.

On senior night, it will be Tar. Beyond that, who knows.

I think senior night with Tar will be a good test for Tar. Can he come out inspired and without fouling?

With JoJo out, this has created an opportunity for Tar and Landen to prove themselves. Much different situation than back in November.

I like the idea of Tar for senior night... and he should step up and be a force. If he doesn't, I like the idea of giving Landen the starting spot next.

What we are looking for is one of these guys to step up in this tough time. It could be either of these guys, neither or both!

There are areas of Landen's game that are still soft, mostly because he hasn't received enough floor time. But Landen has the best fundamentals of all our post players.... without doubt!

Jamari is excellent, and he is in his role as a spark player off the bench. It would be a huge error to start him. That would take him out of his role and he has been performing well in his role.

But then... I don't know... I don't sit in at practices and have the knowledge our coaching staff has. There may be factors involved that none of us are aware of.

I'm just glad we are resting JoJo... he shouldn't have come back this early in the first place, and if we bring him back too early again, he will just continue to aggravate it and we are back to square one.

I'd rest him until the NCAA tourney. It will be a good experience to make this team play without him. They rely way way way too much on JoJo now. We need this team to fight harder, and the way to do that is to keep JoJo out.

This may end up being a blessing down the road. Mix it up and we create a big opportunity for players to be forced to come through.

Imagine getting these guys to actually d-up without JoJo! Then JoJo returns for the big dance!

@nuleafjhawk

It does feel that way... but in reality, we have one of the most-efficient offenses in the country. Granted... that relates more to having good bigs and often using Self's hi/lo because it is our interior scoring percentage that is keeping our pants up!

However... we don't know how well our interior would be scoring if we didn't have Andrew on the outside to bait defenses to come out. Personally, I think this is a huge factor, one that goes unnoticed. We only look at Andrew's stat line to determine the contribution he makes to this team... but there is more to the game than that.

Going undefeated is possible, but improbable... more so these days because seasons are longer (more games / less odds) and there is an abundance of more quality teams out there.

The Shockers have a shot, but it is still a long shot, even though they are playing well.

First... they have to get through their valley tournament. The teams may not be that great, but it will be teams that have already played them twice. It isn't easy beating anyone 3 times in a row. And, perhaps, the Shockers could be looking past their own valley tournament... doubtful, but possible.

Then they have to go 6-0 in the big dance.

What they do have going for them is first, a quality PG who plays consistent and has great basketball IQ. Second, they were there last year so they can ride that experience. Third, they will be jacked up for every game. Marshall knows how to get them jacked every night. Fourth, they play as a team and unselfish. Fifth, they know how to close out games. Sixth, they are carrying a bigger chip on their shoulders this year than last year. Hard to beat that chip!

Their shortcomings are obviously individual talent level, and their weak SOS coming in didn't allow them more preparation. Big hurdles, but not impossible to overcome. They do have so many other positives to help counter, but will it be enough?

Last... what is always unknown and inconsistent... LUCK! It does seem to take some luck to win it all... or in the least, the lack of bad luck. That means, keeping everyone healthy, or if someone goes down it creates a big time chip for the rest of the guys to win from. Louisville had that benefit last year where they took what appeared to be bad luck and turned it into good. Danny and the Miracles did the same with Marshall going down.

I'm just glad it is Wichita State in this position and not Syracuse or Arizona... two teams I dislike!

@Crimsonorblue22

Could be Ford... could be Smart. We already know Smart's willingness to be dishonest.

Come on, guys... we know Marcus Smart. The big lights will be on and Marcus Smart is going to be Marcus Smart.

I expect him, in the least, to pull some big time flops. Flops that will get lots of negative TV coverage.

We know he will flop out.. he also might flip out! This is his last shot at becoming a big time hero. He came back for this opportunity and gave up big bucks to do so. He's not going down without a fight, and that could mean about anything.

The Cowboys are a decent team... better than their record. But they have a small margin for error, and if they hope to go far, they need some good luck, starting with being placed in the right bracket against teams they can handle.

But I do like the chances that several B12 teams could win a few games in the tourney. Obviously, OSU could make some noise... so could ISU. And then there is Texas.

I can see a possibility of 3 B12 teams in the Sweet 16.

Back to Smart... expect some noise from Marcus.

@wissoxfan83

Thanks for that update on Bennett.

I've got your Badgers as a WARMER WARMER WARMER... a team capable of winning it all. Close to HOT HOT HOT!

@REHawk

I've stated some criticism I have about Self... but in the big picture... I think he has done one of his best jobs ever this year! Maybe his best!

All of us have over-the-top expectations... and he does a good job of at least giving us a chance to reach those crazy heights.

You can see in his face that he carries the same frustrations all of us carry, too.

To be honest, I am surprised we are even in the conversation for winning another NC.