Okay... I'll start the thread... and we'll put the list in my start thread... so if any of you want to add to the list, please edit my initial post.
And then the comments below every throws in their sales pitch!
@HighEliteMajor - can you post your pitch now in the new thread?
"The problem for Ellis is that he makes the mistake of trying to go inside against them, and in doing so gets his shot blocked."
Perry just hasn't learned the skills to score on people bigger and stronger than him. He needs to stay inside... and he needs to learn to use his opponent's body to draw fouls while he creates just enough space to score.
That's what you see from good guards... even tiny point guards who take it right into the heart of the post and score on guys a foot taller than them.
Perry doesn't use his body as a shield and as a tool to create scoring space. When he learns that skill... he'll actually draw closer to defenders... forcing the contact to draw fouls and reduce their ability to contest the shot.
Perry also needs to add head/shoulder/ball fakes to his repertoire. If you caught the Florida/UK game this past weekend Florida put on a clinic in using those fakes in the post. Calipari spent hours trying to prep his guys to face all those ball fakes and they still fell for them and went airborne early.
"All positive qualities. But against PFs that are long and athletic, he many times disappears."
I totally agree!
I got excited from the TCU game because that is the Perry Ellis I watched play at Wichita Heights HS. This TCU game represents the first real step Perry has made to being his old self in HS. His game didn't translate over because college has some big, physical post players that Perry didn't contend with in HS.
It is all about taking Perry out of the hypothetical. Away from his concept of working hard for perfection. Treating basketball like it's a school study... like algebra or social studies.
Basketball is a game of talent and skills... but in the end it is will and perseverance that determines winners. Talent can get smashed by someone who brings will and physical presence to the post.
I wish I could trade 20% of Perry's toolbox for 20% of Charles Barkley.
Perry has decided he is a 3 at the next level. He will have to make a gigantic transformation before he is a talented 3 at the next level. First... he needs to become proficient at 3. And then... he has to learn to score from 3 with a guy his size guarding him on the line. He has to learn better dribbling skills... far better.
He has one of the best skill sets out there (at any level) at the 4 spot. He just doesn't have the strength and will to own that spot on stronger players.
It would be a much easier path for Perry to go to the gym and build his strength more... and then compliment his game by working on his perimeter game. He should get away from this concept that it is a negative to be a 'tweener in the NBA... because the NBA is starting to realize that tweener players have a dominant role in the success of the team. Tweeners bring a different skill set, and opposing teams have to adjust their match ups.
The 3-pt game is where the NBA is going... so if Perry can be a talented tweener who can bomb the 3.. he'll have a longgggg NBA career! If he abandons his 4 game, then he'll leave behind his entire life of work (and all those skills) in pursuit of something he will, most likely, become just mediocre at in comparison to the competition level.
I hope he does earn a few minutes at the 3 next year... but continues to master the 4, but with abilities to nail the 3.
The first thing Perry needs to do is learn to own the 4. Over this summer he needs to go to the Chiefs training camp and learn how to eat meat. Build serious muscle all summer, and make sure he keeps his same post toolbox with his new muscles. AW3 can show him how to build mass.... along with the master.... Hudy!
I agree... I miss Oakville! I still visit KUSports but I rarely check out the comments.
Why don't we treat Oakville like a HS All-American recruit... and go after him?
We can start the recruitment by making a thread specifically for Oakville... then HEM can post a link on KUSports.
This is nothing against KUSports... and we'll never advise Oak to stop posting there... we just ask him to post sometimes over here!
So maybe we make a thread in Oakville style.. a comical list of why we want Oakville to bring his outrageous talent over here!
If several of you agree... we should start here with the list... we build it together and tweak it... then we go live and post it as a thread!
Here we go -
WHY OAKVILLE SHOULD POST ON KUBUCKETS:
I loved the overall team energy in this game.
We were just chatting in here if they could become more of an open court team. The TCU game was a kind of hybrid version of open court. We picked up the pace considerably and often scored in what I classify as a secondary break (anytime the defense hasn't set yet).
I know we accomplished all this at home against the worst team in our league... but at least we accomplished it and got a taste of what our future can be if we bring a different mindset (and strategy) into games. Even though TCU offered little defensive resistance, we still had to come out there and push the pace beyond what was our previous comfort level and then execute. This was a good opponent to try this strategy, and hopefully we will take some confidence away from it and bring the same amount of energy into future games.
It will be tougher to execute this style of game away from home and against tougher opponents... but we have the talent to do it. And if we maintain a high level of confidence it won't be so incredibly hard to do it against better teams.
That was a fun game to watch, and if my memory serves me right this was the first game in a long time we really mashed our opponent. We didn't let off their throats the entire game. Even our walk-ons performed admirably.
I hope Self is just bluffing on Embiid's return for Tech. I'd like to see us have to win on the road without him. Embiid gives the rest of our guys a sort of security blanket that doesn't help them stay motivated. It would be nice to have a few games without him and let them build on that motivation... long enough to establish a pattern. Plus.. we need him fresh for March!
What we experienced Saturday closely connected to the expectations many of us have for this team. Amazing how much better they look when they all keep a high-revved motor!
Now we have to learn to play that way against better opponents. Not a hard adjustment... mostly mental.
Man alive... Who do I single out for the FLOOR BURN AWARD on this one? Perry Ellis had a MAN NIGHT! 32-points, 8 rebounds (4 offensive), 5 assists and 2 steals! And he proved he can be a threat from the perimeter, nailing two 3-point shots. It will be nice (moving forward) to exploit that option!
Andrew Wiggins.. played a solid game. He's staying busy and on the move. He managed 17-points and just took what was given to him.
Wayne Selden.. showed up wearing big boy pants. 15-points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block! 3 STEALS!
Jamari Traylor... a man possessed! 10-points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and a block in only 22 minutes of floor time! He had a couple of major highlight finishes in the paint!
Tarik Black.. he's such a favorite with all of us... he was limited because of foul trouble, but he made his presence known in the 9 minutes of floor time he saw.
Landen Lucas.... I hope he can continue to steal a few minutes. What a treasure he is to have planted deep on our bench.
We brought big time energy as a team. It is hard to reward only one or two players, so I won't... I'll reward every player who had playing time with the award this time! It was a team effort and everyone deserves a piece of the pie!
Conference Season Tally:
Wayne Selden 5
Joel Embiid 3
Perry Ellis 3
Andrew Wiggins 3
Naadir Tharpe 3
Tarik Black 3
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
I can't believe the response on the subject of green!
Maybe we should have an ongoing thread that is for everything outside of basketball.
I definitely appreciate all the great advice in here... looking forward to spring so I can try out some of these great ideas!
Wow! Thanks to everyone for helping me out!
Sorry this went off basketball...
I also grow a gigantic all-organic garden in town in my back yard. I condition the ground with my own compost... coffee grinds... etc. I always use some coffee grinds because earthworms seem to love it. They probably get a buzz on them and just dig, dig, dig! The ultimate fertilizer comes from their castings.
Good points!
I'm on a lake and just a few feet above the water line. I know termites need water, but maybe that's too much water! It's also clay soil. Harder than concrete when it freezes!
Termites are also a food source for several critters...
I've had more of an issue with ants nesting in my oaks. Also... a problem with scale. If anyone has good, natural ways to win these battles, please post them!
I'm in the woods and never had a termite problem. Most of the wood around me is hedge. I'm thinking termites probably seek out softer woods. They really take on a project if they go after hedge!
"Somehow it seems we've steered just a tad off subject. LOL"
Not really... I was just getting to my idea of having our post guys urinate on the goal post to mark territory! I don't know if we'll ever battle mice in the post, but we certainly seem to have a rat problem now and then! ;)
That's what we did a few years ago, and look... NO MORE ANTLERS!
Termites like hedge apples? ...or the wood? I never leave any wood near my buildings. Wood piles make great homes for just about everything. I had a problem with cottonmouths a few years back so I cleaned up several areas where they would hide and nest. Never leave tall grass near water... never! They can be really aggressive!
I like to use hedge smoke on my wild critter meats.
I like a blend of pecan and apple for my "pharmaceutical meat." Joking... my standard off-the-shelf beef, etc.
Glad to pass the info on to you, @jaybate ! Hope your father is giving it a try right now in the big blue sky!
BTW: hedge apples are good natural repellent for ground critters (like mice). Every fall I throw many hedge apples in my cabin crawl space and they do a good job of reducing mice from seeking to share winter shelter with me.
Another trick is to pee around your building... especially if you eat meat. Also, pee on the trees you want beaver to mark off the list, or you may be in for a surprise in the spring! The higher you pee on surfaces, the better.
Evidently, all wild critters understand territorial markings. High off the ground urine markings indicate a large animal, and the protein from meat is in it, too, so they realize you may want to eat them.
I've never lost a tree to beaver or any critter even when my neighbor's trees were chewed. Several critters go after tree bark... and once the bark is gone you can say bye-bye to your old friend! And you might slow them down with wire mesh around the base... but as my neighbor's learned.. that only slows them down!
Right on!
I'm hopeful Embiid will rest at least one more game. I'm hopeful that Self has just created the concept of him being 50/50 in order to make it difficult for TCU and Tech to prep to play us.
Coaching during league play is like a good game of poker... coaches like to play their hands close to the chest and there are plenty of bluffs used to keep other players guessing.
This sounds like one of those poker games. Self is sending out bluff signals (I hope).
Plus... it is a good thing to keep Embiid from the lineup now. We need to continue to strengthen our defense and by removing Embiid from the lineup the rest of the team can't use him as a crutch any longer. His teammates need to toughen up and face the challenge without him. This is to our benefit later on... when Embiid is back!
BTW: for all you meat smokers out there.... hedge apple is excellent smoking wood! I have a few acres of rural property and I collect dead wood every year and burn the big stuff for heat (very hot burning wood), and I save the small stuff for smoking. It is free, it is plentiful, and it doesn't overpower the smoke taste on your end product.
Right now, I'm planning a big shindig during the B12 Conference Tourney and plan to smoke an entire purple kitty for all the Jayhawks in attendance to feast on!
I'll post my recipe right before the game.
Just play it safe and add a ;) !
Gutsy call, my friend!
I have to go the political road here... and donate 100% of my Valentine love to my wife!
It's been nice having this one-on-one discussion... it has been a while!
You make excellent points.
The open court game could backfire, too. It could weaken our defense, and it could speed up our half court offense (which is doing fairly well now).
I just hate to see players like Wiggins not being utilized for what he is good at.
Self doesn't really showcase most OADs. The exception could be Embiid. These guys need a lot more than just being untethered. They need some direction and a pathway to bring their unique skills into play.
I really thought Andrew would have more tools than he had when coming to KU. I thought he would play more like Jabari Parker, but at a much higher athletic level. I don't understand what he thinks he is going to do next year in the league?
Back to the open court game... thinking on the positive side... It isn't necessary that we completely go "all in" on open court basketball. But if we could at least get some quick breaks now and then, we would force teams to keep it in their minds, and hopefully disturb their offensive flow.
I'm not even sure we really need to send our wings ahead of the rebounds. Sometimes, you catch a guy who gets a rebound, and just dribbles hard down the court on his own fast break.
The key is to just get it down in scoring position before the defense is set. Even if there is one or two guys back, it is still a bigger space to attack from, even if it is just one guy or two.
I'd like to see the tempo change if for no other reason to see if we can get our guys to speed up their motors. We seem to play way too laid back. I can't imagine we could lose if all our guys were really working up a sweat. I always check out who is perspiring during timeouts and free throws... any time the game stops and the cameras zoom in on players. Who is breathing hard? Really hard?
There is a difference between being tired at the end of the game, and having to catch your breath during the game because you've been running hard. I rarely see our guys really exhaust themselves. Actually... when I think of it, Wiggins is usually the guy I see sweating and breathing hard!
It has been such a frustrating year. We've seen improvements, for sure... but it doesn't seem we've ever really had that team break-out game. Where we can see a light bulb go off on the whole team. Where we really deliver a total beat down. We just seem to coast through games. You know as well as I do that we need more than that in March.
I'm hoping we can outlast Wichita State this year, but I have to be honest... I just don't see it happening yet! I see the potential as I always do in Jayhawk teams.... but I'm not feeling optimistic so far.
It's all behind us now... my comment was too harsh on Selby. He just didn't offer us that NC everyone thought he would. Even without his delayed start or injury... he wasn't going to be our savior. I think that is the connection to where we are with Wiggins.
But I'd be willing to rethink my position if we could get this team to play open court basketball! That's the game Wiggins already knows and can use his natural athletic ability to shine. He should be able to score on about any two guards out there in the open court.
He would definitely have the scoring space he needs in the paint to finish at the rim!
What do you think, ICT? We keep crunching down on these freshmen to learn all this "Selfball" in the next 30 days? Or we have them do what they (no doubt) did all through high school? Run and gun! Open court basketball! It was the method they used to build huge stats that made them MackeyD's All Americans!
I bet they would get excited to play games again! I bet they would bring tons of energy to games! I bet they would bring big time smiles with them! I bet we would win some games and for the first time this year, really DOMINATE teams!
Who have we really dominated so far?
I recall Selby being a dud in the tourney. He went 1for5 in those 15 minutes against VCU and just wasn't in the flow on both sides of the court. I liked Selby... but what did he offer us in March? You are right.. there were plenty of guys to blame in the VCU game... Reed, Morningstar were throwing up bricks, and Kieff seemed to throw the ball more to VCU than back to his teammates.
I thought it was a mistake to give Selby any minutes in March. He was recovering and it wasn't a time to reintegrate him for any substantial minutes and let him do what he wanted. His play was disruptive to our flow.
He always had the green light when he walked on the court. He made mistakes constantly and didn't face the typical freshman wrath dished out by Self. In Selfball I consider that "untethered."
Wiggins has been the same. He has received an earful now and then... but if he was a typical freshman he would have been yanked many more times... by now it probably would have done him some good.
We've discussed this in here quite a bit. Giving players the carrot or the whip. It's time to whip down a bit on Wiggins. I would restrict him from shooting 3s. It is ridiculous that a player of his athletic talent has to settle for 3s, and then shoot a poor %. His defense is improving.. but his offense is pretty rough... definitely too rough to just let him toss up a bunch of dud 3s. He can do better than that, and Self has to demand it now. For a guy with so many minutes of PT, and basically touching the ball on every possession... he's only thrown 39 assists this year. That doesn't say much for a guy in his position at KU. There is several ways for a player to create offense, including opening it up for other players and getting assists.
I'm not sure I'd lay all the blame on Wiggins for his poor shooting. He doesn't seem to be improving his toolbox much this year. Seems our coaches should have helped him with his toolbox. Compare his offense to someone like Jabari Parker. Parker has a way to score in every situation, and with half the athleticism. I expected Andrew to make up some of that gap this year, but he isn't showing us a lot more tools. We can't just let him go on like this and toss up 0-for-4 from 3 every game (or worse).
But as I said above. Maybe just forget all this. We aren't going to reconstruct Rome in the next 30 days!
Send these guys into the open court and lets see what happens!
My money is on Traylor coming back to Lawrence after he is done, probably every year (as long as Self is here)... to refresh his spirit, refresh his connection with Self... and most... to give back to the people who helped him by giving him a chance!
So... expect to see him back working camps and wherever he is needed!
Traylor will become one of the great legendary Jayhawks because he will keep the connection tight and will always give back!
I hope sometime in his Kansas playing career he becomes the guy who hits the shot, or makes the block... whatever it takes to win the big game! Imagine if he is the one who makes the "Chalmers' play" to win it all?!
I'm pro-Wiggins... but we are reaching a point in the season when we either have to see him as a constant plus on offense... or we need to start tethering his game.
I know he is nothing like Selby.... but Selby was a top recruit that we gave him too much leash (and PT) down the stretch in March, and he cost us... most likely a National Championship!
Everything else about Wiggins is totally different from Selby. But the part where he was untethered down the stretch seems to be the same situation here.
No one really should get a completely unregulated "green light." And just because Wiggins is one of the very best pro prospects in the nation, it doesn't mean his game takes precedence over everyone else on the team... especially now that we have 2/3 of a season done and plenty of stats to show who is winning games for us.
I don't think we would even be hashing this out if the guys would just learn to push the tempo into an open court game. We would murder every team in America!
Teams can try and stop our open court game.... heck.. they can have two perimeter guys always get back. Here is where we maximize the use of Wiggins. Give him the "green light +" in the open court to finish on two guys! In the least he'll get fouled. We'll dominate the game because we are virtually limiting two of our oppositions perimeter offensive players!
We can even get several breaks on in-bounds after a score. Train our post players to hustle for the ball the second it goes through the net.. half the time they should catch the ball right out of the net, and in the same motion be pivoting towards our goal while backing up out of bounds. Then we have someone like Selden pull over towards the half court sidelines to receive a quick inlet pass. Then he is looking for Wiggins or Tharpe. Or actually, any of these guys can be hit for the pass to go.
Gosh... we see other teams do it every day... why can't we? The best open court team in America? That is us! I mean... that SHOULD be us!
Having a good open court team covers up a lot of weaknesses... we only have to think back to Roy's teams to recall that.
This is something we can do right now and change the tone of this season. We need to do something because it is hard to imagine our current team in their current form of play going on a six game run in March. Plus... this is something we should have been doing all along!
It's time we start taking advantage of our speed, athleticism and bench!
Let's ask for Jesse's help. Hey Jesse... how well do teams (on average) shoot the 3 when they are playing open court teams that are pushing the ball? Imagine by the end of the game... how tired their guards must be after hustling back on every possession?
The really great part of all of this is... it doesn't require the heavy learning curve and discipline that playing solid defense requires. We have been improving our defense... but this team is not going to match previous teams... like '08! But within a few weeks this team could be the best open court team Self has ever had!
Get'ur shoes on, boys! Lets go for a run!
It could easily go that way. Or they could back off.
Since we are approaching March and we don't know how games will be called.. because we are left in the dark, the refs are already controlling March!
Teams are tweaking their games now to win their conferences and they are starting to focus on tweaks that will impact their March play. And they have to prepare with a big question mark in place!
Like... how are we supposed to prepare? Our guards need to guard tight now because the knick-knack won't be called? Or will it? Should our post players play with more aggression because they will let the post play go rough (like they are starting to do now)?
How are we supposed to prepare ourselves for March?
My guess is we will have the largest variation in calls in the history of the tournament. One game will be tight, the next loose. Or... the finger foul on the perimeter is called, while mugging is allowed in the paint...
Whatever... but they are already impacting March now!
The refs will (for the most part) determine the next National Champion!
Our man Tait, over at KUSports has posted a story on our 3-point proficiency to date. And while Matt isn't quite the stat-grinder Jesse is, we appreciate his efforts in shining the light away from emotional views to hard facts. Thank you, Matt!
http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tale-tait/2014/feb/13/a-deeper-look-at-kus-three-point-shootin/ ↗
The season has played out long enough now that we can look at hard numbers and form a strategy around them. Might players play up or down as the season progress? Yes, of course... but then it is good to factor in recent games to estimate future proficiency. Players (and teams) go hot and cold... that's what Las Vegas counts on... there is enough variance in the game to keep things unpredictable around their point spreads, creating a 50/50 jump ball where they net 10% on the overall wash.
If we look at the general picture now we can form some general ideas for moving forward. I took a look at individual proficiencies and came up with the following.
One thing is for sure... Tharpe needs to be popping more 3s! He is at 43.75% from 3! We would need a 2-pt FG% of 70% to match his proficiency from 3!
We are going to win a lot of games if we can have Tharpe shooting more 3s! The sample size on Greene and Frankamp are small.. but what we have on them doesn't show near the proficiency of Tharpe! One issue with Greene and Frankamp, they have a reputation for shooting the long ball, and they feel the heat to shoot it when they can. That puts a bit more pressure on them to nail the shot and take the shot when defenses are close enough to distract their release. Tharpe tends to be very selective on his 3s and only takes them when he is wide open. However... in recent games, where Tharpe owns the high point stat, he showed his ability of creating his own 3-pt shooting space off the dribble. We need more of that!
The only part of Wiggins' game where he is truly proficient is from the FT line. His 3-pt and 2-pt offense appears to be holding us back because it is below the team averages. Granted, he helps create offense for others by drawing over defense, but not much as he only has 39 assists for the year.
Wiggins needs to lift his offensive game now! He is really starting to hold us back!
Selden's numbers are slightly higher. Not earth-shattering, but slightly higher.
Looking at individual proficiency tells us everything. If you get away from team numbers and look at individual numbers... our post guys need to be getting the ball a lot more and taking the shots... not throwing the ball back out. The one exception is our need for post players to throw the ball out to Tharpe to take the 3! This can't be stressed enough! Embiid's numbers stick out the most. He has 61.2% FG proficiency in the post!
Another guy that sticks out in the positive is Traylor. He doesn't score a lot, but he needs to shoot more when he is on the floor. He is averaging about 15 minutes a game... enough to make an impact.
From the stat line we can draw conclusions on who needs to shoot the ball more, and who needs to shoot the ball less... it goes like this:
MORE SHOOTING (in order of importance):
Tharpe (3s)
Traylor (2s)
Embiid (2s)
Ellis (2s)
LESS SHOOTING (in order of importance):
Mason (3s and 2s)
Wiggins (3s and 2s)
Selden (3s and 2s) is about a wash...
This doesn't factor in fouls and FT proficiency. This has been the one saving grace for Wiggins' game. If we factor it in, he's probably just holding his own and not adding any advantage for us. It's not like he isn't producing... he just can't match the production we have in the post, and Tharpe on his 3s. And since our defense has issues, we need as much offense as we can muster.
Our offensive numbers on the whole are good enough to win another NC. Our rebounding is also strong... helping give us more possessions. What really kills us is TOs. I don't have the total stats on TOs, but what I do have is enough of a look to question the possibility of this team being a real contender in March. Our freshmen are leading the way in that department:
Worst at TOs (in order):
Embiid
Selden
Wiggins
The 3 have combined for 161 TOs in 24 games! That is 6.7 TOs per game from just 3 players.
But wait... there is more... There is one statistical area that explains why this team isn't undefeated at 24-0. Defense! Our defense gives up 70.1 ppg... ranked 176th in the nation! Our 3-pt defense gives up 34.5%, 189th in the nation!
And last... we foul a lot. Bad defenses tend to foul. We've committed 508 fouls in 24 games. That is over 21 fouls a game! Way, way too high for a team to contend in March. We've actually been lucky in this area, that the teams we have played only average a paltry 66.5% proficiency at the line. I wouldn't count on that number staying that low in March, especially after advancing into higher rounds.
I'm certain we will not change strategies to slow down Wiggins' shooting quantity. We are betting on him lifting his game and carrying this team. We don't want to reduce his game to the point of being a non-factor. But... he needs to find a way to lift his game NOW! He needs to stop taking forced shots and he needs to look for ways to create open looks for himself. That is the method that will lift his %s... and if we can lift his %s, we will be a much harder team to beat in March!
All of our stat issues will clear up if this team learns how to hustle for 40 minutes, and stay focused, too. The focus and hustle will reduce our TOs, help individuals play better individual and team defense, and will create better scoring opportunities that will help players like Wiggins lift his %s. The focus and hustle will help our freshmen play more like sophomores.
To stand any chance in March, our freshmen will have to play like sophomores! It is as simple as that. They need to reduce their TOs, reduce their fouls, and play with more directed intensity, especially on defense.
Tharpe has solid stats this year. But he now must take a stronger role in leadership. He has to be the leader in every game that stays on our freshmen to focus and hustle. That is the one thing that has to happen from here on out. Someone has to push our freshmen when they miss a shot and get down and out. Someone has to push our freshmen when they turn the ball over to suck it up and focus better.
Our 3-pt defense is our biggest deficiency. There is an easy solution for fixing this. We need to go on the offense! Off of rebounds and even off inbounds after a basket, this team needs to push the pace for an open court basket! Funny how we have several of the best open court finishers in college basketball, but we rarely get the game into the open court! Embiid is the best ball outlet player in D1, and has the potential to be the best of all times with his outlet. If we score a few easy baskets, opposing perimeter players feel the heat to get back and defend. This is one huge distraction away from them hitting 3s. We score a big big win-win by pushing the basketball! Up until now, this part of our game has been a very big disappointment and our best area of opportunity that we have almost completely abandoned!
If Wiggins wants to find an easy way to lift his stats he'll get out in the open court and then take it hard to the rim! Push the ball, Jayhawks!
Pushing open court offense takes high energy. High energy requires optimism and confidence. Clearly... this team lacks optimism and confidence!
We are not far away from being a real contender. This team with a healthy Joel and the right energy and focus will challenge the best in D1!
We are coming down the stretch in the final 1/3 of the season. Now is the time to make our move. Revitalize our strategy and we have several important games to work out the bugs. The opportunity is there... we just need leadership and the right plan of attack!
All of us can see the light. WE NEED TO WRAP OUR CONVERSATION ON A CONSTANT THEME OF THARPE LEADING THIS TEAM TO STAY FOCUSED AND MAINTAIN HIGH ENERGY! GET THE REBOUNDS AND PUSH THE TEMPO! NO MORE PULL UPS ON OPEN COURT POSSESSIONS. WHEN WE HAVE THE BALL IN THE OPEN COURT WE FINISH AT THE HOLE, EITHER IN A PRIMARY FASTBREAK OR A SECONDARY FASTBREAK!
We have the depth to run any team in the nation right out of the gym!
Rock Chalk!
"My take is that Bill Self is something of a father figure for Traylor."
You hit it square...
Self has stated several times that he isn't going to let Jam leave this university until he has a definite skill set to make a good living. You don't hear coaches usually comment like that.
And at the rate Jam keeps improving... Self won't have to lose any sleep over it!
This is the kind of story that makes basketball really worthwhile!
The days of Jamari living in a car condo are over!
When the refs started this year with the ridiculous calls... and in such a wave that the game's focus went away from the teams and on to the refs, they sent a message to every players and coach, "WE decide the outcome of this game!"
From that point forward, players looked harder to find effective ways to flop and win calls, on both sides of the ball. It wasn't like flopping didn't exist before this year, but not so widespread, because in the past, players weren't thinking the refs decide the outcome of the game.
Like I've now said a million times... the change in the call of the game just opened up more variance and how it could be called. So the first major variance (after the initial change in calls) was the "make-up call" in the post (I mean, the make-up NON-call!). The game went totally out of whack at that point; finger fouls on the perimeter, no call in the paint with nun-chucks.
I agree.. that Joel has been totally abused this season by the system.
Let's see...
First... he developed a bad rep early as a guy who plays dirty. It wasn't fair because you could see it was just his knee-jerk reaction because of his lack of experience. And players were already flopping, exaggerating the situation.
Second... he barely speaks English. He doesn't know how to verbally defend himself with refs. Players don't say much to refs, but what they do say helps keep refs fair.
Third... he isn't from our culture. So most of the time he didn't realize just how bad he was getting ripped off.
When he was thrown over the shoulder without getting a call, even after review... that speaks in volumes...
One thing is for sure... next time he gets smacked, he needs to go down on the court and stay down. Show the pain he feels... instead of not getting a call while really getting hurt. He especially needs to stay down in AFH. Let the fans get involved at that point. Refs are weak... they give in to fan persuasion. Then if they go to the monitor, he is likely to get the call. Tell me he wouldn't have got the call in AFH when he was thrown over the shoulder?
Joel is one tall stick... but he always gets the short end of the stick!
736 posts?
I'd say I have an addiction issue!
Trust me, folks. I do have a life. It's right here! ;)
“"We have five good post guys and the best sixth post guy in the country in Wilt. Wilt doesn’t even get a chance to play for us,” Self joked Tuesday on his “Hawk Talk” radio show."
I caught that on the tube. Does CS realize this radio show is also video on TV? I enjoyed watching him eat chicken salad.
"Maybe the OAD rule should be changed simply to keep the guys from getting hurt in D1?"
Why don't we just go back to the old days... and have a JV team? OADs can come, but they will be playing JV ball, and those games won't be televised.
Only juniors and seniors on the varsity team.
It is the way it should be.
It makes no sense to run an 18 yr old kid up against men who are often 23.
Then... don't accept NBA players under 21... ending this OAD debacle.
No... but I have my DVR set for tonight... it is being rebroadcast at 7:30!
I'll squeeze it in between hoops!
@jaybate 1.0
Loved the read! One of my uncles landed on Normandy and lived to tell about it.
And connecting the invasion strategy to B12 strategy was totally marv!
I've had a concept for quite some time that I thought would bring us a new weapon in March... It starts with AW3 and ends in victory!
He has the size and muscle to help toughen this team.
He came into this season hungry.... working out all summer, building his spherical bod.
Rename him... "The Beast!"
No more minutes for him right now. He is under wraps.
Lock him up in the dungeon and feed him live chickens.
He will be the leader of a new team.
A team that has been practicing in secret.
A team that is built by putting in extra time... at night... when the nation is sleeping.
They ARE the resistance!
These soldiers are coming at basketball from a completely different perspective.
Their only concept on fouls is that they have only 5 to give to their country... to their team.
These guys dare opponents to drop the ball on the ground... see what happens then...
Squad structure:
Frank Mason ( "Frank the Tank" )
AW3 ( "The Beast" )
Wayne Selden ( "The Torpedo" )
Jamari Traylor ( "Bam-Bam" )
Tarik Black ( "Black Death" )
These guys bring a new definition to "hard foul."
Their goal isn't to hurt anyone... their goal is to punish everyone... and after just a taste of punishment our opposition goes into survival mode... psychological warfare at it's best.
Stories begin to circulate. Torturous tales. Mystery carpets the earth like nerve gas.
The basketball court becomes a WWI battle theater; trench warfare. The willingness to sacrifice it all for just a few inches of turf gain. What used to be considered a basketball screen is now a flanking maneuver.
Our squad shows up with entire padding (armament).... knees... elbows... forearms... safety glasses... all in black, with a symbol "Hawk and Bones."
The entire basketball world is caught off guard.
Jay Bilas (and a slue of Duke attorneys) attempts to sue Jayhawk basketball for their aggressive behavior. "Hawk and Bones" attorneys laugh it right out of court!
Dickie Vitalis goes into shock and has nothing to say about it. He lives in fear!
Bobby Knight applauds General Self for a job well done.
Marcus Smart becomes so excited he decides to not turn pro after this year and transfers to Kansas... and swears never never never to flop again!
The days of namby pamby are behind us!
Welcome in... "The Hawk and Bones!"
Good one!
Awesome! Please keep posting! We need fresh opinions.
"I went to KU when the last glaciers were receding..."
So we are from the same generation!
I remember my first "Beatle cut."
Really nice post!
If Embiid is hurt for long, maybe his injury drops his spot in the draft. It is starting to look like he carries more risk than initially thought.
He became such a quick media phenom this year. But media doesn't write the checks at the next level.
I think Marcus Smart did blow it. He should have left last year because he was ready... or at least, as ready as he was going to become from playing D1 ball.
I'm not sure how much this hurts Marcus at the next level... the fan push. The NBA had many of it's best rating years when there were certain bad boy teams around... like Detroit. The NBA does need drama. And the NFL does, too. The Sherman incident has done nothing but raise his value. He's a celeb now.
I just look at these guys and how frail they are.. and imagine them facing 100 games next year against bigger, stronger players. And they won't be protected by all the extra whistles blown this year.
I keep advising these guys stick around... but I only advise that if they'll go spend the summer working their tail off in the weight room. Take advantage of Hudy while they have her. Build the body so it will stand a better chance in the bruiser wars in the league.
I don't know... you make a point about "life-changing money." I think that gets into personal philosophy. I haven't seen many really do well with that kind of money. It seems to be a part of the natural process to be forced to survive... at least a little. Most people with the big bucks aren't happy. Everyone is angling for their money and their life is abstract. Is it a worthy goal?
I say that and then tonight I saw something on the tube about Dikembe Mutombo building a hospital in his native Congo. His hospital has saved thousands of lives and his life sounds truly fulfilled!
Going or staying... there seems to be plenty of risks with either decision!
I thought he always sounded like a Schnauzer... with that annoying repetitive bark. Kind of looks like one, too... something between a Schnauzer and the Penguin.
I mean this light-hearted. I don't have anything against Webber. We are going to get the best of him most of the time, and that makes me happy.
"When is the last time a defending big 12 champ or any conference champ for that matter stormed the court the following season? Probably never."
Well... to be honest, they were looking for football goal posts to rip out.
How about standing on the table?
You would have thought they won the Super Bowl. And to be honest... that was their entire season right there. They could make a real charge in the NIT.
I agree... forget the #1 seed... 2 or 3 is fine. I doubt we can still land it anyways.
These situations often help teams get stronger. Now the rest of the guys can't fall back on Joel.. especially on defense.
We all saw how bad our defense played on the Kitties. Pick and rolls in the post... over and over again.
This team needs to get tougher... and their best shot at doing that is without Joel. Then, hopefully, he can return to a team where he is icing on the cake, instead of being the entire cake himself.
"I was surprised by the box score when I check it today- a lot more disparity than I remember seeing."
Me, too... I had no idea of the level of disparity.
I don't think we fix that by just playing certain players. Greene and Frankamp are quality shooters of the long ball... but we aren't creating the right motion (or spacing) in our offense to make them really wide open. They get just enough pressure on their shots that they can't be dead eyes.
We need someone penetrating and then pitching it out for open 3s. Or, in the least, we need plays designed to send our shooters through the post for a group screen and come out the other side for the shot.
We need something to give them plenty of room for their shots.
Gosh... I don't know. I don't really feel like I should be the one who comes down too hard on Wiggins because he is miles ahead of my maturity at 18. I know many people who were more mature than I and I think they could get down on him more than me.
I don't think he is ready for the NBA... same with Embiid. Both of these guys are sticks... sticks playing muscle can go really wrong!
Both of these guys would be in D-league for a while. With all the talent in this draft, I think teams might hesitate and look for players who are more ready for the league... Randle is ready. Parker... could use some strengthening, but he has so many polished scoring tools...
More of these players need to stick it out an extra year in college. What a waste... if Embiid and Wiggins leave then they go into a vacuum for a while in D-league while they try to get themselves ready for prime time.
I'm in the group that thinks D-league doesn't have much development to offer players.
Wiggins needs to stay another year... and next summer he needs to go see John Lucas... same thing TT did leading up to his senior year... where he finally raised his shooting % and finished a heck of a lot more drives in the paint.
Wiggins' offense is too sped up. TT was the same way before Lucas got a hold of him and taught him to slow down just a touch and gain control of himself. Then learn a few tricks for creating scoring space. That's what it is all about... not how fast a guy can run to the rim.
I kind of wonder if all these OADs are paying close attention on what NBA teams are positioned where in this draft. I'm sure the OADs of today are more fixed on where they will go. It is another variable in the decision-making process. Along with the general overall strength of the draft.
I'm guessing we lose one of Embiid or Wiggins... probably Wiggins.
I know Embiid is banged up... but I also wonder if he is holding back a bit (deep down in his subconscious) to reduce the limelight on him to make it an easier decision to return to KU next year.
As of today... my own opinion on who stays who leaves:
% chance of staying
Wiggins - 10%
Embiid - 90%
Selden - 90%
Ellis - 100%
@jaybate 1.0
Funny... I thought you would appreciate it the most!
@jaybate 1.0
It was me and my senseless humor. I've always looked at Webber and flashed back to Burgess Meredith's version of the Penguin in Batman.
It's the smirk.
It is hard to see positives in that game... no doubt.
It was a strange game. It seems that something happened before and during that game with Self. He seemed to be out to prove a point... to levy some discipline.
This was a game about cracking the whip. I felt like Self had given up early in this one, and he was more shocked than anyone to see us come back and put it into OT.
I'm think Self had gone off on the guys before the game... and during the game... and probably after the game.
I just don't know how this team responds to various kinds of stimulation. We discussed it before... the carrot... the bullwhip...
Self looks totally frustrated. Sometimes he looks defeated. I can't recall ever seeing him look defeated.
I think it is time for Cindy Self to send another text message to Bill... or even better.... maybe she should forward the text to the entire team. Something about taking some ownership. Something about personal and team pride. Something about maintaining optimism and confidence.
This is something where women often see things that men don't. Call it intuition... or maybe she is just extremely knowledgeable about basketball... or about people... maybe all of the above!
We need a higher force to come in and straighten things out...
CINDY! PLEASE HELP US... AGAIN!
What stood out the most last night was the obvious reality of having a bunch of freshmen on the same team visiting a hostile environment. Everyone makes such a big deal out of the Hilton... I'd rather go play at ISU than KSU... any day of the week!
Wiggins is only 18. When I was 18 I popped more zits than long ball jump shots. All of our team is filled with kids. I think I'd make an exception on Tarik... he seems to be the lone adult.
Even our non-freshmen players have little experience. Tharpe, Ellis... they both saw limited minutes last year. Black's experience is only partial, since his experience is from another team in another basketball world.
Yes... we could win out in March. Yes... we could go down in the 1st round. What is most-likely to happen is we finish somewhere in between these two possible outcomes.
All Jayhawk fans need to keep one thing in mind; save your money this year. Don't throw it down on a wager involving Kansas basketball. Too much risk involved.
The real blame for last night falls on all of us. We've had our expectations set way way way too high! We painted a dream of Camelot on a white horse coming into our program and rescuing the big trophy in March and bringing it back to the Campanile Bell Tower. Freshmen fairy tales are possible... but are they probable?
I'm not giving up hope... but I'm realizing it as more of a dream than anything else. That's fine... because tell me another situation where we could have lost almost our entire team last year and this year be able to still have a dream that could come true!
I'm holding onto my dream until the last buzzer goes off and we are on the wrong side of the score. Until then... I'm still in this!
Rock Chalk!
It is always a tough loss in the Little Apple because, to be quite frankly, it rarely occurs!
I was not overly-optimistic about walking out of the Octagon with a win this time because we count on too much production from freshmen.
My biggest surprise, and winner of the FLOOR BURN AWARD for this game was Brannen Greene. Brannen put up some impressive numbers and he did it all in just 15 minutes of game action. He went for 10 points, 5 rebounds (3 on offense), and 3 steals.
What really caught my attention was his slam dunk put back in the final seconds and key steal and score. That quick series of actions not only brought us within range on the score, it also gave us valuable momentum and put spark in our entire team.
Andrew Wiggins stole the credit for forcing overtime with his rebound score to tie the game, but it was Brannen's previous effort that created this opportunity... very much like what Sherron Collins did in the NCAA Championship game, by stealing and scoring, bringing the game in reach for Mario Chalmers to force overtime.
Kudos to Tharpe for forcing the action at the end with several scoring drives. He should have stuck with that aggression in overtime.
This game was lost on the long ball. The Kitties were 8-15 (53.3%) from 3, while we were a paltry 3-17 (17.6%). Our play was stiff... typical for freshmen playing in a hostile environment.
Conference Season Tally:
Wayne Selden 4
Joel Embiid 3
Perry Ellis 2
Andrew Wiggins 2
Naadir Tharpe 2
Tarik Black 2
Frank Mason 1
Brannen Greene 1
Since the University of Kentucky is having problems recruiting quality players to their basketball program, they thought an update to Rupp Arena might help!
Yikes... maybe we can pawn "the rules" and add some glass and metal to AFH!
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/rupp-arena-university-kentucky-wildcats-stadium/ ↗ ↗
This is becoming like an arms race... the Cold War revisited!
I don't think most people in here are trying to bag on Tharpe. The criticism is meant to be constructive. I've put up lots of advice for Tharpe.... but I wouldn't want to be without him!
I do, however, think we need to have a better balance in here of compliments-to-criticisms. That very reason is why I started the FLOOR BURN AWARD. To create a tool on here for complimenting players. The idea is that I get the ball rolling and others help out with their own player compliments below in the thread.
There is a good chance Tharpe will play an important part of a victory tonight! If so... why not come on the FLOOR BURN page and post some UPs for Tharpe?
We should all look for ways to lift the confidence of this team and players.
What if we start a thread where everyone can post their best friends wearing Jayhawk gear or whatever?
It would be a beautiful tribute to our best friends. And they love Jayhawks, too!
I remember a long long time ago... my best friend... and a photo of her sleeping with a stuffed Jayhawk. Don't know if I can find that photo... but it is worth sharing.
I know I'd love to see everyone's friends....
This is the game that really counts.
Forget "the B12 championship goes through AFH."
It simply isn't true.
"The B12 championship goes through the Octagon!"
Here is a stat to prove it:
KSU, for instance, is 13-1 in Big 12 play (29-2 overall) in Bramlage under Weber. The Wildcats’ only league home loss was last year’s 59-55 decision to the Jayhawks.
The Purple Kitties have only beaten us twice in 25 tries on their home court. Meanwhile... they do an excellent job of holding court against the rest of the B12.
We win tonight and we will hold on and at least share the conference title.
Nice to see a photo of TRob again! Anyone have an update on his progress in the league?
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. No question that our pets are part of the family.