🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Thanks for the link, @truehawk93 .

What an awesome young man! Another thing that stuck out to me on that clip was at the very end when it said he is not committed yet so his teammates will get more exposure.

That not only says something about his character and how much he has a team consciousness... but also, it implies he has already made up his mind and is just holding off to announce.

Weren't we an early leader on Myles?

It looks more each day like we will have a big empty hole to fill at the 5 after March.

Are the blue camo unis done?

They might gain popularity if we create a Navy Seal-style logo in the center with an armed Jayhawk.

Paul is definitely one of my all-time favs.

I just hope he knows the right time to leave the game. He's had a phenomenal career and it's best to go out on a high note.

Merry Christmas!

Is it time for Paul Pierce to walk away from the game?

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/12/nba-pacers-nets-paul-pierce-george-hill-flagrant/ ↗

Fouls are the biggest factor in games this year.. especially with teams that are stacked in the front court.

Black and Embiid dominated Georgetown because we won the "battle of fouls"... an aspect of the game which has come to such great importance since the rule mods. The rule mods go strongest against post players, because little or no contact is allowed on ball handlers or shooters.

The key to our success is winning the battle of fouls. We dominated that aspect against Georgetown, and once you get another team in foul trouble, it is hard for that team to fight the foul war back. The key to our success this year is to go right after our opponents to draw fouls early. It's a kind of foul leverage that is hard to overcome.

We didn't seem to understand that a few games ago. Players like Black and Embiid need to play a bit timid on defense early on, making sure not to foul, while pushing on the offensive end to draw fouls. Most of our games can be won this year in the first 10 minutes if we get out in front on the battle of fouls.

We were helped against Georgetown because the game wasn't called closely... probably, in part, by how bad Georgetown was hacking. Had it been called any tighter, they may not have had 5 guys available down the stretch.

It seems that CS and our team is starting to figure out how important it is to win the battle of fouls now. It is a part of our strategy that we must implement from here on out... and if we do, this will not be the only game Black wins for us this year. He has some moves with his back to the basket, and his size helps create spacing for scoring.

@Wishawk - I'm fine with Iowa... and I bet if we all met I'd probably pal up with Iowa most. I just want him to post more and take the role of counter-point. There is nothing to counter on his poo posting.

He'll keep doing the light post and I'll keep prodding him. In the least, there may be a good laugh in the process.

I like the guys who put up a challenge. The push back creates the real opportunity to take a subject further.

Perry did have a come back in the UNM game. But he wasn't really dominating against Georgetown up until he went out and that should have been a game for him to dominate, with Josh Smith playing defense in slo-mo. Perry has some body language issues that seem telling. He could use a bit more swagger and keep his eyes up off the hardwoods. He seems like a guy that will have to be prodded to keep his aggression up. I hope I'm wrong... Perry has been one of my favs since his days in junior high and no one screamed louder when he committed to Kansas than I. The criticism can only help him if he reacts on it because it all plays into the perceptions come draft day. No team is going to waste a first or second round pick on a guy they think will become invisible. He has been improving his verbal noise, next he should work on his body language and visible enthusiasm. His stoic appearance is easily fixable and will help him and his teammates if he learns to project more energy, enthusiasm and positivity.

Compare Perry with Tarik. When Tar has a good game it lifts our entire team because Tar starts beating his chest and pumps out lots of contagious energy. Perry's points come in total silence, so there is no upbeat contagious energy for the team.

By now, the team doesn't expect Perry to pound his chest. Perry can really flip the tables now by putting some focus on his projection, because his teammates will respond if he does. It's time he stop hiding in the shadows... especially because he will be punished for that at the next level. I can't think of another 4 in college ball today with a bigger tool chest than Perry Ellis.

My condolences for your recent losses, @jaybate .

Solid post, @HighEliteMajor . Really excellent to bring in some stats, especially comparing NC winners with this team.

I'm not really certain what we can do specifically to resolve the dilemma you mention. Frankamp is the gold-standard of shooting proficiency from afar... and his average seems to be one of the lower averages from our options.

I think part of our issue is that our stud shooters are only freshmen... except Tharpe. It kind of makes me think they all just need time and court time to work it out.

But really... before these last couple of games did we have any apparent set offense? In all our early games I thought it just looked like a bunch of freshmen running around trying to get open. I saw no deliberate strategy of attack.

I can't help but think that having a well-run offense will also help our perimeter shooting percentages. It just makes sense that having all these great shooters with low percentages points to other issues besides their own personal talents.

If we get through half of conference play and can't win at a better clip than now... I'll start worrying.

I believe our strong post play with help open up the outside game... especially when considering that there aren't so many great post teams out there.

@dylans - pretty hard to fight against the logic in your post. It does seem like we will need a footer. We don't seem to operate to our potential without a tough shot-blocker in the post. It seems to be part of Selfball, and how we can get away with some mistakes playing his M2M defense.

But I've been a follower on Lyle's tweets and keeping a close tab... and it appears that we are right on his tail.

Could there be room for both? Makes me wonder... because I am having a hard time seeing Selden as an OAD, especially in this coming stocked draft.

"There are recurring themes and form languages. Stops start offense. Sticking stops offense. Offense is inside out. Feeding bigs is crucial. Kicking out to open looks follows feeding bigs like day follows night. Making shots, not taking shots, is the goal."

I can't express how much I missed reading passages like this!

@jaybate and @approxinfinity - Thanks for the kind words. Yes... I kind of felt an obligation to try and keep things going. I sure am glad you are back! I appreciate your words, but I can't hold a candle to your talents! I'll always do what I can, but I'm probably reaching my plateau on the upside. I'm happy to share the load with a real 5-star writer!

Rock Chalk coming back to you JB!

And if you would like some health discussion... please message me. I'm not a doctor and don't practice medicine, but I study nutrition and health through non-pharmacological methods. It became a necessity for my own health concerns over the years. All I can say is I went from being a broken-down old guy to a sprite old guy! ha... But seriously, nutrition knowledge is advancing faster than pharmacology these days. Unfortunately, there isn't the big bucks in home remedies, gardening and fermentation practices. That doesn't mean you can't find a quality lifestyle that will keep you healthy at the same time! It's out there!

I don't think we have a problem at 3. Our last couple of games we've run an offense feeding the post and our 3-FG% is about 36%. Throw out the shot by Evan Manning in the last game and it was 38.5%. Not blistering, but give it some time. The first step is to establish post play.

As we settle in to a steady offense based on feeding the post, our perimeter shooting will come around. It takes a while to settle in to this offense, especially from the perimeter. These guys will start understanding where exactly they need to run their spacing to the defense (for example).

We've got too many good options at 3 to not shoot a respectable %. They should actually shoot better from receiving passes out of the post then from side-to-side. It sets the shooter up for an easier motion when he receives the ball out of the post. Before the last couple of games most of our 3-pt attempts came from side-to-side passes. It's a tougher shot because the shooter has to swivel after having caught the pass to then get up the shot. Plus, the release is quicker when the shooter doesn't have to swivel.

I'm betting sometime soon, like early in conference play, we get the outside shooting touch down. It makes no sense that we have all these great perimeter guns and none of them are shooting it well from 3. There has to be an explanation, and I'm betting it was mechanical and will largely go away as we develop offense running out of the post.

Wow, it feels like Christmas has arrived early this year!

Welcome aboard, @jaybate !

I look forward to scheduling in more time to read some long, tasty posts!

iowa... come on... you can do better than that. You can post more fruitful comments so you don't just appear like a man sitting on a big pile.

You don't have to agree with anyone on here... we can actually use more counter commentary to push the envelope. But sometimes you sound more like a troll than a KU fan.

Put your big boy pants on and meet the challenge... well... after you finish your business!

I've never been a believer in mountains moving. It's a job for heavy equipment and it takes what seems to be forever.

So why do I think this Kansas basketball team will move a mountain in the next 30 days?

Well... I believe it because they won't do it! They don't need to move a mountain in 30 days. They only need to learn swifter play in the shell game; moving a little pebble between 3 shells.

So why do I compare perfecting the shell game with moving a mountain? Because that is what it will appear like when we see this team a month from now. It will appear as if they moved a mountain of TOs, clinked 3-attempts, motionless offense, defensive vanishing acts, and under-performing superstars.. right off the court.

I know I believe in this enough to not even put it on my Christmas list from Santa. I just asked Santa to watch our guys and keep them healthy. Just keep them healthy. That's all I want for Christmas. The rest will happen... I guarantee!

Look at the signs. Start by going back one full year. To a team lead by 4 starting seniors. They did not have the kind of fruitful Christmas break we've come to expect from a Bill Self team. They came into Christmas with all that momentum, and then lost it after Christmas. Maybe they ate too much turkey stuffing... of maybe they were a product of their own situation... too much experience! That team started the year ready to play in March. So naturally, they stomped on teams early. But when Jingle Bells filled the air, they really didn't have much to work on. They had reached close to their final talent plateau. Meanwhile... the rest of college basketball took advantage of their longer practices by catching up with Kansas.

Knowing what happened last year should put a smile on our faces this year.

We have one of the youngest teams in D1. So young that we will improve even if we don't practice. Just hangin' some age on this young fruit will ripen it to a semi-sweet level. But a semi-sweet level is not going to bring us success in March. This group will have a month to really go to work on improving their game, both as individuals and mostly as a team. This team is stacked with talent that hasn't come together yet. This team is the opposite of what we had last year, so we can expect the opposite result from a solid month of practice.

No one on this team has less experience than Joel Embiid. He's such a green twig you could plant his feet in the earth and grow leaves off his arms with a bit of sun. Embiid is going to receive a nuclear dose of sun radiation over the next 30 days. We will not recognize his game in another month. We can hardly recognize his game now (from game to game). So you can count on Embiid having another half dozen or so tools in his toolbox soon... and then consider the team around him. This team is just now starting to understand how successful they can be by feeding the post. Attack seams in zones.. and our interior players now realize the ball needs to come into them within a few seconds of setting up on offense. They have no time to lolligag in the lane. They have to earn their spot on the floor and the ball is coming in. Everyone on this team now knows that the ball can't stick, and if we want to reduce TOs it is as much of the responsibility for the player receiving the ball as the one throwing it. We can't stop the ball from sticking if people aren't open.

I have a hard time comparing Embiid with Olajuwon. I see Embiid more as "Kevin Durant's big brother." I think that identity will serve him better moving forward. Embiid is more of a finesse player, and thin body, who can play finesse or muscle down and hold his own. No one questions the muscle ball play of frail Kevin Durant. No one will for Joel Embiid either. Did you see the touch Embiid had on that mid-range jumper versus Georgetown? Even his FTs look smoother and seem to drop in the hole more often now. One day, Embiid will be a threat from the outside. He has that much talent.

A lightbulb went on in Tarik Black's head on Saturday. The lightbulb flashed "feed me the ball" over and over again. Black now gets it.

Actually, from our post, Perry, who started out this year as "the hottest gun in the west" has suddenly taken a back seat to just about everyone in the post. Going back to last year, it took Perry a while to settle in and take control of his game. He may be battling a bit of that again... but we can expect him to take back control of his game soon. With Joel's game coming on, Perry can do well to try and hide in the shadows... and just quietly knock-out 16 or so points per game. And these two players are yet to form a chemistry amongst themselves. Both are very capable passers, and capable of feeding each other... so expect that relationship to blossom before long, perhaps within the next 30 days!

These coming days should be owned by Naadir Tharpe. He should step up and grab the reins of this team over the next month. Naa needs to become a cheerleader, troop commander, tactician, psychologist AND an aggressive point guard. He's got to keep this team on schedule (with pace). He has to be able to jump down anyone's neck, including Andrew Wiggins, when players cross a line. He is the coach on the floor. He's got to learn to push the ball up the court, even after made baskets. He has to stop most of his TOs. And if another player has a couple TOs quickly, he has to calm him down and give him an instruction to focus on. He also has to do some creation off the dribble, either to score himself or snag another assist. Let's not forget that this is his first shot at running point on a team, and he is doing it with all new guys. He is showing the signs of leadership... and we should see it more in another month.

All our players at the 2 and 3 just have to realize to let the game come to them. We are just starting to run a real offense, and that offense involves working out of the post. They will have plenty of opportunities to nail 3s and score off penetration. It all comes when our offense is running well, because when it runs well the defense gets stirred and creates holes in several places. What our 2s and 3s have to learn most is spacing and learn where their opportunities are. Their opportunities will come often from having plenty of scoring space to focus on the 3 or be in an isolation for a drive. Let our bigs do the heavy lifting and take advantage of shifting defenses. Eventually, Wiggins can work more on scoring against just one man. And when he's doubled, someone else is open.

It is going to be fun to watch all of these basketball commentator experts eat their words soon. "Kansas doesn't have quality perimeter shooting." You've got to be kidding! I can't wait to prove them wrong on that one... and it all starts by feeding the post.

No mountains have to move for this team to improve from just being a middle-of-the-pack Top 20 team to being one of just a small handful of real contenders in March. This team has all the pieces and talent, but must master the nuances. Floor positioning, moving feet, team momentum, self-confidence... executing all of that is really just learning to move the rock between cocoanut shells... especially when comparing last year's team. That team had to move a mountain over Christmas; they had to find a way to lift their upside, something really impossible to do... a real mountain that had to be moved.

I miss Bobby Knight. You had to excuse his mistakes on names and such... but at least he knows the game. He would have called that game much different than Bilas. He wouldn't be excusing Georgetown because they were frustrated. He would have blasted Thompson for letting his guys develop that kind of attitude and for those moments that were out of control.

You would never see a guy like Josh Smith playing for Bobby Knight.

We were down by 1 when Tar entered the game... he immediately made an impact, we took the lead and never looked back. He truly was the difference in this game.

I just think it is awesome that we have a bull like Tar, and we have a finesse player like Perry, and we have a hustle athletic guy in Jamari, and a 7' footmaster in Embiid. Oh, and we have a solid fundamental post player in Lucas. That's just too many different looks for any team to deal with and at least one or two of those guys are bound to have a good game every game... it's a question of match-ups and how teams prepare to play us.

What I like is we are back to playing Selfball; feed the post! It is starting to look like a variation of Self's famous hi/lo... perhaps a bit of hi/lo with some basic zone-breaking sets to feed in the seams.

So we just keep going... pounding into the post... making teams deal with that, and then before you know it, we have one of the best outside shooting teams. Let the outside shot come when it's there. Forget all these ridiculous commentators that worry about our outside shooting. It will come when it is time. We are already knocking down 3s with more regularity.

Now suddenly, we seem to have a better post game than even teams like Kentucky. Self may have been a guard in his playing days, but he has always been one of the better developers of post players, with or without Danny Manning.

Embiid will be the talk of the college basketball world moving forward. I wouldn't be surprised if SI wants to shoot another cover shot of a KU player... His story is compelling.

I may have gone a bit over the top on my rant... but of all people to turn the other way to cheap shots, Jay Bilas shouldn't be the one.

This was a perfect game for one of our guys to suffer a broken nose, detached retina, etc...

But I am impressed how our guys stayed focused and kept grinding!

It was an impressive win because of that and the experience will help us out.

Josh Smith clearly runs this team. He had an attitude when he played for UCLA, and he hasn't changed.

I didn't used to have a major problem with Jay Bilas calling games. In the past, he seemed alright when compared to some of the other commentators.

I now realize more about Bilas. I guess he dislikes the Kansas Jayhawks. That is the only reason I could come up with to describe what he did this afternoon.

I've ranted about Jay Bilas before. At the beginning of the season, Jay was one of the commentators that spoke up being for the new rule enforcements which basically ended lock down defense. This was the guy who claimed contact was ruining college basketball.

This was the same guy who excused two obvious cases of mugball in today's game with Georgetown. This was the guy who thought it was fine for Josh Smith to lead with his elbow (head high). This was the guy who thought it was okay for the Georgetown defender to swat down with all his force on Perry's head while going for the ball (sort of).

Anyone who has ever dribbled a basketball in a competitive game knows the intent of that foul on Perry's head. When a defender brings the full force of his arm down on another player's head, it doesn't matter if he makes contact with the ball or not, it is an intentional foul because the intent is to injure the player. The fact that it was not called, is outrageous, and even more outrageous to hear Jay Bilas defend it.

Let me put it to you this way. That foul qualified as an intentional foul in the NFL! Rushing defense coming in on the quarterback can not spike down on his head.

Let's put it to you one more way. Imagine Georgetown had been Kansas today, and imagine Kansas had been Duke. Do you think Bilas would have defended these fouls as non-intentional? Want to buy some beach front property in Alligator Alley?

Perry will be okay. But don't tell me he didn't suffer a concussion. The rules put in place to protect players from head injuries didn't work today.

Look at all the violence committed by Georgetown today. And then look at Bilas' responses... "Georgetown is showing their frustration..." no s#it, Sherlock?! Let me remind you that this is the guy who has been selling a softer game of college ball all year. This is the guy who couldn't stand for defenders to put a hand on a ball handler while driving. This is a guy who could only comment today how Georgetown played with frustration.

All our bigs got hammered today. Embiid took an elbow to the head and had to sit, Perry took an arm smash to the head and departed to the locker room, Black took an elbow to the face and later on he took a hand to the chin. And what about that cheap shot attempt at Wiggins?

None of this is a surprise to me or anyone who follows a bit of Georgetown basketball. Thompson never has a disciplined team. He isn't even in the list of Top 100 coaches in college basketball. Today, those guys had a losing attitude even when they were winning. You could see that from China. Why couldn't Bilas see it? Why couldn't Bilas call out Thompson to call a time-out and try to address his team's poor attitude? Why couldn't Bilas cry out against those fouls for what they really were? Why wasn't Bilas upset watching Georgetown play mugball?

I was more disgusted with Bilas than Thompson. Thompson is Thompson, and doesn't pretend to be a guy standing on an elite level. Bilas does. But for some reason his elite status was on Christmas break today, and it was okay to watch a game remain on the edge of coming apart all day because one team brought in a loser attitude and decided violence would take precedence over the game of basketball.

I vote we ban Bilas from AFH. He doesn't belong on the campus of Kansas. He should stick it out on the Duke campus and continue to pretend he knows what he is talking about. I guess he learned the game of basketball in the NBA. He did have his 15 minutes of fame, when they called his name in the fifth round!

I coached some little tikes about 25 years ago. I think my group of kids were about average with the other teams. We always won our league because I would just work on basic fundamentals and a simplified offense. It was all about learning and having fun at the same time. No pressure to win, though we'd always talk a bit about winning. I brought pop to every game, and kids were rewarded with their favorite soda after the games... win or lose. We usually had one kid capable of scoring better than the rest. But I gave everyone equal time, and I didn't stress feeding the ball to this one kid to score.

We often played teams where they would run their best player for longer periods. It didn't seem to help them in the long run because the kid would get tired and when little kids get tired they pretty much fall apart at the seams.

In fact... if we had a kid who would go games and games without scoring a point, we would try to get him the ball and tell him to shoot. At this level, kids all love success for their teammates, too. Our funnest moments happened when our worst players would finally score! Because of that, I laugh every time KU has their scrubs in and one of them scores and the bench goes wild!

When you make learning fun, kids jump all over it. I made all the learning drills into fun games and it was easy to keep their attention, effort and enthusiasm during practices.

I'd like to do it all again... I enjoyed it more than playing. I bet I jump back in when my boy is old enough to play.

Coach HEM -

Seems you nailed some big items to watch for tomorrow.

I want to know if we attack the seams. We started to show a few signs in the positive during the UNM game. We definitely kept the ball from sticking... and if we practice so much on keeping the ball moving quickly, why not practice moving the ball quickly in the seams? Jesse's article this week highlighted how we beat UNM's zone by passing into the seams.

I think Greene will be a big help in offering up a legitimate trey threat.

We better win. We better come out and hustle. Tharpe better come prepared to lead. Ellis better bring toughness to the post. Embiid better bring foul control. Wiggins... better just keep doing what he's been doing.

I think keeping score is vital, especially with young kids. It's a great opportunity to teach them a valuable part of life; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And the results are a product of the efforts you put into it. Plus... you can only teach good sportsmanship when young players go through the losing process. There is sportsmanship involved in winning, too.

I wouldn't want my kid to not learn about these things right from the get go. The key is to be supportive as a parent. Let them know you have suffered through losses, too. Then focus on improvements.

I understand the idea of not keeping score so kids can focus on the process. That's what practice is about.

Now I'm busy trying to find youth ball leagues to put my son in that still keeps score.

Evidently, it hurts some kids' feelings if they hear the news that they lost. Boo-hoo...

So it is becoming difficult to find leagues that keep score. I guess games weren't designed to keep score. When will this advance to the NBA? Why do they keep score? Doesn't losing at that level hurt those guys' feelings?

@JayhawkRock78 - Wussification is exactly what is happening. A drive to kill incentive and make every kid exactly the same... non-achievers. It makes me sick!

I got a kick out of Hinson's rant. That behavior was normal when I was growing up. If you screwed up, you could expect a complete tongue lashing. Going public is okay... but the most-effective efforts come on the team bus on the rides home. Imagine a 10-hr bus ride with a coach who basically slams you the entire time? It's doubtful you will screw up on the next road game.

Times have changed. Kids can't be spanked. A few tough words is classified as "verbal abuse." And the big picture is all about not offending anyone. So we have a well-mannered society with no over-achievers. What a bunch of F&@%ING B&LL S#IT!

Apologies for my language!

@nuleafjhawk - I hear you, loud and clear!

CS should give an individual award (trophy) to the player who received the biggest scar during the year. It has been known to motivate players and helps set the tone, especially to players staying more than one year in the program. The only rule is the scar can't be made intentional. It has to come from a legit hustle play.

Imagine being an old guy and showing your kid that little trophy in your cabinet... "BIGGEST SCAR - 1979"

" They also need to get a chip on their shoulder, they need to get pissed that Travis called them soft, they need to dive after lose balls and rack up the floor burns."

Amen!

Good article... especially this part:

"The games we were losing ... I put a lot of that on me."

If Tharpe is going to lead, the first thing he has to do is realize and verbalize that he is responsible for the results of this team, win or lose. This is the first step in becoming a leader. And it will help him lead these guys because now he can walk into a practice or out on the court of a game and he can demand performance from his players... because Tharpe will be held accountable for the outcome. And if any of these guys don't like it, then they can stand up before a microphone and take responsibility first.

So Tharpe has now made step #1. Step #2 means he has to walk the walk. He has to lead this team. If he puts this all into a proper healthy perspective it won't be so much about his own confidence moving forward. That will only complicate matters. Moving forward, this is about Tharpe standing up for his responsibilities and then being held accountable. This is like pulling one of your children off the railroad tracks before the engine arrives. You don't do it based on confidence... you do it because you know you have to. If Tharpe can make this connection, he'll play with more consistency and a lot less stress and over-thinking. All the greats find this connection. It helps them brush off a few bad nights and bounce right back to consistency... because it is what they have to do.

This entire team is laying down on the tracks... Tharpe needs to visualize himself rescuing this team, and know what is behind it. That's the connection that will carry him and this team to glory moving forward.

Get it done, Tharpe!

I've known Darnell since his days in the league. We'd play 1-on-1 for hours. He kicked my a$$ a million times. I could never figure out how a guy could d-up like he could. He's as good a human being as they come.

He didn't have a good night in New Orleans, especially on layups that were always second nature to him. Fortunately for Darnell, he has enjoyed an illustrious career after that game that helps put his efforts in basketball into full perspective; he's a winner, 100%, as a player and man.

His nickname was "thunder thighs" because he had the best developed thighs of any player ever to play the game, and it helped him become the very best defensive guard in the league during his days. KU should contact Darnell and see if he'll visit this team and show them how to play M2M and stick to the ball handlers. Darnell bent his knees and had the best defensive stance a player can have, and it all made a difference. I like our current team, but none of these guys have a clue what defense is. Darnell wrote the book on guard defense.

My final take on it is this is not going to happen until another event happens first.

I only have to look at the UK-UL rivalry to see it. UL finally got their game with UK in March and knocked them out. That created the rage in Kentucky fans to want the game, so they gave it a try, and they've never looked back since. Both schools circle this date on their calendar every year and look forward to the game.

It is going to take the same event again. @truehawk93 mentioned the Battle in New Orleans. That came just a bit too soon for WSU because they hadn't established themselves and was a university smothered with shady donors and scandal.

I can't believe it took so many posts to bring up the Battle of New Orleans. That was one of our most-painful losses in March, ever. A last-second buzzer-beater taken basically from the bench. I'm trying to think of the guy that nailed it... oh yeah, Mike Jones. I think I punched a hole in the wall.

http://webs.wichita.edu/dt/shockermag/show/dept.asp?_s=124&_d=6 ↗

Wow, he still has a VCR!

That's an awesome read, Jesse! Feel free to come on here and do shameless plugs whenever you like!

I loved that last gif showing Tharpe feed Embiid for the stuff. Greene can definitely help this offense run because he is quick on his feet, tall, and can elevate and nail the long ball. He only needs to nail one of those shots early in a game to show how much of a threat he is, so guards are forced to hedge up high on their zones. If they give Greene any kind of space he will make them pay, and he doesn't even have to do that as much as help break down the defense with his presence.

I don't think it will take too many more minutes of PT for Greene to feel comfortable and nail more shots and execute better on both sides of the court. His elevation, sweet release and ability to knock it down from three makes him a lethal weapon for busting up zones. His shot gets attention from everyone. He's the guy we need to give minutes to right now as that "off-the-bench zone-breaker."

With everyone stepping up and executing better, and Greene coming in to represent a big "missing link"... our future offense should be on the upswing!

Can't wait to take us off the COLD COLD COLD phase and move us to WARM WARM WARM! But it will take an advance in our team defense and rebounding to ever reach WARMER WARMER WARMER!

It all takes time, but we'll get there! I just hope we can get there soon enough in league play to snag #10!

Rock Chalk!

Lots of good responses... I'm doing everything I can to play devil's advocate against a big crowd in here... but I want to see this subject played out at every angle. It makes for a good overall read, regardless of your position on this.

My emotions are in this because I want to see the game every year, it would make interesting basketball. I doubt anyone can deny that. And I don't like being told we are "scared to play." The recent needle keeps moving in their favor, and it helps them build momentum and rationale for it to happen.

If anyone else has something new to offer, please post it.

Consider this like getting your annual flu shot. ;)

I don't like adding KSU into this picture.... now it's not a real rivalry, it's a 3-way in-state tourney or something of the sort.

How much money did we make in the Bahamas? I'd say about zero, when you consider the expenses involved and the gigantic 3600 seat "arena." Our first game didn't even get major TV coverage. It was bought out by AXS-TV... a body-deodorant outlet! (joke)

If we did this right, the eventual revenue stream would probably fly by any other game we could book anywhere... even the Champions Classic.

If you go to Kentucky, almost every resident in the state owns promo gear from their rivalry... they collect it and do their man caves up with gear from their rivalry. It's that big.

I'd like to add that excitement to our schedule every year! Plus... I'd like to hang an early loss on the Shocks every year. We'd do it probably 90% of the time...

So are we bullying all these other teams, like Fort Hayes? ;)

@ralster - good read on your last post.

But I do have some logical issues with it. In my comparisons on here I took them from the perspective of the coach and not the players. I'm positive all D1 players would rather have a NC than a Conf C... of course they would. To make any type of comparison at the player level you'd have to give players 9 consecutive years of eligibility to make the comparison. It's still a different ball of wax, because players tend to just think about their own interests... and many probably would trade their 9 consecutive years of CC for one NC. But coaches look out for the interest of the universities they represent, too, as well as their own resume.

Let me put it this way... If you were picking a new head coach, would you pick one who owned a 9-consecutive league championship streak in one of the top D1 leagues over a coach who didn't show league dominance but went on a 6-game hot streak to win a NC?

So back when we hired Bill Self, you would have preferred we hire Nolan Richardson? And Self didn't even own a streak like this back then. But Richardson owned a NC. Richardson only ever won 2 SEC titles, same as Self in the B10, but Self did it in 3 years, Richardson took 17 years in the SEC to win only 2 SEC titles. But his NC trumps everything?

You don't have to mention all the heartache we have suffered in March. All of us feel it, and all of us ache for national hardware.

CCs are stepping stones for NCs. But NCs don't come around every day, even for the best teams and programs. NCs can only be described as "icing on the cake" and Bill Self will tell you the same thing. Of course he wants a big taste of the icing, who doesn't?

But when you pile up 9 consecutive CCs in a conf like the B12, you have earned respect from everyone. That achievement spells out dominance. One NC doesn't spell out dominance, it spells out a hot streak, usually with big programs because they have the most depth and experience. Our '88 champ team will never be known for dominance beyond those last games. Heck, we suffered 11 losses that year!

I guess you can just look at our '88 team and that says it all concerning which achievement establishes dominance.

@JayHawkFanToo - right... might as well do away with offensive fouls, and imagine the damage this style of basketball (which is limited only to NCAA college basketball) does to the potential of certain types of HS players (big bodies) that have the right kind of body for the NBA but the wrong kind of body for D1.

The rule enforcement change impacts not only the game, but the players, and there are victims from these changes who will never get to showcase their college game because of their size. Even Tar may suffer some kind of loss of opportunity at the next level (most likely, Euroball) because of this situation. BTW: Euroball is whackball. Very aggressive play is allowed on both sides of the ball.

@HighEliteMajor -

"I expected the same thing. But when looking back over Black's career, I don't know why. Perhaps I (we) thought he'd just get better by being here. I (we) tend to do that sometimes."

Gosh... I fall into this thought pattern. I thought the hi/lo would benefit Black's game, but he doesn't seem like a "back to the basket" scorer.

I still think Black's best days as a Jayhawk are ahead of him. His first mission is to put the brakes on all those fouls. He's also a victim to the rules enforcement changes. He has to defeat some old habits that probably go back 10 years or so in his life. It won't happen over night. He has shown us he is capable of rebounding well.

I'm just wondering what kind of offense we can expect out of him when he isn't in foul trouble? Embiid has stepped over him on offense now, too. Look at how much Embiid's offense has picked up in the past month! His footwork definitely opens the door for him to do anything he wants on offense.

And now Landen is giving him a run for minutes, too. Landen plays the most fundamentally-sound basketball of all our bigs. With just a bit more experience (and confidence) I think he will be a solid backup in the post for us. Since he's a RS player, it is unlikely he'll transfer in the future, and I'm glad we've got his services for another 3 years after this year. He will prove to be a valuable asset, both in practice and sometimes in games.

BTW: If you follow the link to the NCAA site, watch the clip that runs after the loudest arena clip... it's the NCAA's list of the top 5 coaches in college basketball today. Much to my surprise, Bill Self didn't make it! How can he be denied with his 10-yr overall winning %, NC and 9-straight B12 titles? What a rip off!

@Kip_McSmithers - Louisville only had one NC when their rivalry started again on an annual scheduled basis. The Missouri Tigers have never made the FF... didn't stop us from having a rivalry and getting tons of national press covering our games.

Saturday, December 28 (2013), at Rupp Arena, UK vs UL, live at 3pm CST on CBS. Give it a watch and maybe you'll understand that it is time for us to leave our insulated bubble from the Shocks.

I guess we just have to put our feathery tail between our legs and continue to read press like this:

"The Top Basketball Team in Kansas Is a Shocker"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303932504579256200047711062.html?dsk=y ↗

Every once in a while I take a verbal shot from a Shocker fan. Now I'm getting it from my own family on the Duke side. This story is spreading. I caught a new angle on this from the Duke side that Bill Self doesn't want to be the next Joe B. Hall. I didn't understand what he was talking about until further thought.

I'm a basketball fan in general, and as one, I naturally was a fan of Joe B. Hall. He is the father of "Midnight Madness" and without him, I doubt we would have "Late Night in the Phog" because we copied Kentucky on this event. The brainchild came from Hall. He was a soft speaker, but Hall had the guts to call it like it was at Kentucky after proceeding one of his mentors, Adolph Rupp, after his forced retirement. Hall removed his big blue eyewear and let the world know that Rupp was slow to accepting black players at Kentucky. That took big time guts to challenge anything in the Big Blue Nation, and Hall may speak softly but the man carries a serious pair between his legs.

I remember watching that game in '83, when the Kentucky basketball world was turned upside down by Denny Crum and his Cardinals. There was an immediate outcry for Hall's head on a stick within the hardcore Big Blue fan base. That was a far cry comparison to how Hall was previously respected at UK. Hall was the guy who had resurrected a damaged UK program and brought it back to elite. He retired two years later.

I don't think Bill Self wants to step into any kind of risk of being the next Joe B. Hall, even though UK fans reflect back positively on Joe B. Hall, and in 2012 Kentucky honored Hall with a statue of him outside the Wildcat Coal Lodge.

@eastcoasthawk - The UK-UL rivalry goes way back to early college basketball, but rested in dormancy until 1983, when the teams met in the NCAA Tourney, and Denny Crum's Louisville beat out Joe B. Hall's Kentucky and went on to lose in the FF to Houston and the "Dream Team." That sparked up the rivalry enough to create an ongoing game played every year (and is current). Pitino sparked up the rivalry considerably after he became coach at Louisville (previously at Kentucky).

This rivalry is a big deal not only in the State of Kentucky, but all over America. It has been years since I missed this game. I guarantee you that both sides are glad they have this game every year.

The revenue is monstrous... and for KU to use revenue loss as an excuse is ridiculous. We may never quite have the rivalry they have unless WSU can build up to the same level of prestige as Louisville has... but anywhere close would still make it colossal.

Kentucky did not build Louisville basketball (or this rivalry). The rivalry was in complete dormancy when Louisville won it's first NC in 1980. KU will not build WSU into an elite school. It takes decades of top notch basketball for teams to earn that status, and a single annual rivalry game would not build them into an elite.

Here is a nice link on the Kentucky battle from Time magazine:

http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2012/03/30/louisville-kentucky-inside-a-heated-college-hoops-rivarly/ ↗ ↗

Obviously, the publicity extends far beyond simple scheduling of opponents like Towson.

@globaljaybird - Thanks for the links. There were links attached to the "chickenhawk" piece. Here are those links:

The "chickenhawk" piece -
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2011/apr/19/will-ku-basketball-team-play-wichita-state-zengers/ ↗ ↗

Why CS won't schedule them -
http://blogs.kansas.com/lutz/2013/01/29/self-answers-the-wsu-question/ ↗ ↗

I went online and tried to find Marshall calling us chickenhawks. Couldn't find it. Went on youtube and found his speech returning from the NIT, you could hear Shocker fans calling out KU... but nothing with Marshall saying "chickenhawks."

![video ↗](

It's media like the piece from Lutz that boils my blood. It's part of the opening to the outside world why we won't play the Shocks. Read that article... We've won our last 5 games with the Shocks by an average of 32 points.

Tell me it wouldn't be entertaining and worthwhile today to beat a team ranked above us by 32!

@Blown - With the new deal offer from Marshall, we'd pick up revenue over having just another home game at AFH. His deal is for 3 games, one in AFH, one in the Sprint Center and one in Intrust Arena in Wichita. Intrust is a larger venue than Koch Arena, somewhere over 15k. So when you add the 3 together and divide by 3, the average attendance would be about 500+ what a game for 3 years in AFH would bring.

But this is more than a discussion about gate. If this turns into a rivalry, there will be a big gate brought in from merchandising and sports media.

I'll see if I can find some revenue numbers on what the UK-UL rivalry. I'm not saying we'd start off coming anywhere near their numbers, but it would indicate what kind of potential there is by developing a rivalry.

First off, here is where I'm glad we have anonymity on this website. I have regular business and social situations with shocker fans. I shouldn't have to worry about it for posting my feelings on a website. That's what keeps this site real! Bravo again to Approx!

My own personal experience with shocker fans, coaches, admins and players is fairly positive. Back in my day, the shocks had a period of top notch ball... of course, that lead to yet another probation for NCAA violations.

I had an opportunity for getting court time with many of their greats; Carr, Levingston, Smithson, the X-man. All of those guys I respect just like my relationships with Valentine and others for KU. Players usually are on the same level.

I also knew the AD at WSU from that time, and his family. Ted Bredehoft. Everyone was friendly with me, but I could sense the NCAA infractions were legit. I had no special knowledge, just a feeling.

WSU has always been connected to some shady characters... Hershberger, Rusty Eck. I always felt those connections would lead to their demise. Sort of like what went down at SMU.

Today, they appear to have cleaned house, and whether or not we agree with the politics of Charles Koch, I seriously doubt Koch has a shady relationship with the university.

This cleaning of their house opens the door in my mind to developing a rivalry.

I'm enjoying reading everyone's personal experiences with the shockers... and some animosity is just fuel for the fire. We have the elements to build this thing.

Rivalries are intense. I have friends from Kentucky... and the lines drawn between Kentucky and Louisville are in blood. It's an awesome rivalry and it helps both programs. Those programs help each other, just like fast food restaurants help each other by developing right beside each other. KFC anyone?

I know many in here just don't want to help out the shockers in the least, and I respect that feeling... but we will gain from it, too. And they will never challenge our status. They will never catch up to our history nor will they compete with our current status. If you go to Wichita, visit their campus. Some nice art and everything, but it isn't KU. The college experience there feels more like trade school. They don't even really have a student pulse. They'll never compete as equals to KU.

But they have built a solid basketball program, and they have a big following within Kansas. And while our following is worldwide, their following is enough on the local level to help keep the energy alive for this rivalry. It's a much better situation than trying to have a rivalry with a purple football school.

So we might lose 1 out of 10. We'd have the other 9 to rub in their faces... and the 1 in 10 loss would just help us keep the disdain to fuel another 9 victories after that. We'd own bragging rights 90% of the time and the game would help us every year to prepare for March.

@ralster - dang it, I can't get anything over on you. There isn't a cloud in my sky concerning WSU. I'm a basketball fan and the Shocks play exciting basketball. I'm a fan. I'm a Kansan and I like all teams in Kansas, even the purple kitties... but I draw the line when we play. I'm a Jayhawk before anything else.

I knew if I just posted my views, my post might be filed away as just one more posting on a story that has been going on for decades. I thought by adding in all the "hate text" it might gather more attention.

I'd LOVE to see us play WSU every year because it would be exciting basketball. It could develop into a rivalry, and who gives a flip about playing Towson. I do think we have a lot to gain by playing the Shockers and we may have owned a couple more NCs if we figured this out years ago and started playing. It certainly would have helped us battle Bradley, UNI, VCU and Bucknell.

The only thing I hate is our unwillingness to develop this rivalry. The only other things I hate in college basketball: Calipari's smoke screen (not Calipari himself), and the new rules enforcement. Oh... and of course, I hate Missouri fans because they are beyond classless.

It would be especially exciting to see us play this year, and witness the Wiggins brothers facing off. Nick is no Andrew, but he's a good player and it would be fun to watch them go at it.

Had a chance to meet Early and Van Vleet a couple months ago. Those guys are solid. I'd like to meet Baker someday soon. I'm a huge fan of that kid.

I do like watching the Shockers hustle. They always do a solid job not only going for 50/50 balls, but also blocking out on the glass. They had an exciting win tonight in Alabama.

@didjayhawk -

"My uncle asked him if they were considering Danny Manning and he laughed and said absolutely not, we would never have hire a coach just because he was good player at KU once upon a time."

Then why did they hire Turgeon?

You may be right, and there may be politics and issues that exist behind closed doors. What Marshall did recently is not behind closed doors... he made a statement in public, and public perception of our team puts responsibilities on all of us to react in a noble way.

The Shockers have more to gain than we do by playing. I agree with your statement. Isn't it the same for 99.9% of the teams we play?

I've certainly heard my share of insults from Shocker fans over the years... but I'd rather not back down from it... I'd rather go out and give them a good thumping! I'd like to see it all play out on a basketball court, not behind the closed doors you mention in your post. And, BTW, there most likely is nothing going on behind closed doors. I seriously doubt either of the current coaching staffs or ADs office have much of a history crossing paths. And looking above them to higher administrative offices, I doubt there is much of a conflict there either.

I believe there hasn't been an action on this because it hasn't been at the top interest level of Jayhawk fans. That may change as the Shockers continue to climb and make noise about it.

And someday we will meet again regardless of scheduling... in March. I'd rather have experience playing their style before facing it in March. If history has anything to say about it, our chances of winning are not what we want (or expect) them to be.

@tundrahok - the current administration at WSU is looking into bringing back football. So maybe someday it could happen, and it would up our chances of winning another game in pre-conf!

WE NEED A RIVALRY!

Rivalries bring emotion to the game! Rivalries add intensity to the game! Rivalries bring interest to the game! Rivalries bring fortune to the game!

I was hoping (more like wishing) we could renew a rivalry with KSU after the loss of MU from our league... but lets face facts; pairing a football school with a basketball school is like dating your sister.

We can always consider WSU our "little brother" and they can always consider us "elitists"... and the jaw smack will only help intensify our rivalry.

KU vs WSU works because it is two in-state programs; one with elite status and one on the move upward. Basketball school versus basketball school. And we do have a mixed past with the Shocks.

There is enough fuel to start this fire, all we need is a match!

I hate Wichita State, and I'll tell you why. I hate Wichita State because they push my competitive button. I'm a competitor and I don't back down from anyone. I'm tired of being pushed around by the Shockers. This has gone on for as long as I can remember. I never took it serious before, because, quite frankly, I never took the Shockers seriously. But that was then, and this is now.

Over the past decade, Wichita State has learned to wear big boy pants. It is impossible to look at their program today and not respect what they have done. And if their recent seasons and March record doesn't get your attention, then surely their game play will. I try to catch all of their games now. Their games are exciting. They never seem to lack enough energy to put on one heck of a performance. Sometimes, their play makes me envious. I compare their style of play to our own and I never see us scrap at their level. I never see our players diving for balls like I see the Shockers do. Never. We applaud our guys when they do dive for balls, because we don't see it that often, whereas Shocker fans expect all five of their players to dive for any loose ball, even when it isn't that loose. I've even noticed that their diving seems to make the ball go "looser" at times.

It seems like Wichita State plays the kind of basketball Kansas teams have always had a hard time beating. We like to think that scheduling any mid-major team is the same as any other mid-major. I don't believe that is true. Our record in March seems to support our weakness for playing a specific type of mid-major; those who fight scrappy battles to the end; those who bring energy and confidence to games, regardless of their opponent.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/647439-rock-chalk-sadhawk-five-ncaa-tournament-exits-that-broke-jayhawks-fans-hearts ↗ ↗

It seems like the Missouri Valley is a league full of scrappy teams. Their conference has been neglected by college basketball since it's beginning. No conference seems to have more of a chip on their shoulders than the Mo Valley. And as soon as members of the Mo Valley are offered deals in another league, they jump ship for better opportunities. Is it any wonder why two of our biggest upset losses in March have come at the hands of Mo Valley teams? And look at some of our other upsets... VCU? Bucknell? You might as well throw them atop the Mo Valley heap.

I'd like to punch Gregg Marshall in the nose. I'd like to, but I can't because I respect him too much. He's doing everything in his power to propel his program to a higher level. One step in lifting his program is to earn a court with our Kansas Jayhawks on a yearly basis. Marshall has dropped a new offer on the table, an offer that has gone public for the world of college basketball to see:

http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/story/Wichitas-Marshall-on-KU-Im-not-going-to-?blockID=973419&feedID=5089 ↗ ↗

His offer is legit, and if we don't take it we'll not only continue hearing the "afraid to play WSU" jeers from Shocker fans, but we'll also hear those same jeers from basketball fans across America. Let's face it, only Jayhawk fans seem to have a plausible reason for not playing. This is at the bottom of why I disdain the Shockers and their coach; I have no valid excuse for not wanting to play them. When I put down my crimson/blue eyewear, I only see benefits for playing Wichita State.

So let's all remove our eyewear, and look at the facts, through the objections we have always held:

A. Playing WSU will not help our recruiting and may even harm it.

First off, how often are our recruiting efforts crossing paths? It seems to only be an issue when we are recruiting players in Wichita. So... how many Wichita-area players have we lost out to Wichita State since the Bill Self era? It seems that it could even help our position some day with a future Wichita-area recruit if we occasionally go to Wichita to play a game, at least, that is the theory for wanting to play other teams in their recruiting areas... to enhance our exposure. Why isn't it also true in Wichita?

Second, do we always design our away games around enhancing our visibility to local-area recruits? How many recruits have we pursued in the Boulder, Colorado area in the past 50 years?

B. Playing WSU will hurt us economically.

I can't believe we will be hurt economically if we take the current deal Gregg Marshall is offering us. I believe, in the long run, if we can maintain this contract with WSU we will see a boost in revenue. Just look at the gate receipts. If you add the venue sizes of the 3 proposed venues and divide by 3, our average annual gate from this event will be collected from over 16,750 in attendance. And we will be able to bank on these numbers because a sell-out is guaranteed. And a sell-out typically helps lift local blackouts, further increasing revenue dollars. And a known sell-out adds excitement to the game, and helps attract media coverage.

Imagine the merchandising potential if we open the doors for a new rivalry to develop with the Shockers. How much revenue have we lost from our Border War dissolution? Why can't we build a new rivalry that will compete with the rivalry that we lost? Sports media outlets will love the opportunity to promote a new rivalry. How many additional Jayhawk logos will be sold on garments with designs specially-made for this annual event?

C. Nothing to gain, everything to lose.

I've heard this defense my entire life, and I've winced every time I heard it. It is an argument that has always told me we are afraid to play the Shockers. If we are considering what we may lose, then we obviously think we may lose. The argument gives credence to a risk level in playing. And saying we have nothing to gain has been challenged by all of these embarrassing losses in March. I'm sick and tired of losing to mid-majors in March. Playing the Shocks every year will give us vital experience for handling the type of mid-major that can threaten our dreams later on in March.

Kansas basketball is one of the top tier elite programs in basketball today. As much as I hate Missouri, I acknowledge it was a blow to lose that "rivalry." I don't want to go back to playing Missouri again. They abandoned our conference and as I said in a previous post, that relationship was less about a rivalry and more about downright hatred. The Shockers and their fan base represent an excellent opportunity to develop a real rivalry.

I don't really hate Wichita State or their coach Gregg Marshall. I hate their challenge to us in the fact that we don't react on it and face the challenge. I have no fear of playing Wichita State. They have no power now (or will they ever) to dethrone Kansas from the status we have developed since the beginning of the game. We only have to stroll through our historic background to renew our understanding of where Kansas fits in the basketball world, and it is beyond the college level.

We've run out of excuses for not playing the Shockers, and to be honest, we should be happy to accept their challenge. And if we do, and if this relationship is allowed to develop into a permanent rivalry, there will come the day we will lose a game here or there to the Shockers. And our program will survive these losses. In fact, an occasional loss will be good for the rivalry, and what is good for the rivalry is good for both programs!

So "touché" Gregg Marshall! Prepare for our "Attaque au Fer!"

@nuleafjhawk - Thanks for your support! I wake up every morning appreciating where I'm at today, and feel like it has saved my life, marriage and friendships!

My future will soon involve returning to the hardwoods, to show my son a few tricks I've picked up over the years! I hope he doesn't beat me down with his youth! ;)

It's good to be alive, and it's great to be a Jayhawk!

JoJo's story is amazing and matches just how amazing he is becoming. His background seems to be perfect for setting him up to be one of the game's best. I think it is a plus for him to have limited experience because kids who grow up playing tend to develop some horrible habits that are hard to break later. And his background in volleyball and soccer seem to be perfect developmental compliments to basketball. I question if there has ever been a big man with the nimble feet equaling JoJo's? We haven't even scratched the surface on his upside.

JoJo is a blank slate to build on, so his development should go quicker than anyone else's on this team, especially when you pair that with his quality attitude and effort.

It is going to be hard to let him go after just one year, but the opportunity will come knocking for him. My biggest concern is about maintaining his health. He'll be pushed much harder at the next level, and I'm not sure his body is ready for that. Especially when considering how many inches he has grown over the past few years.

I like how the article mentioned a bit about his eating habits. I'd like to know more about how his habits have changed and know what he is being advised of to help strengthen his bones and joints.

He should be getting plenty of sun, and he should be eating a steady diet of mushrooms which have been zapped with sunlight prior to consumption. In recent years studies have shown these irradiated mushrooms to be highly concentrated in the hormone vitamin D2 (if given sunlight before consumption), which is converted and used by the body to strengthen bones and help with several areas of development. He should also be consuming a super diet specifically designed for his situation, including plenty of plant proteins, and he should avoid an acidic diet. That means avoiding processed foods, sodas, candy, and too much meat (especially if it is hormone and antibiotics fed). If he plays by these rules, his joints will thank him!

I've undergone these changes in my life. Pretty much had to because of arthritis and joint swelling from playing heavy amounts of competitive basketball for 35 years. At one point I couldn't open a jar without my wife's help. Every night was a living hell; sleepless and in pain. Every morning I could barely lift myself out of bed. The additional pain set in from the stiffness created a life of dread for me and completely dumped my positive attitude because of the constant pain. I never accepted the life of pain killers and muscle relaxers. I watched that lifestyle kill several of my friends and former teammates.

My life has been saved and turned into pure joy again. Strictly because of my diet. I can do everything I did as a boy. I can squeeze my fingers together as tight as I could at age 10, and there is no pain whatsoever! I sleep right through the night, and I bounce out of bed every morning! My pleasant moods have returned, and my friends and wife definitely appreciate that!

All of these sports guys will face this at some point in their lives. You can't have years of pounding a 250 lb frame on a hard surface without paying the price someday. The price is higher for those who suffer major injuries during their playing years (like I did). I'll never think an athlete earns too much money... because so many die young and/or suffer so much in their lifetimes.

For most, it doesn't have to be that way. I hope JoJo and the rest of the team receives some advice for developing a healthy lifestyle. It makes all the difference in the world, when you can maintain an alkaline body void of systemic inflammation. Inflammation is a natural process for treating local trauma. When we have systemic inflammation it points to systemic issues of our health. Most often it points to diet and proper hydration.

Sorry for being long winded. But I am living proof these changes make a difference. And if these guys can grasp the importance diet makes now, they will totally enhance their lives and playing careers. I only wish I had known what I know now back in my days on the hardwood.

I am of the opinion that CS will not leave Kansas as long as that streak is alive. It may even be the #1 factor for keeping him here. It's just an opinion based on nothing in particular.

CS has mentioned before about his feelings for the Midwest, and how he is truly a "Midwesterner." He's proud to be from the Midwest, and we are proud to call him one of our own. He doesn't hide his heritage, like some from here who go on to fame. I've always liked that about him, and respect the fact that he is proud to be from the bread basket of America. It seems his basketball goals are tilted toward emphasizing dominance in the Midwest and the B12. It wouldn't surprise me if he likes to own some bragging rights in Oklahoma, too.

Someone above said it best... that a NC is icing on the cake. I like that way of thinking about it. I know I'm focused on us winning #10 first. Every year we pile on to that streak gives it more power in the world of college basketball... with recruits... even east coast media.

Our streak tells the world that we are the most-dominant team in America! The B12 can hold their own against any conference, and we've owned it for almost a decade! What other team in America can say they own their highly-respected conference?

I wouldn't trade 9 conference titles for a NC.. especially if I'm a coach who already owns a NC.

I'd rather have 9 conf titles and 1 NC instead of no conf titles and 2 NCs.

I made this point about a month ago. If you look back in recent history UCONN has won more NCs than KU... but no way are they considered in that top tier of elite. Heck... even though UCLA has won a boatload of NCs.... they aren't in the current top elite tier either.

KU after '88 was not in that top tier elite. That NC helped us, but it wasn't enough. We didn't own our league. We got hot for 6 games. In my lifetime, KU has never been in that very top tier of say 4 teams until now. We weren't nailing the best recruits or being perceived as one of the very best.

We could have a bad decade now (or even less) and get bumped from this status. It's happened before to teams like UCLA. But as long as we are winning our conference and making some noise in March, we don't have to win another NC in the next few years to guarantee we maintain our status.

History may be kind more to the NC holders... but current prestige has a lot to do with today. Winning 9 in a row and still working on adding to it keeps our success current.

I'm not saying NCs are not important... I'm just making a point about how important this conference winning streak is.

And we wouldn't be currently considered in that top tier without it! UCONN proves that.

If we hadn't won in '08, I'm not sure, but I'm thinking we wouldn't be considered in that top tier without it either. I'm not contradicting myself... I'm illustrating how important these achievements are together. The B12 does own some basketball status, and owning the league for a decade spells out more about dominance than going on a 6-game winning streak (NC) in any one year.

I don't buy the idea that NCAA titles alone explain status. Why would UCLA have ever fallen?

No doubt, CS's resume is largely enhanced with his '08 victory. To me, I'm more impressed with his 9 conf B12 titles. Gregg Marshall at WSU was 2 games away from matching CS. BTW: I like Marshall. But would you put him on Self's level just because they got hot for 6 games? Could Marshall win 9 straight conf titles in the B12? I doubt it... and I doubt there is a single college coach in America who could do it besides Self.

That's why I put Self at the top of my list for KU's best coach of all times. I can't say I would do that if he had no NCs... but he has one and he owns the B12... something no other KU coach has ever done.

Let me flip the table here... Would you prefer CS has two NCs and no conf titles? Do you think we would have our current top tier elite status if that was the case? Why would we be preferred over UCONN?