Walk-ons are important. Welcome, Wilder!
drgnslayr
11251 posts
I think Och is a couple of years away from separating himself from much of the NBA pack. I hope he gets at that level. He has the potential but he'll have to stay dedicated and I think it is hard to do that in the NBA. So many distractions. Hope he strays away from the ladies and focuses on ball. We saw how he focused and worked hard in college... I think he is such a great kid and from a solid family. I think he has his head in the right spot to advance!
Years ago, in the Jaybate days... I wrote my thoughts about Nike and their "mafia like" business model, which includes a company-operated black and gray market of goods.
I also don't believe Adidas is innocent.
You can buy authentic-made goods from both through "dark markets" for pennies on the dollar. Because of the technology in shoes, these "dark products" often are made in the same facilities, using the same very specific materials.
I gave an example of buying real Adidas shoes in Thailand for $3.00. These shoes would, at that time, be sold for $40 or $50 retail. Should give you an idea of just how much $$$ is involved in the shoe world.
I could be wrong... but for the most part, we are on record for phone messages, like "we okay?" and Townsend making slippery comments about a recruit getting money. KU vehemently denies Townsend's guilt of NCAA violations -
https://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/jan/29/report-appeals-court-judge-calls-question-previous/ ↗
I think we only admitted knowledge of payments made after the federal findings were released. The entire world had knowledge at that point.
We are "guilty" because of the tarnished reputation of college basketball. So if someone says, "we okay?", that has to mean this, that and the other thing, but all of it surely must mean guilt.
I'll say just this... if this was a murder case and the defendant had even a marginal defense attorney, this would never see a courtroom.
Ah.... I can't believe I forgot the Big Dipper! Versus UNC in the title game? Hardly a coincidence!
Naismith, Phog... JoJo... one of those guys loosened the floorboards on that drive. I'm not challenging a KU victory because I think Bacot would still have gone down and had he not, we were still in great position to win, even if he scored.
But my eyes aren't lying. Yes... floors give. But why aren't we noticing this much give on every drive? Angle? Ha... right. This is some mystical angle we've never seen before?
I'd like a banner flown that has our whole team on it.
How friggin' cool would that be? Talk about instilling team play! Put the MVPs up there separate, too, because they deserve special recognition. But this championship was won by the team!
Might even help us recruit and should definitely help us win more National Championships. Imagine the play of our guys when they stand to have their names hung with the greatest!
I'm licking my chops on the possibility next year of having a dream team!
If... CB, JWil, and a fixed DMac returned...
CB and JWil both lift their game another 20% (as they did last year from the year before), and DMac playing his best ball.... and I DEFINITELY expect Juan to make at least that much improvement, too!
Rice and Dick will surely find valuable minutes and contributions. KJ and our newbie bigs will surely compensate more than the loss of Lightfoot.
My only question would be.... can these guys develop enough of a chip to where they absolutely HAVE TO win the title (like they did this year)?
Och showed how to do it last year. Throw early hat in the ring and learn from the experience... what to work on... and return.
Both CB and JWil should do the same thing. If either lands a legitimate shot for guarantee NBA money, they should take it. Do I find it likely? No... but I'm not a pro scout.
My other question mark is on Big Dave. Isn't he scheduled for surgery now on his bad wheel?
Actually... if he can become 100% next year I think he should return. What are his NBA chances now, with a bad wheel and footwork troubles? If you look at Big Dave's progress as a Jayhawk, he could possibly return and raise his game considerably if he can finally be 100%. Do I see this as realistic? Probably not returning... but... should.
UNC was exhausted. Had to be physically exhausted. But we also emotionally exhausted them... more so they exhausted themselves! Bad energy management.
We put on such a run in the second half and it juiced us... UNC countered the best they could, and I have to admit I was impressed with how they fought back. With under 2 minutes left they took the lead!
I think Hubert will learn from this game.
He was out-coached. That first half interview... where he was so excited. That was too much.
He had his guys on too big a roller coaster. You will never see Self try to bring up his guys that high, unless it's at the end of the game. They spent their emotions in the first half and were primed to get punched in the face in the second half.
I think the NCAA BS investigation is also a huge motivator.
I have serious doubts that we could have won it all without any of our top 7 players. I don't just consider the UNC game. We had to play the other games to get there.
I can't pick a MOP because I can't take a single thing away from any player on this team! (even though it doesn't)
We can start chatting about any of them and we can start picking out their contributions... and they are many! I've never seen a KU team this balanced, though 2008 is in that conversation.
At this very moment... I'm thinking about CB and all he did in the UNC game. HUGE!
This one game, and bringing home the trophy, validates my complete life as a Jayhawk fan! I've never said that about any team/sport, and doubtfully ever will!
Words will never explain what is in my heart for this team, coach, and Jayhawk fans everywhere! This was not just another championship....
I started my purchases of championship garb. So far, two short-sleeve Tees.
I thought it might be good to share with others some designs, where to buy, how much.
*Please be careful! There are plenty of online scams selling non-existent KU gear! Definitely seen a lot on Facebook! Read the comments before ordering and checkout the details carefully or you will get scammed!
My first purchase was from Dillons/Krogers. The get probably the best deal on stuff and should be getting in constant pieces throughout this weekend and then that is probably all! So get out now and buy!
$16.99
Second purchase was from Kansas Sampler. Not so cheap!
$34.99
I hope everyone shares in here their purchase details, whether online or in stores. I want to find the ultimate ballcap! Help a brother out! lol
Also... how many KU shirts do you own in your collection? I have a friend that has over 200. He picks up a lot at garage sales! Personally, I believe I have about 15!
Now is the time... when history becomes locked down in our memories.
I was looking for a handle for this team, to encapsulate a definition that fit.
It wasn't too hard. Coach Self gave a clue... "...the confidence, the toughness, mental toughness, grit. That’s what got it done.”
Grit! True Grit! It's the title of an old western... and that connects well with Bill Self Sr. and his comment "'Don't worry about the mules, just load the wagon!"
The "True Grit" Jayhawks!
I hope it sticks... not just for this team, but for teams to follow that need something to grasp and what it means to be playing Kansas basketball!
It's karma... again. Manek is known to play rough... usually dealing out blows instead of taking them!
I was amazed at how many times Manek almost died in this game. The tv folks showed him take two shots to the head... but there were others. Talk about bad luck! Here's another one that almost happened. Imagine a knee to the head!
I watched the game with a friend and my cousin was supposed to come to watch, but was sick.
I was pissed and shocked at halftime... but I felt sure we would make a run in the second half. I kind of wanted us to be down by a few at half because I knew that would stimulate the guys for a run like in the Miami game. I felt sure we had the composure to make the run.
I knew we could come back, even from 15, but I wasn't convinced we would come all the way back. I was sitting on the fence.... though I felt certain we would make it a game again. I don't even think Self thought they would come all the way back.
This group wasn't showy. They weren't big at "talking the talk" but boy did they "walk the walk!"
It is a little painful to watch that first half again... after about halfway through the first half.
But it gives me a reference for understanding just how much momentum changed in the second half.
I remember back in 2008... I watched the end of that game probably 20 times. It just doesn't get old!
I've watched the game 8 times now...
I already plan to watch it at least 3 more times by Sunday.
I stayed up on Monday and watched it 3 times in total. Tuesday was a wipe-out day for me, so I largely just kept watching it. I haven't gone a single day without watching it at least once. I watch it all, including the halftime nonsense chatter, and of course, the aftergame cutting down the nets.
I bet I'm the only one who has seen it more than once. ha
List your repeat watches here, and the stories around it.
Dave took control of this game in the second half, and even before that in the locker room. The guys needed a leader to step up and it was Dave. His words, demeanor... energy... it stayed positive and determined! This really was his game! Started with that first smoke he had on Bacot. He seemed to always carry the energy level of this team. With his heart, his struggles... he may not be our most talented big of all times but he sure has earned his way into my heart and my greats list!
CBS, and all media, focuses on "click bait" whether it's online or on the tube. They are fighting for viewers and need to display as many key words as possible and make sure it is controversial.
The majority of America is NOT a Jayhawk fan... so it makes sense for them to dilute and disenfranchise the Jayhawk brand.
So Roy is gone, Coach K is gone... Self wins another title... he moves up on the food chain and becomes a bigger target, along with KU... and especially because we are in the Midwest and most of the sports fans are not.
Obviously, I am happiest when KU wins a title... but I am also happy when Baylor wins a title... or any team in the Midwest. It gives a one-finger salute to the east (and west) coast media that loves to use the Midwest as a whipping post.
Literally EVERYTHING clicked right for us on this run. Can it happen again, as soon as next year? Sure it can! Is it likely? It's as likely as anyone else. I bet Duke will be loaded with NBA talent again. It didn't work out enough for the title. Anything is possible. This is college basketball. I don't remember reading anyone in here this past year that we were a shoe-in to win this year (and put me in that bunch)!
This year was MAGIC... a combination of players being focused, working hard, coaches working hard, and then all the other things fell in place. Click, click, click, National Championship!
We let off the gas halfway through the first half, and we were exposed as a mediocre team and UNC took advantage. That was the team we experienced against Kentucky that got brutalized in AFH.
Once we put our foot on the gas to start the second half, we became the team Self always imagined. The team "with another gear." It all started with defense. And that extra intensity showed itself on the offensive end, too. It was Jekyll and Hyde. I often referred to it as "pace" as did Charles Barkley and others said.
We have had a lot more individually talented teams... and you think about how those teams underperformed in March... you can go back and imagine what would have happened if those teams reached down and "hit another gear."
It's easy for me to armchair quarterback... but if it was easy to hit that other gear, we would be doing it more often. Self mentioned the bond of these players and I'm certain that made the difference.
My heart stopped.
The game was supposed to be over.
Kansas was supposed to have it locked down.
Dajuan appeared to step out of bounds. It was close. It was close on both steps along the line.
My heart stopped.
The clock adjusted to 4.3 seconds.
Ball to North Carolina in their court.
Plenty of time to score. Plenty of time to send it to overtime!
My heart stopped.
My mind flashed back to when I was 8 years old.
My mind flashed back to Jo Jo White.
Did he step out of bounds? The call went against us and we lost.
This time... the call went against us and we won!
Jo Jo has been gone for 4 years. Enough time to high-five all the Gods of AFH!
Was yet another string pulled? Another string on the rim at AFH.
Just how many things have aligned now in this championship?
I've been to AFH so many times and I've always felt like eyes were watching from above.
Never thought about Jo Jo watching before... now!
/topic/6915
Sometimes I coach tikeball. Ha.. I feel pressure from that! And receiving snarky comments sometimes from parents. Sheez.
Self is making how many million a year? Not enough for me.... even with the best seats in the house. I'll pass!
There were statements criticizing his pay... and beyond Lawrence, there were many that didn't see the humor of KU flipping off the NCAA. F them all!
As I mentioned before Karma... I respect it. Just like... I'm not about to say anything negative about UNC. I expect to see those boys back next year hungry! To be honest, I felt horrible for Hubert and his players. It was very sad watching their after-game interview. What torture that had to be. Too bad there has to be a second place.
I hear you... I've watched from the Superdome. Only place I thought was worse was the Silverdome for the Pistons long ago. Nosebleed and binoculars...
If you ever get a chance... take in a Miami Heat game in the FTX Arena. It is very well-designed and with the big screen help, a joy at whatever level. I swear I'd eat spaghetti off the floor of their bathrooms. I've never experienced a bathroom that clean before and took photos to prove it.
I have a few tough memories from Memorial... and I never liked that venue anyways. Felt like prison ball.
In the least, you can always take your phone camera or digital photo camera and take a new photo of your printed photos. Might take a few times because you want to keep the glare down. We aren't historians... just fans... so anything from the 50s is absolutely golden in here!
I can only imagine. I bet that was a rough game and they played a physical game against the big dipper. True?
Oh man... thank you for sharing that! If there is anything else you feel like posting... or photos... please bless us all with that! RCJH!
You know... I'm really not a hater of Kenny Smith... I think I'm just like Sir Charles and I don't buy into his BS. Kenny just needs to be more straightforward. It's okay if he doesn't love Kansas and some other teams. He always makes Charles sound so refreshing because Charles doesn't mince his words.
I know many people don't like the brashness of Sir Charles Barkley.. But I'm not one of those people. He "calls 'em as he sees 'em" and then adds some Sir Charles attitude.
When the rest of the crew had basically given Kansas their last rites at halftime, Sir Charles expressed some anger how we blew the first half but didn't give up on us and doubled-down with his prediction of a Jayhawk victory by letting the crew know there was still a second half to be played!
Then when KU made the historic comeback, Sir Charles was there to drive home the message to Kenny Smith, who clearly has a problem with Kansas, beyond being a Tar Heel.
Enjoy this story and watch the clip! Priceless!
Karma is a MF, and Kansas dealt out some big time karma last night!
I hope surgery helps your condition!
Yes... I'm not surprised at media bias... though I will never stop fighting back, and much of what I can do is make people aware. We talk about it often... but sometimes it needs to be shown.
We may be a blue blood... but we will always have to swim upstream because of media and profit in media markets. We will always have a level of underdog in us just for this reason. Meanwhile... there are so many Jayhawk fans throughout the world, I believe we dominate much of the planet with followers! RCJH!
Media bias? Well.... on the homepage of USAToday's Men's College Basketball... we still didn't make the main story. Wow!!
This is just one of the sports media outlets I have battled with for more than a decade to show us some love. Throughout the year, we were invisible on their men's basketball page.
First... congratulations to Coach Self, our team, our school, and our fans! This was so needed for many reasons, not the least being the shaft we received 2 years ago for canceling our deserved run in March.
How did this happen?
Were we just lucky? Obviously no! Last night's comeback shows just how good this team can be and had to be to bring home the trophy. But we can't deny the luck we had along the way and I scratch my head wondering if the basketball Gods in AFH, or Bill Self Sr., pulled some strings from up above. Not only did we avoid injury throughout our March run, but we also benefited from other players going down and big upsets along our path. We even benefited in our final seconds as Bacot went down, turning the ball over and being done when his team needed him most. So many things happened in our path to this championship it is hard not to think someone upstairs didn't pull a switch or two. I wonder if we might expect a new NCAA investigation into this one, draped in conspiracy theory and stretch out for another 20 years or so.
Self vindication? Hell yes! Gone are those critics saying Self can't bring home another trophy. Gone are those critics saying Self can't coach the big game. Personally, I'm giving the MVP award on this championship to Bill Self. He was a different man in this tournament than from the previous March tours. He was a lot more positive and had pure gratefulness for just being in the tourney. His poise was off-the-charts and it had to be the main ingredient for how our team stayed poised, including capping off the evening with the biggest halftime comeback in NCAA tournament history. I've never seen Bill smile more in March than he did this year. Listen to what he said to his troops at halftime last night, after being down by 15, another NCAA record lopsided score. He stayed poised. Listen to Big Dave's comments after the game... he stayed poised. Bill is a different man after losing his father. I lost my father last year, too, and I know how different I am. Bill is, too. And it played out last night.
Comparing championships? I'm not sure I like comparing our championships at the threat that we minimalize any of them. But heck... we are sports fans and everything gets analyzed and compared. I wasn't around for our 1952 championship so maybe others can comment. I did experience 1988, 2008, and now 2022. All three of these games are colossal storylines deserving special recognition. Even Self brought history into his locker room last night by asking his players... would they rather be down by 15 at half, or 9 with two minutes left in the game! I have to give credit for 2008 being the game where we had the biggest burst move to take the championship! I have to give the 1988 game kudos for creating "the legend" Danny Manning and how he carried his team on his shoulders to a championship over a heavily-favored OU team. But this team... this team's storyline is only beginning to be told. Each player stepped up in their individual way to be a part of this! Never was the load so well distributed. Break down the game last night and you can point to so many plays by differing players that were "life or death." Bill mentioned togetherness was their strength.
We may not own the record for most National Championships but no other school can claim as much March Magic as we possess! What stands out now... our book is yet to be written because we have so many chapters left to experience!
Love to everyone, and after more celebration lets start our next chapter of magic!
@jayballer67 said in A crazy thought:
ummmm unless it’s Mitch. - maybe not the impact s Dave but can never question his heart, and he FOR SURE bleeds Crimson & Blue and actually I would of neve envisioned him as as gooood of shot locker that he is
Did you see right after the final second ticked off the clock? Self came up and gave a real big squeeze to Mitch!
Dave is such a Jayhawk! No one has a bigger heart than Big Dave!
Just watched CBS March Madness 360... they are ALL about the Heels! It won't even be necessary to play this game because UNC has been declared National Champions! I'm about to puke! They make it sound like beatdown!
I just can't stop being a mother... er... father!
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JWil - You are the "X-factor" guy in this game that will not get the MVP trophy, but this championship goes through you! You have to glue on Manek on the trey line and shut him down while also fulfilling your role as dynamic rebounder! If you do these two things well, we will not be denied the title! On offense... drive to the paint with your calculated medium speed... knowing not to charge and needing only a crack to slip through and put your body on a defender and score at the rim! We need your double-double!
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Chai - You've got this! Replicate your game on Saturday! Look for your shots and don't hesitate! Defend hard, too. You called it right... you were built for this stage!
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DMac - Just like Chai... bring your Saturday game! No reason to do anything else. Bring the contact to Bacot and force him to back down without dropping your shoulder! Get excited because you finally get to match up with a big who may be in more pain than you!
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Juan - CONTROL THIS GAME! Play with poise, always be aware of tempo. You already know to push tempo. Our best tempo is sometimes a subtle shift. In the least, always push the ball up the court and make them run hard because they have no bench! When UNC runs and exerts energy on defense, they have less energy on their next offensive possession. So monitor UNC's energy level and take advantage of it, and tweak our pace based on how well we score. It's all inside you because you have the best court instincts we've had running point in a long, long time!
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CB - Realize how much your second half burst counted in our win versus Nova! Your first half was less than stellar but you left that behind and always focused on the next play! Do the same in this game and you will have your shining moments that will really help us bring home the trophy!
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Remy - No words necessary... You know how to support this team. Sometimes it means fitting into the flow, sometimes it means taking over. Trust your instincts and play to win!
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Mitch - I doubt anyone will have more emotion than you because this is your last game in a Jayhawk uniform and you've been in Lawrence since the invention of the wheel! Don't be hyped up! We need your steady play, be levelheaded, and you will put in many key plays that help us win because you know the game so well. Play the role of a veteran!
Team - Do what you did all year... maintain your poise! The brightest lights are on and YOU GOT THIS! All you have to do is play your hardest and leave all your game on the court, and stay poised! That is the winning formula!
I know I speak for all Jayhawk fans everywhere... WE ARE PROUD OF THIS TEAM, WIN OR LOSE!
I'm fidgeting around like a teenager about to go on his first date. Damn, she's hot! lol
I remember our crazy season in 1988. No one gave us a chance! Danny lead the charge with his play and also with his chip!
I think our current team has largely been hiding their chip. They mention it a little... but they aren't focused on the drama. They just want to go get this done! Truly in "taking care of business" mode!
Win or lose we will remember this group for many reasons!
I used to be a sports video editor in MMA.
The talking is over. Time to go get us another title!
I think a big motivator is looking at the banners in AFH and only seeing 3 NCs! This team will be immortalized! And they should be!
We are playing for a title while teams like Duke, who has their entire starting 5 in NBA draft lists is sitting at home, should say enough!
I still think we are an underdog. I still read and listen how Kansas can't do it!
We don't need to step up any more than we did on Saturday. We just come out and take care of business! The rims are big... we already know that...
Happy viewing brothers and sisters in here... enjoy the game! Wear your favorite attire... do all your superstitious pregame things... and surround yourself with people that count because you'll always remember tonight!
I feel blessed to be back in Kansas and with loved ones watching the game! In 2008, I was in my video studio in Holland, alone, watching it in the early morning. Not this time!
Our game with Nova didn't have a lot of foul calls to stop the clock. Also didn't have a lot of TOs leading to run outs. We scored so high because we were hot, especially from trey and Dave in the paint!
I imagine Bacot will struggle most on Monday with that ankle because it takes a day or two to face maximum swelling, stiffness, and pain. Having him down, even just a step, makes a huge difference. It is what Big Dave has had to deal with all year! Our over/under stat that might mean the most to a Jayhawk NC could be Wilson... and if he collects 10 or more rebounds!
I think who controls possessions is the winner in this game. So we keep our TOs low and out-rebound them, we will be hard to beat!
Our potential to flow at a good effective speed in the half court should favor us! The question will be, will we do it? I think we will. I hope we will. We only briefly played flat in the half court against Nova. Our guys are playing in the moment and they know what they need to do. Jay Wright mentioned how well we executed. He was right on with that comment!
There is NO MAGIC PLAYER OR STRATEGY for UNC to really disrupt our flow. This should be a key factor. If we lose I don't see it as the credit of UNC, but we just didn't get it done.
We were fortunate yesterday that for most of the game, we controlled pace. Like I said before... that pace control is not so much "run and gun" but subtle.
Pace meant moving the ball up court quickly so Nova couldn't totally set. Pace meant our guys having lots of motion on offense and rapid ball movement, creating open shots from the perimeter and down low with Dave.
And our pace on offense impacted Nova's offense because it also helped our guys have more energy on defense. And it put pressure on Nova to score... making them try too hard instead of flow.
We only had brief moments where Nova controlled pace... and when they did, we paid for it dearly and looked clunky on offense.
Our big focus on Monday night has to be controlling Bacot on the boards. His dominance on Duke was impressive.
Another area we have to be focused on is open court defense. We like to run but so does UNC. We have to get back quick and defend.
If we control possessions with good rebounding and low TOs... and defend against the break well... we should have a good night!
If we win on Monday it will be because everyone steps up. Look how everyone focused on Och and DMac's big point contribution yesterday. But what about guys like Wilson? 11 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and a block? What about CB? He looked off this game and then suddenly he put his imprint on the game towards the end with a drive/score and then two dagger treys? Our guys are staying confident and are playing in the moment! What happened two plays ago is irrelevant. So if they miss a shot they stay focused, confident, and ready to shoot again!
I want to give a shout-out to Villanova.
Jay Wright is legit. He always produces teams capable of winning it all and he does it without having a #1 recruit class. Players like Gillespie... are the kind of players I love in college basketball and not just "NBA-lite."
I only caught a little of the UNC/Duke game. Mostly the last 2 minutes.
Are we happy it's UNC on Monday night?
I'm glad... and not only because of the joy of Duke losing.
I think we need Dave for another big performance and I think we matchup better with UNC. Thoughts?
I have to say I like Hubert Davis! And since UNC has always been like a sister school to us (sister... brother?) I'm glad to see Davis coaching them.
Can we stay hot? Yes! I'm so glad this wasn't just another BAD BALL game! The rims are looking big for us and hopefully will continue to be big.
Aren't we playing better every game now? Aren't we peaking at the right time? I feel like this is the element we are usually short on in March but this team just gets better and it is always the team that peaks wins the championship. I will counter that by saying UNC is doing the same.
Any bets on Monday night? I'm keeping my mouth shut because I'm the jinxmaster!
We can't fall for their shot fakes or we put them on the line.
This is a tempo game. And that tempo may be only a slight difference.... but it still counts. We can't walk the ball up on offense. We push tempo. We build a lead and we get them out of the flow. We guard for 30 seconds of the clock. We don't leave our man... we leave our man, they burn the trey!
We take care of the ball... low TOs, and we rebound so we control possession count.
We push pace and they get tired with less depth.
This is a game that will be won with basketball IQ... both on the bench, and players.