Money calls the shots. It's just that simple. It's what America is now purely built on. Read corporate bylaws. Nothing about humanity, preserving our world... only protection to shareholders. This is the ugly part of capitalism.... greed becomes a cancer and kills off all life. College sports is just playing it out longer than in other areas. We don't even have real anti-trust laws anymore. Dog eat dog. One dog starves... while another dog bloats and explodes.
drgnslayr
11251 posts
Dick looking good. Filipowski is going to be a beast at Duke.
Maybe it's time for us to look at this like the old AFL/NFL. We ban together with all the other schools and intentionally drive a wedge in between us and the power conferences. Promote ourselves as some kind of equal. Just raise enough doubt where the power conferences can't crown a true national champion because they represent only part of college sports. First... this may be enough to blow up the current trend and for realistic people to step in and make a real plan for organizing college sports.
If it doesn't blow up the current scheme... we go on... and we keep promoting ourselves as equals and the power conferences are afraid to play us in a national championship game. Once we get them to play our "AFL" for a true national championship... we have a true SUPERBOWL! We know what follows... our AFL gets swallowed up into one league and a higher form of parity comes to be. Or should I say "parody?" lol
I'm lost. Maybe the Big 12 should start banding together with all other schools/conferences that are left out of the power groups. This is definitely all about power and who carries weight. It feels like NYC mob and slicing the pieces of turf up for each syndicate.
Things look very ugly right now. What is happening is a total free-for-all, everyone grab for themselves... both as teams and as conferences. I can't see how any of this works in the long run. To structure this to give such huge advantages to few while building super large conferences...
As screwed up as things have been in the past... it's likely to get really stupid moving forward. How fun is it to watch rigged-up sports? We already were on the edge of it being totally rigged.
I'm not too far off from just sh*t canning college sports. I can't handle this.
Yes... those jobs are often steps leading into coaching positions. Just look at Spoelstra with the Heat. Case at Kansas...
I'm optimistic Case will become a very valuable asset moving forward, and has undoubtedly already proven valuable to Self. He also seems to be someone who is liked by everyone. Brady appears to now be in line for coaching cred, too. I don't pretend to have any inside knowledge here in the least but do feel comfort in knowing both of these guys are true Jayhawks.
KUBuckets feels like my safe oasis. I feel like I can come in here and say what I want to say, and will be treated fairly. I don't get offended easily, or even at all. If people purposely attack me I realize they have a problem and I don't take on their hatred/anger/frustration. I love humanity and am accepting of differences. It's what makes the world go 'round!
Politically, I am firmly independent. I think for myself and agree/disagree with both parties... often sighting a different perspective than both. My friendships go from fascist rightwingers to communist-like lefties. The exposure to all confirms my belief in most answers "between the lines" of extremism.
Mixing health science with politics is frightening. Lives have been lost and more lives will be lost moving forward. I'm convinced if more people aren't vaccinated soon we will see death counts probably worse than the past year. It can be rationalized as "karma" but I don't feel any better when lives are lost that don't agree with my perspective. This is tragic on so many levels. My heart goes out to anyone suffering with this disease or has lost family to it.
I've lived and visited in many countries. No other country on earth has such a focus on free speech as the USA. And while I believe this is one of the best assets we have, I also believe it has made us almost impossible to agree on issues as a united country. That really came to my reality during the last administration when "alternate facts" became a jingle.
So much of this is politics.
You could make a law where it is illegal to place a loaded gun in your mouth because of safety concerns and half the country would walk around with a loaded gun in their mouths to protest. Essentially, this is what is happening now.
It's all a pathetic view of freedom of speech. To disrespect free speech at this level, to literally thumb one's nose at free speech may end up playing a part in ending it.
I'm not an epidemiologist so take this for what it is worth... 2 cents.
There is an Israeli study supporting infection rates from vaccinated and unvaccinated people and it is much lower from vaccinated people, but it isn't zero. There exists a risk that vaccinated people can still spread Covid.
This supports the idea that vaccinated people should still mask up to limit spread... but also vaccinated people still catch the virus, just not having symptoms bad enough to be hospitalized (for the most part).
And we don't know the extent of risk for long-term symptoms including with vaccinated people who later catch Covid.
I believe as you... this will be around indefinitely. It may eventually run out of steam if more people would vaccinate and practice social distancing.
What I do feel comfortable saying is that mRNA treatments are here to stay! This has been the direction of medical research for many years now. Most people don't realize that our current mRNA vaccines are only possible from all the work that lead up to this disease.
We can expect mRNA to become one of our best tools against much of disease, including cancer. One of my closest friend's mother was treated with a mRNA formula over a decade ago for her cancer and it was extremely effective.
It is a friggin' pity more information isn't being promoted to the public on mRNA... it's origins, current track record, and potential in the very short future!
I'm not worried about needing regular mRNA vaccines. It's the wave of the future and will be available to help us in many ways. Most likely, I will want mRNA treatments soon, if not to treat an issue, to prevent the need!
Watching segments of our population blasting our science community is very disturbing. Of course, it is always important to have healthy criticism and questions. Unfortunately, that is not what we are experiencing.
I respect what you are saying. However...
Where this differs from many personal choice situations is that people's actions impact the risk to others.
Do you have the right to heavily increase the risk to others by avoiding vaccination, masks and social distancing?
And as far as mandating these policies... we've always mandated laws for the protection of the public (ie seat belt laws, etc etc etc). Actually... many or most laws are in place in order to protect the public in some shape or form.
Granted... people can stay home and be safer. That does not excuse people from personal responsibility, not only to themselves, but also to the public. An idea that you can permanently lock people down into their homes to be safe because some of the population is practicing their "personal freedoms" has no merit when extended beyond a short period. A person is no longer "free" when permanently seeking protection at home largely because others won't participate in known activities to secure others.
I agree... it would be great to see Dave improve on defense.
More than anything else... I'd like to see Dave just focus on his feet. Developing a bit better foot coordination and quickness would vastly help his defensive positioning. I do think he has improved his foot coordination over the past year and just hope he continues to work on it more. I always suggest dance lessons.
@Kcmatt7 said in Remy:
That video really makes you see how good Remy is at using a ball screen. Master operator of the Pick and Roll.
Bill probably foaming at the mouth.
He better be! I know I am!
When you see a player's play and what pops to mind is "gosh, basketball really is an easy game!" you know the player is a real baller.
"Would love to hear the reason why college sports are now over just because a few MORE players are getting paid now?" My edit... lol
Glad for all of these Jayhawks for putting up numbers. This shows they are productive at the level of ball they are playing at and gives us an idea they will probably continue playing for some time. What we can't infer is some kind of comparison (ranking) as showing anything more than their value to the league where they play. There is a huge difference in competitiveness on the world stage.
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in NCAA loses more power... again...:
There may be plenty of people wanting back in, but unless they still have eligibility and value to a program, they’re going to be out of luck. And no, courts will not side with athletes on that issue.
For sure. I think they will start putting pressure on the NCAA to change eligibility. Question then... is that fair to high school players coming in? This could be argued that it will help more players earn degrees.
Just the beginning. Mark my word... there will be a million past athletes wanting back into D1 soon. I expect this to litigate or the NCAA bends quickly to this.
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in July predictions for the upcoming season results:
Remy Martin absolutely fits the profile of Bill Self’s ideal PG and is very much in the Sherron Collins, Tyshawn, Taylor, Frank Mason style of play.
Bingo!
I could be wrong... but it seemed like Mother Angel saved the day for the Morris twins. Didn't she flip the tables and suddenly turn her boys and the rest of the team around to being better young men? Didn't her move to Lawrence help Bill support the idea of having parents live in Lawrence?
I wonder if Self and coaches learned anything from having to deal with players like Vick, Greene, and Grimes? It really only takes one bad apple to spoil the team. Thinking back... we had guys that caused trouble but improved.... I'm thinking TT and the Morris twins.
Anyone have thoughts on this?
I miss the days when I had time to stay as plugged in to D1 as you. Thanks for the input!
Your starting lineup screams high-level play and hard not to see us winning most everything (if not everything) and should put us right there as a team ranked #1 preseason (or soon thereafter).
Our starting 5 will be very experienced separately, and stand a great chance of gelling into something very special. At that point, it really is up to Self to scheme up winning offense.
I'm a little uncertain how we will do defensively. This is the one area leaving the biggest question mark for me, though I think in the least we will be far above most of the competition.
Even with all the depth, we need to stay healthy... especially key players, like Martin.
Alright. No one split for the NBA.
What is going to happen this season?
Of course no one knows. But this is fun to predict the upcoming season.
Make your predictions here!
Roster... minutes... win the Big 12? NCAA tournament results?
Anyone smell a trophy?
I think this is a tough choice for Agbaji. It's a "damn if you do, damn if you don't" and he will probably face some criticism from those who unfairly look for opportunities to bash him.
Ultimately, I think the sign for him would be if a team or teams give him a positive response now so he thinks he will be given a real shot if he's not selected.
I think if he has the right representation it may be to his advantage to not be selected at the end of the second round.
He is getting some floor time which should give him an idea of what the competition will be like moving forward. He should sense if he feels like he can compete and flourish in the near future.
I tend to agree with Marco and think he may not benefit much from returning. What he needs is personal coaching to lift his game to a higher level. He's already at a high fitness level.
This team will be about chemistry. If they work hard and build it, they should go far next March.
No way Self has lost it. And one of his big pluses is how he has adapted to other strategies, depending on the hand he has.
It just isn't realistic to think a D1 basketball coach is always going to bring a FF team to the table. Too many variables. Look at Self's conference streak... NCAA appearances streak.... He has amazing consistency... still!
Many factors go into capturing NCAA titles... including good fortune. 2020 is a fine example of how important good fortune is. Self had no way to control the Covid situation and snag the title.
@Marco said in Around the Big 12:
I guess what I’m saying is, they only think that they are a football school.
Love this!
@Marco said in NCAA loses more power... again...:
@drgnslayr Right? Who gets paid, and if so how much? How much do gymnasts get paid? What about cheerleaders or baseball players? I am not in support of the Court’s decision. What, going to pay high schoolers next? What the ruling will cause due to opening the NCAA and or even universities up to lawsuits is complete chaos. It will sooner rather than later hurt not only the true student-athlete - and there are alot of them - but also and eventually the entire system while perhaps ending it altogether. What about physics students who are studying to help advance the world and universe through science? How much should they be paid while going to school? What about the guy or girl who dresses as the mascot on gamedays?
To give you just an idea of a tiny part of the iceberg... listen to Self's words:
"“You can do whatever you like. It’d be hard for an individual to do some type of sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola if the university is a Pepsi-provided university. Could be the same with shoe companies. We don’t know about restaurants. We don’t know about dry cleaners. We don’t know about car dealerships. We have a pretty good understanding on what the value of 100,000 followers on Instagram would mean compared to somebody with 500,000 followers, compared to somebody with 10,000 followers. But everything is abstract, so we’re not really using it to sell, we’re just saying, ‘Whatever it is, we’ll maximize it.’”" - KUSports.com
The big money ticket for certain players will be in D1... not pro ball. Expect to hear a great deal about "fan following numbers." Let me put it to you this way... I'd be happy to be the representative for dry cleaners. Car dealerships? I'd beg for that gig! lol
Moving forward... it will be D1 players that have a lot more freedom to pursue revenue than NBA players. NBA players answer to team owners, the league, union... College players will have to answer to the university... but their position will be strong.
This quickly gives attention to eligibility rules. Why can't a player keep playing if he/she remains enrolled as an active student?
And what about the boatload of players out there who left D1 for pursuits or dried up eligibility? I'm guessing many would like to come back and work on their degrees (while making big $$$).
Another question... won't a big part of KU's instant success depend on the Kansas Board of Regents? They set policies for state-funded universities here... like Kansas! I think it is worth losing sleep here. Progressive? Hmmmm... not so much!
Tubbs made everyone hate OU... It wasn't fair to his players, then he would turn around and blame his players for pulling the stunts. He was a first-class douchebag. You won't hear me say that about many coaches.
https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2058917/things-get-out-of-hand-in-ous-triumph-at-ku ↗
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2009/may/16/tisdale-hand-net-cutting/ ↗
I just wonder if this becomes a perpetual academic pursuit for some in order to play "semi-pro" D1.
Question: Why should a college athlete be time-limited on eligibility? Can a restaurant do that to waiters?
Let's talk complete meltdown in college sports.
It's tough to be a real fan of D1 and an alumni these days.
I expect this to become a complete carnival. I'm considering entering my hat as a shoe designer, because those cats are going to get stinky rich!
Just how far will the enticements go? Big $$$ will obviously lead the way, but from what interests? I'm guessing Kansas should now go on a real recruiting trip... to solidify a hold on large corporate donors. Shoecos are only one revenue stream. Sportswear, energy drinks, media giants... maybe even Amazon. Marketing is about "following the crowds."
Why shouldn't this become a $$$ bonanza for universities? They are already bribed with Shoeco products.
Is it possible that D1 completely overshadows the NBA?
If there is no future definition of amateurism... might we see NBA dropouts returning to college?
I can't look at this thing without thumbing my nose at the NCAA. They dropped the ball. They should have been well out in front of this issue decades ago so it could have been developed gradually and making some sense. But they fought it, and for what reason? Power. And who will pay the ultimate cost? The fans...
Let the circus begin!
Where this goes from here... who can say.
Just how much is KU willing to pay athletes?
Bingo! We totally got into OUs heads at halftime. They were over-inflated from Tubbs and his jackass ego.
Good post! I can see your logic.
Back in the 80s I lived in Dallas. I still am an outside contractor for UT-Austin. Texas people just think different from the rest of the USA... It's the old "everything is bigger and better in Texas!" I embrace their positive feelings about Texas, and for the most part their attitudes are what gives Texas more charm and magic to be bigger and better. But this goes into everything... especially in sports. Bragging rights are crucial in Texas and if you aren't winning, they will turn their backs because they expect excellence. In some ways, I think this hurts them in sports often, definitely with support for basketball.
It was fun rewatching that clip.
It doesn't even seem to have happened when you talk with sports media. It is a game totally underappreciated by everyone but Kansas fans. That was one helluva game and the comeback was monumental... even though forgotten and swept under the rug of everyone NOT Kansas. Pity the poor fools. We all just love good ball, including games not including Kansas.
I think what could really help Texas is a long March run. It would put Texas on the map.. just like now how Baylor lifted its program.
I think a big key for Texas is they have to be able to recruit well outside of Texas and I think Beard will prove capable there.
So who do you see as the winners/losers in Big 12 moving forward?
It sure looks that way, doesn't it. Beard has all the tools now... except a fanbase still not sold into basketball... but if Baylor can do it in a football state like Texas, you would think the Longhorns can, too. I just think there is some anti-basketball sentiment still around in the Texas donor pool. The youth are coming around stronger to bball.
I know many in here don't want to hear this... but I give a lot of praise to Drew for where he is today. He came into the league with his "deer in the headlights" appearance, year after year... especially in Lawrence.
This is a guy who refused to quit, and clearly has worked his butt off to coach better... in games, practices, and on the recruit trail. And bring in the right staff. He deserved a NC this past year... as much as anyone... including Few. He did it in the hardest of places. In a land where football is king, and basketball is a game for wimps... and in the case of Baylor... a game for criminals (history).
I'm thrilled to have another team in the Big 12 who will continue to contend for a NC. I hope Beard can get it together in Austin, too. He has a lot of tools at his disposal, but so did Shaka and Barnes.
"As an original member of Scott Drew’s Baylor staff, Tang has helped put together eight consensus top-25 recruiting classes, including 2010 (Jones III), 2011 (Miller and Deuce Bello), 2012 (Isaiah Austin, Prince and Rico Gathers), 2013 (Ishmail Wainright, Al Freeman and Motley) and the highest-ranked class in program history at No. 4 in 2021 (Kendall Brown, Langston Love and Jeremy Sochan)."
Anyone think Baylor is going away?
Thanks people! So I'm trying to lighten up and see the positive. Here is a guy who isn't the same player he was when he got here. Love his attitude... always wanting to be better and do for the team, even if he is hampered with a recovering wheel -
I'm probably not fair with KU. My expectations get the best of me. I don't see the game without crimson/blue glasses. I focus on our guys mistakes more than what other teams do.
I don't think KU does an adequate job developing any players. Part of that is just the way it goes in college because they can only coach them so much. So the focus is on team ball.
The hi/lo is not an offense built for wings. Period. And as Self begins his coaching journey away from hi/lo ball when he embraces 4 guard offenses more, it opens up more opportunities for wings. A motion offense is a better structure to build wing development.
I watched Baylor win a title this year over an extremely well-coached team that probably brought the best coached team ball every to perform at the college level. They beat them one-on-one and then also had their own decent team ball play. But the Baylor guards did it on their own. They knew how to use the crossover... they knew how to create scoring space.... they had a wide open shot whenever they wanted. We've never had guards/wings that could do that with the ease they performed at. Heck... we've rarely had perimeter play where guys even knew how to use a shot fake. Friggin' u nreal.
I don't think we are known as a development school. We are known as a school where you go to challenge for a NC. @Texas-Hawk-10 said it right when he said Self's job is to win games, not develop players. And that does put us in a position where we have to go for the top tier recruits because he needs to coach players who come in with a high level of play already. I'm not trying to diss Self. There are limits in what they can do with players in D1. I still think we could be based on development and then only recruit players who really want to spend their 4 years working their butts off in school and gym... all their extra moments spent there so coaches mostly direct them on their own developmental path.
I'm not saying players don't improve while they are here. They do. Just not, for the most part, anywhere near my expectations. The basics of the game are mostly lost. I rarely see a player who knows how to seal the boards, hedge properly on-ball defense, know how to give the right weakside defensive help.... and then there is offense!
Back to wings... I think BRush is the last wing player I recall here that showed real wing developed skills while at KU. He knew how to pull up on his shot and he knew at least a little bit about scoring space. I'm embarrassed by most of our players (for them) and how little they are developed on a personal level. Their focus here is spreading the floor and whipping passes between seams trying to get a shot off. That's not personal development.
Did we have an All American on our last two teams that made the Final Four?
"If they all return, Kansas will likely hold on to its spot as a preseason Top 3 team in the nation heading into the 2021-22 season..." KUSports.com
Seriously? lol
I'm getting revved up like most Jayhawk fans... but seriously... Top 3?
Plenty of experience, just little experience playing together and playing for Self... and playing in Big 12... and playing in AFH.
I look at it as a strike against us to get too much early hype.
Guys need to stay humble and keep their noses to the grindstone.
Heck... we better not look past the Big 12 this year!
I'm curious... what is your position on recruiting top tier guys? In your opinion, is it worth it?
What path do you think is best for Kansas.... Focus on top tier, revolving door, like a Duke/Kentucky? Focus on defense heavy teams, live UVA and one can argue Syracuse (recruiting for players fitting his zone)? Focus on offense... like a fast-pace Roy team? Focus on more well-rounded, like Nova?
How do you rate Self and the job he's done?
I appreciate your efforts in here and respect your opinion.
All of these are interesting stories. What I care about is how much did they produce for us on the court? Especially versus what they cost us in drama... taking attention away from the game itself. At least we got a return out of Jackson and Wiggins. And once they start becoming valuable to us they are gone and we start from scratch. I agree with the case that perhaps having one of these guys fill in a role we won't have otherwise could potentially put us over the top for a NC. At least that is an argument that can be made with some clear path.
How much time is our coaching staff wasting away recruiting top tier? And when we don't score one or two? Time might have been better spent digging deeper in the pool for a rough cut diamond with more potential and will be around longer. Or how about a 3 or 4-star guy who fits nicely and will be around longer? This is one of the classic discussions held in here and as time goes by I tend to think the recruiting of top tier talent is a bad decision.
Yep... and now I forgot the other guy's name... big man from Chicago. He zero'd out for us, too.
To be honest... I'm glad.
I'd like someone to study our past 10 years and from all the various situations we've been in... how much of the trouble came from 5-star recruits, versus the rest of the pack?
Do you know?
I'm pretty sure this info right here will change some minds about landing top tier.
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Coach K to retire after 21-22 season:
The NCAA investigation is what’s impacting KU more than anything else right now will continue to until a verdict is handed down.
Is that because top shelf talent is shying away from Kansas or is it because Self and crew finally realize it just isn't worth it recruiting most of those "basket cases?"