🏀 KuBuckets Archive

I think our worst move was to put Marcus at point. Especially because we knew we were facing a shortened season. He's just now starting to come to and assert himself.

Harris is far from being the standard of what we need at point, largely because of his inexperience. We needed all of those prior games for him to get into the flow and develop more confidence.

Now we are a team in limbo.... who will be our PG in the next games? Not sure. We are quickly running out of season and Harris is still green. This was a problem that should have been better addressed at the end of last season so we use the entire off-season to build up Harris as the new PG.

I don't like being like this... armchair quarterbacking this team. I still have full confidence in Self and also these players. I'm just nagging! Speaking of quarterbacking... I can't stress enough the value of that position (PG) and how it can't be thrust onto non-PGs. It truly is like grabbing a wide receiver and putting him at quarterback and hoping for positive results. Ain't gonna happen.

This team has consistently played worse than any other Self team. Period.

But it doesn't have to go like this. There is talent and potential... but why isn't it coming together? February is tomorrow.

I recorded the Tennessee game but after watching a while I just skipped through it to the end to catch the final score. I can't watch this. This offense is what you would expect in Week 1 of the season with a bunch of newbies.

I and many others in here have pointed out many things that would help... but they just aren't happening. At this point my expectations are hopeful for a 50/50 win/loss record from here on out. And that is with hope.

I think our record streak for being ranked in the top 25 is in serious jeopardy. I'm thinking we will luck out for one more week... though I don't see a top 25 team at all now.

"“The ends, however, do not justify the means, and that others are engaging in improper behavior does not make it lawful,” the 2nd Circuit wrote."

Ha... imagine if they used that logic for higher corporate interests brought to court!

I'm skeptical that just shifting minutes around is going to fix much of anything with this team. And I think it will be completely counterproductive to do some of the old methods of yanking minutes for guys not executing. The problems are systemic. We have to address the overall health of this team. We've seen moments this year when this team could beat anyone. It's there. I know getting hot from trey is part of that. But getting hot usually happens because of other things being present... guys moving feet, executing a plan, feeling optimistic, having leadership, etc...

Look back in other years.... when those teams had brief skids... what happened next? Someone on the team stepped up in leadership and announced a team meeting where they united with a purpose; to reclaim team identity as well as make changes to win. Turning around this season will not be like climbing Mount Everest. We have plenty of talent and mixed experience throughout the roster.

Yes... I wish we had Doke and Dotson... but we don't. I do very much like the pieces we have and I know we can win with this group and we can even surprise some people in March!

The first order of business.... is to shore up our fan base. If the fans can't get behind these guys... they will be climbing Everest.

RCJH!

@FarmerJayhawk

Exactly. I think experience levels just support my point. Teams with experience already have their identities from their veteran players. Maybe it's just me... but I don't see a Kansas team out there. I only see a team full of players. The big mistake is to come down on the guys. This isn't what they were expecting when coming to Kansas. There is a reason why we recruit well when players experience AFH. I think this isn't the highest talent team we've had... but we have a lot of good pieces, including a mix of experience in key positions. Take out Covid from this season and I don't think we are undefeated... but I also don't think we lose 3 in a row. I can see this bad streak continuing unless we figure out how to impress our guys with being Jayhawks.

Opportunity to nail Kansas > Kansas players' pride of being Jayhawks

Here is an idea. Hold a pep rally in Memorial Stadium. Outside and spread out. Everyone has to wear a mask and advised to keep some distance. Get our guys at the center of the field and fill the infield and stadium (with spacing) and let's get some mojo back!

I'm not going there. I'm not going to blast our guys. They need support and they need an identity.

Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Michigan State... what's going on? Why are blue bloods taking a bath?

In my opinion, it's Covid.

We don't have the impact of AFH. Same goes with the other blue bloods. Without those valuable packed home games, we have no identity. We have a situation where the identity is gone. This is the year for all the underdogs to get their revenge.

How do we fix this? Is there anything we can do to help our guys form their identity.

We are who? We are KANSAS!

RCJH

What our guys need right now, they can't get. What they need is a home game to a packed AFH where they receive all the fan love. This has always carried us to higher ground in the past.

Since we can't have it... wish someone would put together something online to bring in the Kansas fans from everywhere to applaud our fellas.

Any ideas? My idea... is to have a site where fans hit a record button and have about 10 seconds where they can scream and clap. That gets recorded and added into one big looping applause soundtrack so the players can, once again, hear the fan love! Anyone know how to make that happen?

This isn't where we vanish... this is where we step forward and help!

RCJH!

Our streak is in jeopardy. Believe it.

This is not our typical game role... but in order to win this game, we are going to have to go to Waco and steal this game.

I love his size and skill set. I just think the way he earns PT is by showing more hustle. He plays too timid though he is slowly showing more aggression. There is hope!

It will take a monster effort from our guys with total focus. If they can do that we have a chance. I haven't seen our offense handle real pressure well all year. What happens when the perimeter is well-guarded? Our guys haven't shown they are far along enough to take advantage of what defenses give. Tight perimeter pressure? Try feeding the David in the low post. Try driving the ball and pushing contact and fouls. Try setting high ball screens, off-ball screens. Try shot, ball and direction fakes. There are opportunities available no matter what they face, but that have to realize what they are and execute.

I'm thinking our ability to take care of the rock will be a huge deciding factor in this game. Along with FG%.

I finally decided to stop... and I am cutting my cable at the end of this month.

A few months ago I had a test run with YouTube TV and was medium impressed.

I have Netflix and Amazon Prime...

I had discovered I was only watching cable for news and sports. News just pissed me off. And then because I was offered a cheap deal by Cox, I lost many of KU's games. Enough!

Curious what others are doing in here. I'm certain there are others who would like to find another alternative. It wasn't worth it for me to pay over $2000 a year to mostly watch KU basketball.

Advice?

So if you had to define it briefly... 30 minutes of suck, 10 minutes of effort?

I wonder if it could be the water in "Still" water?

There goes my theory we win out on the road! I didn't see the game and don't really care to now.

I'm looking back over the last 3 games... and then also looking back at some of last season.

What glares loudly is our amazing away winning streak. That is a special accomplishment, but it also says a lot. It says we come ready to play when on the road.

I wish I could say the same thing for home games. But I can't. And I can point back beyond this season. I believe we've had issues with motivation at home sometimes over several years.

Why would I say that? We have one of the better home records in the nation over the years (if not the best).

Here are my reasons behind my view:

1. How many times do we come out flat in home games? It almost seems like we fall behind early in games more than we do going ahead early. Shouldn't we come out at home jacked up and ready? Shouldn't other teams usually start off nervous and intimidated?

2. Games are won by players. While that is true, can't we say we have probably the very best home court advantage because of fan noise and enthusiasm than any other situation in the country? We've done the test... we are the loudest! Don't you think fans have become our valuable 6th player in games? Doesn't our home court advantage play biggest down the end of games, when we often pull away from opponents?

3. Self is probably not the best "cheerleading" coach in America. We've seen this throughout his entire term as coach. We know we need players to step up and lead the spirit for the team. So doesn't it make sense that it is harder for our guys to feel the urgency while playing at home?

I see a real possibility for us to continue our away game streak all year. Even possibly winning in Waco. From what I am seeing... I think we have a better chance of ending this year with a better conference away record versus conference home record.

Thoughts?

I'm critical about David... but I'm also totally behind him and hope he can figure a way to better fit into the lineup. No matter what, we will need his help. He tries hard and that is a big part in this. Who knows... maybe he is our "spark off the bench!" Ha... I'm doubtful we see him many games not starting.

Self is right... we do need to have a threat in the paint. We need to be a scoring threat over the entire offensive area. I wish all our guards were better at finishing at the rim. I would feel better about going all guards. And I do support going all guards. I just see Self's point, too. We need our guards to know how to finish at the rim. That is a huge part of our success moving forward.

@BeddieKU23 said in This is a Second round team if they keep playing McCormick:

@drgnslayr
A team like OU that’s going to stretch the floor at the big position on Saturday, my suggestion is we zone a team like that. Get Dave off guarding a big on the perimeter that way. I still think you can play M2M against Oklahoma because he won’t play all 40 but the big matchup tomorrow is how you disguise Dave on defense. Just my two cents

I'm totally with Self on this... keep with M2M and sometimes use a zone to change the game dynamics. We don't want to run a zone for 40 minutes. Eventually, they learn how to exploit the seams.

I think I've been perhaps one of the most critical people commenting on Big Mac. And I really love this guy! He totally brings the right attitude.

But his limitations are well known by everyone we play. His lateral dexterity is awful. He's a guy that can be taken off the drive by another big guy from the top of the key. So that means... any big can drive or shoot on him facing the basket as well as nail him down low on back to the basket moves. He is part of what keeps us from being a fast team.

I think the spots at the 4 and 5 are still hard to decide and should be made based on upcoming opponent for now.

So if we do go without a real 5 we need to adjust offense and defense to best take advantage of it. We still need ball screens and other tactics used with a real big man. Most of that is an attempt to get the ball handler an advantage by being defended by a big anyways.

The real key to our offense is keeping the ball moving, proper spacing, and plenty of motion (off-ball and driving). This isn't rocket science.

If we don't bring energy to a game we will probably lose. Texas proved that.

Having said that... we still need to have a valid big man this season. How do you keep him able to contribute if he rides the bench most of the game. It's a real dilemma... one that I know Self thinks about.

I think the biggest structural issue with this team is keeping Marcus at point. After he recoups from this injury he needs to be rewarded by putting him back at the 2. Tell him to mentally flush most of the crap he has had to deal with all year at point. Bring back the old Marcus! And though he can play at bigger positions.. his natural position is the 2, and he has already proven he can be National Defensive Player Of The Year at the 2.

Braun and Ochi have been good, but a bit inconsistent. See how it works to rotate them in, maybe also in the three-man rotation with Marcus, so he gets well-rested.

@benshawks08

I'd like to see which one can jump highest. Part of Perry's issue was his timidness and lack of commitment to his moves. Jalen has a lot more self-confidence. He doesn't care if he gets rejected 10 times in a row under the basket.. he'll just keep bringing it!

Jalen may be more athletic... he definitely helped himself to better condition with his one year off. I just don't see that as being the real factor here as much as his personality to scrap like hell!

Kind of thinking it would have been something to see Jalen play with Perry Ellis. Neither guy is an athletic freak. But Jalen's style works so much better. He understands that he has to create scoring space. Thinking Perry could have picked up a lot from Jalen.

Something not mentioned yet... I bet Jalen has big hands! He sure plays like it.

I know Bill knows his ball and his team... so I'm agreeing with him.

But there are ways to change this team. Transition is something you develop. I played on teams focused on transition and we practiced for transition. That meant... when the ball moved out on transition we were forced to take it to the rack. Didn't make a difference if the defender was 7' and the ball-handler was 5'10". After you do this for a while the 5'10" player learned how to do it and score because there is no reason for them not to. You drive into the body and draw a foul, you use the backboard to angulate the shot, you use your body in between the ball an the defender... etc etc. Instead... we see our guys not wanting to challenge the defenders and pulling the ball out. Crime! It's a crime!

Marcus has become EJ, version 2. It isn't fair to either of these players to expect them to be PGs when they had never been developed as D1 PGs. It's the most-demanding job on the team, like a quarterback. In fact, think of them in the same light. Take a wide receiver and shift to quarterback. Yes... it is that extreme.

I never liked the idea of putting Marcus at PG and I think it hurts his chances at pro ball later... just as it did for EJ.

I'm really not liking how some players have to "take one for the team" and potentially lower their future careers in basketball. Marcus was in a groove at the two... and provided some help at other positions. Putting him at point has been a monster burden. Every aspect of his game has diminished.

As painful as the move may be... I would still... today... move him to the two and start Harris at point. In the brief time he has played, he has created far more offense with other players than Marcus and even Self admits the ball moves better.

The other problem we have... is we need a leader. We need someone to step up and get the troops excited to play every game. That was apparent in our loss to Texas. And notice... when we started to really collapse, there was no one who stepped up and clapped and yelled and brought needed cheerleading energy. That was mentioned on KUSports.com, and rightly so.

I still see very large potential with this team... but some things have to change to get there.

@Marco

Some of my graduate studies professors didn't speak English. Yeah.. you heard that right. They spoke such broken English and so accented that no one could understand their lectures. Some of us would meet privately afterwards and take our recordings of the lecture and decipher what they said.

What made us great against WV made us stink against UT. We didn't bring the hustle to play x-axis... so we lost to a team that is more athletic, more size... and we didn't make it a game x-axis vs y-axis because we didn't hustle. We were beat squarely in x-axis space. I'd like to see the shot chart on UT. Is there any place where they didn't score? right...

Self will use this to his advantage because it was a definite wake up call. With this type of play, we could be a team finishing 3 or 4... or 5th in the Big 12.

I'd like to blame it on the quality of UT... but I can't. I didn't even think UT played overwhelming basketball. Neither did anyone in the sports booth who kept saying UT should be up by more points.

Self has never been that kind of "cheerleader coach" who will get his troops all pumped up. We really needed a cheerleader today. Or maybe a cattle prod. Credit to Shaka for bringing his team ready.

Curious if we will take this game and go south for a while... or go north because we took it like a slap in the face?

Kudos to Wilson... who single-handedly stayed on the gas peddle! We would be toast without him and maybe he can start being a leader out there. We need leadership. It's part of that PG responsibility. I love Marcus to death... but we can't teach that in him.

@Texas-Hawk-10

I agree with you. I just don't know that the answer is with Universities handling these players different. I think there needs to be an earlier intervention.

The dynamics are different; cultural differences, communication/language issues, distance from family, handlers, level of desperation.

We are focusing on African athletes, but I bet some of these problems go broader to other places, too.

It seems like the NCAA... instead of spending a fortune on busting schools like Kansas... they should focus attention, money and resources on a quality program that will address the issues unique to foreign players.

How many of these players have handlers? Answer.... 100%.... because they are not brought to America by their parents or are in America living with their parents. Their entire well-being starts (and usually ends) with handlers. Guess what handlers want?

Maybe Cal just needs other recruits. Maybe he should get Drake back out there on the recruiting trail. Surely Drake will know the right recruits that will blend well together!

@RockChalkinTexas

Thank you! That was awesome and Happy New Year!

Hmmmm.... the investigation slowed down because of Covid... lol

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article247922335.html ↗

Someone needs to call Cal out on how he patronizes his players in public. When he runs out on the court during a timeout and gestures how to guard or play to a player in front of the crowd and nationally on TV. That's humiliating for his players. That's something you save for practice. I've always thought he was a clown of a coach. He's a salesman, and maybe used some questionable practices. He sold young players on this idea that he would get them in the league. The players got themselves in the league. Go to the next level and ask about college coaches. No one in the league is touting how great Cal coached them. There are a lot of special words spoken about how Kansas players come better prepared for the league, especially with defense.

Kentucky... 6 Ls in a row! Weren't they considered the top recruiting class coming in?

Whats up, Cal?

That is better than anything I have read recently! You have won nomination to continue!

I think we've been around enough and have enough of a following to develop press prestige and credentials. It isn't uncommon for fan groups today to receive a status level with these perks.

I suggest we form a plan and execute it. I feel certain that the AD will be happy to accommodate our status and grant permissions. This would involve the need to have people available in Lawrence. If we continued to grow we could formalize it as an organization and raise funds for travel with the team.

I'm not satisfied with outside press coverage and think there are many in here who could bring new light and life to coverage!

Thoughts?

Popping treys is the best news for Big Mac... opening up the paint for him! And all the treys means long rebounds... which should continue to help us put up offensive rebound stats. I see the base here for a team identity. No ball sticking, moving feet, drive and feed out to the trey, Big Mac cleaning up the rest... It's my kind of ball! Can't wait to see what they look like in January!

I really feel for Marcus. I think he could be one of the biggest victims to Covid.

Imagine life without Covid. Hard to believe Kansas wouldn't make the Final Four last year. With that accomplishment, Marcus could have left on a high note. Defensive POY, FF team, showing progress on his offensive, leaving early so having an extra year of youth... I think it may have been his best NBA shot.

Now with Covid. He's back on a young team trying to establish identity. He's moved over to the PG spot, which is really the same kind of sacrifice EJ made. I don't see Marcus receiving big pro attention this year, unless something major changes. What makes this worse... I'm hearing bad things about foreign prospect opportunities not only this year but already for next year. What will Marcus do? Circle the airport? I'm not sure Kansas would have room for him returning.

I hope I'm way off on what I sense. I've been a Marcus fan from the early days when most didn't see his potential.

@jayballer67

It's a huggy bear team... so you know he teams defense. I don't think they had practiced against so much ball movement and moving feet. They sure were stuck in no man's land a lot. And all the treys created long rebounds, perfect since we weren't going to get our hands dirty in the paint scrapping for rebounds.

Sure makes sense for us to fire up treys... if for no other reason then to create long rebounds that give us a chance to get them.

I was surprised to experience a WV team that didn't play with more physicality. They have the bodies.

But then... I was extremely surprised how well we played this game as an "x-axis game!" I know we hit a crazy amount of 3s and that isn't always going to happen. However... when we play like this it is highly likely we shoot well from trey!

I'm trying to think back at past teams and games... and I can't think of a game where we played this level of x-axis ball before. The game moved so well on a horizontal plane. We didn't make it any kind of vertical game, which would have allowed WV to muscle us! WV was lost! Big guys running around usually in "no man's land" not knowing who to cover or what. That's what an offense can do to a defense when the offense doesn't let the ball stick and players move their feet!

This even creates great opportunities for Big Mac! We have a big open space in the middle and there is room for one of our guys to use that space wisely!

Loved all the 3s, loved all the motion, loved all the spacing, loved how the ball didn't stick! Loved how players would drive and feed... Wow!

@jayballer67

I think a lot of it will depend on how the game is called. I expect WV to play physical. This is were guys like Lightfoot and Harris can draw lots of charges. Look how are game flipped with TT... and suddenly they were getting all the offensive boards and TT is small. We need to hold our own on position. This will be a good test and we should come out of this game with an education. Just glad we aren't facing a packed house in Morgantown!

I think WVU is our toughest match up all year. We better have eaten our Wheaties because this will be a game for men. Huggy Bear did a great job of reloading!

@benshawks08

I think one big problem is the time it will take players out of the classrooms.... or maybe in this case, from online classes or studies. If they aren't in school anyways... it seems more likely we could stretch this out.

@benshawks08

I'm hopeful for the vaccine. What would really be great is if the upcoming vaccine testing proves out that the vaccines basically eliminate those who are vaccinated from being carriers. I think science right now is hunching it will be the case, but until we have test results, we don't know that answer.

@benshawks08

Personally... I think it's time to lockdown. The virus is everywhere and the final blow is that medical staffs and facilities are overwhelmed. Not only is this a bad time to need Covid medical help, but also for any kind of medical emergency.

We have to apply this to everything, and the safety issue should trump basketball. This is a definite time when we need the government to step in and help us all through this disaster. And I am politically a centrist.

What can I say about Wilson.... except wow! He definitely didn't have a great game but that didn't stop him from stepping up down the stretch. That is the Type A personality we need on this team!

This team just hasn't come together yet with a game plan and an identity. I know it has been said that it's happening... but I still see just a bunch of guys not playing on the same page. They really need Xmas break to have some days of practice to form some kind of offense... and also how better to play team defense.

Thank you, Riverboat Gambler... for chatting up the game! Ha... just practice 20 minutes on a zone.... hahahaha... yeah right! If that is true, we better be playing a lot of zone moving forward because it was the difference in this game. You can't have an effective zone by only practicing for 20 minutes. Teaching players how to sew up the seams takes practice. Self just doesn't want other teams to scout and prepare for our zone.

I still have my eyes glued on Harris. He made a few mistakes in this game, but he also produced a lot of help where it didn't make it on the stat sheet.

Gosh... how do teams scout us? They now just going to focus on Agbaji? Ha... you already know he will probably disappear for a few games while others step up. Wilson, Braun, McCormack... any of those guys are capable of leading in scoring in a game.

My question mark is with Garrett. Is he still not at 100%? This isn't what I was expecting this year from Marcus. He's a senior but in some ways, he seems a bit lost out there. I know his play has always depended on the team playing together well... so that is part of the problem. But is that all of the problem? I've never been for this idea that he shifts into a point guard. I don't think that helps him find a career later, either. He just isn't a point guard. No slam to Marcus... because you just don't make someone into a point guard. Even guys who had a more natural skillset to help them turn into point guards have a hard time. Frank Mason comes to mind. He was a scoring guard playing off-ball in high school. We watched how he transitioned into being a point guard and it did take all 4 years and I don't think he will ever be considered the best point guard ever to play at Kansas. He was just a great player! He still struggled to be a playmaker beyond just him finishing his own scoring moves. Back to Marcus... hopefully, he'll be more productive as the team comes together. He's forcing a lot of shots at the rim that just aren't there and he's getting blocked a lot. The spacing isn't there and he's telegraphing his drives and not able to protect the ball on his shots. I hate to see this because he has more abilities than this shows and it might hurt his confidence moving forward. I think we need to sketch in some plays that better allows Marcus to score. He may not have the alpha like Wilson, or the scoring skills like Agbaji... but he is the senior leadership and the guy with all the experience to help this team and without question, the talent to lead the defense.

I know I've had mixed feelings about Bilas... but man did he call it right last night about the bogus charges. I loved how he continued to harp on those stupid calls which really impacted the aggressive play in the game.

The REAL statement the NCAA would release (if they were honest):

"We have nothing to comment about concerning the ongoing investigation by federal authorities and the alleged drug trafficking ring at Duke, UNC and App. State. Our plate is full as we pursue cases against Kansas, Louisville, and Arizona. "

This is complex. Let's remove ourselves as basketball fans for a moment and just say that our needs count the least over what is in the best interest of the players.

Right away I focus on the safety of the players. It seems like basketball does add an extra layer of risk. They have to move around and leave the safety of their dorms to practice and go places... then they have to play with players unmasked... where the hard breathing must spray a lot of virus if someone is infected. Their age group and being in such good overall health probably puts them in one of the lowest immediate risk groups. But what of the long term risk? That's an area completely unknown. There are people who had the virus who continue to suffer chronic health issues. We don't know what will happen with those infected years from now. The virus will still be inside of them, and we don't know what the damage that has happened to their organs will manifest into later.

Measure that against the players losing the opportunity to improve their skills and receive needed attention to move forward with a career in basketball. Most of the players have totally invested themselves on this path and whether it pays off or not, it's their goals and they have all worke very hard to get where they are. Stopping the game right now just can't help them move forward.

How do we weigh this? It's two totally different views and the players really have no part of this decision except they can say no if they want to and I don't see many doing that.

Comments? Personally, I feel lost on this.

I'm just happy to have some Jayhawk basketball to watch... but it is frustrating thinking this means anything. It isn't the fault of anyone... just the way it is right now.

Yep. I'm preparing myself for what I see as the inevitable.... the possibility the Big 12 will not crown a legitimate conference champion.

Has anyone really thought this out?

So Baylor and Texas didn't play. How many games are not going to happen this year? How does that impact conference standings? Which team leads the Big 12 this year... Team A 14-3, Team B 10-2, Team C 9-1? What if the team with the best record had their toughest games cancelled?

I've mentioned this before.... why are we playing this season? I don't see how anyone has a positive outcome. If you win it all, no one is going to say it counts because of the situation. If you lose then you have so many reasons to blame.

I don't want to be "Negative Ned" therefore I'm just going along for the ride, though I am thinking ahead and can't see the positive yet.

Thoughts?

I don't know what to expect except they're job isn't to discover evidence for justice. Reminds me of some horrifying moments in my youth on a quiet back road in Mexico when I approached a federali checkpoint. They were looking for evidence, too. That's all I'm going to say...

I like what I see from most of the young guys. We will start to see more separation as the year goes by.... depending on if we can actually play most of our games.

Wilson and Harris stick out to me (so far). Both of these guys have a good feel for the game and appear to be able to move at the speed of D1 already. I'm expecting great things out of both of those guys during their Jayhawk years.

TGF is a real mystery so far. I think he's still adjusting to the speed and the enormity of playing for Kansas. He definitely shows some nervousness. Maybe the game will start slowing down for him later in the year and we can utilize his exceptional athleticism.

Latrell... I hold out hope he will develop into more than most think. Sure I like to run size. But more... you all know me... I'm pure x-axis. Give me a guy with speed, who can shoot from everywhere, and can make plays. He will be the most valuable player on the floor. And the little guys are very capable of being excellent on defense. First... they have the jets. And if they learn how to position, cut off driving lanes, disrupt opposing offense, steal passes, and get into someone's grill on their shot... what more could we ask for? The little guys should have plenty of motivation to prove they belong out there.

Bryce is the total package. He comes from a basketball family and I'm betting no one is in a hurry to shove him into the league before he is ready. He's a guy who should spend his summers away at development camps, preparing for the league. But he can't take anything for granted. Just because he has the look, the body, and some of the talent... that is no guarantee in the No Boys Allowed league.

I'm on board with others and think Gethro needs a lot of work, but I trust in Self that he sees something we don't yet. Maybe it's just a good practice player/reserve. Don't know.

These games are important. It's a way to recognize the contributions of players like Mitch... who will contribute big this year (even in a part-time role). It's a pretty big deal for him to make the newspapers and lead the team. Great for his resume and great for his trophy cabinet where there is space for framed newspaper clippings.

Congrats, Mitch!

Calipari has his dream pay level and coaching package. He can go on cruise control now. I don't think he even has to sell sizzle anymore. Kentucky isn't going to do any better than Cal. It's a marriage made for each other.