Kcmatt7 said:
I'd love to see us press. I could only imagine how effective it would be with our length.
You and me both. I think this team has the potential to maybe become the best on-ball pressure team under Self. We've got enough bodies to run... and speed.
Chalk this one up to "saved by the bell!"
In my book, there is only one situation that can compete with a good 4-guard offense... it's having two bigs, one who is a monster in the post, and the other that has mastered the trey. Talk about taking one out of the NBA script...
Except for maybe Duke... I can't think of another D1 team that could guard an offense like that. Especially when your trey-shooting big can haul arse up and down the court!
When Doke was in the mix, I had dreams of this team really killing it with Dedric on the trey and Doke in the post.
So... the heck with it. Bill will adapt. He will turn this into a formidable 4-guard team.
The guy we really need to step up now for 40 minutes a game... is Vick. He is doing much better than at any time during his KU career, but he still goes stealth for long periods. He just falls back into a comfort zone, especially when the other team puts more pressure on him. That's when he has to realize his answer is to turn up the juice and do it his way. He sometimes gets a bit frustrated and tries to do things that aren't there, consequently, turning the ball over too much or forcing a few shots. Fortunately, he's a good enough shooter that he makes quite a few of his highly-guarded shots. But this isn't how he needs to finish his senior year at Kansas. He needs to focus a bit more on creating without the ball to break open for more catch and shoots... or catch/shot fake/drives.
No one in D1 can stop Vick when he plays the right game and focuses on his skill set and the parts of the game he has already mastered!
I'm giving credit for this victory to Self above all else. This is why he is a HOFr. And this is why we still are in the driver's seat for another Big 12 title.
Mitch vs Big Mac
I agree with everyone that Big Mac needs to see more minutes because he is the ultimate investment for down the stretch in the season. However... Self realizes that our conference streak is in real jeopardy here after losing Doke. That is why he took Agbaji off of red shirt. I expect to see Mitch earning more minutes than Big Mac right now because in these early Big 12 games, Mitch has more to offer in several areas. He remains a better defender, especially in weakside help. He knows the system (playbook) better. And, most important, he offers a quicker tempo post player over Big Mac.
Tempo is key for Self now that we flipped back to a 4-guard offense. We have enough players to run. We wore down TCU. Just look at the Dixon post-game interview. The tempo and wear down was a huge factor in turning them over. It is no surprise to me how effective Agbaji was in his debut. He is the most-athletic player we put on the floor and he gives us speed! He was a big factor in helping wear down TCU.
Even though we have lost some depth in the post, we still have a pretty deep team in some regards. We have a team that can push a 4-guard offense at a high tempo. Big advantage in trying to win another B12 title because I doubt anyone can match up with our depth.
Tweaking tempo now is a key for us. It should help us put some of our new guys into a positive groove.
Self was a real genius in this game and I feel like it took that to pull this victory off!
Hardships can often help a team reach to a higher place.... like 2012.
I'm not losing sleep over this team. I feel horrible for Doke. He has such a great spirit of competitiveness. His future is really up in the air. But we will see how this team responds. I like our guys and we have an outstanding young PG.
All we can do is take each game, one at a time.
Move forward. Conquer.... and be KU!
This is where you have more faith in Bill... he isn't a HOFr for nothing!
This team isn't anywhere near their potential. We are still (easily) the most-stacked team in the B12.
All we got to do is stay focused and keep our nose to the grindstone. Things will be okay.
Just keep an eye on those darn Red Raiders!
I'm having a Big Mac attack right now. It's the special sauce!
Maybe I missed it... but is Maryland under the spotlight?
I can see a future where we can praise Devon with the title of being the best point guard ever to wear a Jayhawk uniform! I see that potential if he stays healthy, keeps improving his game, and he stays out of trouble.
True.... and if that is the case, who thinks that $60k was just banked and available for return. So, potentially, we can see the possibility of commiting a "crime" to fix a past crime. Where would the $60k come from to repay the "debt?"
I don't see Silvio becoming eligible unless his people become proactive to make this situation better... and that means... stepping up and fixing his "loans." That might open the door for the NCAA to make a quick exception to their earlier comment about addressing this after the season.
Spot on about Dotson. Doubtful he will get the recognition he deserves because that usually goes to the one who fills up the stat sheet. But I can't ever recall a freshman guard at Kansas who took such good care of the ball.
Think back to all the special point guards we have had, and none were anywhere close to this polished as freshmen. As far as protecting the ball, Dotson plays like a senior. He is our best bet player of keeping our conference streak alive for 4 more years!
If you smack that graphic on the top left corner, it will pour you a double espresso non-fat latte at the bottom.
Heck, I can't even see where they factor in the east-coast bias on this.
My hope is... we have players that are good in certain areas and those areas will help lift the rest of the team in those areas. Marcus should inspire others to play hard-nosed defense and others should pick up some of his techniques. Dedric is an offensive machine inside and Vick is from the trey line. Let's hope others pickup on some of that, too.
In so many ways, basketball is all about "team." We should all know that after TRob suffered his tragedy and the team came around to come a few points away from a National Championship... and without a single McDs AA (as I recall).
We have plenty of talent. But we will never beat Duke in March if we are just trying to match talent.
I like the energy of this group and hold out hope they come together as a team. If they do, I don't see anyone getting in their way of a title. Big "if" but we are respectable with a banged up Doke, Grimes is still lost out there, and few have truly found their identity on this team. So far, I'd say Dedric is leading the pack on this squad for identity. Even Vick is still honing in on how he fits in this.
I thought Dedric was out of this world.
If he can stay dialed in like that for most of this season we are in for a pile of great wins and the conference streak continues.
To see him step it up a notch and have it happen on the road... wow!
What I don't want to see is the rest of the team riding for free on his back. Everyone needs to contribute.
We still have some pretty big defensive holes to fill. I see lots of promise, including from this game. The loss should help us.
I get a nice feel from this bunch.
Yep... that is how I understand it, too. Doesn't sound cozy.
I'm convinced that this is where the future of basketball is going... This is where the money is.
I think many of you remember a post I made a couple years ago. About a city guy that kept his wealth in shoes in a big box truck with 24-hr security. With the stock market falling it makes me think this guy might know what he is doing... maybe...
What counts is atmosphere. It is expandable to 15k... I've never heard of an arena that is expandable having good atmosphere (loud and cozy).
There is probably enough talent just in Texas to load a Top-5 team every single year in football and basketball.
The Longhorn problem is the competition within Texas for athletes. Too many quality choices for recruits to go to other schools outside of Austin.
Just my opinion...
Perhaps we change our name from "Kansas" to "North Texas."
Bet we would have a new football stadium in a week!
This post is not a joke.
Here is the Texas version... "Minister of Culture"... along with their $338 million investment in a new arena. You know Texas... throw a pile of money on it!
!0_1545352062540_under-armour-charge-bb-maryland-northwestern-acc-big-10-challenge-16_9.jpg ↗
What is it about shoes?
The times we live in. The proliferation of customized shoes is upon us now.
Forget the old Air Jordans (except for collectible prices on vintage). We are entering into a new time. Art meet sport. Sport meet Art.
In the very near future (uh, NOW!), some brilliant college recruiting guru (I pray it isn't Calipari) will figure this one out. The future powerhouse college basketball team will get there NOT from having a HOF coach, or by using their Blue Blood brand to gain the edge. The next royalty to sit on the throne of college basketball will get there because they understood FIRST that art can not only resemble reality, it can control it! Welcome to the age of "multiplex branding!"
Imagine a university (like Kansas) leading the pack here by developing a branding dynasty department that will not only continually update (and blow up) the Kansas Jayhawk brand, but will also develop individual branding for Kansas players... especially in the shoe world!
Imagine upcoming recruits being swayed by the enticement of future endorsements because their branding started in college. Talk about the best method to guarantee these players make serious money in their futures... this is it! In reality, they will never have to dribble a ball past college to guarantee a reasonable wealth status. It will already be achieved through their unique branding accomplished while in college.
And if the NCAA continues to get challenged in court so college players gain more rights, especially on their images and branding... look out!
World to Coach Self... reroute your next recruiting trip through LA. Pay a visit to Kickstradomis and let's watch Kansas basketball dog the world of D1!
Anyone in here think I'm joking around here? Ha! Look what Maryland did in 2012!
Here are a few links helpful for perspective:
Since it's going to take some time for Marcus to become a shooter... one thing he can do now is attack the rim. There isn't a rule saying a player has to be thick to attack the iron with aggression. He has enough speed and hops to take it hard to the rack. What he does really need to do NOW is practice FTs!
He should be our best offensive rebounder, too!
I'm curious how Kansas will be treated by the NCAA on this one after the NCAA supported our modernized compliance department to the level of making it a model for other universities.
I'm sad about the loss of Wade. He is a heck of a player and a quality guy. I enjoyed our match ups. Especially painful because it was his senior year and promised to be a big year for him and the kitties.
Point well taken!
In some ways I see your point. But how does calling over-sensitive offensive fouls help offense?
I've heard Bilas talk for many years on removing contact in college basketball. I do believe he was right (to some degree) and the game was being hijacked by the "thug ball" strategy taught by some coaches.
However... there is a line where it needs to stop and it should not get to the point where it becomes completely focused away from contact of any type.
I support my thought on this with the play I focused on. It's a play that (today) will be called against the offense every single time and it is doing nothing but slowing down the game and starting to drive coaching philosophy away from plays where contact is likely.
It has become so bad that this may end Self's chop play. It will end if other coaches figure out what Wright figured out.
Self's chop play is not only a big part of Self's identity, it is a play that offers "color" to the game. Even though it's roots probably go back to the Harlem Globetrotters... it's a play that most teams only see when Kansas comes to town.
How much of the game are we going to have to "homogenize" to meet Jay's goal of removing all contact?
I may be overstating things... my efforts are on slowing down the direction of sterilizing the game. I think removing some of the contact has helped the game move forward and gives technique and artfulness of play an advantage over pure thuggery.
I don't think I'm necessarily fair in my opinions. After all, this is Naismith's game... developed for students. I came from the playground more resembling the "inner-city playground" where contact has always played an important role in the game.
I really wasn't trying to make this about Wright vs Self. I wanted to point out how D1 has put a heavy emphasis on offensive fouls based off of poor execution of screening. I feel like it is an area where the refs are actually creating a new opportunity for actors to draw fouls. I'm trying to imagine the next Marcus Smart in college basketball... probably winning a national title for his team!
Sorry everyone. I'm just grouchy because Jay Bilas is winning... by turning college basketball into a non-contact sport.
Allen Field House.... Lawrence, Kansas.
14:55 remaining in the first half.
Remember that.
On this moment, Charlie Moore committed an offensive foul.
Charlie was dribbling to his left, out on the perimeter, and passed the ball off to Marcus Garrett on a move which resembles the famous Bill Self weave. Garrett's defender chased after Garrett in his steps and made contact with Moore.
For those of you who have it on DVR, watch that play again.
Watch it because it marks what should be the end of Bill Self's weave.
Jay Wright is one heck of a coach. He coached Bey to do what he did. Jay Wright ended Bill Self's weave.
All that has to happen now is other coaches need to watch that one time. All they have to do is have their defender follow behind their man on the outside of the weave and make any kind of contact with the passing Jayhawk.
That is all it takes today in college basketball to get the offensive foul call. Like I said... watch that play again.
Is it too much to ask the NCAA to give an automatic guarantee no university will face competitive sanctions from this case since they aren't going to do anything this year anyways? Meaning... no probation, no stripping titles and wins, no reductions in scholarships, etc... That type of punishment isn't good for anyone anyways and definitely bad for business! The punishment should be fines.
Does Kansas "look guilty" for not playing Silvio? If our administration didn't payout money (or arrange it)... what are we worried about? Play Silvio! We've already disciplined Silvio enough!
So much of this is public relations and public reputations. Aren't we already taking a hit on this? Over what, $2500? And who is the Maryland booster and what actually got paid back east? Boy.... what an investment Zion has been for Duke!
He's still too much boy, not enough man for the league.
But we've all seen this before... time, effort and experience will grow hair on his ears and then the world will know if he has NBA talent.
"Has something changed in the NCAA?"
A lot has changed since then.
Back then, the NCAA still floated under the guise of being a "private membership club" which basically gave them complete, unfettered power.
What has come to reality since then is they are losing much of that exclusive power now because of their broad impact on American society.... meaning.... they can be challenged in a federal court room, and whenever that happens, they tend to lose chunks of power.
One can argue that the best thing for Silvio's future is to stay right here for the remainder of the year.
It shows some maturity to do it. He stays and learns solid fundamentals (which have proven to help other Jayhawks in the NBA). He risks less injury by not going full tilt in a foreign league which can get very sloppy. And... probably the best reason... he doesn't learn bad habits abroad that will just have to be fixed in the league.
Plus... who knows... maybe a diploma is in his future and basketball isn't. We've seen it be the case with many bright talents.
BShark said:
KJ is Kevin Young basically.
Let's hope he can become KY, but with his thicker body.
I think within the next couple weeks we will see more of the guys sort of find a role on this team.
I'd like to see Vick watch old Laker games with Michael Cooper. There is a lot he could quickly pick up on from another thin player who was athletic.
I'm in on the Vick fan club!
I see Garrett as a vital piece to our success this year.
Everyone in here is correct to be critical of his offense.
But we will never find our way back to the Final Four without playing defense.
Garrett is one of the few players that even has a concept of defense right now.
Self has to teach defense and he has to put some defense on the floor. Right now, this is one of the poorest defensive teams I've seen from Bill at Kansas. Hopefully, they'll improve dramatically over the year!
As of right now, MG may be the only player that has bought in to "Self ball" (defense).
By the way, I can easily see us lose a couple before conference play. This team is one big chaotic mess right now! We haven't established anything on either side of the ball yet. Right now, Self will put anyone on the floor that will step up and fill in any of the holes in this team, on either side of the ball. Look, we've had to rely on a blistering Vick just to stay in games! What happens when he goes cold?
Right now, Self has to put any player on the floor who can execute ANYTHING! That is how loose this team is. We can't even smack down cream puff teams with Doke in the paint. Gheez.
But I'm thrilled watching Vick finally showing us his wares. He still has other skills he's not showing us. I'd like to see him take it to the rack more.
Have we even run our backdoor alleyoop yet this year? Wow... Self's calling card.
I vote Dedric Lawson for President!
This guy is perhaps not as athletic as we are used to, but the guy is racking up double-doubles. Why?
F O C U S ! The problem we have always suffered from! We've always had the talent and the athleticism. And Self is a heck of a coach in so many ways.
But it takes F O C U S to really execute. Nova... Nova had focus. They came and executed. The difference was stark and we had no chance in that game.
Dedric just hangs in there every game. He's focused on the ball, and where the ball is going.
I wish Dedric would gather the crew and teach them all "Dedric ZEN!" I wonder if he's spent hours staring at a candle flame.
Doke... man... settle down! Sit with your candle and count slowly to 100, each number with a breath, and do it until the candle burns out.
Devon... he gets it. He's sharing a candle with Dedric.
Marcus.... inhale... inhale... inhale.... whewwwwwww... there you go... let it out... keep air out of your lungs for half a minute and then start breathing again.
Quentin... look in a mirror. Focus on those eyes for an hour. Yes... you got the looks! And the charm... But you need to see a ball player now. Keep staring until you see him!
Charlie.... stare into the crystal ball... x-axis! That means... dribble... pass... cut... dribble... pass... cut... dribble... pass... cut... move your feet and create space. Wear down opponents and steal points the second they forget to stop running with you.
Vick... I've got nothing to say except OUTSTANDING!
KJ... stare down everyone. Your teammates... your opponents... You have some kind of magic no one is on to yet and it will be appearing sometimes this year and you will bring us Ws. You already have!
Mitch... Take your candle into the weight room and sit down with Hudy. Build bulk all through the season. Forget it if it throws your shot off. Focus on bulk. If you can continue to bulk you will become a freak defender and your muscle will earn you plenty of points. Forget finesse.
David Mactruck... Keep your candle a secret. Sneak on the court late night with just your candle flame and go stealth. Let everyone forget you exist and circle March on your calendar for your real "coming out" party.
How about we cut two more teams and then we can go back to our old brand... The Big 8! Surely, we still own all of those trademarks still.
Imagine the perceived prestige.... a power conference that is busy CUTTING teams!
Hahahahahhaaaaaaa....
Darn it! I've been working extra hours and have missed lots of good chatting in here.
Wish I could have read the rest of that article.
I look at the big 4s and 5s becoming extinct if they can't make big offensive plays outside of the paint. Big plays include nailing the trey, but also mastering high ball screens and becoming excellent passers.
When big guys can make big plays outside of the paint they force the big defenders out of the paint. That is crucial to open up the rim, and also make it easier to nab offensive boards.
Big guys are crucial for defending the rim and rebounding.
I'm defending the big guys in this post, but everyone in here knows me as the "x-axis guy" who would take on any team if I had 5 guards that could really play all aspects of the game, including boxing out.
Where I see the game changing is now coaches see they can win big or small, and the key is to put their best players on the floor, regardless of their size.
KJ is a solid player. He just hasn't found his role yet, and neither has his teammates found his role. It all has to come together.
I can easily see him be a guy that comes on big at the end of our season as he finds huge ways to contribute. He could become our "mystery man" player where our opponents won't know how to scout him.
We are all going to need to show some patience with KJ, and if we do, we will be glad we didn't trash talk him early on. He is really a player that may end up playing a big role when we need to find something else in a big game where we aren't playing our best.
I know I have a lot of hope on KJ!
I'm going with -
KU 83 Duke 69
Duke wants us so bad they are going to have their staff attorneys bring it to district court and bump out MSU and replace them.
Or how about those Shockers! Edging out a home win against a D2 school!
After a while... this all starts to sound like the 9/11 and moon landing conspiracy stuff.
The basketball world can't even accurately predict where star recruits will go after the recruits narrow it down to 2 or 3 schools.
This stuff starts hurting my brain so I focus on our season ahead.
I could be wrong.... but what I'm smelling so far with this team is COMPOSURE!
Dunking is awesome for several reasons. But I wonder if this team is strictly composed on winning games versus just entertaining the crowd, though what is not to like about this team including their ability to entertain.
All our young guys have a long ways to go, however... I'm sensing better basketball IQ (cumulative) from this team.
!0_1540564424534_ku_bkc_esu3-1100x692_t960.jpg ↗ - KUSports.com
I have to say this... in all of the years I've known Bill Self at Kansas, he looks better now than at any previous time!
That says a lot.
RCJH!
I'm not saying we shouldn't have good relationships with any or all of the shoecos.
But when it comes to discussions concerning recruits, it is hard to get away from whether or not those discussions help steer the recruits. Then we quickly get into areas relating to NCAA infractions and can also connect us to situations involving federal crimes.
My question: Is it really necessary for those discussions to exist? If the answer is "yes" relating to actually landing recruits, isn't that some form of conspiracy?
Oh yeah.... basketball!