We need some tricky coaching to throw Jay Wright off his game plan. We need to stay at least one move ahead of Jay all game.
Nova plays sticky defense. They are going to be out there on the perimeter trying to shut down our treys. The key for us is hard, exact passes hitting the mark. The ball needs to hit the shooter in his chest so he can have one quick, continuous move on his shot. Nova puts enough pressure on the ball that they often make passers throw passes off the mark, giving Nova time to shift and close the gap on the shooter.
Proper passing, spacing and timing will be the key to our success on offense. We have to attack their pressure with drives. We should get Nova in foul trouble if we play this right.
I'm guessing fouls will show which team is winning perhaps even more than the scoreboard (until the end).
We are a day away from our next challenge. Coach Self seems to be on his game plan; make sure our players are well-rested. Bill figured out that the Duke game took a lot of energy out of our guys. It did. Those nail-biters always drain players.
March Madness has really become about who is hot and who is not. Coaching also plays a big role because their strategies can impact who shoots the lights out or not.
Villanova is known for defense. And when they have a week to prepare for an opponent, they become lethal. Coach Wright seems to know how to scout and prep his players as good as anyone in college basketball.
So what will we face? High pressure on the ball with a player doubling-down to pinch Doke in the low post? Yes... we can count on that. All we need to do is go back to our last lost to Villanova to see what they will try again.
Our recent push on offense is to feed the high post. Get Doke low in the post and to one side, creating a big hole near the FT line. Then we put Vick in the middle, to sink in the defense and open up our trey shooters. A great attack on zone defenses. Will Villanova play zone? Most-likely, they will come out with their tough M2M defense and then switch sometimes to their 2-3 zone to mix things up.
We have several strategies we can run against Nova. I feel like our first strategy will be to feed Doke and see if he can be effective. What Doke has to be ready for is Nova's ability to pinch him with a double-team. Wright is perhaps the best D1 coach at teaching his players how to double-team. From his press, right down to doubling in the low post, Jay knows how to teach his players and they always get some kind of net benefit in this area. Always.
Doke will have to be prepared to face a more-aggressive double in the post. He will have to pass with certainty and sharpness, paying attention to timing and spacing of the defense. Last, he must throw crisp passes on the numbers. If we want to hit a high % of treys, the key will be the passing. Crisp and on target for a simple motion into a jump shot. Nova plays excellent defense. They close out shooters rapidly. Fortunately, all our trey shooters have a pretty quick release.
We really must control tempo in this game. Nova will want to slow us down to play a slow, half-court game. That's on the defensive end, but their offense is capable to run fast or slow.
This could come down to the two Naismith Award finalists. Which player will play the smartest game? Devonte has struggled of late. But he usually rises to big challenges against big players. Look what he did to Hield in Norman. I hope Devonte studies Brunson carefully before this game. Brunson is a headsy player and will challenge Devonte on several levels, always trying to draw fouls. Imagine if Devonte gets in foul trouble? This is a major concern as is foul trouble for Doke and others. Brunson does what we should do... he uses lots of ball/shot fakes to draw charges until defenders stop overplaying him. He gets defenders to commit, and then he throws his body into the defender to draw the foul while still getting the ball up for a possible "and-one."
Both teams will bring lots of strategy to this game. We will see several strategies attempted. I would think strategy is key to this game because both teams are pretty solid at executing strategies. So we should see a game that goes back and forth as teams shift focus to address weaknesses or the other team's strengths.
Wright might end up challenging Self for best Riverboat Gambler. Here he is in full stride:
“That’s the mark of a great coach,” Wright insisted. “What you do in the tournament is not really a mark of your talent as a coach, but it’s matchups. It’s who’s healthy. You know, it’s a break here or there. It’s a call by a referee.”
We've beaten both Duke and Kentucky this year... Snagged the conference streak record for ourselves... won the Big 12 Tournament... Devonte likely Naismith Award winner...
All we got left is that dang National Championship!
I was thinking "Malik 'I told you so' Newman".... for all those critics that wanted him benched not too long ago.
If you are one of those people, don't fret it. No one could have accurately predicted he would come along so quickly and so strong... except Malik's dad!
I look at Coach K the past couple of years and I'm wondering why he is still coaching. It is clear as the sky on a sunny day that he doesn't feel well. Yesterday, he looked like he was completely nauseated and drained during the entire game. Glazed eyes, high forehead sweat, frustrated expression (noticed I said "expression" and not "expressions"... he had the same expression all game). And he just looked plain-old worn out!
Villanova? Bring'em on! We have a debt to collect from them. We should bring plenty of chip into that game.
Time for Devonte to earn that Naismith Award.
Nova can be beat. They play good defense, but we have played against better defensive teams. And their offense is mostly about crossing their T's and dotting their I's.... meaning... they make the shots they are supposed to make. All we need to do is bring our A-game on defense. Overwhelm them with athleticism. Move the ball at our quicker pace. Disrupt, disrupt, disrupt!
I have to admit I was shocked at their final results this year.
I know Trae got exposed a bit, so teams scouted and took away parts of his game. He also wore down. It's hard to play that many minutes, getting all that attention on the floor. Just ask Devonte!
I thought Lon would have more going on with everyone NOT named Trae.
I felt all along that this game would be a race... and Duke would be fighting to keep up with our high-powered offense. Why did I think that? Because Duke doesn't play good defense and they were going to be stuck in a zone.
We won this game and we did it without shooting a high percentage from trey or inside the line. Had we shot a decent percentage, we would have stomped them.
Lon took the gamble, and he selected the "shiny box" Trae. As we all know... it requires special coaching. It requires a sales job on all the players that one player has special rights the others don't have, but somehow, we will end up playing like a "team."
I wonder where we would be right now if Trae had signed with Kansas?
I also wonder where we would be right now if Preston had stayed and been cleared (doubtful anyways)?
My gut tells me we wouldn't be in the Final Four if we had either of those guys.
What has pulled us through is the bond our guys have and they know they are individually responsible for helping the team cross the finish line ahead of the pack.
Last night it was the outrageous offensive show of Malik. What will it be next week? Maybe Devonte is ready for a break-out game? Or will it be Vick, who suddenly looks like pre-conference Vick? Or how about Doke get his conditioning back and stay out of foul trouble and dominate? Svi can suddenly get hot, or can just take the ball to the hole. Maybe Silvio is ready for a monumental performance?
I nearly pooped my trow when Malik's drive ended with a foul on Carter.
The look on K's face was priceless.... you know what he was thinking, "how did they call that against ME!?"
Our guys got beat up in this game, and Duke should have been in extreme foul trouble all game. But it only takes one call not going their way and they are in trouble.
The refs are enablers for Duke. So they count on the calls... and it only takes one call to send Duke home. Malik received that call... and so it's bye-bye Duke!
All good fodder for creating a chip with our guys...
No team in the Big 12 has squat on Kansas. All those that try to get under your skin do so because you and Kansas get under theirs. That's all you have to remember.
They aren't worth getting upset over. Laugh WITH them when they make fun of Kansas! Ha... you can't take them as a serious threat to anything, except maybe themselves!
Our purple kitties didn't do anything different than any other team winning in March... especially as underdogs.
Calipari's guys just didn't want to wait it out, a whole 1 or 2 minutes.
There has been lots of bad press out on this for UK. I hope it takes another shot at their recruiting.
Anyone notice how Cal suddenly isn't landing every Top 5 pick any longer? Of course, Coach K can be blamed for a big part of that.
Coach K not only has stolen most of the very top tier, many from Cal... but also... top recruits stuffing a team don't want to do it on a team that is most-likely going to underachieve. This is the reputation Cal now has. And when there is a shinier light out there (Duke) the top players follow the light.
Everything looking up for this game: our guys are rested better than they've been all year long, including Devonte. Doke is at maybe 90%... Silvio is better than he was last week... Vick is on a definite "uptick" along with Malik... and Svi and Devonte are stable.
Everything looking up... but projection doesn't win games. Let's hope this all translates to victory!
I think the real "revenue sport" of universities is in endowments. Sports are the way for universities to stay in the hearts and minds of their alumni and followers. Imagine no sports?! Why would we all be coming to a website every day to discuss other activities at KU?
The losses showed by programs exist because they are non-profits. The athletic departments are going to spend every penny they can get their hands on. They are driving towards success... and success in sports will bring in huge charitable contributions.
So that is why we see programs losing money continuing to build newer, better facilities and hiring higher-cost staffs. It's all in the pursuit of "victories" which lead to stuffing the coffers.
I always refer to the Houston/NC State national title game that immortalized Jimmy V.
There will never be a real explanation that makes any sense why that game was won by the Wolfpack. Houston should have won even if they were blindfolded.
Games often veer in a directional path that is hard to get off of. Often, the team that should win will drive right into the ditch, like a drunk driver. Sometimes it starts days before the game. Perhaps a star player eats a package of Starbursts and then can't get his diet back on track, leading to a game that is just enough out-of-focus to have a drought shooting performance and effort. It really can go that way. The legacy of a program hangs in the balance with a package of Starbursts.
We better not be looking past Clemson. I doubt we are.
I've always felt the main reason we lose in the second weekend relates to lack of a chip. We have plenty of talent to make it through the first weekend... especially going in as a high seed.
But that second weekend comes and the games get tougher. It really is a question of who wants it most.
I do think this team carries a small chip. Most of that small chip is in the DNA of Devonte.
I can see the possibility that we will still have a game where Devonte really has to carry this team on his back.
One more game and then we most-likely play Duke. Bring'em on!
I think the only real thing we have to worry about is getting cold and staying cold.
So if we come out and go 0-8 from trey.... we going to stop shooting the trey? Or will our guys tighten up and make things even worse? If we do that, we end up with a game where we go 4-26 from trey.
How resilient is this team? If we start cold can be break out of the funk?
This has always been an issue with us in March and why we often lost to very inferior teams.
This year.... we have come back in many games. It kind of seems like we are better off just digging ourselves into a hole in the first half in order to inspire us for the second half. I get more worried when we come out red hot, and then later go cold... then we are trying to flip it around in time to pull the win out.
So much of this relates to Devonte. His senior leadership should be crucial. He has been a solid leader since entering Big 12 play. He's going to try to rally the troops if we fall behind.
SH HAD to play better yesterday because of a closer match up. We typically play to the level of our competition. And we came out tight and cold. We did warm up some and this is all about trey shooting, isn't it?
The team that shoots the highest percentage usually wins. Penn... actually played fairly well perimeter defense.
Sure we could lose.. but if we are warm or hot from trey, forgetaboutit!
Here is another perspective from yesterday's game...
Who stepped up besides Devonte? Our old friend, Mr. Vick! So now we know that Vick may be bringing more game moving forward. Can it get any better than that? He's been our flat tire on this bunch for a while now. And Mitch put in a good performance. Always great to have him step up.
Imagine SH practice today... "Okay... listen up... we just have to be able to shut down Devonte... I mean Malik... I mean Vick... I mean Doke... I mean Svi...."
I like our chances in every single game. Why? Because we have the magician, Devonte Graham!
Not sure I recall a better player we've had in a Kansas uniform in March. The guy brings game to the big games. This team is starting to remind me of some of those championship UCONN teams... lead by a point guard who doesn't accept losses. Kemba Walker... Shabazz Napier.
Devonte keeps bringing magic when we really need it!
For whatever reason, Self's KU teams have a psychological issue with OSU in Stillwater. It may relate to Self's background and maybe Self carries a funky vibe every time we step on their floor, or possibly for some other reason. The rest of the Big 12 has that funky feeling every time they enter AFH.
Very interesting read. Clearly, you know more about Virginia than I do.
So much of my background education has been about controlling pace. I usually go there in strategies. Play at a good pace for us while forcing our opponent into a bad pace for them.
I know Bennett. Everyone focuses on his defense. Yes... his defense is outstanding. But it is his ability to control pace that really stacks up victories for him. I even think his sputtering offense helps further slow the pace. He limits possessions and he puts teams to sleep.
All of our guys, in the locker room, should punch each other in the face before going onto the court to play them. That creates instant adrenaline. It's an old boxing trick that works.
We should then do it at halftime, too.
I know that sounds nuts. But consider the real strategy used by Virginia is to bring out a huge, soft, comfy mattress on the court for their opposition to sleep on!
Stumpy and his dramatic appeal. Let's not forget... this is Stumpy! Calipari-lite.
I don't believe a single word out of his mouth and never will.
There is a tape. Let's hear it. Hope it leaks.
I believe the tape more than words from Stumpy. And his dramatic appeal makes me believe it that much more because he was extremely coached on how to fight this most.
First... we would have to really prepare to play them. In March, we would want to face them in the first game of the weekend, because we would need the week to prepare a specific game plan.
I confess... I haven't watched them very much this year. They aren't one of my favorite teams so their games can get boring.
I think I'd put all my focus on pace. Pace and defensive rebounds, and of course, defense. If we can get them into a low scoring %, and we hit the boards, we have a great opportunity to push tempo. Primary and secondary breaks. We would want to LIVE off of these! Let's see how good their transition defense is, and what it will be after a while of being pushed up and down the court.
I think teams like Kansas pose the real threat to Virginia. A 4-guard offense that actually pushes tempo, and one dominant big in the paint. Doke will have to keep eating his Wheaties and developing his game more.
When we get stuck in half court offense, we need to push motion, and feed Doke for inside/out. Run them, run them, run them.
I hope players read KUBuckets. I want them to know there aren't high expectations for them this year. It's not about relieving pressure off of them. It is about putting a chip on their shoulders to want to go prove something.
The chip is what locked up #14 this year... primarily in the mind of Devonte. He wasn't going to captain a team that gives up the streak. He carried us through conference.
I don't think Devonte is done yet. We are going to hear from him after the OSU game on Saturday... maybe after the conference tourney. He wants more!
