🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@BeddieKU23

The definite key for us to win this game is to control the tempo on both sides of the ball.

First, we have to bring respectable transition defense. If we don't do that, we stand the chance of being blown out. The other aspect of controlling transition defense is to not turn the ball over. I like the fact that we will face WVU in Morgantown BEFORE heading to Lexington. That will be our real test for taking care of the ball.

If we halt UKs transition offense, both primary and secondary transition offense, we stand an excellent chance of winning. If our offense isn't on track, we still have a great chance of winning a grind game.

Second, we need to focus on tweaking our offensive tempo in order to be successful on offense. This relates a lot to what I have been saying all year with having a PG focusing on all aspects of running the team. We definitely have a Top 5 offense when focused on primary and secondary transition offense. This is a great way to get Kentucky in foul trouble.

I hope I don't see Frank walking the ball up the court after a UK basket. We need to push tempo up to the speed we can effectively run our offense. Our tempo decides if we make our offense look easy because we have the defense chasing our guys around but can't keep up. When we run too slow, sometimes we look a bit like some of our old teams where we had perimeter players standing there tossing the ball back and forth hoping a seam opens up and then taking a desperate shot with a few seconds remaining on the shot clock.

We have gotten away with this slow offense for too long because we have talented players that can bail us out with a few ticks left on the shot clock. That has allowed us to become relaxed and not think we have problems on offense.

If we become "Masters of Temp" between now and March I will personally guarantee another National Championship. That is how strong I feel about the talent/experience we have and how good we can become if we execute the right strategy moving forward.

If we control and run the right tempo in Lexington... we will SMASH Kentucky! Everything we run will look effortless. Kentucky, with all their youth, will become desperate and they will NOT have a way to stop us. The game would become ugly and all the sportscasters would act completely shocked... saying they underestimated Kansas.

Or.... it goes the other way, and we don't control tempo on either side of the ball and we get blown out or lose a fairly close game even though Kentucky made it look easy and we struggled to keep up with them.

All these small guards need to understand the reality of their situation.

It is almost impossible to make a NBA roster being a small two. It just is.

So if you want a real shot at the league, you better build your PG resume in college. Just thinking it is enough to be a shooter and ball handler will earn you a NBA PG slot is outrageously unrealistic.

PGs need to show leadership skills. They need to show they can read defenses and attack them. They need to be able to create offense for themselves, but more, create offense with their teammates. How do they show that while playing the 2-spot in college?

I would say Devonte has done a remarkable job of showing how he can create some offense while playing the two. His assist numbers are solid. Makes me wonder what he would do if he was our PG and we ran our offense a bit more through the point.

@HawkChamp

I think Devonte stays unless we win the NC or at least we make it to the championship game.

I think Bill better know Trae inside and out right now. If we don't sign him and we lose Devonte, next year will probably be a down year.

I think Bill could hold the string right now on Devonte. Promising to shift him over into our starting PG next year would keep him here. Devonte will become a PG in the league. His leadership skills are unknown as of now. If we know we aren't going to sign Trae then Bill should do whatever he can to keep Devonte next year.

Giving Devonte the PG spot next year, clear and free, probably makes him a lottery pick next year.

@BeddieKU23

I kind of wonder if this is the reason why Devonte isn't moved into the primary PG spot now. If he was and if he stayed it wouldn't be likely we sign Young.

But with Frank leaving and leaving Kansas from the PG spot, it clearly illustrates a starting spot open at point.

Gosh.... If we can sign Young we will have one arse-kicking team next year! A fairly young team but with plenty of experience, too.

@Lulufulu

You like our chances at Kentucky?

I do, too. But I have come to the conclusion that really anything could happen in this game.... anything from us getting blown out to us blowing Kentucky out. Most likely, it will come down to one team winning by under 10 points.

@Crimsonorblue22

Thanks... Didn't we recruit him, too? I heard he wasn't aware of having something in his system. That is possible so I give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

@jaybate-1.0

Did Trier ever get off of enhancement drugs?

@JayHawkFanToo

Very different. I think UK has more speed with this team.

@jaybate-1.0

Million dollar question: Will Adidas be represented in the FF this year?

@JayHawkFanToo

You are right on.

I just believe an outcome from WVU vs UK would look quite a bit like the last time... 78 - 39.

I just don't think the WVU gimmick works on UK. They always have too much individual talent and size to fall victim to their press.

Kentucky (37-0) obliterates West Virginia to reach Elite Eight ↗

@jaybate-1.0

Beating his press with a 5-guard and x-axis mentality is a wet dream!

5 players that are in continuous motion is impossible to press and beat. Just stay away from the most-obvious cardinal sins.

I'd like to see us do it and run WVU right out of their own gym.

I do, for once, have to hand it to Calipari. He knows how to smack down the WVU press. And his team this year will savagely rape the Mountaineers if they hook up in March.

Have you been watching UK in the open court this year? They take the ball out from under their basket and 2 passes later (and 2.2 seconds off the clock) they are laying the ball in the basket.

I bet they are praying they draw WVU in their bracket this year.

@jaybate-1.0

A computer just whispered in my ear -

1. Baylor
2. West Virginia
3. Duke
4. Wichita State

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Drew and Company focus on 3 goals... none of which is to become Big 12 conference champs!

“The goal was always to go to Final Fours, win national championships, be ranked No. 1,” Drew says. “But you don’t always achieve what you set out to do.”

Coach of the year candidate Scott Drew turns Baylor's low-star talent into star team ↗

!Kansas_Basketball_Jayhawks_ap_img.jpg ↗

I just took a big drink from a glass of water half full.

Jayhawk critics are all busy pointing to our tough conference schedule ahead. Good for them. They had to take the conversation to a different topic after OU took down WVU at Morgantown. Even many of the computers suddenly have it in for us. Maybe they can now process sour milk?

I'm just sitting here. Looking off into distant space. Suddenly a warm fuzzy entered my consciousness.

All we have to do to win #13 is remain poised. Don't listen to the critics. Don't listen to anyone spouting bad energy, hyper drama, or just plain bull snit.

This is NOT one of those posts proclaiming, "WE ARE KANSAS!" I've never followed that line of thinking and see it as just asking for it. It is a pompous gesture worthy of diddly squat.

Even though we have a tough schedule ahead, WHY does it feel like we are skiing downhill?

Let's start with the new guy on the block; Josh Jackson. By now even the biggest haters and cynics of OAD basketball have come around to Josh. He is the real deal and though he still makes some freshman mistakes he clearly can be labeled as an "old soul" of the game.

When we lose a game it usually relates to most of our guys having an off-night. Josh had an off-night on Monday. He only shot 3-of-11 from the field and only had 6 points and fouled out down the stretch. Boo hoo! Now take the time to read the rest of his stats.... he lead the team in rebounds with 8, he had 5 assists and 2 blocks. And what doesn't show in the stat sheet is his hustle after loose balls, often down on the hardwoods.

When a guy puts up those numbers on the road, in a hostile environment, he can continue to have more bad nights the rest of the year! I wonder what he will do when he breaks out of this horrible slump!? ha

I know ISU doesn't have a real post. That still didn't guarantee we would see production out of our post. Carlton and Landen only posted 43 minutes together, but they were responsible for 24 pts, 12 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. The stats don't tell the story here. Many times, those points came at the end of the shot clock and they bailed us out.

Frank was a little hobbled. Nothing serious. Just a banged knee. He still racked up 16 pts. But it is good to see that he didn't have to completely carry his team on his back. Others provided assistance. It was a GROUP LIFT!

On any given night, any one of our first 7 players can rule the stat sheet. Every opponent scouts us. But how do they prepare to defeat 7 players equally? It is one thing to list a players' tendencies... and it is another thing to mimic their play in practice to actually work on stopping them. And it isn't just about our individual player's skills... it is about team ball. Running 7 players creates many different possibilities. We can go big with both Landen and Carlton together, we can go with just one big, or we can go without a single big! We actually did that at ISU for a brief time.

No coach in our league is more screwed up with our possibilities than Huggybear Huggins. His highly-flammable full court pressure is all about scouting ahead. Knowing how much space is the right space around every Jayhawk. And knowing we will always have at least 2 paperweights (bigs) on the court at the same time. Those days are over! Our 4-guard lineup cuts the tether string from the WVU pressure. We've gone from our typical 3-on-5 lineup to 4-on-5 and the possibility of going 5-0n-5 with an ALL GUARD lineup!

Yes, you heard me. I'm all smiles because I do believe we could see a 5-guard lineup in Morgantown at some point. Look back at the ISU game. Josh and Svi actually out-rebounded Landen and Carlton.

What matters most is that Huggybear doesn't know what we will bring. He doesn't know if we will still be a victim to a sped up tempo or actually thrive on it. For once, our cards have not been exposed. We should all smile about the possibilities that our very own "Riverboat Gambler" is in a game (finally) where his hand isn't exposed, even partially!

@BShark

"I think if everything else is equal Self snaps back to 3 out 2 in."

That would be my guess. Kind of a kneejerk reaction to old habits.

But we have the rest of this season to show him how much better a 4 out 1 in is.

If we can continue to rebound okay then that would be a big help.

Here is the solution:

!computersmash.jpg ↗

How many years will it take before news outlets get sick of being Einstein's definition of insanity?

I have seen a few sports people say that Kansas is the favorite in the Big 12 until they finally lose the streak.

A computer will never kick out a statement like that... but then, who needs a computer to figure this one out?

@JayHawkFanToo

Agreed.... his "one shining moment."

@JayHawkFanToo

"I would love to see KU put a beat down on Texas at AFH."

Absolutely! Can't get enough revenge for our loss to Shaka in the tourney and when Texas came to town right after TRob's loss and beat us.

We were lucky to go to Norman when we did.

Fran called the OU vs WVU game and he sounded like he was going to start crying. He couldn't stand the thought of Kansas pulling away from the field again.

@jayballer54

Granted Woodard made some big mistakes. He usually does. But he also makes some insane baskets and he has been the heart of OU basketball for a long time.

I have to admit that I'm a big fan of Woodard.

@justanotherfan

Good points.... and don't all our guys get more used to playing with pains anyways?

Don't you wonder just how much pain a guy like Frank has played through without making notice to it?

Pain is there for a reason. It is a warning sign.

@dylans

I played something like 25 years of organized basketball, starting in my youth. I continually moved up to a higher level of competitive basketball. I finished a far cry from the level of play KU is at. But I did make considerable gains along the way.

I suffered one very major injury that ended my play. I had several semi-severe injuries earlier.

From my experience, the risk of injury grew considerably as I became better conditioned and played at a higher level. So I know the risk of injury is higher as the level of play becomes higher. Even knowing that, I can't really imagine what our guys go through at that level of play. I feel like we are lucky if we only lose one player per season.

I think strength and conditioning are important on many levels but is not the panacea. Kind of a double-edged sword. On one hand, getting in better shape helps players from getting tired to the point where injuries become more possible. Strengthening muscles and joints is a huge help preventing joint injuries. To a point.

But the other edge of the sword is that the improvement in strength and condition also raises their competitive capacity. They are jumping higher and running faster. The hardwoods always remain the hardwoods. With the added athleticism they hit the floor harder and they collide with each other harder.

To a lesser extent it reminds me of where football has gone. When you have a 400 lb lineman running a 4.4 40 you are going to create problems. The NFL is trying to reduce injuries with more rules, and I'm sure those rules are helping. But they can't stop what is happening. Watching the game on TV does not really give you an understanding of how hard those guys are hitting. If you are watching the playoffs so far, there have been some insane hits, often to the head. Most of the time those players keep playing and just had their "bell rung." But there is no way they escape long term consequences. No way.

The game of football is being outgrown by the level of athleticism developing.

Basketball is suffering this same situation, but at least the injuries are not so often to the head.

Here is something where stats would be very helpful. I'd like to know if severe injuries are on the rise in college basketball. Does anyone out there have the numbers?

@ralster

It is pretty obvious that Shaka is facing a season of humble pie. If he is truly a decent coach he will learn from his struggles and become a stronger person and a better coach from it.

Will that become the reality?

I don't know. I actually hope he figures things out and helps Texas compete but I have my doubts.

He seems too reliant on the "momentum train"... and some of the tools he had to create momentum are gone. So what does he do now? Oh... yeah... COACH! He can start coaching!

In some ways he reminds me of Stumpy Miller, but Stumpy has a lot more going for him and a more formal background in coaching basketball. And Stumpy is setup much better for recruiting and still maintains some of his momentum (which was a huge part in getting him where he is today).

Imagine if either of these "salesman type" coaches had the background of Bill Self? He actually has the "real momentum" behind him. In some ways I wish Bill was a little bit more salesman, but then I take a view back at Shaka and Stumpy and feel totally relieved!

Shaka and Stumpy are part of my view of college basketball and help motivate me and thank the heavens every single day that we have Bill Self as our coach!

@DCHawker

Well said

You forgot to mention the occasional poster who rarely makes a peep, but when does he/she leaves many of us wanting more and asking, "why not post more often?" (hint)

But seriously... often times I feel like a ball hog... a gunner. Posting too much because I'm feeling "the uncomfortable silence."

I post a lot, though I'd rather be reading others.

There are so many knowledgeable, creative fans in here... many have never posted.

Sometimes I fear there is that one infinitely-knowledgeable fan who is keeping tabs on me and someday is going to post a book in here, footnoting all my obvious flaws and eloquently dismissing my theories. Yikes... what if it is Bill Self!

I guess that wouldn't be a bad thing; to be demoted for having a lesser basketball mind than Bill. I guess I should mostly fear it would be John Calipari!

Anybody in here follow Bill Reiter? He's a sportswriter with CBS and has a show "Reiter than you."

He has Kansas #1, WVU #4 and Baylor #5.

A while back, he wrote that he believed the Chiefs would win it all this year! Not many actually believing that...

@BeddieKU23

One of my cousins is married to a KSU grad. He is a big shot attorney and a quality guy. I don't poke him about basketball and he doesn't poke me about football. We have an unspoken truce.

He is very careful about his image and how he looks (and he should, considering his profession).... but I see the frustration in his micro-expressions. Never told him that because maybe we play poker some day...

"Anti?"

Reminds me of my college days. Does the term "anti panties" ring a bell for anyone? Remember panty raids?

But seriously... I'm not always thrilled to read the antis comments... but I'm glad they are around and often they spark positive responses. We really don't want KUBuckets to just become another "rah rah" website. And if we start filtering out those on the far end of the "antis" eventually the line will continue to move and then no one will be able to say anything even slightly negative or controversial.

We are all adults in here... (I guess).... so we have to be able to deal with differing opinions. I believe I get some therapy out of this site. The media/internet world today is all about people hanging out only with people that think the same way. That is very harmful (as we see it play out in our national politics). KUBuckets helps me. It is an exercise for me to try to keep my mind open and not just lash out at those I disagree with.

Obviously... I have a lot more therapy to go but I'm working on it!

@BeddieKU23

I have over 50 years of experience with OU fans. Starting as a child, I became an OU football fan because some of my family is OU and alumni. So I would go to at least 1 football game every year down in Norman. Had some amazing tailgating and was always totally respected and treated well. Got to know lots of OU fans and every one of them was a class act.

In comparison.... I've had nothing but bad luck in Manhattan and Columbia. I know there are decent fans with these teams, but I have seen plenty of bad fan behavior in these places.

And then there is Texas.... personally, I've never had a problem with Texas fans, but I understand them. I'm okay with their insane level of pride. I bet if I drove to a Kansas game in Austin and had a flat tire I bet Texas fans would lend a hand. If that happened to me in Columbia, I'd have to fight my way out of there and hard to say what would happen in Manhattan.

@autohawk

They sure like to make fun of Bill. And no one gets booed more than Bill when we enter the Hilton.

Just shows how little they know about basketball....

Hey... we respect good coaches, even if they compete against us and sometimes win. And we are thankful when a good coach signs on to a Big 12 team. It is good for our conference and good for us, too. But we know basketball and didn't just start following ball 5 years ago because a winning coach came to town.

These Clones are nuts. I guess they got tired of watching corn grow so they affix on Clone ball. But I'm glad to see enthusiasm grow for any teams in the Big 12. It is good for all of us. Just wish they had a bit of class and self dignity.

@wissox

Couch is a Spartan dolt and he never recovered from Jackson coming our way. He just trashed his own reputation.

Their masters...

!ku_bkc_isu_03_t960.JPG ↗

!ku_bkc_isu_04_t960.jpg ↗

for @ralster

!isufailed.jpg ↗

@jaybate-1.0

"Magnificient Seven"

Brilliant!

@Crimsonorblue22

Tyler and Perry can't dance a lick!

But pappa Bill has a motor!

@HawkChamp

Yes it is.

I look at the Big 12 a little different from most. When we sweep a team in the regular season I consider that team working for us because they can only help us by knocking off other top teams.

We are going to sweep the clones this year. They are working for us!

@dylans

I give them about two more years before the crowds start thinning out in the Hilton. I don't think they have the stomach (or the character) to support a team that doesn't do well.

Let me think.... will any of the Mayor's recruits be left after this year?

Maybe we need to continue to toy with them in Ames? Keep it close for the sake of the Big 12. But still win (of course)!

@BeddieKU23

Bravo!

"Watching those fans run for the door with just under 2 minutes left was all you needed to know about these guys. For those that stayed, you actually made it interesting but in the end it didn’t matter."

Think about that for a second.... camping for several days in the cold and then leaving two minutes before the game was over. It would suck to be them. But what it really speaks (in volumes) is that they had no faith in their own team to challenge us at the end. They had given up!

"Is there a fan-base in the Big-12 that has any class?"

Yes. One!

But seriously.... I've always respected the OU fan base.

Was I the only one that heard the idiot screaming "bull snit" 4 times after Burton was called for the phantom foul?

ESPN will have to bring a production editor next time to Ames just to bleep out the profanity.

Hey.... we WON at Ames! First time in 2 or 3 years!

I estimate that we had maybe 200 fans in attendance.

If I was one of them I would have organized a court storming!

What a scream.... a couple hundred KU fans storm the ISU court...

@mayjay

Thanks!

@ralster

Wait a sec.... I'm ready to kiss a little Clone butt here.

Pleasssssseeeeee..... ex-Ringling Brother employees.... help us out by beating everyone else at home this year! You can do it! Be our purple kitty and help us out!

Hahaheeee.....

He was in the driver's seat again tonight. It helped that we controlled the pace of the game. A bit slow pace, but it was a "safe pace" and met Bill's objective to have a grind game.

We need to turn the tide in Ames.

It isn't a good thing when they expect to beat us there, regardless of our ranking.

@chriz

Yeah.... and that wasn't fair to KU. Made us look like the bad guys. And that was after all their antics and racial attacks.

@Crimsonorblue22

I have to go now to help take care of our two sick kids. Both have a fever.... so I will play off my dvr.

By the way.... I heard Ringling Bros is stopping the circus.

Does that mean no more clones?

@JayHawkFanToo

I hate that. Last game started for me at around the 8-minute mark of the first half. So I missed almost half the game because I was stuck watching two teams I could care less about go into overtime.

Is there any way around this? Or can I usually get the recordings later showing the entire game?

@Crimsonorblue22

Are you at the game?

@truehawk93

You would think Landen will dominate this game, but it may not work out that way.

He was dogged early in the year because our tempo was too fast for him to sync with. ISU will try to keep things running fast and they will be testing him in the paint.

If ever he gets in foul trouble it could easily be this game.

If he does dominate this game I will truly be impressed!

!landenlucas.jpg ↗

It is funny how things change with time.

Landen Lucas had been thrown under the bus by many.

Now he is driving the bus.

What are we without Landen Lucas?

This man has character. Plenty of it. When the going gets tough for him, he just puts his nose to the grindstone and keeps on hustling.

Here is a man who has never had an easy path with basketball. It has always been tough. It has always been a challenge.

Landen Lucas hopes turbulent high school career leads to consistency with Kansas Jayhawks ↗

Fans really only see a glimpse into the players they follow. There is a reason why Landen is so highly respected among his teammates.

Does he have the skill set of a 5-star McDonald's All American center? No. But can he help his team every bit as much as an All American? Yes!