🏀 KuBuckets Archive

No complaints about the draw. They'll need to play well in all three games to advance...like the World Cup should be. Drawing a potential Group A 2nd round match isn't a bad potential gig either. Can't wait for November!

@approxinfinity It for sure wasn't pretty, but it'll be fun to watch them in the World Cup again. It would be REALLY fun to see what this team could do if all fully healthy at the same time...and then could be even more so four years from now when the best players are in their prime

Solid W. I have to admit that I wasn't so happy to see Arriola, Ferreira or Moore in the starting XI, but they all played well. Unless they wet the bed in epic proportions, it will be great to be back in the World Cup.

Start of three game set tonight. I would have felt nerves regardless, but minus McKennie, Dest and Aaronson makes it an even taller task. Really hoping it doesn't come down to needing points in Costa Rica on Wednesday.

@justanotherfan This is the Packers situation except Hill wasn't a free agent and Davante was. Now is where Mahomes/Rodgers need to earn their money by bringing less talented WR's up a few levels instead of relying on a stud WR...although you could make the argument that in Kelce KC still has theirs.

I guess they were right. There will be a lot of fans from Iowa in Chicago this Friday

I don't like Memphis...at all...and they got a tough whistle in that second half

Playing San Diego St is basically wrestling camouflaged as basketball. So...pretty much like playing half of the Big 12

@Texas-Hawk-10 I thought the same thing about Braun during the game yesterday. We love him and he's become a far better college player than I thought he would be. That said, I don't see where he fits as a pro and don't see the first round happening. He's disappeared too much and guys like him that are his size need to be able to shoot jump shots and not set shots.

More loosely connected thoughts:

Gard doesn't do handshake lines like Self. Self does a one hand shake for pretty much everyone when they go thru the line. Gard does the right hand shake with the left hand on the person's shaking elbow or pat on the shoulder. He does it EVERY GAME. This is not new. He was simply doing what he does when Howard says an inflammatory statement and ignites the whole thing. So yes...he did touch Howard's arm...just look at every other time he goes thru the line. If Gard gets suspended a game for stopping Howard in the line to have an adult conversation (think about that for a second)...then what does Howard get for STRIKING AN OPPOSING TEAM'S COACH? Seriously...if Gard gets a game like Jay Bilas, Seth Davis, Jay Williams and others say he should...what does Howard get? 10? 20? Fired?

Once the chaos starts and both teams are getting up in each other's faces...is there time/capacity for a coach on either team to walk into the situation and evaluate who they should touch and who they shouldn't? "Oh...you're an opposing team player coming after one of my players...I'll just trust that the other team's coaches are going to handle this one and just touch people wearing the same color shirt as me." "You're wearing a blue shirt so I can't touch you". Please. Both sets of coaches (hopefully) are trying to clear players away from each other. Who knows what came out of who's mouth (other than what clearly came out of Howard's directed at Gard) during the scrum, but Michigan people put their hands on Wisconsin people too. There are reports of a different Wisconsin assistant (Sharif Chambliss...not the one who got punched) ending up on the ground in the middle of it. Hopefully no Wisconsin players or staff touched any Michigan people when trying to take care of him otherwise they might get suspended too.

Gard does have a history of violent touch against Howard where he might feel threatened so that needs to be taken into consideration:
🐦 View Tweet?s=12

Howard swore at the head coach....the head coach tried to explain himself...Howard got upset and started yelling...they got separated...a crowd gathered and words were exchanged...Howard was away from the fracas and then re-inserted himself and slapped a Wisconsin assistant coach.

Wisconsin was ahead by 15 with 25 seconds left with all of their walk-ons in the game...and Michigan was in a full-court press. It left Wisconsin in a bad position so their coach called timeout. Howard got mad...told his team to then foul when the ball was inbounded...tried to avoid Greg Gard in the handshake line...told him "I'll remember that sh**" and it went from there. It's pretty simple...if Juwan wanted the game to just be over...he shouldn't have been pressing full court against walk-ons. If he's coaching his team to play 40 minutes, he's gotta let Greg Gard do the same.

Then just be an adult instead of a 14-year-old boy who wants to prove how tough he is. I like that Howard said that Gard 'put his hands on him' (a two-handed handshake like so many that happen all the time) and that he felt the need to defend himself...all 6'10'' 250 of him...against the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Spare me.

@Kcmatt7 The frustrating part as a GB fan is that the time to go 'all in' was two years ago after their first NFC championship game appearance. Instead they drafted a QB of the future in the 1st...a 3rd string RB in the 2nd...a 3rd string TE in the 3rd...and traded their 4th to move up to take that QB of the future...RIGHT AFTER THEY WERE IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. It was such organizational arrogance and it's why GB is in the position they're in now. Watching Brady torch the GB secondary last year and then have their offense do literally nothing this year makes me wonder what could've been if they'd invested in the now during that draft instead of the future.

I could argue all kinds of sides about Rodgers being regular season awesome and post-season meh...or how Rodgers is a diva...or how the organization did or didn't handle things well with Rodgers. The reality is that they've had the last two years to go 'all-in' and while they've had really good season...sometimes winning in the playoffs just comes down to a few plays and there's just no way that their decisions from a few years back didn't play a part in those losses.

(Side note...I do know that AJ Dillon will help and did help them this year...doesn't change the overall thought here)

Grew up in Wisconsin and a big Packer fan. I now live in Colorado and listen to sports talk radio here. It is uncanny how much the talk here sounds like a deal is already done to get Rodgers. Denver has been so starved for a QB post-Manning and it almost screams of desperation how much assuming is going on here. The talk is their first & second round picks both this year and next plus a player for Rodgers and the talking heads here have already aligned with that going forward.

As a Packer fan, I'm on the fence. Rodgers has clearly underachieved in the postseason (not all his fault, but for sure some is), but their team is still a contender. That said, the iron will never be hotter and they'll likely not get as much in return if they wait. GB is gonna have to be like everyone else eventually in their search for a QB (not looking good with Jordan Love) so the possibility of having a lot of draft capital to either find a QB or build around another is intriguing.

I'm curious what Chiefs fans would want...for the Broncos to mortgage their future to get 2-3 years out of Rodgers or to go in a different direction?

I can't believe that he only got one game...or that there wasn't any sort of scrum afterwards. That was so dirty

Zardes was clearly a poor choice and provided nothing (including a non-effort on the first goal), but this was an overall fail...made all the more possible by going behind so early and having to chase the game. Canada settled back and let the US possess the ball (thus the stats Gregg bragged about) and then clogged the box. I don't think it's the wrong players (Zardes aside), but a shake-up in tactics that would help.

Not the best performance for sure. Ferreira was an interesting choice up front. I wondered if that was to save Pepi for Canada. As KU fans, we can also acknowledge that the key to lasting success sometimes is winning when you don't play your best so the three points is all we probably ought to consider for now. If it bleeds into the Canada game, we'll be writing something else here on Monday morning.

@mayjay Man...then I guess it's gonna be hard for me to unload my Jeff George and Vinny Testaverde jerseys. Make me an offer?

@mayjay How does a lack of playoff success affect what people think about Barry Sanders? Or Champ Bailey? Tony Gonzalez? Randy Moss? Calvin Johnson? Junior Seau? Bruce Smith? The reality is that if you're not a QB, no one puts wins and losses into that discussion. I'm not naive in thinking the QB plays a role that is different, but it's not the only position that produces excellence in leadership.

That was quite a game. Hard to believe that all actually happened. The results of the weekend did bring to mind something that's a rub for me...

The QB position is oftentimes judged by wins and losses...especially in the playoffs. We all saw with our own eyes how the quarterbacks played in the games this weekend. And we would probably also say that Josh Allen's playoff record getting an L is about as fair as Jimmy G's getting a W. The fact that a team win will be credited to one QB whose offense scored 6 points and a team loss will be credited to another that did what Allen did is why that statistic's weight in discussion of great QBs is just absolute trash. It won't ultimately cause any of us to question who might be the better player between Allen/JimmyG, but that specific stat being used to justify one great QB being better than another great QB is just so silly to me.

@BeddieKU23 @Jethro
Apparently Penny didn't REALLY want all the smoke
https://www.fox13memphis.com/top-stories/-we-want-all-the-smoke-penny-hardaway-embracing-expectations-after-landing-top-recruiting-class/951247310/ ↗

Musah/McKennie/Adams in the midfield for the next 5-6 years? I'll take that any day. Pulisic/Aaronsen/Reyna/Weah as options on the wing? I'll take that too.

It's so fun to beat Mexico

Michigan St is usually pretty talented, but they are always hard-nosed. I think the defensive glass will be Priority #1 tomorrow night as they hang their hat on out-toughing teams and that starts with rebounding.

I struggle to like MSU. Izzo expects the stripes to let them play as aggressively and hands-y as they want on defense, but then wants them to call everything when they have the ball.

Seems like Harris and CB are Self guys...although they probably can't both start with Remy/Och/Jalen/McCormick perceived locks. I'll say CB as the 5th and Self calling Harris his "6th starter"

Outside of the first minute, that was as enjoyable of a half of soccer that I've seen the USMNT play in years in that first half. Moved the ball well. Attacked on both sides. Created plenty of chances. The right side with McKennie/Musah/Dest was so good and so dynamic. Bogged down a bit in the second half, but it felt exciting to watch them push forward more. Some of that was going a goal down and some of it was the opponent, but it at least showed that they're capable of it.

Dest is such a talent going forward. His goal was awesome. He's also why they gave away the goal as he let his guy behind him. He fits their team as a right back, but there are going to be 3-4 times/game when he gives the opponent a great chance to score. Last night it bit them.

Overall a good win I think. Hopefully they'll have Reyna and Pulisic back next month when they get Mexico.

I have a lot of thoughts...

--Berhalter did a lot of talking about not looking ahead and treating every game on its own. Then he switched out 7 starters hoping to get a draw to set them up (in theory) for Costa Rica. Made no sense.

--Pepi is hot as a pistol and he sits...for Zardes? Zardes scored at least...except it was for the wrong team. Adams sits...for Acosta...who then takes every free kick? Aaronson sits. All of those are questionable on their own...never mind that they're already playing without Pulisic, Reyna, McKennie because of injury. Just unforgivable.

--I can't see it with Bello, Acosta, Zardes, Arriola or Lletget. IMO none of them should even be on the team much less playing in a game like this. They had so many other options both on the squad (De la Torre, Richards, Hoppe, Busio) and left off this set that are so much better.

--Lletget seems incapable of ever playing the ball forward. There were countless times when he had openings forward only to pass the ball back to the center backs. Musah didn't play great tonight, but he at least tries to push the ball forward. His reward for pushing forward was to be replaced by Roldan (really?). Sadly Lletget is just a Berhalter guy and outside of him getting hurt or stealing Gregg's wife, there's little he can do to be taken off of the squad.

--It's a missed opportunity that will be largely forgotten if they get 3 points against Costa Rica on Wednesday.

Not sure that Gregg is the guy, but don't think he's going anywhere sadly. I'd still love to see this team with Pulisic, Reyna, McKennie, Pepi, Aaronson and Adams as their front six. So much potential there. Not much with all of the MLS guys Gregg keeps calling up. We'll see

@approxinfinity First off...thanks for the heads up on the American Fiasco podcast. Listened to it in one sitting at work. Fascinating.

I agree on Dest. He is obviously skilled with the ball, but he turns it over a ton and he's a defender who doesn't defend. I'm not the most nuanced soccer fan, but I just don't see it with him. He starts for Barca so what do I know? He and Robinson bring great skill/speed coming forward, but Robinson at least tries on D which seems like a bit more than Dest.

Good showing last night. The opponent helped, but it was good to see a solid win. Pepi won't score every game, but he seems to find himself in a position to score pretty often...more than we can say for Sargent, Pefok, et al. Musah brings another element to the team as well. Love the midfield of Musah/Adams/McKennie. The back 4 still are shaky, but I liked the performance.

They have to do work before their last set of 3 games with Mexico and Costa Rica on the road during that set.

I'm looking forward to what Musah will bring to the table...especially if they play him with Adams and McKennie up the middle. They still haven't played a game with Pulisic/Reyna/McKennie/Adams/Musah all on the field. Talent is there.

@approxinfinity if you start a USMNT thread, I would participate. They need more than 5 points in this set of matches

Rothstein also tweeted about guys playing 94 feet of defense. I've always wanted to see KU press so hopefully that'll come to fruition. Seems like they have the athletes and depth to do it

I grew up in Madison and claim (along with @wissox) the Badgers as my second team. There are a couple things here...

--Every program has meetings like these. The fact that Gard met with them and listened for well over an hour without responding is some evidence that he's not ruling with an entirely iron fist.

--The tape was significantly edited to make Gard look bad. The meeting was over two hours long with dialog going back and forth, but the only parts that were leaked (37 minutes worth) were the parts where the players aired their grievances.

--The meeting ended with Gard taking full responsibility and no dry eyes in the room according to one of the seniors that was in the room.

--There is some smoke that it was an assistant coach that wasn't retained that could be who leaked it. It's all the more hairy with that as that coach is the all-time leading scorer at Wisconsin (Alando Tucker). Imagine Danny Manning doing this and you have an idea.

--There have been rumblings for a few years that Gard isn't the easiest guy to play for. Some former players have rallied behind him, but all of them had Gard as an assistant coach and not the head guy. We all know that oftentimes assistant coaches are more of the friend while the head coach is the authority. There are also rumors about past assistants leaving because of his leadership style and some former players that potentially steered recruits elsewhere because of the style Gard demands that they play. Lots of hearsay, but smoke nonetheless.

--Last season was a really frustrating one for the team and its fans. They were preseason top 5 after winning the B1G the year before and returning everyone...including 7 seniors and all 5 starters. They REALLY underachieved and there were a few individual players who took massive steps back in their development. That's alarming at Wisconsin as they are largely a developmental program rather than a 5* recruit chaser. I don't think that frustrations were real only at Wisconsin last season, but this does give a little more insight into the players mindset in all of it.

None of this is helpful for the program, the coaches involved or the players involved. The reality now is that the validity of the program is in question...the head coach's care for his players is in question...a beloved Badger legend is under suspicion for throwing this bomb calling his care for the program into question...the players who left are now all likely seen in a unique light and many are calling them 'soft'...and while no one has jumped into the transfer portal 'yet' (hopeful that won't happen)...having the dirty laundry out there like this is just not the dream.

I was sitting in the front row of the student section for the '97 Mizzou game when Raef came flying right at us for that huge dunk. I was there from 94-98 when they were 58-0 at home. Such great memories. Wish I had known sooner that those games were on TV. I could've pointed myself out in the stands to my kids

Baylor--Nike
Arkansas--Nike
Houston--Nike
Oregon St--Nike
Gonzaga--Nike
USC--Nike
Michigan--Nike
UCLA--Nike

Interesting

His aggressiveness on the glass is a good indicator for him. This last stretch has been great with how he's scored, but I've loved how much he has helped to rebound.

Perspective is all based on expectations. I remember paying $12 to go see Shrek in the theater...thought 'What did I just do?'...and then laughed hard for 90 minutes and thought it was awesome. I also remember paying $12 to see Men in Black...certain it would be awesome...and then it was just okay and thought is was just okay.

For me...expectations versus reality looks like this for KU:

GUYS WHO'VE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS:
Wilson (at least until recently) has been far better than we all thought he'd be.

GUYS WHO'VE MET EXPECTATIONS:
Garrett (solid but unspectacular...been said many times that he's being played out of position)
Agbaji (expected to be 1 or 2 in scoring and is...expected mostly good shooting nights and has...expected him to disappear at times and has)
Lightfoot (is who he is...although some who thought he'd be 3-ball Mitch might think he belongs below)
Braun (in spots has been good and others a total no-show...need more from him)
Harris (didn't know a lot other than he was a good defender and true PG...has proven that to be true...still can't shoot)
Jossell/Jankovich/Teahan/Gethro (because we all expected nothing and have gotten nothing)

GUYS WHO HAVEN'T MET EXPECTATIONS:
TGF (He's killed us. If he was half of what Self said he'd be...this would be a far different team)
Thompson (Even when healthy he was billed as a great offensive player and that hasn't happened. Some on this site warned us here)
McCormack (It's all been said. He's just a guy...which isn't good for the perceived #1 option at Kansas)
Enaruna (maybe this is unfair...thought he'd make more of a jump)

So four rotation players (including 3 potential starters) have all under-performed and not met what I expected. It's no wonder then that the team hasn't either.

I split YouTubeTV with my in-laws (who live in town and only use one of the three available devices...leaving two for us) and pay for ESPN+. Works out to be about $470/yr so just south of $40/month. That works for now

I have to admit that I assumed this was a clip of Jamari's dunk at Texas...which was AWESOME

I'm trying to remember...KU offered didn't they?

@Kcmatt7...first off...congratulations. Second...I'm so sorry that you guys even need to think about this. A brutal situation to be in.

To answer your question directly...I'd go and be okay. I imagine that you'll have a lot of masks if you have it then and we aren't in the clear. Late July is also a time when it actually could be feasible as COVID might be gone/down because of weather.

I'm actually supposed to officiate three weddings this summer and all three are asking the same questions. As I've processed with them, it is clear that this isn't the dream so I just feel sad for you guys. At the end of the day...if it's all the same to you...I'd agree to whatever my wife-to-be wanted.

Heard that CBS is just going to show their normal daytime lineup and then re-runs of their evening shows when the basketball games would've been on. Seems like they could throw the public a bone and make a buck at the same time by offering up a replay of some of the best games in NCAA tournament history during those times. They already own all of the rights. With so many sports and basketball-starved fans quarantined in their homes this week it would be a pretty cool deal. I'd love to watch the Magic/Bird final...the Texas Western game...Danny and Miracles...those channels would get so many more people to tune-in than showing re-runs of Blue Bloods or whatever is on TruTV.

I will never grow weary of seeing that Jacque Vaughn spin move thru the lane against UCLA. I was in the front row and he came right at me. That was the loudest I ever heard the Fieldhouse. What was your loudest moment in AF?

Garrett's 3 from the corner last night was the biggest shot of the game too. Doolittle hit a 3 to get it down to 4 and then Garrett's shot started a 15-2 or so run that put it away.

Didn't read thru all of the posts so might have already been mentioned but...

I just felt all warm inside when the score was 40-12

I appreciate the intel I can find here from the little birdies our friends at Buckets know...so thanks to all of you who contribute to that. I only know one birdie...one of my best friends who happens to be the head coach of the only other school that offered Jossell...Dallas Baptist. Here are a few of his paraphrased thoughts:

--Athletic kid. Great teammate. Works super hard. Tries on D. Decent shooter if he gets his feet set.

--Recruiting service had him #73...in Texas...not the nation. This morning that jumped to #26...in Texas.

--Thinks he's too small and not strong enough to defend at KU's level.

--5'11'' shooting guard who isn't Jeff Boschee or Phil Forte and isn't much of a playmaker for others.

--Thinks they potentially took him to both get Jethro and to help get Harrison Ingram

--A bunch of low majors came to look and didn't offer. His HS coach was thrilled that DBU offered...THRILLED.

--Was the backup PG on his AAU team behind a guy who went to Indiana St

--Only got a 3* rating after KU offered and didn't have any star rating or national profile on Rivals until then

--Said Frank Mason is not a comparison..."Toughness and grit are miles apart"

--My friend is totally baffled by this. Not one other offer besides a local D2 school...and Kansas. He's not sure why.

--To be clear...my friend LOVES the kid. He's thrilled for him personally. He also thought he'd be a great D2 point guard.

I just asked him his honest thoughts and he shared them. Not one ounce of negative in his voice so don't take the above as anything other than his fair evaluation. For sure not crapping on him or sour over losing him.

I'm just the messenger here. I've laughed with my friend...HARD...about all of how this has played out. Never in a million years did he think he'd be recruiting against Kansas for anybody. He's also a KU guy. His dad coached at KU with Ted Owens. He was a student manager the years we were there together (94-98) under Roy. Loves Kansas and wishes the best for Jossell. Just wishes (as a coach) that he could coach him and have him there.

For what it's worth...one of my best friends from college (who is a fellow KU grad) is the head coach at the D-2 school that is the other listed offer (Dallas Baptist). He loves Jossell's game, but said he isn't the kind of recruit that would get fans excited. That said, he couldn't believe that Jossell didn't have at least mid-major D-1 offers. Apparently there might be an AAU teammate of his that KU is after too.

My buddy thought he was in pretty good shape to get him and then KU spent a whole day with him in Dallas. He thought it was just a casual visit and then he saw the same tweet we all did announcing KU's offer. We were texting today and he's hoping Jossell will go the hat route and have the KU and DBU hats on the table and then to have the press release say 'Jossell chose Kansas over Dallas Baptist'.

I think we're all missing the larger positive here. The moral fiber of today's high level D-1 basketball player has never been higher. Here we have Kansas offering them bags of cash as well as homes/jobs for their parents and yet instead they're taking the high ground and choosing to go to Duke/Kentucky/Memphis for free. The future is truly bright.

I have two friends that are Iowa fans. Asked them about Moss and their two responses were:

"Let's just say I'm not sad that he's moving on."

and

"If he's KU's best option as an add then they're in trouble."

Neither of my buddies are the bitter-type either. Not exactly a ringing endorsement if that's all KU can add at this point grad transfer-wise.

Cassius Winston stays at MSU. They'll probably be a deserving preseason #1

Took two L's vs Ole Miss...I wonder if they have the secret sauce. Anyone know Kermit Davis personally?