KU Basketball

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  **Puke Day #1.**
  • wrwlumpy  

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  PG situation???? MHO
  • jayhawkbychoice  

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  Mason and Frankamp should have played the entire year last year. Tharpe was a mid major talent, on a top 10 team. He was in the way. Mason and Frankamp were outstanding as Freshmen. With a little more seasoning, who knows what they could have done in March and April. One team last went to the Championship game, not because they were good, but because they hung around, and one player on their team nailed clutch 3’s against WSU, Louisville, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The young man can shoot, but more importantly, he was given the green light to shoot, and guess what, he was a Freshman. Didn’t mention the school’s name because we all know it, and most don’t care for it. Anyway, my point is we had to Freshmen studs that weren’t given the opportunity to show wha they can do… You must have leaders at the point and two guard positions. Now that Tharpe has moved on, I believe we will return to our winning ways.
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  Some player nicknames...
  • jaybate 1.0  

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  Svi and Landen are my favorite names on your list-thanks for starting my day with a smile
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  It's been a long time
  • wissoxfan83  

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  @wissoxfan83 “I am so ready for this season to start, but I will sit and wait patiently, like a guy named Habakkuk who asked questions of God and then said he sat on his tower waiting patiently for Him to answer.” My pepper sauce will be done fermenting in another week. I can offer you a bowl of sauce and some chips to take your mind off basketball for a while!
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  Evaluating Perry Ellis apples to apples or something like that?
  • Statmachine  

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  I would toss in my kudos on this, too. I always like to see an improvement from Sophomore year to Junior year of 50% the improvement from Freshman to Sophomore – meaning I think that should be expected. It’s why I’m really excited about Traylor, though he does have a redshirt year to mess up that analysis. If Ellis isn’t better this season, he won’t play in the NBA. If he can’t guard a 4, I question his NBA future anyway, By the way, I’m watching Texas/UCLA football, and Gus Johnson is pure energy as an announcer. The NCAA tourney is a lesser event without that dude calling an upset or two.
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  Is there still time to be in "Dream Mode"?
  • jayhawkbychoice  

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  Oh wait, I forgot to mention… Imagine playing fast, going 10 deep on the bench, and having no one “nicked up”, in need of surgery, in walking boots, or wearing quilted pillows on their knees! And yes, I stole that from @jaybate-1.0! Ok NOW back to reality.
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  Building up Svi at the behest of my Friend Jaybate. :)
  sviatoslav • • DoubleDD  

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  @drgnslayr I wouldn’t be too keen on a rapper, however Samantha Ryan might sway me. ;<)
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  Next years stat lines using stat lines from old ESPN top 100 rankings.
  • Statmachine  

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  @jaybate-1.0 I see what you are saying but I was using this theory assuming these guys start or play the majority if the minutes for their respective positions. If any one of these guys do not start the numbers used here are not going to work. I have been thinking of averaging in the returning players points per minute from last years numbers into my formula and finding players that are the same standing height amongst other factors. When I finish I believe it should paint a pretty realistic picture of what to expect.
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  Our Secret Weapon: We've Gotta Mole!
  • drgnslayr  

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  @drgnslayr wanted to tell you I enjoyed your post here. I had never heard of the term “mole” in this context. So I learned something. I know we both have had big expectations for Mason. He won me over with his early season tenacity last season. There was clearly a lot to like in his game. I have visions of Mason taking over this season and being a three year point guard that brings solid play, leadership and stability. Self brought in Graham, which would lead me to believe that Self may not be sold. And CF played over him at the end of last season. To be sure, if he starts, he will have earned it. I like our options.
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  Some Things to Distract Yourself with Before the First Exhibition Game
  • jaybate 1.0  

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  @wissoxfan83 Maybe we should have a reunion in Lawrence one of these days…
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  Beneath the Headlinz...
  • jaybate 1.0  

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  Brannen Greene to start
  brannen greene • • Statmachine  

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  @bskeet I would say that of all recent teams, this one has more question marks as to who will get playing time. There is a lot of talent and many publication have said that KU might have the best starting 5 next season but, as far a I can tell, the only players that seem to have locked a starting position are Selden and maybe Ellis, depending on the line-up coach Self uses, all other positions are open although you would think that based on pedigree and promises made during recruiting (wink, wink) Oubre and Alexander will likely start. **Point guard: **Mason is the likely starter with Frankamp and Graham getting time depending on how much they have developed over the Summer. Shooting guard and Small forward; In the past, Coach Self has used many player at both positions and depending on the line-up he uses he might do the same this year. Selden is the likely starter at SG and Oubre at SF and then we several players that will get time at these positions including Green, who we all agree has a huge upside, even when his defense is not there (at least it was not there last year), and Svi who might get considerable playing time (at both positions) depending on how quickly he can adapt to the style of play. I believe there is also a good chance that Ellis will see a fair amount of time at the 3, since that is his most likely position at the next level. I can also see Frankamp getting time at the 2, when shooter is needed but I don’t see any of the other players (not even Svi) playing PG. Power Forward and Center: Ellis and Alexander are the likely starters, but this is based on past history and potential and we don’t know how much progress the other players have made in the off-season. and some can surprise. As I indicated, I believe Ellis will get time at the 3 and the other players vying for time are: Lucas; He had a good summer playing overseas; he has solid fundamentals and all needs is having the Wizard of Oz give him some confidence. Traylor: The dude can ball and has the best motor on the team. He can be a game changer or he can disappear at times, but his heart is always there. I will guess that has made progress over the summer and he will look like t-Rob when we see him next. He needs more consistency and he can be a game changer. Michelson: Like Lucas, he played some Summer ball but I could not infer much from his performance. He is perhaps the biggest question mark. He could develop into a superior rim defender and rebounder, a “poor’s man Jeff Withey” if you will, as his background would suggest, or he might end mostly riding the pine; I don’t quite see him as a scorer. We all know that most coaches, including Coach Self, will end up playing 8 (+/- 1) players, is here is my list of the top 8 players based on current information and not including Summer progress and the position they will likely play and by likelihood of playing time… Selden - SG Ellis - most;y PF with a fair amount at the SF Oubre - SF with some SG Alexander - PF or C depending on line-up Mason - PG Traylor - Primarily PF but might also some C with smaller lineups Green - Mostly SF Frankamp - PG or SG depending on line-up and need Borderline: Svi (SG or SF) and Graham (PG) Again, this can vary quite a bit depending on the progress players made over the Summer that we have yet to see. This is my own overview and I could end up being wildly right or wildly wrong…or somewhere in between. I guess that covers all the bases so HEM will no tell me I have it all wrong. P.S. Sorry HEM, could not resist
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  Kkentucky's Pro day(s)
  • JRyman  

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  Not by coincidence, I saw a listing yesterday of the 25 most sleazy figures in sports. Coach Cal’s name was firmly planted in that list. Obviously this is allowed by NCAA rules, but it still reeks of crossing the line between amateurism and professionalism.
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  SVAT-is-lov Ma-KILE-uk (Phoenetic) is in Lawrence.
  sviatoslav • • wrwlumpy  

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  You say Svi I say Svat You say see I say what? Svi is lov Svat is lov Svi is lov Svat is lov Let’s call him Ma-KILE-uk now
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  Proposed: KU Institute for Global Product Endorsement Research
  • jaybate 1.0  

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  Posting Up Perimeter Players: Cant or Not Cant?
  • jaybate 1.0  

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  Here’s hoping the whole team finds it’s passing gene. Not sure how others saw last year’s team, but I feel like the team didn’t have great anticipation or vision and just didn’t tend to make plays happen through passing. They relied on superior athleticism (quickness, size, strength…) and superior shooting for their offense. When I reflect on the great teams of the past 20-30 years, a big part of the success was the cunning, opportunistic kind of play… Those kinds of plays are often spirit-breakers because they exploit a mistake and just the right moment.
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  Kansas Point Guard Concerns
  • joeloveshawks  

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  @JayHawkFanToo I like your post on “all offenses are predictable.” I think this conversation came about after I mentioned us being predictable. What I was really getting at was how defenses can quickly learn how to play the simplest form of our offense… which is to take 3 guards on the perimeter, and throw it back and forth rapidly to see if the defense bounces back into position. We are looking for a passing lane and a guy to pop open. There are many variations we run through that offense. Or let me say… we CAN run through it. Where I get frustrated is when we use very little of that offense, and our guys are standing flat-footed for most or all of the shot clock. It doesn’t take a lot of great defense to guard this offense. I’d like to know how we get in those ruts? If I’m yelling at my TV during a KU game it is usually on our offensive game when guys just stand around. No matter how much these kids get taught, what really should happen is players learn to create on their own. Maybe they will use specific schemes drawn up by the coaches… but players have to be proactive and create their own opportunities. Even better… players learn to communicate with each other on the court to create as a team. What I liked about Embiid (when he was healthy) was his ability to create in the low post. Self and staff didn’t teach him those moves. A big part of all of this relates more to players playing aggressive. Many of us have been critical of Self pulling players too quickly. Sometimes the focus is too much on structure, when it should focus on creativity. When we play bad it is usually because we play too tightly in a structure, where there is no breathing room. Where guys don’t want to be the one who flubs the play, so no one steps up and we have 3 guys on the perimeter, standing flat-footed, throwing the ball back and forth while our post guys are jammed up in the post. We all know what I’m talking about. Compare our offense to ISU. Typically, in their periods of bad offense they still have guys making cuts and setting screens. Sometimes they have a sync problem but they still have movement. It really clicked on me when I was watching the show “The '84 Draft” and they were talking about Jordan breaking loose from all the structure at UNC where he could finally play his game and flourish. Granted, I don’t think we typically recruit Jordan-quality players, but there is some truth to that and the stiffness of our offense. I have a hard time recalling KU players that were really cut loose to score. I think I would probably go back to Keith Langford. I truly miss Keith Langford and what he brought to Lawrence. Had BMac stayed, he might have picked up more game to become a real threat like Langford was. Same with Wiggins. But then, Self would have had to let off on some structure. He’d have to push these guys to do some creating on their own. The NBA is mostly very predictable basketball. Offenses are run off percentages. And the guy that can best score at a rapid clip will be given the ball in his favorite spot with a clear out. It is a team game, but the isolation breaks it down to one-on-one. The game gets pretty boring without some of that play. The game can also get boring without any team offense. It usually works best to mix it up. Some of the most dynamic offense of all times came from some of those Laker teams with Magic, Kareem and cast. They did manage to create some level of unpredictability because they had so many weapons, and all those weapons liked to score on their unique spot on the floor. For the reason, it was tough for teams to defend against it… especially trying to help out with team defense.
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  50 Shades of Camouflage, Or adidas Should Start an Olivia Wilde Line of Sports Lingerie
  • jaybate 1.0  

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  @jaybate-1.0 Bravo! Your new nickname is “Fireslayr!” You are really bangin’ on all 8 cylinders today! We’ll have everyone in the world fighting to get into AFH (except, perhaps Lauda)! Perhaps the next suggestion involves getting Adidas to make their wear flame-retardant! But before then they should burn all the camo and bring in flame art! Imagine a Kansas uniform with a flame motif! Come on… we are in the Midwest for God’s sake! We are all car nuts and we love our custom flame art! I promise to buy anything with a Jayhawk and flames on it! How about some metal flake, too? I’d love to see our crimson in a candy apple red!
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  Svi's summer highlights
  sviatoslav • • Statmachine  

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  @Crimsonorblue22 No doubt… he does need to strengthen up. He could use more coaching on his game, too.
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  Josh Pollard
  • Statmachine  

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  @drgnslayr Maybe Marving Martian is still around… P.S. For the younger posters that is the green Cadillac convertible BUD used to drive. P.P.S. BUD stand for Big Ugly Dude, which was Scott.'s nickname.