KU vs. Emporia St - Svi To Start



  • @drgnslayr

    P.S.: Now we just have to hope Perry doesn’t transfer down there, too, if the numbers go against him here, too. 🙂



  • Svi looked fluid out on the floor… And it’s great to see someone that young and that size look comfortable at this stage.

    However, let’s remember that the early part of the season is where Self will experiment with different lineups. He wants to see how guys respond in games vs in practice, so he needs to try this out.

    Svi will probably be a starter at some point (if not this year, then next year), but the lineup for Emporia State will not be the same lineup for Iowa State.



  • @bskeet

    Xcellent point.

    And while I have been joking around, the real reason probably has nothing to do with Oubre, but rather with Frankamp’s departure, Svi has got to get some work in, because Svi is much nearer to being needed now for his gun and dribbling than before Conner shoved off for Shockerville.



  • @KansasComet Great point on the Kentucky game; and actually, the boxscore will be a nice indicator on Self’s overall view of the minutes distribution.

    Last year vs. Duke, our top 7 minutes guys were Ellis, Selden, Wiggins, Tharpe, Embiid, Traylor, and Mason. Black started, but had early trouble and Self went with Embiid. Greene was the 5th perimeter guy, and got 8 minutes.



  • I commented before reading the article in LJW. While this doesn’t necessarily mean anything in terms of who starts when the games are real…it is one early indicator of who gets minutes…Self said it directly. Many of us, me included had assumed that Svi was the odd man out on the perimeter. Now it looks like Greene, for the moment, is the 5th perimeter guy…that guy typically hasn’t gotten many minutes. Maybe Self will have a true 9 man rotation. But it seems like the 9th guy doesn’t get a lot of minutes. Using Oubre or Selden as a 4 also throws a wrench in the works. Also…the status of guys can change during the year. But for now…Greene’s minutes appear to be in trouble.



  • @HighEliteMajor i would like to see less fouls from Jamari this game. He won’t stay in the starting lineup for long piling up fouls like he did last game.



  • The two things which stand out, for me, in this Bill Self decision: Bill is traipsing into the head of Cal, what with the KY game a week down the pike; and Bill wants to see Selden work from the 3 position. A talented brilliant youngster is being showcased and inserted as an example of how the coaching staff would like to see this year’s squad play. The midrange game has struggled since '08.



  • @REHawk Very good points. Selden at the 3 … very interesting.



  • @jaybate-1.0

    “This was like day following night.”

    Conner would have to fight for minutes at WSU, too. They like to play with more perimeter defensive pressure.

    What Conner has to realize is that the best thing for him is to be at a school where he has to fight ridiculously hard to earn minutes. That’s the only way he will be pushed enough to develop his game to another level. He has some tools in his toolbox, but he needs quite a bit more to play at the next level, even if it is making a decent living with euroball. Europe has plenty of good shooters, most are quite a bit bigger than Conner. Svi is pretty much the prototypical euro player.



  • @Hawk8086

    I think Self’s mindset is wrapped around size.

    When he talks about playing “small ball” this year, he’s talking about how he uses his bench. Does he give minutes off the bench more to guards or to post players? Does he put in Devonte or Landen?

    I hope he plays it more like Hoiberg would… focus on match-ups. We build a game plan based on our scouting who matches up best with who… and then during the game we may mix it up to test out other options (if need be). Wayne is a real jewel in this concept because he can play anywhere from point to the 4 and he knows he has to take on the role of alpha-dog.

    Brannen has size going for him. I’m not sure if he can hold his own at the 4, but he should be able to play 2 and 3. His issues are defense and whether or not he can be an alpha-dog. Gunning up bad shots doesn’t make him an alpha-dog. Fighting for position and putting up high % shots is the role of an alpha-dog.

    The Hoiberg system only works with alpha-dog players. That’s why Fred always recruits several alpha-dogs that realize their role to attack when they have mismatches.

    I would like to see us work out of the hi/lo, but I’d like to see us play it with several players in an alpha-dog mindset, which is to do more than just pump up the shot when they are wide open.

    What we have really lacked recently is having a few alpha-dogs on the team.

    I think Svi is fascinating because he can shoot well, has several developed tools, and seems to show symptoms of being an alpha-dog, maybe even more so than Wayne. Cliff should become our post alpha-dog as he learns how to use his physicality without drawing fouls.

    If developed right, we may have several alpha-dogs on this team:

    Frank, Kelly, Svi, Cliff come to mind, and others may pick up the spirit, too.



  • I think Self is trying to find a lineup that he can run with confidence. I expect we may see a lineup with Oubre, Svi and Selden all on the floor together with a PG and a post guy. That’s a lineup that needs to be explored.

    The strength of this team is our wing players - Selden, Oubre, Svi, Greene - they can all play legitimate high level minutes. The only way to really capitalize on that is to play three of them together sometimes, with either Oubre or Svi playing a semi stretch 4.

    We can also run our 2 PG lineup sometimes with a more traditional big look (Ellis and Alexander).

    The lineup I haven’t really seen yet that I think we should give a chance is a pressure lineup featuring one of the PG’s along with Svi, Greene, Oubre and Traylor. Extend the pressure full court knowing that Svi, Greene, Oubre and Traylor are all roughly the same size and could switch just about anything in the backcourt or frontcourt without throwing matchups haywire. I’m hoping Self gives that arrangement a chance.



  • Greene has been cleared to play. He practiced twice this week. I think having ball handlers in the game is predicated on what happened at Florida last year. We were overwhelmed by a dominating defense that caused Wiggins and Tharpe to panic. Svi, Devonte, Frank and Wayne will make this home game turn out differently against Billy Donovan and the Gators.



  • @justanotherfan And that’s something to watch tonight. Against Washburn, Self did not utilize a perimeter player at the 4 even once. Will be interesting to see if that’s done tonight.



  • @HighEliteMajor if we have a perimeter 4 guy, who’s your 5 guy? Last year, coach had Greene play some 4.



  • @HighEliteMajor

    That’s something I have been watching for. I firmly believe that Svi, Oubre, Selden and Greene are four of our best 8 players. We can’t not play one of them just for the sake of having the traditional lineup spots covered, especially since we aren’t as good at the 4 and 5 as we have been the last several years.



  • @justanotherfan

    I think we are solid at the 4 when you consider that Cliff is a 4. Considering that, we have Perry, Cliff and Jamari… probably the most depth at the 4 of anyone in college basketball. It is the 5 where we are hurting. It is the 5 where we traditionally have our shot blocking monster and a guy who will be as tall as any opposing 5 we will face. We don’t have that this year.

    So do we use our tallest players to shore up the 5? Or do we spread our wealth from the 4 spot into the 5? Or do we extend our height dilution and bring one of our big guards down into the 4 and then either use Perry, Cliff and Jamari at the 5 or Landen and Hunter?

    It should be an fascinating season to what Self in action. My biggest concern is foul trouble from our post.



  • @drgnslayr depends on match ups, presses, defensive schemes etc. I’d love to see a 4 guard lineup w/Mari at the 5, pressing and running the floor. I think Cliff, since he’s slimmed down, could run in short spans too. So many options!! Can’t have Perry out to long though. Hopefully these guys are getting the plays down, seems to be a holdup on playing time for some.



  • @jaybate-1.0 said:

    I suspect Oubre confused that it was okay to wear a new coiffure to Late Night with it not being okay to use hair as a branding tool once the bullets start flying.

    Maybe Self remembers that idiotic star that Sherron Collins had shaved on his head prior to getting beaten by UMass in the sprint center back in 2008. I sure remember it. And Collins went like 5 for 20 shooting that game.



  • @DanR I like Oubre’s hair, kinda like Kevin Young’s!



  • @Crimsonorblue22 No, no, no … 1000 times no. KY’s was a classic 70’s 'fro, of Artis Gilmore vintage. A work of art. A staple on ABA courts throughout the land. Bringing up memories of Dr. J with the iconic slam over a defenseless oaf, the 'fro arcing backward from the near terminal velocity. The mess on Oubre’s head is, well, not that. Oubre’s hair is perhaps a Fiero, where the classic 'fro is a Corvette. Dr. J, Artis Gilmore, and other 'fro legends demand an apology.

    Dr. J.jpg



  • @HighEliteMajor ha ha! Was not comparing styles, just their brand. The girls love oubre, and his hair. KY’s fro is awesome! Love that guy!



  • @HighEliteMajor if Lucas can emerge & answer the bell at the. 5 we can get our wish for the 4 you mentioned. Gotta protect the rim.



  • @HighEliteMajor Thanks. I agree on the boxscore aspect. As they say, actions speak louder than words!



  • @globaljaybird Is that a new pup in your avatar?



  • SWEE!!! Calling out great luck for Swee to just dominate tonight. Come on, BABY SHOES!!!



  • Capture.PNG



  • Here’s a plea for fellow posters to provide ongoing gametime info on tonight’s contest. I have been Zingered, sitting in rural West Central MO with Dish Network TV and a slow Verizon internet aircard (ergo, no ESPN3). If I am fortunate I might be able to dial onto 610 am if the signal has not been reduced as is customary for nighttime broadcasts… IMHO, Sheahon Z’s Time Warner Cable deal still absolutely stinks. If the Jayhawk AD position were an elected chair, I would campaign like a madman to demote that guy to position of assistant equipment manager for non-basketball sports.



  • @wrwlumpy

    I believe you nailed it.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Kelly O is definitely comfortable with his do. I like his individuality! And yes we girls do like him.



  • @REHawk

    Going to CJonline.com with JNew’s Blog might work. I haven’t heard, but I assume he’ll be doing it.



  • @REHawk I’m lucky to get game, I hate that KU fans can’t get it! I hope SZ loses his job over this decision! I wonder how many times he watches the rowing team? A few of us chatted during the royals game, not sure if global and brooks get the game?



  • @REHawk

    I would join you in the campaign. Like you, my provider in Olathe, Consolidated Communications refuses to get Metro Sports so I am also screwed.

    The women’s soccer team is playing in the NCAA and opens Sunday at home against MU…of all teams. So far the TV icon at kuathletics.com shows as TBA. You would think that with all the hoopla about the minor sports being on TV, this would be a done deal. If even this is not shown on TV, then Zenger needs to go…the basketball and football blackouts alone justify his firing.



  • Best laughter I’ve had in a while. Checked into xfinity pay-per-vew here in Houston just now

    $ 109.26 plus fees and taxes.

    Maybe they think there are bars full of Jayhawks down here just waiting for an exhibition game.



  • @JayhawkRock78 I’m calling on cousin Eddie in sw ks to bring SZ to us!



  • Reporting in from ESPN3 land- the game has closely resembled a Cahrlie Chaplin movie, as ESPN3 is profusely dragging.



  • I can only follow the play by play on the KU web site and from what I can tell Traylor is doing well. Other than that pretty average play

    KU is 1-9 from 3…on the other hand it is 13-14 FT. Svi is 0-4 from 3.



  • @JayHawkFanToo Graham looking good, Lucas doing well, Svi can’t hit but playing good d. Not much from Perry or Wayne. So many guys, hard to pick a good combo.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Watchin on ESPN3 down here in da bayou.



  • @JayhawkRock78 Yep global got a new pup. His name is Rascal.



  • @brooksmd what do you think?



  • I HATE ZENGER!!!



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Well I’m impressed with the ft shooting tonite. At times they play like a well oiled team, just not enough times. Loving Devonte at both ends and Svi on d. Waiting for his 3 to come around. Ellis looking much better this half. Overall I think several players had to put on new shorts after the chewing from Self at ht.



  • Looks like Ellis is finally coming alive…



  • Alexander ragtime jam!!!



  • Platooning? 4 players in…4 freshmen on the floor plus Lucas…



  • @brooksmd depth factor is huge. Better test fri, and I get to go!!



  • @JayHawkFanToo crazy huh? Glad I’m not coaching, who do you play?



  • @Crimsonorblue22 And you didn’t get me a ticket? Remember I’m retired and always available. 😉



  • @brooksmd a lot of times I go by myself. Top row though. You are a little far away.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Can’t be as bad as upper deck in the superdome.


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