Bryce Thompson & Okie St



  • Stop all the basketball analysis and let’s get back to the chat room.



  • @COHawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Seems almost all of us are pulling for Dave and Wilson to put things together. Dave has definitely had a few good minutes but certainly not very many. It has to frustrate the other players when he misses point blank shots or loses the handle. In my opinion Wilson at this time does not fit at all with the team. He seems to have little connection to the others who seem to try all they can to pick him up.

    Ya, for sure we are rooting for them to turn it around. We have seen Dave be decent, or just not bad. So, you figure he’s got it in him. I’ve said this before, but if he modeled some of his game after Mitch, with that body and size, he would be very efficient. Simple baskets. Catch the ball, go straight up with the ball and flip it in. Stop “collecting yourself” at the level of guards and use you’re size!

    As for Wilson, he’s just never seemed to fit in to me. Doesn’t pass the team player eyeball test. He seems to have two great skills IMO — rebound and run. After that it all seems forced. We need him to be better.



  • Wasn’t Dave our best free throw shooter? What the heck happened to him? He’s always been up and down in the post, maybe slightly more up, this yr, trending down. He’s had a nice lil jumper, haven’t seen much of that.



  • @rockchalkjayhawk

    Fair questions.

    The best fit for the 5 spot for this team is a hyper rebounding lob catcher that doesn’t call for any post touches. The shot profile for this team should be heavily tilted towards Agbaji/Braun/Wilson/Martin and the other perimeter players. This team isn’t built to throw the ball into the post and play with a guy with his back to the basket. It’s built to slash and shoot. So a 5 that can catch lobs off help and rebounds everything would be a perfect fit. I don’t really have a good current college comp, but Clint Capela with the Hawks is the best pro comparison. He does basically 3 things - screen, rebound and dunk. That’s the type of big KU needs here. A guy that runs the floor, screens, rebounds and dunks. If he blocks shots, that’s a bonus, but screening, rebounding and finishing are the keys.

    McCormack has a nice touch out to 15-17 feet. He is an improving shot blocker and an average rebounder. He has some post moves, though I don’t think he is a primary post scorer. He’s also an underrated passer, getting the ball out on time and on target when necessary. For a collegiate big man, that’s pretty good. That’s an all conference player if he’s at probably 325 different D1 programs. That’s a good player.

    He just isn’t an ideal fit on this team.



  • @rockchalkjayhawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @justanotherfan said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Unless Martin is a full go in practice today, I doubt he plays tomorrow.

    I think this is the beginning of seeing more 5 out lineups for KU. Lightfoot is not going to play a ton of minutes and McCormack, as I have said often, just isn’t an ideal fit with this team. I feel bad for him because he’s a good player and a hard worker. But the team around him is just not the type of team that his game matches well with.

    This KU team is just better when they go small, even though that goes against Self’s general philosophy.

    Some interesting thoughts in there…lemme ask a few follow up questions…

    1. What kind of player would be a good fit for this team, presumably at the 5 spot?

    2. Dave’s a good player? What makes you say that?

    If I’m going back in time, Landen would be a very good fit on this team. Always in the right spot, good positional defender, good rebounder, doesn’t need touches.

    Or if Senior Doke is available, you take Senior Doke



  • @justanotherfan said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    This KU team is just better when they go small, even though that goes against Self’s general philosophy.

    I respect your basketball knowledge @justanotherfan and I’m not trying to challenge your assertions, but to your point Bill needs to adapt his philosophy to today’s game. The game has changed and we have to change with it.

    I have no quantitative evidence to back it up and @BShark will most likely tell me I’m full of it, which is fine b/c he’s in the trenches and I’m not, but my opinion is that the stale Hi/Lo offense Bill insists on running has contributed to our recruiting doldrums in recent years.

    As a side note, throw KJ in the pool and let him sink or swim. What good is stashing him in the “toughening box” only to risk a needless transfer because he wants more playing time? Yes, you should earn playing time, and not just be handed the keys to the kingdom, but at some point you’ve got to let the horses develop in real game situations and see what you have. Bill’s a fantastic coach, but his stubbornness over the years is definitely an irritant.



  • Remy practiced today and is in ok health heading into tomorrow’s game



  • @FarmerJayhawk the guy was always in position, rebounded his ass off, hit his free throws. You’re right, he’d be a great fit.



  • @justanotherfan said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @rockchalkjayhawk

    Fair questions.

    The best fit for the 5 spot for this team is a hyper rebounding lob catcher that doesn’t call for any post touches. The shot profile for this team should be heavily tilted towards Agbaji/Braun/Wilson/Martin and the other perimeter players. This team isn’t built to throw the ball into the post and play with a guy with his back to the basket. It’s built to slash and shoot. So a 5 that can catch lobs off help and rebounds everything would be a perfect fit. I don’t really have a good current college comp, but Clint Capela with the Hawks is the best pro comparison. He does basically 3 things - screen, rebound and dunk. That’s the type of big KU needs here. A guy that runs the floor, screens, rebounds and dunks. If he blocks shots, that’s a bonus, but screening, rebounding and finishing are the keys.

    McCormack has a nice touch out to 15-17 feet. He is an improving shot blocker and an average rebounder. He has some post moves, though I don’t think he is a primary post scorer. He’s also an underrated passer, getting the ball out on time and on target when necessary. For a collegiate big man, that’s pretty good. That’s an all conference player if he’s at probably 325 different D1 programs. That’s a good player.

    He just isn’t an ideal fit on this team.

    nice thoughts, agree with all of em. now if we could only get Dave off his arse and above the rim!



  • @tis4tim said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @justanotherfan said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    This KU team is just better when they go small, even though that goes against Self’s general philosophy.

    I respect your basketball knowledge @justanotherfan and I’m not trying to challenge your assertions, but to your point Bill needs to adapt his philosophy to today’s game. The game has changed and we have to change with it.

    I have no quantitative evidence to back it up and @BShark will most likely tell me I’m full of it, which is fine b/c he’s in the trenches and I’m not, but my opinion is that the stale Hi/Lo offense Bill insists on running has contributed to our recruiting doldrums in recent years.

    As a side note, throw KJ in the pool and let him sink or swim. What good is stashing him in the “toughening box” only to risk a needless transfer because he wants more playing time? Yes, you should earn playing time, and not just be handed the keys to the kingdom, but at some point you’ve got to let the horses develop in real game situations and see what you have. Bill’s a fantastic coach, but his stubbornness over the years is definitely an irritant.

    Yea, it was semi painful to watch the Hi/Lo attempts last game. Especially when tossed to Dave. He just doesn’t gather and go up well. he gets mixed up with all those little guys around him.



  • @FarmerJayhawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @rockchalkjayhawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @justanotherfan said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Unless Martin is a full go in practice today, I doubt he plays tomorrow.

    I think this is the beginning of seeing more 5 out lineups for KU. Lightfoot is not going to play a ton of minutes and McCormack, as I have said often, just isn’t an ideal fit with this team. I feel bad for him because he’s a good player and a hard worker. But the team around him is just not the type of team that his game matches well with.

    This KU team is just better when they go small, even though that goes against Self’s general philosophy.

    Some interesting thoughts in there…lemme ask a few follow up questions…

    1. What kind of player would be a good fit for this team, presumably at the 5 spot?

    2. Dave’s a good player? What makes you say that?

    If I’m going back in time, Landen would be a very good fit on this team. Always in the right spot, good positional defender, good rebounder, doesn’t need touches.

    Or if Senior Doke is available, you take Senior Doke

    I’d take Senior Dok on ANY past KU team!



  • @FarmerJayhawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @rockchalkjayhawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @justanotherfan said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Unless Martin is a full go in practice today, I doubt he plays tomorrow.

    I think this is the beginning of seeing more 5 out lineups for KU. Lightfoot is not going to play a ton of minutes and McCormack, as I have said often, just isn’t an ideal fit with this team. I feel bad for him because he’s a good player and a hard worker. But the team around him is just not the type of team that his game matches well with.

    This KU team is just better when they go small, even though that goes against Self’s general philosophy.

    Some interesting thoughts in there…lemme ask a few follow up questions…

    1. What kind of player would be a good fit for this team, presumably at the 5 spot?

    2. Dave’s a good player? What makes you say that?

    If I’m going back in time, Landen would be a very good fit on this team. Always in the right spot, good positional defender, good rebounder, doesn’t need touches.

    Or if Senior Doke is available, you take Senior Doke

    You obviously always take senior Doke!

    But what about Jamari? Fast, tough, athletic…

    Too far?



  • I’ve never been a landen fan. Oregon game, I was begging everyone not to throw it in to him. My son and I went to the BB tourney at WSU, was so excited to see KU alums. 🤮 Perry had the horrible injury in the first minute, landen couldn’t get the ball over the rim. He could do all the other things, but… The worst game!



  • Just give this team a rim protector and they’re good. Throw Jeff Withey on this team and they’re automatically a massively improved defensive team.

    They don’t need any post scoring. There is plenty of fire power on the court. Just catch lobs and block shots.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Yes I remember when Dave was automatic at the line. Now he’s around 50%



  • @Kcmatt7 said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Just give this team a rim protector and they’re good. Throw Jeff Withey on this team and they’re automatically a massively improved defensive team.

    They don’t need any post scoring. There is plenty of fire power on the court. Just catch lobs and block shots.

    Agree. Guards/wings are good enough to get to a FF. The post situation will see this team out in probably the first weekend, but best case the second.



  • @BShark said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @Kcmatt7 said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Just give this team a rim protector and they’re good. Throw Jeff Withey on this team and they’re automatically a massively improved defensive team.

    They don’t need any post scoring. There is plenty of fire power on the court. Just catch lobs and block shots.

    Agree. Guards/wings are good enough to get to a FF. The post situation will see this team out in probably the first weekend, but best case the second.

    Sucks that the WHOLE team has to be good in order to win. Seems like a tall order.



  • Dave is the slow cog in a team that needs to play faster. If we ever get to that tempo, most of the time Dave will get stuck around half court not knowing which goal to go towards because the ball will move like a ping pong ball.

    Jalen is clearly our best rebounder on this team. Every game now, he becomes more important because we are largely winning games because we make it a possession battle.

    KJ… I see the potential but he is still so raw. I see using him enough so he can mold into a 10-mpg guy.

    Here is an odd thought that will bound to get me flamed in here… pull off Cam’s redshirt. If he can run the floor up with some speed, he gives us a threat from trey line and leave him out there to set ball screens and shoot treys. It forces the defensive big out away from the basket and will allow all our other weapons to drive to the rim with ease.

    Okay… I just slapped myself and am awake now. Back to the reality that this is a Bill Self team and that means eventually working back to some hi/lo. Dave is being toughened for down the stretch, when he will be needed most. I just don’t see how we get up to real running speed with him on the floor.

    @justanotherfan nailed it with his comment that this just is not a team built for a back to the basket 5. All it does is clog the post and limits the other 4 players from driving to the rim. We need the lane area cleared out for other things… drives to the rim, backdoor lobs, mismatch posts sometimes.

    Gosh… it sure feels like we are desperate because we just came off a big loss. Are we all projecting off a premonition in Stillwater?



  • @BShark said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @Kcmatt7 said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Just give this team a rim protector and they’re good. Throw Jeff Withey on this team and they’re automatically a massively improved defensive team.

    They don’t need any post scoring. There is plenty of fire power on the court. Just catch lobs and block shots.

    Agree. Guards/wings are good enough to get to a FF. The post situation will see this team out in probably the first weekend, but best case the second.

    It is a damn shame that the transfer market was what it was, and all we got was a 6’8 D2 C who may never play a game in a KU uniform out of it.



  • @drgnslayr Crazy that this teams worst games are comfortable wins over lowly opponents and a last second miracle buzzer beater loss. But yeah I do think we are all seeing the writing on the wall for when the competition picks up and the games start to matter.



  • I have to question coach Self’s obsession with feeding the post when Big Mac has such weak hands and can’t jump over a wet noodle. Net result has been a shitload of turnovers. I am hoping that Mitch can perform better if Self continues with t his strategy. With our perimeter players a pass to the post and a quick outlet pass for an open three might be more effective. Need something to open up the lane cause we have some guys that can drive to the hoop if there are not 5 defensive guys parked in the lane. Any opinions?



  • @benshawks08

    We all see the looming doom against a team like Baylor… maybe Texas… and who knows… ISU? Without question… the team with the highest potential moving forward is Baylor. Not even close!

    We all expect this team to hit another gear, but it hasn’t happened yet, and now I think we all question if it will happen or not.

    What is keeping this team from hitting another gear?

    Is it Dave? Jalen? Remy? Everyone? Self?



  • @drgnslayr said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @benshawks08

    We all see the looming doom against a team like Baylor… maybe Texas… and who knows… ISU? Without question… the team with the highest potential moving forward is Baylor. Not even close!

    We all expect this team to hit another gear, but it hasn’t happened yet, and now I think we all question if it will happen or not.

    What is keeping this team from hitting another gear?

    Is it Dave? Jalen? Remy? Everyone? Self?

    It’s because this is the worst the post situation has ever been under Self at KU.



  • @drgnslayr said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @benshawks08

    We all see the looming doom against a team like Baylor… maybe Texas… and who knows… ISU? Without question… the team with the highest potential moving forward is Baylor. Not even close!

    We all expect this team to hit another gear, but it hasn’t happened yet, and now I think we all question if it will happen or not.

    What is keeping this team from hitting another gear?

    Is it Dave? Jalen? Remy? Everyone? Self?

    Self thinks it the 5 spot. Assuming we get Remy back and he continues to play at his previous level or even improve I’d say self is right. Meaning the season comes down to Dave, jalen, and Mitch.

    An argument could be made that some of the lackluster team performance is a result of Och coming back to earth a bit then Braun following suit. Still think KU is tough to beat no matter who is at the 5 when those two are clicking.



  • @drgnslayr said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @benshawks08

    We all see the looming doom against a team like Baylor… maybe Texas… and who knows… ISU? Without question… the team with the highest potential moving forward is Baylor. Not even close!

    We all expect this team to hit another gear, but it hasn’t happened yet, and now I think we all question if it will happen or not.

    What is keeping this team from hitting another gear?

    Is it Dave? Jalen? Remy? Everyone? Self?

    I genuinely think if Jalen wasn’t just a shell of himself that Bill would be going 5 guards 20+ mpg and running teams out of the gym with the best offense in the country. Jalen being back to .333+ from deep and not a total headcase changes the dynamic a lot.



  • @Kcmatt7 said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @drgnslayr said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @benshawks08

    We all see the looming doom against a team like Baylor… maybe Texas… and who knows… ISU? Without question… the team with the highest potential moving forward is Baylor. Not even close!

    We all expect this team to hit another gear, but it hasn’t happened yet, and now I think we all question if it will happen or not.

    What is keeping this team from hitting another gear?

    Is it Dave? Jalen? Remy? Everyone? Self?

    I genuinely think if Jalen wasn’t just a shell of himself that Bill would be going 5 guards 20+ mpg and running teams out of the gym with the best offense in the country. Jalen being back to .333+ from deep and not a total headcase changes the dynamic a lot.

    Saw he’s something like 2-22 at 9% and worst in the country from three among players with at least 20 attempts.



  • @benshawks08 We have clearly been better without him on the floor so far this season. Hopefully JCL’s performance this last game gets him some more PT over Jalen.



  • I always loved it when Bob Davis would announce our opponent as “Okie State.” We really had a great announcer in Mr. Davis.



  • @drgnslayr said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    @benshawks08

    We all see the looming doom against a team like Baylor… maybe Texas… and who knows… ISU? Without question… the team with the highest potential moving forward is Baylor. Not even close!

    We all expect this team to hit another gear, but it hasn’t happened yet, and now I think we all question if it will happen or not.

    What is keeping this team from hitting another gear?

    Is it Dave? Jalen? Remy? Everyone? Self?

    I think you hit it on the head it’s all three a Little Dave - -a little Jalen - -& a little Remy - -I DO NOT think it is Coach. However I said a couple days back that if we have to start Mitch at the 5 we are in trouble - -and what are we doing? - -we are starting Mitch at the 5. I like Mitch- -he is a scrapper he bleeds crimson BUT he IS NOT the Answer - I’m not sure what the answeer is - - BUT this is not it



  • @mayjay I’m negative now, went back to work, cross country skied yesterday and today about 7 miles so I’m doing pretty good.



  • Joel Embiid has a double-double at halftime. Doesn’t he have some eligibility left?



  • I sense the possibility that we don’t win the Big 12 again this year… maybe 2nd or 3rd… but we have the possibility of being a late blooming team and then go for a long March run. I can easily see this scenario play out!

    This is a team that could eventually find itself… get in a rhythm… and go on a long winning streak!

    Yes… this could happen! Or no… it doesn’t!



  • @drgnslayr the big 12 will all depend on how we do on the road. I think with fans back the phog keeps us in the hunt. Baylor certainly playing with the target on their backs this year though coach beard still thinks the road to the championship still goes through Lawrence, Ks.

    If Braun and Och can have a March as good as their December we can definitely go on a run.

    Also still feel like there will be a month or so where Remy averages 20 a night. Who knows when he will pop off but I believe it will happen if his knee truly doesn’t have lingering issues.



  • @rockchalkjayhawk said in Bryce Thompson & Okie St:

    Some interesting thoughts in there…lemme ask a few follow up questions…

    1. What kind of player would be a good fit for this team, presumably at the 5 spot?

    Good question. I was thinking a Kevin Young type would be the perfect fit.



  • ESPN only has KU favored by 6.5. All signals point to getting Remy back.



  • @drgnslayr I’ve thought the same, start playing Cam. Having given his situation more thought I now tend to agree with many here, that he’s probably not going to get alot of playing time next year. If that be the case, then why even bother redshirt him?



  • Very interesting analysis. The Athletic is well worth the subsciption. Only sports site with great reporting across lots of sports.

    Nice notes about Adams in here, too.

    https://theathletic.com/3049595/2022/01/04/whats-behind-kansas-benching-david-mccormack-in-favor-of-mitch-lightfoot/



  • @stoptheflop

    Stillwater is always a trap game except it really isn’t a surprise when we lose down there, regardless of the quality of our team.

    These are weird times… I’m hopeful we pull this one out, if we can control possessions. Our guys are going to have to hold on to the ball and also rebound well. If we win the possession battle we should win. Hopefully, we can create some steals and get runouts from them. It is all about how aggressive and smart we play. Composure.



  • Stillwater is the most important conference game we have all year!

    I’m going to say that before every game because this team could slip up easily. Our margin for victories is slim.


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