Maybe #1
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Doesn’t really matter in January but pretty remarkable how good this team is coming off a title and losing almost all the key pieces. This is not normal, Self is the best.
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This rebuild year is more of a reload year. The passing is exquisite- the shooting is remarkable. KJ has become my hero. Load the wagons again!
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Winners of 25 of their last 26 games dating back to the title run. Insanity
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Enjoy the ride.
Personally, I would like this team to peak in mid to late Feb timeline.
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Hard to imagine this… but is it possible that the NCAA investigation debacle has actually been good for us?
It’s been going on for years and I doubt it (by itself) has been helpful for recruiting (probably hurting).
And Self has come under attack. If you read sports blogs and comments, when they aren’t from Jayhawks they often call Self a cheater or whatever.
Maybe… just maybe… this has all helped Self’s personal chip! Am I the only one that thinks Self is probably working harder now than he ever has? Maybe our guys are just more coachable than guys from past teams… all I know is it’s January and we are still in the conference play infancy and it sure seems like our guys are all bought in! I recall so many years with a team full of veteran players that weren’t this bought in.
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@drgnslayr I think a ton of credit has to go to this starting five. Dejuan and Jalen have taken up the ochai and Christian leadership roles extremely well. Gradey and Kevin have bought in an figured it out faster than any newcomers I can think of. We all thought Kevin would be a good fit but he has truly been a great fit. Feels like he’s always been a jayhawk. Gradey offers so much more than I think any freshman we’ve had under self. He’s the best shooter on the floor every game. He demands all of the defenses attention. When he can’t get free he still works hard to move the ball, rebound, and play defense. His one on one d leaves something to work on and he gets lost once or twice a game but he also gets his hands on balls and jumps in passing lanes every now and then as well. KJ just continues to grow without losing any of those humble qualities that brought him to this level of playing time to begin with.
There are certainly players on this team who are not bought in. Or even if they are “bought in” still don’t quite get it. You don’t have McDonald’s all Americans not just bench warmers but not even sniffing the floor in double digit wins when there’s foul trouble if EVERYONE is bought in.
But like you said, still plenty of room to grow.
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@AsadZ yep should ideally be peaking in the Big 12 tournament/going into the Big Dance.
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KJ spraying in those free throw jumpers has been an excellent addition and makes us even harder to guard. I like it a lot
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The shot doctor is nothing short of a miracle worker sometimes. Look at Dajuan out there lately as well.
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One of the things that stands out to me with this KU team is shooting. Before the season started I thought 3pt shooting would be a weakness, but we are shooting 38.2% from 3 as a team, which ranks 22nd out of 363 D1 teams. We are 47.8% from the field (24/363), and we are ranked 27th in effective field goal percentage.
Hopefully we can keep shooting the ball well.
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How often does a program win a natty, lose most of their core players, and is in position to be the #1 team by January? In a year most bluebloods are down? We are living in the golden era of KU basketball.
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I definitely praise our guys… doesn’t Self deserve any credit?
There is a great write-up on KUSports.com about KU deserving #1 and without a dominate big.
I think KJ has had some help figuring out how to exploit his speed/power on bigger bigs.
Not sure how much of our bench is bought in… their biggest issue is not getting enough PT to mesh with others out there. I think Bobby has bought in. He’s a scraper!
Also thinking Joe is getting closer to meshing with the others. Starting to relax with his shot and not force up bad shots.
None of these guys give off bad juju… I don’t think we have a BGreene (or many other past players I can name) that were fighting the system.
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I’m not an expert, but I think Self and staff have incorporated new schemes and actions that require the passing and this new stuff is partly why they are confounding some opponents. It looks like there are some NBA sets… They spread the floor out which pulls the defense. If they don’t come out, you hit a few threes and then see what happens. Anyway, when the floor is spread, it leads to skip passes that pull the defense and lots of cutting opportunities.
Really, you can only do this if you have the right kind of players – quickness (everyone) and no fewer than 3 (4 is better) reliable three-point threats (Dick, Wilson, Harris, McCullar). You don’t have to have size inside, but you have to have athleticism and skill (KJ)
The Big 12 teams have had enough time and film to find some ways to counter. For those games, there’s more reliance on our (superior) shooting and athleticism.
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@bskeet Self is one of the best to ever do it for sure. I think the NCAA situation pretty clearly relit his fire too.
The teams we played early are fortunate that’s when we played them. Especially because of no Self.
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I think having Dooley back has been huge for the team.
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I also think Case in his 2nd year is making an impact as well. We have a dynamite staff
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Dooley has some silly title yeah? W/e we are calling it I am glad he is back as well.
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Never hurts to have a former great assistant back that also has head coaching experience.
Case is a star in the making and just adds to the mastery going on.
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As soon as Bill fully adopted 4-out basketball we’ve been to a FF, had the consensus best team in 2020, won the title in 2022, and are absolutely one of the best 4 teams in the country at this moment.
He may have been later to adopt it than we would have liked, but damn do I love that he saw the light. Shoot a ton of 3s and use your athleticism on D and in transition. It’s been so fun to watch, but even better it has been effective. When you are KU and you can have 6 guys on your team that are 6’5 and above and shoot the 3 better than 33% you should use that to your advantage. Because the reality is most teams don’t have that luxury…
Really hope he wins 1 or 2 more before he goes.
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I’m not an expert, but I think Self and staff have incorporated new schemes and actions that require the passing and this new stuff is partly why they are confounding some opponents. It looks like there are some NBA sets… They spread the floor out which pulls the defense. If they don’t come out, you hit a few threes and then see what happens. Anyway, when the floor is spread, it leads to skip passes that pull the defense and lots of cutting opportunities.
Really, you can only do this if you have the right kind of players – quickness (everyone) and no fewer than 3 (4 is better) reliable three-point threats (Dick, Wilson, Harris, McCullar). You don’t have to have size inside, but you have to have athleticism and skill (KJ)
The Big 12 teams have had enough time and film to find some ways to counter. For those games, there’s more reliance on our (superior) shooting and athleticism.
You are correct. The spacing, ball movement, shooting and posting up guards is all NBA/modern basketball oriented.
@drgnslayr Bill has been terrific. The way he has helped KJ be a legit threat to score makes this team similar to the 2018 Nova team. He already has range out to the free throw line for sure. Damn, what if he has a three point shot??? I’m sure that is something he has been working on. I mean seriously, if all of a sudden we have five legit three point threats on the floor, who is going to beat this team?
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As soon as Bill fully adopted 4-out basketball we’ve been to a FF, had the consensus best team in 2020, won the title in 2022, and are absolutely one of the best 4 teams in the country at this moment.
He may have been later to adopt it than we would have liked, but damn do I love that he saw the light. Shoot a ton of 3s and use your athleticism on D and in transition. It’s been so fun to watch, but even better it has been effective. When you are KU and you can have 6 guys on your team that are 6’5 and above and shoot the 3 better than 33% you should use that to your advantage. Because the reality is most teams don’t have that luxury…
Really hope he wins 1 or 2 more before he goes.
This really is so much of it. I really do believe he will for sure get 1 more if he coaches another 5+. It could be next year, depending on how some things break. Another year of improvement from Dajuan and KJ, more development from young post guys (Zuby really could be a plus version of KJ in some respects and is certainly a better rebounder). Kevin and Jalen are good players but like all college players this far in they have some weaknesses. Who replaces them is key. In a fantasy world where Gradey returns we would be the title favorite barring something nuts.
I also can’t overstate how important Gradey is for this team. His gravity is absurd and that benefits everyone.
None of this is to discount this year of course, just thinking about the possibilities for Self’s next title. I suspect we will have a tough road in the bracket this year.
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As soon as Bill fully adopted 4-out basketball we’ve been to a FF, had the consensus best team in 2020, won the title in 2022, and are absolutely one of the best 4 teams in the country at this moment.
He may have been later to adopt it than we would have liked, but damn do I love that he saw the light. Shoot a ton of 3s and use your athleticism on D and in transition. It’s been so fun to watch, but even better it has been effective. When you are KU and you can have 6 guys on your team that are 6’5 and above and shoot the 3 better than 33% you should use that to your advantage. Because the reality is most teams don’t have that luxury…
Really hope he wins 1 or 2 more before he goes.
I would also count the 2016 and 2017 elite eights too, as both of those teams really embraced the three ball and playing outside in quite a bit.
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As soon as Bill fully adopted 4-out basketball we’ve been to a FF, had the consensus best team in 2020, won the title in 2022, and are absolutely one of the best 4 teams in the country at this moment.
He may have been later to adopt it than we would have liked, but damn do I love that he saw the light. Shoot a ton of 3s and use your athleticism on D and in transition. It’s been so fun to watch, but even better it has been effective. When you are KU and you can have 6 guys on your team that are 6’5 and above and shoot the 3 better than 33% you should use that to your advantage. Because the reality is most teams don’t have that luxury…
Really hope he wins 1 or 2 more before he goes.
Hall of fame post.
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This team is not a contender without a PG playmaker like Juan.
This team is not a contender without a volume scorer like JWil.
This team is not a contender without a defensive savant like Kevin.
This team is not a contender without a hot shot like Gradey.
This team is not a contender without a post threat like KJ.
This team is not a contender without a quality PG off the bench like Bobby.
This team is not a contender without a versatile bench guard like Joe.
This team is not a contender without a late-blooming threat off the bench like MJ.
This team is not a threat without several backup options at the 5.
I am really starting to believe this! On any given night any of these guys may be the hero of a game! Every player brings a unique tool set to the party and the other players feed off those tools, too! I can’t think of a team I had more fun watching!
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@Kcmatt7 said in Maybe #1:
As soon as Bill fully adopted 4-out basketball we’ve been to a FF, had the consensus best team in 2020, won the title in 2022, and are absolutely one of the best 4 teams in the country at this moment. He may have been later to adopt it than we would have liked, but damn do I love that he saw the light. Shoot a ton of 3s and use your athleticism on D and in transition. It’s been so fun to watch, but even better it has been effective. When you are KU and you can have 6 guys on your team that are 6’5 and above and shoot the 3 better than 33% you should use that to your advantage. Because the reality is most teams don’t have that luxury… Really hope he wins 1 or 2 more before he goes.
Hall of fame post.
I second that! It’s been a great ride watching Bill adapt new strategies throughout the years. You have to be a good student to become a good teacher… Bill continues to educate himself throughout his career!
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https://twitter.com/mctait/status/1612524411164188673
Recruit dudes and figure it out from there.
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The reason we’re not number 1? Because a “journalist” that covers Purdew ranked them number 1, and ranked us 7th. He also has a tweet pinned to his Twitter account that says "I tell my readers nothing but the Truth! ". And then he “lies” on the AP poll.
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The reason we’re not number 1? Because a “journalist” that covers Purdew ranked them number 1, and ranked us 7th. He also has a tweet pinned to his Twitter account that says "I tell my readers nothing but the Truth! ". And then he “lies” on the AP poll.
I don’t care about being # 1 during the regular season , some fans die for that - - I’m just looking to be # 1 the last man standing at the end of the year when it REALLY COUNTS
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So Georgia is going back to back in football. Kansas will go back to back in basketball. And people will speak of dynasties.
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@jayballer67 said in Maybe #1:
The reason we’re not number 1? Because a “journalist” that covers Purdew ranked them number 1, and ranked us 7th. He also has a tweet pinned to his Twitter account that says "I tell my readers nothing but the Truth! ". And then he “lies” on the AP poll.
I don’t care about being # 1 during the regular season , some fans die for that - - I’m just looking to be # 1 the last man standing at the end of the year when it REALLY COUNTS
I agree- I couldn’t care less whether we’re 1st or not. I was pointing out the irony of a guy saying he tells the truth when he doesn’t on the simplest of things.
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I believe what tickles me most is the fact that Phogg Allen, Moses, or perhaps Self has gotten Dajuan to shoot 3’s. Three to five a game and if they are all makes it is even better. As much as anything else his showing he is an effective 3 point shot will help the team reach their peak.
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I hope they leave him open all season long.
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Self said he is a very good shooter in practice, was only a matter of time before it started translating to games.
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Almost every announcer this season has make the observation that Harris is the most underrated PG in D1. He does exactly what a good PG needs to do in all aspects of the game, And yes if he can hit somewhere around 40 % of his threes he will really help this team. There will be many time coming up in the crucible of league play and tourneys that we will need him to hit open looks.
Also, who’s most likely gonna transfer next year? udeh? rice?
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Zach, Cuffe, Yesufu in that order.
I’m not going to speculate on freshman right now but the one’s not playing much can’t be ruled out.
KU will only have 12 scholarships next year as well.
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I believe what tickles me most is the fact that Phogg Allen, Moses, or perhaps Self has gotten Dajuan to shoot 3’s. Three to five a game and if they are all makes it is even better. As much as anything else his showing he is an effective 3 point shot will help the team reach their peak.
I said it his freshman season that he needed to take more 3’s because he can make the open ones at a high rate and was ridiculed by quite a few people here for it. He still has a really low release that’s almost like a middle schooler, but his shot is much quicker now and that’s helped him out a lot.
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@BeddieKU23 said in Maybe #1:
Zach, Cuffe, Yesufu in that order.
I’m not going to speculate on freshman right now but the one’s not playing much can’t be ruled out.
KU will only have 12 scholarships next year as well.
The only real question I have: when are we going to hear the real story behind MJ’s season?
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My guess, sickness, injuries, stones, player development lost and low bb IQ due to prior coaching. Very talented though! So is Udeh
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I want to add, I really hope we keep these 2!
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@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Maybe #1:
I said it his freshman season that he needed to take more 3’s because he can make the open ones at a high rate and was ridiculed by quite a few people here for it. He still has a really low release that’s almost like a middle schooler, but his shot is much quicker now and that’s helped him out a lot.
Hard to understand why he wasn’t coached into improving his shot form at an early age. Don’t think I would change him now!
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We just proved we are #1 a few months ago… I prefer being 2-4 ranked… still a #1 seed but a little less attention and targeted by other teams. A little.
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@drgnslayr said in Maybe #1:
We just proved we are #1 a few months ago… I prefer being 2-4 ranked… still a #1 seed but a little less attention and targeted by other teams. A little.
Doesn’t matter my friends if we are ranked # 1 or 21 - KU will always have a huge target on it for every other team - - Because we are KU , true blue blood , the School who is the Nations all time winningest program , doesn’t matter what day of the week it is - - what time of a day it is - KU will always have that bulls eye . - As you know we can go to another teams place and they average a half filled arena or less and when KU comes to town that place is gonna be packed and jumpin - -that other team is gonna be so jacked - - their fans are gonna be so stoked -and they are gonna play a lot of times way over their heads. - - Why ? - because for some of these teams -KU IS their NCAA tourney game-- KU is their Game of the year- - It’s KU - - it’s Bill Self - - -so ya , we are gonna be targeted every time we step on the floor weather we ar # 1 - or what ever -just how it is when your KU
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Got a question- -innocent enough just curios and looking for honest opinions. - - - The question is , do you think – K/State got over ranked in the polls or not ? From unranked to ranked 11th. - -For me yes I do think they got ranked to high. -Do they deserve to be ranked ? - -Hell yes they do but not 11th. – I was thinking more on the line of anywhere from 15 - - to 17th. - -So what do you think - -where do you feel they should be ranked ?
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@drgnslayr said in Maybe #1:
We just proved we are #1 a few months ago… I prefer being 2-4 ranked… still a #1 seed but a little less attention and targeted by other teams. A little.
Being 2-4 isn’t about the target. It’s about the CHIP! You know this…
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Exactly!
In that horrible national championship game last night the Georgia coach explained how it was necessary to build a chip with this team since they were coming off the nattie from last year.
He said his guys were criticized with many non-believers saying they couldn’t repeat.
Maybe we need this!
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@jayballer67 said in Maybe #1:
Got a question- -innocent enough just curios and looking for honest opinions. - - - The question is , do you think – K/State got over ranked in the polls or not ? From unranked to ranked 11th. - -For me yes I do think they got ranked to high. -Do they deserve to be ranked ? - -Hell yes they do but not 11th. – I was thinking more on the line of anywhere from 15 - - to 17th. - -So what do you think - -where do you feel they should be ranked ?
K-State is good. They have beaten three straight ranked teams. They have loads of talent - probably a first and second team All conference player. They are well coached. This is the K-State team I was talking about earlier last year when people were laughing. They have guys that have done it at other places, and Keyontae Johnson is a real star. They should be a top 4 seed come March, and could make a deep run.
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@justanotherfan agree
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@justanotherfan said in Maybe #1:
@jayballer67 said in Maybe #1:
Got a question- -innocent enough just curios and looking for honest opinions. - - - The question is , do you think – K/State got over ranked in the polls or not ? From unranked to ranked 11th. - -For me yes I do think they got ranked to high. -Do they deserve to be ranked ? - -Hell yes they do but not 11th. – I was thinking more on the line of anywhere from 15 - - to 17th. - -So what do you think - -where do you feel they should be ranked ?
K-State is good. They have beaten three straight ranked teams. They have loads of talent - probably a first and second team All conference player. They are well coached. This is the K-State team I was talking about earlier last year when people were laughing. They have guys that have done it at other places, and Keyontae Johnson is a real star. They should be a top 4 seed come March, and could make a deep run.
Agree now. Was hard to tell during non-conference. Played a really weak schedule. Good 2 point win against LSU (no other Ws of note) and got beat soundly by Butler (which hasn’t won a game against any other good team). But getting consecutive roads wins against UT and Baylor is a statement, especially with those point totals against two pretty stout defenses. Both Johnson and Nowell are good.
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Houston’s schedule looks pretty light. They should win out. KU will get more quality wins, but likely picks up a few Ls along the way. Will be hard to achieve the regular season #1 ranking. Oh well better just focus on that little 6 wins takes it tournament in March.
