Wiggins vs Tarik and Cole and Embiid and KY and Ben Mac
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We all knew that Andrew Wiggins is a great athlete but many argued before the end of last season that he should stay another year to develop his skills. I was in that camp to a large degree. Well after seeing him play the past few nights shows that his game has turned around a lot. He is still a driver and looked better in the open court, but his handles, his mid-range game, his passing and his finishing are an order of magnitude better than last year.
His 29/10/6 against the Lakers was on par with his performances of the past month. The game though was horrific. Some claim that the NBA doesn’t play defense. That is bull. But it was true in the Laker game.
He came back the next night against the Warriors and was really impressive the first half. I didn’t watch the second half. He was 17/6/9 with all of his points coming in the first half. The Warriors announcers are some of the most dispassionate and non homerish (a new word) I have seen. They were gushing at times about his ability to handle the ball and finish strong. He had a couple of turn around jumpers from 17-19 ft that were guarded very well. He had one play where he went across the lane, sought contact from a man as big as he and put in a clean jumper. By the way, the Warriors are one of the best defenses in the league.
Other than based on his athletic potential, who would have thought that he would have 15 assists in two games while scoring 46 himself. He got picked going to the basket a couple of times but he was generally strong with the ball.
I don’t think that he could have developed the skills to the degree he has by staying.
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@sfbahawk me! I always thought he could!
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That’s what kills me, and everyone else here about our 2002-2003 teams. We had 3 guys (I know, Gooden wasn’t there in 2003) that are still playing in the NBA on that team, and it’d be four if Simien hadn’t got injured. It was an amazing collection of talent.
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Ben had 20 pts, 5 boards, 7 asts!!
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@wissoxfan83
Simien also carried the dreaded Tweener label and even though he was Big 12 player of the year and 1st team All-American, he dropped to pick #29 in the draft, a clear indication that NBA scouts did not think he was worth a high pick and his potential was limited, and after that he really never had much of chance in the NBA, perhaps partly because his heart was not there and he had a higher calling. I have heard him speak and he is truly an inspirational individual that is affecting more lives in a positive way through his ministry than he would in the NBA; as you probably know, he is also the Chaplain of the KU basketball team.
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Tarik had 10 pts and…19 boards! Wow
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@drgnslayr thats funny. Hope he’s cashing in with Canadian $, not bartering with animals. One of my fav players.
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@Crimsonorblue22 Tarik seems to be taking on a “older brother” role also on the Lakers. He alluded to this in the interview the other night. Although he is a rookie he is still 3-4 years older than most of the other rookies. Self appeared to like him for his role in the locker room besides his play. This could be another hook for him.
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@sfbahawk It was obvious from the get-go that Wigs was a major league baller. It was only Bill’s system that held him back. Too bad Bill chose to run his offense thru his post players last year, who if I’m not mistaken, barely had any 20 pt games, as opposed to Wigs, who displayed the ability to throw down 40. If only we had run an offense for Wigs against Stanford…
Oh well… another early exit.
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@jaybate-1.0 I’m sure he still gets paid no matter how many fans show up. Unless he gets a percentage of the door. Still, I know a lot tougher ways to make a living. Bet he still makes more than Brady ever did.
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@wissoxfan83 The loss to Arizona in '97 never should’ve happened. That team was stacked. Probably the most talented, experienced KU team to never win it all. Their only regular season loss was in double OT to Mizzou (yup another reason to hate 'em). They had Terry Nooner! BJ Williams, TJ Pugh, and CB McGrath. That’s not to mention Paul Pierce, Scot Pollard, Jarrod Haase, Jacque Vaughn, Ryan Roberson, and Billy Thomas.
2 head coaches on the floor. Think the basketball IQ was pretty high that year?
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@drgnslayr said:
“Where is he playing now??”
Up in Canada.
“Any word on what KY is making?”
Probably being paid in Elk jerky and beaver pelts.
French fries and gravy too.
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Oh I know that team was loaded too. Believe me that’s a painful loss, mitigated somewhat that the team that did actually beat them won the championship!
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@wissoxfan83 I hear that, but it’s kinda like finding out the hottest girl you ever kissed is you cousin. Jason Kidd was a stud, but KU should’ve won… There are still nuckle prints in my buddies ceiling.
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@dylans Kind of like when Leia kissed Luke in Empire Strikes Back?
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@Lulufulu Ha. I just watched that last night. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. It stinks no matter how you dress it up.
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You left a big name, Raef LaFrentz. Also, if I recall correctly CB Mcgrath was in that team but did not play in that game and Hasse had the wrist injury and played only a limited amount of time. Last Jason Kidd played for California not Arizona and your are probably thinking of Mike Bibby and/or Miles Simon.
As I have said before, the NCAA Tournament is a all about match ups and lots of luck. KU should have won that year and maybe a couple of others, instead won in '88 when it really should have not.
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@dylans For a while now, I have wondered about George Lucas and his motivation for putting that scene. I mean was he just messing with the crowd? I wonder what his intended message was there.
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This post is deleted!
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@JayHawkFanToo You’re right I think it was Bibby. Either way painful loss. If Haase had a healthy wrist I think KU wins it. He was all out, but you could tell he was hurting.
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That is the one loss that every true Jayhawk fan will always remember…including the painful details.
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Could you have imagined that team with Collison and Hinrich too? wow.
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@dylans Im of the opinion that the KU 08 team could beat any KU team since Roy took over up to the present time.
But, if Collison and Hinrich were added to the '97 team? Wow.
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http://www.nba.com/kings/blog/ben-mclemore-presented-2015-oscar-robertson-triple-double-award
Ben Mac!
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What a great ambassador for KU and a great asset to his team and community at large Ben has turned out to be.
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@JayHawkFanToo we have had some pretty darn good kids!! Ben knows what it’s like to be cold and hungry!
