Answered Questions After IU
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@BeddieKU23 there does need to be more scheming, and I think that aspect leaves a bit to be desired. He did get the ball in the post on one play in the Indiana game - I just wish there was more stuff like that to keep opposing defenses guessing.
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Keep in mind that last year’s team did not have a great start to the year and blew a lead late to MSU - that was an ugly game. Won the Maui tournament, but the teams out there weren’t exactly stellar. February is when they hit their stride and started playing like how we thought they would. This year’s team will improve, it is just a matter of figuring some things out and rebounding better. They’ll get there.
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I’ve got beef and hamburger helper won’t help this time.
Here we are at the beginning of another fresh KU basketball season and us die hard fans are trying to scramble to figure out the holes in this team and the possible solutions. These days I don’t get to watch the games with a my ol college crew, but we still talk in group texts. One thing that is pretty consistent is our disdain with Lucas. I noticed in your initial analysis you gave a lot of players your focus, but did not talk about perhaps the most concerning player on the team. It could be that you, like many fans have just settled on our current situation and are just willing to accept it and defend coach self because he can do no wrong. I saw later you talked about Lucas being injured (classic jaybate). So if he is “injured” why do we play him 35 minutes in the game! I know the obvious explanation of why he plays as much as he does, but that doesn’t make him any easier to watch. How many times are we going to see him get stripped as he brings the ball down? How many times is he going to be blocked this season? It is like he has to power up if he is going to score. We are going to face plenty of D1 teams that have tall players and Lucas literally cannot score over people. Unless he has a pass that leaves him wide open he doesn’t score. His obvious lack of athletism should be a major concern. Anyone see his reverse layup atempt? He looked stiffer than kids trying to do the mannequin challenge. I get that Dok is young and raw, but we gave him 7 minutes. In that time he had two rebounds and one block. Lucas had zero blocks and seven rebounds in 35.
I know KU will be fine in the long run, but it is going to be a painful watching LL for the next 5 months if nothing changes in his game or our game plan.
Just venting by the way, sometimes I got to get this stuff off my chest and I consider this site my safe space. Haha
@jaybate-1.0 tell me why I am wrong, or least help cool my kettle.
Rock Chalk all the way let’s beat Duke!
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As I recall, Coach declared sometime a week or so ago that his team would not abandon learning principles in order to run willy nilly just to win one game. (At least, he stated something along that order.) Of course, what we saw with Frank in his last few minutes on the floor, some of those principles might already have been shitcanned…or perhaps the “principles” finally got kicked into high gear.
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@jaybate-1.0 Injury update
Senior forward Landen Lucas, who battled a sore foot in Hawaii and junior guard Devonte’ Graham, who continued to have issues with cramping, both appeared to be in good shape over the weekend, Self said.
“Landen practiced some," Self said. "He was limited, but he practiced. And he was limited by design. Regardless of how he (felt), he was gonna be limited.”
As for Graham, Self said team doctors and nutritionists continued to try to find a quick fix for the cramp issues that have plagued him so far this season.
“Devonte’ said he felt good," Self said. "Whether or not it affected him or not, he said from about the 15-minute mark of the second half (vs. Indiana) he started the beginning stages of the cramping and stuff like that. I’m not sure he was totally himself over there. He struggled with that and we’ve got medical experts and people like that working with him now and hopefully there’ll be some things that can be done that’ll actually make him feel better the longer he’s doing those things.”
Self said Graham began taking steps to improve his leg cramps the day before KU played in Hawaii but added, "I’m not sure it had a total chance to take effect. I think he’ll be fine.”
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I have got to tone my basketball expectations WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY down. I literally tossed and turned all night long after the stupid game the other night. Over a frickin basketball game…
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Nice venting! We all need to let it out after an opening game loss, regardless of opponent.
We know what Lucas is, we’ll see if he can get healthy enough to improve on the things we know he’s limited on. The Bringing the ball down has plagued him his entire career. I think he will prove to be better then he was Friday, Bryant is an NBA player and Lucas won’t play against many that are better.
Serious question did Lucas look better because of Perry Ellis? Without the attention Ellis commanded will Lucas’s game suffer? I do think Lucas is hobbled, still playing, because the injury hasn’t progressed to the point where he needs to sit or rest but its there. Lucas is not 100%.
I would continue to temper expectations of Udoka. Another missed dunk attempt (starting to look like that is a problem) and good thing we cleaned up his miss. Honestly would you want Udoka in the game with that FT form, he looks like a 30-40% FT shooter. Bigs will just foul him and dare him to make a FT. He offers some intangibles but there was one play he didn’t use his body enough running his man up the paint and let the big recover for a turnover. He’s just as raw as Diallo, if not more. Hopefully as the months pass on, his comfort level increases. I hope our guards figure out how to maximize his current talent level (like throwing a good lob pass) or staying in front of their man so he’s not forced into an obvious foul situation.
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@jaybate-1.0 said:
Talk of possibly under- and un- reported injuries comes from:
–DG grabbing an unreported hamstring, in addition to whatever cramping may have been reported;
Unreported hamstring? You are jumping to conclusions based on no evidence. What I saw is consistent with cramping that Coach Self has reported and apparently is still bothering him. Coach Self has indicated that Graham will play against Duke.
–saying Lucas has just a “sore foot” despite wearing a boot off the floor and some kind of apparatus in the last game that makes his shoe bulge while he favors that side and underperforms for 3 straight games including two D-II teams;
Have you considered that not having Perry Ellis and playing with a very green Bragg has contributed to his sub par performances? Does he have a sore foot? Yes, Coach Self has indicated that much and this is why he is wearing the boot to help him recover faster and prevent further injury. If you watch the team photos, there are 2 other players also wearing boots. If he had a serious injury he would not be playing the minute he did, no way. The main problem is KU players are not boxing opposing players out and you have Lucas fighting against 3 or 4 other players for rebounds; again, not having Perry allowed IU to concentrate on Lucas inside…do we miss Perry yet? This was typical…
–Bragg getting few rebounds in three games and taking few jump shots and getting few dunks or blocks suggesting an unreported injury is keeping him from getting up;
Bragg is on a “funk” as Coach Self indicated and has been widely reported and his lack of performance is not due to injury but just not being in the right place at the right time. If you recall, players such as Alexander and Diallo and a lot of the newer players have had the same issue…remember TRob in his freshman year?. Coach Self’s system is not simple and Bragg has not played enough to be comfortable. I saw no health issues…unless yo call not quite understanding the system a health issue.
–the best recruit in the country going 3-11 and only occasionally being able to get up; and
The best recruit is a green freshman still learning the system and playing his first game against an elite team. I did not see any sign of injury whatsoever.
–Coleby going from a few minutes vs. D-II team’s to no minutes vs a big IU team we got in foul trouble against and were facing with a gimpy Lucas and so could have used at least the same few minutes Coleby gave previously.
Self has indicated several times that Coleby is not at full strength, so he obviously has disclosed his condition.
I didn’t watch Vick, so not sure on him.
Vick looked as fit as he can be…
Regardless, when Tyler starts playing in a close game one wonders about injuries to other perimeter guys.
Four starters had fouled lout at that time and he had to play who he had available to try to match up as well as he could with the other team. Is this the lineup you want at the end of games? NO, Who would you have played instead of Tyler Self?.
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"Have you considered that not having Perry Ellis and playing with a very green Bragg has contributed to his sub par performances? "
Yes, and because that does not explain his poor rebounding numbers I marked it irrelevant, same as you should.
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@jaybate-1.0 thats one thing to consider because of the double teams perry would often see
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It is not at all irrelevant. Last year Perry got the double team treatment and Lucas had more room to maneuver and rebound. This year Lucas is being doubled teamed because Bragg is nowhere in sight to help and thus his number are lower. It is really that simple but if you prefer to think it is because a secret injury that Coach Self has failed to disclose, then by all means you can have it.
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I never thought Bragg would or could replace Ellis. Totally different skill sets. Perry could put the ball on the floor and post. Not many bigs can do that. Ideally we have Josh Jackson do some of that, with Bragg available for layups and 10 footers.
The biggest difference between squads was that last year, we really tightened up our defense. But still, we did not produce a lot of steals, and I wonder how successful a defense can be without creating turnovers. We don’t seem to have the shooting ability that we did last year, so creating turnovers is even more important.
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@JayHawkFanToo said:
Bragg is on a “funk” as Coach Self indicated and has been widely reported and his lack of performance is not due to injury but just not being in the right place at the right time
Self has misinformed in the past, when doing so was for team benefit, so the above just begs the question. It doesn’t answer it at all. Is he misinforming about the “funk”?
Remember TRob?
Yes, he makes a poor analogy. TRob was more inept as a freshman than Bragg, and he was not asked to start or play big minutes his sophomore year, but rather be a third big man enforcer for the two stores: Marcos and Kieff. Bragg was at one time expected to be a starter at 4. But something happened to Bragg. Self calls it a funk, but counter intuitively Self appears to have committed to a 4-guard line up. Hmmm. A funk is kind of hard to define. Why would a funk make elevating for jump shots and rebounds particularly difficult? Hmmm.
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Actually it is quite irrelevant. Don’t mean to argue. Just find your argument unpersuasive.
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My take…
Bragg is HORRIBLE at boxing out right now. Several times I watched him just turn and look at the ball with no regard for getting his ass into someone. Everyone was hoping for a huge jump out of him. Last year when he had “good” games he scored off open jumpers and junk rebounds and layups.
Mason, Devonte, Jackson, Svi - will all be fine
Lucas - is what he is and looked better last year being next to Ellis. Bragg will not demand that much attention so Lucas WILL struggle.
Our offensive sets or I should say the lack of was concerning. It looked like pick up ball at times.
Nobody on offense deserves major attention from help defense so guys HAVE to win one on one battles which most aside from Frank cant do. This is why the offensive sets are so important.
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A funk is Bragg trying to learn to use his newly acquired physique while learning the system and trying to live up to the expectations. A couple of solid games and he will be gold. Absolutely nothing physically wrong with him…more of a head problem, in my opinion, of course…
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@jaybate-1.0 said:
Actually it is quite irrelevant. Don’t mean to argue. Just find your argument unpersuasive.
…as I do yours, so let’s agree to disagree and see what happens in the next few weeks.
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Like Agent Mulder, I want to believe…
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Yes I definitely disagree and am happy to let time and games resolve the difference
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If Bragg does not get his mind and body into the game early on tomorrow night I would move Josh to the 4, utilize Svi and Vick much more in the second half. Gotta hope that Graham’s “cure” has taken effect. Did I hear right, that his cramping problem had been ongoing for a couple of weeks, but he took more desperate action to deal with it only the day before the Indiana game? If those two things are true, then coaches and trainers are not taking these big contests so seriously as some of we posters are!
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LOL!
Its just a sore foot.
Its just cramping.
Its just a funk.
What do you want to bet that Bill Self looks carefully at his pay check and doesn’t say: its just a pay check?
What do you want to bet that Bill Self doesn’t just throw on any suit, shirt and tie lying on the floor of his closet for a game; that he doesn’t say: its just a suit for a game.
What do you want to bet he doesn’t just look in the mirror and say; its just hair.
Bill Self appears to be meticulous…about most everything.
I have a feeling that we are not getting the full story on any of these issues: sore foot, cramping, and funking.
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My 02. It’s LESS than ideal that Lucas is starting at KU. Ideally, he is a career bench player. HOWEVER, at this point, it can’t be helped. So let’s hope he heals up, because Doke isn’t starting.
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It is odd and unfortunate that Big Man U finds itself in the position of Little Man U, even in a season when Self seemed to break the ice some and sign some bigs.
Having a team full of trey ballers can ease the impact of becoming a Little Man U.
This year, however, we are getting the full sense of what it means not to have functioning big men.
Landen was plenty good down the stretch. If we had that Landen now, I would not be opining on this.
Azuibuke looks like a project due to come on line next season, or the season after.
Lightfoot would be a solid prospect at the 3, or against light 4s, next year, but he is another light cruiser being asked to play heavy cruiser/fast battle ship and it will look fine until he has to face the Top Ten teams with the battle wagons and carriers.
Bragg is kind of hard to figure. I wasn’t expecting him to be even a second team all-league this season, so he is not a victim of over expectation from me. But I was expecting him to at least be able to start and play a garbage man 4 for 20 minutes without much drama; kind of like LaGerrie Vick is quietly getting it done on the perimeter in a narrowly scoped way. I know I am among the first to make the excuse for him that he is trying to learn to play in a new body, BUT…that really doesn’t seem to capture his problems so far.
I love our two guards–Frank and Devonte–of course, and Josh, Svi and LaGerrie are getting it done, and will only get better, BUT…those five are about the least intimidating personalities one can find.
Imagine being a Michigan State perimeter guy and bringing it up the floor against anyone of our guys to try to score a basket. Frank and Devonte are very good, but you don’t fear they will take your head off.
Imagine seeing Josh and LaGerrie. You would have to look closely to even see Vick. And Josh only looks muscular standing next to Vick. Again, they aren’t the types to strike fear in your heart when you are offending.
Svi is a bit of a choir boy look, but I hold out some hope for him. He is at least thick now. And he likes to mix it up. If it were up to me, I would be trying to get Svi 15 FGAs a game and hang my hat on him. He’s the only one of our guys that might be diversified enough in offensive talent, and hard nosed enough with enough thickness on defense, not to get manhandled sooner or later.
But right now, it looks like this is team increasingly looks like three yards and a cloud of Frank.
I was really hoping for more “team” interplay and more Frank, Devonte and Josh/Svi rocketing up the floor most possessions.
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@jaybate-1.0 Bill had best plan meticulously about what to do with his expanding gut. He begins to look like a coach who, when constantly harried, might sooner than later be wheeled into a coronary ward.
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Its clear Bill is feeling the pinch he is in and eating to help him think.
I don’t blame him either.
He has dodged more knives and bullets than a circus assistant to a NAVY SEAL that started an Ringling Brothers act under the Big Top.
I mean the cat has 10 lives, not 9.
And I for one can vouch for how much you can lose on your fast ball in your 50s.
Still, I am pulling for the greatest coach I have ever had the good fortune to watch and study this closely this long.
Go, Bill, go!!
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I am glad I am not the only one that noticed that. I kept thinking he needed a much larger polo shirt.
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@BeddieKU23 I agree I’m not sure we’ve really altered our scheme for a 4:1 style. Not that some of our normal action isn’t effective at times with that player personnel on the floor. But once coaches see it consistently, they probably work better to shut it down.
It is early and I’m no coach.
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Either am I. It just seems ill advised to run the same stuff that works for a traditional lineup if your putting out 4 guards and expecting the same results. The difference in the game was 1 play, here and there so I’ll wait for tonight’s game to draw another conclusion from this offense.
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Dougie G. (Mr. Pants) offered an assessment of our two small guards today, saying that their height could be a season-long detriment vs. taller opponents shooting 3s (as did Indiana). He also offers a dig at Mason’s and Graham’s tendencies not to involve teammates to the max. I never take Dougie’s analyses too seriously; but he might have hit a nail upon the head this time out.
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You’d best never listen to him, he truly will never have an un-biased opinion of KU. Mason had 9 dimes in the opener and was forced to become the main offense after seeing how much of an advantage he had getting to the lane and to the FT line.
Now his point about Mason/Graham’s size has some merit. Not much we can do about that but we do have plenty of length from Vick/Svi/Jackson.
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Benefits far outweigh the neg!
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Yup. But we can bring Vick or Josh to the 2 guard slot for as long as necessary and see how they like shooting over 6-5 and 6-7!
Doug is an eye ball whore now.
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@REHawk Doug was a pass first, second, & third point guard (very good at it) but has never appreciated scoring point guards. To be honest Frank is not a great passer and seldom looks to pass when he drives, but he is a terrific scorer. I for one have always thought DG has better point guard skills as far as getting others invlolved. In my opinion (not worth 2 cents) they should mix it up more with each taking on the point more often. I thought we would see this coming in to the year, but that hasn’t been the case, so far.
I will go hide now and read the posts of those more intelligent than I.
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@Barney I think Frank does what coach wants him to do. Frank has muscled up more, he doesn’t seem to have a problem w/adjustment. I don’t buy the Bragg hasn’t adjusted to his stronger body yet.
