February 25: News Headlines Digest and KU vs Oklahoma Post-game Round-up
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Booker was making cocky expressions from the bench midway through the game. I guess he hasn’t heard, “He who laughs last, laughs best.”
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I am going to risk banishment from all things related to KU basketball, probably even get my degree revolked.
Here goes. I don’t get that excited by it. We’ve won 57 conference titles according to ESPN last night. Yes I do recognize the achievement, but it just doesn’t strike me as being that remarkable.
Our conference lacks a consistent challenger that year in and year out is our equal. Duke has UNC, Wisconsin has MSU, OSU. Other than Texas, Bill Self has not faced a league foe that’s even been to the final four if memory serves correctly.
Since the 80’s when I came to KU, I’ve seen KU teams in 86, 88, 91, 93, 02, 03, 08, and 12 make it to the final four. I rattled those off without hardly thinking about it. Those are what makes me go. It’s better to be known as the big 12 champs, but it’s even better to be known as a final four, finalist and champion. Sorry to be a wet blanket on this celebration, but it just doesn’t rile me up too much.
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@wissoxfan83 - It’s good to aim high! There’s one sentence in your post that says it all for me:
" Our conference lacks a consistent challenger that year in and year out is our equal. "
My point, and sincere belief, is that you could say that about Kansas no matter what conference we were in.
Fifty-seven conference titles and TEN straight - that’s a big fat, hairy deal. Heck, I’d even be impressed if WSU won ten in a row in their cream-puff conference. I won’t have to worry about it, because it’ll never happen, but it’d still be a big deal if it did.
Obviously, I wouldn’t be enthused if we won the Conference title and nothing else, but as you point out, we have a nice run of Final Four appearances and two NC’s in the last 25 years, which not many schools can boast.
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@wissoxfan83 - I would agree completely, except for one minor point.
The simple fact of consistently being at the top, year in, year out, is impressive. All of the events, players, coaches, bad luck, good luck, etc., that could occur in 10 seasons – and every season, we win the league. I do think that’s impressive at least. It is a testament to coach Self and his consistency. But it’s like a nice salad before the meal.
Now, to your real point – what makes you “go.” I can’t agree with you more. For me, while I can try to enjoy the ride and the fun of the season, if we don’t win the title, it taints the season for me. That’s how it is. Title or bust. Title or pain. Title or crap.
I choose Title.
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I guess I could add to my post that I’m much more impressed by dancing every year since 1990.
@nuleafjhawk I respectfully disagree with what you wrote. There are programs in other conferences that if we were battling them every year winning 10 in a row would be huge.
HEM, I see the point of consistency being impressive. When I attended KU, I’d guess we won the league one of the three years but were in two final fours.
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KU had better bring their AFH Texas game when they take the court at Gallager-Iba as Mr Smart has really stepped up his game since his suspension. He knows Okie St needs to win out or win the conf tournament to make the dance. If they don’t make the dance his bypassing the draft last year is all for naught. TEN-tastic!!! RCJH (beer)
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@wissoxfan83 Come on wissox, we supposed to be celebrating. You remind me of the blankets I’ve got covering my well to prevent freeze after the past couple of weeks of rain. Old, wet and soggy.
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I know Brooks, I’m a wet blanket on the party! I’ll say this, it’s better to win the league than not winning the league!
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okie lite went to the FF in HCBS first year here. WVU went just a few years ago. And texas hasn’t gone in the Self era.
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@Kip_McSmithers I don’t want facts to get in the way of a good theory!
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Share, share, share…I don’t like sharing titles.
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Final four teams during the Bill Self tenure.
SEED TEAMS2013 1, 4, 4, 9 L’Ville, Syracuse, Michigan, Wichita State
2012 1, 2, 2, 4 Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio St., L’ville
2011 3, 4, 8, 11 UConn, Kentucky, Butler, VCU
2010 1, 2, 5, 5 Duke, W. Virginia, Butler, Mich. St.
2009 1, 1, 2, 3 UNC, UConn, Mich. St., Villanova
2008 1, 1, 1, 1 Kansas, Memphis, UNC, UCLA
2007 1, 1, 2, 2 Florida, Ohio St., Georgetown, UCLA
2006 2, 3, 4, 11 UCLA, Florida, LSU, G. Mason
2005 1, 1, 4, 5 UNC, Illinois, Louisville, Mich. St.
2004 1, 2, 2, 3 Duke, UConn, Okla. St., Ga. Tech
Lots of success by one seeds. Champions in bold.
Texas was in the 2003 final four one year pre-Self.
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Congrats to the players, coaches, university and fans!
““I said we’d do it when and if we win it outright,” Self said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate in Stillwater on Saturday.””
Can we expect Wiggins to do a back flip on the court?
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@wissoxfax83
This is from the Sporting News article that JNewell had quotes from. By Mike DeCourcySporting News
##How good is Self? This is his 13th year as a high-major coach, starting in 2000-01 at Illinois. In the previous 12 years — since the NCAA selection committee shafted his last, brilliant Tulsa team with a No. 7 seed — he never has coached a team that earned an NCAA seed lower than No. 4. There have been five No. 1s, a No. 2, two No. 3s and four No. 4s. That’s ridiculous.##
We expect performances such as this from Self and Kansas, though because it’s what they deliver, every year. That does not mean it is not extraordinary.
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Thanks for posting that… amazing what it tells us when looking at frequency to make it. We’ve only been there twice under Self… interesting to see what teams made it more than us.
Frequency:
UCLA 3 1 NC)
UCONN 3 1 NC)
L’Ville 3 1 NC)
UNC 3 (2 NCs)
Duke 2 (2 NCs)
Kansas 2 (1 NC)
So on the national level… all those teams have outperformed us when looking only at the Final Four (last 10 years). The graphic above is wrong… Duke has made it to the FF twice, winning both times.
We’ve done better in other areas… 10 consecutive B12 Championships… and 24 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tourney (longest current streak).
Other NCAA records we currently own at #1:
- most winning seasons in Division I history (95)
- most non-losing seasons (.500 or better) in NCAA history (98)
- most conference championships in Division I history (57)
- most First Team All Americans in Division I history (21)
- most First Team All American Selections in Division I history (29)
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Maybe this has been said before and I missed it but maybe Fran should refrain from calling games in which he carries a bias in. I wondered last night if he was wearing a #13 jersey while calling the game.
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Christian Garret and Nikko Roberts each have 4 championship rings.
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@Kip_McSmithers And Muffberger too! Did you hear him say something along the lines of… “My My look what 8:50 has got us? Tied game. (and rather sarcastically) The Jayhawk crowd is quiet.” I wanted to (punch) them.
I’m surprised we didn’t hear every scenario as to how Iowa State or Texas was going to tie us. They sure didn’t talk about OSU impoding. Just talked about how good Smart is NOW.
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I generally like Fraschilla, I can’t stand “mushed burger”
Did anyone watch the OSU game last night? Smart was wearing #43 instead of #33. Apparently his Jersey did not make it to Texas…talk about an equipment manager in trouble.
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Quote:
In East Lansing, Mich., the Spartans can’t wait until they get healthy. In Syracuse, N.Y., the Orange can’t wait until their offense comes around. In Lexington, Ky., the Wildcats can’t wait until the kids put it all together. That's not the case in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks simply can’t wait until March.Seriously?! We are NOT ready for March yet! And I noticed he left Florida out of that scenario.
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Florida is being overlooked and may end up being the sleeper. Lunardi has Arizona as the overall #1 seed based on their win at Colorado…really?
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@RockChalkinTexas I know how good Self is! He’s amazing, the best thing to happen to KU basketball since Roy who was the best thing since Larry. I love KU basketball!! It still doesn’t change what I wrote! I want championships. I couldn’t tell you what years KU won the league championship besides the last 10 years. But I can tell you what they did in the tourney just about every year.
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@JayHawkFanToo Lunardi clearly doesn’t know what he is doing. Florida is way tougher than 'Cuse, Az or Wichita st. That said, if we rematch with them in the tourney, KU will beat them.
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I agree, I like our chances against Florida. In the previous game we spotted them 15 points in the first half and beat then by 9 in the second half.
KU has won (or tied) the second half of every game they have lost.
KU does not lose, they just run out of time.
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@JayHawkFanToo I love the spin on this classic Michael Jordan quote “KU does not lose, they just run out of time” well played.
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I understand where the sentiment of NC or bust (WiSox and HEM) comes from. But I think the NC in 08 and the Finalist in 12 count for a lot. Yes…a final four or a NC is what everyone shoots for. We just need to sprinkle them in often enough. Certainly I would like to see Self get another NC which would then, I think, validate him further as a truly great coach…not many have multiple NCs. While it was a good win last night I thought some disturbing trends continue. It seemed like we could not stop OU in the 2nd half. Every time they came down the court I felt like they were going to score. Fortunately we did stop them at a few key times late. As for OSU this Saturday…you can bet Smart and OSU will feel like they have something to prove and play with a vengeance. They are fighting for their tournament lives. Under those circumstances…I don’t like our chances.
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@Hawk8086 what better to win there and celebrate there! Revenge on the flip!
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Link to AllAccessJayhawks’ video of game highlights that includes, SNACKS doing the Nae Nae in the locker celebration.
I don’t know how to post videos here, so I turned it into a tiny url.
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@RockChalkinTexas The last time Kansas didn’t win the Big 12, my whiskers were still brown - not gray! (Ok, white)
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@nuleafjhawk Maybe. But I think the guy wants another ring very very badly and He’ll do anything to get it, Including using his unseasonally deep bench. He is using nearly 10 guys a game. I don’t recall him ever doing that this late in the season
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@Lulufulu85 I think you want to win all games! Why not have a reward for it before the tournament! Conference champs! It’s nice to be rewarded and it’s nice to reach goals! Bill is blessed w/ so much talent this year, more than he ever has. Our bench has won games for us this year, I think that is our biggest advantage during the tourney!
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Goal one: grow together as a team in the non-conference. Check
Goal two: Big 12 Champions. Check
Goal three: strong Big 12 tournament. TBD
Goal four: National Champions. TBD
