Final Four bound!!!
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@HighEliteMajor I love the idea of having more time to prepare. The 2016 game was on the short turn around and Nova’s game plan was tough for us.
That said, KU made that game very very tough for Nova and we were in control in the 2nd half at times. Nova was averaging 80-90 points a game in the tournament and we held them far below that clip. Even with Perry Ellis having possibly his worst post season game of his career, Wayne chucking airballs and a few foul calls not going our way we were still up 6 late with a 3 that rimmed out by Wayne that could have put us up 9. I think it is easy for us to forget that Bill put together one hell of a gameplan against Nova as well. The momentum got away from us late and it just didn’t work out and that Nova team went on to win the entire thing and sent numerous guys to the NBA. This is not a game that I look back on with the same sense of despair and anguish as the Michigan, VCU or Oregon losses. I expect a similarly great strategy from Bill tomorrow night as he had for Nova in 2016 and agree that we win by 5-7 points in a game that is in the 70’s.
RCJH.
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Was looking at the stats from the 2016 KU Nova game. I remember our 3pt was bad that game but didn’t realize it was that bad. Between the 3 guards, Selden, Mason, Graham shot 6/21 (1/12 between Selden and Mason). What was even worse was the production Off the bench. Bragg and Traylor combined 11 minutes 0 pts, 0 rb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 TO, 2 PF.
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@Eric-san Yes, but remember, Nova’s three point shooting was worse. We got beat because Nova had the better game plan, shutting down Ellis. We did not respond with a counter to get Ellis into the game. And the reason Nova’s plan worked, a scab that gets picked every so often, is because Lucas was no real threat to score. That year, we could have had Diallo prepped and ready to play. But that’s old news. This year, we DO have Doke and Silvio (who was made game ready in about 60 days – another challenge to Diallo handling). Big, big difference this season. And that goes to @joeloveshawks’ point. We have lots more time to prep. I think – in fact I’m sure – Jay Wright worked hard on a KU game plan well before the Sweet16/Elite 8 weekend in 2016.
@Buster-1926 I am very confident. I was very confident when Doke went down because Silvio is a stud and when there is adversity, guys like Silvio step up. Opportunity and need are very inspirational. He fits this team very nicely.
This is the moment we’ve discussed that changes everything as far as perception for coach Self. A great coach that we know only needs this simple verification of his place among the elite. A second national title is the end of any discussion.
We are ready to win the national title.
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Lucas was the main reason for the two EE losses. It’s pretty clear.
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@Eric-san We were playing frozen. The only person who played with confidence was Devonte. To me, it’s all about confidence, and playing within yourself. One thing I have noticed is that Malik doesn’t seem to get nearly as rattled as he did earlier in the year. He is just oozing confidence, and I think that makes us a much tougher out. Vick looks more confident as well. Doke doesn’t ever seem to panic no matter what. This team hasn’t played tight this tournament, so i just hope we play with a free mind, and give it our best.
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We could say we pissed down our leg for a bit against Penn but that seems so far ago. I do think you hit the bigger point that guys have played with the confidence to get to this point. They are having fun and you can see it. What a job Self has done to flip the script getting here
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Doke is a lot more of a scoring threat than LL. Also, Self has perhaps turned the corner on shooting 3s: going from “fool’s gold” to “let it fly.” My concern for Saturday is that if we are looking to capitalize on Doke’s inside dominance, Jay Wright and Villanova may have a defensive counter and waiting for it. If a skinny Svi can effectively front-butt Bagley, how hard is it for a 245-pound Spellman to do the same thing? Also, If the pass is not at the rim for Doke to alley-oop, Doke needs a long time to gather himself for the 2nd leap during which he is prone to 2nd teaming and quick stripping hands of the guards.
Inside game becomes more open if we can shoot it from outside.
I believe Nova is looking for our guards to catch-and-look-for-a-passing-angle-to-feed-the-big-man-inside. Perhaps we can turn the table on them by adopting the catch-and-shoot mentality. We can out shoot them. 4 shooters with 1 beast down low is actaully harder (more multifacets) to guard than 5 shooters. Outside shooting success will force the defenders to commit on the perimeter from hedging inside. Lanes will be more open toward the rim. Currently, both Malike and Devonte are willing to catch-n-shoot, but Svi tends to hesitate, and Vick is still catch-and-look-to-pass especially if the game is tight. Those two are the key: trust your shooting touch, don’t think too much, let your muscle memory to take over, shoot in rythem, relax and “let if fly.”
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@LSH You know, the one thing about Doke that is really under appreciated is his ability to pass out of double teams, and just his passing ability in general. If I were coaching against Doke, I’d be very careful on guys sliding down the lanes. Back when SDSU beat us at home a few years ago, our lack of “attacking” those doubles with guys moving down the lane was pretty much the reason we lost (our inability to beat those traps). Some coaches talk about clustering or tightening on the trap, which would expose the three point line. If I’m Self, I’d anticipate that Wright might cluster the lane because Doke is a very good passer in that tight space, and work with Doke on perhaps hitting a guy that stays back near the line (something Doke rarely does). You can bait a guy to compress to the lane, and then kick back out or bait him with another cutter going across his face. That creates the chess game, and I’m sure Wright will be considering all of this too.
Great thing to watch for on Saturday.
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The challenge for Doke on Saturday will be defending without fouling. All of Villanova’s big men can play away from the basket, so Doke is going to have to be disciplined, or he will pick up cheap fouls away from the basket. Villanova inverts their offense quite a bit, with their PG (Brunson) often posting up while their big guys shoot threes. Most college teams don’t have an answer for that. That’s a matchup that will be different for KU.
Doke really is the key because Villanova can’t handle him physically on offense, but I am not sure who he can guard on defense because both Spellman and Paschall play on the perimeter offensively. Both are capable three point shooters - Paschall hits 33%, having made 31 on the year, while Spellman has hit nearly 45%, making 62 threes on the season. It’s no fluke for either of those guys to take and make a three or two during a game. They also can put it on the floor, so Doke will have to slide with them when they drive and not just sell out on shot fakes, where he risks picking up bad fouls.
Whichever team can enforce their will in that matchup probably wins the game.
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Well this ought to make us feel good: Myron Medcalf is picking 'Nova!
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Well he is just about like every one else. -Bilas - - - Biancadi - - Borzello - - -Dakich - - Dykes - - Gasaway – -Metcalf - - John Thompson III - -Greensburg - -all picking Villanova. - -now most of them was predicting close like 3-4 point games but all Villanova
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@HighEliteMajor 82-72 and Monday belongs to us.
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I predict we beat Nova, and then Michigan. This is Bill’s 3rd Final Four in 15 years; Roy had 4 in 15 years. Bill is ahead of Roy in national championships for KU 1-0, so I certainly hope he makes it 2-0 on Monday night.
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Nova wins by 10 imo.
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Lower scoring than expected 71 - 68 KU
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KU 83-77.
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96-94 KU in OT.
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@KUSTEVE no I can’t handle that
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KU 83
Nova 71
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Spellman needs to learn immediately what its like to guard our high mobility attackers.
Once that mobility has put the fear in him, then come at him with some Doke AND Silvio. Let him face u against someone his own size for a change and see how he likes getting some shots crammed down his throats.
Spellman getting cuffed by Svi, then Mitch, then some Silvio, and he will feel the trauma of the drama!
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Important point: Svi and Bagley are approximately the same weight. No one else matches with Doke tomorrow. That said, I’m wondering if Silvio out on the perimeter is the better option. He’s great at collapsing. Nova is awful at defending the pick and roll. With an athletic big like that and solid passing, we could do some damage.
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KUSTEVE said:
@BeddieKU23 I think Doke and lightfoot will be very important because I just don’t see how Doke will be able to guard a man on the perimeter.
one word. Silvio
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Thing is sports fans, KU has to make Nova panic. We have to get them rattled!! Have. To. That’s the great equalizer. Which of the two best teams left will break?
Another thing, KU has had more close games, down to the wire games than Nova has this season by far. Its not even close. Our boys do not panic. They fight.
Lets see what happens when the score is tied with 30 ticks left. 'Nova doesn’t have Coach Self.
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In 16 they rattled us with their physicality/extreme fouling. This year is pyback time. Doke just has to be smart and avoid the silly fouls in open court. They have no match for him, he is too strong for the butt front. Plus momma will be in the building. Doke goes 22/10. Silvio 6/12
KU 82 Nova 74
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Morning Bucketeers! Big Day for our boys. I hope to bring some of the love that is on this site and grateful to have had all of your insights. I’ve learned so much. My phone does not have much memory, just a simple android. If I get wifi I will do my best to take shots to show you all the action. I can twitter to @HighEliteMajor maybe. It may have to wait till I get back and can download from my camera. This is a Bucket List for sure and am thankful for all the support and love shown to me by you all over these past couple of years. Preston went to visit his brother yesterday so on the way to SA I am sure to get a lot of inner stuff and will pass on what I can. Getting to be around them in the hotel is going to be so much fun. We gotta win this. I just hope our boys play for their Mommas and Grandmas, their fans and themselves. Our brutal conf. schedule has prepared them for this. I was at the conf. opener here in Austin and having seen the growth and hard work put in by everyone, this is the top of the top. I look for a close game but think our having been in so many pressure games this season will be the deciding point.
76-71 KU
ROCK CHALK
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@RockChalkinTexas have a great time , Rock Chalk!
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I’d rather be worrying about how Dok will guard ‘Nova, than worrying about guarding Dok.
“Every time he hit me,” Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado told The Athletic, “I felt like my body was about to break.”
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@RockChalkinTexas enjoyed reliving this post of yours. All the optimism and potential. Looking forward to our boys’ next brush with greatness.
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Man, the Pac12 and Big10 canceling all sports until spring affects not only football, but looking ahead - if even possible, at this point - the NCAA Tournament. I have confidence that we’ll have a vaccine this winter, just a feeling. So hypothetical (and I know, it’s a huge stretch), if we were somehow able to cobble together a basketball regular season how could there even be an NCAA Tournament? And if not, that would obviously all but gut the need to hold a conference tournament.
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@Marco said in Final Four bound!!!:
Man, the Pac12 and Big10 canceling all sports until spring affects not only football, but looking ahead - if even possible, at this point - the NCAA Tournament. I have confidence that we’ll have a vaccine this winter, just a feeling. So hypothetical (and I know, it’s a huge stretch), if we were somehow able to cobble together a basketball regular season how could there even be an NCAA Tournament? And if not, that would obviously all but gut the need to hold a conference tournament.
I think the only way to cobble together a season is to have conference play only - otherwise you have some teams that play 25+ games and others that play 16 or 18. Conference play, then conference tournaments. That backs everything up until January, which gives more time to have a plan for how to do all of this safely.
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I wish I had your optimism. I’m thinking we have a horrible winter when mixing Covid with influenza. Testing will go sky high and slowed way down, becoming completely useless unless we have a fast home test by then. If this is the case… everything will be shutdown. The time to bring the virus down is NOW and it isn’t coming down fast enough. I don’t think we will have sports this year in college.
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Wow the optimism in this thread for that final four game! We’ve administered some epic FF beatdowns of UNC and Marquette, but that day we suffered the same.
