“No doubt about it the crowd helped us win the game.” ~Coach Self

Priceless.

Considering how Bell manhandled Lucas and Colby, Bragg, a very distant third option in that scenario, was likely saved the humiliation. Sometimes it is better to leave things to our imagination than to remove all doubt.

Turning this detective work over to those with far better eyesight…Is Lagerald also ‘MIA’ during the team locker room celebration?

https://www.facebook.com/KansasBasketball/videos/10156175879234532/

What I have surmised is that Vick is an exceedingly introverted player on a team with perhaps the most extroverted leader in modern KU history. Throw in Vick’s early season success and the expectations of others and the pressure may be just too much to bear. Contrast this scenario with Garrett who performed mostly under the radar this season, whose early play likely lowered fan expectations and now his incremental improvement each game is rightfully applauded.

Two polar opposite trajectories. In the after game interview last night, the only irritation I sensed in Self’s voice was over the issue of social media. Self appeared to go to lengths to downplay it. While some players are wired to take the (nameless, faceless) negatives and turn them into a productive chip (e.g., Devonte), others fold under the weight of them.

I do not believe it is a lack of caring on Vick’s part. I believe he is likely more disappointed in himself than anyone else can imagine and the images we are seeing are more about that than disinterest. If I could wave the proverbial magic wand, it would be to eliminate all external and internal distractions (Vick has created for himself and others have created for him) and re-find the quirky, socially awkward but endearing, phenomenal talent that he is. We certainly need Vick in March but honestly we need him far beyond that.

My daughter parlayed her KU “Art History” degree into a lucrative career with an architectural lighting firm in Chicago. Signed herself up for interviews at the business school and convinced one employer that lighting is art…the rest is history.

If this loss yields another year of Doke, I will take it.

My two cents:

–Coach Self did not fail to make an adjustment. At heart, he is a basketball purist and he made an entirely conscious decision to allow events to unfold as they did.

–Coach Kruger’s strategy, while entirely legal, is still a pitiful display of tactic and smacks the face of everything that is beautiful about the sport.

–OU was outplayed, plain and simple, and it required a late game “gimmick” strategy from their coach to pull off the win. (National Player of the Year Frank Mason would not have stood for it.)

–Over the years, I have watched Coach Self put individual players in the “toughening box”. This year, I believe he has put the entire team in it.

–Reasons for losses are multifactorial. While it is necessary to find the root cause, attention must also be given to the many other factors that contributed. Otherwise, the next loss will be because of one of them.

–I believe Coach Self said in a pre-conference interview that he believes a 13-5 record will take the conference outright this year. He is a low risk gambler – gambles when the probability of success is highest. This team’s current formula of squeaking out wins coupled with their struggles in AFH requires too much dependence on “luck” for Coach Self’s taste. He is trying to motivate them to find their next gear. Historically, a loss often helps.

–I am very encouraged by the team’s play last night. They made progress. Selfishly, I want KU to wrap the conference up as fast as humanly possible but I have to constantly remind myself that every season is a marathon not a sprint.

If we all agreed, all of the time then we would only need a blog for one. How boring and uninspiring. I enjoy each and every post…some affirm my thoughts, others cause me to pause, and many push me to rethink my position.

A smart man (or woman) changes his mind…a darn fool never does.

It took Coach Self exactly two games to distance himself from his “long term” solution (of starting two bigs): Win. Win.: Malik and Vick get back to the starting rotation. Self gets to expect better effort.

Whatever the ailment this team is being treated…how fast and reliably they bounce back… only time will tell. Exciting times ahead!

…and Silvio’s emergence will force opposing teams to add another player to their scouting reports!

“I was like, ‘Bill, you know you’re not going to let him play like that,’” Rayford (Trae’s father) said, according to Jason King. “Eventually [Self] was like, ‘I guess you’re right, but promise me one thing: If he doesn’t come to Kansas, make sure he goes to OU. It will be good for the state. It will be good for the league.’”

@drgnslayr Excellent questions. My take is mutually exclusive propositions : Trae (and his father) wanted unconditional freedom to operate in a ‘no holds barred’ offense; Self coaches the exact opposite (offense should come in the flow of the game). I have no judgment regarding which is the correct approach with a talent like Young but since both sides had ‘eyes wide open’ and neither was likely to bend, then Trae to OU was the better decision for all.

Total class act coach and players in TT interview room.

Locker Room Celebration!!

https://www.facebook.com/KansasBasketball/videos/10156175879234532/

@Crimsonorblue22

Provided Lawson is not optioned to the G-League before the start of the season, he should be in line to make a minimum-contract salary (for rookies) for the next year. The contract would be just shy of $900,000 (source: RealGM).

One year deals typically incentivize players to stay in the USA as opposed to going abroad.

Lawson signed a non-guaranteed, Exhibit 10 deal with the Spurs.

Frank Mason III has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Just wish Self wasn’t a named source on the Nike front…seems we have more than enough on our plate with Adidas. Or is this a blessing in disguise?

Excerpt from article:

“That’s how [it] works at UNC and Duke,” Kansas coach Bill Self texted Adidas AAU coach T.J. Gassnola, who became known as the “bag man” in the case, cooperated with authorities and also pleaded guilty to a felony for wire fraud conspiracy. The two were discussing shoe companies can control recruits and keep top programs and coaches happy.

The disparity between the ever so quick whistles on Doke (to include a technical for what I believe was determined a facial expression violation) and the total opposite with Zion is unshakeable. Agree with you @kjayhawks, just give Zion the ball and the outcome is all but guaranteed.

Can’t rewrite history but if Self had this core group to develop from the start of the season I can only imagine. Undeniably less wins early but this team is congealing AND having fun…seeing the return of the chest bump last night was icing on the cake.

@Crimsonorblue22 Q: How do we handle a much better w v team? A: Have you in attendance!

@Crimsonorblue22

Spectrum Sports channel 30 in KC

Interesting to hear Cole Aldrich say it’s all about the National Championship.

Curious whether the parent(s) also claimed the contribution(s) to the charitable organization as a tax deduction?? Time will likely tell.