Well, for all the poor passes, turnovers, bad calls, and questionable defense, the guys showed a lot of grit when Oklahoma was looking almost unstoppable. Mason, even though Hield still scored, made it a lot tougher for him. It was disappointing to see Mason and Graham have a tough first half, and the turnovers, plus poor transition D, allowed OU to gain momentum that almost got them the win. Fortunately, they both were much better in the second half and overtimes and made several really good defensive plays.

I do not want to hear anyone, ANYONE, ever say that Ellis is soft and not aggressive. We do not win tonight without him being aggressive, driving inside, and that huge open 3 to tie the game. I was also impressed with Selden. Still looks totally different than last year and made several huge plays.

Oklahoma and Hield are definitely as good as advertised. Hield was dreaming of a chance to beat KU at Allen Fieldhouse, and he almost succeeded. When they are on, I would say maybe only KU and UNC could keep up with them. Hield is Durant level good and can carry them to the Final Four.

I know that a lot of people wanted Self to sub more, but I can not blame him for going with the guys that could play defense the best, although I think Hunter should have been in more. I thought they made some very timely plays and showed championship level defense when needed.

Right now, I think Oklahoma, KU, and UNC are probably the best teams, as I feel they can play at a higher level than MSU, Maryland, and Xavier. What are your thoughts?

It was one of the most pleasant games to watch in years. I really liked how Hunter played today - he reminded me of Withey!

Graham, Mason, and Selden are definitely championship caliber guards, and the best three since Chalmers, Rush and Robinson in 08.

Really glad that Self kept an open mind in allowing more dribble drive, run and gun action instead of throwing it inside. Baylor had no way to defend all the action and was helpless. I think the reason they stayed within 15 in the first half was because Hunter got two quick fouls. I know I sound like a broken record, but kudos to Self for making the adjustment and starting Hunter next to Perry. Even though he doesnt have the potential of Diallo, Hunter impacts the game in so many ways and is so much like Withey, only he is faster. I think that we could get to the Final Four with Mickelson, if he stays out of foul trouble.

Had 35 points and led all scorers.

@DoubleDD Like I said on another thread, transition and perimeter defense was the reason why we didn’t go up double digits at half.

Vitale mentioned during the first ten minutes how well we were getting back on defense and forcing OU to play in the half court, but then got very careless about covering shooters in transition.

Second, since OU is just as good as us from 3, you have to cover their shooters better, even when Hield drives into the lane. Except for one three, all of Woodard’s threes were open jumpers. Hield will get his, but you have to force Cousins and Woodard to make individual plays and play one on one defense with them.

In my opinion, guarding perimeter shooters and forcing them into a tough guarded shot is the improvement. Not the rotation, not playing Diallo more (though it would be nice if the light bulb goes on this season) and not subbing more. And it’s not like the defense was bad, but when facing an elite shooting team, you can’t just collapse into the paint to stop penetration and hope the open shooter misses. Strong individual defense stops both.

Fortunately for us, KU and OU are the two best trey balling teams in the country outside of St Marys. The only top 25 teams that I have seen that could pose the same problem like OU are UNC, Maryland somewhat, and Villanova, though Vill is streaky.

@MoonwalkMafia I agree, but Bragg and Diallo can’t play when the game and a big 12 championship and number 1 seed are on the line - they are just not comfortable with Self’s system yet. They should only play extended minutes in blowouts.

@HighEliteMajor Excellent posts regarding Self’s recent comments.

What some on here are failing to understand is how out of place and, to an extent, inappropriate Self’s comments are. A lot of this is on him for not having the personnel to have an inside out game that we have become accustomed to. This is the team he has and he needs to let them shoot. And if the other team does its job and compensates for the trey shooting, then drive and dish.

Good perimeter shooting really opens up the middle for guys like Perry to have room to operate.

And also, just because we are not on the coaching staff does not mean we are inept or stupid. Yes, Self is most likely a better coach than any of us or any two of us put together. But that does not mean that he is perfect or all knowing, because he is far from that. He has two very apparent weaknesses: lack of flexibility and choking in the tournament, both of which have resulted in losses that are bizarre and perplexing (UNI, VCU, etc.), and should never have happened.

That said, I think he is still a very good coach and wouldn’t want someone else in his position. But at the same time he needs to work also on improving his weaknesses and not repeating those same mistakes, which is exactly what we all have to do in our everyday lives.

Selden will play the 3 spot this year and frank and devonte will most likely be the starting 1 and 2. Self would be crazy to even consider moving Selden back to the 2 spot. Svi will probably sub for Devonte and Wayne, as he can play the 1-3. Just my opinion.

@jayballer54 The last team KU had that could play a half court game and still get to the final four was in 2008. Self has to figure out how to push tempo, because all except one of his teams suck when playing slow. When that happens, all of a team’s flaws are exposed , then we get in a big discussion about this and that.

Fix the problem by playing fast.

@DoubleDD I hear you man, I feel the same way. After watching other top ten teams, there is no one that you can point to and say they are definitively better than us. Watched Oklahoma almost get beat by Hawai’i. We can most certainly give them their first loss in a few weeks.

@pa_grape yes. Would probably have helped if Hunter had played more.

@Texas-Hawk-10 still someone is going to have to step up and decide that they aren’t going to get punked and bullied. It is a mindset that they must have in order to make a deep run. Any of them have the potential to be that, they just don’t know how to or that they can.

@sfbahawk once again, WE ALL KNOW LOSSES HAPPEN. I have never thought any of our recent teams were going undefeated. The fact that we were dominated in several areas when WVU didn’t even play well along with no hint of any in game adjustments from Self with this being a talented and experienced was very disappointing. Do you think we were doing fine and didn’t need any adjustments? This will be a lesson for them to not be scared by the defensive pressure and be tougher. That’s the point I’m trying to make.

@Crimsonorblue22 Game in 2014 with Wiggins. Got outtoughed and showed little fight at Texas. Played tougher the next time and blew them out

@jaybate-1.0 I agree with your theory. To paraphrase, Self said post game “We were full of ourselves”. I agree. I think these guys were too confident that they didn’t compete hard enough. And it showed.

@hawkmoon2020 I would agree with you, except we have lost there three straight years, and had similar losses the last few years to Stanford, WSU, and Texas. He obviously is not preparing them correctly for defensive pressure.

@MoonwalkMafia Sadly, I just do not see it with him. I have been saying that he needs to do some self reflections, but it appears as though he has only slightly adjusted. He can do it. He has the intelligence to do it. Otherwise, we will only get a final four every four or five years, maybe a championship every ten to fifteen years. Considering how good many of his teams have been and all the talent and experience they had, those numbers, imo, are too low, unless some think the 2010 and 2011 teams weren’t any good.

@sfbahawk I get your point, but do you not think that this loss is eerily similar to the WSU game last year? WSU did not play an exceptionally excuted game. As dragonslyr has noted, they were the aggressor and played with a chip. WSU wanted to win more. They applied defensive pressure, and we crumbled, just like yesterday. Is that not concerning to you? I am not trying to be negative, but seeing how nothing has really changed in that department says a lot about development and coaching. What is preventing a team in the tournament from doing the same thing? Oh well, I guess, if the other team beats us again in March. They played better right? Just happens. Self never got outcoached. You know what, the players were tired! That’s got to be it! (sigh)

@Hawk8086 I hear you, but a one seed has helped us a grand total of 1 time. Maybe it would do these guys good to get a 3 or 4 seed.

@sfbahawk You miss the point - it is how we lost. None of us on here expect KU to go undefeated in the Big 12. That is unrealistic, especially against so many good teams.

The fact that they were outtoughed, outcoached, and had no in game adjustments from Self is why many, including myself, are displeased. Everyones best effort was not on display last night, including Self.

Really, in regards to getting to the final four, winning the conference is not important, Recent teams that made it to the final four have proved that. But it sure leaves a sour taste in my mouth when guys are getting punked and beaten badly all game and nothing is done by anyone. Inexcusable.

@HighEliteMajor I wondered that too about Mickelson. We got it down to four then Self took him out. I also thought Diallo was decent in his time out there.

Have you noticed the look that Self has a lot of times on the sidelines during games like this and against WSU? Looks like he is sitting there mad about what is happening instead of scheming to get back in the game. Maybe we expect too much, but I will never believe that the players are that inept and unable to make simple in-game adjustments. I am not in the huddle or in the locker room to hear what he tells them, but I just have a hard time envisioning that the players are not talented or skilled enough to at least calm down and make smart passes and also strategically scheme against pressure defense. I am really at a loss for how this happens repeatedly and yet nothing is done differently.

Yes, I know, we have a good record and we will get a high seed in the tourney.

But does any of that even matter if Self and co. can not figure out this problem that has plagued us the last few years as well as in 2010 and 2011? How is it that the team, in the biggest game of the year, can not bring 110% focus and determination? Why? How much more talent do we need to get to the final four? Sorry for the rant - I am just confused why this is happening time after time.