This should be an outmanned opponent, in theory, although I do not expect this team to blow out anybody unless they are unconscious from deep.

So, my couch potato coaching plan would be to emphasize Quentin Grimes from start to finish.

Put him in position to succeed, whatever that may look like from the scouting report.

If it’s scoring in transition, great. Posting up, great. Passing and feeding Dedric…you get the drill.

This is THE game to do whatever it takes to clear his noggin and set him on the path.

Nice to see Garrett earning his keep on both ends of the floor now. Maybe by next year he’ll even hit a free throw or two!

I called out Dok in the preseason for looking like he’d regressed a bit. I was wrong, but I think I know why I was wrong: Dok needs a team around him to feed him the ball and space the floor, which wasn’t happening in the preseason without any set plays or Self wanting to show too much.

Agree that Dedric just knows how to score, where to be on the floor, like Danny Manning did.

Still love Dotson. some concern that he’s the only guy penetrating.

Grimes was hot from 3. Would like to see other aspects of his game. Got totally hosed on that mystery foul under the basket that sent MSU on that run late in the game.

Garrett. Hmmm. Confidence in him was once brimming, now not so much.

My usual DVRd reaction:

— surprised we got smoked, but not surprised we lost. Thought that was a strong possibility at Hilton.

— I still think this team is like a bunch of furniture you buy at the thrift store — doesn’t quite go together.

— Vick is trying too hard to be something he is not.

— as usual, teams have career days beyond the arc against us. Some contested, most not.

— the defense was mostly an atrocity. So many open players everywhere — and our players standing around wondering why

— Grimes…hmmm. Upvote.

— Dotson needs to shoot more.

— I’m hard pressed to remain positive on Mitch and Moore.

— Dok would have destroyed that ISU defense

Really the annoying part of the entire process is that it’s not transparent.

Not a peep from the NCAA.

And that’s ridiculous. That’s why there’s so much animosity in this thread. We are all in the dark, waiting, speculating.

None of us have any idea if Self is holding Silvio out because that’s what he feels he needs to do, or if the NCAA is behind the scenes hinting that he should do so. Self won’t tell us the whole truth.

It’s all about student athletes and their right to privacy?

Oh boy. That wasn’t pretty. Just finished the DVRd game.

Man, this may be the hardest KU team to watch play that I can recall in the history of my fandom.

It’s like pulling teeth just to get a shot off sometimes. My negative view of the game:

— Why is Vick so completely out of control every time he dribbles? It’s like he’s a merry go round trying to hold onto the ball as it spins.

— Ochai played hard. His future is bright. Tough. Hoping his handle improves over time. Nice southpaw flush!

— The few times Vick hasn’t started it hasn’t gone well for him.

— some interesting whistles.

— I can’t recall a game where it’s been so difficult to get a shot off. Texas ain’t that good.

— Did Grimes play?

— For apparently the best big man passer in the history of the game, Dedrick sure couldn’t pass out of a double team.

— God I hate all of Vick’s game except spot up shooting.

— Still love me some Dotson. I wish he’d find a midrange game and shoot the ball once in a while.

— Our lack of playable size kills us a lot of the time. Or is it that we should blame Self for not developing Big Dave and Mitch?

— Did I mention Vick’s lack of defensive ability? Or is it lack of intelligence to play D?

— I guess if coach thought he’d have Dok and Silvio all year, no need to bring the other bigs along too fast.

— KJ enters the game. Whistle. Turnover. Perplexed look on his face.

— man. This team. I guess they aren’t frustrating because at this point I don’t expect a road win.

So happy to see this team on the winning side of a blowout. I know Huggy Bear’s boys were undermanned, but happy to see us share the ball, play with some freedom.

— Jacque back in da house!!! Can’t recall the last time he was around. New assistant next year???

— I wonder if Pollard would make a good coach. Always solid in the post.

— Malik looked tall.

Back to the game…

— KJ! Did he look good or did he just make shots? No comment (says the KJ basher).

— Grimes had a sweet dish underneath…and nothing else.

— I’m officially happy with the team and rotation. Do not allow Vick to even come back to clean out his room, please.

— Big Dave is a giant, currently semi talentless spaznoid. But I love him!

— Mitch and Ochai need to be in an energy drink commercial.

— The Ochai baseline dunk made me smile.

— I refuse to read another NCAA corruption story the rest of the year.

— Love to see Dotson’s growing confidence.

— Even Fran was even keeled tonight!

The thing that gets me about this team is the defensive mental lapses. That Texas 3pt make after our free throw near the end of the game was comical. The guys were standing around and laughing coming back onto the floor. Nice to see them relaxed, but carefree is another matter.

If Garrett continues his impressive offensive output at the rim, I got no complaints about his game from deep. Not everybody’s a shooter. (Insert joke here about the rest of our players) But he for sure needs to clean up his free throws. That goes hand in hand with getting to the rim.

Poor Silvio. Never want to see a kid stuck in NCAA limbo. We all know that could last awhile. Although you’d have to think he knew “somebody” had to pay for the $2,500 online course he apparently needed to attend KU. Small potatoes I know, but did he think it was coming out of Fenny’s pocket? His parents? I hope the money aspect is limited to this and he somehow pays it back (no loans from Fenny!) and returns second semester.

FarmerJayhawk said:

Texas Hawk 10 said:

@jayhawkcsg Ripping a 21 year old because he didn’t play up to expectations after he’s announced his intention to move on just comes across as low class and petty.

Especially when he’s going home because he has a sick parent. Sometimes fans are the absolute worst.

Sick parent? Hadn’t read about that. Must be an update to the story i read earlier today. I’m not heartless, fer crissakes.

@Texas-Hawk-10 Tex, you’re a class act. I respect your ability to remain poised under duress. I do not share that trait. Sorry bout that. You can be angry with me if you want for having and sharing an opinion. I think that’s pretty much what message boards are for. I don’t see a header on the KUBUCKETS title page that says “only for non-critical, rational thinkers”.

If it makes you feel better about my low class-ness and petty-ness, i ripped him while he was here as well.

approxinfinity said:

@jayhawkcsg lol ok, I didn’t say the flashes were plentiful or long. I mean like a couple plays and sequences. I think that’s true.

Ha. Ok. I’ll buy that. Didn’t he have one game where he made like 6 3pters?

@Texas-Hawk-10 Nah. Well maybe a little. we can’t all have calm, cool, collected thoughts like you, Tex. He sucked. Us fans are allowed to have feelings, and vent them.

@Texas-Hawk-10 I think i was mainly chuckling when Approx said he looked like a complete guard in flashes. C’mon. that’s funny, and polite. Overly polite.

Chuck It Up Charlie. You guys are being very polite…

I DVRd the Jamfest just for fun. For those unfamiliar, it’s not a game, but shooting and dunk contests. So, it’s like the NFL combine really. But…

— Precious-Achiuwa is a specimen. His body would play as a freshman. Vicious dunker.

— Tre Mann has a smooooth shot and range. Florida will be happy next year.

— Cole Anthony didn’t look special in this event. Guessing he’s more of a floor general, scorer.

— A West Virginia commit didn’t seem to understand the rules of the dunk contest…made one then kept on dunking. Lame dunks, too.

— Another Florida recruit, SF Scottie Lewis, is a high flying gazelle.

— A 6-foot-1 girl had a sweet dunk.

— No. 1 recruit James Wiseman didn’t do much.

@HighEliteMajor yup, fitting is key. I had my irons fitted. I realized after the first round with them, and they were digging into my forearms (too long), I needed professional help! Driver and 3 wood are off the rack.

Hmm, maybe it is time for a club upgrade. My driver is older, Taylormade R9. Same with 3 wood — older R7. But I rip that sucker. Also have an Adams Insight 3 wood. Love it. Big Bertha irons. Rounder. I like how forgiving they are. Cleveland wedges — really tight spin early on. Odyssey white hot Rossie putter.

wissox said:

I hope you know I wasn’t specifically calling out you when I said ‘go start your own thread’.

Ha. That’s exactly why I created my own thread! I understand not everybody has the same disposition as I do when we are getting run out of the gym — as we were, which looked very familiar to other losses. I vented as such and you called me out.

It’s fine if you don’t care for what I have to say. I generally try to be even-keeled and not piss people off, so I moved onto my own thread as suggested to not rock the boat on game day.