I’ll call 35-5.
Both Duke and Florida are going to be tough.
OK State is going to give us great game and I kind of think that even with the loss of some starters, Iowa State wants some payback. So I think they give us at least one tough game. As far as the 5 loss…things happen so especially early in the season with a young team it could happen with anyone.
I agree that Hoiberg goes to the NBA in a few years. But even if he didn’t, I can’t imagine him coming here to coach. The mayor would be excommunicated from Iowa and Weatherwax would go postal!
Love the post Slayer.
I feel Tharpe has #2 and #5 in spades. I think is also very good at #3 (although this is debatable) #1 is a little weak, but I think the continuing improvement on Tharpe’s part will sew this one up. #4 is a mixed bag, Tharpe is great at passing but seem to lack the ability to penetrate at times. I think last year, this was due to having Travis and BenMac who were catch and shoot wings and a 4 who was not an offensive threat. Which led to his man being free to clog the lane and double team Withey.
Tharpe and Mason will be a great benefit this year not a question mark.
I love Greene’s athletic ability, his shooting and driving skills look great. I know he has some work to do, but most freshmen do. We all know Frankamp’s skill at long range and his strength / conditioning weakness.
So why does most of what I read from Self indicate Greene as the most likely RS? We have seen players (like Rio) who despite having plenty of skill for whatever reason don’t fit / buy in to the system. They cant or won’t adjust. So is Greene having issues or is Frankamp just better then he has looked so far?
I tend to think that Frankamp as a specialized weapon ready to use come March, might be a better option then using Greene for minimal minutes throughout the year.
I think most of it has been said. But…
Naadir looked great…SharpeTharpe indeed!
Perry was ice cold and is just going to get better!
White and Jamari looked like locks for first 2 off the bench.
Greene looked alot better then I thought. He was very confindant for a freshmen playing his first game.
As others have said Lucas was a pleasant surprize.
The two weird things were how nervous Black looked in the first half as well as Selden. I really did not expect that from either.
Oh well…first game jitters. I just how we can get them out before Duke!
I loved what I saw last night!
I know there is still some work to do, but I can’t tell who was more instrumental to KU’s win. Mason’s driving and FT shooting, Ellis’s quiet efficient post work on offense or Wiggins making Big Plays when we needed it.
One think that seemed to be happening was Wiggins defense was shutting people down. I know its not as exciting as Randle and Parker putting up 20+ points. But I will take that defense any day.
6" increase…are you kidding me!
“Ellis has added six inches to his standing vertical since last November and recently hang-cleaned nearly 100 pounds more than his max in high school, according to strength coach Andrea Hudy.”
100% agree with @Wishawk . Glad to see @Jesse_Newell hoop math style of basketball reporting back. Keep up the good work and the good word Jesse.
I see HEM’s point and I think it is a valid one. It’s just rare to have so much talent on one team and therefore make’s it hard to compare to any other team. I do see 2 distinct advantages to having a large revolving rotation (at least for now).
1. Playing against teams with out a deep bench allows us to keep fresh bodies on the floor and gas an opponent out.
2. Flexibility. Putting different combinations on the floor allows for more specific match ups.
3 Conference Scouting. With this revolving line up it’s been difficult to see exactly who this team really is. This has to make it a little harder for Big12 teams to scout us beyond just the player level.
I would like to see Wiggins pass out when he drives in more as well. But I’m liking how he is starting to playing a little more through contact and not shy away from it. Seems like the guy just works on one thing at a time until he gets it, then moves on.
If you have not seen the Marcus Smart Flop Photoshop thread on Phog.net it is worth a look.
@Crimsonorblue22 Spot on!
Selden thinks way to much out there. He needs to be a Bulldog, not a Surgeon. He’s just not on that level yet, as much as he wants to be. I feel like alot is riding on Wayne, just hope he can deliver.
We simply got Out Toughed! SDSU played hard, got stops and they never got rattled.
In my very humble opinion if the following changes had been made, this could be the expected outcome.
Better three point shooting with Greene / White: Maybe we barely win.
Better rebounding / blocking out: Maybe we barely win.
Better PG play: Maybe we barely win.
We play tough hard nose basketball, with the mantra “we will not be out toughed in our house! Not now! Not ever!”: We win definitively!!!
I know there is lots of thing this team could improve upon. But overall they need some fight and right now the main guy that needs to step up is Selden. I just can’t see anyone else on the team who is likely to or in a position to grow in way to have a huge impact on this season. It seems as though Self has put all chips in on developing Selden on the hope this will happen. Like others I would love to see Greene get more time, but I can’t deny that if Selden puts it together he can pack a huge punch for this team in alot of different ways. A confident, fired up Selden could help pull this team up by the boot straps and push them over the edge to be the kind of team we all thought they could be.
Maybe it’s wishful thinking…but that’s what I’m pinning my hopes on.
I’m riding with Tharpe till we start conference play. Agreed that Mason has a higher ceiling and I love what he bring to the team, but Tharpe is in the perfect place with his experience to lead the team and run the offense.
He does however need to step up into that role and be a rock for the freshmen to look to when things get tough. I will give him one small pass though. This is a new and young team that he is running and Tharpe spent 2 years playing with Self ball veterans. Last year when he had the most exposure to running the point he had Travis, EJ, KY, Withey and even Ben had a half year under his belt. They knew when to be where. I really think that even though Tharpe is “THE” experienced player one the team, he entered new ground this year like everyone else. Things he took for granted last year he just can’t do this year.
I hope it all comes together Naa…we need you!
I don’t really feel that bad about the loss. I was thought it was a 50/50 chance the way we have been playing.
@approxinfinity is right. our ball reversal was not good and the 3 point specialist carousel is confusing. But I though we played with more toughness and Wiggins looked like he wanted to be the man later in the 2nd half. If we could just get to that mind set earlier we would have had the W. I would rather go through this growth process now then later.
Lots of teaching still left to be done.
I like the way we came out of the gate, but then we just slowed down again. We are too athletic to be playing that slow, but I think it’s just some tentativeness on the part of the freshmen and team as a whole.
Glad to see Wayne be more aggressive and make some 3’s but he is going to have to learn to keep control and use his speed and body to get in the lane with a zone and not turn it over. Keep it up Wayne your getting there.
Tharpe and Mason? Mason had a bad game last night, but he has been bringing the swagger we are missing. I just wish he could use his skill at penetrating to dish as well as take a shot. Tharpe needs to step it up! I’m glad he made a couple of 3’s last night, though I’d rather see 2-3 instead of 2-5, but he is a shooter over a driver and teams are daring us to take the open 3. Tharpe is a Junior and the leader of this team, he is the one that needs to light the fire and find a way to help motivate players on the court. I know he is trying…but like I said before he needs to step it up!
Embiid bailed us out last night. Plain and simple.
I…don’t even know really what to say. 22 points in the first half!
I know Villanova was playing hard, tough D and I know the whistles were going against us there for awhile…but come on. Our offense is just too good to score that low.
Tharpe has looked out of sorts in the last 2 games and that maybe saying it to nice. Mason was great, tough on both ends, wanting to lead. But with a tough zone and the other team daring us to take an outside shot. I felt like we needed something. If White / Greene / Frankamp are not on the floor or can’t get open then Selden and Tharpe have got to be able to make an unguarded / lightly guarded jumper.
I felt like Villanova executed what other teams having been trying but failed to do. Full court pressure, Play tough zone D, clog the lane against drives and double or triple team our post players if they get the ball.