KU players, coaches, avid fans and marginal supporters,

Congrats on another year of fun, high level play, great effort and strong results. I had predicted in a previous post at the start of the year another Big 12 Title, another 30+ win season and another Final Four appearance.

Hey, two out of three, and almost three out of three ain’t bad…close but no cigar. Disappointing but the sky is not falling. The program is in excellent shape and our team had an excellent chance of going all the way, but so do other teams, like Oregon. I guess it was not meant to be.

Here are a few subjects we KU fans who follow religiously our team and believe every year we can go all the way, might like to consider:

1. This team and this group of young men performed at a high level and fulfilled their “contract” this season. We were not the overwhelming favorite and a dominant force in college basketball. No one is anymore, as any of a dozen teams can win the title in any give year. Let’s be thankful we are ALWAYS in the hunt. We had a good shot and came up short. No lack of effort, no shame, no one’s fault. Last night, we got beat by a better team.

2. Oregon has as good or a better team than Kansas this year. Many sports fans do not make a distinction between “should have won” and “could have won”. There is NO WAY they wanted it more than us. There is NO WAY we were outhustled, out coached or unprepared. If you look at the rosters, they are bigger, longer, more athletic than we are, and they outplayed us on the floor last night. Period. Hats off to the Ducks!

3. We could have won and were the favorites and were playing at home, we all agree on this, but this game was NOT a meltdown. Oregon got ahead early in a very rugged start for both teams. JJ got the two quick fouls, they made some very tough shots and played tough, smart D. They rebounded well and blocked our drives to the basket (Jordan Bell is a beast), and worked their butts off, and just beat us last night. Man up KU fans, single game elimination tournament at year end is like that for us AND the other programs as well. Please refrain from trashing the coach, any of the players or our wonderful basketball program and tradition. Show some class and help us move forward.

4. Coach Self had an outstanding coaching season and is evolving on the offensive side of the ball. He let them play, we jacked up threes, we tried to run, we tried pressure. Many of us on this rat board (including me) have criticized Coach Self for not having a more free-flowing game on O. The D is always good and came together nicely at year end, but the O was terrific this year and our schemes have improved. Live by the three and die by the three…high risk, high reward.

5. Oregon played very hard, got an early lead, hung on in the second half of the second half (last ten minutes when we made a mini-run), and got some fortunate breaks shooting and rebounding the ball. That’s the way the ball bounces in this and every game we play. We did not make shots (5-25 from 3) and they did (11-25 from 3). They outrebounded us 36-32. They blocked more shots and got more 50-50 balls NOT because “they wanted it more and some of our guys did not have focus” but simply because they are equal or more athletic (bigger, strong, faster, quicker, taller, longer…) player to player than we are, AND because they got lucky at key moments in the game.

6. We fans often underestimate the luck factor in the NCAA tournament, the way the ball bounces into one team’s hands and out of another team’s reach. If there is a big talent discrepancy, no big deal. But if the talent is equal, or the teams are evenly matched, one game is a crap shoot, period, even at home in KC. We have won and will continue to win our fair share, including in the NCAA tournament, just not this year. The odds will prevail if we keep knocking at the door.

7. Bravo to the seniors, we bleed blue and red for you and feel your pain.

Frank - you are an inspiration and a great, great KU player and ambassador whose jersey will hang in the Fieldhouse with the other hall of famers in the mecca of college basketball. National Player of the Year 2016-17!!! Good luck at the next level.

Landon - you have performed (if possible) beyond your abilities as well as any KU player in history, making an outstanding contribution to this year’s team and over the past five years. Thank you, good luck next year and we hope to see you playing for money, somewhere.

Tyler - it is not easy being the coach’s son. You have won the hearts of the Jayhawk nation and we hope you will continue in the profession. Ask you dad for a job…

KU fans - once we get through the grieving process, we will reflect on our wonderful memories of this year’s team and all the exciting victories (and comebacks!), and another Big 12 title to keep the string alive.

Stay the course and do not lose faith. Our time for future Final Fours is coming, and will come in numbers, and is just around the corner.

Rock Chalk!

A few thoughts on the current crop of KU basketball players and how the year is shaping up.

So far, the Jayhawks have performed well and over-achieved in non-conference play. A great start to another great year. I predicted at the start of the season, one more Big 12 title, another 30+ win season, and another one seed in March.

Concerning the Dance…injuries notwithstanding, and the crap shoot nature of a single game elimination tournament…we have a strong shot at another Final Four and a fair shot at a Championship. Let’s see how we hold up in Lexington and how consistent we can play during the conference games in January and February.

In any case, this team is better than the ones which have taken the court over the last two years. We have more depth and overall talent and balance. We are a better team and more upset proof this year, even without our wonderful senior leadership at point guard over the past two years.

The biggest surprise this year is our freshman point guard, Devon Dotson. He is Tyshawn Taylor fast baseline to baseline, and a better player as a freshman than either Frank or Devonte was their first years. He is tough, very competitive and loves the game. He plays good D and all he cares about is winning. He wants the ball in his hands at crunch time, poise and decision-making. He already drives the lane fearlessly. Stud!

Q has been getting better but lacks the Josh Jackson alpha dog attitude, and the Andrew Wiggins talent. But he could end up being a better college player than either of them, especially if he stays another year. He is our wild card and could take off at any time to assert himself as an all-league talent, or he could remain hesitant and unsure of his game. His D and rebounding and passing are good and getting better. His free throw shooting is excellent (smooth stroke). He is attacking the basket more and we hope that his shot will start to fall to give him confidence. If yes, KU becomes even more elite overnight. Skill!

LaGerald at the small forward (3 position) is streaky and explosive. His play early this season is the only reason we have one loss instead of three or four. His attitude and body language are good, but his concentration and basketball IQ are not yet at the level which would allow him to be the senior leader the team needs. We would not be nearly as good without him, glad he came back for his senior year. We need him to be a solid, consistent contributor with the occasional break-out game. Athleticism!

Dedric is an all-American double-double machine. He has paid his dues and is a model of efficient play. He scores and rebounds and passes at a very high level, every game, averaging about 20/10/3. The scoring and rebounding will drop a little, but the assists will grow over the next two months in conference play. His man D is average, and his athleticism is not very impressive, but he is a poor man’s Larry Bird and a great college player. He is our rock and our best player. We love his game (he is always in the right spot on the floor), and his commitment to the team and winning. Big 12 POY!

Dok is a mountain of a player who is still a teenager! He is remarkably quick and fast and athletic for a man of his size, and he is getting better, more skilled with each passing week. Injuries aside (the big guys get hurt more in the growing phase from boys to men), he slides well and runs well and is quick off the floor with his first jump ability. He wants to do well and cares about the team first. Powerful!

Our bench is better and deeper and more complete than any time in recent memory, especially Garrett who can ball even if he cannot shoot. Tough! We can and should use the bench more this year.

As HCBS said very astutely after our last game: “Our best Offense is with Doke. Our best Defense is probably without Dok.” Dok is an asset on D as a rim protector and rebounder and lane clogger. But as we have already seen, against an opponent with five shooters (4 + 1) who knows how to play (forced switches to gain match-up advantages), two Bigs (Dok and Dedric) on the floor can be a weakness (remember Nova last year).

The team is infinitely better offensively with Dok in the game, and even playing with two Bigs when he is out of the game, playing the traditional hi-lo. To win it all and reach our potential, we must shoot and make more threes. Better to keep shooting them even if we are not a very good long ball shooting team, 22-25 per game (8-9 makes), on average. Different team, different skills, different year.

I predicted three months ago that this would be an elite defensive team by the end of the season, playing better on-the ball and team D than in recent past teams. We are not there yet, but we are improving. Very happy to see coach try some new combinations (trapping, full-court pressure, playing D further out to disrupt O and not allow open threes…). Should we take even more risks on D? Go for more steals, be disruptive and aggressive – coach calls it being ‘active’. Yes!

We have a deep bench and capable guys. Be more creative on full-court press on occasion, double teams more often, trap the post like last game, at least a couple of times every game, get into passing lanes, hard fouls (no more ‘and ones’ against us going forward!). Switch to zone from time to time. Mix it up and add more pressure D coach, this team can handle it.

Keys to success: tight M2M and Team D, with classical Hi-Lo offense playing through Bigs, kick out to open threes. We do not need to score 80 to win, 70 will do this year.

Good luck to the team and coaches as we enter conference play. It is remarkable our string of consecutive conference titles, never before and never again. The Dance is the cherry on the cake. Let’s eat the cake first and enjoy every bite.

Rock Chalk! Happy New Year to Jayhawk fans everywhere!

Rock Chalk to KU fans! Football is finally over and basketball is here. We might even gain a player from their squad, a minor contribution to KU Athletics, but hey when you are where the football program is, every little contribution counts. KU BB is so fun to watch this year, even better than last year! The guard play is tremendous. This is the best shooting and passing team we have had in the Bill Self era. And the fastest. And our head coach is turning them loose. He screamed at Lagerald for not jacking up a quick three in transition in the last game. Imagine that! We have come a long way on the offensive end, and our coaching philosophy has adapted to the current personnel and to a more modern style of play. However, the change is more than jus the current roster of players and shooters, the old school coach has evolved for the better on O. Although we have not yet seen a KU player turn down a lay up to pass to a wide open three point shooter (like Golden State does), we are running and gunning and using our athleticism and our superior talent to speed up the game and shoot it early in the clock. Shoot the open three!, always, at any time! It is the most exciting development from a stubborn coach who knows how to win and will play his team in the best way to procure the ‘W’, no exceptions.
I will leave it to some of the other board rats more into analytics than me to provide the percentages of three point shooting vs two point shooting related to “best chance to win” statistics. It is certainly more modern and more high performing than the old conservative style of play on O.
I just love the spread offense (in the corners) and the hybrid hi-lo (unclogging the lane), not just because we are guard heavy but because it is a high octane powerful force in modern college ball. We can still dribble-drive and shoot or pitch, but no longer have to feed the post as our first option every time.
We can win by outscoring the opponent but as we proved against UK, we can win even when we do not shoot well. (UK is slightly down this year but KU is really good and showed tremendous toughness and senior leadership in that game). If we can keep Dok in the game we can play at a very high level and win any game, including the ones in March. When we get Billy back in a month, and get the high schooler (mini T-Rob) on the team at the end of Dec, we will be ready to make a very serious run. Plan B -which might be enough - is to have Mitch for “pitch and pop” and a few blocks, and Plan C is to have the football tight end knock people down and out for 2-4 min, if and when that particular game requires it. But our guard play is just a joy to watch. Frank was the NPoY but we have a better unit this year. Out current five, soon to be six are super studs and their D will get better as the weeks go bye.
We have a few weakenesses on individual D, keeping people in front of us, and our rebounding is still questionable, but our O and intangibles make up for it.
Our team D will get better by March. Our O is already top of class. This is the year, barring injuries, that the KU fans will get the cherry (Final Four) on the cake (another Big 12 title and 30+ win season). Believe it, this team stays healthy, this team is a favorite for the National Title. Rock Chalk!

Here we go…

At the start of this year, I predicted another 30 + win season, another Big 12 title and another Final Four appearance. This team is fast, great passers, even better shooters and surely could develop over the course of the season the tough high quality team defense we KU fans are used to since Coach Self took the reigns.

Plus we have a nice mix of senior leadership and youthful talent. Plus we have the best coaches and trainers and fans. Plus we have home court advantage. Plus we have the Rock Chalk magic!

But when we saw early on 6’5" 175 lbs Lagerald at the high post against a tall and long Washington team in KC instead of 6’10" 240 lbs Billy, and the game result - the way we played as well as the final score, I had a small doubt. Then with no more Billy on the roster and our beloved Jayhawks down a game in conference play, I had a bigger doubt. We needed another big badly, and Dwight (he would have been great this year for KU) and Billy (poor Billy, sad to see where he is at now) were out of the picture.

With Billy developing normally, we would have been an elite team, with a high development (lottery pick talent season) we would have been a Final Four favorite, with a low and slow development, still pretty damn good and better than we have done to date. With Dwight we would have been much better. But without either one…and Mitch has played to his potential and Silvio is still a year away…I did not like our chances to win the Big 12 this year.

All wishful thinking…we know the story. We caught a break with the injury to TT’s point guard (like we have caught a few breaks a few times over the past 14 years, remember Griffin’s timely injury) and here we are BIG 12 CHAMPS again! Absolutely remarkable for the program, HCBS and this year’s group of players.

Devonte’s play at WV and at TT was out of this world, and as the song goes, “We are the champions…” He has single-handedly willed us to another title, by attacking the rim, getting to the free-throw line, playing D, running the offense, staying positive…Big 12 player of the year with no elite talent around him, remarkable.

Now we enter post-season play. The touney will be interesting as we have no depth and the games - if we win - will be back to back to back with no rest. How will we play Devonte 40 minutes in 3 straight games? And the others 38-39 minutes a game? Let’s watch closely to see how coach plays it, assuming we get past the first game to play another one.

Other than entertainment value, and possibly a seed line up or down, the post-season conference touney means little. But the conference title means a lot! Please no more comments about how the Big 12 conference title is insignificant if we do not make the Final Four. How we would trade all the conference titles for one more national championship…

Winning the conference and making it to the final weekend of the Dance are not mutually exclusive. Getting a One Seed and not making the Final Four is not under-achieving. Getting a Two Seed and not making the Elite Eight is not under-achieving, especially for this team. This team has already OVER-achieved, by far. Anything else will be icing on the cake.

To the contrary of most fans and probably everyone reading this post, the conference title actually means more in terms of accomplishments for this team and our program than a deep run in the touney. The two-game series, home-away, and the way the Big 12 is set up make it very favorable for our team and our coach to win, not every game (like single elimination) but over the course of an entire season of conference play. BRAVO TO THE TEAM AND TO THE COACHES FOR ANOTHER BIG 12 CONFERENCE TITLE, REMARKABLE!

Devonte: stud. Svi: stud. Doke: young stud. Malik: potential stud. Legerald: trying hard to be stud. Marcus: intangibles stud. Mitch: “white men can’t jump” stud. Silvio: future stud. Coaches and Trainers: consistent studs. A very impressive group and we are very proud of them this year especially with their play and their results so far. KU circa 2017-18.

The odds of winning the national title are low for every team, every year and there is rarely a dominate group who is assured a Final Four, or a championship trophy. This year, there are at least a dozen teams who COULD win it all. None SHOULD win it all. If the game is close, I like our chances. But an off-shooting night and we are toast.

Single elimination tourney is a crap shoot and so we have many random and unpredictable things that can happen in: injuries (Embiid), two quick fouls in the first few minutes of a game (JJ), bad bouces of the ball or a lucky shot by another team…and all the teams after the first round, and especially after the first weekend, are really, really good.

KU this year - as coach has said a hundred times - are very vulerable with no margin for error. Take the eye test looking at most of the 65 teams athletes in the Dance this year, or even the Big 12, next to ours for the current roster of KU players. We are small and weak and a poor rebounding team.

It is hard to shoot it lights and play your best ball and get all the breaks for six straight games. There are a few examples. UConn did it but that is a rare case. KU this year would have to pull a UConn to get to the final weekend of play in the Dance. Can they do it? Yes. Will they do it? Probably not.

But in all cases, we have had another great season of highly entertaining college basketball. Wherever the chips may fall, let’s be supportive and encouraging to this team of players and coaches.

The first test may come against OSU tomorrow. If we play them again, let’s see if we can prevail against a team who has whipped up twice badly and has superior atheletes (not players, but atheletes). Winning the post season games is a lot more fun, but not necessarily the only thing that matters for this year’s team.

Rock Chalk Post Season Jayhawk!!!

Open message to HCBS and staff: Svi needs to see the court today! Major minutes and make sure he gets a chance to play well (run a couple of plays just for him, for example). The family weekend for this young future (all conference next year) star needs to be very positive and reassuring.

Svi: you got off to a great early start and you will be back in the rotation by year end, helping us to another conf title, a deep run in the Dance and an explosive sophomore year at KU. No worries…you are the man. Have fun in front of mom & dad this afternoon, and a wonderful family gathering a long way from home.

Fans lucky enough to be in the Fieldhouse today: a special warm Jayhawk welcome to Lawrence, KS for the Mykailuks!

Good string and good thoughts about how to develop the best team to peak at the right time, end of season. Here are a few thoughts to add to the debate:

• of course the most important part of the season is the tourney in March and of course the ultimate goal is a NC and of course the fans, the coaches and the players all agree on this

• however, the NC is not the only thing that matters - sorry - and this type of thinking is modern media hype where everything is about March Madness (back to the shoe conspiracy theory?)

• KU fans should always be happy and grateful that we win lots of games, especially at home and many conference titles - that string of 11 in a row is rarefied air in any sport at any time so please do not belittle it and make light of the accomplishment which is absolutely remarkable

• we have slightly underachieved in March and one reason might be because we have not developed the freshman fast enough with more playing time even if they are not the best option night in and night out…maybe but maybe not

• the last two years would have been VERY different if Jo-Jo and Cliff had played in March, and we would have made it deeper into the tourney (although WSU had a very good team too)

• now, back to the debate about who plays and how to develop talent: the best TEAM should be playing, not the best players and certainly not the best POTENTIAL players - this is not the NBA training league and the gamble to lose a few close games early on in order to get the freshman minutes which will ultimately pay off in March is a weak argument, at best

• the Keagan article built on the Self post-game, is not a reflection of the influence of these board rats on this site, as if it were responding to us (come on, guys, get a grip!) but it is a legitimate open debate on the best way to build the best team, which many KU fans are asking

• I was at the game on Tuesday (lucky to get court side seats) - the first one of the year for me - and was amazed once again at the knowledgeable KU fans who were all posing the same questions in some form or another - how and when do the freshmen post players get going

• Bottom Line from our Discussions: KU has a great team this year, but not great individual talent (no Wigs, no Jo-Jo…), therefore we need very strong chemistry and team play on both ends of the floor to be at our best, and the team play is far more important than the individual play, especially this year

• the freshman post players (Carlton and Cheick) are very inconsistent and often out of position and overall a net neutral on the court whereas the upperclassmen (Landon, Hunter and Jamari) are not as talented individually but make the TEAM so much better on a consistent basis ; the move to start Hunter has helped, and the composite 5 is a good strategy

• playing time will develop the young guys but that first year is very tough to “get it” and unless you are a lottery pick you are not going to make a major contribution to KU or any elite team as a freshman, and sacrificing the team (and wins) to get you there is a poor, low percentage gambit, in my opinion, the freshmen are a long ways from being difference makers on a consistent basis (maybe here and there in spots, with certain match-ups on some nights…)

• none of our guys are pure NBA talent: they are mostly tweeners who will have a very rough time getting drafted and even making a NBA team (except Perry and maybe Wayne), and yes, undoubtedly the freshman post players have the highest ceiling of anyone on this year’s team but they is still a year or two away

• our guys are all great college players and our guard play is exceptional - Devonte, Frank and Wayne with BG and Svi off the bench are the best five in the country and Coach Self is using them well (more open offense, more dribble-drive to shoot and kick out, more threes early in the clock, more individual play-making, more pressure D, more rebounding from the guards…)

• Perry is by far our best option night in and night out, and when he turned it on in the second half (after a pep talk at half time), we were an entirely different team the second half

• we are playing a freer hi-lo than in the past, more trust in the play-makers, our offensive performance has been really good and consistent, we are running more and playing more aggressively on O which is a wonderful use of this year’s talent, and our D is picking up

• our rebounding is improving on both ends - we need more from Wayne and BG in this area

• this is a good passing team - very good ball movement and our big guys are starting to pass better with each game - Play of the Game: Wayne’s forward pass in the air to Devonte to Hunter for the “and one” had the Field House rocking!

• after Sat and Mon we will have a better idea of how good we really are, but I am predicting another Big 12 title (this is a GOOD thing, guys) and a deep run in the tourney (Final Four is indeed the goal for us to have a GREAT season)

• Rock Chalk!

We have to give it up, once again, for Head Coach Bill Self.

He has evolved in ways I was not sure he could, especially in offensive scheming and nonbolded text play calling. He has moved from a rigid “my way or the highway” hi-lo, feed the post, never jack up a three early in the shot clock, run my stuff to get the best shot philosophy, to a more modern run & gun off the break, dribble-drive, penetrate, take the open shot when it presents itself early in the clock or not, penetrate and pitch, “make a play” style.

This is not just “adjusting to his personnel”. This is a key learning and an evolution of a hugely successful coach. It is so hard to change what has been successful, especially when it is your core belief.

Our Head Coach has changed for the better. The evolution is not just this team of players, but the way to play with superior talent, running “option offense” (like run-pass option in football). It is remarkably effective and more dynamic and creates improvised play-making opportunities for our guards.

Snacks deserves some credit, but mostly the old stubborn “I will always play the percentages to give my team the best chance to win, in every circumstance and with every team” head coach, has modified his basic philosophy, not just to “fit the players he currently has” but to take advantage of the three point shot and superior athletic talent. BRAVO!

Coach: you are the best and yet you have gotten better. Well done.

Board rats: let’s talk offense and break it down a little more. This is an exciting time for KU basketball. Now we have a world class offense to go with our world class defense. I applaud and encourage the new way.

Nova is a better team, athletes and players, best program in the country over the last five years. If we played them ten times, we would lose eight or nine.

They shot lights out early and got confidence, the basket grew and most shots where swishes from downtown. The set the record for made threes (tied it in the first half!). That shot at the start of the second half after we had a glimmer of hope as the shot clock expired, from way downtown…enough said.

Their front court was better than ours and their back court was better than ours, deeper and more versatile. (In the title game their bench guy 6th man scored 31 and was named Final Four MVP…wow! that is depth and many weapons at a whole different level, GREAT O and much better than average D, just a complete deep team with talent and experience, 'hats off to the program and this year’s crew and coach Jay - they are truly the elite college team)

So, in summary, we (and everybody else) was completely outclassed, offensively and defensively and Villanova was peaking at just the right time. There is NO WAY we could have jacked up 40 three pointers, come on man!

Also, the number of threes depend on the quality of the shot, not quantity of shots attempted… You either have to step back and take a looooooong one from way downtown, or your O scheme has to allow for open catch and shoot looks, then knock 'em down. No one is going to get his own consistently off the dribble at the college level.

The way they were running their offense and the quality of looks against our average D was not going to be successful unless they missed and got tight, and the opposite happened.

BTW…the Big East is NOT mid-major, come on man! It is a good conference. And Nova peaked at just the right time…like a court full of Newmans confidence wise in their shots in March. That team would beat anybody consistently at the end of the year. They would outscore with great O or grind it out with strong D. The great defensive teams this year (like UV or MSU or TTor WVU) did not have the fire power and the great offensive teams (like KU) did not have the D to compete and win consistently against that team, this year, in March.

The ONLY thing KU could have done which we did not do was close out better on their three point shooters which MIGHT have disrupted their rhythm just a little. We tried but were a step too slow and with the big guy we could not protect the three point line after the switches. They had SEVEN players hit a three in the first half and all starters had at least two threes in the first half! Unreal. Once they got going, it was a fret train.

TT was the best defensive team in out conference this year and they disrupted a little bit more the open threes that Nova creates through mismatches and GREAT ball movement. WVU is good and their press is really good. Nova beat the field by double digits. And they got better each game!

Still, as their POY stud point guard said, “if we we were not hitting shots, we would have just grinded it out and still won”…impressive and true, just as they did against TT.

BRAVO to KU players and coaches who got as much out of this team as humanly possible.

Great year, lots of fun, no embarrassment in the semis…just ran into a buzz saw who shot it lights out. Thanks to all in KU nation for a highly entertaining year. We overperformed, be proud and happy and supportive. Well done!

GREAT Big 12 champs again (14 straight is amazing), Big 12 touney champs w/out Dok was impressive, GREAT GREAT Elite Eight win over Duke - by far the game of this year’s Madness.

Now on the next year, as pre-season number one! RCJH!

KU BB is here and we can rejoice with enthusiastic support. Here is an early summary of our team and coaching:

• O has evolved! As Coach put it, we are trying to score off the dribble and not just he pass. Hallelujah! The old high-low is a great offense for a slow, methodical team of 3-4 year front line average talented players who know the offense and can pass but not run or dribble. It gets us the shot “in tight”, with angles and good ball movement. But it also clogs the lane and exposes our weakness against length, year after year. The only way to compensate is dribble-drive to shot or pass (kick out). We have to be able to beat teams off the bounce to win against elite competition. Period. And in years past, we have not been able to do it.

All of our starting five this year can do it: Frank, Devonte, Wayne, Perry and Jamari are all good at driving the basketball to the rim off the dribble. Our O has evolved a little and we are shooting more threes and trying to score off the bounce. GOOD! (Thanks to Aaron Miles in large part…). We are running more. Good! We are relying a little less on Coach’s “stuff” (set plays) and a little more on the innate athleticism of our elite players. Good! Go make a play, boys, early in the season so that at tourney time we are used to it.

D - we are switching much more than past years, at least early season. We have the personnel to do it. This is also why Hunter and Landon do not play as much as Jamari: D, ability to slide, quickness to switch onto a smaller and quicker opponent. This is also why Svi will get more minutes than Brannen.

Cheick will add huge D presence in the paint and rim protection and rebounding…he will make the biggest difference as a defensive stopper, just what we need! He will also help us keep a high level of speed up and down the court. Run, Cheick, run!!! Coach: Do NOT slow the game down to set up on O and D. Force the action on both ends. More possessions, we have the horses to run and press and attack and be aggressive for 40 minutes.

We have tried a little pressing too, full court and trapping half court. Not enough. We should do more. Push our players to exert maximum energy on D - we have a very deep bench, no worries.

Force the action, Coach! My prediction is that this team will be an elite defensive unit - team defense - by year end. We still need a stopper in the front court. LeGerald is still a year away…

Rebounding: Look for this team to improve considerably as Cheick plays more minutes over the next couple of months. He will pull down some boards which will make the average KU fan jump our of his chair. He will go get the ball unlike anyone else can on this year’s team (think T-Rob).

Our guards are great rebounders in spite of small size: Frank and Devonte have a nose for the ball off the rim and Wayne can do it if he is focused (not yet in his nature). We can board better on the O end and we will.

Passing - better than last year and an area which will improve vastly over the course of this season. Carlton is a great passer. We are not a good passing team yet, but this part of our game will get much better in a month or two. Our guard play will improve as distributors a lot by conference play.

Intangibles: excellent. We are tough, solid, fearless and have an edge. Self teams are like our head coach, they are determined and highly competitive.

Easily another 30 win season (maybe 35?), another big 12 championship for sure, and for the hungry KU fans, if everyone stays healthy, a Final Four guaranteed! Rock Chalk!

ROCK CHALK!

Basketball season is finally here, and the conference season is just around the corner. The team looks great and barring serious injury, we will start another Big 12 title streak and make another Final Four in 2020. This year’s team has a good blend of size, speed and length to be an elite defensive force. Coach has the personnel to run his traditional ‘hi-lo’ offense but someone should tell him that it is out of date and stale, even the hi-bred update version. Go for Dribble-Drive and unclog the lane like we have in the recent past. Regardless, we are not an elite offensive team. We lack shooters and play-makers and offensive coaching. So, we will hang our hat on D – tough D! D travels, D wins and D is more consistent that O. In Self we trust!

Coach: mix it up more between man and zone and pressure/trap, be creative.

After the Villanova game our fans were a little down on Dot. Turnover, no foul, missed free throw, bad game point management, missed D assignment, missed last shot…Yes, but this is not all on Dot. And he made the great play to get the ball back for the last shot opportunity and got a good look at the basket. The last four years we have been blessed with outstanding point guards: Frank, Devonte and now Dot. These guys are STUDS! And we remember Frank and Devonte as seniors whereas Dot is just a sophomore. Dot is faster than almost anyone in college with the basketball, in the open court. He blows by good defenders routinely and brings and unbelievable amount of energy to the game on both ends. His on-the-ball D is exceptional. He is becoming a leader on the court. He must do so much night in and night out to get us a W. No one can always make it happen, every time. It is much tougher against elite competition like Duke and Nova. He is our guy and he is still improving. He will be a first round selection next year in the NBA draft.

Coach: give him a quick second half blow every game and he will be a better closer.

Dot & Dok (we love the Double D) are by far the best and most talented players on our roster. This has the making of one of the great dynamic duos in KU BB history. Matt Tait wrote an excellent piece about them a few weeks back. Dok is getting better and will peak in March. He is only 20 years old and has not played very much basketball in his career. He looks great, slim, powerful and is becoming an elite rebounder and shot blocker. He is moving his feet and sliding better. I love his near the basket game. Concerning free throws, like Shaq, he will make them when the count!

Coach: keep him on the court at the end of the game as a difference-maker.

Marcus is the glue guy we cannot do without. We need him to stay healthy and be smart with the ball on O like he is on D. His off the ball D is world class and his leadership and occasional point guard skills (to spell Dot) will take us to the promised land. He rebounds, guards the other team’s best player, passes well and knows how to play the game better than anyone else on our team.

Coach: leave Marcus on the court all game, every game and tape those ankles.

Ochai is talented, perfect body for ballin’. He can become a second/third team all-conference player this year if he can be more consistent. He can become an elite defender, rebounder and offensive player if he gains consistency on both ends. He is so much fun to watch. Our best above the rim player.

Coach: encourage Och to drive the ball more and not settle for the long three.

David is a stud and the most articulate player on the team in the interview room. He has not yet fully grown into his body (think puppy with over-sized feet) but no one tries harder or is more competitive that Big Dave. His on-the-ball D is improving but it will take another year or two to hit elite all-conference status. He has developed a nice mid-range game which will help us win this year.

Coach: let David play through mistakes, he is a fast learner and hits the boards hard.

Silvio needs to gain confidence and he too will improve a lot by year end. He is our best offensive rebounder and a fan favorite. Soft touch, stud potential. Isaiah will win us a game or two in conference play but the ability to play big minutes is lacking, especially in ball handling and D. He rebounds well on defense. We will need him to stroke the three and have coach runs plays to get him open set shots every game. The two freshman – Christian and Tristan will need to step up and play hard and give us some good bench minutes this year. They will. Both are talented and learning how to play at the next level. The speed of the game and its physical nature take some time to get used to. They will improve a lot by year end.

Coach: use the bench more, especially early on against elite talent. They need the pressure context and we will need them to perform as the year move on, and they can only do this with game time experience.

Team chemistry is great, especially this early in the year. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Merry Christmas to all KU fans.

Ku Fans and college basketball aficionados,

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Time to get our mind back on our favorite team in our favorite sport for the 2020-21 season. Nothing like college basketball for a KU alumni and avid supporter. Could this be the year?

First, a quick note of reverence for the 1999-20 team who was built for March. I had my money on KU to win it all: Big Man All-American dominate in the paint, Point Guard All American fast and tough in the tradition of Frank, Devonte and all those all KU lead guard superstars over the years; Best Defense All American(POY) in the nation; good enough role players and shooters to make this group upset proof; and finally, Best Coach at crunch time to increase our chances “when the popcorn starts popping”… I liked our chances a lot last year and we had the perfect college fit and chemistry to go all the way. We were on a role, getting better. Dok and Dot and Marcus were not going to let us lose. Only this new season helps turn the page…

Water under the bridge…onward to the new team which will kick off the year against number one Gonzaga this week to the great enjoyment of all.

First the veterans: Marcus – super stud, vocal and physical leader, best defensive player in the country, very high BB IQ, a coach on the floor on both ends who will have to do it on both ends of the court this year; he will, and he will hit his free throws when it matters most Big Dave – high energy, high talent, hustle and clutch, one of the best big men in the conference, smooth stoke from 15 feet and a good free throw shooter; no fear; loves a challenge and loves his team; will be the man in paint with big minutes this year Ochai – future pro who knows how to compete and win; under-rated on D; clutch and cool under pressure; will rebound and pass better this year; more consistent scorer; team player who will continue to improve Mitch – “if you cut his chest open, a Jayhawk would fly out” Snacks; solid, tough, five year senior who is hungry for a championship to crown his KU experience Christian – mandatory Kansas boy who surprises everyone with is very solid and consistent play; clutch shooter (no hesitation, no shaky arm, super smooth stroke); hustle all over both ends of the court; he is good and getting better Tristan – future pro in Europe; four-year player at Kansa who will get a lot better every game he plays (double digit playing time); he will personally win us a game or two this year; still raw but lots of talent

Then the first-year players:

Jalen – maybe the best athlete on the team; loves to mix it up down low with bigger, heavier opponents; a little rust to shake off before conference play starts; good, solid performances off the bench; we need his toughness on the boards and guarding his man Dajuan – back up point guard to spell Marcus from bringing it up the court every time; small but tough, sticky D with quick hands; chomping at the bit to get some action this year; will become a KU fan favorite over the next four years Tyon – hot and cold but capable of a 25-point performance on any given night against any competition; might be slow to adjust o Bill Self’s system which does not favor free-lance play; might be slow to adjust to physical Big 12 play; a factor at the end of the year for sure if he can stay healthy, wild card Brice – our best pro prospect who will be lights out after a month or two; team-player looking to contribute to team success; he will fit into the KU system on O and D perfectly after he learns where to go and what to do and can play to the scouting report; uber-talented who is a little light to mix it up, one more year of muscle as a sophomore to become a team leader and a first round NBA draft pick Latrell – very small Jethro – very big Non-Schollies – good group, maybe Chris Teahan can win us a game this year by knocking down a couple of threes in a game on the road against a zone? Coaching – good job of fending off the NCAA and keeping the student-athletes focused on studies and basketball and staying safe and isolated from COVID; Bill wants a title, Bill needs a title, Bill deserves another title; last year was the perfect team to go and get another one; this year, not so sure, need fast development of the bench players to get excellence by committee (different guy every night, great team D as always; can we score in bunches? Stroke the three with consistency? Can we rebound with the best big, strong, talented teams? … not sure yet)

Anyway, we will have a highly entertaining group of players and the team will gel quickly, great chemistry right out of the gate. Gonzaga has seniors and shooters and guys who really know how to play the game, especially at the start of the season. Good eyeball test for our new team. I think we will lose a close one, after falling behind early, and clawing our way back. Should be fun to watch.

By year end, our team will be better and baring injuries or stoppage, we will make a run at Baylor for the Big 12 and maybe even a run to the Final Four. Rock Chalk!

Happy Thanksgiving!

@justanotherfan

Marcus to inbound, Dot and Moss as primary targets, with Christian and Och as secondary. Big Dave as option five. Moss needs to break more, not just move once and wait for the pass, but we want Marcus in bounding and not getting fouled. Dot and Isiah are money with the game on the line.

@BeddieKU23 yes

Quick BB Question: why in the world does KU not have Marcus inbound the ball at the end of the game when the pther team is pressing? He is our best passer and worst FT shooter (besides Dok). Sould he be the one to inbound th ball to either Isiah, Dot, or if not possible, one of the other guards?

ROCK CHALK!

Basketball season is finally here, and the conference season is just around the corner. The team looks great and barring serious injury, we will start another Big 12 title streak and make another Final Four in 2020. This year’s team has a good blend of size, speed and length to be an elite defensive force. Coach has the personnel to run his traditional ‘hi-lo’ offense but someone should tell him that it is out of date and stale, even the hi-bred update version. Go for Dribble-Drive and unclog the lane like we have in the recent past. Regardless, we are not an elite offensive team. We lack shooters and play-makers and offensive coaching. So, we will hang our hat on D – tough D! D travels, D wins and D is more consistent that O. In Self we trust!

Coach: mix it up more between man and zone and pressure/trap, be creative.

After the Villanova game our fans were a little down on Dot. Turnover, no foul, missed free throw, bad game point management, missed D assignment, missed last shot…Yes, but this is not all on Dot. And he made the great play to get the ball back for the last shot opportunity and got a good look at the basket. The last four years we have been blessed with outstanding point guards: Frank, Devonte and now Dot. These guys are STUDS! And we remember Frank and Devonte as seniors whereas Dot is just a sophomore. Dot is faster than almost anyone in college with the basketball, in the open court. He blows by good defenders routinely and brings and unbelievable amount of energy to the game on both ends. His on-the-ball D is exceptional. He is becoming a leader on the court. He must do so much night in and night out to get us a W. No one can always make it happen, every time. It is much tougher against elite competition like Duke and Nova. He is our guy and he is still improving. He will be a first round selection next year in the NBA draft.

Coach: give him a quick second half blow every game and he will be a better closer.

Dot & Dok (we love the Double D) are by far the best and most talented players on our roster. This has the making of one of the great dynamic duos in KU BB history. Matt Tait wrote an excellent piece about them a few weeks back. Dok is getting better and will peak in March. He is only 20 years old and has not played very much basketball in his career. He looks great, slim, powerful and is becoming an elite rebounder and shot blocker. He is moving his feet and sliding better. I love his near the basket game. Concerning free throws, like Shaq, he will make them when the count!

Coach: keep him on the court at the end of the game as a difference-maker.

Marcus is the glue guy we cannot do without. We need him to stay healthy and be smart with the ball on O like he is on D. His off the ball D is world class and his leadership and occasional point guard skills (to spell Dot) will take us to the promised land. He rebounds, guards the other team’s best player, passes well and knows how to play the game better than anyone else on our team.

Coach: leave Marcus on the court all game, every game and tape those ankles.

Ochai is talented, perfect body for ballin’. He can become a second/third team all-conference player this year if he can be more consistent. He can become an elite defender, rebounder and offensive player if he gains consistency on both ends. He is so much fun to watch. Our best above the rim player.

Coach: encourage Och to drive the ball more and not settle for the long three.

David is a stud and the most articulate player on the team in the interview room. He has not yet fully grown into his body (think puppy with over-sized feet) but no one tries harder or is more competitive that Big Dave. His on-the-ball D is improving but it will take another year or two to hit elite all-conference status. He has developed a nice mid-range game which will help us win this year.

Coach: let David play through mistakes, he is a fast learner and hits the boards hard.

Silvio needs to gain confidence and he too will improve a lot by year end. He is our best offensive rebounder and a fan favorite. Soft touch, stud potential. Isaiah will win us a game or two in conference play but the ability to play big minutes is lacking, especially in ball handling and D. He rebounds well on defense. We will need him to stroke the three and have coach runs plays to get him open set shots every game. The two freshman – Christian and Tristan will need to step up and play hard and give us some good bench minutes this year. They will. Both are talented and learning how to play at the next level. The speed of the game and its physical nature take some time to get used to. They will improve a lot by year end.

Coach: use the bench more, especially early on against elite talent. They need the pressure context and we will need them to perform as the year move on, and they can only do this with game time experience.

Team chemistry is great, especially this early in the year. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Merry Christmas to all KU fans.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26146594/how-kansas-big-12-supremacy-unraveled

A few thoughts on the current crop of KU basketball players and how the year is shaping up.

So far, the Jayhawks have performed well and over-achieved in non-conference play. A great start to another great year. I predicted at the start of the season, one more Big 12 title, another 30+ win season, and another one seed in March.

Concerning the Dance…injuries notwithstanding, and the crap shoot nature of a single game elimination tournament…we have a strong shot at another Final Four and a fair shot at a Championship. Let’s see how we hold up in Lexington and how consistent we can play during the conference games in January and February.

In any case, this team is better than the ones which have taken the court over the last two years. We have more depth and overall talent and balance. We are a better team and more upset proof this year, even without our wonderful senior leadership at point guard over the past two years.

The biggest surprise this year is our freshman point guard, Devon Dotson. He is Tyshawn Taylor fast baseline to baseline, and a better player as a freshman than either Frank or Devonte was their first years. He is tough, very competitive and loves the game. He plays good D and all he cares about is winning. He wants the ball in his hands at crunch time, poise and decision-making. He already drives the lane fearlessly. Stud!

Q has been getting better but lacks the Josh Jackson alpha dog attitude, and the Andrew Wiggins talent. But he could end up being a better college player than either of them, especially if he stays another year. He is our wild card and could take off at any time to assert himself as an all-league talent, or he could remain hesitant and unsure of his game. His D and rebounding and passing are good and getting better. His free throw shooting is excellent (smooth stroke). He is attacking the basket more and we hope that his shot will start to fall to give him confidence. If yes, KU becomes even more elite overnight. Skill!

LaGerald at the small forward (3 position) is streaky and explosive. His play early this season is the only reason we have one loss instead of three or four. His attitude and body language are good, but his concentration and basketball IQ are not yet at the level which would allow him to be the senior leader the team needs. We would not be nearly as good without him, glad he came back for his senior year. We need him to be a solid, consistent contributor with the occasional break-out game. Athleticism!

Dedric is an all-American double-double machine. He has paid his dues and is a model of efficient play. He scores and rebounds and passes at a very high level, every game, averaging about 20/10/3. The scoring and rebounding will drop a little, but the assists will grow over the next two months in conference play. His man D is average, and his athleticism is not very impressive, but he is a poor man’s Larry Bird and a great college player. He is our rock and our best player. We love his game (he is always in the right spot on the floor), and his commitment to the team and winning. Big 12 POY!

Dok is a mountain of a player who is still a teenager! He is remarkably quick and fast and athletic for a man of his size, and he is getting better, more skilled with each passing week. Injuries aside (the big guys get hurt more in the growing phase from boys to men), he slides well and runs well and is quick off the floor with his first jump ability. He wants to do well and cares about the team first. Powerful!

Our bench is better and deeper and more complete than any time in recent memory, especially Garrett who can ball even if he cannot shoot. Tough! We can and should use the bench more this year.

As HCBS said very astutely after our last game: “Our best Offense is with Doke. Our best Defense is probably without Dok.” Dok is an asset on D as a rim protector and rebounder and lane clogger. But as we have already seen, against an opponent with five shooters (4 + 1) who knows how to play (forced switches to gain match-up advantages), two Bigs (Dok and Dedric) on the floor can be a weakness (remember Nova last year).

The team is infinitely better offensively with Dok in the game, and even playing with two Bigs when he is out of the game, playing the traditional hi-lo. To win it all and reach our potential, we must shoot and make more threes. Better to keep shooting them even if we are not a very good long ball shooting team, 22-25 per game (8-9 makes), on average. Different team, different skills, different year.

I predicted three months ago that this would be an elite defensive team by the end of the season, playing better on-the ball and team D than in recent past teams. We are not there yet, but we are improving. Very happy to see coach try some new combinations (trapping, full-court pressure, playing D further out to disrupt O and not allow open threes…). Should we take even more risks on D? Go for more steals, be disruptive and aggressive – coach calls it being ‘active’. Yes!

We have a deep bench and capable guys. Be more creative on full-court press on occasion, double teams more often, trap the post like last game, at least a couple of times every game, get into passing lanes, hard fouls (no more ‘and ones’ against us going forward!). Switch to zone from time to time. Mix it up and add more pressure D coach, this team can handle it.

Keys to success: tight M2M and Team D, with classical Hi-Lo offense playing through Bigs, kick out to open threes. We do not need to score 80 to win, 70 will do this year.

Good luck to the team and coaches as we enter conference play. It is remarkable our string of consecutive conference titles, never before and never again. The Dance is the cherry on the cake. Let’s eat the cake first and enjoy every bite.

Rock Chalk! Happy New Year to Jayhawk fans everywhere!

KU fans can get ready for a very different style of play for the 2018-19 season.

The hybrid hi-lo which unclogged the lane and jacked up a record number of threes will revert back to the classical formula, played through the 4 spot, which will look very different from the last two years (get used to Dedric showing his lottery pick talent in the high post around the free throwline, nothing flashy but deadly in his efficiency, scoring and passing and rebounding).

We might be less explosive and score fewer points and be a little less fast from end to end, but our play will be much more balanced and our offensive efficiency will be improved. Look for points per possession to be at an all time high by the end of conference play. Look for a very balanced allocation of minutes played and point scored and rebounds across the board.

But the greatest and most exciting development this year will be on the defensive end of the court. We will not have to outscore opponents to win the game. We will guard and rebound and get the 50-50 balls at a much higher rate than the last few years. We can foul and play hard and get tired with no consequences to our level of play. Next man up!

Slackers who do not block out or stay in front of their man or do not go 100% on every possession will sit early and often. No one will take any possessions off this year. So we should get after it in a very aggressive manner.

Our individual D will be a tough man-to-man (no more zone) and our team D will jell after Christmas. Team D is the most underrated aspect of winning basketball. By the end of the season, we will be an elite defensive team who can play big, small and anywhere in between.

Coach Self has always been a defensive guy first and foremost. He will get to adjust his schemes on D in the same way he has (remarkably) adjusted his offensive schemes over the past two years., to fit his talent and depth. We will see the lock down D we have not seen in many years, maybe since 2008.

Coach: How about experimenting with a full court pressure defense from tip off to final buzzer? I know you have always said “we do not press, we pressure, not full court but (maybe) three-quarters, solid fall back man in the half court is our bread and butter.”

For the first time in ages you have the athletes in number and quantity to wreck total havoc on the opposing team, and show another side of KU BB which has been missing for a while. I would love to see an ultra aggressive - in your face - D deployed in game after game and just wear the opponent down to the nub by half time.

Furthermore, this would require our guys to be tuned up on every single possession. Let your man get by you, take a seat on the bench. Get up under their guards 30 feet from the basket. Fight through the screens, less switching. Tough, tough, tough until the opponent surrenders and we develop that killer mentality from game one.

The decision to go full court on D, with some trapping and risk taking in an extremely aggressive style would be as innovative on the D side as you have been on the O side, adjusting to your personnel. Come on Coach, let’s see if we can keep the other team from running any offense at all, press them all the way past the three point line, give 'em 40 minutes of hell with no fall back positioning in the half court.

Concerning predictions for this year’s group, once again 30 + wins, another Big 12 title, no home court losses, another Final Four. We will be less spectacular (flashy) but a better team. Please, none of this “anything but a national championship is a failed season.”

No one on this rat board wants it more than the coaches and the players. Enjoy the process and watch the team get better every game. We will be very solid and hopefully able to elevate our game at the key moments, late in the season, to give ourselves a change to cut down some nets.

Rock Chalk!!!

Nova is a better team, athletes and players, best program in the country over the last five years. If we played them ten times, we would lose eight or nine.

They shot lights out early and got confidence, the basket grew and most shots where swishes from downtown. The set the record for made threes (tied it in the first half!). That shot at the start of the second half after we had a glimmer of hope as the shot clock expired, from way downtown…enough said.

Their front court was better than ours and their back court was better than ours, deeper and more versatile. (In the title game their bench guy 6th man scored 31 and was named Final Four MVP…wow! that is depth and many weapons at a whole different level, GREAT O and much better than average D, just a complete deep team with talent and experience, 'hats off to the program and this year’s crew and coach Jay - they are truly the elite college team)

So, in summary, we (and everybody else) was completely outclassed, offensively and defensively and Villanova was peaking at just the right time. There is NO WAY we could have jacked up 40 three pointers, come on man!

Also, the number of threes depend on the quality of the shot, not quantity of shots attempted… You either have to step back and take a looooooong one from way downtown, or your O scheme has to allow for open catch and shoot looks, then knock 'em down. No one is going to get his own consistently off the dribble at the college level.

The way they were running their offense and the quality of looks against our average D was not going to be successful unless they missed and got tight, and the opposite happened.

BTW…the Big East is NOT mid-major, come on man! It is a good conference. And Nova peaked at just the right time…like a court full of Newmans confidence wise in their shots in March. That team would beat anybody consistently at the end of the year. They would outscore with great O or grind it out with strong D. The great defensive teams this year (like UV or MSU or TTor WVU) did not have the fire power and the great offensive teams (like KU) did not have the D to compete and win consistently against that team, this year, in March.

The ONLY thing KU could have done which we did not do was close out better on their three point shooters which MIGHT have disrupted their rhythm just a little. We tried but were a step too slow and with the big guy we could not protect the three point line after the switches. They had SEVEN players hit a three in the first half and all starters had at least two threes in the first half! Unreal. Once they got going, it was a fret train.

TT was the best defensive team in out conference this year and they disrupted a little bit more the open threes that Nova creates through mismatches and GREAT ball movement. WVU is good and their press is really good. Nova beat the field by double digits. And they got better each game!

Still, as their POY stud point guard said, “if we we were not hitting shots, we would have just grinded it out and still won”…impressive and true, just as they did against TT.

BRAVO to KU players and coaches who got as much out of this team as humanly possible.

Great year, lots of fun, no embarrassment in the semis…just ran into a buzz saw who shot it lights out. Thanks to all in KU nation for a highly entertaining year. We overperformed, be proud and happy and supportive. Well done!

GREAT Big 12 champs again (14 straight is amazing), Big 12 touney champs w/out Dok was impressive, GREAT GREAT Elite Eight win over Duke - by far the game of this year’s Madness.

Now on the next year, as pre-season number one! RCJH!

Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Teams in bold denote an active streak. Rank School Number of Years 1 Kansas 28 (1990–2017) 2 North Carolina 27 (1975–2001) 3 Arizona 25 (1985–2009)* 4 Duke 22 (1996–2017) 5 Michigan State 20 (1998–2017) 6 Gonzaga 19 (1999–2017) 6 Wisconsin 19 (1999–2017) 7 Indiana 18 (1986–2003) 9 Kentucky 17 (1992–2008) 10 UCLA 15 (1967–1981)^ 11 Cincinnati 14 (1992–2005) 11 UCLA 14 (1989–2002)† 11 Georgetown 14 (1979–1992) 11 Texas 14 (1999–2012) 15 Temple 12 (1990–2001)

• NCAA vacated 1999 and 2008 appearances. ^ NCAA vacated 1980 appearance.