I heard someone say on the could be wrong podcast that people who don't love council are just not BALL knowers. Couldn't agree more. And I know DP is great. Like really really good. But I still just would rather watch Council bring the ball up than DP. The energy he brings to every step he takes on the court is infectious. (I'm not saying Council should play instead of DP just to be clear) Hopefully they will complement each other with one being so calm cool and collected and the other being always ready to be a burst of pure energy. DP is great. Maybe the best freshman we've ever had, but it's watching guys like Council that make it easy for me to be a Jayhawk fan.

@wissox83 said in Kansas Jayhawks @ NC State Wolfpack Game Chat Sat. 12/13 4:30 CT:

@FarmerJayhawk

Yeah, even when he had an off game yesterday he got 17 points seemingly almost effortlessly.

And more than the 17 points was how he freed up Melvin to go off early and gain the confidence to carry late.

What I see with Council and his shooting is he is not afraid to shoot an open shot when it is presented. Eventually a decent percentage of those will go down. But he has also been the guy for most of this season who is willing to take the difficult ugly shot rather than just get a turnover. And I think it's clear he doesn't really care about his percentages or stat lines, the only number he cares about is the final score.

@ROCKCHALK2025 in my darkest thoughts I go to that he has never finished a game for us. So maybe he’s afraid he’s not clutch. I notice he came out vs North Carolina when it became clear their guy was the best player on the court. He didn’t play against UConn which would have been the perfect opportunity to come out and show he’s the best.

There’s a part of me that thinks the perception that he is one of the top 3 players in college basketball is already out there so it’s easier to not give any evidence to the contrary rather than attempt to prove he’s number 1.

I just know for sure you’d have to DRAG Melvin off the court in the last 2 minutes of a close game.

I then also think about how the bal sticks when he’s on the court. Will we ever see the ball sing with him out there like it has several times this year as it whips around the court? Is he gonna give up his body like Jamari would for a charge or a loose ball?

At the same time if he plays 15 minutes during that dead stretch vs UConn we win that game. All to say I’m conflicted, I’m disappointed we haven’t see him play to his full potential, and I feel like we aren’t being told the full truth of what is going on. I don’t feel like any of that is owed to us as fans. But it is still sad and frustrating.

@drgnslayr Cal’s recent comments on the transfer portal were really some of the best I’ve heard. He talked about having the first transfer be allowed with no penalty but then requiring the year to sit after that. You get into a bad situation, the coach lied or left or whatever, then yeah get out and find somewhere better, but after that don’t go chasing money. And his concern was not for himself and as a coach but instead for the players. Talking how if you transfer to four schools in four years you almost assuredly aren’t graduating. And then you have no connection to any university or people who will commit to helping you down the line.

I think it was farmer or maybe someone else in the live game chat that brought up the difference it makes having Melvin as the primary ball handler. I think that is right on. I think Melvin is our most consistent in terms of effort and just the act of him being the ball up the court sets a different tone.

@TYOHawk But did he get through it? I'm not trying to be a hater, but I just have never seen this level of kid gloves applied by Bill Self before. He couldn't play for UConn because he was only at 90-95%? So he must have been 100% for this one? But later we found out there was a minute restriction? I feel like I saw DP ask to be taken out after in the first half maybe even rejecting a sub. It just feels like Bill Self is working very hard to spin the fact that DP is yet to play a full game of basketball. I understand that is Bill's job and I'm all for him taking as much heat off of the 18 year old as he can, I've just never seen him do it to this level before and it makes me feel weird. Lol.

Really hoping this is all somewhat Remy coded and come March we will see this team actually peak and make some noise. I'd just love to beat a few of the really good teams in the big 12 along the way.

@BShark This is where the focus on athleticism is really showing. Yes, the switching is nice thanks to Flory and Tiller being able to move their feet really well, but the real work is happening with guys like McDowell and Council helping and recovering with speed and aggressiveness. They are really challenging those three point shots and forcing the overall offense to start a few steps further from the line than the opposing team would like.

I might get hate for this but it does cause me a little concern with DP coming back. His individual defense was... meh and his cohesion with the whole group was certainly lacking. It's to be expected somewhat with so few reps together. I've now seen him leave his man to try to get a steal multiple times. It worked pre hiatus, but that's the kind of stuff that will get exploited by opposing coaches in conference.

Now he did score 17 in limited minutes seemingly fairly easily. But anyone else notice the difference in pace when he is on the floor? Don't get me wrong, he is yet to step on the floor and have a bad offensive performance, but as I'm sure most people are thinking, I definitely still want more from him. (and yeah, if he plays 15 minutes against UCONN we would have won that game...)

@BeddieKU23 said in Kansas Jayhawks @ NC State Wolfpack Game Chat Sat. 12/13 4:30 CT:

@approxinfinity

Certainly, took them not guarding him to heart and made them pay.

I love Juan but this mentality is certainly an upgrade for our lead guard to have.

Definitely expecting some clunkiness if DP plays. He just has to have the ball so much I expect to see some ball watching until others figure out how to play around him.

@drgnslayr said in Kansas Jayhawks vs Baylor Bears Game Chat Fri. 1/16 7:00 CT:

I kept mentioning how we haven't seen the complete DP. He looked at 100% in this game!

I agree he was closer. His on ball defense is pretty good. He has good hands and length and timing. His off ball defense could continue to improve and if we have any real aspirations this year it will need to. He’s pretty clearly the best offensive player self has ever had at Kansas and he may not yet be at 100% health. If he can continue to draw all the eyes and bodies, we have enough weapons offensively to be a pretty good team on that end. I imagine council and white will come back down to earth shooting the ball at some point. But even then they are still real threats to score whenever they touch it. As are flory and tiller. I’d love for Dawson to get some more run but not sure that quick lay up at the end of the game was selfs favorite play. I just finally watched the game and boy did he get the stare down on that one. Thought I saw him yell “time and score!!” Very angrily after that as pulling it out and taking a full possession was the clear right play for the situation.

@BShark I'll have to go listen to the postgame. It might be some more deflection because the reality is that this is Melvin's team and DP is just playing on it, but that can't be the narrative from the staff on that.

I think it was farmer or maybe someone else in the live game chat that brought up the difference it makes having Melvin as the primary ball handler. I think that is right on. I think Melvin is our most consistent in terms of effort and just the act of him being the ball up the court sets a different tone.

Yeah that’s pretty much gotta be our ceiling. Strong half on both ends. But with this team no lead is safe no matter who has it.

@drgnslayr There's clearly something lacking in connection on defense when he's out there despite being a fine individual defender. I also wonder about the impact of our style of offense while he is playing on the overall stress it puts on defenses. Are we easier to guard physically when he is out there because there is so much less ball and player movement? Does the moving the ball from side to side and whipping it around and in and out actually tax the opposing team more than some two man game over and over until DP makes an incredible play? Not all DPs fault to be clear.

@BShark TCU was really trying to blow up any PnR opportunities with Darryn. They blitzed those screens every time and ended up double or even triple teaming him as he tried to initiate that action. He split it the one time and got the nice and one from it, but I don't think we can expect teams to just let him run a simple Pick n Roll for easy lobs to Flory as much as we might have hoped. He's good enough and by all accounts smart enough to develop a counter to that kind of D. And he still got 30... But much of his scoring early was from free throws because of TCUs attempt to simply take him out of the game by throwing bodies at him. He was bumped and fouled EVERY time he tried to get around the hedging big when flory or tiller would set the pick and the refs just won't call ALL of them.

@kjayhawks2.0 Yep. And a lot of it is on the other guys to figure out how to still be active and aggressive while DP has the ball in his hands.

Can’t remember who the five were for overtime. Wasn’t it both elmarko and Jamari?

@kjayhawks2.0 said in Darryn Peterson:

DP played 32 minutes last night and hit some very clutch FTs. Everyone criticizing him should be on here singing his praises. I believe in accountability but also believe in a pat on the behind. Great game DP, let’s keep it going young fella!

My goal was to do both. Hope that came through.

This last game gave me a little more hope. But they are still in November form as a team when he is on the court. He’s obviously great but the team is still figuring out how to play with him out there. And yes I know his 30 points were huge and clutch free throws to close regulation. But him pulling himself out in the way he did could have cost us that game. If he just commits to playing for 1 more minute we maybe even win in regulation.

We are still yet to see a game end with him on the floor.