Best posts made by CRH107

“No doubt about it the crowd helped us win the game.” ~Coach Self

Priceless.

Considering how Bell manhandled Lucas and Colby, Bragg, a very distant third option in that scenario, was likely saved the humiliation. Sometimes it is better to leave things to our imagination than to remove all doubt.

Turning this detective work over to those with far better eyesight…Is Lagerald also ‘MIA’ during the team locker room celebration?

https://www.facebook.com/KansasBasketball/videos/10156175879234532/

What I have surmised is that Vick is an exceedingly introverted player on a team with perhaps the most extroverted leader in modern KU history. Throw in Vick’s early season success and the expectations of others and the pressure may be just too much to bear. Contrast this scenario with Garrett who performed mostly under the radar this season, whose early play likely lowered fan expectations and now his incremental improvement each game is rightfully applauded.

Two polar opposite trajectories. In the after game interview last night, the only irritation I sensed in Self’s voice was over the issue of social media. Self appeared to go to lengths to downplay it. While some players are wired to take the (nameless, faceless) negatives and turn them into a productive chip (e.g., Devonte), others fold under the weight of them.

I do not believe it is a lack of caring on Vick’s part. I believe he is likely more disappointed in himself than anyone else can imagine and the images we are seeing are more about that than disinterest. If I could wave the proverbial magic wand, it would be to eliminate all external and internal distractions (Vick has created for himself and others have created for him) and re-find the quirky, socially awkward but endearing, phenomenal talent that he is. We certainly need Vick in March but honestly we need him far beyond that.

My daughter parlayed her KU “Art History” degree into a lucrative career with an architectural lighting firm in Chicago. Signed herself up for interviews at the business school and convinced one employer that lighting is art…the rest is history.

If this loss yields another year of Doke, I will take it.

My two cents:

–Coach Self did not fail to make an adjustment. At heart, he is a basketball purist and he made an entirely conscious decision to allow events to unfold as they did.

–Coach Kruger’s strategy, while entirely legal, is still a pitiful display of tactic and smacks the face of everything that is beautiful about the sport.

–OU was outplayed, plain and simple, and it required a late game “gimmick” strategy from their coach to pull off the win. (National Player of the Year Frank Mason would not have stood for it.)

–Over the years, I have watched Coach Self put individual players in the “toughening box”. This year, I believe he has put the entire team in it.

–Reasons for losses are multifactorial. While it is necessary to find the root cause, attention must also be given to the many other factors that contributed. Otherwise, the next loss will be because of one of them.

–I believe Coach Self said in a pre-conference interview that he believes a 13-5 record will take the conference outright this year. He is a low risk gambler – gambles when the probability of success is highest. This team’s current formula of squeaking out wins coupled with their struggles in AFH requires too much dependence on “luck” for Coach Self’s taste. He is trying to motivate them to find their next gear. Historically, a loss often helps.

–I am very encouraged by the team’s play last night. They made progress. Selfishly, I want KU to wrap the conference up as fast as humanly possible but I have to constantly remind myself that every season is a marathon not a sprint.

If we all agreed, all of the time then we would only need a blog for one. How boring and uninspiring. I enjoy each and every post…some affirm my thoughts, others cause me to pause, and many push me to rethink my position.

A smart man (or woman) changes his mind…a darn fool never does.

It took Coach Self exactly two games to distance himself from his “long term” solution (of starting two bigs): Win. Win.: Malik and Vick get back to the starting rotation. Self gets to expect better effort.

Whatever the ailment this team is being treated…how fast and reliably they bounce back… only time will tell. Exciting times ahead!

…and Silvio’s emergence will force opposing teams to add another player to their scouting reports!

“I was like, ‘Bill, you know you’re not going to let him play like that,’” Rayford (Trae’s father) said, according to Jason King. “Eventually [Self] was like, ‘I guess you’re right, but promise me one thing: If he doesn’t come to Kansas, make sure he goes to OU. It will be good for the state. It will be good for the league.’”

@drgnslayr Excellent questions. My take is mutually exclusive propositions : Trae (and his father) wanted unconditional freedom to operate in a ‘no holds barred’ offense; Self coaches the exact opposite (offense should come in the flow of the game). I have no judgment regarding which is the correct approach with a talent like Young but since both sides had ‘eyes wide open’ and neither was likely to bend, then Trae to OU was the better decision for all.

Total class act coach and players in TT interview room.

Locker Room Celebration!!

https://www.facebook.com/KansasBasketball/videos/10156175879234532/

LL said it was his first day coming to the Fieldhouse without a boot on his foot and it felt good. His play certainly showed it!

In the post-game interview, Self commented (and then repeated) that “they (KU) were pretty tough”. Can recall many, many times hearing “soft” but can not recall the last time Self used “tough” to describe a team.

Also, do not understand why Drew did not call a time-out on Baylor’s penultimate possession.

In an interview this Fall, Coach Self named Tom Izzo and Bob Huggins as the two most challenging coaches he faces.

@drgnslayr …and BMac was a young player who needed to go to the league when he did but (like Frank) really didn’t want to leave KU. His is truly a remarkable story of overcoming adversity while turning his struggles into gratitude and service to others. Kudos also to Coach Self and company for their role mentoring BMac both on and off the court.

“To me, Mitch is cool because he lets everybody know how excited he is to be out there,” Self said. “He can screw up, but he screws up going 100 mph. I know his teammates and the staff appreciate it, but I also think fans appreciate it, too.”

This playing not to lose is exhausting.

Incredibly insightful article (on the other site) about Malik’s mid-season struggles. Certainly affirms and validates the correctness of many comments/reactions/conclusions on this board without the first-hand knowledge of a parent. An excerpt:

“Normally coaches would bend a little bit,” Webster (Malik’s father) remembered. “‘Malik, you can get 30 (points) for me so I’m going to let you cut the corner.’ Coach Self didn’t give a damn if he could get 100. He’d say, ‘You’re going to do it how I want you to do it, when I want you to do it.’ And I think that was great for Malik. It taught him that nothing’s going to be given to you.”

“And Carlton (Bragg, two points, six minutes) gave us some good things. Cheick (Diallo, four points first half) made two big baskets in the first half. Landen (Lucas, two minutes) didn’t play a lot. I thought Hunter (Mickelson two points, eight minutes), even though he starts, he’s sort of a bench guy. They all play the same. If you add that position together we got some good production,” Self said.

I would normally credit BS but @jaybate-1.0 said it first.

Death, taxes, and Bill Self.

From Holly Rowe: Watch how a national POY candidate is built! @frankmason0 put in hard work everyday in the weight room keeping his small frame tough!!! Built by 1 of best strength coaches in America @A_Hudy… http://fb.me/14BL3zaM5

I am exhausted just watching it…

@jayballer54

In hospital jargon, we call the process (“to dissect, evaluate, and give our view”) the ‘blameless autopsy’…when things go terribly wrong (as they so often do in life), it is a great experience to step back from the histrionics and emotional arguments and take a deep dive into causation. What we inevitably discover is that most situations are multifactorial (many symptoms, few root causes) . What I most appreciate about this board is that this dynamic is occurring independently and interactively (without benefit of a facilitator) and 99% of the time the comments (even those at odds) are very insightful and respectful. What a wonderful ‘learning lab’ @approxinfinity has created for all of us along with contributors so willing to share.

Gobble til you Wobble!!! Happy Thanksgiving to all. I am thankful for the hours of entertainment and wisdom that this site provides!!

…and Cole will have his jersey retired on Saturday…hope it inspires our “bigs”!!

Bill, in the after game interview, also said that he thinks Devonte “helped his stock”…as an NBA prospect.

Dwight Colby had a nice line tonight in Western Kentucky’s quarterfinal NIT win over OK State (92 to 84):

In 33 minutes of play:

7 for 10 FG; 2-4 FT; 13 REB; 2 AST; 3 BLK; 2 TO; 4 PF; and 16 PTS

I am happy for Dwight but hope that Silvio/Lightfoot produce at least one very impactful game this tournament to help lessen the sting.

“It’s my third year here. To be able to clinch at home, that would be good for the fans, good for Kansas, good for the players and most importantly, coach,” Naadir Tharpe

Self’s comments in the post-game interview were uncharacteristically pointed:

1. Dissed the referees.
2. Dissed the fans leaving early.
3. Dissed Weber’s ‘play hard’ assertion.

WOW! He took no prisoners last night and seemed to be providing answers to questions that were not even being asked.

With respect to the Memphis comeback vs. last night, Self made an interesting point that during the Memphis comeback everything seemed to be going KU’s way BUT last night the opposite was occurring – mistakes and miscues were still occurring during the run but the team persevered – making this comeback all the more remarkable!

…and Carlton Bragg fouled out in 18 scoreless minutes and had one rebound…had a plus-minus of MINUS 14. Is Lucas enough for us to go the distance?

@MoonwalkMafia

I think the fanbase will benefit from 8 days of rest, too!

I’m Happy With This Season IF…

our guys wrestle the 500 pound gorilla of expectation off their backs and play loose and free in the tourney.

our coach avoids projecting a resting frustration face and cracks the occasional smile in huddles.

@blown is correct…we have all the parts…but the marathon of conference play is now replaced with the urgency of a sprint/relay…Simply no time for mental fatigue.

At the 7th Annual Ladies Night Out in October it took Frank only three letters to respond to the question of where he would be next year: “N B A”. It came across as a simple statement of fact with absolutely no hint of braggadocio.

Tough ending to a stellar season but I am resolved to be completely satisfied if Frank can just make it to the next level. So please, please basketball gods continue to pile on the individual accolades for Frank (which I know he would have traded away in a nanosecond to compete for the national title tonight) so that every GM in the NBA has to hear his name repeatedly.

Sometimes even though you may want it more for others you have to accept that it may just be your time to shine.

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2017/may/24/svi-mykhailiuk-announces-he-will-return-senior-sea/

I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it. ~Mae West

Certainly agree that Billy has culpability if this event goes wholly south. However, let’s not forget the ADULT “role models” (i.e, agents, coaches, parents, alumni) who squarely and knowingly place these kids in harm’s way.

In the after game interview, Self was addressing the current equality of minute distribution and stated, “…hopefully, if we can get some pieces back then it won’t be like that, that much longer.” The immediate follow up question was about Billy’s status.

Perhaps grasping at straws but seems like the first glimpse of optimism in several days. Fingers crossed because as the season and competition progresses, Billy is needed.

I thought Doke’s presence of mind to heave the ball down the court with a handful of seconds remaining was also impressive, even while Graham was calling for the ball. Doke likely didn’t want to be fouled either. Vick sprinted and time ran out…game over.

Still…not Rihanna (sigh)…

A little post locker room celebration…and so well deserved! I award the “junkyard dog” to the collective…

https://www.facebook.com/KansasBasketball/videos/10156059584449532/

Flat but a W! Saved “amped up” for OK.

I do believe this team is wired a bit differently than teams in the past and the pressure to succeed at AFH seems, at times, almost palpable with this group. I often wonder if we miss out on some recruits simply because of the non-negotiable expectation to win and continue a streak; especially with the “me first” mentality that frequently permeates high school basketball.

In December, I came across an article about Trae Young and learned that God is evidently an OU fan this year, as well:

“I want to break Kansas’ [Big 12 title] streak,” Young said then. “It’s not going to be easy, by any means, but that’s something that I’m going to be hard on all year. If I would have [gone] to Kansas, I would have been a little bit different, but I wanted to break that streak. That’s my goal. We’re gonna do it. I have all faith in God that that’s what his plan is.”

Source (for @mayjay and @Jayballer54 since I am referencing God): “With Trae Young in the mix, Kansas’ Big 12 streak could be in jeopardy”, ESPN Myron Medcalf Staff Writer, December 22, 2017

I once had a very wise and gifted mentor tell me that humans can handle any pressure we put on ourselves but not necessarily pressure we allow others to put on us.

Seeing the camera pan the AFH fans late, it was evident that their expressions were far from optimistic (some expressions to the point of agony) even while we remained within striking distance. Thank goodness this team stays focused on themselves, their coaches, and each other. I think this group can readily dismiss noise and distractions from others (including articles like the one above) but I do think this team has a very large soft spot for the KU fanbase.

I am supportive of a “Go Fund Me” account to send @Crimsonorblue22 to all remaining home games!

Or we could just win out

I think we are witnessing a seismic paradigm shift! Every year we hear AFH 6th man; conference streak only because KU defends at home; conference streak only because other teams implode; blah, blah, blah…

Perhaps the basketball gods are tired of hearing the rationalizations for 13 straight too and are requiring this group to win on foreign soil to remove all doubt.

I think holding TCU to 64 when they have been averaging 86 speaks to the defense.

No one channels “good cop/bad cop” better than Coach Self and he is pulling out all stops to motivate this team.

This “no fear” year (of KU by opposing teams) has been a blessing on the road and a curse in AFH.

Good teams win close games. Great teams win games by a comfortable margin.

Time to go from good to great!

@jaybate-1-0 The system (i.e., building up to tear down) is not likely to change in our culture. However, I hold the adults feeding (and feeding off) these young talents entirely culpable. I watched Lon Kruger as a player and then as a coach and held him above many others but not any longer. I will forever consider his ‘Poke-A-Doke’ a cheap tactic (albeit a legal one) to win one battle but if Young’s quote is truly accurate, my only response is “shame, shame on you, Coach Kruger”.

I stand by my comment that, under Self, such a scenario is never going to happen. He may taunt, cajole, prod, etc. but his mission is clearly to make men out of boys…not destroy the psyche of a freshman phenom. I read once that Self’s opening remark to every player is … ‘you will never be the best player to have played at KU so just put that aside, now’. Might cost him some recruits but he is team first, win first before all else.

I often wonder if the pain of his personal life in Lawrence is just too much of a reminder for TRob, despite the support and love he received during his down days there.

@Crimsonorblue22 @kjayhawks @JayHawkFanToo

One of my favorites because the three look angelic in this throw back (June 5, 2016):

https://twitter.com/Trobinson0/status/739605731310227464?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Texas sidelined Eric Davis Jr.

Regardless of Vick’s stat line, he seems to be on the end of many bad plays…or maybe I am just hypersensitive to his miscues because the highlights have all but disappeared. Hope he can find his confidence again.

Shaka’s ‘15 minutes of fame’ is one signature win against our HOF coach…and Shaka should be sending a ‘thank you’ note to Self every year Shaka remains in a power conference.