Topics created by KUinLA

@drgnslayr The case for NBA big men not playing like those of the past is not nearly as strong as one might think. Although PFs probably shoot 3s more than they have in the past, this is NOT the case for centers. I have gone through the list of current centers and their backups as regards the average number of 3 point shots per game that they have taken over their careers. The only ones who shot more than .3 attempts per game are: Al Horford of the Hawks at .34 (up to 3.4 this year) Jared Sullinger of the Celtics at 2.25 Kelly Olynyk of the Celtics at 2.24 Andrea Bargnani backup for the Nets at 3.4 Spencer Hawes backup for Hornets at 1.48 Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves at .43 Gorgui Dieng of the Timberwolves at .5 LaMarcus Aldredge of the Spurs at .34 Boris Diaw of the Spurs at 1.37 Matt Bonner of the Spurs at 2.47 Draymond Green of the Warriors at 2.42. I am listing Green since he plays center when they go small although most of his attempts are from his PF position when Bogurt or Ezeli are in the game. With the exception of the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics no other team has key contributors who shoot more than 1 per game. Most of the rest of the centers shoot in the .05 to .1 range. This is not much more than has been the case in the past. I would guess that most of the shots are in desperation at the end of the shot clock. The primary reason for this is that they are not very good (that is being very generous) as most percentages are lower than 20% and a lot have an average of 0%.

@KUinLA What is objectively “true” is that the B12 was “expected” to get 10 wins in the tournament based on seeding. The conference has 5 so far - so one more win each (even two) by OU and WSU would still mean the conference underperformed it seedings. If both lose (and, as you note, neither is favored), one could subjectively characterize it as a beatdown. What is objectively “true” is that other conferences have done much better this year absolutely and relative to seeding - esp. the ACC. What is objectively “true” is that the B12 had the best conference RPI this year. There are, of course, objective analytics that underpin that calculation. But, as has been noted elsewhere, it is a product primarily of the best non-conference winning percentage overall, fewer than the usual number of patsies (+300 RPIs) on the schedule, and the avoidance of bad losses. So, all conference teams had solid RPIs coming into the conference season and thus didn’t take a hit from playing one another - it was the gift that kept on giving. More subjectively, the non-conference slate included a bunch of solid wins, but I don’t recall anyone having gotten any top-tier non-conference victories - KU’s over GU and Utah were probably the best. Also more subjectively, a very compelling case could be made that the B12 was the "toughest’ from top to bottom. Have to play everyone twice. A bunch of good teams that were fairly evenly matched. No easy wins, esp. on the road, including against TCU and Tech. Also more subjectively, a compelling case can be made that the ACC (and I despise the ACC having to watch their games all the time) was much “stronger” at the top - with UVA, Duke, Louisville, and UNC - even though they clearly had some games where they could play poorly and still get wins. Perhaps there is some causation with tournament performance? The bottom line is that the B12 has significantly underperformed in terms of overall wins and relative to seeds the past 3 years (even though it had the most entrants the past 2). Just cyclical or is there something else at work? Maybe it’s beating each other up. Maybe the other teams to need to have KU like schedules in the non-conference. Maybe it’s coaching, although I think we have very good coaches for the most part. My own view is that it’s primarily a talent deficit relative to other schools/conferences. How many 1st rounders have there been coming out of the B12 the past few years, excepting KU? Not many. I think back to the last stretch when the conference did very well in the tournament - 2002-04 - when KU, OSU, Texas, and OU all made the FF. A lot of NBA all-star talent at the time. Not so much more recently.

Well, I was hoping I’d be wrong but it is what it is and Len Elmore pretty much backed it up the whole second half–Wichita State is just a lot more mentally tough than we are. Maybe they just wanted a rematch with Kentucky more than we did.

@ralster said: Just a minor point about “throwing out the youth factor” is that KY returned at least 4 guys that played in the NC game and Final 4. Experience is a great teacher. Are you agreeing with me on this?? Because I look at the youth factor and wonder… how’s UK overcome the lack of prior FF/NC/youth experience last season when they made their run with 4 freshmen leading in minutes played??? Keep in mind the only tourney experience that Stein & Poythress had prior to that was a NIT loss. @betterfireE : Never realized TCU was good at d’ing the 3 but their stats do show that, touche. You KenPom? Which Big12 opponent held us to below 40%FG this season?? :Hint: We’ve played them twice and they held us under both games. @wrwlumpy I hope my comments don’t lead you to believe that I don’t think Self is a good coach. Honestly I think we as Kansas fans are very fortunate to have him as our coach. He’s a HoF’er, first balloter. But I’m not married to him so I just don’t always have to agree with what he does. And isn’t this back and forth another fun part of being an arm chair point guard?

Valentine and Lovelette, I agree, but the best passer, big or small was Mark Randall. He would have been the perfect Big to play for Self. He did pretty damn good in the run and gun of Roy. Always in great position on defense and the smartest rebounder. He did not play fast but he was quick and seemed to always be in the right place. He was masterful in Madisn Square Garden in the pre season against number 1 at the time, Bobby Knight and the powerful Hoosier. His inside passing made Indiana look stupid. It was great beginning for the post sanction period and the start of the great years of Roy.