I have never started a thread before–only replied, but I was awake last night thinking about this. I watched Coach Self in the post game interviews, and my jaw was dropping. The man has the best three-point shooting team in the conference, and he is positively glum about it. He also has the team with the second worst two-point percentage in the conference, but he thinks we need to play inside-out because some day “just making shots” is going to let us down. It seems like simple math to me, but I always thought that the team who scored the most points won.

HEM and several others have developed this topic far batter than I , so I won’t belabor the point, but I think that it is common sense to play to your strengths. No one is saying to stop getting easy twos, but they have been slow in coming this year. I believe Coach is forcing square pegs into round holes, and that is what is foolish. Also, the team seems to be happier when the game is more open.

Greene took THREE three-point shots last night. In the course of a game how many does Forte take? If Greene were playing for Coach K or for Hoiberg, how many would he take?

There is not much point in hitching a race horse to a plow. I have the greatest respect for those that pull plows, they made this country bloom. This year we have race horses: let them run. They might not go far enough, or they might win the Derby.

First time posting this year. My grandson dealt with a basketball concussion his freshman year in high school. Took him a year to get over it. I can’t believe Newman is playing under these circumstances. Also, when you look at this team vs last year’s team, several things are evident.

1. I think Doke may eventually be better at the 5 spot. So plus 1.
2. Svi replacing Svi is a wash, but he may be a bit better at defense this year. Even up.
3. Devonte is not a better point guard than Frank. Minus 1
4. Malik is definitely not a better shooting guard than Devonte. Minus 1
5. Vick is not better than Josh. Minus 1
6. Bench is basically not there. Minus a couple. I think it is not surprising that this team is not as good as last year’s team.

Last night General Self said to his weary troops: “Men,BAD ball is not working. We are going to have to step it up and take it to another level. It is time to play WORSE ball. If we can just dig deep we can find it within ourselves.” And, lo and behold, WORSE ball got our rag tag little band to eleven straight conference championships. Injured and hurting, they march on.

Do you suppose that if they ever reach the summit and play WORST ball that the NCAA Championship is attainable?

@drgnslayr I was teaching high school in Indiana when Glen Robinson was playing for Purdue and Greg Ostertag was playing for KU. Robinson dunked over Ostertag and talked some trash. Ostertag just smiled and gave him a “well-done” pat. Purdue won. The next day I dreaded facing my students, thinking I would have to endure some trash talk as well. The only thing they wanted to talk about was Ostertag’s sportsmanship. Made me proud on lots of levels.

I watched the game. Those three point shots were amazing! I would like him better if the announcers and ESPN didn’t act like he was the only person on the floor. I expect that very soon they will flood the basketball court and Trae will dribble, pass, and shoot while running on the water.

@cragarhawk Might be a good time to try the one in and four out offense.

@jaybate-1.0 I believe it was Hadrian who said, when asked how he was going to build (or rebuild) Rome. “Brick by brick, my friend,” One game at a time is all you can play. The first order of business is to root like mad for the Longhorns tonight, but either way, ONE of those two teams will pick up another loss. I never coached (except academic teams) but I taught high-schoolers. You bring your best game as a teacher, see that they have all the skills, and do all you can to motivate, Deep down, it is up to them. A week from tomorrow, we should know a lot more.

@drgnslayr Couldn’t agree more. I hope Coach Self is happy with the way his square pegs look in the round holes. Many people have said “Live by the three, die by the three.” I would rather die by the three–with some honest offense built around it–than die the way we died tonight. Outcoached by Weber: I may throw up.

Well now I can enjoy Disney World with my grandchildren this March, because I sure won’t be having to seek out sports bars to watch the Jayhawks.

@BShark For the most part, they are decent people. Our son is a Purdue graduate, so there are a lot of side bets going on in our family. In addition, our daughter-in-law is a graduate of UCLA, and our daughter is a Northwestern alum! It has been a fun tournament for our family so far. As KU grads, my husband and I have no divided loyalties. Rock Chalk.

@BShark This is relevant to absolutely nothing, but I do love your joke at the end of your posts.

@KUSTEVE Good points. I wish someone would take Bill Self back to elementary school, and explain that 3 is bigger than 2. HEM was also making this point. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading (and posting a little bit). See you next year.

@justanotherfan I do not believe I have ever seen a KU player with a steeper learning curve than Silvio’s this year. I’m sure there have been others, but to come in at semester and progress to where he is now? . . .Amazing. We are fast approaching the time when I would just as soon have him in as Doke.

@nuleafjhawk I do remember that joke. Several versions were going around at the time. Nice to revisit it.

I love basketball as much as the next person, but I seriously question a theology that thinks God cares about a basketball game. That said, go for it Red Rooster!

@BShark This is relevant to absolutely nothing, but I do love your joke at the end of your posts.

I’m for anything other than Saturday, but might it not be the Sooners we are playing?

I don’t mind Self resting his players, I just didn’t know he was going to do it while they were on the court. Also, I wish he had told the rest of us!

@CRH107 Well, they will have to now!

I watched the game. Those three point shots were amazing! I would like him better if the announcers and ESPN didn’t act like he was the only person on the floor. I expect that very soon they will flood the basketball court and Trae will dribble, pass, and shoot while running on the water.