Watching last night’s dismantling of KSU, esp. the Jayhawk’s switch to zone to protect those in foul trouble and save the legs of marathon man, Devonte, I kept trying to make sense of what zone they were playing.

It sort of looked like a 2-3 zone, but then it looked like a 3-2, but in the end, it sort of looked like an amoeba zone! Devonte swung around the perimeter like a tether ball, following the rock to the point of a double-team zone. Is that even possible? He, and others, but mostly D-Tae, appeared to be tracking the ball and collapsing on it on the perimeter to the point of a ‘double-team zone.’ Is this a ‘match-up’ zone?

Whatever they were doing, KSU never put anyone in the middle of it to pass out of it from the top of the key, which might have been a failure to execute on their part, poor coaching and preparation, or the fact that KSU couldn’t figure out what that zone was either!

Never having played basketball myself in anything other than the occasional HORSE contest where I am, in fact, a driveway legend…can someone explain to me what a ‘match-up’ zone is?

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to what the “Buckets Brain Trust” comes back with.

His total buy-in on defense. Defense takes far more brain power and energy and commitment than offense, and defense is full of ‘dirty work’ that nobody but the coaches (and a few astute Board Rats) recognize and applaud. Most casual fans tend to think that when the opposition’s best scorer doesn’t put up big numbers, it’s because he had an ‘off night.’ But those in the know realize it’s often because players like Garrett are working their patoots off denying their mark even getting the ball in the first place. Garrett is committed to not letting his man get off anything resembling a good look, and if possible, picking his pocket before he can gather to shoot. One of my all time favorite Jayhawks. I love to watch him defend against motion offenses.

Bill Self now has to wear the ugly warm-up at every game.

@Crimsonorblue22 Here’s a link to an edited version of last night’s post game press conference.

Wiggins and Embiid were clearly having a good time.

@KirkIsMyHinrich I see what you did there. #RockChalk

@Crimsonorblue22 Agreed! As a way to rest him, that particular zone didn’t seem the most effective!

Every time he hits the floor, I hold my breath, hoping he gets up okay, and that the cumulative nature of the hits, falls, and game minutes doesn’t take him off the floor or out of his game.

@mayjay The KSU game plan…for lack of a better term…looked so much different from the one employed at AFH. Brown and Diarra seemed to be back on their heels, Wade looked like he was waiting for someone to start the offense so he could get into it…and no one seemed to be the ‘motion’ guy that Weber uses often. They were standing around a lot, and when they did move, it didn’t seem to have purpose.

It reminded me of when Self says “We’re running offense to run offense, not running offense to score.”

When Self went zone, everything that was stalling for KSU’s offense in man-to-man seemed to get worse.

@justanotherfan THANK YOU! You rocked that answer. Much obliged! @kjayhawks A legend in my own mind, anyway.

@Lulufulu I think we’ll see the zone more, too, since evidently, opposing coaches don’t practice it all week. Oh, wait, that was just Weber.

You can call Devonte whatever you want as long as he stays healthy!

@wrwlumpy I love these montages. That’s a spendy little part of the country for real estate, isn’t it?

@Crimsonorblue22 I noticed the same thing. A legit 7 footer?

Thanks for letting me know. So dreadful for him and his family.

Has anyone heard anything re Gethro’s condition? I haven’t found anything since the accident. I emailed the LWJ/Matt Tait almost a week ago to inquire but have not gotten a reply.

@rockchalkjayhawk I’ll be streaming one and watching one on the big screen and yelling at both, no doubt!

@wrwlumpy I love these montages. That’s a spendy little part of the country for real estate, isn’t it?

@Crimsonorblue22 I noticed the same thing. A legit 7 footer?

Did Bill Self do a post game presser last night? Player interviews? I cannot seem to find videos of them on the KUSports page or Youtube, though I found Izzo’s, Calipari’s, and K’s. I listened to the KU postgame Locker Room show and heard Gurley’s quick interview with Self, but no media room interview. If you have a link, could you pop it in here? TIA!

I rate the thread title! Props @BShark !

Jalen makes a nice quick-twitch cut and run to catch a pass in this video. Coach puts some zip on the ball, too!

Nice to see the team having some fun. Hopefully it will bring out some of that ‘personality’ Coach feels is lacking a bit on the court.

https://www.facebook.com/KansasBasketball/videos/785298881969182/

Haliburton’s wrist wrapped?

Garrett’s back!

Is the shot clock busted?