Funding smunding, if the Chiefs move to Kansas all I want to do is stand on State Line Road, drop trou and show my bare butt to all of Missouri.

Before we start focusing on the basketball week ahead (3 more games-6 games in 2 weeks; who made this schedule?) or posting more about recent and possible future recruits, it’s important to stop and appreciate what we have at KU. Bill Self. I remember the let down when Roy Williams finally took the NC job. I worried that our basketball success would drop a couple of notches, but the exact opposite happened. Coach Self raised the already high profile Coach Williams brought to KU to the top tier nationally and made us the team to beat each year. Thank you, thank you Bill Self. RCJH

I love Svi on offense, at least some of the time. Earlier in the season when we first saw Svi driving to the rim a la Wiggs, I thought he was going to be a difference maker on offense for this team. But, we may no longer tolerate his defensive ineptness. Vick needs to return to the starting lineup. Then, bring Svi in for offense as a spot up shooter and occasional penetrator, similar to the way Brannen Greene was used last year.

I know Svi is our fourth leading scorer at 10/game in 28 minutes. But, against Baylor, Svi’s play created dissention on the floor. Vick’s energy and better defense necessitates the promotion. Svi’s contributions have been on the decline recently, whereas Vick’s play off the bench has provided much needed offense at critical times and many have attributed our last two victories to Vick’s efforts. Reward the slashing Mr. Vick and use Svi as an offensive hammer off the bench.

I’m still enjoying the bounty of information from the Baylor box score. My goodness Frank had a great line: 39 min, 7-12 FG, 1-3 3PT, 8-8 FTs, 2 Rbs, 8 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 TO and 23 Pts. What a special player we have in Frank Mason.

Thank goodness we now have actual dribbling, shooting and defending to talk about. I still like playing the Kansas colleges; Emporia State has players from Burlington, Osage City, Spring Hill, Bonner Springs and Tonganoxie. I think it’s great that Kansas kids get to play in Allen Fieldhouse.

And, Emporia State brings a new coach to the game. Craig Doty just got hired in April and gets to play the Jayhawks as his first game for Emporia. Welcome aboard Coach. Good luck.

KU starters: Dok, Dedric, Grimes and… . I say Vick and Moore. Both because they’ve been in the program and know how KU operates. Rock Chalk.

Would someone please put together a video of Dok’s 5 fouls during the Tennessee game and add to it the hacking that goes on every time Dok gets the ball In the paint? There is a terrible double standard for foul calling against Dok-at least in my memory of watching the game live. I haven’t watched the game a second time, so maybe my recollection would change. I really liked the passion Dok showed after he fouled out. During the OT timeouts, Dok was shouting encouragement to Dedric. Dok wants to win. I like it.

My random thought is how much I love the tournament settings and process. When I saw KU plays at 1:30 on Thursday, I began rearranging my schedule and deciding what types of beer I need in the office frig for the people in my building who will certainly drop in to catch a bit of the game. Rock Chalk, baby.

Our trio of Jackson, Mason and Graham just refuse to lose. What a great win. Despite missing clutch free throws down the stretch, our guys found a way to win. It’s not always pretty, but Coleby and Lightfoot gave us some valuable minutes.

I thought Josh should have been in the paint more when Baylor had it’s zone set and we were running our half court offense. When Josh got the ball in the paint, he was unstoppable. I thought that too often he was hanging around on the wing instead of flashing through the lane for the guards to feed. But, I feel bad criticizing his game at all when he just led us to our most important win of the year.

I give a lot of credit to the Baylor players and Coach Drew for playing damn well at Allen. If our trio of unstoppables hadn’t played their best, Baylor would be leading the Big 12 now.

As I was looking at the matchups with Oregon, I find that my analysis has shifted and I can’t help it. How are the Ducks going to stop the Jayhawk Juggernaut? How do you stop Mason, Graham, Jackson, and now Vick and Svi? Whatcha got, Ducks? This special team is playing with more energy and athleticism than any other Jayhawk team. And Oh Yea, they are having a blast. The fun they are having leads to more positive plays. How about that goofy play at the end of the first half where we got a runout dunk with an assist from the ref. Fun, Fun, Fun. RCJH

This is exactly why the NCAA Tournament is so captivating if my team is still playing: I will watch parts of Clemson/Auburn to gauge the competition; KState/UMBC to cheer a home state team and follow this year’s Cinderella; WVirg/Marshall to cheer for the Big 12 and follow the Marshall story line and TXAM/NC to root against Ole Roy. Hey, I’m still having fun and enjoying the tournament after the first weekend. RCJH

@wissox said in Cretins From Craytin Game Thread:

Got it on FS2.

Thanks found it

Listening on the Jayhawk Radio Network. Tip off

Does 3.5 pts seem right for the spread? That seems low to me. They had 3 straight losses to Nebr, San Diego St and TxAm, then beat NDame

This must be taught or schemed by the coaching staff, but it makes my blood pressure spike every time: KU center helps out guarding the opponent’s point guard and gets outside the arc. Doke did this and now Hunter is helping out to pressure the point, sometimes trying to trap the guard clear out to the half court line. First, I worry about picking up a cheap foul and second who the hell is rebounding in the paint. With Doke, I admired his hustle. But, with Hunter his complete lack of hustle in all other facets, including walking down court after a made basket makes the trap defense seem outside his skill set. I really like Hunter, especially his quick, accurate outlet passing. I hate that refs ignore fouls against centers and let opponents hack Hunter in the paint. I remember Shaquille O’Neal saying he left LSU after his junior year because the refs let opponents triple team him and hack him. At 24, maybe Hunter is just done with enjoying the college game on most nights like the Furman game. That’s what it looks like to me. His on-court mannerisms look like a guy who hates his job and is going through the motions. For now, I’ll chalk up Hunter’s morose play against Furman as a hangover from the ridiculous Flagrant 2 call and hope to see more hustle going forward.

@mayjay said in Early season feedback on kuballin’s off season analysis:

@Texas-Hawk-10 Leaving people open in the corner is a KU tradition. Almost as if there is no institutional memory of how Svi scored 90% of his points.

Even during the Furman game, it feels like KU plays 4 guys on d, while the opponent plays 5 and the 5th guy is always in the corner all by himself. Maybe that’s by design since that open shot only goes in 20% to 40% of the time.

You’ll need 3 TVs Wednesday night. Besides KU @ Creighton at 7:30 on FS1, watch Baylor @ UConn at 5:30 on FS1(sure to go into OT to delay seeing our game), Alabama @ NC at 6:15 on ESPN, then at 7:00 Marquette @ Iowa St, broadcast unknown and at 8:15 on ESPN2 Auburn @ Duke. This reminds me of the NCAA Tournament. Too many great games to watch.

I no longer believe the phrase a win is a win. This team has huge problems starting with Mahomes’ often poor passing; No 15 is missing wide open receivers, sometimes when he’s not under pressure. Maybe the trauma of usually having to run for his life carries over to plays when the defense isn’t rushing hard. But, I haven’t seen Mahomes miss so many receivers as he has this year. Add in Kelsey’s decline and the constant loss of wide outs to injury and I just don’t see how his team gets past its first playoff game. But I didn’t count on blocking the short Denver FG attempt or O’Connell’s incredibly slow reaction to the early hiked ball. My goodness, it hit him center chest and I don’t think he even realized it until after the Chiefs recovered. I guess I could change my thinking and expectations: who needs to pick up that first down with 2 minutes left when all the Chiefs have to do is let the opponent find a way to lose the game on its final possession.

KJ 6 rbs

@Crimsonorblue22 said in Furman Game Thread:

Boards?

KU 32 Furbys 19

I thought Hunter would have come out with much more energy after getting bounced last game. Not so much; I’m disappointed with his play