Best posts made by DoubleDD

Congrats to our beloved Jayhawks for not only bringing home the gold. Yet also playing together playing tough and becoming the team in such a short time. The sad part is now you’ve stroked my addiction (as I am a KU junkie) and will be sitting around with the shakes and my mind and heart swirling waiting for the season to start. Maybe I should seek help?

The WUG’s was quite the experience for not only the players but it’s fans too. Getting up in the middle of the night or the crack of dawn to watch a game was new one on me. I’m kind of glad that stuff is over. I was quite disappointed in the media coverage of the WUG’s. Now I wasn’t expecting full blown coverage or anything, but come on a fan should be able to find out when the game starts and what the finally score was. Not to mention a little analysis could’ve added to the experience. After all it was USA basketball. No wonder Espn is losing money. Their east coast basis may in the end cost them everything they accomplished. As technology advances and makes it easier and cheaper for fans to connect to their teams, the old tried and true broadcasting methods become obsolete. No Espn not everybody wants to watch the Red Soxs and Yankees play. NO REALLY.

It seems even HCBS has learned a thing or two in this WUG’s. He was able to see all his players get playing time against decent to pretty good teams. Bragg and Vick got much needed practice and playing time to help further their development for the college game. In fact these WUG’s may have helped Bragg and Vick the most. When the college season starts they should be able to hit the ground running. Wish Diallo could’ve been there.

However the most intriguing lesson I believe HCBS learned was letting his players play. HCBS is a system guy to the very core of who he is. We’ve all seen him call a timeout when play seemed to get wild and loose? When every KU fan hears the term high/low visions of HCBS fill the head. Though HCBS is the best at in game adjustments there is. He never really varies from the system. He just makes you think he has. However the WUG’s was just as much an experince for the coaches at KU as it was the players and fans. With the shortened play clock all the way around, and the different substitution format. HCBS had to adjust, he had to adjust his game plan, he had to trust in his players and let them play. Sure HCBS still looked and wanted to go inside, but there wasn’t enough time to really just pound the ball inside. HCBS was forced to let his players play. Now KU and HCBS will gain a few more seconds on the play clock as the college game starts, but I’m not sure the lesson that HCBS and the KU players learned about themselves and as a team in a faraway land will be forgotten as some passing memory. I believe that KU fans though not aware at first began to sense the change in how KU was handling business too, and you know what you liked it.

HCBS is a system guy and will always be, but the game is changing and he knows it. HCBS was always good about finding talent and forming, molding that talent. Yet the WUG’s taught him when you have the best talent, sometimes you just let them play.

Is this the beginning of the End? I don’t know, but something happened over there in the WUG’s that could change everything.

Sometimes we KU fans can be selfish? We expect our Jayhawks to run rough shot all that enter the Phog. However we really miss and disrespect the old Field House.

You see the Phog Allen Field House is a place of history, a place of scared ground, a Mecca of Basketball. Not even the New York Garden compares. No not even the 30’000 seat coporate arenas the Kentucky Wildcats or Lousiville Cardinals play in compare.

You see the old Field House is legendary all on it’s own. It’s a place of history. It captures the true essence of the game of basketball.

Even the Sleazy Coach Cal has paid homage to it’s greatness. Telling the media and his players you’ll never experience anything like your going to experience playing in the Phog. One of UK’s star studded players that show cased his skills admitted with a fervor that he had never seen anything like it, or played in such a wonderful environment. Somewhere the great Lebron (the King) is showing his envy.

Yes KU is supposed to win. Yet understand opposing players and teams want to rise to the occasion. Just like the Roman Collsiuem. They want to show their greatness on the greatest hard wood floor in the world. They want to rise to the occasion of folklore. For you see playing in the old Fieldhouse is a crowning achievement for Jayhawks and foes.

So I’m not as seasoned as some of KU fans that post on KUBuckets. However in my life time I have witnessed two KU national Championships.

How many times have we seen a KU superior team enter the tournament only to be upset? Whether HCRW or HCBS it seems a KU top notch team falls apart and loses. For some reason these team find their kryptonite no matter how good they are. Whether a strange team shooting lights out from three, or a bad call from the refs. KU’s best teams go home.

Yet KU’s least best teams seem to do quite well in the tournament. 2011/2012 wasn’t the best KU team yet they played for the championship. The Danny and the Miracles were far from being the best yet they cut down the nets. In 2008 KU went into the final 4 as the weakest #1 seed and yet they cut down the nets in the only final 4 to present 4 #1’s seeds.

So here is my point. Is this the season? Everybody is down on KU (even I), yet is it that moment? Is this that moment where KU plays out of their minds. Whether they play Bad Ball as Jaybate has been claiming for weeks, or hitting the three as Hem has been saying for weeks. Does KU climb above the abnormal and claim greatness?

My fellow KU fans. I love to break down how a team plays, as much as the next guy, However sometimes in the tournament a team comes along that you can’t make sense of. Last year it was UConn. Is this the year of the KU Jayhawks.?

I believe in the law of averages and karma. So many times KU has entered the tournament as a team to be reckoned with, yet only went home early. Yet this year KU enters the tournament as a team not favored and is expected to lose early. Does KU rise to the challenge? Does KU claim their spot in history?

I’m starting to believe.

@Jayrawks1

Doesn’t matter slimy Cal can’t coach 10 mickeyD’s past a tough homegrown good coaching program like the BADGERS. This is the game changer. Slimy Cal had every thing he wanted and needed, yet he couldn’t deliver.

That is all that matters. The Badgers saved College Basketball today. Hell I’m going to have a tee-shirt made. It will say the Badgers saved college basketball 2015. ")

Look the OU slash KU game was the greatest. One that won’t be forgotten for a long time. Espn is happy, the Big 12 is happy, and college basketball fans in general are happy. Yet should KU fans be happy? Yes we should that was a hard fought game and KU was indeed the hunted in that game and they stood their ground. Yes KU faithful the Big 12 regular season conference championship still runs through KU land. All is good or is it?

No I’m not worried about OU or any other team. I worried about Coach. The first half Coach was playing the new found style of play. Coach was going to the bench, KU was pushing the pace, shooting the 3 ball and well just playing like they have been. Yet in the later part of the second half Coach decided to tighten the reins. There was no more going to the bench? Coach for his reasons decides to run with Traylor and Lucas. Hey I’m not against playing those kids, they’ve paid their dues.

Yet I noticed something. When Coach decided to run with Traylor and Lucas the open 3’s disappeared and bad ball appeared. No longer were treys on the menu. I’m not sure but it was at this moment when Coach decided to run with Traylor and Lucas that OU started playing their best defense. All of the sudden the open 3 dried up as Lon had his boys just sit on the trey line, and double teamed Ellis in the paint. Thank God Coach countered with getting Ellis the ball at the top of the key before the double team could come. Allowing Ellis to do some driving.

It was indeed a great game and I don’t blame Coach for doing what he did. KU won and we fans are indeed quite happy. Yet should we be? Did Lon and OU expose a truth about KU and Coach? When the game is tight will coach give up on the new found offense scheme and go back to Bad Ball?

I don’t know? I just noticed when Coach went with Traylor and Lucas strictly the trey ball disappeared.

As KU fans we are quite blessed. Every year our beloved Jayhawks are ranked in the top 10 and mostly top 5 of the preseason rankings. Just like leaves turning colors and falling from their host tree. KU is perceived a final four team. Oh KU may not bring in the star studded classes like Kentucky or Duke but Coach gets what he wants. It’s good to be a Jayhawk fan.

Yet this year is different, or is it? After last years near miss trip to the final four to the eventual champions Villanova. The players, program, Coach and the fans are pretty pumped for this year. Sure losing and replacing like Selden, and Ellis is no easy task, yet neither were really superstars. Besides Coach always gets what he needs in recruiting. Steps in Josh and Doka. Josh a superstar that plays like a junkyard dog, and Doka a towering man child that loves to block and dunk.

Except for blip in the Indiana game, everything seemed primed and ready for the long march to another conference championship, and possibly a brass ring. Sadly as it happens in sports injuries can change the course of destiny of a team. KU’s big bad Doka was injured and is now lost for the season. Leaving behind more questions than answers.

Talk and perception has already begun to change. For sure KU is still the favorite to win the Big 12 conference. Yet with the loss of Doka it appears that West Virginia and Baylor have picked up ground on KU, or at the very least have moved into the conversation as legit teams to upset KU"s conference winning streak. KU is still the favorite among most to win the Big 12 conference again. Yet is it because they have the best team this year?, or is it because you have to pick KU until someone knocks them off?

Again KU is a favorite to make the tournament and make a run. However some are starting to whisper their doubts that KU can make a deep run or make the final 4 without a true rim protector that Doka was.

Myself I have a problem with all this. First losing Doka hurts, but lets be honest us KU fans really didn’t know what we had with Doka. Lets not forget at the beginning of the year the consensus was that Doka would be hard pressed to get any serious playing time as he would be in foul trouble. I’m not sure many thought or dreamed he would be a starter as quickly as he did?

Losing Doka really hurts because we all got see what he could become. We got a taste of what was to become. It’s like sugar on top, or getting your cake and eating it too. Doka was a surprise and just added fuel to an already highly rated and star studded team with big expectations. With Doka coming along so quickly it confirmed KU fans perceptions. That this was a KU team truly of destiny.

So what has truly changed? Nothing. KU is still the star studded team with high expectations it had before Doka. Nothing has changed.

Besides we have Coach manning the clipboard and calling the shots. Sure he hasn’t won as many championships as we think he should of. Yet lets not forget we are the fan base lucky enough to be in the conversation year after year.

Sometimes in life it’s about the next man up. It’s not always about us and what we think, or feel. I mean after all we all experts right ???

Enters Mitch Lightfoot. Oh listen to the arguments right now. He’s to light, needs to gain some weight. He’s a project player, he’ll be good as a junior. He’ll foul to much (like Doka was supposed to do). Well you know what Coach recruited this kid for a reason. He seen something in Mitch that coach said I want this kid. Sure Coach would rather take his time and bring Mitch along slowly. However as life circumstances change. The one thing that doesn’t change is Coach seen something in Mitch to give a place on his team, in his program.

I have know doubt that Mitch can never be Doka. Yet maybe Mitch can be Mitch, or like the Diallo we never got to see. All I’m saying is go easy on the kid. Give him a chance. Lets not break this kid before he ever really gets a chance. Who knows what could happen. Next year we could be talking about how sic our front court will be with Mitch and Doka?

Just a couple of pennies I found today.

What can one say? This years KU team are Devil dogs. It’s a term to call marines in the second WW. It Dosen’t matter on style points. This team just finds a way to win. They’ll go into the most hostile environment. Out numbered, battered, and bruised. Yet they refuse to concede defeat. Their general is a mad man. He pushes his soldiers to the brink of madness. Yet when you think they will break they rise to the challenge.

I don’t care what your ranking is. I don’t what style of play you play. I don’t care how many great players you have. When you play KU you better strap it on, and be prepared for war. Because this years KU team are devil dogs.

This years team might be Coaches Mona Lisa/master piece.

Ok I worked late tonight, had to DVR the game.

Let me just say before I give out this new nickname. I love this kid and wouldn’t trade him for any of UK"s OAD’s. I believe we need this kid to overcome and stake his claim. Kind of like Travis Releford.

I love you Perry Ellis but you are (wait for it)

Wait for it

Wait for it.

Butterfingers.

I’m not pointing fingers or accusing.

However after watching the last two KU games. One a loss and one a win. I’m not sure the refs are calling a fair game? Ok I know I’m playing a the ref card, but man come on. In the Iowa St game it took 30 minutes before KU actually shot a free throw. Really?

Maybe I’m reaching but it seems KU has to get mugged before a foul is called and if they so much as breath on the opposing player they are going to the line. Just my two cents worth.

Am I crazy or do you agree?

KU played it the whole game against a crappy Kstate team and we lost. Hey I got an idea lets keeping doing it. Not only we will lose the conference championship but we’ll be an early out in the tournament.

Spare me the hey we missed the 3’s we took. KU hardly shot any threes the whole game but like clock work HCBS wants guys to hit threes when they haven’t been shooting them the whole game. Go figure.

Look I know your great KU fans. Attend games when you can. Watch games over family functions. I get it, but you don’t get it.

Us KU fans are a spoiled bunch. We’ve had so much respect that we think that a close game is a loss. Really?

So What KU didn’t play a great game against Kstate. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is a w in the win column. Think anybody will remember this if KU wins the conference again. NO.

Sure I get look for flaws. Predict loses. Yet remember this. When a team plays KU it is the biggest game on their schedule. Lets not forget everybody is aiming at KU this year. This is the magical year. This is the year that if KU wins the conference again. It will go down has one of the greatest feats in college basketball history.

So I say man up KU fans. It wouldn’t surprise me if every game is close. This is the year of folk lore. This is the season that you tell your grand children about. This is the season you tell your great grand children about.

This history. in the making. It doesn’t have to look pretty. Just win baby. Enjoy the ride as KU takes on all comers.

Just a couple hundreds I won on fantasy football.

I wasn’t able to watch the whole game. Yet I had a sense of what the outcome would be. In the first half KU came firing on all cylinders. They looked like a team ready for a war. A team that had just won two games against top 5 teams. One in the cave of the UK and one at home against the only true challenger for the Big 12 conference title. Then it happened has it happens with most great teams. KU sensing their foe was no match put it into cruise control.

Now I know an argument can be made that KU isn’t a great team. Yet when KU comes to play they are very hard to beat. No matter who the foe is. However this KU isn’t good enough to just mail it in.

It blows that the KU home winning streak is over. Yet I can’t be that upset with this KU team. Keep in mind they are still kids, and they just played two top 5 teams in back to back games. In some ways I guess it should be expected that a let down would happen. Especially when you consider how close this three game stretch really was.

If you take a mug of beer that is half full. Some will see the mug half empty and some will see the mug as half full. There is nothing one can do it about it. Not even those that see the mug halve full or empty. It is human nature. We can’t help ourselves.

In the OU game. Some seen a game where KU played like crap and got lucky to win. While some others seen KU play like crap only to score 31 points and holding OU to 7 in like 7 to 8 minutes.

Who is Right and Who is Wrong? Neither. Perception is a very powerful thing. It’s all in how you perceive things. Like I said before we can’t help ourselves.

For instance some believe that a team should play flawless basketball with little errors for 40 minutes to have a true champion. Others believe a team has to get hot and feed off emotions.

Who’s right and who’s wrong? Well that’s the answer we must discuss, and debate.

Many great teams of played great all season long. They destroyed one foe after another. They rebounded with fury. They played great defense. They shot the basketball with a high average. Hell they even buried their free throws. Yet the NCAA history has shown time and time again these team get beat.

More times than not it’s the team that refuses to lose. It’s the time that doesn’t tighten up when the game gets close. It’s the team that makes the big shot when the game is on the line.

Every great team has games where they have to suck it up and pull it out. Every great team has a game or two where things aren’t going their way. Yet they man up and they win the damn game. Style points don’t count. W’s do.

See the mug as you must. Yet don’t deny the facts. KU is number 1, 4-0 against the top ten, Big 12 champions, and most likely the best team in the country. These are facts and not perceptions.

So if you got a mug half full? Polish it off and fill it up again.

Did you see that? Did you see Doka though stuffed not back down? Did you see Graham get all bull like? Did you see KU guards go nuts from three land? Did you see Newman though missed a few times get his own rebound?

Yea you did. KU is starting to round into form. All they need is the NCAA to do the right thing. Preston should be playing. De Sousa is coming.

Um KU is about to become scary good if the NCAA powers to be do the right thing.

Should we blame the refs? Isn’t this what Huggins loves to do? To have his team foul so much that he guilts the refs into calling fouls on the other team to average things about. I don’t know? Maybe the refs got this one right? Maybe the refs sent a message to Huggins? If you kids foul we are going to call fouls and we are not going to feel guilty about it.

I find it kind of comical that a coach that makes a living of turning a basketball game into a street fight, is complaint about fouls. Priceless.

Well after a beat down like this to a totally inferior team. All I can say is well at least we have our health, our family, and our friendship on KUBuckets.

Merry Christmas, or happy holidays, which ever you prefer.

@konkeyDong

I was bit taken back that UK didn’t corner the market in recruiting again this year, however not shocked. I’ve become a firm believer that the shoe companies and so on have a vested interest where these kids go. Oh it’s all legal like, no NCAA investigations here or there…

Me personally I feel Coach Cal cost himself big time in the eyes of his benefactors. One he has been given a stacked deck or team more than once and couldn’t deliver and two he has an arrogance that rubs people the wrong way, especially seeing how he cant’ back it up or deliver. Some of the things I’ve read on UK and coach Cal makes me wander if the ride is over. Former UK players and fans are tired of Cal’s team failing because of the basic’s of how to play the game of basketball. Which is basic coaching.

It seems Nike maybe changing their business model when it comes to the college game. Nike found out this last year all fans except those rooting for UK thought UK was a joke with all the talent they had. They felt it was stacked deck, an unfair advantage for UK which was a Nike school. The powers to be at Nike are no dummies. They realized this was bad for business. How many fans jumped and danced when the Badgers buried UK in the final 4? I bet the numbers swooned to out of this world comprehension for those at Nike. Nike likely ran the numbers and asked the question if Fans where willing to not only root for but celebrate a Badger win how many would be willing to turn against their very product because of the unfair advantage.

Maybe I’m just spinning a conspiracy theory here, but you have to admit it does seem plausible. Especially after this year of recruiting. As you said the top talent seems to be spread out quite a bit.

OK? Granted the Mayor as in way gotten the Clone program heading in the right way. A tip of my cap. Hold on let me put a cap on so I can tip. So the Clones are returning 4 of their starters from last year. Check. The Clones have been playing KU pretty hard that last 2 or 3 years. Check. The Clones took two of three from KU last year. One in the regular season and one in the conference tournament. NOT Check.

Yes the Clones indeed did win that tournament game. However It wasn’t so much that they won but it was more like KU lost that game. KU was in control and had the Clones on the ropes pretty much the whole game. It took a late comeback from the Clones to win that game. Again a tip of the cap. It’s ok I kept the cap on this time. I know a win is indeed a win. I get it. However by basing that the Clones owned KU last year with their two wins isn’t telling the whole story. KU lost that game more than the Clones won it. Congrats Clones on your win.

However how does any of this correlate to next year? It doesn’t If you really think about it KU is only losing one of it’s starters from last year too. Yet KU is gaining so much more than ISU can even dream about. Bragg is border line OAD but more likely at least a two year player. However Diallo who may not be the top recruit in this years recruiting class, (Not sure why?) was the MVP of not only the McDonald’s all American game, but also the Nike Classic. That says something. He was going against the best up and coming talent and he claimed the title as the best not only once (meaning it could be a fluke), but twice (meaning the kid has some game).

@JayHawkFanToo seems to think Diallo has something to prove, before KU can be considered a final 4 team. Yet automatically believes UK’s and Duke’s OAD’s will be great. Sorry friend just picking on ya. I’m thinking the kid has already proved he can play with the best, but that’s just me. Think of Embiid for a second. A lot of potential but wasn’t getting the love from the media and even the great UK. Only Pitino came out on record and said this kid is going to be special. So what happened? Embiid under HCBS’s love of the war in the paint and big men in general. Embiid was being considered the next great coming of Olajuwon. What do you think HCBS is going to do with Diallo?

I’ll be honest I’m foaming at the mouth here. Yes I get sideways with HCBS in his apparent lack of ability to play to the strength of his team, and not valuing the three shot as much as I think he should. However none of this matters. HCBS has finally done what all us KU fans dreamed about. He has recruited two high powered big men. This is a game changer for not only KU and it’s fans but College Basketball in general.

HCBS getting his hands on some of the top talented big men in the country to play his high low is going to move that east coast bias. Even the powerful Nike will be shaking in their high priced shoes made in sweat shops with the hands of little children.

This upcoming season could be special my friends. My advice buy all the tickets you can find. Make plans to attend the final four, because this team can be very special. KU is returning their whole team except Cliff and Oubre. Lets face it Cliff never materialized has he was suspended and Oubre in some ways will be missed as he did have talent. However I’m sure Svi and Greene can fill his shoes. Graham will be better. Mason are you kidding me the kid is rock solid. Selden has only one way to go but up, and lets not forget we have Ellis an all American talent with a solid core of glue guys. When the game is being called tight I"m sure Traylor, Mickelson, and Lucas will fill in quite nicely.

Forget Iowa St. KU next year could very well run the table. I know, I know. I’m just saying HCBS finally has gotten a class of bigs that he could very well ride to greatness. Also for dessert he’s not done recruiting.

Rock Chalk boys and girls. Now you know where I stand.

I feel sorry for Greene. Watching the way KU plays wants me to do drugs. I couldn’t imagine how it feels for Greene sitting on the bench watching.

If Coach continues to let the Jayhawks play. Shooting the three, pushing the pace and going to the bench early and often. KU wins the Big 12 conference championship, the Big 12 conference tournament, and the National Championship.

I know I’m stepping on that taboo line. It’s bad luck. Yet I don’t care. No more wishing and praying for me. This KU team has everything a Jayhawk fan could want. Depth, the ability to shot the three, and the ability to shoot the mid range jumper, not one but two point guards, a designer in the paint, and the Inglourious Bastereds

Yes I’m drinking the Kool-Aid. Hell I’m pounding the stuff. ")

Rock Chalk

Man this KU team has major problems. Geez Vick sucks. OMG KU is going to die by the three. KU can’t hit free throws. KU can’t expect to play this way and win. The veterans no better than to play this. way.

UM Side note KU won by 20.

There are all kinds of KU fans. Fans that feel KU should win every game by 25 points. Fans that demand wins no matter what. Fans that think every game is a growing experience. Then there are fans that are just happy that KU won.

Yet what you truly missed was a thing of beauty. I know the Sprint Center is supposed to the be the second home for the Jayhawks. And though KU has had some success in the Sprint Center it’s hardly a place that KU just dominates. If a team brings their a game? A victory can be had. The Sprint Center is like a site in the NCAA tournament. Sure KU fans will dominate the tickets sales, but they are not the usual fans you would see in a true home game at the Phog.

So many times KU after a great year of winning a conference championship roll into an NCAA tournament site only to be undressed by a hot shooting lower seed. They come out shooting the 3 like they’ve never missed the shot in their lives. They come out fearless with no respect for the name on KU’s jerseys.

The game against Davidson was no different. Davidson was hot from three land and KU wasn’t. Davidson was getting easy baskets in the paint as KU was in panic mode from the air attack Davidson unleashed on them. Yet something was different. No longer would history leave it’s mark on this game or this KU team.

JJ a super star was throwing himself around on the court like a man that has nothing to lose. When in fact he has everything to lose. Yet he’s a pit bull first and super star second. He can’t help himself. He’s a dog and the basket court is his battle ground. JJ is the OAD player us KU fans have always wanted. A stud that cares more about winning than looking good. This kid is a pit bull. Yet it wasn’t just all JJ.

JJ has two dogs he looks up too. Two dogs who can hold themselves against anybody. These dogs will hunt any timber or back woods. They are fearless. Ghosts and folklore have no bearing on them. Graham and Mason are the dogs that will hunt. If you’ve ever hunted with great dogs, then you know what I’m talking about. When they get a scent, they’re eyes glaze over. They run when they have to. They jog when they have to, and they sprint when they have to. It’s all about the hunt. The tracking and destroying the hunted. You want to see a thing of beauty. Give Mason or Graham the ball and tell them they can’t score in the paint or at the rim.

Yet it doesn’t stop there. Svi an international kid is learning to be an assassin. If Svi has learned anything from playing under the teaching of Coach. Is it doesn’t start and end with you. Play with in the system and when the time presents it’s explode and take all that belongs to you. Own it and claim it. Svi my KU fans is becoming a man. Sleep on Svi and he will kill you, and he will smile when he’s doing it. This kid is most likely the best at going left or right in the country. Kid is a killer.

I can and would continue but I feel I’m getting away from my point. Here’s what you missed. Davidson came out on fire. Hitting every shot they wanted. KU came out cold as a witches tit. Yet KU held the fort until the shots started falling. KU didn’t let Davidson get away from them even though the stats showed Davidson should have been up double digits and on the cusp of bring the knock out punch. Yet KU with stood Davidson’s best even when things weren’t going well and won.

That’s what you missed.

Ever had those moments where you know what you want to say, but not quite sure how to put it into words? Well thats where I"m at.

I look at College basketball as a special part of my fandom. I love me some Royals, and I love me some Chiefs. I even have some growing love for Sporting KC. Yet College basketball and the Jayhawks are my bread and butter. I just spend way to much of my time caring and loving KU and what they are doing.

Having said all that, I’ve begun to question the intergity of College Basketball and how it crowns a Champion. I know I sound like that guy after his team loses he wants to change the rules. Yet I’ve been kind of wreslting with this issue for awhile.

I get that everybody loves an upset. And what better than a OAD tournament? Yet does the current system really crown a true champion? It just seems so criminal to send a team home who played the best of the best in the noncon, and then runs threw a power 5 conference, Only to be sent home because one team got hot for one night. or got saddled with officials that call a tighter game than they are used too.

Unlike Football and soccer. In basketball one player can change the whole game even for just one night. It just seems so unfair. Is this Socialism at it’s best? A way to level the playing field? To give that lesser team a chance for one night?

You might say it’s not the NC that matters it’s the body of work that counts? Does it though? Winning the NC seems to mean everything. The winning Coach gets a new contract. The winning school gets a boom in recruiting. The Players on the winning team climb in draft boards. Hey they are champions. Donors pump in more money to keep the winning train rolling. So winning the NC seems to be alot, and means even more than the body of work.

Kind of crazy to think that so much good would come from winning a crap shot tournament.

So the question is how do you win this OAD tournament. Maybe UK and Duke aren’t so wrong with selling their souls for the OAD’s? If it all it takes is one player to have a great game to advance his team. Then why not fill your team with superstars? It would increase your odds of having that one player going off. Put in a basic concept of basetball for the team and then lay the ball at the feet of your superstars.

I don’t know? I’m just rambling.

Or should I say he’s not good enough? He needs more seasoning? He Needs more time in the oven?

News flash boys and girls. It’s not his fault he has to play so much on this years team. Not his fault that he’s been the only back up to Doka this season. Not his fault that he has to come and play out of his natural spot.

Yet all we can say is well he should be sitting on the bench? Ok so who would replace him if he didn’t come off the bench? Tell me the name of that player? Tell me who could replace Old worthless Mitch and come off the bench for him?

Maybe old worthless Mitch doesn’t meet your expectations. Yet at least he was willing to put on a KU jersey. Yet at least he doesn’t have to go under big time investigation from the NCAA. He’s here boys and girls. He’s here to play. A Clean cut American boy that the NCAA isn’t even worried about investgating.

Sometimes you guys make me shake my head.

What in the hell was Coach thinking playin Mitch so much? Doesn’t he know that Mitch isn’t ready to play at this level yet. Doesn’t he know that Mitch needs sit out a year to learn to play this game? I mean come on Playing Mitch like this. What gives Coach?

Way to play Mitch. Way to bring it.

@Bosthawk

You know we have to as KU fans stop saying when KU wins, “If it was a better team”. We really have to stop this thinking. Kstate isn’t a push over. Are they great? I would say no. Yet their house was rocking, and they tried everything to make a game of it. They just ran into some devil dogs wearing KU uni’s.

Any type of Government without checks and balances is doomed to fail. It leaves too much power with so few. As history as proven time and time again. Power and money corrupts the minds of those that intend to do good. Even a Monarchy can work for a season. Yet when the King or Queen that dies, that next in line may not have the love of the people on their mind. It Saddens me to no end to see so many young Americans trying to tear down the American concept not realizing they are merely jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I guess the old saying if you don’t know the cost of freedom then you’re doomed to lose it.

Yea baby that’s what I’m talking about.

OK let me say I’m sorry in advance of this post (I’ve been drinking), yet I have to get something off my chest here. (Hope I don’t kill the thread)

Some of you KU fans have said that you would trade KU’s 10 consecutive conference championships for UConn’s recent success. Still some of you have even took it a step further and mocked those KU fans that were happy with 10 consecutive conference championships and the Big 12. You talked about how the Big 12 sucks as a basketball conference and all these others conferences where better. You said look at UConn, and wouldn’t you want to be like UConn? Wouldn’t your trade the last ten years for UConn’s success?

Not me I don’t want UConn’s trophies. I want what ever the Jayhawks give me. Sure I want to win championships, but championships don’t define the Jayhawks for me. To me the Jayhawks are like the creator and the guardian of the game basketball. Jayhawk History can’t be denied. We have the inventor of the game as our first coach, and we have the father or inventor of Coaching as the name of the place the Jayhawks play their games. The Jayhawks have a coaching tree that reaches further and in more directions than even Kevin Bacon in his plethora of movies (that one is kind of close ). We had a US president comment on our Rock chalk chant. Sure there has been great disappointment but that has been great success also.

When I argue with UK fans, and UNC fans, and UCLA fans, and Hoosier fans, Duke fans, about who is the greatest of all time. They argue the number of wins, and championships, and final 4 appearances and so on. I sit there quietly and let them make their case, and then I ask them one simple question. Who has done more to advance the game? Who has giving more to the game of basketball? There is always a silence, then the question comes what do you mean? Then I pounce. What great coaches have you created? What average players did you make great? What contribution have you made to the game of basketball?

My friends KU is more than just winning championships. KU has always giving more to the game than it has taken. ( a tear is coming from my eye) KU is basketball. Without KU who knows what basketball would be today.

For you that are still not convinced I promise you that UConn would give up half their championships right now to be in a power five conference. You might say KU is lucky to be in a power conference, but I promise you the Big 10 will take KU in a new York minute. Now why? Because of the Jayhawks on the hard floor and their contribution to the game we all love. Everybody and anybody will sit down and watch a KU game.

I’ve been laying back and reading all the great info being posted by KUBuckets finest. I have to say it’s all great. Well except one thing. The UK loss.

It seems almost every topic has some mention of the UK loss. I don’t know if this is a bad thing or just fans venting?

I’m not a great man by any means, however I know dwelling on the past brings nothing good. I get it I was shocked as any KU fan to see UK just dismantle a pretty good KU team. I was mad and upset as any. However replaying the game I was able to put some things in prospective.

Believe or not KU played some good defense in that game.

UK just killed KU on missed free throws. I mean killed them.

I wouldn’t say HCBS was out coached but he didn’t coach. UK bigs just stood around the rim.

KU was woefully unprepared as they had no rhyme or reason to their offense game plan. It was like they were all waiting for somebody to do something.

Sometimes in life we need everything to crash so we can reboot. Understand? The last few years I felt the KU teams lacked something. Though they were good, ranked high, and respected something seemed to be missing. I wish I could tell you what it was but I’m not sure what to call it. Chip on the shoulder? Some backbone? I don’t know.

However watching KU play Michigan St I saw what was missing. I don’t know what you call it, but I knew KU wasn’t going to lose. Maybe somebody can help me with this?

Guys and Gals who knows maybe that UK loss is the very thing KU basketball and it’s fans needed? Just saying.

Being an old man I look back on my life and marvel at how much things and places have changed. What was cutting edge became obsolete. What was cool became lame. No matter how much we want things to stay the same. Change is always around the corner. Maybe it’s a product of capitalism or maybe it’s just a product of our society. Either way to sustain success or grab the brass ring one needs to change, or be left behind.

While some have questioned HCBS’s coaching abilities? I’ve spent most of this year being silent and in some occasions defended him. However after watching the WV game I can no longer be silent.

I’m so frustrated with this team, and HCBS. For the life of me I can’t find the rhyme or reason to the method at which this team plays. I’ve watched just about every game this year. I see the talent, the ability. It just blows my mind why this team can’t put it together. Don’t get me wrong KU has won a lot of games this year, and are mostly likely are going to win or at least share another conference championship. However the reality is this team is underachieving.

So who do we blame? The players? or The HCBS? A HC creates the game plan and the players carry out the game plan. However what if the players can’t carry out the game plan? Is it not the HC’s responsibility to play to the strength of his team? Instead of trying to force a square peg into a round hole?

HCBS is a great coach, in fact he’s one of he best. He has cut his teeth on playing inside. He has buttered his bread with a strong inside game. Boys and girls playing inside has made him a great coach and sure Hall of Famer. However I’m afraid if he doesn’t change and adapt his plan, the game will indeed pass him by.

How many times have we watched KU come out and pound the ball inside only to watch Ellis miss 3 of 4 shots and have a couple turnovers? How many times have we watched KU overcome a deficit with outside shooting only to have HCBS demand they go back inside? I fully understand that having an inside game is key to any real success. However I think HCBS is overlooking the fact that unlike previous years, this years team has no interior passing. That’s it right there. In previous years KU always had somebody that could score and someone that could do the little things. Like passing, rebounding, and blocking shots. KU doesn’t have it this year. Not all is lost though. This KU team can shoot the three ball like none I’ve ever seen. They don’t take hurried threes, and when they do take threes they are good shots. If HCBS wants to bench a player for not playing defense, hustling, or not rebounding then I’m all in. However if one of KU’s snipers takes a set three to early in the shot clock a trip to the bench is uncalled for. KU shoots threes this year. It’s what they are good at coach.

A new era of basketball is coming to the forefront. It means change. Some old thinking will need to be forgotten or at the very least tweaked. I still have I hopes for HCBS but he’s reached the crossroads of his coaching career. He’ll either cling to what got him here or he will adapt. Either way change will come. With the OAD era in full force, the player that sticks around for 3 or 4 years are gone. What worked in the yesteryear won’t work today.

Failure and losing is apart of anything we do in life. However if I’m going to lose I rather lose doing what we do best, than trying to do something I’m not good at.

Gentlemen and Ladies Hem isn’t saying HCBS isn’t a great coach. Come on guys ??? He’s merely pointing to the fact this KU team isn’t playing to it’s strength. The (((Three point shot))). Many times Hem has said he favors HCBS’s High/low system. He just feels like I do we are leaving our best weapon in the darkness of a high/low system.

Arizona is beatable no rhyme to their scheme.

Duke is beatable as they rely on a big time freshmen. One bad game they go home.

Villanova is beatable as they still like the three when their real strength is down low.

Gonzaga is beatable because they haven’t really been tested. Played no one.

Virginia is beatable but scary. They play mad defense.

Wisconsin is beatable because they can’t really handle a back court that is quick.

UK is crazy and scary awesome. However if HCBS would be willing to let his snipers shoot instead of pounding inside all game. Yes KU can beat them, however only if the snipers are given the green light. Go inside against UK and you lose. Period.

Some have made the claim that the Big 12 conference is inferior to the other power conferences. Basing the theory on the fact the other conferences put more teams in the final 4 and winning the championships.

Well I’m not sure I believe. Just in the last two years KU has come to the end of conference play beat up and beaten down. Plagued with injures and just worn down. Think about it? If KU Played the great wonderful and powerful SEC they could have 12 wins of just showing up. No not in the Big 12. Every game seems like a dog fight, no matter what team you root for.

Why does a team that is good have to show it every night? If you’re good, you’re good. You don’t need to prove it every night.

Yea tell me again how the Big 12 sucks.

PS I bet my house that this years UK team would have at least two losses if they played in the Big 12

@jaybate-1.0

I believe Cal is losing favor with not only Nike but the Kids he recruits too. He’s had all a coach, a program could ever want and he couldn’t deliver. Not only that he comes across as cocky and a arrogant ass. Ever notice when UK loses it’s never about the other team playing great, it’s because the players didn’t listen to him and do what he said.

If the game is to sell shoes then being a arrogant ass isn’t they way to go. If everybody hates you and you are sponsored by Nike, then people, fans will begin to hate not only Cal, UK but also Nike.

Why is it that when a fan believes a player is going to be great, others say you’re just being hopeful and projecting your own want full thoughts? Yet those same people will say the same player is more likely to do this or be this kind of player? Is that not projecting also?

I think this class is a ten, because as a fan I’m more excited about an upcoming season than I have in some time. I love this class because they’ve had nothing given to them. Even the star of this class Diallo still gets no credit for taking on the best and walking away MVP twice. Are you kidding me? This kid has a chip on his shoulder like not other. Yep this kid is going to be nasty. Bragg wants to be a Jayhawk, the best part he doesn’t have to be the man on such a veteran team. No he can let the game come to him. Late in the season look for all the hoopla that comes with being a star. The kid has game. The addition of Coleby Cheese is perfect and most important. with all the bigs KU will be losing next year. Mister Coleby is perfect for KU. A footer with a chance to learn how to play basketball the right way, and spend all that time with Hudy. No way anything wrong with this. Lets not for get the Vick? The surprise none of you know about but will soon enough

Sometimes we want to rate recruiting classes off the level of talent and the amount gathered. Yet what about a recruiting class that fills a teams need that very year and future needs? Reality says this KU class is no ten. However rating basketball players and recruiting classes isn’t about reality it’s about perception and projection.

A perfect 10 for this KU recruiting class. I’m calling it.

Not to long in a travel out to the west coast. I visited a Cuban family. Not fully aware of the in’s and outs of their culture, I made the mistake of eating IN and Out Burger before stopping by. Huge mistake for you see the man’s wife insisted that I eat dinner. I realized my situation right away. It would have been disrespectful to not oblige her. So with my gut busting I eat some of the best Cuban food in my life. And damn near puked.

My point is you don’t change you’re way of life or pass laws to change ones way of life to keep peace. What they did in Portland is dumb. A PB&J sandwich is like apple pie it’s part of the American culture as anything.

You know as adults we can go out to eat and if we see something on the menu we’ve never had or don’t like we don’t ask the owner to change the menu. Yet we want to ban PB&J’s because some kids with a foreign background never had them? Really?

It’s amazing how things change yet some things stay the same. As children we are taught traditions, and how to celebrate them. These can consist of anything like candles on a Birthday cake, having turkey on Thanksgiving, to opening your stockings first on Christmas Day. Whatever it is we remember and in some cases continue the tradition. Oh sure we’ve changed some of the traditions and in some cases make up our own traditions. Yet in the end we cherish our traditions and the things that remind us of those traditions… Who doesn’t watch a horror movie on Halloween, a Charlie Brown cartoon before thanksgiving, or Miracle on 34th st around Christmas?

Well The Champions Classic is kind of becoming a tradition for KU faithful. I believe this will be KU’s 5th season playing in the classic. It’s almost weird but for me it’s like the beginning of the college basketball season. As I’m not able to watch the KU games on that ESPN (screw everybody over) 3 internet station. Ah but I digress as the world and it’s traditions are changing.

I don’t know if they’ll continue the Champions series, or what it’s future holds. Yet for this year and next year it will be the sign, the tradition that KU basketball has returned to me again. You know I think I’ll take the day off from work that wonderful day. Stock my garage fridge full of beer. Of course I will stay up late Monday night preparing the meat for the buffet I will grill the day KU hits the hard wood again. I will drink, I will cook, I will feed my friends, I will feed my neighbors, I will feed the stranger passing by, I will feed my family, and yes I will even feed myself. When all the cheap beer is drank, and all the food is ate. Then the Charcoals will be cooled and the friends forced to leave. For you see it’s a tradition that I watch the KU game in my Bedroom, by myself with My legs crossed and drinking a nice dark craft beer.

Hey HCBS I’m bitching about Mister BG’s Playing time too. Eight Minutes against MSU? What am I banned from watching the next six games KU plays?

Just pleading my case for the Inglorious Bastards

Coach and fans read:

Irvine coach Russell Turner said most nights his team, which features Ndiaye as well as 7-foot-2 Ioannis Dimakopoulos and 6-10 Mike Best, has a clear size advantage against its opponents. And while that proved to be true again against Kansas, the Jayhawks had a way to level the playing field.

“Kansas has more big guys that they can throw at our big guys and that wore us down,” Turner said. “Good strategy for a team that has the kind of depth that Kansas does. Not many have that.”

Some times paying attention to what an opposing coach’s has to say is worth it’s weight in gold.

Coach don’t change a damn thing and play the Inglorious Bastards.

Naming the greatest is always a hard thing to do. As most times you’re looking at players from didn’t eras and trying to compare them. Not an easy task. However when you have a player come along no matter what the sport and they change the rules to level the playing advantage. That says it all.

@jaybate-1.0

You know as well as any body the game of basketball goes through changes. Whether by rule changes, coaching schemes, or the players themselves. Most of the time we fans and such don’t even know the change has happened, until someone with knowledge and understanding points it out to us.

The four and 1 has been a long time and coming. Where it began I’m not sure, but it’s been showing us glimpses of how the game is changing. As I type I’m trying to remember the first clue in my own thinking. Maybe it was Jordan and the Bulls in the triangle offense?? I don’t know. However the days of just pounding the ball inside are coming to a close.

I too think Coach is a genesis, yet he didn’t create nor discover this movement that has been taking place in Basketball. The mayor in Iowa St. was way ahead of coach on this. not because he was smarter or a better coach. It was he needed a way to compete with KU and Coach. It’s only been here recently that Coach hasn’t being getting the bigs that he requires to run his system. Which just for the record I still think Coach run his high/low with the current roster if he so desired. He just stumbled onto a truth and instead of ignoring it, he’s beginning to embrace it.

As history has shown change usually starts at the bottom. There is no need for the big dogs to change when they can win at will with the tried and true. It’s only after continued failure that one realizes that change is needed. History has always shown grab the biggest and toughest dudes to roam the paint and you can win 75 to 55 on most nights. Just like Novocain just keep pounding the ball inside and the opponent will fold his tent.

For years and decades the big dogs could live by this form of play. Yet changes come and they go. Players don’t see the 3 as fools gold. They spend hours and nights in their driveways and shady gyms pounding the ball from outside. Perfecting their shot. Learning to use their bodies when they don’t have the ball in their hands. It’s not breed into them that the ball most go inside at all cost. The 6’5 and 6’7 isn’t thinking go into the trees and muscle. Their thinking I’ll make the trees come to me.

Yet I digress. The real movement of the 4 and 1 is that small schools who can’t recruit the typical bigs, have discovered the real value in a stretch four as you called it. This revelation has opened the doors for the lower end schools to recruit and have success on the big time stage. Let this sink in. Big time upsets happen every year in College basketball, and not so much in football. Why is that? Well in Basketball you only need five players to play the game. So if they can grab I few studs and especially a stretch four now they are on the same playing level as the big dogs for the most part.

In closing my personal opinion is, "For the Big dogs to continue to eat they need to adapt or shoot the three more. As they can still out recruit the small schools for big guards that can run, jump, handle the ball, and shoot the three. In our case as KU fans I think Coach is doing both. Look at all his recruits from the guard positions. They can handle the ball, get to the rack , and shoot the three on a respectable level. Not to mention he stills recruits the prize big like a Doka when he cans, however keeping an open mind for players like Bragg who can stretch the floor.

After KU sleeped walked to 20 point win vs Nebraska. The wheels in the old and crusty mind began to turn. They truned so hard the cat jumped and left the room and the dog began to bark nonstop like it had seen a ghost.

What in the world has happened to College sports? What has happened to our love affiar? There was a time being a stundent athlete really meant something. It meant you were apart of something. It meant a chance at an education that you might not otherwise reciece. Most of all it meant tradition and family. What happened?

KU and NU have been playing each other every year for over a hundred years. Not anymore. KU and MU’s rivarly was up there as one of the best. Now we don’t even look at each other. OH how money has changed so much of what we used to love. I know we want to blame Texas in our world of thinking, yet this is bigger than Texas. Yes even bigger than Texas.

After the KU vs NU Game I channeled surfed for a bit and seen WSU and Oklahoma trading punches. Why can’t the Shockers trade punches in the so called Big 12? Why can’t Boise St. trade punches in a big time conference?

Money it seems is trying to shorten the list of big time programs, yet in the process it is killing some very great matchups, and pureness of the college athlete and college sports. Why is this? Every year the NFL draft is full of kids that didn’t play in the so called power 5 conferences. Every year a star is born in the pros that didn’t play at a power 5 conference.

Remember the old big East? Not much in football but just crazy in basketball. Gone like an ancient relic and why? Remember when Maryland played in the ACC? Remember when NU was a Big 8 team?

Oh we as KU fans are happy because we have a seat at the big boy table. Yet are we really happy? We are one big conference shake up from watching our brethren Kansas St. fall into obscurity. Sure they don’t know it and deny and deny. Yet we know. We all know. KU has something they don’t have a national brand. Our basketball.

I know the money tells guys like me to shut up and just be happy. And maybe I should. Just be happy that no matter what happens KU is going to be in. Yet as a fan it kind of saddens me. How long before money destroys the ncaa tournament, laying it wagers on a all big boy tournament?

Just a couple cents I have.

Kstate must of gotten one of those great half time speeches Bruce Weber style.

Mason playing on heart and fumes. Man I love this kid.

I just have to laugh every time this topic gets brought up. It’s always the same thing too. KU and Coach Self are butt hurt, but MU they’re great because the want to renew the so called rivalry.

Of Course MU wants to play KU.

They over played their cards. The SEC popped their balloon. MU really believed they were the cats meow. This isn’t KU or Coach Self’s problem. It’s not the responsibility of KU to throw MU a life line. What am I saying KU owes MU nothing and is not obligated to play them. It’s not KU’s and Coach’s fault that the SEC used MU like a ragdoll to get the St Louis and Kansas City tv market. It’s not KU and Coach’s fault that nobody in the SEC respects or cares about MU. Hey the writing was on the wall. All you had to do was look at Arkansas. How long has Arkansas been in the SEC? And still the SEC culture rejects them. What MU thought they would do better? No MU made their bed let them lay in it. KU owes MU nothing. Putting MU on the schedule would be the dumbest thing KU can do.

@HighEliteMajor It would appear to me the majority of KU fans don’t want to play MU. Wouldn’t it be in Coach’s best interest to listen to what the fans want?

I don’t know? I kind of like Mitch. In this day in age of a player with a little talent leaving early. It’s kind of refreshing to see a player that will stick around for awhile. Will he be a super star? No. But I can see a Landon Lucas type senior year out of the kid.

Ask yourself this question? After 4 years of Mitch? Who you going to really remember? Some OAD or old subpar Mitch that is only good enough to go over seas and play?

I was lucky enough to hear a Kentucky basketball radio show a couple weeks ago in my travels. Talk about hard reality. One caller after another was calling in complaining they didn’t know any of the players, and no desire to. Seeing how they’d be leaving after the season was over anyways. It wasn’t something I hadn’t considered. Always thought UK fans were just giddy to have the top talent rolling in year after year. It was an eye opener for me.

Everybody loves winning. Yet being a KU fan one of my greatest pleasures is seeing kids like Mitch gut it out for 4 years. You get to know them. You create a bond with them. You can actually see the improvement in their game. Take Svi for example? The kid is putting on a show this year. Showing aspects of his game I wasn’t sure was even there.

Besides Mitch has a nice stroke from three land. LOL

You cats should be praising this kid You should be buying his jersey. Every time you post something about KU basketballs, it should include a shout out of love for old Mitch.

Thank You Mitch for deciding to be a Jayhawk. Thank you sir for giving your love, heart, body for the team I love so much. Thank you Mitch. Keep trying to hold down the fort until help arrives. I know I love you.

I’m just shell shocked. Might have to go into the bomb shelter? KU getting serious about Football. Is the sky falling? Has the rapture taken place and I missed out? Did I wake up into some alter universe?

Mother nature found me and whooped my butt. I lost my shed. half of my privacy fence, a tree limb fell on my old Blue Truck, and she topped it off by ripping the big bay window on the front of my house out. Yea she is some kind of special gal.

It’s all good though. No loved ones hurt.

I don’t get you guys? One topic already got shutdown over this subject. Let me make this simple for you guys. If you love and think the Big 12 is a great basketball conference then you’re a homer. For you that think that KU winning 10 conferences is nothing and has no value. What are they supposed to do? Lose? You play the games and the conference that is in front of you. If you guys think KU should be in a different conference then lets talk, but they’re not. So quit complaining about the Big 12.

You that point to UConn to prove your point merely prove the fact the winning a NCAA championship in Basketball takes some luck. As the last two Championships UConn won, they were far from a dominant team. They got hot and lucky at the same time. For instant take the last two teams that UConn won a championship with and let them play a 7 game series with KU. Still think UConn wins? Maybe somebody should call HCBS and tell him, hey bud winning conferences championships don’t mean nothing. So by all means go up to Ames and get run off the court, or let the Wildcats just stomp you and rush the floor, and by all means head down to Texas and just get manhandled because conference championships don’t mean nothing coach. Really?

Want the truth the reality is March Madness is the worst way to crown a champion, yet is the most entertaining. Meaning anybody can win it.

By the way I’m a KU and Big 12 homer. Love the conference. If the Big 12 crumbles and KU goes somewhere else I’ll love that conference too. Doesn’t mean I don’t know basketball.