B12 2024

[pdub]

MICH is around 15 percent from the field but the above was a nice little floater that went in.

He’s correct.

[KUTradition]

i hate it…the title shouldn’t just cease having to go through Lawrence because we added teams to the league

and honestly, it’s all on Bill

getting tore up by zone Ds and not having any bench production is entirely on him

[DeletedUser]

Like he said, it still means a lot to the fans, and rightfully so, but not as much to them....which sucks tbh, but that's reality of a bigger league.

[KUTradition]

but that’s also why continued dominance would be even more impressive

it just feels like throwing the towel in prematurely

[DeletedUser]

but that’s also why continued dominance would be even more impressive

it just feels like throwing the towel in prematurely

I don't think they're necessarily throwing in the towel. I think Self still "wants" to win every game. I just think Self was being honest. Maybe setting the stage or applying some pressure to create 2 divisions so the schedules are more even?

I was surprised he said it outloud even if he is in the "chasing nattys only" portion of his career.

[twocoach]

Interesting to hear in the post game presser yesterday Self sort of hint that winning the league isn't as important to the players/coaches as it is to the fans now that the league has an uneven schedule.

I just think he meant that it isn't as impressive of an accomplishment as it was when you have the true double round robin. I didn't take it to mean that it wasn't important to the current team. Self really liked the home and home of the Big 12 and was right that it was the perfect format for determining who was the best team in the conference that season. Just a bummer that it's over but it was only about a ten year time frame.

[DeletedUser]

Interesting to hear in the post game presser yesterday Self sort of hint that winning the league isn't as important to the players/coaches as it is to the fans now that the league has an uneven schedule.

I think he meant that it isn't as impressive of an accomplishment as it is when you have the true double round robin. I didn't take it to mean that it wasn't important to the current team.

He said "fans feel differently about it than the players".

He did also go onto say what you said as well.

It's both.

[twocoach]

If this current team thinks it's not important then they need to reevaluate their level of commitment, intensity, competitiveness and effort to accomplish their season goals.

[DeletedUser]

If this current team thinks it's not important then they need to reevaluate their level of commitment, intensity, competitiveness and effort to accomplish their season goals.

I think this team is "playing for the tournament".

Too many nights where we are just coasting and it's obvious.

I guess if they go win 6 straight in March/April then nobody will ever remember those nights of minimal intensity....but if not, then their legacy will be judged accordingly.

[twocoach]

If this current team thinks it's not important then they need to reevaluate their level of commitment, intensity, competitiveness and effort to accomplish their season goals.

I think this team is "playing for the tournament".

Too many nights where we are just coasting and it's obvious.

I guess if they go win 6 straight in March/April then nobody will ever remember those nights of minimal intensity....but if not, then their legacy will be judged accordingly.

Agreed. We'll see how it plays out. They have been utterly uninspiring lately. I hope they find the switch that the Chiefs have found.

[KUTradition]

thank god we’ve got okie lite before saturday

maybe a solid win can create some good juju for what’s coming, saturday and beyond

[KUTradition]

247:

For the second time in two weeks, KU basketball will face off with Oklahoma State on Tuesday night. The Jayhawks will look to rebound from their close loss at Iowa State this past Saturday while the Cowboys will look to build off of their first conference victory of the season against West Virginia. The first matchup between the two in Stillwater was one of KU's strongest games of the season in a dominant 90-66 victory. The game was controlled by the Jayhawks from the get-go and never relinquished a lead with multiple standout performers including Johnny Furphy's first breakout game as a starter with 15 points. In fact, every single one of KU's starters scored in double-figures in the first matchup.

What is unique about this matchup though is the timing. Oklahoma State will be the first opponent KU has played twice this season and all within 14 days. For reference, KU plays five opponents twice in conference play this year and hasn't played three of them yet in K-State, Houston and Baylor. Oklahoma is the other team with two matchups and the first one came earlier in January with the return trip in mid-February.

This scheduling scheme and quick turnaround between the two matchups is something Bill Self said he is not a fan of, but he did pick out one positive aspect.

"It seems kind of strange to me," Self said. "I wish the schedule wasn't like that but I know that it's computerized and it may always be that way. But I think it's a little quick on the turnaround. But there are some positives to it too. For both teams, you only have to scout the three games in between for both teams as opposed to scouting the seven games in between or whatever. So I guess you could look at that as a positive."

Self wants the KU bench to 'blend' better with starters

One of the biggest topics of conversation this season has been KU's bench production. Self has not gotten much from his bench for almost the entire season and it has continued in conference play. The lack of production from the bench has put a huge strain on the starting five, who are all playing over 30 minutes in nearly every game at this point of the season.

Self mentioned the point that KU's playing style could limit some of the individual abilities of those bench players. But he said everybody has to deal with that and it would be a boost if KU could rely on a depth piece in all types of situations.

"I see that would be an issue on any team that if you have reserves, and they're playing with three or four starters, they got to find a way to blend," Self said. "One thing that we have used a lot in terminology over time was blend guys. Those are the type of guys a lot better off the bench. Blends-type guys, they can come in and play with anybody and make the situation better."

Self has tweaked his coaching style, emphasis with this year's team

As with every season, there are going to be differences in personnel and the squad's strengths. Most of the time, that doesn't change the way Self coaches his team and tries to stay as consistent as possible year-to-year. However, this season has presented some unique challenges that have made him rethink some things.

Self said he hasn't been coaching harder in regards to aspects like intensity or practice methods, but there was one difference he brought up that he's done with this year's team he hasn't done much in the past.

"[I'm] probably coaching differently based on depth and based on maybe an individual's personal talent," Self said. "It's been enough here in the past that this is who we are, this is how we guard, there's no difference in who's out there. This is what we do. But this year, we probably tried to, and it's been somewhat effective, we probably try to play to scalp report, and things like that more this year than maybe in years past based on this is how this is how we need to guard for this game or that game. And they're more probably substantial type changes than there are mere minor tweaks. So I would say that's one thing, and I don't really like that lot."

[KUTradition]

statie loses at home to ou?

didn’t expect that

[pdub]

This stretch of 5 games is brutal.
v 4 HOU, @ ksu, v 18 BU, @ 15 TTU, @ 23 OU.
3-2 if one of those wins is v Houston keeps you in the race.

I think you don't beat Houston at AFH, you then must proceed to win 4 in a row.

[pdub]

My guess is we'll be 2.5 dogs tomorrow.

[DeletedUser]

My guess is we'll be 2.5 dogs tomorrow.

Espn predictor only gives us a 24.6% chance to win.


I love as an underdog at home. Agree we will be 1-2.5pt underdogs.

[KUTradition]

247:

…On Thursday, Self met with reporters and provided an update on McCullar before KU practiced for the first time since Tuesday night's game.

"It's too early," Self said. "But I like I said all along, it's a bone bruise. So I'm anticipating him being able to go, but I don't know, to the extent or how much it'll bother him or anything like that. But we'll know more after today."

Here's what Self said about McCullar postgame on Tuesday night.

"I don't expect him to be out a long time. It's a bone bruise. He hurt the outside of it when he got hit the other day and it's kind of created a similar situation that the other one did. but it's not something that is going to keep him from playing over time but if he did played today he would have been 50% or 60%. And then you risk getting hit again. So we won't practice tomorrow and we'll see about Thursday and hoping practice on Friday."…

[pdub]

So…go Baylor.
We would be tied atop the B12 ( ISU tiebreaker over us, us tiebreaker over Hou ).

[pdub]

This stretch of 5 games is brutal.
v 4 HOU, @ ksu, v 18 BU, @ 15 TTU, @ 23 OU.
3-2 if one of those wins is v Houston keeps you in the race.

I think you don't beat Houston at AFH, you then must proceed to win 4 in a row.

Houston down.
Go 3-1 next 4 and you are the favorites in the B12 race.

At ksu is kind of a must.

[TDub]

This stretch of 5 games is brutal.
v 4 HOU, @ ksu, v 18 BU, @ 15 TTU, @ 23 OU.
3-2 if one of those wins is v Houston keeps you in the race.

I think you don't beat Houston at AFH, you then must proceed to win 4 in a row.

Houston down.
Go 3-1 next 4 and you are the favorites in the B12 race.

At ksu is kind of a must.

I think our cushion deflated at UCF and completely evaporated at WVU. damn near every game is a must. We can't lose more than 2 from here on out total if we want the conference.

We still gotta go play at UH against what will be a very motivated team and a very motivated Kelvin.