KU / Oklahoma State Official Game Thread

[PhDhawk]

"Let’s pray the 2nd half is a sign of things to come."

Again, he's leading us in B12 scoring at 14.5 on 51% shooting.
We've played 12 games so enough stats to determine what we're gonna get.
Last 5 games: 15 points, 17 points, 18 points, 17 points, 23 points.

We've seen what DMac brings - which is solid post play with some frustrating misses but also some clinical big man plays - very good free throw shooting, good ball distribution for a big - and better defense than this bored gives him credit yet still too sped up.

When he's hitting, he reminds me of senior simien. When he's missing, it reminds me of when we had to play clay young in the post.

[CrimsonNBlue]

"Let’s pray the 2nd half is a sign of things to come."

Again, he's leading us in B12 scoring at 14.5 on 51% shooting.
We've played 12 games so enough stats to determine what we're gonna get.
Last 5 games: 15 points, 17 points, 18 points, 17 points, 23 points.

We've seen what DMac brings - which is solid post play with some frustrating misses but also some clinical big man plays - very good free throw shooting, good ball distribution for a big - and better defense than this bored gives him credit yet still too sped up.

When he's hitting, he reminds me of senior simien. When he's missing, it reminds me of when we had to play clay young in the post.

A good reason to mix up lineups.

But no, not with f-ing Mitch.

[twocoach]

"Let’s pray the 2nd half is a sign of things to come."

Again, he's leading us in B12 scoring at 14.5 on 51% shooting.
We've played 12 games so enough stats to determine what we're gonna get.
Last 5 games: 15 points, 17 points, 18 points, 17 points, 23 points.

We've seen what DMac brings - which is solid post play with some frustrating misses but also some clinical big man plays - very good free throw shooting, good ball distribution for a big - and better defense than this bored gives him credit yet still too sped up.

16.6 points per game in his last 10 games and has scored 15+ in each of his last 5 games. Azubuike averaged 13.7 points a game last year and his longest streak of games scoring 15+ was two games.

Just some perspective.

[Deleted User 89]

DMac is a nice player

not as good as some make him out, and not as bad as others might think

i’ve been hard on him, but it’s not because i think he’s a bad player...it’s because he hasn’t played as well as i think he can

[CrimsonNBlue]

"Let’s pray the 2nd half is a sign of things to come."

Again, he's leading us in B12 scoring at 14.5 on 51% shooting.
We've played 12 games so enough stats to determine what we're gonna get.
Last 5 games: 15 points, 17 points, 18 points, 17 points, 23 points.

We've seen what DMac brings - which is solid post play with some frustrating misses but also some clinical big man plays - very good free throw shooting, good ball distribution for a big - and better defense than this bored gives him credit yet still too sped up.

16.6 points per game in his last 10 games and has scored 15+ in each of his last 5 games. Azubuike averaged 13.7 points a game last year and his longest streak of games scoring 15+ was two games.

Just some perspective.

More perspective, we're the current 6th seed out of 10 for the conference tournament.

[pdub]

As much as you keep hammering that our standing is directly related to DMac's play, it isn't.
We'd be worse off without him - sub .500 in conference - his presence on our team isn't sapping our potential - Enaruna playing over DMac isn't it.
A reminder, we are shooting 33% from 3 in conference play, which is 8th, just barely above OU and comfortably above ksu, and as a reminder we are shooting 22 3's a game, the 2nd most under Self, and have shot 261 3's in B12 play, which is the most in conference.

[pdub]

In our conference losses, DMac 12.8 PPG, 6 RPG, 47.9% FG, so definitely a dip in his numbers.
Other players in our conference losses:

Ochai - 12.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 38.6% FG.
Jalen - 11.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 44.6% FG.
Garrett - 13.2 PPG, 4 RPG, 50.9% FG.
Braun - 8.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 37.5% FG.

[ousdahl]

I think, as has been mentioned, it’s the game plan more than Dave’s overall play?

We come out pounding it to the post, and other teams know. And Dave faces double teams, and starts trying to force fadeaways (also worth noting cuz our guards are likely just standing around), and next thing you know we’re playing from behind again.

I think we need to just scheme different out the gate? It would sure be nice to not be down double digits by the first media timeout any more.

[pdub]

I don't think establishing the post early is a bad idea if you don't have someone who can drive/create shots and you are supposedly a perimeter shooting team but 8th out of 10th in conference at shooting the 3.

[ousdahl]

With the operative term being “establishing,” and a couple of big “if”s to go with.

I’d like to see our first offensive sets be Ochai and Christian sprinting around screens to open spots. I think all that action off the ball would free up other stuff.

[twocoach]

With the operative term being “establishing,” and a couple of big “if”s to go with.

I’d like to see our first offensive sets be Ochai and Christian sprinting around screens to open spots. I think all that action off the ball would free up other stuff.

Nobody respects KU's outside shooting so they aren't going to open up anything to chase guys around. That only works if KU guards are an actual threat to make those shots. They simply haven't shot well enough on the looks they get for defenders to feel the need to chase them.

When shooters suck, defenders can sag off of them and make life in the paint hard. It makes passes into the post tougher, which is something this squad has sucked at. It makes getting deep position in the lost tougher. It makes it easier to double post players. It screws up everything. KU just flat-out can't shoot well enough. Kentucky and Duke are sucking at shooting, too and having even worse seasons than KU is.

[CrimsonNBlue]

With the operative term being “establishing,” and a couple of big “if”s to go with.

I’d like to see our first offensive sets be Ochai and Christian sprinting around screens to open spots. I think all that action off the ball would free up other stuff.

Nobody respects KU's outside shooting so they aren't going to open up anything to chase guys around. That only works if KU guards are an actual threat to make those shots. They simply haven't shot well enough on the looks they get for defenders to feel the need to chase them.

When shooters suck, defenders can sag off of them and make life in the paint hard. It makes passes into the post tougher, which is something this squad has sucked at. It makes getting deep position in the lost tougher. It makes it easier to double post players. It screws up everything. KU just flat-out can't shoot well enough. Kentucky and Duke are sucking at shooting, too and having even worse seasons than KU is.

Mike Boynton said they chose not to double McCormack in either game because they are more worried about our shooting. Every team tries to run Braun and Och off the line. However, most teams switch now, so there's not going to be a lot of chasing around screens.


It's quite clear that this team is only going to go as far as its outside shot. Although I do agree that it just has not been a consistent threat

[ousdahl]

I suppose.

Even when we’ve had good shooting teams, we’ve never had much Ray Allen-type action off the ball. And yeah, it would help if this team shot better.

But either way, we could use more movement off the ball, and more offensive strategy generally, than our guards standing around while Dave tries to shoot over a double team.

[twocoach]

With the operative term being “establishing,” and a couple of big “if”s to go with.

I’d like to see our first offensive sets be Ochai and Christian sprinting around screens to open spots. I think all that action off the ball would free up other stuff.

Nobody respects KU's outside shooting so they aren't going to open up anything to chase guys around. That only works if KU guards are an actual threat to make those shots. They simply haven't shot well enough on the looks they get for defenders to feel the need to chase them.

When shooters suck, defenders can sag off of them and make life in the paint hard. It makes passes into the post tougher, which is something this squad has sucked at. It makes getting deep position in the lost tougher. It makes it easier to double post players. It screws up everything. KU just flat-out can't shoot well enough. Kentucky and Duke are sucking at shooting, too and having even worse seasons than KU is.

Mike Boynton said they chose not to double McCormack in either game because they are more worried about our shooting. Every team tries to run Braun and Och off the line. However, most teams switch now, so there's not going to be a lot of chasing around screens.


It's quite clear that this team is only going to go as far as its outside shot. Although I do agree that it just has not been a consistent threat

National ranking in 3pt fg%:
Kansas is 106th
Duke is 135th
Michigan State is 218th.
Carolina is 247th.
Kentucky is 258th.

Not a coincidence that they are all "down" this year.

[Deleted User 89]

i just wish our shooters would do other things

seems so easy to scheme against, particularly with Och, when they are zero threat to drive or even take a couple dribbles in from the line for a jumper

[ousdahl]

I wish this team could push tempo and finish in transition.

They gotta be wide fucking open to even try and score on the fast break. Otherwise, they’re pulling back and setting up our mediocre half court.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I was just about to post that we also don't get enough fast break buckets.

I really think we should push the tempo and try and get more possessions/game, but my guess is Bill is worried what it would do for our defense.

[Deleted User 89]

well, if we played better D we’d likely be in better positions to push tempo and get some easy buckets

i’d even be in favor of pushing after a make

[CrimsonNBlue]

We should be above 75 possession/game with his squad. We currently rank in like the 180's in poss/game.

Turnovers could be an issue with that. Some real turnover machines on this team:

Per 100 poss
Enaruna 5.0(!)
Wilson 4.6(!)
McCormack 4.1(!)
TGF 4.0
Thompson 4.0
Lightfoot 3.7
Garrett 3.7

Our struggles are evident everywhere you look. Free throw shooting is about the only statistical strength I can think of as a team, but we don't get to the line all that much.

[Deleted User 89]

the guys have a good gpa...so there’s that too

edit: and no off the court issues lol