Kansas Crimson

of all the things I was wondering about Elle Evans...

We can bitch about talent and roster construction until we're crimson and blue in the face, but it can't change mid season. So it's a pointless endeavor.

I am really baffled by 2 choices Self made during the 2nd half:

Why "bench" Flory?

Why (so much) Coit over Griffen/Shak?


As a fan, we don't see a ton. But Self panicked as much as our players during that initial run at the beginning of the 2nd half. Wasted timeouts, but didn't make adjustments during those timeouts. Which, whatever, those are Self's patented hissy fit timeouts that he's taken his entire career. Sometimes they work, I guess.

First he plays Storr the last 5min of the first half "just because" since "it is a blowout, right?"....But then he immediately tightens the rotation in an extreme fashion in the 2nd half at the first sign of trouble. Which throws of the rhythm of the rotation and also can't help our players stay calm (players we know struggle with that).

Did Flory get hurt on that hard fall? If not, he really fucked that up. He has to play. He isn't turning it over or making egregious defensive errors. In fact, i think Flory makes HD BETTER of offense. And obviously Florys shot blocking (and speed, and length) helps on defense.

The other choice was Coit. He hit 2 quick 3s first half, and then NOTHING until we had already lost the game. He is a 10min a game guy. He's like Taysom Hill in football. Get Coit in, let him shoot some 3s, then get him out (which is what we did in the first half). He isn't Derrick Henry who can handle 40 carrire a game. He's not good at defense. Even if he's not out of position, his challenge on shots isn't as good as Shak, his pressure isn't as good as Shak. He got some rebounds (he has a nack for being in the right spot so the ball bounces right to him), but he doesn't create for others. He doesn't handle pressure well as a ballhandler.

Did Shak and Griffen fuck up somewhere badly that I missed? Because Shak is good at defense and that's what got us our big lead. And Griffen was hitting shots that first half.

Then once that rotation tightens, and the timeouts are wasted, DH Zeke and HD are forced to be out there almost 100% of the time. And when the others come back in everyone is tight and the ball sticks. And when Zeke gets tired he misses ALL his shots right on the front of the rim short. Like clockwork

I think Self let his foot off the gas at the end of the first half deciding it was time to "get guys minutes to keep them happy", which he has talked about in press conferences. Then the team had a pretty predictable halftime energy letdown with a big lead against a team that appeared to have quit towards the end of the first half.

Then I think EVERYONE, coaches and players, overreacted to the pressure and run by Baylor.

Weird choices. Maybe there's stuff going on behind the scenes with certain players.

BiggDick wrote: ↑Mon Jan 06, 2025 1:10 pm

pdub wrote: ↑Mon Jan 06, 2025 12:44 pm

BiggDick wrote: ↑Mon Jan 06, 2025 12:17 pm I think our chance at a 1-3 seed is a matter of whether we can break .500 on the road.

So......what is your guess?

hmm.

we're so far 1-2 on the road, so already digging ourselves out of a hole.

Let's look at the remaining roadies plus stream of consciousness predictions:

@Cincy - I think they just dropped out of the top 25 but have otherwise been ranked, but hopefully we got the wakeup call we need to come out swinging on the road - W

@ISU - they're a top 3 team plus it's Mevlin Weatherwax's Super Bowl - L

@TCU - Ernest Scared Straight (into the transfer portal) - W

@Baylor - Scott Drew Sucks and anything but will get you banned, randy - W

@KSU - lol kitties - W (though they might get us on the play hard chart)

@ Utah - wut - L

@ BYU - we do well with a narrative like revenge for punking us at home last year plus I don't see us loosing 2 in a row in Mormon country - W

@ CU - I'm prob going to this game so prob gonna get guttered - L

@ Houston - Hopefully we're gelling by now but ranked team on the road ugh - L

sooo that's 6-6 on the road...exactly .500, fuck!

Add in the fact we're wont to drop another home game or two we shouldn't as well.

But I also think we'll win at least 2 conference tourney games and have that momentum, but also not likely to win 3 in 3 days.

That's what, like, 8-9 losses going into the big dance?

So, let's say, 4 seed.

Of course, I hope I'm wrong, and hope we don't actually keep sucking on the road and dropping bad ones at home too, and the UCF dominance isn't some desperate outlier and wewe can actually keep riding that high, and I get served more crauw, which I'll gladly eat.

Damn, my first miss.

Well Randy got a week ban so not a full miss.

Last night was one of our best games of the season.


Bidunga 15min
Shak 2min
Coit 9min
Storr 17min

The matchup dictated some of that rotation breakdown.

Griffen played 23min. Missed his shots, but could have easily gone 3-5 from 3 and it looks wildly different. Combined with Storr's minutes, that's essentially the 40min of game time at the 3 spot. That was the best full game 40min of 3 spot production we've gotten all year if I had to guess. Especially considering the opponent and situation for both teams. We need that 3 spot scoring/shooting. Even when the shots don't go in. Griffen has to shoot due to the rotations it forces.

I am not drawing too many conclusions about KU and who played how many minutes from KU beating an ISU team that is in a serious funk. ISU is shooting 28.5% from three and 36.8% overall in losing their last three games.

The only thing I really take from last night is that KU played good, aggressive defense and made their threes and should take some confidence away from the game overall. It's a good win on the resume since we hadn't beat a ranked team since the Duke win in late November.

KU has a nice 6 game stretch now against unranked teams and needs to go at least 5-1 in those 6 games to keep them in the running for a higher seed. The road game at KSU suddenly looks more challenging since their recent run of three straight wins all by at least 12 points and with 2 of them being against ranked teams. The road games @Utah and @BYU should be comparatively easy. Neither team has beat a ranked team all season.

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:09 am The only thing I really take from last night is that KU....and made their threes

Outside of Zeke we were only 4 of 12 from 3. If Rylan had been hot we'd have really blow them out.

Hopefully you keep watching even though Bidunga didn't hit that 20min mark.

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:09 am I am not drawing too many conclusions about KU and who played how many minutes from KU beating an ISU team that is in a serious funk. ISU is shooting 28.5% from three and 36.8% overall in losing their last three games.

The only thing I really take from last night is that KU played good, aggressive defense and made their threes and should take some confidence away from the game overall. It's a good win on the resume since we hadn't beat a ranked team since the Duke win in late November.

KU has a nice 6 game stretch now against unranked teams and needs to go at least 5-1 in those 6 games to keep them in the running for a higher seed. The road game at KSU suddenly looks more challenging since their recent run of three straight wins all by at least 12 points and with 2 of them being against ranked teams. The road games @Utah and @BYU should be comparatively easy. Neither team has beat a ranked team all season.

BYU will be tough. The two Colorado games should be gimmes though

DeletedUser wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:24 am

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:09 am The only thing I really take from last night is that KU....and made their threes

Outside of Zeke we were only 4 of 12 from 3. If Rylan had been hot we'd have really blow them out.

Hopefully you keep watching even though Bidunga didn't hit that 20min mark.

Fortunately Zeke plays for KU and we don't have to remove him from the percentages. Besides, 4 of 12 is better than the 27% we shot from three even with Mayo's shots included. I'll take it.

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:12 pm

DeletedUser wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:24 am

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:09 am The only thing I really take from last night is that KU....and made their threes

Outside of Zeke we were only 4 of 12 from 3. If Rylan had been hot we'd have really blow them out.

Hopefully you keep watching even though Bidunga didn't hit that 20min mark.

Fortunately Zeke plays for KU and we don't have to remove him from the percentages. Besides, 4 of 12 is better than the 27% we shot from three even with Mayo's shots included. I'll take it.

if you take nothing from the ISU win then I must also assume you take nothing from the Baylor loss?


or are you using some sort of special formula of spoiled fan math?

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:15 pm

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:12 pm

DeletedUser wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:24 am

Outside of Zeke we were only 4 of 12 from 3. If Rylan had been hot we'd have really blow them out.

Hopefully you keep watching even though Bidunga didn't hit that 20min mark.

Fortunately Zeke plays for KU and we don't have to remove him from the percentages. Besides, 4 of 12 is better than the 27% we shot from three even with Mayo's shots included. I'll take it.

if you take nothing from the ISU win then I must also assume you take nothing from the Baylor loss?


or are you using some sort of special formula of spoiled fan math?

If you want to find something to argue about, I am sure you can if you keep at it. Beating ISU yesterday is a little different than having beaten them when they were a red-hot offense is all. Good grief, people.

i'm not gonna get all excited from last night.

i expect us to drop a big thud in manhattan this weekend.

cause thats what we do. win one. lose one. win one. lose one.

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:25 pm

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:15 pm

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:12 pm
Fortunately Zeke plays for KU and we don't have to remove him from the percentages. Besides, 4 of 12 is better than the 27% we shot from three even with Mayo's shots included. I'll take it.

if you take nothing from the ISU win then I must also assume you take nothing from the Baylor loss?


or are you using some sort of special formula of spoiled fan math?

If you want to find something to argue about, I am sure you can if you keep at it. Beating ISU yesterday is a little different than having beaten them when they were a red-hot offense is all. Good grief, people.

not trying to argue i just haven't ever understood that math.

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:19 pm

twocoach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:25 pm

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:15 pm

if you take nothing from the ISU win then I must also assume you take nothing from the Baylor loss?


or are you using some sort of special formula of spoiled fan math?

If you want to find something to argue about, I am sure you can if you keep at it. Beating ISU yesterday is a little different than having beaten them when they were a red-hot offense is all. Good grief, people.

not trying to argue i just haven't ever understood that math.

I just don't put last night up as a sign that the minutes played last night were the right mix and KU is back to being a legit title contender is all. I though ISU sucked more than KU was great. Overall, I think KU played excellent defense but ISU couldn't hit a shot, even open ones, to save their lives.

It's all good. Glad I get to ponder the impact of a win over #8 in the country on an ice cold shooting night instead of having to figure what to say about a 3rd home Big 12 loss, one of the few bad "has never happened under Bill Self" things remaining that I would like to see this team not do.

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:15 pm
if you take nothing from the ISU win then I must also assume you take nothing from the Baylor loss?


or are you using some sort of special formula of spoiled fan math?

LOL

I just don't put last night up as a sign that the minutes played last night were the right mix and KU is back to being a legit title contender is all.

i think this is correct. it was a good, timely win, but by no means should’ve convinced anyone that Self has fixed what ails this group

KUTradition wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:08 pm I just don't put last night up as a sign that the minutes played last night were the right mix and KU is back to being a legit title contender is all.

i think this is correct. it was a good, timely win, but by no means should’ve convinced anyone that Self has fixed what ails this group

for sure. But...at least for my sanity, I think its important to recognize when things do go right and do look good. There is value in knowing we are at least capable of putting together a decent outing. There is value in acknowledging that we rebounded fairly well from a (really 2) historical devastating collapses..and there is value in seeing that the team morale isn't damaged totally beyond repair.

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:21 pm

KUTradition wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:08 pm I just don't put last night up as a sign that the minutes played last night were the right mix and KU is back to being a legit title contender is all.

i think this is correct. it was a good, timely win, but by no means should’ve convinced anyone that Self has fixed what ails this group

for sure. But...at least for my sanity, I think its important to recognize when things do go right and do look good. There is value in knowing we are at least capable of putting together a decent outing. There is value in acknowledging that we rebounded fairly well from a (really 2) historical devastating collapses..and there is value in seeing that the team morale isn't damaged totally beyond repair.

for sure

i was personally happy to see two decent halves in a row, regardless of isu’s struggles

KUTradition wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:24 pm

TDub wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:21 pm

KUTradition wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:08 pm I just don't put last night up as a sign that the minutes played last night were the right mix and KU is back to being a legit title contender is all.

i think this is correct. it was a good, timely win, but by no means should’ve convinced anyone that Self has fixed what ails this group

for sure. But...at least for my sanity, I think its important to recognize when things do go right and do look good. There is value in knowing we are at least capable of putting together a decent outing. There is value in acknowledging that we rebounded fairly well from a (really 2) historical devastating collapses..and there is value in seeing that the team morale isn't damaged totally beyond repair.

for sure

i was personally happy to see two decent halves in a row, regardless of isu’s struggles

same