Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thirty-Five and Two
Four No. 1 seeds entered. Only one remains. It's white unis from this point on.
I think we all need to pray to the basketball gods that our current shooting prowess will continue -- I can't believe how good our guards were vs. Richmond, esp. Brady. But TT's resurgence continues, and Selby's showing signs too -- his 3's really blew the game open.
Did anyone think at the beginning of the season -- or even in all the midseason turmoil -- that this team would be capable of mounting a 35-2 record, second-most wins in Kansas history? Someone pointed out, too, that for all our status as Big Dogs, this team actually has only one McDonald's guy, and he doesn't even start. This could be Self's best coaching job.
ESPN noted that Kansas has now reached four Elite 8's in the last eight years, but never mind that -- how about six in the last 10 years, baby! If we can win Sunday, it'll be four Final 4's in the last decade.
UFR's Manley reports that KU now has the best five-year stretch of any NCAA team in history -- coinciding of course with the 5-year existence of this blog. But we shouldn't take all the credit.
I think we all need to pray to the basketball gods that our current shooting prowess will continue -- I can't believe how good our guards were vs. Richmond, esp. Brady. But TT's resurgence continues, and Selby's showing signs too -- his 3's really blew the game open.
Did anyone think at the beginning of the season -- or even in all the midseason turmoil -- that this team would be capable of mounting a 35-2 record, second-most wins in Kansas history? Someone pointed out, too, that for all our status as Big Dogs, this team actually has only one McDonald's guy, and he doesn't even start. This could be Self's best coaching job.
ESPN noted that Kansas has now reached four Elite 8's in the last eight years, but never mind that -- how about six in the last 10 years, baby! If we can win Sunday, it'll be four Final 4's in the last decade.
UFR's Manley reports that KU now has the best five-year stretch of any NCAA team in history -- coinciding of course with the 5-year existence of this blog. But we shouldn't take all the credit.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sweetness!
Some day I may get tired of Markieff's "wrap it up" gesture, but not today.
Speaking of the Morii, great discussion of the off-the-backboard pass on kusports.com.
Speaking of the Morii, great discussion of the off-the-backboard pass on kusports.com.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Made It To Round... Three!
Since the NCAA insists that their stupid play-in round is now actually the 1st round, and the real 1st round is now the 2nd, I would like to declare that we've already gotten last year's monkey off our back and advanced to Round 3. Woo-hoo!
Had to sweat it a bit for 25 minutes of that game, but down the stretch we perpetrated the most vicious terrier massacre since Fish Called Wanda.
Self said we were tight in the 1st half, but actually no one looked tighter than him. Even in the 1st we were making jumpers, which suggests to me we weren't really tight. We just didn't respect the opponent. Once we focused on defense in the 2nd half everything else fell into place. (By the way, how does it help the team for Self to keep telling them NOT to be tight? Just drop the subject already.)
One interesting subplot was Selby. At one point early in the 2nd I noticed him on the bench and began to wonder if he was now out of the rotation entirely -- did he even play at all in the 1st? But Self put him in down the stretch, and while he wasn't exactly great -- hurt us defensively, I think -- he finally got a short jumper to bounce in, made a big layup, and made that key fast-break assist to Brady. Maybe the kid's got his mojo back.
But since I've been so horrifically wrong in my brackets so far, I should probably revise my earlier dismissal of the Illini. I've never seen them play nearly as well as they did in dismantling the Rebs -- the ESPN crew said the same. If this underachieving team is finally going to play to potential (preseason Top 20) we could have a fight on our hands. Considering that they were really more dominant than us last night, our players should approach this game with an underdog mentality -- we have something to prove.
Update: here's that highlight:
Had to sweat it a bit for 25 minutes of that game, but down the stretch we perpetrated the most vicious terrier massacre since Fish Called Wanda.
Self said we were tight in the 1st half, but actually no one looked tighter than him. Even in the 1st we were making jumpers, which suggests to me we weren't really tight. We just didn't respect the opponent. Once we focused on defense in the 2nd half everything else fell into place. (By the way, how does it help the team for Self to keep telling them NOT to be tight? Just drop the subject already.)
One interesting subplot was Selby. At one point early in the 2nd I noticed him on the bench and began to wonder if he was now out of the rotation entirely -- did he even play at all in the 1st? But Self put him in down the stretch, and while he wasn't exactly great -- hurt us defensively, I think -- he finally got a short jumper to bounce in, made a big layup, and made that key fast-break assist to Brady. Maybe the kid's got his mojo back.
But since I've been so horrifically wrong in my brackets so far, I should probably revise my earlier dismissal of the Illini. I've never seen them play nearly as well as they did in dismantling the Rebs -- the ESPN crew said the same. If this underachieving team is finally going to play to potential (preseason Top 20) we could have a fight on our hands. Considering that they were really more dominant than us last night, our players should approach this game with an underdog mentality -- we have something to prove.
Update: here's that highlight:
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
he did it again!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Au Revoir, Les Big 12
Wow, 4 times in 5 years we've beaten UT in the conference final -- what a fitting way to close out the Big 12.
(Was there a Big 12 representative on the committee? Was Colorado being punished for defecting?)
That was unquestionably our best game of the season -- nice to see us gelling at the right moment. If Tyshawn can play anywhere near this level throughout the tourney, we become a title favorite, I think. Our two sets of twins -- Morrii and Reedstar -- have been money for us pretty much all year and we won 30 games even without good point guard play. But the new-model Tyshawn and E.J. combo could really put us over the top if everything else remains equal.
(And Tyrel finally dunked! We've been hearing for years that he could do it.)
At first glance, I like our bracket. Sure, Louisville and Notre Dame could be tough, but they don't scare me like other 2-4 seeds. I'm glad we're not playing Carolina, for instance. Illinois could be tough in the 2nd round considering they'll be inspired to beat Self (Illinois people hate Self maybe even more than KU fans hate Roy), but having seen Illinois play a number of times, I just can't work up much concern about them -- wouldn't be surprised to see UNLV knock them out.
(Was there a Big 12 representative on the committee? Was Colorado being punished for defecting?)
That was unquestionably our best game of the season -- nice to see us gelling at the right moment. If Tyshawn can play anywhere near this level throughout the tourney, we become a title favorite, I think. Our two sets of twins -- Morrii and Reedstar -- have been money for us pretty much all year and we won 30 games even without good point guard play. But the new-model Tyshawn and E.J. combo could really put us over the top if everything else remains equal.
(And Tyrel finally dunked! We've been hearing for years that he could do it.)
At first glance, I like our bracket. Sure, Louisville and Notre Dame could be tough, but they don't scare me like other 2-4 seeds. I'm glad we're not playing Carolina, for instance. Illinois could be tough in the 2nd round considering they'll be inspired to beat Self (Illinois people hate Self maybe even more than KU fans hate Roy), but having seen Illinois play a number of times, I just can't work up much concern about them -- wouldn't be surprised to see UNLV knock them out.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Championship Week, Anyone?
OK, we're capping off a seventh consecutive conference title, a 28-2 record, a lock for a #1 seed, the conference COY and POY. It's March, people. If that isn't enough to get a little buzz going here, this blog is doomed.
Yeah, yeah, we're all busy. Five minutes out of your day, people.
Caught a break with OSU upsetting Nebraska. If we never play the Huskers again -- and I do mean never, which is a distinct possibility -- that'll be fine by me. But OSU does have some good players, and they'll be a lot more motivated than us, so it could be a somewhat tough outing.
Yeah, yeah, we're all busy. Five minutes out of your day, people.
Caught a break with OSU upsetting Nebraska. If we never play the Huskers again -- and I do mean never, which is a distinct possibility -- that'll be fine by me. But OSU does have some good players, and they'll be a lot more motivated than us, so it could be a somewhat tough outing.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
ReedStar: The Legacy
I believe Brady has indeed been on the roster since 1975, but it's Senior Night at last. Some great memories, particularly his halftime buzzer-beater vs. Mizzou last year. In conference this year, he's been unbelievable, and we need that to continue.Reed has been a rock for us. Beginning late last season and continuing through this year, he and Marcus have been our most consistent players. It seems like every time we've needed a big three in a big moment, he's nailed one -- and recently he's shown a propensity for finishing strong at the rim, too. And if that weren't enough, he's an Academic All-American.
How cool is it to have two local boys leading a potential championship squad?
I'm not forgetting Mario Little either, though there are things I'd like to forget. He's getting minutes now, and I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a little noise for us in March.
Also, as an afterthought... If we win tonight vs. A&M, we clinch yet another conference title. Just in case you haven't been paying attention.
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