Friday, December 7, 2007

Mayer

Mayer: Jayhawks have ‘big’ problem

By Bill Mayer

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'Big fellas' star against EWU

It was a big night for the big fellas Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse against Eastern Washington. The Jayhawks whipped the Big Sky Eagles, 85-47.

The Kansas basketball team has a "big" problem, and until a lot of the perplexing questions about it are answered, KU will not be a Final Four-caliber outfit.

The Jayhawk guard corps is carrying enough of the load and will be even more potent once Sherron Collins overcomes his foot injury. Brandon Rush will continue to have fits and starts, but his surgerized knee keeps improving. He needs to grow up and help a lot more. So far Rodrick Stewart has been a pleasant surprise after a long period of could-be-but-ain't-yet. Freshmen Tyrel Reed and Conner Teahan will contribute.

It's KU's four-man big guy crew that must get a lot better. Darnell Jackson, for all his desire, intensity and thrust, can't compensate all the time for the other three in the paint crew. They must start earning their dinners, or the team will continue to drift, Wednesday night excepted. Somebody has to step up and give this team a definitive personality. Too much "depth" can water down a team's production.

KU can be maddening as it brings the ball downcourt and doesn't even get off a shot before committing some bungle. Too often the feeds are OK but big guys muff them as if they have the hands of a careless two-fingered butcher.

Then there are all those blown crippies, failures to finish. Kansas may hold the national patent for this flaw.

Senior Sasha Kaun should be helping out more and should be chained to the free-throw line every day until he can at least hit 65 percent. Still too rote with his shooting touch and a flimsy finisher. He does important things on defense; he has to sharpen his offensive skills.

Darrell Arthur sometimes seems in a trance, takes too many questionable shots and right now may not be a pro lottery pick. Something's amiss; time for Darnell, Darrell and Sasha to step up collectively.

The other biggie, Cole Aldrich, has a lot of ground to cover but owns the size, the skills and court intellect to close those gaps. Cole will keep improving and contributing, a great fourth rim-rattler.

Pardon a snicker for the talk about how this collegiate newcomer or that will revolutionize the game. Remember the day KU announced the signing of Darrell Arthur? As all the hype unfurled, you figured KU students would be gathering to watch the Texas dandy walk to class across Potter Lake, then proliferate a couple loaves and fish to feed the crowd. At this point, Arthur better get some waders and call a caterer.

Bill Walker and Michael Beasley are the super-touts at Kansas State; if they died, the athletic department would have to rent a tomb for only three days? Oh, the number three? It's the games KSU has lost with those two in harness.

Remember how Ohio State's Greg Oden and Texas's Kevin Durant were super human? Along came O.J. Mayo at Southern Cal, Derrick Rose at Memphis and Kevin Love at UCLA. Plenty to offer but no match for opponents who also have stars and satellites of quality. Maybe Kansas isn't so late-blooming after all.

But one ace KU has in its books is a guy who did forever alter the face of basketball - 52 points and 31 rebounds in his sophomore debut. Wilt Chamberlain also scored 100 points once. Danny Manning was no sausage as a difference-maker, huh? KSU's Beasley is off to a good start against weak teams, but let's not forget that KU "revolutionized" the game first, and a long time ago.

Comments

ssargdons (anonymous) says...

This is what you have to say about the number 3 team in the nation? An undefeated team at that? Give me a break, Mayer. You are obviously out of your mind. We'll see where your pessimistic prediction leads come March.

December 7, 2007 at 3:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

Darnell has busted his butt and improved dramatically only to get called out by some old geezer who can't even keep his thoughts in order.

To tell Darnell to step it up is a frickin' insult.

December 7, 2007 at 3:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sanity (anonymous) says...

It is you at your typewriter who is a careless two fingered butcher. Not only is this a pot of ridiculous concepts, but it streams incoherently from one misconception to another. Were you drunk when you wrote it?

You would be wise never to presume to tell a reader what he thought. It is the media who over hypes these kids to sell soap. That's you. They are who they are. If they don't live up to your over hyped expectations as the number three team in the nation, then stay home and scream at your television until your wife tells you to grow up.

In the mean time, reread your interview notes about how our guards are not hitting the bigs when open underneath. Then study the three Bill Self video's about his offense. I mean really study them! Then ask yourself whether the teacher has taught the guards how to read how the bigs are sealing their man as the ball begins to reverse. Have they made it a priority to develop that immediate reentry to the low post with a defender pinned out of position? Have they even bothered to take an extra dribble to establish a good diagonal passing angle to the low post (see Ty Reed doing it correctly as you watch the replay of Wednesday's game)?

My point is that it is much more difficult to be a responsible well informed fan, than it is to be a two fingered typewriter butcher hacking up these kids for profit. In your profession, you are what you write. This a typical mayer column. Have you thought again recently about pursuing an alternate career?

December 7, 2007 at 4:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

Despite all the bad comments by loyal fans, a number of your points are right on track. Hopefully, they don't negatively affect the players at whom they are directed.

December 7, 2007 at 5 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cobweb (anonymous) says...

I hope Mayer wasn't a KU journalism major.

December 7, 2007 at 5:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

crooner (anonymous) says...

"Crippies"? I can only hope this word has a legitimate etymology...

Mayer, you are out in left field once again.

December 7, 2007 at 5:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

elarso (anonymous) says...

Give it up old man.

December 7, 2007 at 5:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

halogenlamps (anonymous) says...

I am sorry guys, but I am in total agreement with Mayer. This year, the weak point in our team is the big guys. When Self signed Aldrich, I was ecstatic, because I thought we were finally going to get a tough, ready-to-go post player.

If one of our big guys can step up somewhere near the level of, oh, say, Tyler Hansbrough, then Kansas will be an amazing team. Right now, with supior guard play and average big men plan, I don't think Kansas has a real shot at the National Championship, much less the Final Four.

December 7, 2007 at 6:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

halogenlamps (anonymous) says...

sheesh, i am the two fingered butcher. "Superior guard play and average big men play."

December 7, 2007 at 6:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Cornfed (anonymous) says...

Collins is a HUGE piece of this team and I deep down feel him getting hurt early on will make us better later. But against EWU I saw something in Self I never had-it was step on their throats. He knew that wasn't a good team and that we should kill 'em. I liked that he was pi ssed when we mad dumb mistakes.

Rock Chalk.

And ya Mayer you su ck-but like any decent journalist you figured out that you will get comments on your story if you write something to pi ss people off. So congrats but its nothing we haven't seen before....you must be REALLY insecure-maybe Enzyte will help you?

December 7, 2007 at 7:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

Is that two fingers and a thumb, one finger and a thumb, or two fingers no thumb?

It makes a big difference.

I agree that Kaun and Arthur are playing way below their potentials. Of course I've only been able to watch two games, but against Az we relied on Rush to save us, and against USC we relied on Chalmers to save us. We need to be able to trust Arthur in the big games. Remember that with Julian and all of his inconsistency he usually came up huge in big games (NCAA Tourney not included).

December 7, 2007 at 7:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

leonard (anonymous) says...

Unfortunately, Mayer is correct.

Our "bigs" are adequate but not national championship caliber at this point...and one or more must step up their games to establish an offensive force inside.

They also need to step up their efforts on the offensive glass. Too many times...after a shot goes up...they are content to just turn to the basket and try to rebound over the back of their opponent. They must fight around those block outs and relentlessly attack the glass....maybe a little time in the film room watching Moses Malone highlights would help.

Presently we're a pretty darn good team...but we certainly will need more from our big guys to compete for the national championship.

December 7, 2007 at 7:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

husbus (anonymous) says...

darrell is a lottery pick ... woulda been one last year, will be on this year.

mayer; did you get paid for this article? ... you shouldn't have.

December 7, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jasonhoh (anonymous) says...

husbus - lottery pick? Really? I am with Mayer. Arthur has not shown anything this year. There has been a whole lotta hype about him that he has not lived up to yet.

December 7, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jackhawk (anonymous) says...

What a waste of paper this was written on.

December 7, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

njjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Mayer is on the mark. Bill Self himself has been saying for some time that the big guys must step up, show some fire, become beasts in the paint, lead. Darnell Jackson has done a superlative job: working hard, showing consistency, leading. Arthur has yet to "break out" and show real consistency, both of which are a must if this team is to be Final Four or King of College Basketball at the end of this season. Kaun has the skill, he needs to show it -- relentlessly, night after night. Aldrich will be just fine. The time is now for the Jayhawks to be known nationally for dominance in the paint, whether the competition is UNC or Eastern Washington. Anything less, my friends, and the Jayhawks will be returning to Lawrence in March to clean out their lockers while four other teams will gather to play the last three games of the season in the Final Four.

December 7, 2007 at 8:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jackal5555 (anonymous) says...

I have no idea what he was writing about. Pick a topic and stick to. It seems he was wondering around like sockman does on mass.

December 7, 2007 at 8:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

I think Kaun has probably reached his ceiling. He can make up a lot though with effort and consistency. I think Jackson is easily the most improved player at this point. Aldrich is a true freshman. From what I read about him during his recruitment, he is about where I thought he would be. His upside is much greater than Kahn, and he will contribute in the future, but probably not as much this year. That leaves Arthur, the one with the most talent and the greatest upside. His progress might will be a big factor in how this season goes, along with Rush's and Collins' rehabs.
The return of Collins will help everyone, including the big guys. His ability to penetrate opens up things for everyone.

December 7, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

I agree that our team isn't where we need to be & we still have work to do but damn! This article went way overboard as far the negativity is concerned! I agree, our big men (Jackson not included) need to do a better job but we'll get there. We're 8-0, ranked #3 in the country & are playing with some of our guys injured, and we're still winning most of our games by 35-40 points. I think we'll be okay!

jackal, I agree, Mayer needs to pick a topic! He starts bashing our team & then goes on to talk about Durant & Oden, Michael Beasley & Wilt Chamberlain WTF??

December 7, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BDub (anonymous) says...

More nattering naybobs of negativity from the old and crotchety end of the JW staff. I'm sorry, but this negative stuff is all that Mayer seems capable of providing. Much of it is baseless, and all of it is unnecessary.

December 7, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Where's Julian Wright when you need him? Oh, that's right, making big bucks while playing for the Hornets...

December 7, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

The article is spot on.

Our inside game is sorely lacking...offensively and defensively. Jackson is doing his part, Arthur is off and on, Kaun provides those two some rest, and Aldrich is a frosh who needs time to develop (which we knew going in).

But, having said all that, how many teams have good bigs? Our lack of an inside game may never end up hurting us because a majority of the other teams are in the same position we are.

If we do run into one of those teams (Georgetown & UNC come to mind) we could be had inside.

December 7, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

All I know is that last game, we shot 80% from the stripe. Regardless of certain details, that percentage should win us a lot of games... especially in March.

Let's hope the boys can keep up the good work. I'd expect nothing less.

December 7, 2007 at 10:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

While Mayer did not say it well, he is right on. The bigs are a bust and potentially a fatal flaw again. Has Coach Self ever had a big man that was a presence in any of his stops?

The bigs are adequate, but need to step up their game or the Final Four is a myth again this year!

December 7, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

That article was an orgy. He starts off making good points about our big men. With the exception of Jackson, they really do need to step up. What I don't understand, is how he finishes the article with all the other crap? I was so lost by the end.

December 7, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mwilliam (anonymous) says...

I had a very difficult time trying to follow where he was going with this story. I find it incomprehensible that someone who, undoubtedly has been writing about sports for decades upon decades, has no better appreciation for where the KU team is at this time. Sure, Self is going to say they need work in this area and that area, he is always going to be looking for improvement; yes the bigs need to improve but I would not throw these guys out because they have not performed like you think they need to perform. I have seen improvement each game and I'm willing to bet there will be continued improvement. They are not operating at 100% at this time, neither are the smalls, but as a team they will reach a point when they are operating on all cylinders most of the time. To be so hyper critical of their performances at this time is at a miniumum a bit ludicrous; I believe Self will have them doing what they need to do by the time the Big 12 season begins and at that time I would not be afraid for them to go up against Georgetown and Hibbert, UNC and Hansbrough or UCLA and Love.

They know how to defend and they would do a good job defending those guys and it would not surprise me for one of them to have a big game, maybe not all three of them but at least one of them.

The article jumped around so much one would have to wonder what he was on when he was writing, the piece definitely was not rational in thought or conclusions--if there were actual conclusions.

December 7, 2007 at 11:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cap10d (anonymous) says...

Mayer is an idiot.................

December 7, 2007 at 12:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Yahweh (anonymous) says...

This is an article where I read the first paragraph and a half and was already so bored I could barely go on. It is the same information that any KU fan who has watched more than one game knows. Sorry Bill, but I just don't have the patience any more for small old white men complaining about the non-athleticism displayed by large college basketball players.

Bill Mayer+Tom Keegan+Gary Bedore=Bermuda Triangle of Common Sense

December 7, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

jhwkfan1625, Julian may be making "big bucks", but he certainly isn't "playing" for the Hornets. Mop up minutes so far and he's only scored a handful of points...

I'm with most in that Mayer has some valid points about the need for our bigs to step up consistently, but I can hardly read his ramblings any more. It's like trying to follow 7 streams of consciousness at once.

December 7, 2007 at 12:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

pearcejp (anonymous) says...

Time to hang it up Bill. You had your time in the 50's covering Wilt. Your thoughts are no longer relevant. The only thing I can agree with you on is the play of Kaun. He is the exact same guy that walked in the front door 4 years ago. He has not gotten even a spec better. Jackson is our team MVP right now, hands down. No need to bag on a kid who plays his heart out each and every game. Take that pension and move to Florida...

December 7, 2007 at 12:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

doctorWho (anonymous) says...

For those who don't want to slog through the whole article here is the CNN version:

Except for Jackson, our bigs need work.

I think they can pull it off with time.

Bow down to Wilt and Danny.

The End.

December 7, 2007 at 2 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

I agree that our team is not yet up to snuff, but Mayer left out some pretty big variables. First, our leading scorer in Sherron Collins is out, Rush is recovering, and Arthur missed a couple of months of practice due to a stress fracture. This means that our best scoring point guard that helps us push the ball and the tempo is out which forces us to be a half-court team which and thus, one demensional. Our best shooting guard that everyone has to chase around the court has been slowed down, not by opponents, but by the recovery process. And to top it all off our best big man is a little rusty and missed out on some good experience this summer with an unlucky injury. All this said and we are STILL undefeated with great wins over Southern Cals O.J. (overrated) Mayo, and kept up with the scoring of Arizona's, Chase (only player on the team) Budinger. Take your one hit wonders, I'll take my TEAM over a one man band anyday.

December 7, 2007 at 2:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

sorry I put "which and thus" in that third sentence. I should preview my comments before posting them. "which" should not be in that sentence.

December 7, 2007 at 2:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

lol DoctorWho Good work on that translation.

It was scarily bad writing he did... it was like he was working on 3 different articles and decided to just chunk them all together. I've seen better comments.. and that's a major cutdown when you have totally clueless comments like Pearcejp's around these boards. Anybody who has the perspective he has on Kaun is just a dumbass. That's the nicest thing I can say, and the only thing worth saying if you haven't figured it out by now.

I agree with some of the things Mayer says, but I just think it's a waste of my time reading from someone who has no more of a clue than all of us about what the Jayhawks "need to do". Most of those things are pretty obvious. A coach's task is not just to figure out what, but how? I don't see Coach Mayer offering any suggestions... besides "chaining Kaun to the line". Good call, Coach. Sign him up!

And I especially could care less about what Bill Mayer has to say about "what he's seen" from players so far.. we all have our own perspectives, and I'm sure each and every one of us likes our own more than his. So why the hell do we care about his opinion? So we can agree or disagree? He offered NO supporting evidence of ANY of his opinions.

So, opinions without qualification, and criticism with no solutions. Zero quotes, zero supporting evidence...How is this a good article?

December 7, 2007 at 2:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

The big guys will come along. Give them a few more games. Coach Self is giving them a great learning curve compared to other teams that take the simple way out and go with one set the entire year. They will only be better for it. Their chemistry will begin to show. Our big guys look uncoordinated sometimes early in the season down low because they don't know exactly what they're doing (too busy wondering, "where am I supposed to be in this set, oh I think here, I better turn, oh damn, here comes the ball, oops". Posts are always slower on the uptake than guards in multiple set offenses, especially in game situations. It happens every year with Bill Self teams. It's no biggie. It will get better and we will look great in about 6 weeks.

December 7, 2007 at 2:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cooonrod (anonymous) says...

Kaun... DUNK we have fouls to give , turn bunnies into dunks. Dunk not only assures points also fires up rest of team. missing a 2 footer has opposite effect.

December 7, 2007 at 9:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lee3022 (anonymous) says...

There are several problems with the journalism of this article. There is no such word as: surgerized. To use it is ignorant. The flow of the article as noted above is worse than any Freshman in Journalism would offer. Finally the conclusion is not supported by facts (i.e. turnovers, rebounds, shooting percentage for and against in the paint).

Substance in this article is sorely lacking. This opinion is from a KU grad that was not far after Wilt (Jo Jo White was not bad then). Reminice all he wants but not under the title we have a "big" problem. Kick back and enjoy the retirement Mr. Meyer. Others here can take the ball on down the court for us.

December 8, 2007 at 12:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JHWKNMIZRY (anonymous) says...

I hope the Jayhawks keep "drifting". I think it's Mr. Mayer who needs a paddle. He's in a different creek than they are.

December 8, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

I love the people who come on and post about bad grammar and words spelled incorrectly and then they themselves have a word or two incorrect.

Pot...kettle...black :)

December 8, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

you can probably divide these responses into two age groups. those over 50 who agree and the unders who just think they know something.
the biggest problem with the self era is he,s afraid to lose! thats right hes afraid that if he plays a freshman we-ku- might lose. the problem is he never develops the young players. why is jackson just now coming through? let the younger ones get more playing time.
i know you younger alums never got to see wilt,bh born, clyde, or even walt wesley. walt looked scared as h when first put into a game. but coach owens stuck with him and he an all-american.
so do not get in a hurry to judge players who never received proper coaching. coach brown knew danny was a winner but even he failed as a freshman. ie. dallas vrs duke.
so maybe meyer shows signs of aging. his heart is still in the right place.
new words come on all of the time. who says english profs get to be the only ones to add a word?
how about whackerdoo? dif. anything used in a hammerlike motion. ex. shoe,rock,stick. etc.

December 8, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fihsch (anonymous) says...

Speedy and Wildfire,

Right on! The weakness KU has in its post plays (offense) directly results in a lack of consistent half court offense. Looking back in the Bill Self era, whenever the opponents made shots (or when opportunities for fast transition weren't available) KU had problem scoring. As a result, KU had many of those grind-it-out games where we score below 67.

We field the court with All Americans even without Collins. Mayer made a correct observation.

December 8, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

soobawls (anonymous) says...

This article is right on target. We do not have the inside game to get to the final four. Guards may be they key to the tournament but you have to have at least some ability to rebound to win.

December 8, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Whether or not you agree with the fact that our bigs are not playing at a "final four level," we all really have to agree that Mayer's article is a huge mess. I, honestly, lost track of where he was going. His negativity bothers me some, but this an opinion piece. He is entitled. However, as a reporter who, presumptively, had some form of study in writing, this article is atrocious. Mayer, seriously, try having a point, then proof-reading yourself. Maybe have a friend take a look at it. KU has a writing center that I'm sure would be happy to help.......

December 8, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OklahomaJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Mayer you are a tool

December 8, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Yahweh (anonymous) says...

Well, Mayer, you were wrong on this one, apparently. Hind sight is the only 20/20 vision in sports writing, and DePaul isn't Duke, but the "bigs" looked pretty darn good today.

rcjh, go ku

December 8, 2007 at 5:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

magnificentbastard (anonymous) says...

I think Speedy must have proof read Bill's article for him.

December 12, 2007 at 11:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )