Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Keegan

Keegan: Poised? Kansas? Really?

By Tom Keegan

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KU defeats Georgia Tech in second road win

Just over two weeks ago KU remained perfect after their first road trip to sunny southern California. Tonight, the Jayhawks looked for a repeat performance against Georgia Tech.

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KU vs. GT

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2007-08 Dec. 18 KU-GT Hoops

KU Basketball

Atlanta — Football is so complicated that even the coaches don't know what happened in the game until they watch the film.

Maybe basketball has gotten that way, too, because after Kansas University survived itself and Georgia Tech, 71-66, Tuesday in its second road game of the season, the coach and a couple of Tech players talked about how Kansas played with such poise.

Huh?

Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers combined to go 0-for-3 from the free-throw line in the final minute, and Sherron Collins pulled a playground move, trying to throw it off the opponent's shins, and it backfired into what amounted to an assist from Collins on the bucket from Tech's Matt Causey.

Yet, afterward, poise was the word of the day in the weight room, where two of the home team's players were brought for postgame interviews.

"Kansas is a very poised team," said Tech guard Lewis Clinch, who scored a game-high 22 points. "They played together and played collectively as a team in the end, and that's what got them over the hump."

On this night, KU did not play up to its own standards or that of the nation's third-ranked team.

"They came out and got the W," Clinch said, trying to disagree. "You can't argue with that. You have to give them credit for staying poised."

There's that word again. Poised. On a night Kansas amassed 18 turnovers.

Georgia Tech rattled Kansas.

"We felt like our hard-nosed defense might have been getting to them a little," Causey said.

Finally, someone who saw the same game I saw. But wait, the dreaded 'P' word would roll off Causey's tongue before long.

"We're going to play hard until the buzzer sounds and try to give ourselves a chance to win," Causey said. "They still played poised at the end, and came out with a victory, so you can't be critical of them there."

Guess I'll have to reserve further comment on the poise issue until watching the game on film again. Maybe not. Once was enough for this one. Both teams played rugged defense underneath the basket, and the refs seemed eager to give their whistles a workout. One ... break ... in ... the ... action ... after ... another ... does not a pretty game make.

Style points weren't needed for Kansas to run its record to 11-0. A rebounding advantage wasn't needed either. Tech won that battle, 34-29, even though Kansas missed fewer shots than the home team missed. Defense was what won this one.

"You can ask our guys, they get more hung up on guys scoring on them than they do actually scoring points, which is a pretty good sign," KU coach Bill Self said.

Kansas doesn't give up many easy baskets. They do such a good job of contesting dribbles, passes and shots on the outside and inside that they don't figure to have many off nights defensively. Kansas blocked nine shots, and Georgia Tech did not block any. Sasha Kaun contributed three blocked shots, second to Brandon Rush's four.

Not that Self, one of the nation's most picky defensive coaches, was satisfied.

"I thought we really got after them to start the game, and after that I didn't think we did," Self said. "I didn't feel like every bounce or pass was contested the whole night."

Enough were contested to overcome a lack of - to use a word tossed around a lot - poise.

Comments

patton6 (anonymous) says...

Perhaps they were referring to how Kansas let a lead slip so quickly yet were able to gather themselves (poise?) in time to preserve the win...

December 19, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KoolKeithFreeze (anonymous) says...

Keegan must be really disgusted about Collin's 'playground move'. This is the third time he's mentioned it in writing less than 24 hours after the game. Keegan has about three original thoughts about any one game, and recycles them over and over throughout his articles of that week.

December 19, 2007 at 7:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mgolany (anonymous) says...

We had a 13 point lead and a 6 and above lead the entire second half so could you say we didn't play with poise! We played pretty good for most of the gamet till the 8 minute mark then we kinda put it on cruise control! We need to run our offense and not really worry about the clock! staying agressive is what got us the lead in the first place!

December 19, 2007 at 8:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DrJHawk (anonymous) says...

Hey Keegs, Just finished listening to your podcast. What's the matter, didn't you get a chance to eat before the game. Sheesh...it was disgusting listening to you trying to eat and talk at the same time. Will you be bringing a bag of Doritos to The Drive next week. Come on, put down the feedbag long enough to do your job.

December 19, 2007 at 8:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

longhawk (anonymous) says...

You never apologize for a road win against an ACC team that went to the Big Dance last year.

December 19, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

westtexjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Maybe the reporter heard them wrong...."They still played like they were poisoned at the end, and came out with a victory, so you can't be critical of them there." Our guys were "lucky" to come out with that win. You can quote me on that.

December 19, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

It's pretty bad when the sports editor has to criticize a team on a victory and on top of that an ACC team in THEIR house. Get a grip man and give props, don't criticize.

Oh, that was a "playground" move. Sherron would love that comment.

December 19, 2007 at 8:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

So KoolKeith, you're fine with Collin's "playground" move? From his quotes...he and his coach weren't.

December 19, 2007 at 8:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

I thought they played with poise but were exhausted. Bill needs to go deeper on that deep bench. incidentally, Collins' "playground" play worked earlier and is a standard action. Rush was pushed into Collins or the issue would have been academic. Kansas played well enough to beat a fine team at home. GT is one ball handler away from doing very well.
Rus Rob was just spent at the end when he missed his FTs. Very tight whistles all night too. A less poised team would have lost last night.

December 19, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

So.... Rush gets pushed into Collins, who then loses his balance and is falling out of bounds, it is now against the rules to call the timeout when falling out of bounds, so what would you have him do? Most times the off the other player move works. Give the guy a break. His options were limited. But I am sure that in the heat of the moment and and in a split second, with your clear thinking you would have made the perfect decision.

December 19, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

walkdog262 (anonymous) says...

If that was poise then this team is going to lose in the first round. Save the first five minutes of the game, KU looked like a team of headless chickens. Without several VERY helpful calls from the referees and the Russell Robinson 30-foot-heave, the Jayhawks would have lost to a crappy team. A W is indeed a W, but to praise KU for anything in this game (short of Robinson's solid play) is just misguided.
As fans you people must start thinking for yourself and realizing that it's OK to feel the team played like crap and still be a "good" fan.

December 19, 2007 at 11:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

robot (Robin Smith) says...

the "playground" move is a standard play which has become more important due to the fact that you can't call TO falling out of bounds.

besides it wasn't a bad move on Collin's part it was a great play by Causey. That guy single-handedly got them back in the game and he was astute enough to move his feet. There's always more than one person involved so it's juvenile to try to pin down one reason things went as they did.

December 19, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

walkdog262,

I hate to say it, but after reading your comment I have to say youre right. Sometimes we have to be realistic and face reality dont we. We can NOT play that way and hope to do anything in the post-season.

"Playoffs? Are you kidding me? Playoffs? playoffs?"

December 19, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

mgolany, I'm with you. It seems as though our leads slip away when we start "chewing the clock" by dribbling around the perimeter for the first half of each possesion. There's absolutely no dribble penetration or interior passing until the shot clock is very low, and then we end up with shots like the '30 foot heave'. Keep attacking as if we're down by 20!

With regards to the playground move, I believe Keegs is referring to the fact that Arthur was directly to Collins' left only 10 feet away. Instead of looking to make the standout play, he needs to learn to make solid play in dishing to Arthur or even eating it and falling out of bounds (at least give KU's defense a chance to reset).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I swear the new rule dictates that the player must have one foot on the court to call a timeout when falling out of bounds. It eliminates the annoying mid-air timeout, but preserves the call if the player is still grounded. If this is true, then we got jobbed twice.

December 19, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

Found it! NCAA Rule 5, Sec. 12, Art. 1: No timeouts shall be granted: c. To a player or coach when an airborne (my caps) player's momentum is carrying him/her out of bounds or into the backcourt.

Somebody should notify those refs that they need to brush up on their rules. If the player is not airborne (i.e. Chalmers and Collins with one foot down) and has control of the ball then a timeout MUST be granted.

Still believe the refs were that helpful for KU, walkdog?

December 19, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

tdub...

maybe we got hosed on that ONE call, but walkdog is exactly right. On balance we got more favorable calls.

December 19, 2007 at 1:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

thomgreen (anonymous) says...

I thought this was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time. The officials seemed to be calling an assortment of bad calls against each team, and then missing the real calls they should have been making (against each team). I guess since it was horribly called both ways it didn't give either team a real advantage, it just made the game look horrible.

December 19, 2007 at 1:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

thom...with respect, other than the one out of bounds call that didnt go right, I cant think of a single call they we got robbed on. I can think of several that went against GT that were questionable at best. Non-foul calls, most notably. There was one were we got away with a call and when it went to the other end we got the same foul call right away. They cut to Hewitts reaction several times for a reason. The commentators made mention of it twice, that the calls didnt seem to be going for GT. Gotta agree with the opinion that we got the long end of the stick on the officiating.

Im just sayin...

December 19, 2007 at 2:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Thank you walkdog for instilling a little sanity amongst all the praise. Watching this team pass makes me sick....been saying it since BS was the head coach. Over the head passes, handoffs, telegraphing, post entry. It's sad when you have a team that truly wants to play as a team, but are not given the tools on offense by their coach to make that happen.

I enjoyed the game as a whole last night, and that win will look nice on the resume, but it was basically 3 pointers and ali-oops last night. Too many fouls just swinging at people and using your hands to defend instead of your feet (although this was not the case when they were trapping, that was done perfectly). Along the baseline guarding the post, just swinging at the ball whenever it's in reach (down at the ball, not up at the ball). I love BS's defensive intensity, but coaching defensive fundamentals is not a strength. And watching KS run an extended 3-man weave and repetitive offensive sets gets old. Anybody remember those games where KU used to go a whole game w/out a dunk? I love the highlights as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't mind seeing one of those games again, and that kind of passing.

The kids deserve to be commended, they played hard last night and came out ready to play (except maybe b-rush, his head was in the clouds last night).

December 19, 2007 at 3:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

As to Collins "playground move" -- I understand in the heat of the moment, it's hard to rationalize what the right move is. However, in high school, we always had it drilled into our heads that in that situation (falling out of bounds, no teamate to toss to), no matter where you are on the court, you always throw it toward your own basket. That way even if you don't get it, the defense is still in position. I say "drilled into our heads" because it became instinctive so you don't have to think about it in the heat of the moment.

Also, if he would have called a timeout, and the ref made the same call that went against Mario, at least the ball is out of bounds with our defense in position rather than an uncontested dunk. I don't blame Collins for trying to make the play, but the instinct in that situation should be instilled better. Perhaps that's coaching.

And as far as this article goes, I understand if you disagree with KU playing with "poise," but layoff the opposition players' quotes. They are just kids trying not to say something stupid that can be quoted on message boards. Cut them some slack Keegan.

December 19, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

People.. don't let a GT's home crowd confuse you into thinking the officiating was in any way favorable for KU. I felt there were a ton of calls that I felt Self should have been more animated. I like the mentality of blocking them out and focusing on the task at hand, but sometimes I think it helps a team to know your coach will stand up for you when he thinks you got hosed.

GTech's crown reminded me of Manhattan and Columbia... they boo every single call all night. Takes away a lot of credibility as far as being knowledgable about the game.

December 19, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

emphawker (anonymous) says...

Poise, them guys need to try depends. I about messed myself watching that Bull Sh**!

December 19, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

JR: don't know what game you watched. There were several blown calls, especially on out-of-bounds, and the blocking foul plus one on Stewart was the rankest of the night--it precipitated a five point bogus swing in their favor. The guy even shot the ball a second after the whistle. It was equally rank on both sides. I got tired of the announcers early. Games like this are often manipulated for TV to make close, consciously or subconsciously. As I said before though, Kansas needed to go deeper to their bench. Larry Brown recognized that when you play and play against tough man-to-man defenses, you have to bring on waves of people. Self has been too guarded with PT for the youngsters.

December 19, 2007 at 7:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Sparko:

I watched the Kansas-GT game on ESPN. Youre welcome for the information, and I stand by the comments I made.

December 19, 2007 at 7:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

maury (anonymous) says...

you know what...the more I read articles from LJW writers...the more I realize that they are idiots..KU didn't play bad...they didn't play good....Tech is young team...and young team play good in stretches and as a team, we are still coming together...it was another good close game that will just make us better down the stretch

December 19, 2007 at 9:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

Sparko, I will have to disagree with you on the blocking foul plus one on Stewart. He was still sliding towards the opponent's path to the basket when they collided, which is a foul, and the "and one" is just something we see all the time. If roles had been reversed, and Stewart had been fouled and scored a split second after the foul and whistle, I think we all would have yelled "and one" in front of our TVs, so let's be fair, and give the same call to GT.
I don't think the refs did anything that changed the outcome of the game, so for me, they were not a problem. I thought there were some bad calls on both sides. It changed the "flow" of the game, but certainly not the outcome. We were the best team on the floor (as ugly as it may have looked at times), and we won.

December 19, 2007 at 9:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )