Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Team unity paying off for Jayhawks

KU players have no problem sharing scoring, so long as it adds up to victories

By Gary Bedore

Advertisement

Kansas University's basketball players gather around coach Bill Self in a tight circle in the locker room before practices and games.

They listen intently to their coach's commands, then break the same way each and every time.

"We say, 'Family,'" KU sophomore Brandon Rush said. "It's pretty big with us."

"We help one another, take care of one another. It's like a brotherhood," junior Russell Robinson said.

The Jayhawks, whose top eight players average between 32.1 (Rush) and 14.8 (Darnell Jackson) minutes a game, insist there are no jealousies on a squad that will take a 27-4 record into Friday's 11:30 a.m. Big 12 tournament opener against either Iowa State or Oklahoma in Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

"Everybody wants to see everybody do well," Robinson said. "Everybody is having fun playing basketball. Coach (Bill) Self is the biggest reason for that. He strokes everybody's ego, so everybody is happy. It's a big key that will help us win a lot more games this year."

It's been a team without a prolific point producer. Rush leads the way with a 13.7 scoring average, followed by Mario Chalmers (12.1), Julian Wright (12.0), Darrell Arthur (10.5), Sherron Collins (9.4), Robinson (7.0), Sasha Kaun (6.5) and Jackson (5.6).

"With a team of our caliber and balance, it's easy for anybody to come out and be our leading scorer," Rush said. "When one person is not having a great night, another picks it up. Nobody cares about stats."

Or apparently number of shots.

Rush leads the team with 11.1 a game. Wright is next at 9.1 per outing, Chalmers 8.6, Arthur 8.1, Collins 6.8, Robinson 5.0, Kaun 5.0 and Jackson 3.4.

"The main thing that we want to do is win," Wright said. "And it's not how we win and it's not who scores, but it's just basically coach just wants someone to step up and make plays when needed. I think that's pretty much how we've played this whole year - and even last year. I think the reason we're doing so well this year is because everyone bought into that concept last year and it's all starting to come to service this year as well."

Self said though it would be nice to have one "go-to guy" everybody knows will take the key shot, it's also nice to have a lot of balance.

Teams can't focus on one Jayhawk player.

"I've said all along we have eight starters," Self said. "Going into the Texas game, we had six different players lead us in scoring in six games. Balance is one of the strengths of our team. I like the fact we've won eight in a row and we've had eight great performers in those games.

"We have to accept that we are a team with balance and if we are in sync, we are pretty good. We need to stay focused on what 'we' do as opposed to what 'I' do and the individual things will come."

The players insist that won't be a problem.

"We just want to win," Rush said. "It's been that way all year."

¢ Praise of Barnes: KU coach Bill Self, who finished fourth in Big 12 coach of the year voting behind winner Rick Barnes (Texas), plus Bob Huggins (Kansas State) and Billy Gillispie (Texas A&M), who tied for second, lauded the UT coach.

"He has done a great job, fabulous job," Self said. "Their team is even younger than we were last year and we started three freshmen and two sophomores. They start four freshmen and a sophomore. They can really score. You get in a scoring contest with them it's tough to beat them.

"He has them playing tough, confident. He has done as good a job as anybody in our league has done for sure."

¢ Arthur has virus: KU freshman Darrell Arthur has been slowed by a virus this week.

"He didn't feel good yesterday. Hopefully it has run its course," Self said Tuesday. "Hopefully antibiotics have taken care of it."

Arthur was at practice Tuesday and hasn't had to miss any class because of the virus.

¢ Funny video: Self said he was entertained by the "You Tube" video of former KU player Nick Bahe impersonating Self, as well as Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Creighton's Dana Altman. Bahe, a former KU player now at Creighton, is a journalism major.

"What a great kid," Self said, noting Bahe attended KU's game against Nebraska in Lincoln the past two years and has entered the KU locker room to visit with the players and coaches after each of the two wins.

To see the video, go to youtube.com and type in "Creighton Basketball Half-Time Interview" in the search engine.

Bahe averaged 3.1 points a game (he hit 25 of 60 threes, 41.7 percent) in 32 games for 22-10 CU, which won the Missouri Valley Tournament and has earned an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

Comments

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Balance-schmalance, we're going to play the winner of OU-ISU, which means we'll probably play OU in our first game of the conference tourney two games after beating them by only two points. Meeting OU means facing the lesser team that physically intimidated us the second half, body checked RR into the cheap seats once and then saw an OU guy appear to try to break Sasha Kaun's nose in a flagrant foul, all without payback by KU.

Will Capel feel emboldened and coach his players to play the same way?

Will the refs facilitate it?

Will Kaun be targeted again, or some one else?

Will KU get tough this time?

Will Coach Self give Coach Capel more love after this rematch than the blow off he gave him two games ago, or even less?

Should KU just go out and play its game and suffer mugging redux, or should it mix it up with OU from the outset?

Behold: another important character test looms in a season of such tests for this most unique and admirable team in Self's KU tenure.

March 7, 2007 at 6:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

"He didn't feel good yesterday. Hopefully it has run its course," Self said Tuesday. "Hopefully antibiotics have taken care of it."--Coach Self on Darrell Arthur

More disease to struggle through. Hope it doesn't spread to the rest of the team, but it probably will. On a technicality, antibiotics can take care of secondary infections from a virus, but not the virus. The neither-living-nor-dead protein pathogens run their course regardless. Here's to hoping Shady feels better and that the bug is a 72 hour or less variety. If it is, then it can probably cycle through the entire team before March Madness gets here. I know Coach Self is talking about needing to "take care of business in Oklahoma City" in this conference tournament, but I don't give a hang about it. The difference between a one and a two seed is negligible. I just want to avoid an injury, nurse our way for the next week through the virus that will move through the team, and be ready to roll from the first whistle in the Madness.

March 7, 2007 at 6:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

2ndprize (anonymous) says...

i dont get that article about us needing to win 3 games in the big 12 tournament to get a 1 seed in the ncaa tourney...

our tournament starts so late, that winning it in the past hasnt done much for improving our seed at the end of the season.

this time the big 12 tourney being so late starting should help us, because, as history shows, the selection committee pretty much ignores our conference tourney and thus we should be a 1 seed even if we lose the first game...

if we do get dropped to a 2 or 3 seed then we absolutely know they just hate us..

March 7, 2007 at 6:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Ode: Intimations of Free Throw Waterloo:

Wright 63.5
Arthur 64.4
RR 65.6
Kaun 53.1
Jackson 64.2
Stewart 12.5

Toward a New Approach to FT practice:

It may be time to try a sports psychologist, who specializes in focus and relaxation exercises to supplement the ancient, blunt-edged tradition of free throw practice at the end of practice when you're tired.

Here are some problems with just practicing FTs at the end of practice:

1. Trying to learn to do something you're already not good at when you're tired is the surest way to perpetuate bad mechanics.

2. Placing FT practice only at the end of basketball practice ranks its importance last in the minds of players. In fact, FT shooting is usually a decisive factor in winning games.

3. Good mechanics suited to a player's physique take alot of work, but are still only the ante to the game of FT shooting. The player's mind must be at satisfactory levels (for him) of focus and relaxation. Players need to practice focus and relaxation exercises and they need to start it when they are rested and most able to learn a new task. Later such practice needs to be spread throughough practice to simulate fatique levels of games.

4. Once suitable mechanics and effective levels of focus and relaxation are achieved, then FT shooting needs to be practiced intermittantly throughout practice, so the play can get used to performing the task at all levels of fatigue. Players are rested at the beginning of the game, so they need to have practiced FT shooting under rested conditions. Similarly FT shooting ought to be practiced at various phases of fatigue during the course of practice. The goal is to prepare players to make FTs throughout the game, not just at the end. Makes and misses need to be kept for each fatique phase (i.e., time during practice) of practice through out the season to see which fatigue phase the player shoots inadequately in. The player needs to practice the bad periods more and the good periods less.

March 7, 2007 at 7:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

5. The fatigue phases in practice need to be equated to a time phase and circumstance in a game. At each break to practice FTs, the coach should set the game scene the players should imagine. Players should be encouraged to set the scene in their own mind however fantastically and amusingly it might seem to others. Such playful imagining, as they have done since small boys in pick up games, engages them and makes it fun. Its early and I'm high as a kite. Its mid way through the half and there's a lull and there is an awesome looking coed in the fourth row. Its the end of the half and we're trying to make these FTs to get in to the lockerroom with a lead. Its the start of the second half and we're trying leap ahead to control the second half. There are ten minutes to go and my batteries are running low and the coach is busting my chops for a TO. Its the end of the game and this FT can tie it up, or win it. The point of all this visualization is to create scenes in which the player can adjust his focus and relaxation level to his circumstance. Through practice you want the FT shooter to become more present in the moment, not less. You want him conditioned to adjust his focus and relaxation to his circumstance; to feel he has been in and practiced all these situations before; and therefore to have the confidence that comes with having been there before.

6. The time to work on FT mechanics is not even at practice. Work on mechanics for a half hour at a time of day of the player's choosing, usually when he feels freshest and most able to concentrate on fine tuning his mechanics. If he's having trouble, he needs a coach there. He has to videotape himself; that is his time clock to make sure he does work on his own and it creates a record for the FT coach to fastforward through to assess the emergence or elimination of flaws.

Some coaches will say this will take too much time. Practices will last six hours. Hogwash. The FT breaks during practice can be brief, because the player has already shot 30 minutes of free throws some other time during the day. The short breaks for free throw shooting in practice will help break up the monotony of practice both by stopping the action briefly and by the role playing, which invokes the recreative effects of imagination. The players will come back from the FT breaks more attuned to their level of fatigue, focus and relaxation. They'll be able to listen to the coach better in the next practice period. AND the process will simulate the many FT breaks that occur during a game. Logically, FT breaks ought to occur more frequently late in practice as that's when there's a flurry of FT shooting in games.

March 7, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Practicing FT shooting at the end of practice simulates nothing. Players never shoot free throws AFTER a game. They shoot them under the varying levels of fatigue and excitiment DURING a game. Logically, FTs should be practiced DURING practice, not after. FT mechanics, on the other hand, SHOULD be worked on outside practice. Mechanics are something to be hard wired regardless of circumstance. I believe hardwiring and its maintenance should be done when there is the least stress, so a player can stand the stresses of critiqueing and the frustration of trying to get it right.

There endeth the suggestion.

March 7, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTrav (anonymous) says...

Well, unless their all kissing Arthur I doubt the rest of the players have anything to worry about. I'm sure their taking the necessary precautions. I think the only way KU doesn't get a number one seed is if A&M finishes better than KU, then I think they get the number 1 seed and we all know how the rest of the nation views the Big 12, they won't give our conference two number 1's.

Lastly, I think your over analyzing the FT problem. You'll never truly be able to replicate game time free throws. Having them shoot them when their totally exhausted does one thing for them, it should make them put a little more effort into focusing on what their doing. Working on FT mechanics should be done in the off season.

In the end, I think our guys are good enough that we should blow everyone out and it won't come down to free throws. If it does, I have the confidence our guys will hit them when we need to. Their not as bad as they have been as of late.

March 7, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

I can see the Selection Committee denying us a top seed if we don't win out. Three of the losses were to unranked teams, and I think the ORU loss will stand out like a sore thumb. Nothing short of a Big 12 tourney championship will secure us a top seed.

March 7, 2007 at 8:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

McGuzzo23 (anonymous) says...

Go Check out that Video of Nick Bahe it's hilarious.

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

Studogg (anonymous) says...

I disagree, jhwkfan1625. There have been enough stumbles lately by the other teams in the hunt to help us out. It's a known fact the committee looks really hard at what a team has done in their "last ten." And KU's "last ten" is as good or better than any of the top tier. The ORU loss was way back in the second game of the season plus, oru is a tournament team for the second year in a row. I think as long as we win one game in the Big XII tourney we are golden. We might even still get a #1 if we don't win our quarterfinal matchup. But after we win, our top seed will be secure.

March 7, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jazzttt (anonymous) says...

Anybody remember that famous "Far Side" cartoon of two deer examining the giant red bullseye on the chest of one, and the other remarking, "Bummer of a birthmark, Hal?" The #1 seed is a great ego trip, it gets you a first round game against a #16, and the right to wear home white, but after that, it's a crap shoot. Don't want to be seeded too far down, but it's no disaster if we don't get a #1, our team will step up, and is peaking at the right time. Collins is overdue for a good game (or even to score,) and we won't be quite so tempting a target for the wanna-bees. At least Butler, another Killer-Bee, lost last night, but they'll probably get an at-large. Right now, I'm more worried about playing either revenge-minded OU or ISU at OKC than about whether we get a #1 NCAA bid. (First things first.)

March 7, 2007 at 9:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

free throws. it was the only thing i knew i could do. they do not give you 15 ft shots during a game w/o guarding you. so i excelled at feethrows.
now comes the crux of shooting them.. its not just pratice but where you focus. do you look at the front of the rim? do you look at the back of the rim? or like i did look at the hole! just make sure to get it straight. when i was younger it took to much force just to get that ball up there. as i aged i found i was not throwing it as hard therefore it did not hit the rim and carom off as hard.
it was pratice and confidence and TOUCH that finally won out. i still can shoot them! i can beat my grandson at horse anyday. shooting 25 or so is not enough pratice. you get sloppy and and just do not try hard enough. make 20 or so in a row befor quitting!

March 7, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

jaybate, I love your analysis. There is so much thought and cogitation mixed into your missives that one can't help but smile a little during each 'ponitificatory post.'

Keep it up!

March 7, 2007 at 9:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

caddie733 (anonymous) says...

Does anyone else find it laughable that Rick Barnes won Big 12 Coach of the Year? I know his team is young, but Durant and Augustin aren't your normal freshmen. If he had any clue how to use Durant, this would have been a top 15 team all year. I feel bad for Huggins and Gillispie, both have done admirable jobs. I'd even vote Self ahead of Barnes for the simple fact that it's not easy to keep a team this loaded happy. It looks like he'll prevent us from having a UCONN-like meltdown. I can't believe Barnes won, when he has one of the best college players to ever play the game on his squad. His job must have been real tough.

March 7, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

voygr1 (anonymous) says...

jbate you really need to get a life and stop living in a neurotic state. You have to be the most negative fan I have ever seen. Look for the positives on the second ranked team in the nation. Smile and look at th positive. When we bring home that national title I am willing to bet you will see something bad... Go Hawks 9 to go and that will give you 17 in a row... Thats the winning combination

March 7, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk14 (anonymous) says...

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but the AP came out with a correction about the KU-UT game when it said we didn't take the lead until after Durant went out. I think we slammed them hard enough with emails to force the correction. Well done Jayhawk nation!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/65...

March 7, 2007 at 9:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jblamson (anonymous) says...

No sense arguing about seeding now, but DO watch the Nich Bahe video, he does a pretty good Bill Self. Good to hear that he is still on good terms with everyone too, says a lot about the KU program. Go Jayhawks and Go Blue Jays!!

March 7, 2007 at 9:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kujayhawk93 (anonymous) says...

I always liked Nick Bahe, I'll definitely be rooting for Creighton this year.

March 7, 2007 at 9:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Bored jaybate? Geez! Forgive me if I repeat anything...

Free throws. If I was a coach, and did decide to do something about it, I'd have a drill at the end of practice. Whoever doesn't make both ends of a 1-and-1 has to stay late and run. No more shooting, just running.. stairs, wind sprints, whatever. Then they have to come in early and practice shooting them. At the end of practice, everyone shoots a 1-and-1 again.. rinse and repeat.

No one shoots 10 free throws in a row during a game. Nothing like putting all the pressure of having to stay late and run on 2 shots. That is the best way to simulate game pressure. It's not "practice"... it's focus training. The practice comes when players are tired of staying late and they go out of their way to find whatever works for them. The key is, the solution to making free throws is NOT the same for everybody. And there are too many other things that a coach has to spend time on to coach every individual on their free throw mechanics.

March 7, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

speedy,

this is a wonderful observation you make. focus on the hole. as i look back on my FTing--I hit 75% if I don't practice, and 80% if I do--I recall that I am rather more accurate on my bank shots. I always attributed it to being a little closer to the hoop. But now that I think about it, Wooden did alot of statistical research on bank shooting vs. rim shooting from 45 degree angles to the basket and found that players shot a significantly higher percentage when they banked their jump shots. He even adjusted his offense to produce more bank shots and pulled players for not banking. By the time of the Wicks and Rowe teams his technique was in full use. My guess, is that there is something about shooting at a spot in the box that gives many players better focus. But if one were consciously trained to focus on the hole from the line, as you taught yourself, I reckon a nearly similar affect could be achieved. I know my focus is on the hole, but not the center of the hole and I suspect I would improve considerably if I focused on a pin point at the center of the hoop instead. It never occurred to me to try though until your post. I would integrate this in my program and make it central to everything the player does.

March 7, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

caddie733 (anonymous) says...

Great article about Sherron Collins:

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansasc...

March 7, 2007 at 10:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

BigTrav,

I respect your POV, but differ.

Teams and families and grade school kids at school tend to communicate colds and flu. As proof, recall that a flu bug already swept through this KU team once this year. The best prophylactic is constant hand washing, but even that often fails to prevent the spread of people who interact closely and often. And no kissing is required, though it certainly would raise the risk. Lord, I hope men's sports teams have not gotten THAT sensitive yet. :-)

Next re: FTs, our free throw shooting IS bad. They now practice exactly the way you suggest, but it ISN'T working.

Its generally a good idea to learn a new way to swing a hammer, if you keep hitting yourself in the thumb.

March 7, 2007 at 10:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lalawguy (anonymous) says...

I do think that KU's performance will have an effect on the selection committee, but I also agree that to some degree the overall results are ignored. Basically, KU needs to win the quarter- and semi-final rounds to get the 1 seed. The final round is not as important for selection purposes (but it certainly is important for Big 12 bragging rights).

I also agree that FT drills during practice accomplish nothing. It is better to wait until after practice, when the players are worn out. That is the best way to simulate the way players feel after 35 minutes of tough play, because that is how the players will feel in a tight game where the win is riding on the success of the points made from behind the line.

March 7, 2007 at 11:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Lebowski,
I agree with you except I would change one thing: pick a person to shoot at the end of practice, and if he doesn't make them the ENTIRE team has to stay and run. This creates a pressure situation close to that of a big game in that he doesn't want to let his team down, and he also doesn't want to run!

March 7, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Lebowski,

You advocate essentially a punishment model, which is not necessarily bad if it works. And I would say they ought to try it rather than do nothing.

But would it work? I advocated something similar to remedy our rebounding malaise earlier in the season, because I thought we had a motivational problem and not a problem of technical deficiency. I see FTing as a technical problem likely not conducive to solution by this approach. Without experiment, we can't know for sure. But we can at least analyse the assumptions for validity as a starting point.

Your approach assumes that if you create enough fear and dread of the pain of running, the person will find a way to focus and relax to avoid the punishment. This in turn assumes that a person already has the mental capacity and knowledge to conceive the right mechanics, focus and relaxation required for effective FTing.

The validity of your approach hinges on these two assumptions.

The first assumption seems defensible to me. I know I would try to learn to shoot free throws better to avoid the wind sprints. I would focus like hell.

March 7, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

The second assumption seems less defensible. There is already so much incentive for a player to learn to shoot free throws without punishment (it makes his coach happy, it gets him more PT, it keeps him in the game at crunch time, it keeps him from letting his teammates down, etc.) that one would think, if one could learn to do it on one's own (or shooting after practice), then one already would have. This to me implies an incapacity to learn the technique of free throwing on one's own.

But let's say some persons would respond to your approach. Cognitive research in all sorts of fields plus anecdotal observations indicate that there are many others who would not.

For this group, there just are all kinds of activities that these persons probably cannot teach themselves, but which they probably can learn when given a program, instruction and a set of positive incentives. Likewise, negative incentives are becoming more and more discredited for use with these types of persons. For these persons, negative incentives often have an adverse effect. For example, if a person misses free throws, because they can't relax under stress, and you threaten them with running every time they miss, you are actually raising the level of stress, which makes it even less likely that they will be able to find a program (or enact the one you give them) to solve their problem.

Also, I think coaches do have time to work on every facet of the game. Wooden did. And he did it in practices which usually lasted an hour and a half, never more than two. And he swept the floor before and after practice. And staffs are larger now than they were in his day. So even with all the recruiting chores and compliance chores there has to be somone available to develop this skill. And if there isn't, then pick up a GA for diddly who was a great FT shooter and have him work on it. Heck, there are people on this board who can shoot 80 percent and help these guys and would probably do it voluntarily just to help the program.

I've found over the years to never say there isn't time for something important. You can always find the time, by cutting back on other practicing you've already mastered, or simply by doing more in less time. There are always more ways to be more efficient.

March 7, 2007 at 11:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Jaybate,
You bring up some good points, but sometimes negatives can create positives. For instance, the entire team running if one player misses free throws after practice. I don't know about you, but I hated running and still do, and you can bet if I wasn't on that line that I would be cheering my rear off for the guy who was. The confidence of your teammates can give you confidence as well to hit those free throws for yourself and more importantly, for your team. If you miss, what's the worst that can happen? You run, but you do it with your team, which creates camraderie and maybe even more incentive to work on your FT shooting whenever you can. Sometimes a negative consequence can build positive results. Yes, the positive incentives are all there too, but sometimes it takes the risk of a little punishment to truly hammer home the gravity of the situation. In stating this example, I am in no way implying it is the be all, end all right way to go about it but in my experience it worked pretty darn well. I also liked the allusion to the Wizard, he was and is truly one of a kind.

March 7, 2007 at 11:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lawrencefan (anonymous) says...

Geezus, Jaybate. You sure know how to take the pleasure out of being a KU basketball fan.

March 7, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawker_97 (anonymous) says...

i don"t care what you all said, but i like our coach (as mortal as he is!) and the team!! we don"t need one super scoring player, what we care about winning every game!! that"s what counts!! go hawks!!

March 7, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk14 (anonymous) says...

jaybate,
Do you work? Your in-depth analysis is pretty remarkable and I'm wondering how much time you have to devot to thinking about and writing about KU bball. I'm jealous quite honestly!

March 7, 2007 at 12:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhawklarkin101 (anonymous) says...

Jaybate, you need to take it easy. Yes our free throw shooting is bad, but talk about overanalyzing.... And I'm pretty sure Self has one or two tricks up his sleeve to teach free throw shooting, that's why he is a D I coach and not you... Who said they only shot at the end of practice anyway? For all you know they're doin everything you guys mentioned, and some....

As far as seeding goes, I'm with jazzttt, let's just get past the Big XII tourney and stay healthy for now. The difference between the 1 and 2 seed is small, so do not worry about it. The only argument there is that there is more pressure on a number 1 seed. A 3 seed or higher is dangerous with so many outstanding mid-majors this year. My opinion, as long as KU wins their first two games (probably against OU and Tech) they'll get a number one seed. UCLA and Florida are in bigger danger of losing their no. 1 seed than we are. But for now, let's just focus on the Big XII tourney

March 7, 2007 at 12:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

true_fan (anonymous) says...

Grammar police redux (BigTrav, take note PLEASE):

their - possessive pronoun, belonging to them

there - location, in that spot

they're - contraction meaning "they are"

Sorry, I can only cringe so many times reading one article worth of posts.

March 7, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

true_fan (anonymous) says...

Oh, and I forgot the most important thing -

Obsess, criticize, discuss (or whatever you wish to call it) to your hearts' content, none of it will make an iota of difference in where we're seeded, or who the coach is, etc. etc. The one thing we need to ALL do is pull together to support the team and

rock chalk, jayhawk - ku!!!

March 7, 2007 at 12:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

JayBate,

You are full of crap. You probably never shot a meaningful free throw in your life. You don't know what it feels like when the entire arena falls deathly quiet and you can't even feel your fingertips as you step to the line with all eyes watching you.

March 7, 2007 at 1:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ColfromColorado (anonymous) says...

It has not looked like the Seed Committee has paid any attention to the Big 12 Championship. It is a little hard to get too concerned over how it turns out, besides playing well to maintain a positive frame of mind. Also, if they're playing well, they'll be in contention to win.

It is hard getting in a dither over a team we don't even know for sure we'll be playing. Besides, the best team won that game. And if we play them again, I'd expect the best team to win again.

Carmello Anthony blithered over how his play won Syracuse the NC. I always thought KU's sloppy FT shooting lost the game. Nick Collison kept looking over to the bench like he knew something was wrong and he had no idea how to fix it.

FT shooting has been a problem for the same team under different coaches. Can it be a mental thing that stays with a team? Or can two excellent coaches both have the same weakness of not teaching good FT shooting?

Chalmers can step up there and win a game at the FT line. But after him, it drops off in a big hurry.

That they play for each other, none are greedy, and that a team with such high talent levels can play together as 'Family' is very important to the success of this team. Yes, this is the second year in a row it has shown up. And yes, that is a sign of what an excellent coach Bill Self is. Always 'positively stroking everybody' has positive results.

Self talked about cutting down two more nets. He wants it all too. :-)

March 7, 2007 at 1:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufankam (anonymous) says...

That video of Nick Bahe is great!! Nick is the standard for what it means to be a teammate. It is nice to see that he is getting some minutes at Creighton. I would have loved to have him hang around as a Jayhawk, but am happy that he is playing. You can never blame a guy who gives his everything to the coach and team in the end, just wants to play. I wish Nick the best and will never forget these two things:

No one could beat Nick to midcourt to offer encouragement at any time out... Whether we were winning or losing, Nick was always there because that is what a teammate does!!

Late Night Dance... if you saw it, you know what I am talking about... Nick stole the show with his enthusiasm...

March 7, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Nothing short of a Big 12 tourney championship will secure us a top seed.
______________________________________________________

It has been pointed out a thousand times that the Big XII tourney final doesn't make a whit of difference, yet people continue to believe that KU needs to win the tournament. KU will definitely be a one seed if it gets to the finals, and probably even if it just wins on Friday. Even with the weak schedule, there's no way the committee can ignore what KU has done for the last six weeks.

March 7, 2007 at 3:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

beebe1 (anonymous) says...

Maybe some forgot the primary difference in FT shooting and goal shooting. FT depends on 'muscle memory'. Goal shooting depends on a hunter instinct -- like shooting your gun where the duck is going to be when the shot gets there. They are not related at all.

As a kid, one winter I arced a snowball way up in the air, heading for a nice little neighborhood girl. I didn't mean her any harm -- but I popped her right in the forehead. (I was ashamed). It was sort of a rare time when the hunter instinct took over -- the players today call it being 'in the zone'. But it won't help for free throws.

Both Self's team, and our former NC coach, have an awful time with free throws. I wonder whether the difference doesn't need to be understood by the player.
At one point, I dreamed about having a kid with a hard time try the 'hunter's instinct"; face backward, take the ball, and instantly turn around and shoot. That calls for the hunter's instinct to take effect. It doesn't work for a contemplated free throw -- you have to get used to calling on'muscle memory'. I suspect there is something different about teaching 'muscle memory'. (Had a coach once who could face backward and without looking loft it over his head -- thru the hoop). I suspect that 'practice' in and of itself, will not work.

true_fan Good for you on the "their, there, they're" distinction. We also need to distinguish between "to, too"; and the guys who don't believe in starting a sentence with a capital makes their stuff a little tough to read, too!

March 7, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTrav (anonymous) says...

true_fan, anything to satisfy the rest of my fellow hawkers that I'm not perfect! I'll try to make sure I commit further grammar errors in future posts so you can point out my short comings! :)

jaybate, I wasn't really suggesting they shoot free throws that way, I was just simply stating that I know that's how they do it now and I think that shooting free throws probably won't be the crutch that keeps us from winning a championship.

I do like Lebowski's idea of having them shoot a 1-1 free throw at the end of practice and if they miss the front end, the whole team runs. I don't think it needs to be the whole team every practice that shoots, but maybe 3 or 4 random players each practice session.

I look at it this way, Kaun over the last few games, has actually shot free throws better than most of the guards on the team. Self was highly criticized for leaving him in. Of course the law of averages say that over the course of a season, RR will have a better free throw % than Kaun. My point is simple, we can criticize them all we want, but in the end, I think Self will take care of the problems that the team is having and they'll work themselves out. As fans, over analyzing every aspect of KU basketball will only accomplish one thing and that's good discussion to get me through my work days.

P.S. I hope I didn't make any grammar errors in this post that got on anyone's nerves!

March 7, 2007 at 3:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTrav (anonymous) says...

actorman, so, if KU wins Friday and loses on Saturday and Texas A&M wins the Big 12 tourney, you don't think they'll get the #1 seed over KU?

March 7, 2007 at 3:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

I know the Big 12 isnt as deep as the ACC but we have 3 teams that are very capable of winning it all.
Durant and Texas remind me of Anthony and Syracuse in 03 only Durant is better and his supporting cast is better than Anthonys.
Nobody wants to play A.C. Law come tourney time and KU is the hottest team in the country. I hope all 3 get to the Elite 8.

March 7, 2007 at 4:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

actorman, so, if KU wins Friday and loses on Saturday and Texas A&M wins the Big 12 tourney, you don't think they'll get the #1 seed over KU?
____________________________________________________________

You make a somewhat good point but, again, the final makes no difference at all. For example, if KU plays aTm in the final, I think KU would get the 1 seed even if it loses to aTm. However, you may be right, in that if KU loses on Saturday and aTm goes to the final, the 1 seed might go to the Aggies instead. Of course, depending on how others do, I could still see the possibility of both KU and aTm getting 1 seeds.

March 7, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTrav (anonymous) says...

Personally, I think if A&M finishes better than KU in the tourney, they'll get the 1 seed for the simple fact, they beat KU head to head. If they end up playing KU at some point in the Big 12 tourney, and beat them again, they'll definitely get it. I could be wrong though because you just never know with the selection committee.

March 7, 2007 at 4:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

KU,

Whew! You have put me in awe.

Perhaps I look like I'm "full of crap," because you're impacted feces have backed all way the up into your eyes. :-)

I have never claimed to have been a great player, or even a good one, or to have even played much. I love the game and love to think about how to solve problems. Like you for instance, I am inclined to recommend professional help. :-)

FWIW, great players are only infrequently able to coach well. But its true that a few of the greatest coaches were great players; not that I think this has diddly to do with FT shooting but you did bring it up indirectly.

So: state your jock strap bonafides. This I gotta hear. Who ARE you going to claim to be? Wilt Chamberlain? No, he's dead. Danny Manning? No he's to classy to make a post like that. Who then? I'm waiting.

Post Script: Do you suppose you could change your handle. I hate to have you running around disgracing the old school name.

March 7, 2007 at 4:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Jhawklarkin101,

Ah yes, the old "don't talk about what might be done to improve things because you're not a D1 coach" argument. if you really think that way, why not stop coming to this web site, because I can't think of one D1 coach who frequents this web site, at least as a poster, that is going to share with your the kind of experienced, saavy insight you require.

The good news is that now you know I'm not a D1 coach, you NEVER have to read my posts again...right?

March 7, 2007 at 4:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

beebe1,
useful take. a big meal for thought. i like this hunter's instinct concept.

March 7, 2007 at 5 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

jhawk14,

Yes, I work. I just think about these things while I'm working and then I write fast. Also, my long posts happen in the middle of the night. As I get older, I sleep quite a bit less. I read voraciously for about ten years on many subjects at night now I've covered the subjects that interested me, so I post on various web sites where I have something to say. This is the only place I post on basketball. I find nonKU basketball people uninteresting to read or comment on for the most part. I realize I am somewhat unconventional when it comes to the length of my posts, but I figure it doesn't hurt anyone, bandwidth is free, and I enjoy it. And best of all, everyonce in awhile I learn the most interesting things from people who post here. I always try to mention when something strikes me as good. I also never mention stuff that strikes me as bad, unless someone is flaming me. I am frankly amazed that anyone would take the time to badmouth someone else's post. If its bad, why comment on it? They just throwing it out there to see if someone gets it, or if someone has something to add. But that's life on the web these days.

March 7, 2007 at 5:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

bmcmich1,

you bring up more good points than me. thank you. i suppose it does depend on the group of players you are dealing with regarding whether negatives can produce the positives you rightly mention.

March 7, 2007 at 5:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

beebe one time i threw a rock 5 thats right 5 houses down at a younger kid and hit him. he went home crying. why did he watch it coming??? anyway i was made to go buy a candy bar a say i was sorry. i still think it was a great shot!

March 7, 2007 at 5:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTrav (anonymous) says...

This one time at bandcamp....

March 7, 2007 at 5:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkcafefan57 (anonymous) says...

I thought maybe KU men could get some help from the KU women on the art of making FTs; learned the men's .663 was better than the womens .657. The men's opponents were the same as the KU women (.657) but KU womens opponents were .714. Maybe the women's opponents could provide help!!

March 7, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

johnsont1 (anonymous) says...

last i checked, viruses were not alive and thus could not get killed through the use of antibiotics. pain-relievers help the pain, but nothing can speed up recovery from a virus. just saying...

March 7, 2007 at 7:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

espn: oru wins conference and gets NCAA bid.

Our schedule keeps looking better.

March 7, 2007 at 10:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufankam (anonymous) says...

Some free throw information:

Not one of the last 8 national champions has shot 75% on the year. The closest was last year's Florida team along with the 2000 Michigan St. team at 74%. Not only did these teams not clip the 75% mark that some on these posts suggest is necessary, only two of them were in the TOP 50 in FT percentage (again UF and MSU).

2006 Florida 74%
2005 unc 71%
2004 uconn 62%
2003 Syracuse 69%
2002 Maryland 73%
2001 Duke 71%

Obviously, the telling stat would be their tourney %, as we all would agree that you gotta hit em when they count. Side note, if anyone can track down the tourney stats, I would love to find out where you got em. Back to my point. It seems that the past is telling us that you dont have to be a great FT shooting team... you just have to be able to hit em at the right time.

Anyway... all I am trying to say amid my ramblings is that we can win it without shooting 75%. I agree, we should focus on FT's and work on it... just like we work on not turning the ball over... not picking up silly fouls... not letting the opposition get 2nd shots, etc. However, I feel is overkill to harp on this as though it will be the death of us in the tourney. Maybe it will, maybe it won't? There are so many things that we have to be solid at in order to win it all, not just FT's. I trust that they are trying thier best and will do my part to be a fan... Go Hawks.

March 8, 2007 at 12:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

There are 3 nets that need to be cut down between now and April 3; Big 12, Regional and NC. The first one would be nice, but is really optional. You can't have the 3rd without the second though. It's about the last 6 games.

I think the talk about the men learning from the women centers around the fact that the ladies shot the lights out from the line in OKC. They made comments about Bonnie teaching them the same thing that RR self-analyzed as being lacking - focus.

Interesting thought on focusing on the center of the basket, though the challenge there is focusing on nothing, since the center of the basket is nothing - just air. Young soccer players have a similar problem, and often shoot right at the goalie (something) vs. the empty corners of the goal (nothing).

A recent post asked about good throw shooters from KU. If I remember right, Rex Walters and Adonis Jordan shot 80% or 90%, and Woodbury wasn't far behind. What a treat to have at the end of a game, much less in the middle.

KU & aTm are really similar performance wise. Similar records, similar performance in head to head, 1 barely beats Txs at home, and 2 barely loses away. I could see the seedings being a flip based on the outcome of Sunday's game if it gets to that. But then it didn't seem to make any difference last year.

March 8, 2007 at 2:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

LOL.. this discussion went crazy while i was gone.

bmcmich... very good point about only a few people shooting the free throws. I see more than one benefit from doing it that way, and I most definately agree with you.

jaybate.... if you recall your response to me waaaaaay up at the top of this discussion... the "would it work" question regarding my motivation-by-punishment philosophy. I did factor in your concern, and when determining a remedy, those are the only two factors I see...

1) What's not going to cut into precious time that is needed to practice other aspects of the game.

2) What will work.

The point I made about factor #2 is that it is NOT the same problem and solution for everybody. I think for the most part, good coaching is being able to identify with the players and understand what motivates them. I know my disciplinary approach would definately work for me if I was playing. Because I would be working on my technique any chance I got.. between classes, before practice, after practice, in my sleep. It would work for me because I am a competitor and a perfectionist. And I'd get it right on my own time. Do I expect that disciplinary approach to work on everyone? Absolutely not. But that is the compromise I'd make to not have to put too much time into it.

There was another coach who used to be here that addressed this mindset exactly. He always said to some effect... "Who gives a dad-gum if we can't make free throws if we can't play defense or execute offensively. We won't be going to the line anyway!" Of course most will argue that cost us a championship against Syracuse. I argue that not being able to put a leash on McNamara cost us that game. Or maybe we get BLOWN out in that game if Roy put a lot of time into making sure everyone had the right approach at the line.

This is my main point of emphasis. Although I agree with you completely that there are ways to do it that would or could be more effective. (Like 1-on-1 free throw tutoring for everyone one the team!) They would be done at too great a sacrifice of precious time.

I guess our biggest difference in opinion is in how much of KU's woes are technical vs. mental. I weigh them much more as mental issues than technical. All of our guys (except maybe Sasha) already know how to shoot a basketball, and can do it extremely well when they are wide open from 15 feet. So why is it harder to shoot with the clock stopped everyone watching you? Because you haven't learned to deal with that pressure mentally.

March 8, 2007 at 9:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )