Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Love and basketball

Lots to like about this KU squad, coach says

By Gary Bedore

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Tough taskmaster Bill Self, who sometimes stresses the shortcomings of his Kansas University basketball team, on Tuesday was full of high praise for his Big 12 regular-season and postseason tournament champs.

"I downplay our team, but I love this team," Self said of the 30-4 Jayhawks, who will carry a No. 1 seed into Friday's first-round NCAA West Regional clash against No. 16-seed Niagara (6:10 p.m., Chicago's United Center)."

The 23-11 Purple Eagles advanced by downing Florida A&M, 77-69, in Tuesday night's play-in game in Dayton, Ohio.

"I think this team has the highest ceiling of any team I've coached. I think we are still young and make young mistakes, but we do have a high ceiling," Self noted.

That's high praise from a coach who has taken three teams - KU, Illinois and Tulsa - to the Elite Eight.

"I really like how it doesn't matter who it is," Self said of go-to-guys on a given night. "I like the fact Sherron (Collins) can go scoreless last week and get 20 on a big stage (Sunday against Texas).

"I like the fact Brandon (Rush) can miss shots and come back and make them and Mario (Chalmers) can get nine one game and hit the shot that put the game into overtime.

"Who is our go-to-guy now? It still changes, but I like our balance and like the fact the guys seem to like each other. In my opinion, we are, if healthy, equipped to play very well. Our depth situation has been very important to us."

As far as the injury situation ... Darrell Arthur (bruised pubic bone) and Sasha Kaun (bruised back) "should be fine" for Friday's game, Self said.

"Sasha is sore and swollen," he said of the junior center who fell hard in the second half of Sunday's title contest. He walked without discomfort Tuesday, continued to receive treatment and is expected to practice today.

"He had no contact today," Self noted Tuesday night, "so he didn't do drills, just took shots. Hopefully he can go (today), but it may take him another day, too."

photo

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas guard Sherron Collins, right, puts up a shot against Texas guard D.J. Augustin in the Big 12 tournament championship game. Collins and the Jayhawks will play Niagara on Friday in Chicago.

Arthur, who was kneed by UT's D.J. Augustin, returned to practice Tuesday.

"Not bad ... he practiced," Self said of how Arthur looked on the court.

Arthur said four to five ice treatments a day had worked wonders.

"I've been taking a pill for my virus (in lungs). They say the pill helps the soreness go away (in his groin), too," Arthur said. "The ice and stem treatments have helped. I was never worried because they told me it was nothing but a little bruise on the bone. I knew I'd be back."

Arthur, by the way, reiterated Wednesday he wouldn't finalize a decision until after the season but "probably" would return to KU for his soph season.

¢ Distractions aplenty: KU coach Bill Self will warn his players to eliminate all distractions and concentrate solely on the task at hand - defeating Niagara.

"You can't be everything to everybody. You can't return calls, texts. You can't worry about tickets, media, you have to keep the same routine, and it creates better play," Self said.

"Guys have to play for Kansas," he added. "(NBA) agents, runners will try to get word 'You need to do this, that. It's your time to shine.' I don't buy into it. I don't think the players buy into it. I told the guys, 'You are not that smart to think, 'I am the guy who can handle it.' We've all got to buy in that it's good for you (to not deal with ticket requests and spend time with those outside the team)."

KU freshman Collins, who like Julian Wright is from Chicago, has taken his coach's words to heart.

"I will turn my phone off tomorrow or Thursday night," Collins said. "The message I leave will be my uncle's (phone) number and tell anybody who needs tickets or anything to call my uncle, and what I've got left is what I've got left."

¢ Play-in game impressive: KU coach Self watched Tuesday's play-in game on TV from his office since it's against NCAA rules to scout the game in person.

Self was impressed with the winning Niagara team.

"I thought they looked pretty good. They didn't look like a typical 16 seed," he said of Niagara, a team whose RPI of 136 is better than No. 16 seeds Jackson State and Central Connecticut and No. 15 seeds Weber State and North Texas.

"They've got quickness, got size and their big guys all can shoot. They didn't shoot the ball well the first half, but they've really got guys that can make shots. Whenever you have good shooters who can shoot a lot of threes, a couple of guys get hot, and it creates a lot of problems. They have more than one player capable of having a big night. They score the ball as well as anybody we've played next to Texas (76.1 ppg)."

Of 6-foot-7 senior Clif Brown, who hit a whopping six threes and had 32 points, Self said: "He was great tonight. ... The first half they were, I think, 4-of-18 from three, and for the game they probably shot close to 30 threes (8 of 27)."

Charron Fisher, who was a teammate of KU's Russell Robinson at Nike camp several years ago, scored 13 points off 5-of-11 shooting.

"He's pretty good," Robinson said of the 6-3 junior from New Jersey.

¢ Schedule: The Jayhawks were to practice this afternoon then leave via bus for Forbes Field at 4 p.m. The squad figures to leave Topeka at 5:30 p.m., and arrive at the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel at 7:30 p.m. The team will hold a short shootaround practice from 4:25 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. Thursday in the United Center.

¢ 'Mad' about recent past: As expected, the media is asking about KU losing in the first round the past two years.

"The last two years have not made me as nervous as made me mad, and sometimes that has created some extra incentive and fight, which hopefully will play out to be a positive situation, and I'm sure our players will sense that in practice this week," Self said.

¢ TiVo would be nice: Some of KU's players said they planned to watch the play-in game on Tuesday night. Self said he'd excuse those who had study hall and would tape the game and obviously show plays during scouting report.

Darnell Jackson, however, was one who had a conflict and wouldn't tune in. Would he 'TiVo' the game, a TV reporter asked?

"I wish I had TiVo," he said.

Jackson said he was impressed by the atmosphere on campus.

"Today I was walking to class everybody was honking their horns, yelling out the window saying, 'Go get 'em.' I think everybody's excited," he said.

¢ Aggressive fan: A Niagara fan was shown on TV carrying a sign that said, "Bury Kansas," late in the play-in game telecast.

Comments

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Pos. Name Size Min. 3%3A
G Fisher 6'3" 33.5 38% 97
F Brown 6'7" 33.8 35% 152
G Miles 5"11" 34.5 35%174
G Lewis 6' 29.1 34% 116
F Duffy 6'8" 32.4 35% 161
G Hodge 6'1" 25.8 36% 42
G Brooks 6'2" 18.3 14% 14

Niagara plays seven guys alot of minutes--five guards and two forwards. five of these guys--three guards and two forwards--jack threes nonstop. The five trey shooters average 35-36% on treys. If they have a hot hand, it will be close, maybe even an upset. If they don't, it will be a blow out for KU.

March 14, 2007 at 1:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Injuries stink. Kaun is swollen in the back? Holy cow he must be in pain. I don't see him being a force against Niagara with a back swollen on Tueday even though Self says he'll play.

Arthur's bruise is less of a big deal than the virus which must still be affecting him or he wouldn't be taking meds for it. This is a LONG virus. God help us if it hits the other players. This virus, if it spreads, will nag our players throughout the tourney. This is why Self put the qualifier "if healthy" on his assessment that KU is equipped to play well. He seems to understand this thing with Arthur could take ten days even to incubate and symptomize in the other players. We're all just going to have say our prayers about this virus. Its last a week in Arthur. If it takes seven to ten days to symptomize in the rest of the team we could really be screwed.

March 14, 2007 at 1:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cap10d (anonymous) says...

First off I heard he had a virus but no details as to what kind or anything like that but I would hope if the virus was that serious and also contagious Arthur wouldnt be playing or practicing wouldnt ya think?But if that is the case Im sure HCBS is having the team take every precaution possible that can be taken.That being said I think your overreacting a bit jaybate. They will be fine.go hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 14, 2007 at 3:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

I raging bout of scurvy couldn't stop this team, they are hungry and will crush NiagAra. I was impressed with Niagara, but their shooters won't hold up under KU's relentless defense. I wouldn't expect a huge blowout, though, just a solid win. All the same, maybe they should up their Vitamin C dosage.

March 14, 2007 at 4:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

I love Darrell, but he can't seriously think he should come out in this draft can he? I mean with all of the bigs in Durant, Oden, Hawes, etc., he'll be lucky to go in the top half of the first round. He needs three years unless he has Drew Gooden-esque sophmore year.

March 14, 2007 at 8:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Here's a Khrushchev moment, Niagara, we will bury YOU!

March 14, 2007 at 8:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

argentinehawk (anonymous) says...

Is it just me, or does it seem that every year in the tournement, KU ends up playing a three point chucking team with one guy that just comes out smoking!? And I know the Hawks play great D, but IMO, if the Hawks had one weakness on D this year, it was guarding the 3.

I think KU will win the game, but I just hope that NU doesn't have another Vealy, summerville, mejia or dora type player that goes nuts on us from behind the 3 point line. GO KU, and CRUSH these guys!!!!!!!!!!

March 14, 2007 at 8:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

I'm with jaybate here (a rare occurence). Niagara is dependent on the 3 to compete in this one. If they have a hot hand (may need two) they can stay with the Hawks, but if we take care of the ball (i.e. less than 15 turnovers) and they don't hit 55% of their threes, they will have trouble staying with us, especially because they have very little inside help (6-7 and 6-8 are their bigs). This is a game where Kaun and Arthur (if healthy) could have huge games against much smaller opponents. We should also control the rebounding edge, which means that if they struggle early from deep, KU could put a big run on them and put them 20 in the hole. If they are hot, KU has shown that they could weather the storm against a top notch opponent, so they can likely hold off a hot start from Niagara.

That said, we have to get after their guards defensively from the start, because it is easier to control guys before they get hot than after they are already sizzling.

Prediction - Hawks by 11, Niagara shoots it well, but KU's inside muscle is too much.

March 14, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cellogrl (anonymous) says...

Okay, I just have to point out the obvious here. It isn't the big guys that guard the 3s the best (or even at all). I've been REALLY impressed with Brandon Rush and Julian Wright's blocking ability on the 3s recently. It's just really sweet when they swat one away! go hawks!!!!

March 14, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

Prediction on the headline Saturday morning: "Niagara Falls!"

March 14, 2007 at 9:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Great read...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_b...

March 14, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

JayCeph,

That is one fabulous interview, because that is one extremely bright person being interviewed. No wonder this team has character.

March 14, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Haiku for Rattlers...

Undeserved seed
Then Niagara U three-ed
Some quick out justice

March 14, 2007 at 10:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

93jayhawk (anonymous) says...

Ummm...Jaminrawk...that headline "prediction" is already last week's news. Even the spodcasters came up with it all by their pretty little selves. And I bet no one in their league has ever used it before!

Okay...as long as KU doesn't come out with one of these Bucknell/utep/ucla(in 1990, I think) efforts where they appear to be totally disinterested, this game should be over before halftime. I didn't watch the game last night, but looking at the box, NU gave up 45% shooting to a dead-tired team that should have had vermicelli for legs. And despite the 6/11 effort from this Brown fellow, they were barn/broad-side and f-ing water/boat atrocious from 3pt range. They shot <40% from the field overall and won of their free-throw defense from 3:56-3:13 in the second half and made 11/12 of their own charities in the last two minutes.

They do not have the team defense or athletes to stay with the 'Hawks. I'm not trying to count chickens or take anything for granted, but the only way people will use the phrase "on any given day" after this game is if KU gives them the day, which would make me sad indeed.

Again, players not called "Clif Brown" were 14/44 (31.8%) from the field and 2/16 (12.5%) from 3-pt range. Unless 3 or more of them get hot from the field (against a team giving up 60 pts/game and holding opponents to <40% FGs), this should be another whomping of an NU.

Beak 'em Hawks!

Michael
Class of '93

March 14, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

jhwkfan1625- Its not every day one gets to read a reference to Kruschev (or any other former Soviet trivia) in regard to basketball. Well done.

You get my 'red star' of the day for that post. :)

March 14, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Newsflash: KU tries to survive another 1st round upset!!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colleg...

duh-

March 14, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Don't get me wrong JayCeph, I'm no Commie, but I saw the picture of the Niagara fan holding up a Bury Kansas sign, and the first thing I thought of in writing my comeback was Khrushchev. That's all.

March 14, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

93 Jayhawk:

I didn't think the headline was original, but I'm glad that you spend your time searching for Niagara headlines; yet you analyze the team without watching them play.

Nice to see that academic standards apparently were elevated from 1993 to 2005, when I graduated from KU. *sarcasm off*

March 14, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

jhwkfan- No sweat. I wasn't being sarcastic. I loved your post. Kruschev's remark behind the podium of the UN in 1956 was one of the last century's most memorable mis-steps in propaganda ("Dewey Defeats Truman" was the other).

I found it to be quite apropo that a Niagara fan would do the same thing Kruschev did (and probably suffer the same fate... fall).

Brialliant~

March 14, 2007 at 10:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

93jayhawk (anonymous) says...

And since I didn't watch the game, I did recap, boxscore and play by play analysis so I wouldn't be talking out of my a$$. ;) Just ribbin' ya man. Sorry if it came off nasty.

Michael
Class of '93

P.S. When did message boards become an academic endeavor? ;)

March 14, 2007 at 10:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

radrhett (anonymous) says...

Jaminrawk - If the game is close but the Hawks pull it out, look for the headline Nigh-agara. It's almost too easy. Cough.

March 14, 2007 at 11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

digitalkookie (anonymous) says...

jayceph...thanks for the link. the author just assumes ucla advances automatically??

March 14, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

JayCeph, thank you for including those articles. I don't seem to ever have any luck finding something written about our team.

March 14, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cobweb (anonymous) says...

Give me a break! Niagra sucks. Hawks by 40.

March 14, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

No problems, 93jayhawk. As jayhawks, we need to focus our efforts against the Huggins' and the Rickey Clemons' of the world. No academics neccessary there.

Radrhett, wouldn't it have been perfect if Marcus Fizer had played for Niagara back in the day? I bet they would have got up for any challenge. They certainly wouldn't have had scoring or penetration problems.

March 14, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

radrhett (anonymous) says...

Jaminrawk - that would have been perfect except for the occasional headline "Leaky Defense by Fizer, Niagara Falls to Jaspers." And it comes full circle...

March 14, 2007 at 11:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

"Leaky Defense by Fizer, Eagles Look Flacid as Niagara Falls to Longhorns"

March 14, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

I'm with cobweb and a few others. This shouldn't be that close. I think old memories keep tempering our expectations a bit.

We need to come out, put the foot on the throat and never let up. Once we get past this first round thing I think we'll all feel better and I think the 'Hawks will play with the looseness of a champion for the duration.

March 14, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

If Niagara isn't Niagaras,
should Kansas go back to Kansa? The University of Kansa Jayhawks. Or should Niagara go forward to Niagaras. Someone contact a Native American linguistics authority on this one. :-)

March 14, 2007 at 12:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Here's the caution we all should have though tis4tim, cobweb and others...

1) The whole "16 seeds don't win" will someday soon be a thing of the past. It's important to understand that it will happen someday soon because of many factors (3 pt line, officiating in favor of competitive play, and parity due to scholarship reduction spreading out talent) Duke already had a big scare last year until the final minutes.

2) Exactly as jaybate stated, this team jacks up insane amounts of 3's. Three's are a great equalizer, and the hoop seems bigger when you are a 16 seed and have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

3) Anyone who says officiating is fair in the NCAA tournament is on crack. Plain and simple. When every team has a (1) or (2) or (3) next to their name, they aren't going to catch many breaks. I'm not just talking about KU here. All top seeds get hosed. I'm all for other top seeds getting upset, and I still couldn't help but notice last year how lopsided the officiating was in many of the early round games.

I think we should blow them out of the water, too. But a close game shouldn't have the crowd "quiet" in anticipation. We need to win the game and be proud of it, regardless of how pretty it looks in the process. As fans, we can't go quiet because they are shooting lights out or our guys come out nervous or too excited.

March 14, 2007 at 12:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

brandonh (anonymous) says...

I'm surprised we're not seeing more speculation about who leaves Kansas after this year. Rush? Wright? Will Morningstar transfer? Surely he expected more out of this season than he got.

Something tells me that if this team wins it all, at least two guys are gone (Rush and Wright, despite what Wright has said). If they don't, I'll bet almost everyone but one guy returns.

March 14, 2007 at 12:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

84Hawk (anonymous) says...

Has anyone looked at Niagara's schedule and seen the "nobodies" they've played this season? I have no doubt we will blow them away long before the game is over. Here's their schedule if you are interested: http://www.purpleeagles.com/sports/mb...

March 14, 2007 at 12:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Let's just pretend the PurpleEagles are the Bizarro version of KState and continue our dominance.

One game at a time.

March 14, 2007 at 1:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

I'll say KU by 25; 40 is pushing it.

March 14, 2007 at 1:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

84Hawk (anonymous) says...

I hope Jayhawk fans show up in Chicago in droves with loud voices and lots of spirit. I'm sure Niagara has never played in front of a crowd like a KU crowd! Rock Chalk!

March 14, 2007 at 1:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

84Hawk, man, and they said the big 12 had a weak schedule :)

March 14, 2007 at 2 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawker00 (anonymous) says...

justanotherfan,

didn't KU play another team in Chicago who didn't have a player taller then 6'8" and they went home with a loss?!

I don't think KU will choke this year, but I'm also not going to say this is an easy win just b/c of our size!

March 14, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Almost every person I knew from college that lives in the Chi is one way or another wrangling tix for the weekend--if that's any indication then the United Center should be rock chalkin' all weekend!

March 14, 2007 at 2:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURUSH1530 (anonymous) says...

Yeah, these Niagra fans will be drowned out by all the KU fans that show up..everyone I know that has moved up to Chicago are getting tickets, so it'll be loud. I predict that KU will win this one by a slim 20 points.

March 14, 2007 at 2:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Get a load of this tasty lick:

Our Father, who art in Lawrence,
Hallowed be thy Game.
Thy bracket come.
Thy upset will be done, In Syracuse as it is in Allen Field House.
Give us this day our deserved game.
And forgive us our turnovers,
As we forgive Roy who double-crossed against us.
And lead us not into defeat,
But deliver us from East Coast bias,
For Kansas is the basketball kingdom,
And the tradition,
And the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Got that in an email today as a word document attachment with the "Jaydreamin" painting above it--everyone on the email list said they had printed it and posted it up in/on their cubicles/office doors at work, and I love it. rock chalk everyone!

March 14, 2007 at 2:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

and phog shall reign for ever and ever

(and ever, and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah!)

*Apologies to Handel for mispelling the last two words...I didn't have time to look them up.

March 14, 2007 at 2:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Lebowski,

Agree with you down the line here.

My recipe for success is: We defend the trey stripe.

We keep one big close to the back side of the hoop from where the trifecta is taken and whoever's handy on the near side. If they try to rebound at all we release three.

We grab the boards without a problem, and break, break, break. If we don't have a sure bunny, then we bring it out and let Collins penetrate and dish to the bigs who set a record number of dunks.

If they shoot the trey, blow off rebounding and have two or three guys rush back to play safety, then its half court grind it out and let the 4 bigs just keep dunking.

Niagara shoots 35% from trey which is probably about 50% adjusted. We shoot 50% FG and 38% 3PTGs and we win. What we don't want to do is let it turn into a free throw shooting contest. That is the only aspect of the game they hold much edge whatever. The fact their big men can shoot the trey is offset by the fact that our big men can dunk on them every time down the floor.

But if Niagara takes 3PT Viagara and shoots 45% from trey for a team average, it all comes down to whether KU can shoot 50% FG and 5% higher from trey to offset our lesser accuracy from the FT line.

This ought to be a huge blow out for KU, but as you say, when an entire team jacks a high percentage of treys, it equalizes any advantage an opponent has unless it shoots an even higher percentage.

One thing to note: these guys from Niagara, either their smalls or their bigs, have never been defended at the trey stripe they way they are going to be defended by KU.

I expect Rush to completely shut down one of their bigs and Wright to do the same to their other one. I expect them to have to shoot their treys from 3-5 feet farther out than they're used to. That will kill their accuracy. Same for their backcourt.

Bottom line: I expect a blowout, because of defense size advantage inside, but if Niagara goes unconscious from 22-23 feet anything is possible.

March 14, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cellogrl (anonymous) says...

jhwkfan1625 - I was just impressed that you spelled Khrushchev right! I had to copy and paste it just to come close!

bmcmich1 - To quote Tommy Boy, "That... was... awesome!" My Dad's a minister and I find it even funnier because I've been around The Lord's Prayer since I was little! Well done! I'm forwarding this to my Dad!

March 14, 2007 at 3:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

caddie733 (anonymous) says...

Jaybate...with all that explanation, isn't your bottom line rather obvious? If ANY team goes unconcious from 22-23 feet anything is possible. Glad you aren't coaching the team...I can hear it now: This is what we gotta do...(30 minutes of talking)...basically don't let them go crazy from the 3 point line!

Are you saying if Niagara shoots 45% from trey, we have to shoot 50% from trey and 50% from the field("But if Niagara takes 3PT Viagara and shoots 45% from trey for a team average, it all comes down to whether KU can shoot 50% FG and 5% higher from trey to offset our lesser accuracy from the FT line.")? Aren't these percentages a bit skewed without approximating the total number of shots taken (whether it be a three, 2-point FG, or a free throw)?

March 14, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ColfromColorado (anonymous) says...

It will be nice when KU emerges victorious in this 1st game. That will bring all that tripe to an end. And then everybody can look ahead to the next game.

March 14, 2007 at 6:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

If KU plays its usual defense and holds Niagara to less than 40%, doesn't send them to the free-throw line, outrebounds, and makes 50% of their fg's, this game shouldn't be close.

I've said all along, "live by the three, die by the three!" and these guys pretty much do that. Even so, most of their wins they only made 11-12 threes out of 22-28 attempts. That leaves 2pt fg's and ft's. There shouldn't be any inside shooting against KU's bigs and short of a tightly called game by the refs, Kansas should have no problem putting these guys away. Niagara split its two games with Marist losing at home and winning at Marist, one OT and the other a close game. This is the same Marist that beat OKState last night. Of course we all know how badly KU beat OSU ; )

March 14, 2007 at 7:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkproud (anonymous) says...

Niagra is a fodder team the likes that KU feasts upon, and is also a team that lives and dies by the three. After watching them last night, they have neither the size or talent to beat us. Even if they pull a Texas and make 15-20 threes, they are to small and under talented. As long as KU gets good looks, make the bunnies, and run them to death, no problem. Just play KU basketball, get rid of the one and done curse, and run to the Final Four!! KU 92 Niagra 69.

March 14, 2007 at 7:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Haefele (anonymous) says...

Darn, I just typed a 3 paragraph long comment, and I accidentally clicked the backspace button when I wasn't in the text box, so it sent me back to the home page. Oh well. And jayhawkproud, if Niagara shoots 15-20 from behind the arc, then we might have some trouble. But I doubt that will happen. I predict the score will be 87-60 if KU can stop the three point game from Niagara.

March 14, 2007 at 7:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

charlestonhawk (anonymous) says...

We just beat Texas twice, I think the first game they went 11/13 behind the arch. If we can survive that we can survive just about anything. Plus Durant is probably the best shooter in the country. These guys are short we will out rebound them by +20.

March 14, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

charlestonhawk (anonymous) says...

Sorry, the 11/13 behind the arch was in the first half.

March 14, 2007 at 8:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

caddie733,

My percentages assume each team shoots there typical allocation between 2 and 3 pt shots. They're guestimates at best. I didn't spread sheet it and run the numbers. Generally, Niagara shoots a much higher percentage of their total shots as treys than does KU.

Before jumping me for mastering the obvious, think about the distribution. After ragging on me a bit, you finally got around to asking the right question about distribution, but you don't then think it through. I thought it through. If a team in which practically everyone hoists treys were to get hot and shoot 45%, frankly, they'd be very tough to beat, no matter what KU did, unless it took just as many treys and shot an even higher percentage. Capice?

Frankly, defending the trey stripe is only the start. Its not enough to defend them at their favorite spots. To ensure victory, you've got to actually make them take the trey farther out than they like. And my guess is Niagara is not afraid of throwing them from downtown, so its going to take alot of stretching to push them farther out than they like. But if you succeed in doing that you're almost certain to win. If you don't, then you risk the chance of them getting hot in their comfort zones.

But a coach also has to make choices about the tempo of his own teams offensive play against a bunch of trey bombers. Its a complicated choice, actually, with a simple goal. The goal is to shoot as good or better an overall shooting percentage AND prevent them from getting as many chances at scoring as you get. Grabbing more offensive rebounds, denying them offensive rebounds, stealing the ball BEFORE they get shots, and forcing them into TOs are the things you have to do to get more shots than them. Shooting bunny's on breaks and grinding it out for high percentage shots, uncontested shots is how you beat them on shooting percentage.

March 14, 2007 at 8:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

But you also have to consider tempo.

If you spike the number of trips and and Niagara's hot from three, you're actually magnifying their advantage of shooting a greater percentage of treys, unless you're shooting and making as many or more treys than they are.

So: when you break you better be able to get bunnys and make them, or you're playing right into their hands.

If you slow it down, it dilutes the advantage of their hot trey shooting, but only if you can be very selective and spike your shooting percentages higher than theirs.

If you're a cut to the chase guy, here's what the coach has to choose and choose right on should Niagara get hot for an entire game. He's got to pick an offensive attack that absolutely maximizes KU shooting percentages to keep these little gunslingers from jumping ahead, or even keeping it close and turning it into a free throw shooting contest. Why? Because that's our achilles heel. Oh, we still might win it that way, but that's the scenario we want to avoid.

This is the best I can do for you. If you still think it all comes down to "defend the three", then one of us is oversimplifying or overcomplicating and I, of course, think its you oversimplyfying.

Likewise, I'm glad you're not their coach. :-)

March 14, 2007 at 8:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

jaybate -

maybe even an upset?? WHAT!?

first memphis as a 1 seed, then this

March 14, 2007 at 9:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

caddie733 post script,

i'm sorry i mistated your reduction of my position. it was not "defend the three." it was "if a three point shooting team gets unconscious from 22-23 anything is possible." and yes it is, but even then there are still strategic and tactical choices a coach and team can make to still try to win.

hence, my response remains the same. your reduction does not address the problem of what to do with such a team when it gets hot...how to defend them...and the choices you have to make about how to handle them if they get hot. Hot teams can still be beaten or played close.

Recall the first Texas v. KU game. KU shot 61% on 18 attempts from trey and only won by 4 points. Why? Because Texas shot 46% on 30 attempts from trey. This first Texas Kansas game demonstrates just how high of a trey percentage you have to shoot to win, when a shoots a ton of treys against you at say 46%. The other thing KU did to win was shoot 53% on two pointers. Both these percentages could have been a bit lower had KU shot higher than 54% form the FT line.

So: its not really right to reduce it to anything can happen when a trey shooting team gets hot. If you're hell bent on reductions try this: Somethings have to happen if a trey shooting team gets unconscious from 22-23 feet out. If you shoot few treys, you've got to shoot a much higher percentage from trey AND you've got to shoot a smidge over 50% from two point land. Of course built into that is all the stuff I said about grabbing offensive boards, denying offensive boards, and so forth.

March 14, 2007 at 9:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

This should be worse than ku - isu ii.

This will make Hiroshima look like a car wreck in a parking lot.

March 14, 2007 at 9:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

The game plan for KU has to be very simple. They have to weather any barrage of threes, especially early on and stay within their gameplan, which should feature a healthy amount of Wright, Kaun, Arthur (if healthy) and Jackson. Meanwhile, the guards have to attack the perimeter players and make them play defense. It is a known fact that jumpshooters struggle more when they have to work on the other end. That means Chalmers, Rush, Robinson and Collins need to make their guys work on the other end so that their legs give out sooner. Once we wear out their shooters, then we exploit their lack of depth. Pace is more an issue for them because we can play as many as ten, they only have seven guys they can legitimately put on the floor in the Dance. Wear them down. That's the key.

March 14, 2007 at 9:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Caddie...

I wasn't necessarily born and raised a jaybate fan either... Some or perhaps many can attest to that! :)

And he can most definately get long winded!

But I think the overall "short version" of everything he is saying is on point... and for the most part, most jayhawk fans would agree.

What's scary about a team that hoists tons and tons of threes... (and they do it even more against a team like Kansas.. out of necessity)... is IF ALL other factors ended up balancing out...

("balanced out" = KU misses free throws, but gets more rebounds... forced more turnovers, but commits more fouls... on and on until the only factor your comparing is FG shooting...

Then if Kansas shoots nothing but 2's and goes 60% from the field, and Whoever KU Plays jacks nothing but 3's, then all they have to do is hit more than 40 percent of them. (Oh that's all?!!!)

I think the gist of what Jaybate is saying is that KU has to go out there and do their thing in those areas like protecting the basketball, dominating the boards, forcing turnovers, getting good looks, and continuing their stellar defense.... and this game will be a blowout like it should be.

If we're allowed to make "if, and or but" predictions, then I'm saying KU is going to A) come out too timid and cautious and struggle to a late pull away win or B) it's going to be at least a 40-50 point blowout. I would be suprised to see anything in between. But I've been wrong before!

:( Unfortunately, I was dead wrong in 05 and I was right last year.

March 14, 2007 at 9:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

alexwishart (anonymous) says...

Steven Colbert picked Kansas to win it all. Go republican state B-ball!!!!
AW

March 15, 2007 at 1:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

scootja32,

no, no, no, i'm not predicting an upset at all. i predict a win. I was just noting that when your are playing a 16 seed in which everyone shoots threes then there IS the risk of them getting hot and beating you...unless you make exactly the right moves. If Niagara only shoots to their average of 35% from trey, we'll kill them.

March 15, 2007 at 11:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

scootja32,

Hey, I'm sticking with Memphis in their region. They have all the pieces. Four short guards. Four wings the size of Rush. Two Fours and Two fives. When you have all the pieces and an experienced coach smart enough to exploit the mismatches (Larry Brown is even down skulling with Calipari), then you're a serious threat. It would have been better if they had played tougher competition, but they played very well against what they did play against and they haven't shown much sign that they are chokers. And Calipari's won it all and that counts significantly. Whether his competition was great, he knows what his team needs to be able to do to win deep in the tourney and can prepare them accordingly.

March 15, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

alexwishart,

Colbert is FROM South Carolina. Strom Thurmond Land has not known serious hoops since Frank McGuire got too old to coach there. Since Colbert is a very funny guy who makes a living acting self-smitten and bumptious, I'm not sure we can rely on him. Oh, maybe the Demon Deacons played some when TDunc was there, but the hoops soil IS thin there. They think a dunk is what you do with pork and b-b-que sauce.

March 15, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )