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Friday, November 30, 2007

Coach finds plenty of flaws

Jayhawks must develop confidence to pass to post, Self says

By Gary Bedore

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D-Jax earns 5th start of career

Three seasons on the hill and just four career starts for Darnell Jackson. Last night in D-Jax's 91st game as a Jayhawk, he earned start number 5.

Chalmers: Teahan's three-pointers 'automatic'

Last night Kansas crushed Florida Atlantic to improve to a perfect 6-0. Among the highlights: how about freshman walk-on Connor Teahan? Kansas City Rockhurst High grad scored 9 points in 9 minutes.

photo

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas center Sasha Kaun puts in a bucket over Florida Atlantic guard Sean Alarcon. Kaun scored seven points off the bench in KU's 87-49 victory Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas University's men's basketball record is perfect. The team, of course, is not.

"I told the guys the other day, 'We are further along than we were last year no question, but we are not together like we need to be.' We've got to get to the point we value every possession,'' KU coach Bill Self said of his squad, which improved to 6-0 (compared to last year's 5-1 mark) following an 87-49 pasting of Florida Atlantic on Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse.

Offensively, the Jayhawks are averaging a healthy 89.0 points a game off sizzling 54.8 percent shooting entering Sunday's 1 p.m. clash at Southern California.

Yet the squad, which has been without the injured Sherron Collins the past four games and has been playing with a less-than-100 percent Brandon Rush, has been far from a smooth-flowing offensive machine.

"We have been emphasizing to our guards they have to trust their abilities to get the big men the ball," Self said. "To me it's a very simple deal. You just get it and throw it to them, and it's the big guys' responsibility to catch it.

"We think way too much. We have to play through our big guys more on the low post. We missed them (big men) countless times in the first half (against FAU). Our post guys are better offensive players than they have demonstrated in a large part because our guards have got to feed them the ball."

Darrell Arthur leads KU's big men at 14.5 points per game, followed by Darnell Jackson (11.2), Sasha Kaun (8.0) and Cole Aldrich (3.3).

"We've got to get better at that. I know I missed the big guys a couple of times," said senior guard Jeremy Case, who had six assists and no turnovers in 15 minutes versus FAU. "Our big guys have to do a better job posting up, too. They have to make themselves available on the post, and we have to have confidence to throw it to them."

On the defensive end, KU is holding foes to 62.1 points a game off 39.6-percent shooting.

"Defensively we will get a lot better," Self said. "We need to develop a lock-down defender. Brandon (Rush) is not ready for that that yet."

Case can pinpoint one of the problems on defense.

"We make two small mistakes, and it costs us," he said. "We will get better as the year goes along. We need to do it now, but eventually it'll get better."

If it's any consolation ... all teams are a work in progress, including the fourth-ranked Jayhawks.

"My teams here ... we haven't started well," Self said. "Even when we started out really strong my second year, 20-1, that team wasn't very good, not as good as the record. Last year we weren't good until the Boston College game (12th game) even though we were winning games.

"We were really good the last five minutes and overtime against Arizona (in 76-72 victory), but it's an inconsistent thing. Shady (Arthur) is not the low-post scorer he'll become. Brandon is running around on a leg and a half, Sherron is out. We play a lot faster with Sherron. Take Julian (Wright, NBA) off the team, have half of Brandon and no Sherron, that's a little bit different team than we thought we'd have."

Indeed ... "We are making great progress. We will get better as time goes on," Case said.

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Comments

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

So, Bill.....you want the guards to just throw the ball to the post and have the big guys catch it? It's that easy?
If it was that easy then WHY doesn't it work that way?
Good grief.

November 30, 2007 at 4:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Coach said it is simple, not easy. Great coaches distill the game to its essense, so players focus their actions on what needs to change.

Here is some more essense he's implying, but not saying.

No Sherron, plus no Reed, plus Rush "on a leg and a half" equals no 40-minute, 3-guard speed ball, which in turn implies play through the big men and start Darnell, because he's the most efficient scorer of the bigs.

Which reminds me of what my dear departed dad used to say: everybody loves guard play till the going gets tough, then its the big men who have to grind it out for you.

The old guard, Coach Self, is just saying c'mon guys, wake up! We are temporarily out of finesse mode.

November 30, 2007 at 5:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Although it may seem counterintuitive, things will get better for the big guys as the competition improves. Smaller teams have been packing it in so tight that it makes it very difficult some times for an entry pass. Things will difinitely open up on Sunday, and I look for a big day from the bigs. DA needs a little room to operate and use his quickness. He'll get that Sunday. For that matter, I look for the whole team to look good. Veteran teams like the one we have this year look forward much more to big games like this one, and I think the focus will be there.

November 30, 2007 at 6:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

I watched about 10-15 minutes of the OU-USC game last night. USC seems a lot longer, faster and athletic than last year, and we struggled with them at The Phog. (Of course, OJ Mayo will make any team seem better!)

This game at USC will be a big test. We'll see if any of our players have the will to score when the going gets tough. Gotta respect Tim Floyd and his defense.

November 30, 2007 at 7:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LugNut914 (anonymous) says...

USC is fast, skilled, and have three legit 1st rounders next year in Jefferson, Taj, and Mayo. I've watched 3-4 games of theirs this year and they seem to be jellin'. I think we can defend Mayo to 'contain' him, but Jefferson is a monster. We will have to be very physical with USC. They handled a good defensive team with relative ease in So. Illinois, remember them?

November 30, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Sorry, folks, but as of now, KU is overrated at #4.

No, I'm not someone posting under jhwkfan1625's account, I really am jhwkfan1625.

I say that from the point of view that this team is not playing as solid or smart of basketball as they ought to be. Arizona exposed that this past Sunday, and unless we get our act together, Southern Cal might do even worse to us - and this is in the Galen Center...

November 30, 2007 at 9:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk52 (anonymous) says...

I like how Case plays 15 minutes in 1 game, and now he's the spokesman for the team.

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

KU (anonymous) says...

jhwkfan1625.......I agree that they are not playing at post-season form yet.

But then again, when has a Bill Self-coached team played as well in November as they do in March? They are notorious for starting slow.

Besides, you've got Rush coming off an ACL and Collins isn't playing.

The sky isn't falling.

Roy Williams is the only coach I know that could have his team playing as well in November as they would ever play for the rest of the year. Now that means two things: 1) He strongly emphasized getting off to a fast start and prepared the team well in pre-season, and 2) His teams were not really good at improving and gaining momentum throughout the season and into March.

November 30, 2007 at 11:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

I'm concerned about the USC game because without Rush at full strength, we don't match up very well against Mayo. He's 6-5 and strong. That matchup doesn't bode well physically for either Robinson or Chalmers. That means either Stewart or Rush has to take him. Maybe Roderick will have a big day.

Gibson and Arthur will be a battle in the post. Our best hope is that Darrell stays out of foul trouble and Gibson gets into it.

Our other hope is that USC plays undisciplined, which they do at times. That will probably give us the edge because right now our personnel isn't where it will be in March, and that limits what we can do on both ends of the floor. If we can grind out a win, though, that would be big both for us and the Big XII.

November 30, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tomlinss90 (anonymous) says...

I think they will do just fine at USC and will head to conference play sitting at a nice 15-0 mark. I think this KU team is close to getting it all together, and I think we will see that this weekend.

November 30, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Although most of the guys have been around a few years and have been in tough situations before it would have been nice to have one "easy" road game before this to at least have some exposure to playing in an unfamiliar environment.

November 30, 2007 at 1:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGrad04 (anonymous) says...

Don't fool yourselves people, I've watched almost every USC game this year (I live in California) They are not that good. If we lose, it's an indicator that we are not playing consistenly well. I think everyone can agree we have seen flashes of great basketball thus far, I just want to see it more often and avoid coming out absolutley flat.

November 30, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

This is the perfect opportunity for KU to play the role of 'UCLA' and out-mature the younger and less experienced USC team.

If they keep their heads in the game and play the way they are capable, they'll dominate USC. If not, it'll be too close for comfort and might even lead to a loss.

This, needless to say, would be bad.

November 30, 2007 at 2:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Oh, and one more thing...

Last night's game between KSU and Oregon was a very close nail-biter that went to overtime, much like the KU-'Zona game.

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/no...

The big contributor to the loss for the 'Cats was... yep, you guessed it, free throws.

Hey Jayhawks (Bill Self too), this is something that really needs to be a CORE part of their practice regimen.

Making the opponent pay at the stripe is one of the cruelest and tastiest ways to secure a victory. Free throws, free throws, free throws, free throws...

November 30, 2007 at 2:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

soapboxstew (anonymous) says...

Guys- I watched the whole USC game last night, and I can tell you a couple of things: (1) They are as athletic a team as we will ever see this year; (2) Those 3 young NBAers hate not getting 32.5 ppg, so they get frustrated easily; (3) Their defense is not that good, OU's offense is that bad; (4) They are not disciplined, and a good defense ought to be able to stop them on offense (see "frustration" above).
All that said, I still don't about this game. Our experience and talent ought to outlast their youth and athleticism. We are bigger down low as well.
Do you guys believe in outside-of-the-game advantages? Th game is @ 1:00pm Lawrence time, which is 11:00am L.A. time. Advantage who (it is a strange game time)? Sunday morning may not fill their house.
BTW, did anybody see the OT loss @ KSU? Beasley was treating his teammates like children who behaved badly. He was in their face, rolling his eyes, and scolding them. They have talent, but they don't have a team. Leave it to KSU to lose when you want them to win, and win when you want them to lose.

November 30, 2007 at 2:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Here is the thing about free throws...

People like Rush, Chalmers, Robinson, Arthur need to be nailing 75% at the very least...hopefully even 80%.

Some people, no matter how much practice, will not improve. Even if Shaq practiced 20 hours a week his free throw shooting wouldn't improve. Kaun unfortunately falls into that category.

November 30, 2007 at 2:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sporf24 (anonymous) says...

Speaking of the K-State/Oregon game last night, Bill Walker apparently needed to use the bathroom really badly but couldnt wait for the end of the game. With 1.8 seconds left he stood in front of the K-State bench, shoved towels down his shorts and proceeded to pee in them. Frank Martin looks, dresses and acts like a cheap Italian gangster, small wonder one of his players would make a mockery of himself.

Try this link for the story and a replay of the incident.

http://noconfinement.com/wordpress/?p=92

November 30, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

Sporf,

I actually had that happen to me right before halftime of a game. Got hit in the back right above the kidney. I barely made it to the bathroom in time. Don't know if that's what happened to Walker last night (didn't see the game) but sometimes there are 'other circumstances' that interfere with being able to wait.

November 30, 2007 at 4:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

soapboxstew (anonymous) says...

Sorry to bring up recruiting during the season; BUT I can't stop thinking about the future. With the 2008 class all but wrapped up, here is some reason for excitement for years to come: We picked up a class (2008) that will likely have all players (save perhaps Releford) finish with a Sr. next to their name. It's a glue class, like the Sr. class this year. Then, in the 2009 class we MUST get studs (ala our Jr. class this year). Studs have us on their list according to Rivals. The biggest get would be Xavier Henry ("which we already knew"). I cannot express enough how much good this kid would do in the crimson and blue. Not to mention that he might bring his brother with him. Then we need to get the best PG available. The top 3 PGs have us high on their list. If we get the Henerys and the top PG, our backcourt is set. Then we will need some bigs. We are high on many bigs list for 2009, perhaps none more important than Mr. Orton. If we can land a couple of bigs with talent, then we will have the #1 class in the country (we are #8 in 2008). Bill Self with his glue class and his talent class, we will be good.

November 30, 2007 at 6:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LugNut914 (anonymous) says...

Beasley had yelled 'make your free throws' which I believe was in OT, then he goes to the line and clanks the front end of a 1-1. Fertello (sp), the announcer, kept telling them how they need to get the ball into Beasley and they kept doing the opposite which lead to them turning over the ball. K states coach looks like one of those characters on the Sopranos who didn't make it past one episode.

November 30, 2007 at 7:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

If you guys think SC looks good now, just imagine if they had not lost one or two of their better players to injury and discipline...at least that's what I've heard.

November 30, 2007 at 10:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lrahardja (anonymous) says...

We have to watch these 2 freshmen... they create their own shots.

We need role player, Kaun can disrupt Jefferson by denying the ball. Double team him once he catches the ball down low (make him pass).

Our team should be aware of Mayo at all time with 1 designated defender shadowing him at all time (alternate Rush and Stewart). We should force him pass off the ball early as he likes to approach the 3 point lines and shoot from way beyond the arc.

The rest of the SC team we can play soft defense, as they are not as comfortable creating their own shots.

Go Hawks!!!

December 1, 2007 at 12:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

97jhawk (anonymous) says...

Uh "KU" I think the Jayhawks last played USC at Kemper and not in "The Phog" as you stated.....if memory serves correctly.

December 1, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LugNut914 (anonymous) says...

No, they play at AF

December 1, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

lol, it cracks me up when somebody tries to correct someone else and they are dead wrong. USC played in "The Phog" last year. Dec 4th to be exact.

December 1, 2007 at 2:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )