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Posted
by Jesse Newell
December 6, 2012 at 12:43 p.m.
Cliff’s Notes: Bill Self press conference, 12/6/12
Here is the Cliff's Notes version from Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self's comments at his press conference today.
• Self said this year's Colorado team is probably the best one that coach Tad Boyle has had there. Andre Roberson has emerged as one the most elite 4 men in the country. Boyle has a really nice team.
• Self said this home-and-home series with Colorado was set up mostly to help out those fans in western Kansas so they can get an opportunity to see KU play in Boulder. Self isn't mad at Colorado for leaving the conference, as it did what it had to do. With the league potentially breaking up, Colorado had to jump and take what was available.
• KU hasn't played with a true point guard for a while. Whoever got the ball in the past brought it up the court. This year, Elijah Johnson is having to bring it up. There's no complementary player with him. That's put pressure on him. He's played OK, but he hasn't played great yet. Self believes he will take the next step soon. Johnson is not as aggressive trying to score the ball because he's trying to get everyone else involved. That will come. Self says the big thing for Johnson is he has to increase his free throw attempts. Johnson took a hard fall last game and bruised his hand. Self didn't know about the hand bruise at the time. Johnson has played better the last two games.
• Most teams don't score out of offense. They score out of loose balls or bad close outs or beating a man off the bounce or things similar to that. That's not designing anything. KU has suffered in that area this year without guys that can force help and create for others.
• Self says bad teams can guard the first 15 seconds. Average ones can guard the first 22 seconds. Really good teams can defend the whole time. Like baseball, good pitching will beat good hitting. Good defense will beat good offense in basketball. But if a defense is really sound and can defend your actions, that's when you need someone to make a play.
• KU practiced Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. KU has gotten a lot of stuff in, but it also should be well-rested. Self says practices have gone OK. The guys are trying hard, but they don't always bring the same intensity every day. Right now, KU's players go harder in practice than they do in games.
• Jeff Withey's timing on blocking shots is unbelievable. It's unheard of that a guy could be that good at blocking shots without fouling. Withey's a pretty good rebounder, but he could be better. Self says he should be better at offensive rebounding. Self almost hopes his rebounding numbers on the defensive end go down a bit if that means other guys step up. Jamari Traylor, Perry Ellis and Travis Releford need to be better defensive rebounders.
• KU is not pressuring defensively with its guards and it's still getting beat off the dribble. Self thinks you can pressure more if you have a shot-blocker like Withey in the back.
• Self says the team is looking at options. Maybe Rio Adams can play, and to take pressure off, you put Travis Releford at the point. KU still hasn't found Johnson's backup. KU tried Kevin Young bringing it up in practice, though that only lasted about 10 minutes. The coaches are trying some things.
• KU has looked at some different things defensively this week with zone defenses.
• The Big 12 has not gotten off to a good start. If you don't play good in November and December, then the perception is your league isn't going to be looked at favorably. The Big 12 still has a chance to be a top-three RPI team, but it needs some big wins soon.
• Self thinks Releford should be penciled in as a double-digit scorer. It does help KU when he makes shots. Self said Releford needs to become a better defender, and he'd be the first to tell you that. He needs to be a great lockdown defender. If Releford gets back to guarding like he did last year, KU's defense will be improved.
Comments
ku1otaku 5 months, 1 week ago
The whole issue about not having someone to bring the ball up other than Elijah is a little concerning. To me, it communicates Self's lack of confidence in Tharpe. Also, is Releford really a better option than Rio bring the ball up? Releford doesn't exactly have the best ball handling skills.
Kubie 5 months, 1 week ago
I read that as putting Releford on the point on D not bringing the ball up. Rio brings the ball up ok but so far has been weak on defense. Travis has been put against a point guard in at least one game so far and it worked.
ku1otaku 5 months, 1 week ago
My bad. I read that wrong. I think you are right and it was defense and not offense.
HighEliteMajor 5 months, 1 week ago
If you listen to the audio, it is about the point guard position. Both defensively and offensively. Sounding like some Tharpe-dissatisfaction.
LAJayhawk 5 months, 1 week ago
Yeah, I haven't listened to the audio, but in reading Jesse's cliff notes, all I could think is.... he clearly has zero confidence in Tharpe. That's disheartening, especially considering next year Tharpe will be one of the most veteran members of the team.....
WindmillGIANT 5 months, 1 week ago
So far teams haven't really been pressing us, so is the concern about having someone else bringing up the ball anticipating being able to handle pressure or is this more about being able to fast break and transition. Otherwise, does it make that much difference who walks the ball up and makes the first pass to start the offense?
LAJayhawk 5 months, 1 week ago
The ideal PG in Self's system is considerably more active than that. Think: Tyshawn constantly breaking down the defense with his drives. Or Sherron consistently breaking down the defense with his drives. When you don't have a PG who can do that, you are forced to work the ball A LOT more on EVERY position, and scoring becomes considerably more difficult.
Yes, transition is a big point, and good defense creates good offense. But we also need a penetrating PG. EJ does need to be more aggressive, but after him... [crickets]. I believe that's Self's biggest point.
Kubie 5 months, 1 week ago
Got to love it:
Not sure I like the desperation that implies but the comment in itself is great.
Anrio has showed some signs that he is getting the hang of D1 speed. A line up I would like to see would be Rio on point, EJ at 2, Ben and Travis at 3/4 and Jeff holding court in the middle. Not a team for long minutes but could be killer against a press. IF RIo keeps his head up and don't cook up to many of Jaybates Pop-tarts just who would you drop off of to double him up? Ben and Travis has shown their ability to get to the rim in transition and EJ is to talented to leave alone. Withey could be the weak link and do you want a footer running loose? If Perry gets things going I'd stick him in place of Withey and let the track meet commence. Defense would be the main problem with this group so I don't expect to see it but the thought of that much speed on the floor makes me smile.
mikehawk 5 months, 1 week ago
Wow! This team is still very much a work in progress. Professor Self is trying some things I ultimately think are about trying to get EJ back to the two where he is more comfortable. He just can't figure it out with the options available, at least at this point in team development. Minutes are available for those who emerge.
HighEliteMajor 5 months, 1 week ago
Andrew White gets his most PT all year, and no one asks about his role going forward. Has he turned a corner? Was it a product of McLemore in foul trouble, or dissatisfaction with Tharpe -- moving Releford to the 2 when McLemore was out? How is his defense in Self's eyes?
From the audio, very clear that Self does not feel that he's found a backup at the point guard. He talked a lot about Rio. Will be interesting to see how much Tharpe plays vs. Rio.
jjjjjhok 5 months, 1 week ago
Article needs a revision: "Colorado did what it had to do, moving to the Pac 12 because Missouri was trying to break up the league."
We should never forget that all this conference realignment began in December of 2009 when Miss-ery openly began courting the Big 10.
plasticJHawk 5 months, 1 week ago
I wouldn't say courting, as that implies two-party involvement in the relationship. Maybe say Miss U openly began attempting to seduce the Big 10.
colreader 5 months, 1 week ago
There's 10,000 KU Alums living in Colorado. We look forward to these games along with Western Kansas fans, and when the Hawks play at CU, we're in line for tickets. And it's fun watching Tad Boyle shape his team. They are a legit team this year. Should be a good game tomorrow.
PikesPeakSmitty 5 months, 1 week ago
Great post colreader, I'm one of those 10,000. I just hope the game in boulder next year is on a Saturday. Likely a tougher ticket next year as cu is respectable and we'll likely be a top 3 team. By tough I mean actually over $40!
One year they made me buy a 3 game package to get the KU game. The package was $70! If only games in Lawrence were this easy I'd go back for a game! Any decent ticket for a good game at home is more than $250 online.
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