Big Monday vs. A&M

The reason this team will fail in the NCAA tournament is because this is one of the worst shooting teams that KU has had in a long time.  34% 3 point shooting will get not get KU very deep in the tournament especially when they are shooting 18 a game and only making 6 per game.  Last night was what happens when KU doesn't have a 3rd scorer step up and make KU a team that can score in the 80's.  Tyshawn and T-Rob are great scorers, but they are not enough to beat good teams in the Big 12 or NCAA tournament as we have already seen this year against Duke and Kentucky because when they are the only two scoring for KU, they will struggle to reach 70 points.  EJ's abysmal shooting was a very large reason KU lost to Davidson and very nearly cost KU the game last night.  The only reason KU won last night was because of an abnormally great free throw shooting night for KU and the difference in the number of free throws KU shot compared to A&M (23-11).  KU flat out got lucky to win last night because they sure didn't deserve to win last night with that effort and I hope it's a case of KU playing to the level of their competition, but I think it's more of a case of KU not having a consistent third scorer and when they don't, KU struggles and when it happens against a good team KU loses.  The only saving grace of this team that will continue to give hope that this team could sneak it's way into the Final Four is because of it's defense and a lack of a great team this year. 

Rcj while I normally agree if TT continues to play like this the rest of the year or if he was playing like this against Duke we win that game. Just think with the way he's playing today those 13 To's dont happen and we beat Duke. And we are more in the game with Kentucky. That run doesn't happen b/c if he was scoring like this we would be more up in the first and that run does nothing. I honestly think if TT was playing like he is now the whole year there is a very good chance we might be undefeated with our only maybe loss coming to Kentucky and we might have beat them back then with his play. They were young and turning it over and with it being only their second game together I think we could have gotten them.

When ANY college team gets away from their game plan and their strengths, they look like crap and either lose or get close to losing. KU is not different. OBVIOUSLY, no one is happy with the problems that KU had last night.

Who knows what, if anything, their ability to bad that bad for a portion of a game means long term. It was about 15 minutes of bad play last night. The first 5 minutes were spectacular, the 2nd half was good. In those 25 minutes, KU was 23 points better than A&M, not too bad.

We do not, and will not, have a CONSISTENT 3rd scorer. Frankly, our system isn't even designed to do so. What it IS designed to do is continually provide good shots for post players at the rim IF WE GET THE BALL THERE and provide open looks to perimeter shooters on occassion. EJ has floundered between NOT taking a shot when he should have and taking shots when he shouldn't. He will hopefully find a balance and start to follow Taylor's lead and go get some easy points by driving to the rim to draw fouls on the opposition.

I am not going to say we'll be fine, because I have NO IDEA what to expect this year. Our top end is awesome, but can we hit it often enough? Only time will tell.

Although we are less talented across the board this season, i have got to think we re more athletic 1-5 than we were last year.  I mean would you say that both EJ and Releford are more explosive than either Reed or M-Star.  Most would say yes to this.  Releford is a better on ball defender than M-Star, and EJ doesn't get beat often off the bounce like Reed did.  Not going to take anything away from Reed or M-Star because they did wins us games when no one else showed up but sometime they didn't have enough to get the job done.  Would I take Reed and his shooting back this year YOU BET, but not his defense.

We do lack shooting a good percentage from 3's.  That is in large part to the fact we t ake some really bad shots and force the issue way to much from beyond the arc.  This is true for most good teams out there but if we are taking 20 threes a game, we are going to struggle more often than not.  Not saying we should not take the open looks when the ball is kicked out of the post area, but take smart shots with in the flow of the game.   I have to think if we stayed the course last night and just played our game after leading 11-0 we do win very decisively.  I can understand Trob getting frustrated and committing some TO's as well when he isn't gettting touches on every trip down.  THat would get to most great players.

Our third scoring option should be gettting Withey the ball if TT and Trob aren't available.  He is improving his skill set weekly.  With his FT shooting ability I would go there early and often.  Then EJ and Releford can become the next options.  EJ has a nice mid range game and with his jumping ability no one is going to block his shot.  I wish he would shoot more of those 15 foot shots like he had last night.  That opens the middle up for a dump off pass to one of the bigs.  

I still enjoy watching this team each and every game because they are improving.  Even last night, we showed that we can win a game when we aren't clicking on all cylinders.  A month ago we lose this game, in fact it was the DAvidson game all over in some areas.  This team, and TEAM is the right word is going to surprise some people come tourney time.  We may not be the most outstanding team in any one area, but we are very good in most.  Our defense is what sets us apart from alot of teams.  Just ask G-Town, DUke and BAylor.  Our D is what got us those 2 wins and with TT and his errors kept us ahead of Duke most of the game.  Even though we lack a shooter, pure shooter, TT has showed us  that he is more than capable of hit a 3 when we need one.  THats what a PG does on a good team. 

We do not, and will not, have a CONSISTENT 3rd scorer. Frankly, our system isn't even designed to do so. What it IS designed to do is continually provide good shots for post players at the rim IF WE GET THE BALL THERE and provide open looks to perimeter shooters on occassion. EJ has floundered between NOT taking a shot when he should have and taking shots when he shouldn't. He will hopefully find a balance and start to follow Taylor's lead and go get some easy points by driving to the rim to draw fouls on the opposition.

TRob and TT are the obvious, consistent, scorers on the team.  You pretty much know what you're going to get with these two.  While there may not be any one person to look to as a consistent 3rd scorer, this team is going to need somebody to step up each game.  It's going to come from Withey, EJ, or TRel.  EJ has had his games, TRel had a nice little stretch and Withey has done the same, last night being an example.  A consistent 3rd scorer is necessary; it's just not going to come from any one individual every game.

For EJ and TRel, off nights are going to happen, but they can't have a repeat of Monday night where the off night came while jacking up 3's left and right.  Those guys are too good at getting to the rim to do that type of stuff.  If it's not falling, it's not falling, so get to the rim!

What KU needs is for their entire team to DO THIER JOB. No more and no less. Each player is asked to do specific things. There is a reason that these are the things that they are being asked to do; because it WORKS and it WINS.

T-Rob was as guilty as anyone else in the 1st half against Texas of failing to do his job. Stupid TOs, failing to fight for position. 
 
We need Withey to be THAT GUY. He is a matchup nightmare for most teams that we will face. If Withey can continue to increase his production, KU is in great shape. But for that to happen, it is IMPERATIVE that the KU perimeter players remain focused on moving the ball from side to side and getting it to T-Rob and Withey when they have their position established. With the free throw shooting success of Withey, he can be an absolutely lethal weapon IF we utilize him properly. We got Withey ONE SHOT in the first half against Texas. That is unacceptable. We all saw what happens when in the 2nd half the ball went to both big guys early and often.

"For EJ and TRel, off nights are going to happen, but they can't have a repeat of Monday night where the off night came while jacking up 3's left and right.  Those guys are too good at getting to the rim to do that type of stuff.  If it's not falling, it's not falling, so get to the rim!"

Agreed. Maybe Self can set up a rule where three point attempts are not allowed until that player has driven to the rim at least twice. We do need to be able to hit the outside shots to keep the defense spread out and prevent them from sagging down and clogging up the lane, but it can't be JUST the outside game without the driving to the rim.

Yep. It was annoying as hE11 to listen to Bobby Knight say over and over and over and over and over and over that KU needs to get the ball inside, but he was exactly right and they finally started doing it in the second half.

The other comment Coach Knight made that was spot on was that giving TRob (or Withey or a dribble drive) 10 of those 20 three point attempts would have resulted in more a blowout type feel to the game instead of the nailbiter type feel that it actually had.

Agreed. As annoying as it is to listen to Bob Knight abble about other things, when he actually talks about BASKETBALL in the telecast, he is spot on. You could teach a coaching clinic from the snippets of info he provides in the average telecast. If we could just keep him limited to that, it would be great.

Agreed. As annoying as it is to listen to Bob Knight abble about other things, when he actually talks about BASKETBALL in the telecast, he is spot on. You could teach a coaching clinic from the snippets of info he provides in the average telecast. If we could just keep him limited to that, it would be great.

Definitely - when he's talking basketball (Xs Os, tactics, strategy, mechanics) I love Coach Knight's commentary.  Although we don't get him very often I really like Jay Bilas' analysis too.  Fraschilla is ok at times.  Vitale is the most useless and annoying and just rides game wave.

Here's the wiki list for ESPN college basketball TV broadcast teams:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN_C
ollege_Basketball_broadcast_teams

Nice to see Jeff Withey getting some pub. Jeff King of ESPN pretty much echoed my feelings of the importanct of Withey for KU.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas
ketball/story/_/id/7495964/king-cou
rt-relishes-surprising-developments
-several-conferences-men-college-ba
sketball

4. Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor command most of the headlines for the Kansas Jayhawks, and rightfully so. But center Jeff Withey is the guy who has the potential to turn a good team into a great one. Withey had 10 points and eight blocks in Monday's 64-54 victory over Texas A&M. He also shoots 84 percent from the foul stripe, which is darn good for a 7-footer.