Jayhawks Must Become Road Warriors to Win Big XII

As the Kansas Jayhawks prepare to take on Oklahoma State this Saturday in historic Gallagher Iba Arena in Stillwater, OK, one thing is clear.

If this Jayhawk team wants to capture their fourth consecutive Big XII Championship, or at least a share of it, then they must become road warriors.

As an avid Jayhawk fan and follower of this team, I’m confident that the Jayhawks will take care of business in Lawrence against Kansas State and Texas Tech. The Jayhawks inhale energy from the Allen Fieldhouse crowd and play at a higher level at home. And let’s not forget there is a little payback due to our purple brethren to the West, who need to be reminded that the best team in Kansas is still in Lawrence.

It’s the remaining road games that have me a little concerned. I know what Joe KU Fan is saying: “Mic, relax. We’re Kansas. We’ve got so much talent, McDonald’s All Americans. We’ve got an experienced team. Some of our guys are going to be in the NBA next year. We’re loaded!! We have to play Oklahoma State and ISU on the road. Neither team is nearly as talented as we are and they haven’t played very good basketball for most of the season. Texas A&M has been playing better of late, but I think the Jayhawks will remind Mark Turgeon he’s not in Kansas anymore.”

While I want to believe that Joe KU Fan is able to predict the future and knows exactly how the rest of the season will play out, I can’t help but think back to what I saw in the road losses in Manhattan and Austin. I saw a team that played scared at times. I saw a team that allowed their opponent to be more aggressive. I saw an “experienced” team with 5 seniors lose to an “inexperienced” team led by 3 freshmen. I saw our opponent’s guards dribble penetrate and dish to wide open 3-point shooters. I saw those 3-pt shooters sinking shot after shot. I saw the Jayhawks forcing shots. I saw the Jayhawks getting manhandled on the boards. I saw KU forget that the way to win games is to pound the ball into our big men and let them set the tone. I saw us panic when the officials called the game tighter than our Jayhawks were used to. And I saw Bill Self, who I love as the head coach of our proud program, allow our players for much too long to settle for jump shots instead of working the ball into our big men. And I saw Bill Self continue to refuse to switch, even for a few minutes, to a zone defense to give our opponents a different look.

These things must get corrected in order for this team to reach its goals of another Big XII Championship, another Big XII Tournament Championship, and a run to the Final Four and National Championship.

The stretch run of the regular season starts on Saturday in Stillwater, OK. It continues on Wednesday in Ames, IA. Then it’s back to Lawrence for ESPN Gameday vs. K-State, followed by Senior Day against the Bobby Knight-less Texas Tech Red Raiders. Then it ends in College Station for a nationally televised game against Texas A&M.

Ok, Jayhawks, here’s the deal. The Big XII Championship is yours for the taking. You’ve been given “gifts” by a couple of other teams to get you back to this point. Now it’s time to become road warriors and send a defiant message to the rest of the Big XII that you won’t be denied.

Keep Rockin’ and Chalkin’,

Mic
www.jaytalkers.com

Random Thoughts: KU-UT

Some random thoughts after watching KU lose to Texas in Austin....again.

*Bill Self is now 0-for-3 in Austin.

*Notice the continued lack of road poise. I am becoming more convinced that this team is just not that mentally tough. If this team continues to play the way they have of late and make the same kinds of mistakes, my expectations in March will be lowered to a Sweet 16 appearance.

*Still no wins over a Top 20 team.

*Prior to the game I stated: "It doesn't matter what Texas did vs. Colorado or Iowa State. KU will get Texas' best game of the season. Bank on it." 'Nuf said.

*Prior to the game I stated: "Collins played very well against Baylor. I'm not convinced yet that he's "back". I hope he is, but he has a lot of missed 3's and stupid turnovers in the last few games to make up for before I'm going to be convinced that one good game signals his return to being a real, consistent difference maker." Tonight he was 1 for 6 from the field and 0-for-3 from 3-pt range and was mostly inneffective. He did have 4 assists to only 2 TO's, but clearly he's not "back". He "turns it on, and turns it off" just like this team. That should be their motto.

*Prior to this game I stated: "It's definitely starting to feel like it's KU, KSU, Texas and everyone else, but that could all change if KU doesn't take care of business tonight in Austin. Of course KU still has tough challenges at ISU, at OSU, at A&M and vs. KSU at home. I think it's going to be very tough to win all of those games, partcularly again when thinking that "Road Poise" isn't one of this team's strengths currently." I wouldn't be surprised to see KU drop 2 of those 4.

*Prior to this game I stated: "I just hope the game before ours tonight on ESPN doesn't go long AGAIN. When will these people get it right? It pisses me off so much when we're watching the end of a usually non-competitive (or a 5 OT) game in the Big East while we miss the first 5 minutes of our game." We missed about the first 4:30 of our game due to the Georgetown-Villanova game that ended on a bogus call that got me wondering if Ed Hightower put on a wig and mask and called that game.

*Prior to this game I stated: "I am soooooooooooo pumped that March Madness is right around the corner. My only two fears are (1) KU getting beat before the Final Four (2) KSU going farther in either or both the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. If either, or both, happen, I may go into a very deep depression." More than ever, I'm afraid my fears are going to be realized.

*Prior to this game I stated: "I am hoping and praying that tonight's game doesn't have 45 or more fouls called. I'm also hoping and praying that our bigs stay out of foul trouble." Our bigs (except for Arthur with 4) stayed out of foul trouble and there were only 39 fouls called in the game. However 24 of those were against KU and only 15 fouls against Texas. I challenge you to find 5 games in all of Big 12 Conference play this year where only 15 fouls were called on one team. It doesn't happen very often and that was definitely a factor in the game.

*I think KU is going to lose the Big 12 Championship to KSU or Texas.

*Our 3-pt shooting (4 of 17) is atrocious and we are now routinely giving up 8-10 3's a game to our opponents. The 3-pt differential is killing us. And how many wide open 3's did UT hit? It's just sickening to watch.

*Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson were a combined 4-for-16 from the field. Russell scores 22 against Baylor and then has THREE points tonight after going 1 for 6 from the field. Turn it on, turn it off.

*I'm Not Big Time Brandon Rush showed up again with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 4 fouls. NBA stands for No, Brandon Ain't ready.

*DA, DJ, Aldrich and Kaun had only five more rebounds combined than Damian James from UT. Now that's embarrassing.

*Why does this team play with ZERO sense of urgency until there's 20 seconds left in the game?

*I'm sorry, but this season of promise has turned into a season of worry for me. This team is nowhere near as good as their #3 ranking suggests and they are simply not a good road team vs. quality teams. I'm not sure Bill Self has anything left in his bag of tricks to motivate these guys anymore.

*Texas beat us on a night where DJ Augustin was 1 for 13 from the field.

Colorado can't get here soon enough.

Keep Rockin' and Chalkin',

Mic
www.jaytalkers.com

KU Hoops: I've got questions. Anyone got answers?

Hey KU fans, are any of you having the same struggle lately that I am? I saw this KU team play some very good basketball early in the season against some quality competition. I was most impressed by their defense and how KU guards were like annoying gnats on a hot summer day. I knew about all of the McDonald’s All Americans. I knew about all of the guys that might head to the NBA next year. I knew about our depth and experience. I knew we had 5 Seniors that would help lead this team. I knew that Darnell Jackson was playing like a man possessed. I knew all of it. And it felt good.

And then the Jayhawks went to Manhattan (and lost as we all know) and something changed. Their defense, particularly from the guards, wasn’t as intense. The big men looked lost and out of position and were getting whistled for fouls much more frequently. The team had a collective “deer in the headlights” look about them as KSU guards sank 3-pointer after 3-pointer on their way to a season high 12 3-pointers. Our guards looked like matadors letting opposing guards bull their way to the basket virtually uncontested.

I commented to some friends several games ago that our defense had changed. We weren’t playing as aggressive. We were out of position. We were taking stupid chances and getting burned. And the guards were routinely making questionable passes instead of the smart play. You got the sense that practically any guard the opponent brought off the bench could put his head down, dribble hard and dribble right past our guards.

So, as we stand 23-1 (after the win over Baylor), I’m ecstatic about our record, but I can’t help but think about how some of the things I’ve seen from this team recently could get them in serious trouble in the NCAA Tournament. Maybe it’s because we’ve seen great KU teams before look average in the NCAA Tournament and lose well before their time. Maybe it’s because we haven’t won a National Championship in 20 years. Maybe it’s because I so desperately want this team to get to the Final Four and win a National Championship that I don’t want to see them make the kinds of mistakes that can cost them that opportunity.

Let me be clear. I am not down on this Jayhawk team. Not at all. However, I am concerned that some of the things I’m seeing now will carry over to the postseason. I don’t think this team has as much margin for error as they think they do.

So I’ve got some questions and I’m hoping some intelligent Jayhawk fans out there have some answers.

*How did the Jayhawks lose in Manhattan, basically to 3 freshmen?
*How have Russell Robinson and Brandon Rush, in the last 2 weeks, fouled out for the first time in their careers?
*Why did Sherron Collins start turning the ball over so much? (NOTE: He did a much better job vs. Baylor)
*While I’m thrilled that we hit the century mark vs. Baylor, I’m DEEPLY concerned that we gave up 90 points. AT HOME. The 90 points is the MOST points given up in a game by KU this year and the MOST POINTS A BILL SELF-COACHED TEAM AT KU HAS EVER GIVEN UP. How does a Bill Self team, especially THIS team with all of its talent and experience, give up 90 points at home? And 30 points to Baylor guard Curtis Jerrells? And 23 points to Baylor’s LaceDarius Dunn OFF THE BENCH? If you’re a Jayhawk fan and that doesn’t concern you as March nears, then I don’t know what will.
*In order for Brandon Rush to be consistently aggressive on offense, why did Bill Self have to call him out in the media and have Brandon’s mom call him and tell him to start taking the ball to the hole? (Brandon was aggressive in taking 12 shots vs. Baylor, but wasn’t effective, hitting only 4 of them.)
*Why has Bill Self had to call out his guards recently in the media because they haven’t been guarding the way they are capable of?
*How frustrating do you think it is for Bill Self when he watches an opponents guards routinely drive right by KU’s guards? I know it drives me crazy. I can’t imagine how Coach Self feels.
*Has this team, or at least members of this team, started to believe the hype they are getting in the national media?
*How did this team, with all of its talent, depth and experience, play to a tie at half vs. Colorado?
*How did Baylor get 16 offensive rebounds and equal KU in overall rebounds at 39? And how did Baylor have a 9-0 rebounding edge early in the game?
*Why does Bill Self rarely play zone? Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to give your opponent some different looks defensively once in awhile?
*Does anyone else think that the absolute best way for opponents to beat/compete with KU is to (A) not turn the ball over and (B) have your guards penetrate and dish to wide open guards who can hit the 3? The latter brings back some very bad memories of NCAA Tournaments past. Throw in a couple of bad officials and you’ve got the recipe for an early NCAA Tournament upset.
*How did KU’s free throw shooting suddenly improve over the last 4 games? (They Jayhawks hit 36-of-46 vs. Baylor and had TWENTY-EIGHT (28) more FT attempts. Russell Robinson had 15 FT attempts by himself (hitting 14...way to go, Russell) while Baylor’s TEAM had 18 FT attempts.)
*Danny Manning has said of Darrell Arthur that he “doesn’t know how good he can be”. Does anyone think DA will figure it out before he’s getting paid to play next year? (He had 23 pts. And 10 rebounds vs. Baylor, marking his first double-double in nearly 2 months.) I get the feeling with DA that he can consistently take over games. I’m hoping he builds off the Baylor game and starts to shoulder more of the load.
*With Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins in the backcourt, how does KU not make a 3-pointer against Baylor? The Jayhawks were outscored, THIRTY-SIX (36) to ZERO (0) from 3-pt range. It was the first time in 271 games that KU didn’t hit a 3. Again, remembering NCAA Tournaments past, if that doesn’t concern you heading into March, then I don’t know what will.
*How can Sasha Kaun do the following in the same game? (A) Horribly brick two free throws and throw up at least two touch-less shots at the rim, and (B) Nail two free throws and make a couple of sweet, fluid low-post moves for points.

If the Jayhawks want to be one of the last four standing at the end of this college basketball season and eventually cut down the nets, these questions are going to have to get answered. And from where this Jayhawk fan is sitting, the sooner the better.

Keep Rockin’ and Chalkin’,

Mic
http://www.jaytalkers.com/