This question came up the other day and below is my response:
My thought is what I've said several times before "There are ignorant fans in every fan base. MU just has a larger percentage."
It is TOTALLY hang over from Bucknell and Bradley mixed with a couple of ORU and DePaul cocktails. And for Average Joe KU fan, it doesn't help that KSU fans are overreacting with joy and glee to the hire of Bob Huggins and every recruit he signs, or having to listen to all of the "MU is 9-1 and better than expected" talk, or knowing that WSU has a better record and ranking right now while playing better team basketball than the Jayhawks.
Couple all of that with the fact that all of the above mentioned schools also have ignorant fan bases who relish the idea that KU is slipping, choke in the tournament, etc, etc., and they just flame the fires of an already frustrated fan base.
And, for the cherry on top, you have 2 players listed as the preseason conference players of the year, one player as a preseason All American, talk about losing 2-3 guys to the NBA after the season, returning five starters from last year while losing two walk-ons and adding two McDonald's All Americans...all of that leads to very high and typically unrealistic expectations.
The average KU fan doesn't think about all of the success we've had (Bill Self has 1 Elite Eight appearance, 2 conference championships, 1 conference tournament championship, a 75% winning percentage, in 3 years at KU), they just focus solely on recent tournament losses and a couple of early season unexpected losses. And the reaction is to "freak out" and think the sky is falling. Actually, that's the reaction of an ignorant fan.
The rest of us know that KU basketball will continue to be successful and be one of the best programs in the history of college basketball.
Just my $.02.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Why are KU basketball fans so negative right now?
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Excellent point, Mic. It has been frustrating to see this team play, but also a lot of fun. You just have to hope that the boys figure out their roles and how to focus. I actually thought the game at Kemper was a good start: Rush was actually shooting, and they didn't get discouraged when shots weren't falling. The guards do need to step up the defense on the in-bound and when the opponents are bringing the ball up the court when shots aren't falling.
ReplyDeleteA couple years ago, when UAB defeated Kentucky and we played UAB's "40 Minutes Of Hell" in the tournament, Self said they practiced 5-on-6 to prepare for the game. I think they should do more of that on a daily basis: force the offense to overcome being outnumbered so that in games they see more holes for penetration and good passes. It might calm Julian down a bit, too--better passes in practice would lead to better passes in games.
Just my $0.02. Looking forward to more posts!
Good stuff, Hawkinno. Thanks for stopping by to check out the site and for leaving your comment.
ReplyDeleteKeep Rockin and Chalkin,
Mic
Mic, I agree completely...to an extent. At KU, the goals every year should be regular season conference champs, conf tourn champs and national champs. Self has done a great job getting the first two (although he has not won the regular season conference outright), but you absolutely cannot lose in the first round two years in a row. Not at this program.
ReplyDeleteWinning a conference title would be great success for, say, Missouri. At KU, it's expected.
So yes, there are ignorant fans out there, but we all expect better things and AT LEAST the Sweet Sixteen.
This season will truly test Self's ability to coach and develop a team that has the athletes to win it all. If they flame again this year, watch out.