Something is missing
- Thread starter demoncore1031
- Start date
People seem to misremember last year's team as some kind of juggernaut. They were really up and down until they hit their stride in March. Heck, if it weren't for Naz's heroics at home against OSU we would have been on a 3 game skid going into the conference tournament, all against unranked opponents.
The one thing that does frustrate me is that in KU's run of regular season championships, it's things like last night that set them apart. They got a 1 point win at Waco. We have a 1 point loss that we just couldn't quite pull out. It's their ability to win those kind of games, and our ability to somehow lose them that sets KU apart.
The one thing that does frustrate me is that in KU's run of regular season championships, it's things like last night that set them apart. They got a 1 point win at Waco. We have a 1 point loss that we just couldn't quite pull out. It's their ability to win those kind of games, and our ability to somehow lose them that sets KU apart.
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Good to see Mr. Hyde made it out last night and is still roaming this morning. I didn't spend much time on here last night after the game because I wanted to cool off a bit before I came on here and listened to all the chicken little impersonators. 1 pt. road losses are going to happen. Our conference is just too good to expect to win every game. We'll be fine, this team is showing they can battle to the end. If you'd have told me, at the end of the first half, this is how the game would have ended, I'd have been happy. The Clones showed they have some fight and never consider themselves out of a game. Classic Hoiberg team.
kenpom.com has a conference page (behind the pay wall) that is very interesting. One thing it shows is conference schedule strength so far. We have had the hardest conference schedule at this point, and KU has had the easiest.
A couple other interesting tidbits:
- 8 of the 18 conference games have been won by the road team
- 6 of the 18 conference games have been decided by <4 points (or OT). We have played 3 of those 6.
This is the absolute correct answer to the OP. The thing that's missing is "hitting the March stride". And we haven't BECAUSE IT'S FREAKING JANUARY.
But really, it's human nature to remember the great ball the previous teams played at the end of the year and forget how much they struggled during the year. The same thing will happen next year.
I don't think the sky is falling. Getting down 16 to 1 is the issue. ISU cut the lead to 2, but then gave up another run. I was very proud when this team fought back to get up one late and it was a moral victory in my mind. I also realize ISU will lose a few on the road. I agree that other Hoiberg teams figure it out and get rolling which this team may actually do that. However, this year was supposed to be different. We were supposed to contend for a league title. I realize a win Saturday would help us on that path, so no, the sky is not falling. If we lose Saturday, then those hopes of being that "breakthrough" ISU team dwindle dramatically. Time will tell.
Some of the people on here crack me up. They just beat WVU on the road a top 25 team that just smoked OU and lose by one to a top 25 team on the road and people are acting like there is something wrong with the team. Do they have to win every game for people to not complain and throw players under the bus??
They are 2-1 in the conference and all teams have been top 25. If they beat KU at home they are tied for the conference lead.
They are 2-1 in the conference and all teams have been top 25. If they beat KU at home they are tied for the conference lead.
Mental toughness??? Being down 19-1 and coming back TWICE on the road isn't mentally tough?
Ejim was not that great a 3-point shooter. It's Kane's overall dynamic and his 3-point shooting that hasn't been replaced. Big, strong, powerful guard who had a pretty good year shooting the ball.
In regards to Ejim, what hasn't been replaced is his rebounding. He was a force to be reckoned with on the glass because he was just athletic enough and had a really strong body. This team sorely misses that.
This. This is one aspect of the game that a team has control over, and they need to maximize that opportunity. Aim at the square and bank it if you have to...
Other teams run offenses by setting picks to get their shooters open I.e. Forte or whoever running around all over the court to get open. We run a high post set with Niang setting picks and using a pick and roll or dish back to Niang for a three or hogue. The difference islast year Niang was hitting more threes and Ejim was a threat as well off that set. This year thus far we have only Niang running it but maybe should have Nader in with Niang as well. I don't see Naing and Nader in together a lot and I think this is a matter of still finding the right rotations. When Niang finds his three pt shot again the offense will look mich better.
Welcome to life in the Big 12. There are a bunch of great teams in the conference, a lot of games are going to go down to the wire, and nobody is going to separate from the pack any time soon. Our guys fought back from a slow start and hit some big shots at the end; Baylor just happened to hit one more. The rebounding is a concern but I'm not going to sweat losing the second set of back to back tough road games. We're on to KU.
This game never set up well anyway. Big win last weekend, big game this weekend, on the road, facing a team whose build was always going to give us fits.
Some numbers comparing last year to this year:
Last year Off Reb % : 28.8%
This year Off Reb % : 28.8%
Last year Def Reb %: 71.5%
This year Def Reb %: 72.7%
Conclusion: We are rebounding at the same rate as last year, slightly better on the defensive glass
Last year 3pt%: 35.8%
This year 3pt%: 35.5%
Last year 3PA/FGA: 37.5
This year 3PA/FGA: 39.0
Conclusion: We are taking slightly more 3s and making about the same percentage.
from a next level stat perspective, this team is very similar to last years:
Things this team does better:
Creates more turnovers
Gets to the FT line better
Keeps the other team off the FT line better
Blocks more shots
Things last years team did better:
Turned the ball over less
And KU might have had a 1 point loss in Waco last week if Rico Gathers made a point-blank followup with about 5 seconds to go.
We don't have a guard that consistently drives the lane. Monte, Naz, BDJ and Matt have shown flashes, but no one as consistent as DeAndre was. If we develop that aspect we will be fine.
Some guys are going to have to get their feelings hurt and some guys are not going to be happy. Can't keep playing everyone for 15 minutes.
Fred needs to figure out who is going to play and who isn't. McKay brings nothing on offense and his minutes have to go down. He is fine defensively but if you want to play the way Fred wants to play McKay minutes have to go down. It allows you to put your 4 on George and that matchup is better for the opposition.
BDJ. He just isn't that good. he's fine, but you can't have him in the game for long. He doesn't play hard enough for long enough. Defensively he is a liability, he gets lost, and the ball stops with him a lot. His spacing is off and plays out of control half the time. Way to often he has no idea where he is supposed to be. As far as I am concerned the BDJ experiment failed. You just can't have him on the floor instead of Naz Long.
BDJ gives you nothing. Nader and Long are better defenders, better ball handlers, better shooters and can play hard for a long time. BDJ just isn't mentally strong enough to give you more than a few minutes. Nader needs more minutes. It's just insane to have BDJ out there instead of Nader.
Naz Long has to be on the floor, Morris has to be on the floor. Almost at all times. Nader has to play.
Make a decision if you are playing Houge or McKay, get Nader on the floor, tell BDJ it ain't working and lets get this going again.
Just no reason to lose that game last night. This team is playing like garbage right now.
If you lose against KU Saturday you are 3 games back of them, and it's over.
Fred needs to figure out who is going to play and who isn't. McKay brings nothing on offense and his minutes have to go down. He is fine defensively but if you want to play the way Fred wants to play McKay minutes have to go down. It allows you to put your 4 on George and that matchup is better for the opposition.
BDJ. He just isn't that good. he's fine, but you can't have him in the game for long. He doesn't play hard enough for long enough. Defensively he is a liability, he gets lost, and the ball stops with him a lot. His spacing is off and plays out of control half the time. Way to often he has no idea where he is supposed to be. As far as I am concerned the BDJ experiment failed. You just can't have him on the floor instead of Naz Long.
BDJ gives you nothing. Nader and Long are better defenders, better ball handlers, better shooters and can play hard for a long time. BDJ just isn't mentally strong enough to give you more than a few minutes. Nader needs more minutes. It's just insane to have BDJ out there instead of Nader.
Naz Long has to be on the floor, Morris has to be on the floor. Almost at all times. Nader has to play.
Make a decision if you are playing Houge or McKay, get Nader on the floor, tell BDJ it ain't working and lets get this going again.
Just no reason to lose that game last night. This team is playing like garbage right now.
If you lose against KU Saturday you are 3 games back of them, and it's over.
I think that was sarcasm. I mean, that has to be sarcasm right? No one could really meltdown that bad after that game...
