NCAA Basketball

[Del.]

We were crushed by BYU last night, 97-51. To say we're not a very good team right now is an understatement!

If we can turn things around right now we might now play ourselves out of the NCAA tournament! 

Bill Self has always said it's our job to make the other team play bad. Well, this year the other teams are playing great and they're making us play bad.

I guess having a down year on occasion makes you appreciate the up years more.

Unusual for a Self coached team to struggle this much with such high expectations early on.

[Jim at Gentex]

I think everyone is shocked by Kansas this year. 
This is more than just a slump where you drop a close game or two.
I don't ever remember them getting blown out like they just did @ BYU. 

Something is definitely wrong, but as we said earlier, it's not a lack of talent, or poor coaching.
For some reason things just aren't clicking. 

They still have 5 games left to get it together, and I hope they can turn it around, because Kansas is always a fun team to watch, and always one of the toughest outs in the tournament. 

[Del.]

We have 3 players out with injuries. We won't win many more games if they don't play.

[Del.]

Man this is good.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15mFNHmWzn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[Del.]

I think the NIL money has made players lazy.

[Smit]

I think the NIL money has made players lazy.

I was just thinking about that. KU brought in supposedly stud players from teams that went deep into the tournament last year but they just haven't formed a good, cohesive team. Not just the new players, the whole squad.

I don't know anything about their NIL payments but maybe they're content. Still, if you've got aspirations of going to the next level you better play now!

I'm also wondering if Self's system is too complex to learn in one year. When he's been successful it's been with players who have been there multiple years.

Dunno. So many questions, so few answers.

[Del.]

I was just thinking about that. KU brought in supposedly stud players from teams that went deep into the tournament last year but they just haven't formed a good, cohesive team. Not just the new players, the whole squad.

I don't know anything about their NIL payments but maybe they're content. Still, if you've got aspirations of going to the next level you better play now!

I'm also wondering if Self's system is too complex to learn in one year. When he's been successful it's been with players who have been there multiple years.

Dunno. So many questions, so few answers.

I think you are right. More and more coaches are quitting. It's not just KU this year. UConn, Kentucky,UCLA ,Indiana, North Carolina etc. Kentucky does have quite a few significant wins. I'm afraid college basketball will never be the same.

[Del.]

Missouri beat Alabama last night 110-98. They missed 16 free throws and still scored 110 pts. 2 losses in a row for Alabama. We play there Saturday.

[Del.]

Smit, Do you think Self will move on after this season?

[Smit]

Smit, Do you think Self will move on after this season?

Nah, I can't see that happening. This is the 2nd down year we've had in a row after starting with a #1 preseason rating, but I haven't heard anybody talking about wanting him to leave.

I read a story today about him having talks with Oklahoma State, his alma mater, but he says he has those talks every time they have a coaching vacancy.

Right now I think he'll be here as long as he wants to be but if we have a few more years like this, well, people who aren't accustomed having down years might start becoming unhappy. Including himself.

[Del.]

I'm disappointed that Mark Pope isn't on the coach of year list. He had no team to start with and has done a fantastic job.

[Del.]

Went from 12 pt lead to 7 point deficit at halftime vs Alabama.

[Jim at Gentex]

I was just thinking about that. KU brought in supposedly stud players from teams that went deep into the tournament last year but they just haven't formed a good, cohesive team. Not just the new players, the whole squad.

I don't know anything about their NIL payments but maybe they're content. Still, if you've got aspirations of going to the next level you better play now!

I'm also wondering if Self's system is too complex to learn in one year. When he's been successful it's been with players who have been there multiple years.

Dunno. So many questions, so few answers.

Yeah you can put talented players together on the floor, but you can't manufacture cohesiveness.
That just seems to occur naturally among some groups of players.
I think good coaching helps spur that cohesiveness, but if it ain't there it ain't there.

It's definitely frustrating for the fans of a powerhouse program to see them struggle when things just aren't clicking.

The best you can hope for is that they can flick the switch at tournament time, but that only makes the tournament more nerve-wracking because you are wondering which team is going to show up at any given game! 

[Del.]

I think if we get healthy we can win a few games in tournament. It might be easier than the SEC this year.

Rick Pitino has done an amazing job at St John's this year. He says he will not recruit freshman next year, only through the portal.

[Del.]

Good road win for us last night.