He's in full on troll mode. Not just in this thread. Throughout CP. And he's not good at it.

I see MU in the near future... well, not meaning he'll be forced to watch a MU BB game.. we aren't that mean to trolls around here.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K4eScf6TMaM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Stats of Hield's performance and gifs of Mason's effective ball denial from the game:

http://www.si.com/college-basketball...north-carolina

Mason Sucks/Sacc

Mason needs to stop playing hero at the end of shot clocks and halves. He's a tiny runt that can't ever create his own shot or get to the rim, things you must be able to do in those situations. (Taylor, Chalmers, Sherron until his SR year, EJ, Langford etc all could). He can penetrate in regular sets when he sees an opening or a double team, but not when he's being watched

For his size, he's a damn good finisher. Plus he draws fouls. I'll give you that he wasn't very efficient in the OU game, but alot of that is a product of neither team really substituting down the break leading to ineffective possessions because both team was fatigued.

Self is the one calling for him to have the ball in those end of clock scenarios instead of calling actual plays to get shots for others like Selden or Ellis. If you want to blame somebody, blame him. Not a player that clearly gets the most out of his size and ability and is only doing what is asked of him.

I can agree with that.

Of course, there's also the fact that Mason is both the best offensive creator on the team (top assist rate by far) and the best at drawing fouls (other than Ellis) who has come through time and again for this team over the past few years, so it is not like Self doesn't have reasons for going with him.

I'd like to see more effective plays run in such scenarios, though. The only time KU got a good shot in an end-game scenario the other day was on an out-of-bounds play (the open Selden three off the screen).

Exactly right. That was a great play. They need to run a clear out with Perry or an isolation, 2-man game with Selden at the end. Both can hit jumpers, draw fouls, and get to the rim.

And yes, the problem is that Self treats Mason like he's Sherron or 2012 Tyshawn, who could just bail you out routinely in a late clock scenario. He's good, but not on that level. If forced to drive against a team with a rim protector (like with OU's Lattin), he's just as likely to be blocked as to pick up a foul. Self needs to recognize that and adjust accordingly. He hasn't.

If I'm an opposing coach, I want a 5-10 guy having to beat my guard off the dribble and then flying towards the rim right at my big guy. Yes, Self needs to stop that play.

I would make far more use of Selden than they are. His efficiency would drop because of it, but he's shown by now that his game has taken a serious step up this season.

Clearing out for Perry is an option, but I'd be more partial to running PnR with him than asking him to create his own shot (which he's still not the most adept at, especially against guys bigger than him). In the PnR, though, you'll either get something going to the rim or a wide open jump shot for Perry (and he's a tremendous spot shooter from both mid range and apparently now 3PT range as well). It's what ISU does with Niang often, who has a similar skill set to Perry.

Agreed completely. I don't know why Self doesn't see that. Niang handles the ball in those situations and he's so hard to cover.