I don't think anybody is saying that. In the past, we may have been 17-5, but played a more difficult schedule and more cheerful about our team because of the way they are playing. This team could easily be 16-6, could have easily lost both the UK and OU game at home. The frustrating thing is that this team theoretically has alot of talent. I don't think some of that talent ever came to fruition in Ellis and Selden although they are going to make great 4 year players, while others are frustrated that clearly our best post player (Hunter Mickelson) doesn't play and our best freshman (Bragg) doesn't really play while Jamari Traylor and Landen Lucas are able to play thru their mistakes.

I actually kind of respect the knowledge of our fan base, lots of fanbases would just look at yesterdays game as a 18 point win and think there are no issues. Over at the Phog, where it is usually overrun with overthetop positivity, most of the people were still citing concerns.

This fanbase is bitchy ass bitch town right now. I have never seen a fanbase react so poorly after beating a blue-blood rival and then a conference rival (in-state, no less) by almost 20 pts.

Are there issues? Of course. There are issues at MSU, UK, Duke, Arizona, Maryland, UNC, OU.

Everyone has issues. There are no perfect teams. KU has plenty of room to grow and improve. I personally have no ****ing clue why the **** Hunter Mickelson isn't playing. It's beyond baffling.

I'm not sure I would be starting anyone over Lucas, however. Right now I feel like Bragg is our second best big, but he really replaces Ellis much better than he complements him. Lucas really does do some things well. Unfortunately, scoring is not one of them, and scoring is a tempting bitch.

I think if Bragg were simply getting Traylor's minutes, a lot of this bitching would go away. Bragg has shown me time and again that he understands the game, has skill and tenacity to match that understanding, and is physically capable of competing and succeeding at this level. Play him.

The bigger problem for me is the regression of Mason. The ball hits his hands and immediately stops for at least three seconds. He is never immediately decisive with the ball, so he misses out on open 3 pointers and quick passes for an easy basket. He catches the ball, waits, sizes up the defender and then starts to dribble. The problem is that, by that time, the defense is completely adjusted and back in position.

Mason really won me over last year, but I am really concerned that he is closer to Freshman year than sophomore year. I have loved Devonte Graham since the moment he stepped on the court, and I am 100% convinced that he is by far the superior player.

This team's goals are predicated on guard play. I don't care if it's Lucas or Hunter or Diallo or Bragg, our three guards are what will take this team to the promised land. All this concern about the fourth big - what we should be worried about is the first guard.

Not at all. I'm not sure why anyone would whine about that record or beating a top40 team last night by 16 (spread was 11). I'm only saying we aren't "spoiled" at all as fans given our support level.

Mickelson is recovering from an injury.

I'm sure I've bitched too much about Lucas playing myself but I don't think there is a lot of the sky if falling posters in here.

Yes, but he didn't play before that, and we immediately sucked. I think he had a high ankle sprain, so chances are he's done for the regular season anyway.

People point to AFTER the OU game when this team started to play bad. I don't think Hunters lack of minutes is 100% relative to this but there is a correlation there. Our bad play coincides with Hunter not getting minutes anymore. Just look at the game logs, when Hunter plays minutes, we do well. When he does play or logs 5 or less minutes, we suck.

I couldn't agree more.

I would prefer one of the young guys step up and take Lucas's spot. However, right now he's the guy doing all the right things. He's a decent defender not counting his putrid block shot stats, he rebounds, sets good screens (not illegal ones like Traylor does every game), and is a decent FT shooter. He's not a great athlete by any means, at least not compared to the other players on a team like Kansas. Yes, he missed too many bunnies and that is frustrating. But right now he is the player that Self can rely on to not make too many mistakes out there.

The thing that drives me nuts is Traylor getting minutes over Diallo and especially Bragg. Okay, we have been over the argument on Diallo making too many mistakes. Fine, but Bragg should be getting many more minutes that Traylor. When Jamari is out there he will make good hustle plays and then turn right around and make a bone headed play. The guy is a red shirt senior and yet he still plays very inconsistent basketball as if he were a freshman. :shake:

I hope Lucas gets a really bad ingrown toenail. I also hope Traylor wakes up and thinks he plays basketball for Missouri and is never heard from again.

So True.....On Traylor
Go watch the last 3 minutes of the first half against UK...
He is totally responsible for us being 5 up to being 6 down....
Losing his man...turnovers....
No reason why he is playing over Bragg....

What pisses me off is that we should love traylor and Lucas. They're veterans! Redshirt guys that waited their turn! They're program guys!

Diallo is not ready, and that's fine. Bragg is. He should literally be first man off the bench, although Svi showed some massive cojones in the KSU game, thank god.

I agree with Bragg. Is he playing great & always where he's supposed to be? No. But neither are Traylor/Lucas. Lucas has the bigger/stronger body over Bragg, but I see no reason Traylor even touches the floor before Bragg. Don't even get me started on seeing Traylor/Lucas on the floor at the same time.

As far as Svi goes - and I'll probably get blasted for it - I thought he played well against KSU. Had some confidence in himself it appeared. Didn't hit all his shots, but I thought he played decent defensively/offensively.

Why would you get blasted for that? Svi was by far one of our best players and almost singlehandedly yanked us out of the rut of the first 11 minutes.

He played great defense, drove the lane hard, and provided a ton of energy.

If Bragg could guard at all, he'd be getting Traylor's minutes. He just doesn't do it yet.

Great game on Wed night, Hawk fans. Your team was completely disinterested in the game and still beat my Cats by 18. Depressing.......