Yeah, not alot of teams play like that. Most teams don't just go 5 out and screen on and off the ball like that.

Traylor would be big cause he could still block some shots, but we absolutely have to rebound better with that group.

Ben McLemore. Just wow.

They play euro ball. It's frustrating as hell.

McLemore is already great, but if the dude worked on his handle a little more and attacked the basket, he might end up being the 1st overall pick.

And it's awesome that at the end of each game, if KU is playing for the last shot, they run the exact same play. Same play from the Memphis game, MU game last year, tonight, etc.

It just has so many options.

A friend of mine at the game told me he read Self's lips and thought he said during the final timeout of regulation, "get Ben the ****ing ball!"

Ben McLemore is a basketball God.

Fun game.

Its genius.

:spock:

Actually, KU-MU won't play this year. They went to the SEC! SEC! SEC!

Yep. Screen, screen, screen, pop a three when the d gets caught.

ISU played the game brilliantly. If not for McLemore going off, KU loses by double-digits tonight. Good thing they have Ben, eh? ��

RCJGKU

Wow. What a shitty performance by the hawks.

Glad McLemore was there to pretty much be the team.

What's worrisome is that's 2 games where the effort and decision making has been poor.

Self said during the pregame that we came out and looked tired against Temple. Went on to say that if we don't come out with GREAT energy, we become awful average really quickly.

Dude was spot the **** on.

Ben McLemore's line...

Min
40:00

Pts: 33

FGM-A: 10-12

3PM-A: 6-6

FTM-A: 7-7

Ast: 1

Reb: 3

Blk: 2

T/S: 2/1

PF: 2

That's a pretty kickass statline. And we needed every bit of it. Nobody else did much of anything. EJ had some energy, but it didn't translate to much and he had some boneheaded decisions.

It's okay. KU's due for a John Wall type. McLemore is it. He's unstoppable at times, it's almost funny.

Yeah, a lot of websites have been writing about that possibility the last couple of weeks. Wings don't usually go #1 overall, but Ben is talented enough that he might just do it. He's probably a lock for top 3.

Two lazy games by KU in a row that should have ended up as losses at home. Is it November again? Time to wake up.

Why must you ALWAYS be a wet blanket?

I mean, I get it. I understand the sentiment, because deep down, we're all a bit worried about that, too. But can we at least make it to midnight and enjoy the win a bit and a fantastic performance by a player who will only be around for 3 more months?

Oh, piss off. I'm the last person here anybody should be calling a wet blanket. I talk most of you guys off the ledge every year (remember last year when you unjustifiably called the team a #7 seed/borderline tournament team early in the season? That overreaction ring a bell?).

When KU plays well, I'll give them credit as I did for almost the entirety of their incredible month of December. When they play like shit with no real effort like they did against Temple and Iowa State at home, I'll call them on it. There is no real excuse to play these type of games when you're a team as good as KU can be (and is). They need to be better and I'm sure they will be. But outside of McLemore, they weren't tonight.

Nice win KU. Clutch shot to tie the game and force overtime. KU pulled away like they always do in the end.

ISU is going to be a tough out for any team in the B12.

I said that before the season started, not once I saw the team play. But yes, I was wildly wrong, and I'm okay with that. I own it. Also, I said they would be lucky to be an 8 seed, not 7 ;)

I'm just saying that it sucks when your first post in this thread tonight is basically saying "Wow, we suck right now," instead of "What a fantastic performance by McLemore."

There's plenty of time for "woe is us" tomorrow.

BTW, I don't dislike you at all. You're just harshing my mellow and it ****ing blows.

That was the exact recipe for a KU loss. It always happens. We can't make a layup and some team comes in and destroys it from 3. Granted, usually it's some yahoo idiot white bench player that randomly hits 9 threes despite never having logged more than 6 minutes in a game before. This ISU team was designed for this type of play and they executed perfectly. It was really frustrating that they were able to essentially run the same set on that high wing and get an open look from 3 the whole game.

Just an incredible team performance by ISU. They seem to always play us really tough.

But sorry, cyclones. KU has that magical player this year. The guy that can play through the offense or just go out and get his points whenever he wants. I haven't seen a performance like that since Durant. 10-12 and 6-6 from 3? With the clutch buzzer beater and tough finishes in traffic.

Such a terrible, wonderful game. Really going to be a memorable one.

I bet it's fun as hell being Ben McLemore tonight. It's gonna suuuuuuuck being everyone else in the film room tomorrow.

I hate how Iowa State has started off so slow last year and this year. Damn transfers just want to be stars and try doing too much before coming together.

Royce never should have went pro either!

Next year will be interesting with Niang continue to develop and a few stud guards coming I too!

Good game, I bet that guy didn't call the bank shot either. Heartbreaking but still encouraging.. Clyburn still isn't playing up to his potential either. In Ames might be a different story!

Yeah, I can't remember exactly what you said back then or when you said it (it was overly negative, though), but I do know that I'm usually one of the more realistic and even positive people in these threads when I need to be.

I already know that McLemore is an incredibly good college basketball player/probable top 5 pick in the NBA draft. I knew that before this game and nothing he did today was in any way surprising to me. What I took from today more than anything else was more laziness and underachievement for the second time in a week from this team and that shouldn't be happening in mid-January at this stage. Especially at home on a court where the team has won 100 of 101 games due to the immense advantage there. I'm sorry, but I simply can't help posting what I'm feeling after this kind of game (frustration and some level of relief). If it was a better team performance and McLemore went off like today, I might be more likely to join in on the celebration. But not today.

Considering Royce seems to have completely lost his mind and isn't even willing to report to the Rockets or their NBDL team to the point that they suspended him without pay, yeah, it seems he would have been better off staying in college. It's too bad because he is (was?) a very interesting prospect.

Maybe you should start posting more positive stuff, because what I remember is only negative stuff from you. Not that you don't post positive, because I think you posted something good about Tharpe after the OSU game, but you should post more of it :)

I was very negative on the team before the season started. We had T-Rob, and that was it. Withey was an unknown quantity, and Tyshawn hadn't turned the corner yet. When we played Kentucky, though, I knew we would end the season in the top 10. After the Duke game, I knew we were going to be able to make a deep run in March. I knew that Bill coached good defense, but last year was just amazing, even by Self's standards. He coached his ass off last year.

Fair enough.

Self told him to bank the three just to keep it interesting, plus it will make for a good highlight.

Speaking of Tharpe, his poor play over the last two games has coincided with this mini-slump. Seems he's an important aspect of this team playing to its potential.

Yes, I remember. Many were negative at the beginning of last season, but I wasn't. Believed in the talent level all along.

And, to come full circle, that's why I'm not too bothered about tonight or Temple.

In Bill I trust.

Sure. But without effort, talent by itself doesn't get you where you want to go. Last year's team never really had a problem with that as both TRob and Tyshawn were really driven to reach the goals they set for themselves. This year's team is still dealing with it (although they have even more talent and potential than the '11-'12 team).

WUT LOL

I hadn't heard any of that.

I honestly believe a lot of the "laziness" on the team stems from Johnson. He just seems way too airheaded at times....

ISU would have definitely won if Steele Jantz played basketball.

great win

I just happened to catch Bill's thoughts on the radio in passing, but his comment here was especially poignant. Talent and scheme don't really do much without effort.

He went on to say that he didn't know (in a less dumbass way than Crennel) why they were acting fatigued. He said they didn't play many games, and while they've been practicing everyday, they hadn't been "long".

Either way, we have games like this every year, and maybe Self's comments are BS, but they seemed candid. And putting 2 back to back games like this together has be a bit worried.

Optimistically though, they did find some energy in the last 45 seconds and in overtime. Maybe they've woke up and turned a corner. The other optomistic thing is even at say 60% (maybe less) of what they can do, they came in and beat a decent team that came in and threw some haymakers. That says a lot of the talent and scheme they have (after they stopped having Withey cover Niang or whatever his name was).

It seemed like in the second half, he had the most intensity.

But I will say he isn't performing very well in some situations. I don't think he's cut out to be a pure point. I get kind of excited when Tharpe comes in at point and EJ switches to the 2. But it typically doesn't work out well because if Releford goes out, the Releford-Tharpe defensive shortfall is enormous. If McLemore goes out, the efficiency/explosiveness gained from EJ being at 2 is offset by McLemore going out.

Another optomistic thing I saw was our Tharpe-EJ-Releford-McLemore-Withey lineup against the 4 guard set was goddamn solid. We were able to just flat turn the heat up on them. Outside of Tharpe, if they go 4 guards, the speed and length of the other 3 are goddamn tough.

Last year, that wasn't an option. Either you lost a shitload of offense with TRob going out, or a shitload of defensive safety net with Withey going out. That's pretty huge, maybe not in Big 12 play as much, but a lot of teams try to spread us out and offset our (usually Bad Ass) big guys.

if only tharpe could figure out how to play Defense.

He's better. But that's not saying much of anything. At all.

Bob Davis call of BMac shot...

http://www.wgo2.com/jayhawks.mp3

@mellinger: Don't know the right college hoop database, but about McLemore's game: only NBA 13 players since '85 have gone 33+ pts on 12 or fewer shots.

If Roy gets fired at UNC, would it be wise for Kansas to go after him as an assistant?

lol at him being fired

LMAO.

Good think KU pulled off the miracle last night. Hate to see you guys miss the tournament.

What's up with UNC anyway?

Super young?

I thought McAdoo was one of the favorites for conference player of the year.

PG play, doesn't have a PG that can run his offense (again).

They did lose 4 guys in the first round of the draft.

I feel like I've read that somewhere before.

Well, they did lose four guys in the draft.

And they dont have Self as their coach.

The UNC board I lurk on, all the complaints about Roy look the same as in his KU days - cant adjust a gameplan, no defense, gives up too many 3s, too many soft white guys, etc.

You sure? Howland is in danger after going to 3 straight FF at Ucla. Tubby won a NC, and the SEC! nearly every year and e got canned. Just sayin

Howland could be in all sorts of hot water for potential violations, and Tubby was a black man in a land of racists who won that NC with Pitino's leftovers.

Never gonna happen. He won't get fired, and if he did there are plenty of schools that would give him the head job.

you really must be a prison bitch. u think if the pats fired bill hed go be a dcord somewhere? ha

Arizona is ranked way too high.

Not for much longer...

Did I just go back in time a month?

At least everyone now sees what we knew a while ago.

Yep. They should be grateful they only have one loss when it should really be three.

Sean Miller is a terrible head coach. It's a good thing they play in the awful PAC-12.

KU is approaching the record for consecutive tourney appearances. I doubt it'll be broke this season.

He has immense anxiety issues which are exacerbated to the nth degree by flying. Dude simply can't deal with flying. That's why so many NBA teams passed on his incredible talent in the draft.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BRUS6QBiViQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Kim English

‏@Englishscope24
Hand off, ball screen, flare screen... Bill Self is like Vince Lombardi. You know what's coming end of game. But it somehow always works.

Xanex

Didn't work for us at the end of the Mizzou game in Columbia last year.

The 15 Or So Most Watchable Teams In College Basketball: A Ranking

Matt Giles
A weekly (or so) ranking of college basketball teams on the basis of watchability and with very little regard to how good they might be.
1. Kansas. No one stands out like a 7-footer on the bench. Two years ago, Jeff Withey was known, if he was known at all, for being a former McDonald's All-America who could never get any time on the court, despite his manifest physical gifts. He played 6.2 minutes a game and otherwise sat around blocking sightlines for paying customers. This season? Withey is the anchor of a top 10 team and has an outside shot at Player of the Year honors. His strength is not his offense. He scores mostly on dunks, alley-oops, and putbacks. When Kansas does look for Withey on the block, the primary purpose is to reverse the ball and create space. (The Jayhawks are a case study in how to create open shots through simple ball reversal.) It's on defense where he makes his mark. He was a volleyballer as a youth, and it shows in his superb timing and quick second jump. At his current rate he is blocking a shot on 19 percent of opponents' two-point attempts, which is nuts, and that doesn't even account for all the shots he affects. In Kansas's recent win over Ohio State, Withey had only one block, but he made the Buckeyes look like a bunch of kids playing driveway ball under a low-hanging eaves.
Next game: Saturday at Texas Tech
2. Kentucky. During his second season in Lexington, coach John Calipari instructed his squad to take the air out of the ball on offense. Part of his rationale was to cut down on turnovers, but he also slowed the pace to force his team into a halfcourt offense. This season, though, UK is one of the nation's youngest teams—newcomers have accounted for 80 percent of the Wildcats' total minutes played—and the squad has had trouble picking up Cal's offensive schemes. Drives stop awkwardly; shots get rushed; iso's go slack and result in aimless passes instead of buckets—all of which explain why Calipari is trying to quicken the pace. UK manages nearly 70 possessions per game, the fourth most in the conference. The Wildcats are not a bad offensive team; they just need to run to get out of their own heads. In a recent loss to Louisville, Kentucky spent the first half kicking the ball around its half of the court. Out of sync, UK managed just 32 possessions and 28 points. In the second half, though, Calipari opened things up: 39 possessions, 49 points. It was the difference between having your guys run plays and letting your guys make them.
Next game: Saturday vs. Texas A&M
3. Ole Miss. If you happen to catch an Ole Miss game on television, make sure to watch for #22, a lanky 6-foot-2 guard with a shaved head. Marshall Henderson transferred from Utah to Ole Miss because then-coach Jim Boylan reportedly didn't understand Henderson's "individuality," a funny word that means, in this context, Henderson's desire to jack nearly 11 threes per game. During the Diamond Head Classic, Henderson took 28 threes, making 46 percent of those tries. He typically camps on the perimeter and either waits for a teammate's pass or runs off screens set on his right shoulder. Henderson is also on a quest to surpass 380 three-point attempts in a season, a feat that would put his individuality in the NCAA record books. For Henderson to reach that figure, he'll need to take at least one more three per game for the remainder of the season, which we don't think will be too hard for the guard—during a win at Tennessee, Henderson attempted 12 threes.
Next game: Saturday vs. Missouri
4. Colorado State. Larry Eustachy's teams have always been big on crashing the offensive glass. These Rams are no different, pulling in 45 percent of their misses—an astonishing rate that isn't so surprising when you see the mid-size sedans that make up Colorado State's frontcourt. There's hulking Minnesota transfer Colton Iverson, who in his Big Ten days seemed to begin every game with three fouls; and there's Greg Smith, who is adept at clearing out interior space; and there is Pierce Hornung, who is the most effective Ram of all. He's a tweener at 6-foot-5, built more along the lines of a tight end, but a not insignificant portion of Colorado State's scoring comes from his ability to create separation and outmuscle his defender, snag the board, and then convert the put-back.
Next game: Saturday vs. San Diego State
5. Temple. Khalif Wyatt does not look like anyone's idea of an elite athlete. He hides his 6-foot-4 frame in a T-shirt worn under his Temple uniform, like the biggest kid at the swimming pool. But watch him next time he's on TV. He has the wheels to get past just about any perimeter defender, and he has the hangtime, the contortionist's limbs, and the pool-hall-massé touch to convert seemingly impossible shots. He's crafty as hell, too. He kicks his left leg whenever he shoots, and he uses his off-arm to keep defenders from pressuring the ball, a trick that is rarely (in Wyatt's case) whistled a foul and that gives him enough separation to maneuver. Bill Self said he had an "old man's game," which is perfect. He's scoring 16 per for one of the most patient teams around.

http://deadspin.com/5973985/the-15-o...sional-ranking

Love it when Puke loses.

Always makes for an enjoyable Saturday of sports when Dook loses.

Looking forward to mopping the floor with TTech

Beat me to it!ROFL

ROCK CHALK!

Why does EJ insist on do that crossover of his right in front of defenders.

too often it leads to a turnover


stop with the challenging shit and just protect the ball

meh

Playing like poop so far.

KU allowing Tech to dictate the pace. That's pretty disturbing.

That's a little better.

LOL at BMac's put-back dunk over the mop-headed kid from TT.

These announcers are the fail.

So... game's not on KMCI in KC? Guess I can try espn3.

That long layoff really ****ed up KU's rhythm. Tech is beyond shit.