Exactly what I was thinking.

I feel like Withey has said "**** it" and is putting this team on his back down the stretch. Bmac is great but Withey is the 5th year senior that can get it done on both sides of the ball

Conference update:

KU (12-3)
vs WVU W
vs TTU W
@BU W

The way KU is playing and the way BU is playing right now, you'd have to think this will be 3-0 and 15-3. But Baylor is going to be playing for their tournament lives down the stretch here, it could be more difficult to win there than it appears. It's not over yet by any means.

KSU (12-3)
@ BU W
vs TCU W
@OSU L

Same situation for KSU against Baylor. It looks like a win right now, but eventually you'd have to think BU starts playing with a bit more desperation at some point. Hopefully it's this weekend. Whatever happens, it's hard to see them going to Stillwater and winning. Few do. So 2-1 and 14-4 seem most likely here.

OSU (10-4):
@TCU W
vs UT W
at ISU L
vs KSU W

Wouldn't be all that surprising to see OSU sweep this set of games, but I think you still have to give the edge to ISU at home in that one. The Cyclones tend to play (or I should say, shoot) well there. Have to go with 3-1 and 13-5 for them.


It looks like 14-4 will be enough for KU to get at least a share of the conference for the 9th straight time, but they'd still be best served to win out here. Things are looking good for the first time since the losing streak, though they still can't afford any lazy, complacent performances.

500 wins for Coach Self. We are spoiled.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Baylor get KSU. I know they've played poorly lately but they still have a lot of talent on that team and are due for a win. KSU is due for a loss.

what great about that scenario is that OSU will give us the outright title by beating ksu

thanks guys, love

To me, the game comes down to 2 things:

1. Officiating. If they let KSU be physical, it's ballgame over most likely. Baylor is soft and KSU can bring the big boy shorts.

2. Pierre Jackson. He can take over a game, but I don't see it happening with KSU being physical on Heslip and the big guys. He can do it, but he's entirely too stupid. He's certainly got the skills but he'll need some help in all probability.

The way I see it, Baylor needs tight officiating and Jackson not to be too stupid or it's a loss.

And the only coach to get to 500 faster?



Roy Williams.

:D

Lazarus (Elijah) is told to man up
 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
http://worldonline.media.clients.ell...1a4892028de933 Keegan

Opinion: Elijah Johnson responds to ‘man-up’ talk

By Tom Keegan


http://worldonline.media.clients.ell...6f48523261b548
Photo by Nick Krug
Kansas guard Elijah Johnson extends to defend against a three from Iowa State guard Korie Lucious during the first half on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa



Ames, Iowa — Elijah Johnson awakened with an achy stomach and knee. All those around him knew what to do with the verbal sympathy cards that might have brightened his spirits. Bill Cowgill, the Kansas University basketball team’s athletic trainer, burned them with his tongue at the start of the day. Bill Self, the school’s 10th-year coach, took the baton from Cowgill moments into Monday night’s game against Iowa State inside Hilton Coliseum and let Johnson have it again.

You think maybe Cowgill and Self know their personnel?

Johnson, the guy who couldn’t shoot straight or dribble great for so much of the season, responded to the “man-up” speeches by delivering a more clutch performance than any Kansas player since ... good question. A long, long time.

Johnson scored 20 of his career-high 39 points in the final 5:29, rallying Kansas to a 108-96 overtime victory against an Iowa State squad of marksmen who made 17 three-pointers, 29 free throws and just eight two-point field goals.

Johnson alone outscored Iowa State 8-3 in the final 29 seconds of regulation and 12-6 in the overtime period, although he apologized afterward for the final two points, a dunk when the classy call was dribbling out the clock.

His parents gave him the biblical name Elijah. Lazarus would have fit him well, too, given that his game came all the way back from the dead and then some Monday. Johnson was quick to share the credit with more than just teammates.

Athletic trainers in all sports are valued greatly by athletes because they know all the tricks to get them healthy enough to play when aches and pains are begging them to rest. Athletes don’t like resting. They like competing. They tend to develop a deep trust for trainers, so much so that a trainer, to do the best job he can for the team, needs to show some tough love at times. Monday morning was one such time for Cowgill, according to Johnson and Self.

“I’ve been with Bill Cowgill a whole lot, and he’s been treating me, getting me right and making me feel better, giving me confidence and letting me know that, ‘You had an injury. You don’t have one now,’ and making me do things I’m not comfortable doing, trying to get me to step out of my comfort zone,” Johnson said. “And he’s been doing it ever since I had my (offseason) surgery. And I think right now it’s paying off because most people care to you and baby you through it, and right now he’s just telling me, ‘Man up. You don’t have too many games left.’ I’ve been with him every day.”

Self likened an athlete’s body to a race car, saying, “You just get off a little bit, and it can throw the whole engine off or how it runs. This morning his knee was bothering him, and he’s had some stomach issues. Finally, Cowgill got into him, ‘I don’t want to hear that crap. You’re not hurt. You’re not hurt. Quit making excuses. You’re not hurt.’ And I think was probably good for him to hear that.”

Johnson agreed.

“It takes a little push to go a long ways sometimes,” Johnson said. “I feel that little push taking me real far right now.”

Self pushed him early in the game during a break in the action by lighting him up in a manner that usually takes place behind closed doors. Looking back on the moment after the game, Johnson said the coach did it on purpose and pushed just the right buttons.

KU’s comeback not only put the Jayhawks in good position to win a ninth consecutive Big 12 title, it ended Iowa State’s homecourt winning streak at 22 games, and it showed Kansas is capable of winning games played at any pace.

What Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg is doing with his team isn’t a great deal different from what Big 12 football coaches have been doing for years to the delight of audiences across the Great Plains.

Hoiberg floods the basketball court with long-range shooters, who have quick triggers and no conscience. He makes the opposing defense cover so much more territory, and it makes for such an entertaining brand of basketball to watch.

Hoiberg’s Cyclones have inverted the game of basketball, turned into an outside-in Fan Fest. When the Cyclones play at home, they feed on their boisterous fans, led by an especially vibrant student section. The fans feed on the excitement of watching the long arc of shots raining in from every angle, every man.

It’s such a stark, welcome contrast to the way so many games are played in this season of historically low scores.

Cyclones sixth man Tyrus McGee, one of those undersized shooting guards off the bench who loves to let it fly anywhere, anytime, lit up Kansas for 22 points and made six of 10 three-pointers. On most nights, he would have been the game’s MVP. On this night, he finished a distant second to Johnson, who made six of 10 three-pointers, 13 of 22 field goals and seven of seven free throws and did some of his most meaningful work by scoring eight points in less time than it takes a shot clock to expire.


http://www2.kusports.com/news/2013/f...onds-man-talk/

Wonder what this team will do from now forward.

Will they play small and have Releford play at the 4, but force his defender out to the perimeter? 6-6 is awfully small at te 4 position but could he do it and could Self tweek his offense to a hi-iso/low offense with Releford at the top of the point, and then all guards can attack the rim. Withey hopefully can hold down the fort in the paint.

1. Tharpe
2. Johnson
3. McLemore
4. Releford
5. Withey

Wonder what this team will do from now forward.

Will they play small and have Releford play at the 4, but force his defender out to the perimeter? 6-6 is awfully small at te 4 position but could he do it and could Self tweek his offense to a hi-iso/low offense with Releford at the top of the point, and then all guards can attack the rim. Withey hopefully can hold down the fort in the paint.

1. Tharpe
2. Johnson
3. McLemore
4. Releford
5. Withey

I don't think he'll tinker too much with what has been working, but it's going to depend on what the other team does. It's a nice problem to have either going 3 smalls 2 bigs or 4 smalls 1 big and still being able to control the interior.

I think he will use it on occasion but mostly stay with what's been working. Besides, we don't really have much guard depth.

I like the combo of Tharpe on point and EJ at SG. Tharpe handles the ball well but his shooting has been making me cringe lately.

@ESPNLunardi: Kansas moves up to top line, replacing Michigan. Miami and Georgetown closing fast...

Arizona lost tonight as well, no surprise there though. KU in control of their own destiny now.