KSU @ AFH

Gosh darn. I wish EJ could knock down some of those threes to help his confidence, everyone else on the team is having a good game, wish he could join in.

He'll get it going at some point. I have a hard time believing that someone with that much talent doesn't get it going at some point.

with 3.5 mins left in the game and down by 20 pts, the long line of tractors, covered wagons, and mules heads back to Riley County.

It was a BIG MC attack. Happy B-day Ben.

I thought they may break out tonight, but I didn't expect them to look as good as they did.  I get to sleep well tonight after a game for the first time in what it feels like forever.

do we have a new PG?

before you reply, take a few mins and look at the box.

and to restate what I've already stated...I don't dislike EJ; he's a senior and can certainly contribute and challenge the youngsters but facts and empirical data is hard to refute.

EJ might spell Releford at the #2 but should he be the starting PG?

I think Johnson will remain the starter, but Tharpe will get more minutes like Collins did in '08. That year Robinson was the starter, but often Collins got big minutes. Before anyone hollers, I'm not comparing Tharpe to Collins. Those two couldn't be more different at the same position.

Perhaps but I hope we don't look back and have to remember this moment.

But kudos to the team; we were energized and extemely energentic on defense.  And our defense - once again - led to scoring opportunities in transition.

And Bmac had another epic performance - man, will we miss this guy next year!

EVERYONE looks like a better player when the team plays with energy and aggressiveness and actually MAKES SHOTS. This win was fed by the smothering defense and the attack in transition. And something people tend to forget, we match up REALLY WELL against K-State. Their post bigs are the perfect matchup for Withey. None of them have any range past about five feet, so he can just camp in the lane and scare those little guards out of driving. Add to that the return of Releford the Defender of the Best Player and you are going to have a great chance for a good game.

KU didn't do anything crazy different in this game than they did in the last three games. They just played harder and smarter and executed when it counts. This is why Bill Self is a great coach. He doesn't panic and run around with his head cut off. He doesn't start throwing things out there that the guys have barely practiced. He just gets them to do what they know they can do.

At some point Tharpe will be playing on a high level with regularity. These types of games can only help his confidence going forward. I think that KU's point guard situation in the future is secure with Tharpe, Rio, and the recruits they have coming in.

Rio was terrible tonight. Maybe people will finally stop calling for him to play more now this year. Yeesh. KU still needs to sign a high quality recruit at PG, preferrably in the 2014 class. Tharpe will be fine next year and Adams will have to work his butt off this offseason to get to where Tharpe is right now. They look a LOT farther apart than just one year, but I though Thapre was pitiful this time last year as well so there is plenty of hope for Adams moving forward. I hope that he recognizes that and sticks with it. He has the physical skills to develop into an excellent player if he is patient.

Tharpe will most likely be the starter next year with Frankamp, Adams, and the other point guard they have coming in playing behind. Adams is raw but talented, and he has a long way to go.

Really liked Ben's last score, even though it was in garbage time. Gotta put the ball in his hands in late shot clock situations.

Before anyone hollers, I'm not comparing Tharpe to Collins. Those two couldn't be more different at the same position.

I don't think it's unfair to do so. Sure Collins was a McD's AA and one of the most beloved Jayhawks of all-time, but Tharpe is only a Soph and still has 2 years to cement his name in Kansas lore. By his senior year, he may be a really great 3 shooter, a great passer, and a great dribble penetrator... that's not rediclously different than Collins.  

Can't say I didn't predict this blowout after the OU game. Aggressiveness and attacking the basket on offense makes all the difference in the world  and I saw it in the OU game and it was only a matter of time before the 3's and FT's followed. Tharpe was always confident in his shot, but tonight I saw an all around confidence in his demeanor, ball handling, etc that I hadn't seen before. The starting lineup should remain the same, but against most teams our best lineup will be 4 guards and Withey....especially down the stretch when more FT's will be shot. Funny thing is, EJ and Tharpe still shot poorly....imagine if we continue our current aggressiveness and they start making shots?

The other note is I hate Musberger....he could not stop talking about the roles on this team as if they were brand new....as if Tharpe hasn't been the pg all year when both he and EJ are in the game. It'd be nice if they could've showed a hottie in the stands to sidetrack him a little bit.

2coach, There is definitely a difference between the KSU and OU games vs the OSU and TCU games...the aggressiveness and attacking the lane is much more prevalant instead of the zombie like passing the ball around the perimeter. This was the kind of tweak I was looking for. The past 2 games they are running offense looking for a shot or opportunity to attack instead of running offense just for the sake of running offense while passing up perfectly good perimeter opportunities.

The other note is I hate Musberger....he could not stop talking about the roles on this team as if they were brand new....as if Tharpe hasn't been the pg all year when both he and EJ are in the game. It'd be nice if they could've showed a hottie in the stands to sidetrack him a little bit.

Yeah and he kept referring to Tharpe as "Notter Thorpe."  Moron.  Does anyone have a guess as to why Tharpe wasn't in the lineup to start the second half?  I mean seriously, the guy controlled the offensive tempo which led to a huge run in first half then we don't see him again until after the first media timeout of the second half.  Even sh*t for brains Musberger could see "Thorpe's" impact on KU's offense.    

"2coach, There is definitely a difference between the KSU and OU games vs the OSU and TCU games...the aggressiveness and attacking the lane is much more prevalant instead of the zombie like passing the ball around the perimeter. This was the kind of tweak I was looking for. The past 2 games they are running offense looking for a shot or opportunity to attack instead of running offense just for the sake of running offense while passing up perfectly good perimeter opportunities. "

But that wasn't a tweak by the coaching staff, just the players doing what they are always coached to do. Don't you watch Kansas basketball? Self has ALWAYS preached aggressive defense that fuels the transition game. Last night was not a coaching adjustment, it was a playing adjustment. The reason KU was stuck having to play half court offense passing like a zombie was because they were moving at zombie-like speed on defense and weren't getting out in transition, not because Bill Self TOLD them to do it. Self made no changes last night. KU played the same game with the same personnel they had the entire first half of the season. They just executed it properly against a really good matchup for KU.