I thought the last eight minutes of the first half were impressive for K-State. And Mike was outstanding, as usual.
But really, what other positives can be gleaned from that loss? Now, I’m not quite the pessimist some are - KU is good, as is Texas, as is Baylor. You see a trend here? The Wildcats’ last three losses have been to very good teams. That doesn’t excuse the outcomes, but the facts are the facts.
Last night was an awful environment for such a young team. The atmosphere was so emotionally charged, there was no way K-State’s freshman-laden crew was going to be able to overcome the Jayhawks, the crowd and the officiating. I’ve never been one to grumble about officiating - and I’m not about to now. But I will say as much as Dick Vitale and everyone else was swept up in the moment, the same happens to officials.
My last point on the environment is this - several of KU’s players, Brandon Rush in particular, said they allowed the crowd at Bramlage Coliseum to take them out of the Jan. 30 game. That’s a veteran Jayhawk team, by the way, guys with deep NCAA Tournament experience on their resumes.
What I’m saying is, this happens. K-State needs to take care of business this week against lesser teams - I believe the Wildcats will - and learn from this. Getting Bill Walker right would be a good place to start. I wrote my story for today about his disappearing act and how KU almost targeted him.
Consider this: in the last three games, Mike is averaging a shade under 38 points. And K-State has lost all three games.
Dude needs some help.
My dad and I are going to watch last night’s game again today at some point. My parents, by the way, loved the experience - the biggest college basketball game they’d witnessed up to this point was Michigan (the Jamal Crawford year) at Boston College - but hated the outcome. Pop was fired up about the officiating and the home-court edge, but he thinks K-State will beat KU if they meet in K.C.
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38 Comments
Yea, it would be nice for Walker to show up again at some point. I am surprised though, I always figured Bill to show up for the biggies and that two straight that he really didn’t. Knew a win would be real tough, I was just hoping for a better game. Mike’s two early fouls were killer…among other things.
Russell Robinson was right when he said Bill wasn’t tough minded. Teams no that if they get physical with him, he will fold like a circus tent before traveling to a new town. We needed him the last two games and he decides to once again not rebound, play defense or help Mike on the offensive end.
your dad’s a total homer.
but there isn’t much wrong with ksu. make a few open shots. defend a little more like in the ut game rather than the ku game. they’ll be fine.
pretty impressive how beasley continues to play smart basketball even while losing with no help, btw. it would be so easy/understandable for him to start throwing up bad shots.
in a way, i’m almost glad for this little losing streak. it helps me appreciate how good beasley is even more.
2 bad calls is what put KSU into a tail spin. The charge on Beasley and Walkers 2nd foul that should have really been on Anderson. There is no way you call that a charge. No call maybe or a block but not a charge. How about Beasleys composure? toss up a couple of airballs and then drain a 3 in the crowds face I love it. I wish it would have ment a little more but oh well.
The Colorado win is a given. Iowa State becomes a huge game, one that I think our players are now up for. I think they needed the KU atmosphere a little earlier in the season. If we win these next two, we’re for sure in.
I would love to see a KU rematch in the semi-finals of the tournament. Sprint Center 50/50 with KU/KSU fans…oh my that would be some sort of fun.
A couple things I would appreciate getting some feedback on, either from JMart or the contingent: First, why does Frank have it out for Pullen? I bought into the “tough love” model early in conference play, but this is ridiculous. Pullen did nothing worse than Stew, and yet our future point rides the pine for the majority of the game.
Also, is anyone really worried about our NCAA prospects if we beat CU to close at least 9-7 in the No. 2 RPI conference? Have you seen some of the “bubble” teams out there? If the bubble had been this bad last year, we would have been an 8/9 seed. I think we’re still in the 6/7 seed range with a strong finish.
Here’s to a rematch with KU in the Sprint Center’s “Little Africa.”
Balm,
1) Frank’s said since the beginning he’s tougher on his point guard than any other player. But what’s the point of being that hard on Clent and/or Blake, when they’re gone after this year? I’m convinced this “tough love” — or whatever you want to call it — is geared to better Jake’s next three years and show him what Frank expects out of his PG (which is obviously perfection and nothing short). As long as it’s not affecting Jake’s long-term confidence, I think it’s an OK strategy. He’s learning. And I think Frank knows what he’s doing.
2) J-Mart and I talked about this last night and again today, and maybe we’re naive, but we don’t think this team is in any danger…yet. Obviously a loss to Colorado (not likely) would change some things, but you’re right, 9-7 and the No. 3 or No. 4 team in the Big 12 with its No. 2 RPI is not going to get left out. And yes, the circumstances are FAR different from last season. The thing is, if you’re the Wildcats, you’ve got to get yourself right in the next two weeks, not to get into the NCAAs, but to be of the frame of mind that you can win when you are in.
We need a shooting coach (like a pitching coach)to help correct the problem. Walker’s shooting fundamentals are horrible and the results are evident.
Levi, I don’t buy that crap abot Pullen. I understand what Frank’s “trying” to do, but how is inconsistently applying your philosophy a good thing? What’s Pullen learning: that it’s okay to screw up as long as you’re a senior. Clent has absolutely sucked and he’s a 4 year starter. Pullen has been as good if not better as a true Freshman. Mistakes happen, you can’t yank him out after he drains a 3. Frank has yet to grasp the concept of making points AND winning. This team is headed to the NIT, but at least Frank proved his points.
I’ll give you that, and take it a step further: Why does Jake get screamed at for a turnover and ‘Nique get berated for a missed defensive assignment, but Bill gets a nod and pat on the rear for sticking his forearm in Sasha Kaun’s back for his third foul? There’s plenty of inconsistencies, but I’ve also heard many coaches say that every player needs to be coached a little differently than the next. But yes, making points at the expense of winning is definitely a talking point for this team (see: at Mizzou).
JMart, you were courtside- so tell us, does Russell Robinson shave off his eyebrows?
You should have let your pops write his own post-mortem piece. I would love to hear it from him in his own words.
C’mon, you can’t blame the refs. Beasley didn’t get whistled for anything in the 2nd half, while it seemed KU got calls for just breathing while Beasley was in the vacinity. KU guards showed up to play, and KSU didn’t. Before Beasley went out, KU was up, and would have stayed up. No way KU would lose in the fieldhouse last night. The crowd was charged, the players were charged, and KSU was not prepared.
Both the Nebraska and Baylor games showed that if teams concentrate defense on the remainder of the team, and let Beasley score what he wants, then teams will beat KSU and that is what KU did. Their 3’s were open looks, as KSU didn’t play defense. Even Collins blew by Beasley for a layup after a steal. Arthur and Jackson were shooting over the defense as it was.
KSU needs to do well in the Big 12 tournament, or it will be the NIT.
I cannot understand everyone passing off these meltdowns as nothing. Sure, beating KU, TX and Baylor was going to be tough but the way we are losing (no poise) and the time of the year we are doing it is very disappointing. Righting this ship with the current guard mix is not likely.
Pullen has WAY more upside than Stewart and Young and is, right now, a better player. If I had to put my finger on our problems, it falls to Stewart and Young. Coming into Saturday night’s game, Young was a 59% free throw shooter and he doesn’t defend. He can jump well but he’s 6′2″ so who cares! Stewart shoots 34% from the field, 30% from 3 pt. land, 72% on free throws and has a 1.46 assist to turnover ratio. This is a senior that doesn’t get screamed at and yanked out everytime he makes a mistake. His numbers are basically even with Pullen’s although Pullen averages 3 pts. more a game and Stewart plays 20% more minutes than Pullen. I don’t know what position Young or Stewart should be playing other than a 7 or 8 man coming off the bench. Both stink at point and neither shoots well enough to be a 2 guard.
Combine poor guard play with Walker’s nut case behavior and I’ll be very surprised if we don’t disappoint one more time this season (probably at ISU). I want to get behind this team but it appears its only purpose is to showcase Michael Beasley’s immense talent. Just look at the stats,, they’re horrendous and I can’t see them just turning around in these last two games (see MU at MU - how does that happen?). Say what you want but our body of work is no better this year than it was last and we have the best player in the nation on our team with another NBA prospect starting also.
Not ready to throw Martin under the bus yet but our play is an indictment of coaching.
No disrespect to your dad but he must have purple glasses to think the officiating cost K-State the game. The only bad call for them was the second foul on Walker. If they had called all of the charges on MB he wouldn’t have been in the game. Actually, KU had more fouls and shot less free throws than KState.
My comment had nothing to do with how many fouls Beasely had more to the timing. When you have to take your best player out in the first 2 minutes that hurts any rythem you might have had and or my start with your best scorer. Do you think if Beasley and Walker could have played the entire first half that KU would have gotten up to a 21 pt lead? I don’t. That was my point and instead of a 12 point half time lead mybe only a 6 point half time lead and more momentum in the 2nd half. But shoulda coulda woulda, it didn’t happen and we will see you in the Big 12 tourny.
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