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Rock Chalk Talk: Basketball
Anything pertaining to basketball: college, pro, HS, recruiting, TV coverage
Anything pertaining to basketball: college, pro, HS, recruiting, TV coverage
So I was thinking -- always dangerous...
8 years 9 months ago #3728
by Bayhawk
The end is nothing; the road is all.
-- Jules Michelet
And it occurred to me that repeatedly on this board we have called for a "team leader" to emerge. Somebody to say, "I will not lose here, I will not lose today" and inspire the team during the game. Well, while we are pleased with last night's performance (some more than others to be sure), did a leader emerge? Bedore and Keegan will nominate Landen, but is he a leader? No. [Ed. note: I wouldn't argue with him about it in person!! 
].
I've always said "Frank the tank" was our man, but now I think he is the soldier willing to dive on a grenade to save his squad, but not a team leader (IMHO).
Perry is a silent sentinel of the box scores; After each game I ask myself, "When did Perry get all those points?" But a team leader? No. Selden stepped up a couple of times, but again, not the leader. Devonte'? Please, . . .
Is this our true Achilles' heel?
We'll know in a few weeks,
RC A&F (Always and Forever)
].I've always said "Frank the tank" was our man, but now I think he is the soldier willing to dive on a grenade to save his squad, but not a team leader (IMHO).
Perry is a silent sentinel of the box scores; After each game I ask myself, "When did Perry get all those points?" But a team leader? No. Selden stepped up a couple of times, but again, not the leader. Devonte'? Please, . . .Is this our true Achilles' heel?
We'll know in a few weeks,
RC A&F (Always and Forever)
The end is nothing; the road is all.
-- Jules Michelet
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8 years 9 months ago #3733
by Bayhawk
The end is nothing; the road is all.
-- Jules Michelet
I've always thought so, but I think a lot of things . . . 
RC
RC
The end is nothing; the road is all.
-- Jules Michelet
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8 years 9 months ago #3775
by konza63
“With kindest regards to Dr. Forrest C. Allen, the father of basketball coaching, from the father of the game.”
1936 inscription on the portrait of Dr. Naismith, displayed above Phog Allen's office desk at KU.
Sorry I had to be quick and pithy in my response yesterday, Bay.
I'm not sure how I feel about the question.
NYCJayhawk did a good job of covering half of what I'm thinking. I guess I'd just riff on that by saying, if KU truly comes together as a team...and thereby reaches a greater upside than seemed possible a couple weeks ago...it could negate the need for one true leader (at least noticeable to us couch potatoes) in as much as KU will be playing much better in games and hopefully having far less games where it comes down to a final possession.
The other thing is that Self and the team have several different ways they can go if they are in a final possession situation: Perry down low (or moving toward the hoop from outside), and Selden, Devonte, and Frank on the wings. Do I wish we had a Mario Chalmers type on this team, if we need the surest hand for a 3 at the end? Sure! But who doesn't? And save for the Buddy Hields out there, there aren't many like Super Mario to call upon, for any team.
Final thought: What I liked about the TCU and WVU games was that multiple Jayhawks exhibited fire, passion, and leadership at various times. Even in the more subtle moments you could see it--as when Selden stepped in to calm down Frank one time, and to pull Lucas away from a potential verbal altercation after he got pushed in the back and jawed at. (Of course, Wayne also screwed up and got a T earlier, by verbally retaliating to the WVU player--but he showed leadership in those later moments, because he knew those guys could get T'd up and that could've spelled disaster in a close game.)
Bottom line: if we continue to gel and advance upward as a team, I'm not going to worry so much about the leadership question, because it will likely have sorted itself out inside the locker room and inside the huddle on the court, in real time.
Rock Chalk...
I'm not sure how I feel about the question.
NYCJayhawk did a good job of covering half of what I'm thinking. I guess I'd just riff on that by saying, if KU truly comes together as a team...and thereby reaches a greater upside than seemed possible a couple weeks ago...it could negate the need for one true leader (at least noticeable to us couch potatoes) in as much as KU will be playing much better in games and hopefully having far less games where it comes down to a final possession.
The other thing is that Self and the team have several different ways they can go if they are in a final possession situation: Perry down low (or moving toward the hoop from outside), and Selden, Devonte, and Frank on the wings. Do I wish we had a Mario Chalmers type on this team, if we need the surest hand for a 3 at the end? Sure! But who doesn't?
And save for the Buddy Hields out there, there aren't many like Super Mario to call upon, for any team.Final thought: What I liked about the TCU and WVU games was that multiple Jayhawks exhibited fire, passion, and leadership at various times. Even in the more subtle moments you could see it--as when Selden stepped in to calm down Frank one time, and to pull Lucas away from a potential verbal altercation after he got pushed in the back and jawed at. (Of course, Wayne also screwed up and got a T earlier, by verbally retaliating to the WVU player--but he showed leadership in those later moments, because he knew those guys could get T'd up and that could've spelled disaster in a close game.)
Bottom line: if we continue to gel and advance upward as a team, I'm not going to worry so much about the leadership question, because it will likely have sorted itself out inside the locker room and inside the huddle on the court, in real time.
Rock Chalk...
“With kindest regards to Dr. Forrest C. Allen, the father of basketball coaching, from the father of the game.”
1936 inscription on the portrait of Dr. Naismith, displayed above Phog Allen's office desk at KU.
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8 years 9 months ago #3782
by LasJayhawk
Yea,yea,yea, keepin' the faith
Well, it's better than "we are farmers duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh"
Yea,yea,yea, keepin' the faith
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