Mea Culpa

Boy, did I learn a lesson this season, a lot of lessons in fact. I also found a renewed passion for KU hoops that had waned over the past couple of seasons as the OAD issues seemed to consume college hoops. In a post-season wrap up of all the things I was so wrong (and gladly so) about this season, here goes my mea culpa:

1. Perry Ellis is not a leader, and I can't wait for him to graduate. Turns out he lead by example every single night, and absolutely delivered. He's now one of my all-time favorite Jayhawks and I'm sorry to see him go. I was slightly right though, in that Perry seemed to take off once Self stopped talking about Perry actually being the leader, player of the year, all american, etc. Self just let him do his thing, and he did so.

2. Give the leadership reins to Selden and watch the team soar. Selden is a very solid player at times, but not the leader I thought he was. I don't know what to think about him, particularly his mental approach. Self pushed all the right buttons this year and got the players to band together without one true vocal leader. Tough job, but he pulled it off.

3. Self should play Bragg and Diallo a lot more, especially because Lucas, Mickelson and Traylor couldn't get the job done. Once they got some floor time, it was obvious they were so raw and unready to play. Self put his trust in the older players, and that clearly paid off. I only question whether Self and the coaches did a good enough job bringing the freshmen along. It seems like they never advanced beyond raw freshmen and still play like rookies (Bragg is coming along the last couple games, but it's pretty late for that to be happening). Shouldn't they be more effective by now?

4. Lucas should sit and Mickelson should play. Lucas has been the surprise of the year, and Self has him accentuating his strengths of tough rebounding and solid defense, and his weakness (worst shooter from two feet in the history of the game) has been hidden pretty effectively. Mickelson provides some nice energy, but never could produce the tough rebounding that Lucas now delivers.

5. We have no chance to win the Big 12 title again, and I'm glad it's over so we can start focusing on getting young guys ready and prepare for March. Do I really have to say anything else here? So wrong.

6. If Self keeps benching Bragg, Diallo, Greene and Svi, future recruits will take notice and likely go elsewhere. I get the sense that Self and KU have taken a huge step up in respect from the basketball world this year. We may not get the OAD's who demand star treatment and full playing time, but I'll bet we rose to the top for players who want a great coach who will prepare them for the next level, and who don't mind competing for playing time. Even if the prima dona stars look elsewhere, I don't care. I'll take all the Ellis, Graham, Mason and Lucas players, sprinkled with a couple hard working superstars any day.

6. Self seems disconnected, burned out, miserable, or whatever, and we might be seeing the end of the road for him at KU. I still think he appeared to be personally unhappy, and he did some things that seemed out of character (team meeting with four guys asking who they wanted to play with; benching Mickelson in what seemed like a degrading manner and never speaking about it, leaving all of us to comment about it for weeks, etc.), but in the end, he fashioned a tough, gritty, effective team that finished 12 time B-12 champs, #1 overall team in the country, and heading into the tourney on a 12 game winning streak. Impressive.

I have been to the valley this season, and now am at the mountain top. I have a renewed fervor for KU hoops, and can't wait to see what happens this March, but more so, what next season brings in terms of how Self reloads without Ellis and gets the guys playing to tie Wooden/UCLA for #13 !! I've never been so happy to have been so wrong about so many things with this team. I'm having FUN again watching KU. Thank you Bill Self, and ROCK CHALK!

Nice post. I an relate. I have obviously never lost all my zeal for KU hoops but the last 2 years have tested my resolve. This season has been great. I am also with you on Perry. I have been maybe his toughest critic. What a senior year and what a career. He is all we could ask in a KU player. And Landen has been my boy since last year. I thought he would break out this year. He has a couple things that I value highly. He is smart and plays with his head, he has a quiet fire (that sometimes gets a little chippy) he has a mature body that is critical in the grind of a long season, and he he is disciplined and coach able. He has nowhere near the talent of most of the others but what he has is what this team needs. This has been a fun year, save for that 5 game inexplicable swoon in late January.

We were all on that rollercoaster ride with you to be sure.

This season was a BIG reminder for me that the more I learn about college bball, the more I realize the less I really know. I "live in the moment" of each game and always feel the team is as good as its last performance. Having said that, I also know we are going to win each and every game -- I just know it.

The last two weeks I've stepped back a couple of giant "mother may I" steps to watch the magic that is HCBS, the grit and determination of a -- soon to be -- epic team, and bask in the glory of Jayhawk Nation with other followers of the flock.

Rock Chalk to us all, here's to six more "Wins"!

Outstanding post that could have and probably should have come from a lot of us on here, especially one guy stuck in Mizzery. So I'll use yours to make a miniature version for me.

I too have been a critic of Perry's play. He is the epitome of what KU and all college athletes should strive to be on and off the field of play. But he has been in years past and to some degree this year as well HCBS's least favorite word...soft. But this year especially he has been so gosh dang consistent! 16 and 6 helps you win a lot of games.

Selden looked to be THE MAN leaving Korea. There were times I called him Claude Rains. Then there was the Kentucky game. Who is this guy? Clearly, someone who needed to be challenged. Ask Mr. Wainright from Baylor about how Wayne responds to a toughness challenge. But still this was not HIS team.

One area Im not giving up on is the Bragg and Diallo vs. Lucas minutes. Are they raw? Yes. Do they appear lost? Yes. But riddle me this Batman...If either one of those two guys is within three feet of the basket do you like their chances of actually scoring? An emphatic YES! Lucas...uh not so much.

The entire Hunter mystery, wrapped in an enigma, surrounded by obscurity situation still puzzles me. There has to be something we haven't been told. Much as I did with Wayne, I was sure Hunter proved himself in Korea and was going to be a huge part of this team in his last year. It just never happened. I feel very sorry for Hunter and his family.

I too was sure the conference title run was over. Unlike many Hawk fans though I was almost looking forward to it. I though it might get HCBS's attention focused on something OTHER than the Big 12. Turns out for this team, this year, his focus was just right.

The next couple of weeks should be very exciting. This team, much like the 08 team seems to be peaking in March, not early February. All signs point to an exrended run and man won't that be fun?

RKCKJHK!!!

We can agree to disagree HE. Not going to focus yet on what are chances are for next year no matter who is playing where. Too much to look forward to this year.

RKCKJHK!!!