KU's problem: PG play and no elite NBA caliber player

I've reserved my thoughts on the game until today. I wanted to do some soul searching to get at the heart of why KU consistently under performs based on expectations. I think I've arrived at an answer; We do not have elite point guards and we don't have that one NBA caliber elite player that can take a game over and have a hot shooting night.

The first part about not having elite point guards really bothers me. Why is it that Bill Self has a "glaring" problem convincing star point guards to come to Kansas? You have to have a strong captain to run the ship and it's safe to say our captain(s) ran us straight into an iceberg. Frank Mason had 4 turnovers to 4 assists and Devonte Graham had 3 turnovers to 0 assists in the Villanova game. You can attest some of that to Villanova's defense, but most of it IMO was careless play.

Let's compare their stats to the point guards at other premier blue blood programs. Kentucky has Ullis (He had 4 turnovers to 3 assists against Indiana), Duke had Tyus Jones last year (He had 1 turnover and 1 assist in last years national championship game) and Grayson Allen (He had 0 turnovers to 3 assists against Oregon), and North Carolina has Marcus Paige (He had 1 turnover to 2 assists against Notre Dame). Meanwhile, KU has Frank Mason (originally committed to Towson) and Devonte Graham (originally commited to Appalachian State) The talent level at this position just isn't there when compared to other blue blood programs.

I firmly believe that Self blew it by not getting an elite point guard after Tyshawn Taylor left. He realized he messed up recruiting and had to take 2nd level tier point guards in Frank Mason and Devonte Graham. And us as fans were duped into believing we had "elite level talent" at the pg position. Mason especially is far from elite as a pure point guard; which he isn't. At least Devonte backed up his turnovers by hitting five key 3 point shots. Turnovers by our guards and especially our point guards cost us this game. We actually shot better than Villanova (even thought it didn't seem like it), but giving Villanova more chances to score easy baskets absolutely killed us. I ask again, why can't we have competent play with limited turnovers at the point guard position?

Mason never played point guard until he arrived at Kansas. When he arrived at KU as a freshman, Self had a true point guard in Naadir Tharpe who allowed Mason to just play the role he'd always played as an attacking guard. He's still that attacking guard and his biggest problem is his size and length. He's a bulldog as many people like to say, but he's often outsized when compared to other top point guards around the country. I mean how many layups did we see this year that were blocked or contested? He's had three years to learn the position and it's clearly showed that he's not a true point guard and only wants to be an attacker. KU has suffered dearly because of that.

Devonte Graham is a North Carolina kid through and through and I feel like he should be our starting point guard going forward. I know Bill loves his starting point guards to be bulldogs (like Mason), but Devonte is clearly better at the position because he's actually played it unlike Mason who has had to learn it during his time at KU. Some of you may disagree with me on this point, but I really think Devonte will have a breakout Junior season next year. We saw flashes of his three point shooting potential this year, but I think he's going to shine bright next year. He was the one player it seemed who said, "come on boys, follow my lead" and hit big time shots while the rest of the team looked tight and dejected. It's been said that he's the most vocal person on the team and shows leadership. This further backs my belief that he should be the captain going forward next year and Frank can focus on being the attacker which he excels at.

My second part about KU not having that one NBA caliber elite player that can take a game over was evident in that game. We "thought" Selden was that guy as he showed flashes of it this season and so far during the tournament. He actually had a decent game with 16 points, but it's his boneheaded 3 turnovers that makes me question him being "the guy". To be that guy you have to be clutch. Had Selden hit several more three's I would consider him clutch. Perry was never going to be the guy that could take over a game because he's been too passive his whole career; something that's been said countless times over the years here on this board and elsewhere. Villanova scared him with double and sometimes triple teams and he looked as soft and lost as a baby deer out there. It was really hard to watch for a 4 year player like him to have the worst night of his career in the biggest game of his life. Outside of Selden and Ellis, the one bright spot for next years team was the emergence of Landen Lucas a legit defensive threat under the basket. He will never be a scoring threat, but his ability to get 2nd chance offensive rebounds and defend the glass is paramount for the team next year. If KU loses Selden this year and lands Joshua Jackson we could potentially have that one NBA caliber player who can take over games. I've liked what i've seen so far from that kid and dream of what he could bring to KU if we are fortunate enough to land him.

In summary, KU had a heck of a year and we shouldn't hang our heads with getting to the elite 8. However, when I look at the teams who did make the Final 4 this year it's easy to see how KU came up short. Turnovers by our guards (especially our point guards), and not having that hungry, dominant player who can take over a game. Villanova has Ochefu and Arcidiacono, OU has Buddy, UNC has Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige, and Syracuse has Malachi Richardson. If you didn't watch that Syracause vs Villanova game I suggest watching it. Malachi put the team on his back and scored 21 of his 23 points in the 2nd half of that game. That's the kind of performance that we all hoped Wayne Selden could have had, but he just wasn't able to get it done. Things look bright next year for KU though and all hope is not lost. You can bet that Frank, Devonte, Svi, Bragg, Landen, and our new recruits will be hungry to make a deeper run next year.

To end with a positive note let me simply say this: Bill has lost in the elite 8 game and taken the next years team to the championship game two out of the last three times in 2008, and 2012. Bill Self has made the elite 8 every election year since 2000 as well. Will the 2017 season be kind to the Jayhawks and let us get to the championship game? Only time will tell, but the future looks bright for next years team!!!

I always enjoy your analysis, and this one is quite good too. I do disagree with a few points.

First of all, Self doesn't seek out point guards. He looks for combo guards, and those players never become true point guards. Ergo, we never get true point guards, which is exactly what we both agree is part of the problem we have every year in the NCAAs. Even Russel Robinson and Mario Chalmers were sort of hybrid guys, but RR was much closer to a PG, and we backed them up with Sherron, who was one of the 4 greatest PGs of the modern era at KU.

I agree that we need someone to 'take over' games, but Selden was recruited to be just that player. He isn't. He may never be. And Ellis could take over games, but he can't do it on his own, and some of our players choked on Saturday. Horrible word, but accurate. Ellis did too, which really bothers me, because he's such a decent young man, and such a good talent too. But he froze, or choked, or simply wilted in the heat of the game, and barely registered in the box score.

I am certain that Self goes after exactly the players you want him to get, but for several reasons, he can't get them to come to KU. Guards don't want to come, because he coaches a 'system' which emphasizes interior guys, not guards. He can't get the 'take over the game' kinds of guys, because they are either volume shooters who won't/can't play KU style defense, or our system won't give the freedom to take 30 shots a game, which is what they need. To be fair, if Greene took 30 shots a game, he'd average 25 or more points a game, but he never got the opportunity because of defensive inadequacy and injuries. Won't happen. And for some odd reason, Self signs 'beta males.' Sherron was an alpha, as is Embiid, as was Mario, but Wiggins, Perry, Selden, and so many others just don't have the personality to take a game over, even if they have the skill.

One aspect Diallo does have is that alpha mentality. If he comes back, I am confident that he's going to be exactly the kind of player we'll love to watch.

I agree, and have wondered, more than once,why do we have such difficulty attracting PG’s, I do believe over the years we have done great with what we’ve had, but the question on why our offerings to all star standouts is rebuffed. My hope for next yrs team is strong. I hope and trust Huddy, will perform her magic! Additionally, that L Lucas works to continue his strength, along with a reliable short jump shot. Lastly, of the returning hopefulls; my last wish is that Svi, somehow perfects the renowned 3 pt practice shot into a high percentage happening % wise, and his physicality, is also greatly improved. He’s shown the ability to drive the ball, as well as shoot the ball, but a more predictable vs spotty performance may become a true game changer. Of course, Frank and Devonte, stay healthy, benefit from Huddy and take another years experience and performance to new levels. Add on the incoming recruits, BG playing better defense and not be just glued to a corner awaiting a laxidazical guard to allow a set shot. Check, with more muscle, a dependable jump shot, and I think the world will be so bright, we’ll need sunglasses. RC