I'll admit that I turned the TV off

I never turn the TV off at the half.

N E V E R.

Yesterday I did.

Anymore I try to treat myself, not punish myself, and that first half was punishment enough to have watched.

Instead Mrs. HE & I watched a series of movies to distract us from the stomach cramps and heartaches we were experiencing. Not very good movies, I might add (“Antlers” with Keri Russell we cut short for family favorite Bruce Campbell —“Come get some!” — in “Bubba Ho-Tep”… promising, but in the end meh), but then yesterday “good” was very relative in KU domiciles around the world.

The biggest failure highlighted in yesterday’s game was, ultimately Bill Self’s, but it was *not* who he decided to play yesterday. That problem was created in the months in between the USC game and Late Night in the Phog.

Bill Self did not get the *length* and *athleticism* (preferably in the same bodies) he specifically noted was his goal for AY2021-22.

Remy is a wonderful offensive player whose defensive liabilities keep Self from playing— despite the fact that he is the only other proven truly explosive offensive player on the roster after Ochai.

Even if Zach Clemence (who is going to be good!) were not hurt, he is still a skinny freshman big who is not yet ready for prime time based on his limited showings before getting hurt.

KJ is starting to look good, but still learning on D and not a tremendous offensive threat. Mitch is still beating him out for playing time (KJ had just 11 minutes in a game where Big Dave came up empty in his 16 minutes with just 3 points and 1 rebound).

The only other big Bill landed redshirted (Cam Martin), and we have no idea if he could have made a difference on this team— redshirting tends to make me want to say “no” — or next year’s.

The small but athletic guards besides Remy that we had such hopes for — transfer Joseph Yesefu and hs recruit Bobby Pettiford — have made little of their few chances to impact the team and earn more playing time.

The top 5 recruiting class he has coming in for next year should be a big boost for next year — and Self is still going after more talent — but they won’t help this season.

Which essentially leaves us with last year’s team…

With a great step up from Ochai;
With a notch up from Christian, although he’s slipping and having trouble shooting;
Underwhelming regression from Dave and
Without our defensive anchor Garrett.

JWil is back, so that’s something.

But the inexplicable worsening of David MCormack, and also to some extent Christian Braun in recent weeks, has been disheartening. Coaching failures, both on and off the court? McCormack having personal issues affecting his a play? (Not that I know of!) Why can’t KU finish at the basket? Christian and Dajuan and (fill in the blank, it’s hard to get a wrong answer this year!) are all frustrating to watch this year as they drive into the paint!

Most importantly, I go to the Wayback Machine to bring back Clara Peller with her famous query…
“WHERE’S THE BEEF?!?”

In this case beef = DEFENSE.

Worst in the conference, and mugged by UK.

Ah, shoot, I got no balm to heal these wounds.

Gonna go have some of Mama Lala’s vegetable beef soup and get ready to watch some football.