Yes, this is long
Houston finds a way to win late in games. They are clutch down the stretch.
Florida is the same, Tech had them beat, yet Florida found a way, it looked like Auburn might have control, then Florida just did what it took to win.
If we watch teams that played well in the tournament, they had the ability to produce at critical junctures in the game.
KU had a poor season by KU standards, but looking at our losses, this wasn't a horrible team, just a team with out a typical Self lead guard. A strong guard that could get to the rim, get to the free throw line, hit free throws, not consistently turn the ball over in critical situations, and shoot consistently.
KU did not have any closers on this squad, we did not have enough guys that could make clutch plays at a consistent rate. Mayo and Dickinson hit some big shots, made some clutch plays, but they also had some games where they were off down the stretch, and there was no one else that could step up.
Dickinson gets good minutes on pretty much every team in the tournament. KJ probably has a defensive, role player opportunity on most teams, although he doesn't play the minutes he played at KU on any of the elite teams. I struggle to see Harris getting much time at Duke, Houston, Auburn, Bama, MSU, UNC, etc.
KU lost 13 games.
Creighton, we were down all game, Creighton shot lights out and killed us on the boards. But, Harris took 21 shots and was 28% from the field. He missed four layups in the game. Tough to win games when someone goes 6-21.
Missouri, we were down two points at the 2:20 mark, 63-65. Lost 67-76
We closed the game:
Harris missed layup
Dickinson missed jumper
Foul
Coit missed jumper
Adams two made FTs
Foul
Coit missed layup
Grifin missed jumper
Coit made layup
Foul
Harris missed jumper
We were 1-8 from the field in the last two minutes. Missed three layups.
WVU, KU loses 62-61. Last three minutes, close game, hit some shots, missed some shots, two turnovers, and a foul at 0:01 in a tie game that gives WVU the win. Not sure why we have Adams taking a jump shot at 0:25, down one. KJ played 28 minutes, 1-5 from the field, 2 points, 1 rebound for the game.
@ISU, KU lost by 17, Ames has been a tough place to play. But, we were only down 5 points inside five minutes left in the game, and collapsed down the stretch.
Houston, KU lost in Lawrence by 6, 92-86, 2OT. KJ out. KU shot 46% FG, 36% 3P, out rebounded, and out assisted Houston. Played toe to toe with the potential national champion. Up 66-60 at 1:19 in regulation. KU closes the game with zero points on zero shot attempts, three turnovers and a foul. Houston ties it to go to overtime. First OT, up 79-73, 6 point lead again, at 0:18 on the clock. Harris misses two free throws and Zeke makes a bad turnover, Houston hits clutch threes following both and sends it to OT number two. KU goes 1-5 from the free throw line in OT2, lose by 6. Other than late clock collapses we looked like a pretty good team.
Baylor, KU lost by 11. KU was up 8 points at the 6:12 mark, tied at the 4:10 mark. Between 6:12 and 2:21 KU went 0-6 from the field, committed four fouls, had one turnover, and went 0-1 on the free throw line.
KSU, KU just lost because we played flat. KU trailed by double digits the entire second half, until the 1:02 mark when it no longer mattered, never closer than 8 points, and that was in the last 30 seconds. A dawg or two should have been able to make that a game.
Utah, tie ball game 60-60 at 4:28, KU outscored 14-7 down the stretch. KU 1-6 from the field in the final five minutes. KU shot 40% for the game.
KU was never in the BYU game. We didn't fail down the stretch, we just failed.
TTech, KU loses by 5. Wasted Adams best game of the year 21/13/3. Tied 73-73 at 1:47. KU goes 0-4 down the stretch. Harris has a turnover under a minute in a one score game. Mayo had a really rough game playing 31 minutes. FG 1-7, 3P 0-5, 5 TOs, 5/3/1.
@Houston, KU loses 59-65. KU down three, 56-59 at 3:05, same score at 1:43. Coit hits a three at 0:20 to make it a two point game 59-61. KU shot 1-3 in the final three minutes. Managed one shot a minute trying to get back in the game. 5 TOs in the final six minutes. Harris 2/3/2 in 34 minutes, 2 TOs, FG 1-2, did not get to the free throw line. Mayo 7/3/1 in 34 minutes, 6 TOs, did not get to the free throw line. Pretty sorry lines for the two guys that played the most minutes. Tight games where it is tough to score, guards have to be able to get to the rim or get to the free throw line.
Arizona, Big XII tourney, KU loses by 11, 77-88. KU down 69-70 at 5:30. KU goes 3-10 from the field the rest of the way. Arizona goes 9-11 from the free throw line down the stretch. Only five of those free throws happened in the final two minutes. KU shot zero free throws in that final stretch. The last free throw of the game for KU was made by Dickinson at the 19:13 mark of the 2nd half. We shot one free throw the entire second half.
Arkansas, first round of NCAA tournament, KU loses 72-79. KU led 67-64 at 5:00, and still led 67-64 at 3:00. KU went 0-1 with three turnovers in that two minute stretch. KU was down 68-67 at 1:59, two more turnovers and a foul with no shots attempted in that minute. A one point game heading into the final two minutes. Arkansas goes up four at 1:47 with a three, clutch shot, Storr hits two free throws, 2 point game at 1:00. On cue, Harris TO at 0:45, Dickinson foul at 0:44, two Arkansas free throws and we are down four when we had the ball with a chance to tie or lead inside a minute. Arkansas goes 4-4 on their free throws down the stretch, we foul and they close out a game the way a good team is supposed to finish.
Self is still a great coach, this team on the whole was not probably as bad as it looked. Self's loyalty to certain players doomed this team to a sub par finish. With Peterson, we have that player that can get to the rim, get to the free throw line, force opposing defenses to respect him at all times, and make others on the court better.
A one year more mature Flory, Tiller, another big, and White is likely a better 4/5 rotation than Dickinson/Flory/KJ/Clemence. Although I do think Dickinson was better than some on here believe.
KU won 20 games and finished sixth in a pretty good Big XII. That team struggled to get to the free throw line, had no one that could attack the rim off the dribble, lacked consistent three point shooting, lacked strong post rebounding, and didn't have clutch competitors that would finish games. Comparing the two teams position by position, if we can add a couple more strong players we are a much better team heading into next season.
Peterson - Harris
Dawson - Mayo
???? - Griffin
White or ???? - KJ
Flory - Dickinson
????
Tiller - Flory
???? - Clemence
Jackson - Coit
McDowell - Moore
Calderon - Storr
Shelby - Shelby
Houston finds a way to win late in games. They are clutch down the stretch.
Florida is the same, Tech had them beat, yet Florida found a way, it looked like Auburn might have control, then Florida just did what it took to win.
If we watch teams that played well in the tournament, they had the ability to produce at critical junctures in the game.
KU had a poor season by KU standards, but looking at our losses, this wasn't a horrible team, just a team with out a typical Self lead guard. A strong guard that could get to the rim, get to the free throw line, hit free throws, not consistently turn the ball over in critical situations, and shoot consistently.
KU did not have any closers on this squad, we did not have enough guys that could make clutch plays at a consistent rate. Mayo and Dickinson hit some big shots, made some clutch plays, but they also had some games where they were off down the stretch, and there was no one else that could step up.
Dickinson gets good minutes on pretty much every team in the tournament. KJ probably has a defensive, role player opportunity on most teams, although he doesn't play the minutes he played at KU on any of the elite teams. I struggle to see Harris getting much time at Duke, Houston, Auburn, Bama, MSU, UNC, etc.
KU lost 13 games.
Creighton, we were down all game, Creighton shot lights out and killed us on the boards. But, Harris took 21 shots and was 28% from the field. He missed four layups in the game. Tough to win games when someone goes 6-21.
Missouri, we were down two points at the 2:20 mark, 63-65. Lost 67-76
We closed the game:
Harris missed layup
Dickinson missed jumper
Foul
Coit missed jumper
Adams two made FTs
Foul
Coit missed layup
Grifin missed jumper
Coit made layup
Foul
Harris missed jumper
We were 1-8 from the field in the last two minutes. Missed three layups.
WVU, KU loses 62-61. Last three minutes, close game, hit some shots, missed some shots, two turnovers, and a foul at 0:01 in a tie game that gives WVU the win. Not sure why we have Adams taking a jump shot at 0:25, down one. KJ played 28 minutes, 1-5 from the field, 2 points, 1 rebound for the game.
@ISU, KU lost by 17, Ames has been a tough place to play. But, we were only down 5 points inside five minutes left in the game, and collapsed down the stretch.
Houston, KU lost in Lawrence by 6, 92-86, 2OT. KJ out. KU shot 46% FG, 36% 3P, out rebounded, and out assisted Houston. Played toe to toe with the potential national champion. Up 66-60 at 1:19 in regulation. KU closes the game with zero points on zero shot attempts, three turnovers and a foul. Houston ties it to go to overtime. First OT, up 79-73, 6 point lead again, at 0:18 on the clock. Harris misses two free throws and Zeke makes a bad turnover, Houston hits clutch threes following both and sends it to OT number two. KU goes 1-5 from the free throw line in OT2, lose by 6. Other than late clock collapses we looked like a pretty good team.
Baylor, KU lost by 11. KU was up 8 points at the 6:12 mark, tied at the 4:10 mark. Between 6:12 and 2:21 KU went 0-6 from the field, committed four fouls, had one turnover, and went 0-1 on the free throw line.
KSU, KU just lost because we played flat. KU trailed by double digits the entire second half, until the 1:02 mark when it no longer mattered, never closer than 8 points, and that was in the last 30 seconds. A dawg or two should have been able to make that a game.
Utah, tie ball game 60-60 at 4:28, KU outscored 14-7 down the stretch. KU 1-6 from the field in the final five minutes. KU shot 40% for the game.
KU was never in the BYU game. We didn't fail down the stretch, we just failed.
TTech, KU loses by 5. Wasted Adams best game of the year 21/13/3. Tied 73-73 at 1:47. KU goes 0-4 down the stretch. Harris has a turnover under a minute in a one score game. Mayo had a really rough game playing 31 minutes. FG 1-7, 3P 0-5, 5 TOs, 5/3/1.
@Houston, KU loses 59-65. KU down three, 56-59 at 3:05, same score at 1:43. Coit hits a three at 0:20 to make it a two point game 59-61. KU shot 1-3 in the final three minutes. Managed one shot a minute trying to get back in the game. 5 TOs in the final six minutes. Harris 2/3/2 in 34 minutes, 2 TOs, FG 1-2, did not get to the free throw line. Mayo 7/3/1 in 34 minutes, 6 TOs, did not get to the free throw line. Pretty sorry lines for the two guys that played the most minutes. Tight games where it is tough to score, guards have to be able to get to the rim or get to the free throw line.
Arizona, Big XII tourney, KU loses by 11, 77-88. KU down 69-70 at 5:30. KU goes 3-10 from the field the rest of the way. Arizona goes 9-11 from the free throw line down the stretch. Only five of those free throws happened in the final two minutes. KU shot zero free throws in that final stretch. The last free throw of the game for KU was made by Dickinson at the 19:13 mark of the 2nd half. We shot one free throw the entire second half.
Arkansas, first round of NCAA tournament, KU loses 72-79. KU led 67-64 at 5:00, and still led 67-64 at 3:00. KU went 0-1 with three turnovers in that two minute stretch. KU was down 68-67 at 1:59, two more turnovers and a foul with no shots attempted in that minute. A one point game heading into the final two minutes. Arkansas goes up four at 1:47 with a three, clutch shot, Storr hits two free throws, 2 point game at 1:00. On cue, Harris TO at 0:45, Dickinson foul at 0:44, two Arkansas free throws and we are down four when we had the ball with a chance to tie or lead inside a minute. Arkansas goes 4-4 on their free throws down the stretch, we foul and they close out a game the way a good team is supposed to finish.
Self is still a great coach, this team on the whole was not probably as bad as it looked. Self's loyalty to certain players doomed this team to a sub par finish. With Peterson, we have that player that can get to the rim, get to the free throw line, force opposing defenses to respect him at all times, and make others on the court better.
A one year more mature Flory, Tiller, another big, and White is likely a better 4/5 rotation than Dickinson/Flory/KJ/Clemence. Although I do think Dickinson was better than some on here believe.
KU won 20 games and finished sixth in a pretty good Big XII. That team struggled to get to the free throw line, had no one that could attack the rim off the dribble, lacked consistent three point shooting, lacked strong post rebounding, and didn't have clutch competitors that would finish games. Comparing the two teams position by position, if we can add a couple more strong players we are a much better team heading into next season.
Peterson - Harris
Dawson - Mayo
???? - Griffin
White or ???? - KJ
Flory - Dickinson
????
Tiller - Flory
???? - Clemence
Jackson - Coit
McDowell - Moore
Calderon - Storr
Shelby - Shelby
