I made my annual pilgrimage to the Phog and caught the K State game and the ISU game---both great wins for the Hawks. As a devoted Hawks fan who catches other games on TV only, the following reflects my impressions after seeing the team play in person:
1. The athleticism of the starting unit is really impressive. They aren't just fine players, they are also great athletes.
2. Perry Ellis has really improved his all-around game. His defense is much improved, especially off the ball. He is rebounding more physically. By adding a viable 15-18 foot jumper, he has made himself a tougher player to guard, and the offensive system is giving him opportunities away from the block.
3. Wayne Selden's overall game is pretty solid. I know that I caught him on two of his best games of the season, but what he does within the overall offensive and defensive structure is very impressive. He is a load defensively. I continue to believe he needs to work on his mid-range game, especially utilizing a jump stop to jump shot. He just needs to go up on balance, which he struggles to do. He does that when he catches and shoots his 3s. However, even with that hole in his game, he still provides more than enough to earn his minutes. I think you have to watch him throughout offensive and defensive possessions to appreciate that---not just when the TV camera is on him.
4. Frank Mason is the Man on this team. He is tough physically and mentally, and he provides great on-the-floor leadership. What an athlete!
5. Brannen Greene is just such a pure shooter, and his shot selection has really improved. He seems to know that he is going to get his minutes, so he does not force it as much offensively. He puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense, as his man cannot help off of him. It is no coincidence that when he is in the game, we are effective in and around the paint.
6. The combination of a Mason, Graham, Selden, Greene and Oubre is really something, especially offensively. All are getting quality minutes and it is easy to see how this combination grinds teams down, especially in the second half. We are noticeably fresher than the opposition in the second half.
7. Landen Lucas surprise me with his contributions. When needed, he can contribute valuable minutes, and he adds some toughness defensively and on the boards.
8. Jamari Traylor and Big Cliff make a pretty compatible twosome as their games are pretty different. It allows Coach Self to match up differently. For instance, Big Cliff was a much better match-up on K-State's Gipson than Jamari, but Jamari was a better match-up on Hodge and Niang than Big Cliff. Impressive versatility.
9. I have never seen two teams play harder than the Hawks and ISU last night. Both teams just left it all on the floor and competed with everything they had.
10. If Allen Fieldhouse gets any louder than last night, I would need ear plugs. Man, what a home court advantage, and what a pleasure to be there.
11. My overriding thoughts are what a brilliant job Bill Self is doing with this team. I think all of us believed that with our lack of length and the strength of the Big 12, this would be Coach Self's most challenging year to continue the streak. I posted before the conference games started to that effect, and speculated at that time that it would be fascinating to see how Coach Self shaped an effective offensive attack from a seemingly mismatched group. Well, there is still a long way to go, but we are seeing once again how really good Coach Self is. He has spread the floor more than in year's past, relied on shooting prowess from 3, let Mason, Graham and Selden drive and kick, let Perry drift outside to shoot and played earlier in the shot clock. Against zones he has made Jamari an effective high post presence with Big Cliff down low. We aren't watching a finished product, but it is very impressive to see how far we have come, and Coach Self has demonstrated again that he is as good as any coach in the college game.
Sorry for the length. Rock Chalk!
1. The athleticism of the starting unit is really impressive. They aren't just fine players, they are also great athletes.
2. Perry Ellis has really improved his all-around game. His defense is much improved, especially off the ball. He is rebounding more physically. By adding a viable 15-18 foot jumper, he has made himself a tougher player to guard, and the offensive system is giving him opportunities away from the block.
3. Wayne Selden's overall game is pretty solid. I know that I caught him on two of his best games of the season, but what he does within the overall offensive and defensive structure is very impressive. He is a load defensively. I continue to believe he needs to work on his mid-range game, especially utilizing a jump stop to jump shot. He just needs to go up on balance, which he struggles to do. He does that when he catches and shoots his 3s. However, even with that hole in his game, he still provides more than enough to earn his minutes. I think you have to watch him throughout offensive and defensive possessions to appreciate that---not just when the TV camera is on him.
4. Frank Mason is the Man on this team. He is tough physically and mentally, and he provides great on-the-floor leadership. What an athlete!
5. Brannen Greene is just such a pure shooter, and his shot selection has really improved. He seems to know that he is going to get his minutes, so he does not force it as much offensively. He puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense, as his man cannot help off of him. It is no coincidence that when he is in the game, we are effective in and around the paint.
6. The combination of a Mason, Graham, Selden, Greene and Oubre is really something, especially offensively. All are getting quality minutes and it is easy to see how this combination grinds teams down, especially in the second half. We are noticeably fresher than the opposition in the second half.
7. Landen Lucas surprise me with his contributions. When needed, he can contribute valuable minutes, and he adds some toughness defensively and on the boards.
8. Jamari Traylor and Big Cliff make a pretty compatible twosome as their games are pretty different. It allows Coach Self to match up differently. For instance, Big Cliff was a much better match-up on K-State's Gipson than Jamari, but Jamari was a better match-up on Hodge and Niang than Big Cliff. Impressive versatility.
9. I have never seen two teams play harder than the Hawks and ISU last night. Both teams just left it all on the floor and competed with everything they had.
10. If Allen Fieldhouse gets any louder than last night, I would need ear plugs. Man, what a home court advantage, and what a pleasure to be there.
11. My overriding thoughts are what a brilliant job Bill Self is doing with this team. I think all of us believed that with our lack of length and the strength of the Big 12, this would be Coach Self's most challenging year to continue the streak. I posted before the conference games started to that effect, and speculated at that time that it would be fascinating to see how Coach Self shaped an effective offensive attack from a seemingly mismatched group. Well, there is still a long way to go, but we are seeing once again how really good Coach Self is. He has spread the floor more than in year's past, relied on shooting prowess from 3, let Mason, Graham and Selden drive and kick, let Perry drift outside to shoot and played earlier in the shot clock. Against zones he has made Jamari an effective high post presence with Big Cliff down low. We aren't watching a finished product, but it is very impressive to see how far we have come, and Coach Self has demonstrated again that he is as good as any coach in the college game.
Sorry for the length. Rock Chalk!
