Kansas Line

[HowardsWorld]

Kansas -4
O/U 156
Predicted Score 80-76

[StillAWarrior]

It's not every day (or even every season) when you have a chance to play against the No. 1 team. It's rarer still when you get that chance when you've got a team that can actually beat them. This is a special game. Let's go Warriors.

[Norm]

Gonna be tough for MU to win tonight, especially after th energy they had to expend to get by UCLA. KU has the fresher legs which could help them in the 2nd half.

[Goose]

I loved when Shaka asked the team how of you were recruited by UCLA. I think that same motivation will work well tonight. These guys belong playing in these type of games and I like their chances a lot.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Gonna be tough for MU to win tonight, especially after th energy they had to expend to get by UCLA. KU has the fresher legs which could help them in the 2nd half.

I mean, Kam, Stevie and Kolek to an extent should be relatively fresh

[Dickthedribbler]

I still have nightmares about 2003 FF. Kansas forward Nick Collison out muscles Robert Jackson or Scott Merritt for the rebound. Rifles a 40 foot outlet pass to Kirk Heinrich at half court, who proceeds to speed dribble to the basket for an uncontested layup.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

[tower912]

Kansas line?


There's no place like home.

[jficke13]

when people post the line, what book or analytic service are you citing?

Is kenpom Kansas -4?

I ask because for non-gamblers beating the analytics lines is critical to how our computer ranking numbers move, so I'm always interested in what we need to do to "beat" kenpom/torvik.

I care somewhat less what we need to do to beat draftkings.

[The Sultan]

Kansas line?


There's no place like home.

I was thinking more "carry on my wayward son."

[tower912]

Go with yours.

[Shooter McGavin]

Kansas is beatable.  MU needs to hit a higher clip of their open threes and continue to gang  rebound.  There is nothing so scary about Kansas that a team built like MU can't win.  Great opportunity ahead.  Looking forward to it.

[MDMU04]

when people post the line, what book or analytic service are you citing?

Is kenpom Kansas -4?

I ask because for non-gamblers beating the analytics lines is critical to how our computer ranking numbers move, so I'm always interested in what we need to do to "beat" kenpom/torvik.

I care somewhat less what we need to do to beat draftkings.

KenPom has KU -3, with a total of 157. 

The books are generally within a point or two of the computer guys, most likely to offset where they think money will come in.  KU will likely be a big public team, so the books probably list the extra point to take advantage of the market.

[muwarrior69]

Kansas is beatable.  MU needs to hit a higher clip of their open threes and continue to gang  rebound.  There is nothing so scary about Kansas that a team built like MU can't win.  Great opportunity ahead.  Looking forward to it.

I'll be happy if they make their free throws. My blood pressure goes up every time they miss.

[Uncle Rico]

Make Dickinson move on defense and make him uncomfortable.  Volatile guy you can take out of the game mentally

[Herman Cain]

1. Make Open Looks
2. Make Free Throws

[cheebs09]

FT% No Matta

[real chili 83]

Score more points.

[NCMUFan]

Go Marquette!

[Shooter McGavin]

I'll be happy if they make their free throws. My blood pressure goes up every time they miss.

I agree 69.  That was maddening.  Would have been a nice pressure release in the first half to have a couple front ends go down as well as to increase the lead in the second half. Kudos to the guys for a scrappy victory. 

I said it elsewhere but hopefully this is the Holy Cross game of 2003.  Or St. John's of last years Big East tournament.  Now that we  got one victory hopefully the flood gates open.

[#UnleashSean]

I mean, Kam, Stevie and Kolek to an extent should be relatively fresh

Kolek played 33 minutes...

[brewcity77]

Gonna be tough for MU to win tonight, especially after th energy they had to expend to get by UCLA. KU has the fresher legs which could help them in the 2nd half.

Do they really? Kansas has no bench and their big three (Dickinson, McCullar, Harris) played more minutes against Chaminade than Marquette's top-3 (Kolek, Oso, Kam) did.

[avid1010]

when people post the line, what book or analytic service are you citing?

Is kenpom Kansas -4?

I ask because for non-gamblers beating the analytics lines is critical to how our computer ranking numbers move, so I'm always interested in what we need to do to "beat" kenpom/torvik.

I care somewhat less what we need to do to beat draftkings.

The books tried having different lines then KenPom...that didn't work so well for them

[wadesworld]

Do they really? Kansas has no bench and their big three (Dickinson, McCullar, Harris) played more minutes against Chaminade than Marquette's top-3 (Kolek, Oso, Kam) did.

Our minutes were a bit different than theirs, though.  And they have an extra 3 hours of rest and recovery.

[Goose]

Tyler Kolek has spent his entire life dreaming about playing in a game like this and Shaka has an opportunity to accomplish something that very few thought was attainable. Last year I thought the team chemistry would be very difficult to replicate and any potential shortfall in that category has been replaced by experience and talent. This team is built for the long haul and I am feeling very good about their chances.

First team to 80 wins the game.

[Jockey]

Gonna be tough for MU to win tonight, especially after th energy they had to expend to get by UCLA. KU has the fresher legs which could help them in the 2nd half.

These are 18-22 year old kids in the greatest shape of their lives.

[#UnleashSean]

Do they really? Kansas has no bench and their big three (Dickinson, McCullar, Harris) played more minutes against Chaminade than Marquette's top-3 (Kolek, Oso, Kam) did.

The fresh legs argument is really coming in early this year.

[CountryRoads]

MU is built to succeed in games like this. Last year in BET looked flat against St. John's only to come out and play 2 fantastic games in the following 48 hours. Hoping for the same here.

[Markusquette]

How is MU going to stop Dickinson let alone slow him down? Pretty much need foul trouble issues.

[CAGASS24]

Recall?  MU played Kansas 5 years ago to the day in the NIT Tipoff - they were # 2 at the time.  WE led by 9 at the half and proceeded not to score until under the 11 minute mark in the second half.  Crushing - tho we did bounce back with a nice OT win against Louisville in the consolation game.

[brewcity77]

How is MU going to stop Dickinson let alone slow him down? Pretty much need foul trouble issues.

Torch him in pick and roll, like Kentucky did (and we're frankly better at). Use doubles with small defenders to force turnovers (again like Kentucky did).

Dickinson is great and will put up numbers, but he can be exploited. Just like we did at Purdue and Edey for 30 minutes last year.

[DoctorV]

Recall?  MU played Kansas 5 years ago to the day in the NIT Tipoff - they were # 2 at the time.  WE led by 9 at the half and proceeded not to score until under the 11 minute mark in the second half.  Crushing - tho we did bounce back with a nice OT win against Louisville in the consolation game.

I was at that tourney, it was a rollercoaster. That 1H versus Kansas was great, the finish v Louisville was great.
That win starter the greatest stretch in Wojos tenure.
Being in Brooklyn and Manhattan was awesome.

I have a feeling that if tonight and tomorrow go as planned I'm going to regret not going to Maui for the rest of my life, but I'm really happy for those that could make it.

Be loud and make us proud!

[DoctorV]

Torch him in pick and roll, like Kentucky did (and we're frankly better at). Use doubles with small defenders to force turnovers (again like Kentucky did).

Dickinson is great and will put up numbers, but he can be exploited. Just like we did at Purdue and Edey for 30 minutes last year.

Yup. Pack it in with double teams and fast hands and emphasize deflections and turns all game.
When you get it, run like heck.
When you don't, crash the glass with all 5 guys.

Allow them the outside shot and if they beat you at your game you weren't going to win anyway.

[JakeBarnes]

Torch him in pick and roll, like Kentucky did (and we're frankly better at). Use doubles with small defenders to force turnovers (again like Kentucky did).

Dickinson is great and will put up numbers, but he can be exploited. Just like we did at Purdue and Edey for 30 minutes last year.

Yep. Illinois did the same in the scrimmage. At the outset of this tournament i thought UCLA was a worse matchup for us than Kansas. UCLA clogged the lane a lot early on and had the height to do it--just lost some discipline in the end. Kansas was quite susceptible to things we are good at--PnR and (usually) hitting open 3s like the looks they were allowing to Kentucky.

Maybe I am way off, but feel pretty good about this game.

[StillAWarrior]

Actual text exchange with my daughter who is returning from college for thanksgiving today:

Her: hey are you staying up for the marquette game tonight?
Me: I'm insulted that you'd ask me that.
Her: oh good i want to watch it!!
Me: Are you going to refrain from punching Grandma Thursday?
Her: ?
Me: I thought we were asking questions that implied that the other is a savage. You started it.

[94Warrior]

Yep. Illinois did the same in the scrimmage. At the outset of this tournament i thought UCLA was a worse matchup for us than Kansas. UCLA clogged the lane a lot early on and had the height to do it--just lost some discipline in the end. Kansas was quite susceptible to things we are good at--PnR and (usually) hitting open 3s like the looks they were allowing to Kentucky.

Maybe I am way off, but feel pretty good about this game.

I am sensing a Baylor-like Beatdown.  Kam, Stevie, Chase and to an extent Tyler can flush last night's game from their system - and respond with a vengeance. 
It's great when 4 of your top players aren't at their best, and you can still beat a pretty good UCLA team.  Let's Go!!!!!

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Do they really? Kansas has no bench and their big three (Dickinson, McCullar, Harris) played more minutes against Chaminade than Marquette's top-3 (Kolek, Oso, Kam) did.

That absolutely baffled me. Kansas is up 25 with <4 minutes to go and Self has the starters out there. Why?

[MU82]

That absolutely baffled me. Kansas is up 25 with <4 minutes to go and Self has the starters out there. Why?

Maybe he didn't think they were particularly "hard" minutes, and he wanted to see/work on something specific that could help the team against a real opponent later on?

I don't know that's what he was thinking, but maybe.

As for tonight's game ...

I respect Kansas. Some very good players on this team (as usual), and obviously an outstanding program. But I don't think this Kansas team is any better than the UConn team we beat at MSG last March. One doesn't need blue-and-gold tinted glasses to see a path to victory.

[willie warrior]

1. Make Open Looks
2. Make Free Throws

Somebody tell Oso about making FTs

[MUbiz]

Somebody tell Oso about making FTs

The rest of the team as well. It will cost us eventually.

[Uncle Rico]

Somebody tell Oso about making FTs

I doubt the coaching staff has told him that

[JakeBarnes]

Somebody tell Oso about making FTs

Someone tell freethrows about making Oso.

[MU82]

I doubt the coaching staff has told him that

Maybe if Shaka got right in their faces and yelled at them - or better yet, choked them - they'd get the message and make their free throws.

[muwarrior69]

Somebody tell Oso about making FTs

Is it me, but he seems to miss early in the game. He seems to make the clutch FT near the end of the game. What gets me, Kam and TK excluded, is that our 3pt shooters struggle at the line.

[tower912]

I am going to watch more closely, but it is my impression so far this year he is locking his knees, nearly locking his elbows, and basically shooting with a flick of his wrist.   

[PGsHeroes32]

Is it me, but he seems to miss early in the game. He seems to make the clutch FT near the end of the game. What gets me, Kam and TK excluded, is that our 3pt shooters struggle at the line.

Kam actually for his career has been a very ok free throw shooter

Jop is way better at the line.

Chase had a bad game last night but was good last year. Not a ton of sample on him.

[cheebs09]

Is it me, but he seems to miss early in the game. He seems to make the clutch FT near the end of the game. What gets me, Kam and TK excluded, is that our 3pt shooters struggle at the line.

I agree. The more important the FT, usually the better he does.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I agree. The more important the FT, usually the better he does.

Well let's ensure JB is far far away before each Oso FT

[Dickthedribbler]

I agree. The more important the FT, usually the better he does.

All free throws matter.

[JakeBarnes]

Yep. Illinois did the same in the scrimmage. At the outset of this tournament i thought UCLA was a worse matchup for us than Kansas. UCLA clogged the lane a lot early on and had the height to do it--just lost some discipline in the end. Kansas was quite susceptible to things we are good at--PnR and (usually) hitting open 3s like the looks they were allowing to Kentucky.

Maybe I am way off, but feel pretty good about this game.

I said I felt good. I did not feel THIS good.

[brewcity77]

Torch him in pick and roll, like Kentucky did (and we're frankly better at). Use doubles with small defenders to force turnovers (again like Kentucky did).

Dickinson is great and will put up numbers, but he can be exploited. Just like we did at Purdue and Edey for 30 minutes last year.

Killed them inside, turned him over left and right. Let's do the same to Edey tomorrow.