Sunday, February 28, 2010

Happy Now?

Sorry, I know I shouldn't, but I just couldn't resist that headline.

For what it's worth, Keegan agrees, saying the loss could help KU down the line...

I don't know about that, but I do like the fact that the '08 team lost in Stillwater... and then never lost again!

8 comments:

  1. Yes, this loss pretty much sews up the national title... Pop the champagne!

    I don't want to dwell on it too much -- 60 percent shooting by the Cowboys just has to be an aberration. (PLEASE let it be an aberration.)

    But I want to do a bit of negative venting before the Senior Day lovefest begins...

    I mentioned earlier that the Star's UFR blog has been hammering Sherron for his statistical inefficiency. And even though I think they overemphasize stats, there's no doubt that they have a point. It's disappointing that he's been unable as an upperclassman to improve his shooting percentage or assist-to-turnover ratio. This can't be helping his draft status.

    Earlier in the year Sherron single-handedly won us some games (Cornell, Baylor), but lately some of our wins have come almost despite him (A&M), and against OSU his nightmarish first half was much more decisive to the outcome of the game than his excellent second half.

    OK, I'll counter with some Sherron-love between now and Wednesday. Anyone else want to vent in the meantime?

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  2. It's interesting to contrast these legitimate worries with Self's recent quote about Sherron's development:
    “He used to dunk on people in high school in the halfcourt offense. He didn’t need a running start to do it,” Self said. “He’s not quite as explosive, but he’s a better basketball player.”

    Maybe the key is to see him in context? He's certainly less prone to the dribble-too-far-under-the-basket kind of mistakes he used to make, and there's no doubt that he's developed as a leader.

    That said, I share your frustration, dgl. Six turnovers is just unacceptable, especially from our senior leader. I wouldn't go as far as to agree with Knight's comment about benching Sherron, but it was a little odd to see Cole sit so long in that game: why the willingness to pull other players but never #4?

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  3. I'm assuming Cole wasn't benched punitively, but just to get a speedier "quick comeback" lineup on the floor. I'm not sure if I like that strategy, but it sort of makes sense.

    I had noticed that Sherron has seldom if ever dunked as a 'Hawk -- which is surprising if you remember our first view of him in the Mickey Ds game. I guess those injuries took their toll.

    It is also odd that you really never hear a peep of criticism from Self about Sherron -- even when he was an underclassman if I recall correctly. Self is definitely Sherron's enabler.

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  4. I think it's harder to bench your general. I would also say, that the last few games notwithstanding, that Sherron has improved more from last season than Cole.

    We'll need both to step it up this month.

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  5. Also, have you guys found NCAA Vault? They have lots of tournament games from the 2000's online. The other day I watched our win over Bill Self's Illini from 2002.

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  6. The UFR breakdown linked above says Sherron's numbers have declined since last season. I expected his scoring averages to go down now that KU has more weapons, but his efficiency #s are down as well.

    Same is true for Cole on the offensive end, but defensively I think he's improved from last year.

    Keegan notes that it's probably Cole's last home game, too. He's never lost at the Phog.

    UNC seems to have righted itself a bit, and they've beaten us to 2,000. Still, it's hard to see them getting more than a few wins from here on; if KU wins out, we could go into next season up a half-dozen or so on the 'Heels.

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  7. every time we go down to that barn in Stillwater it seems like everything they throw up goes in.

    I would've liked an undefeated Big XII season, but if the mojo works, then fine.

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  8. Well, it feels like Sherron's better. So, there.

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