Question on Svi and Newman...

I was thinking, as I watched the game, that maybe Svi and Newman were trying to get Vick going by letting him get some shots. It makes no other sense really why Svi would take so few shots and score one point. He's been on fire lately and I didn't see defense that I thought was shutting him down. I know Newman took some shots and missed but I was just thinking maybe it was Self's plan to try and get Vick back in the mix more. Not sure but wanted to see what others thought?

Svi's performance last night perplexed me. TCU was face guarding him and did a nice job of coming through screens. But the motion was fairly poor and Svi did not drive nearly as aggressively as he has been. Maybe all those missed layups has him spooked.

There may be some validity to that. I was thinking early in the 2nd half about how Vick just can't buy a break on his shots. They roll around and fall out. Typical of the way things go when you are in a slump. I thought him getting to the line will be an important thing to help get him out of the doldrums. Seeing the ball go through the hoop is good for his mindset.

We're getting easier to guard every game. Vick and Garrett require almost no defensive attention, and Newman is shooting so poorly that you almost dare him to shoot. That allows tight D on Svi and Graham. Svi was taken out of the game early, and never climbed back in. Graham had a great game, but I'm waiting for him to run out of gas.

Overall I think we're seeing some tired players in the long slog of the conference season.

I said earlier in the season that Self is responsible for such a depleted roster, but I was intrigued by how he would manage it. He's doing quite well getting the most out of very little.

Well said, HE. Every team gets its share of surprise adversity but we seem to have gotten an extra dose this year.

Good point squire Errant (regarding the loss of Coleby and Preston). This is certainly not the team Self envisioned last year. As for the players wearing down from the long slog of the season I am not sure I entirely buy into that. These are young teems or twenty somethings in tip top shape with world class trainers and all the marvels of modern athletic kinesiology. My close friend is a 30 something (young 30 something) who trains constantly for the triathlon. He is a maniac working a full time job and finds time to train 4 hours per day on top of that and I am talking world class level. He has been doing this for years. He does have the benefit of various dietary advice and commercial kinesiology technology but not to the degree a tier one college athlete has. And he does this day after day after day after day. I am not diminishing the rigors of a D1 college basketball player but if you have the mental fortitude is is not a ridiculously heavy lift to withstand the rigors of a 40 game season. Devonte' gives more effort more consistently than anyone on the team and plays more minutes and yet continues to perform more consistently at a high level than anyone on the team. He has dropped off ever so slightly in my player ratings but that is probably more of a function of the imperfection of my rating system adequately adjusting for SOS. I personally buy into the theory of lack of mental toughness rather than worn down physical bodies. My daughter's friend's husband is a trainer for the OKC Thunder. Several years ago Russell Westbrook had a pretty serious knee injury that required surgery. This guy was telling me about Russell Westbrook's rehab process. It was insane the effort that guy put in. Apparently he is an incredibly focused and mentally disciplined and tough individual. So not everyone is going to be on a par with the NBA MVP but I look around college basketball and it is not hard to spot the players who seem to wither mentally both in trying situations and as the season goes on. Maybe my least favorite Big 12 player ever was Marcus Smart. But the dude was mentally tough. Javon Carter has never struck me as a particularly talented basketball player but he is now borderline NBA prospect because largely of his mental toughness and dedication. Landen Lucas had mediocre or less talent and physical ability but started on a top ranked D1 team on mental toughness. KU has had planty of those guys. Hinrich, Vaughn, Releford, Tyshawn Taylor, Jerod Haase, Rex Walters, and others. I suspect that Vick particularly has taken a bit of a beating having to play in the interior (and I do feel for him since he is definitely not built for that) and he is just gun shy. I certainly understand that but this is not a hobby or a fun pastime. This is D! hoops and he is receiving a very valuable scholarship and world class treatment compared to what most of us had in college. All he has to do is continue to tough it out and give 100%. Then again I may be completely wrong on all of this.

I beg your forgiveness good Sir Knight. An egregious oversight to one of the nobles of the Order of the Garter to address you in such common fashion.