Things are looking up (after 2 down years)

There are various acronyms used by different organizations that refer to that ability to react with calm precision under stress or phrased a different way, it is that trained ability to rely on instinct that comes from intense training and preparation. Some of the more commonly used in military, law-enforcement, aviation, elite sports, and high-performance training communities of turning a conscious skill into an unconscious, near-instant “instinctive” response that bypasses the slow, fear-based amygdala hijack are MURI (Muscle Memory Under Reactive Instinct) and SITU (Stress-Inoculated Trained Unconscious). The goal is to hone the skills needed when you don't have time to rationalize and weigh the options. You need to react but with skill and training.

I have doubted Elmarko Jackson's skill set over the last couple seasons. But what I have been more critical of is his seemingly inability to go on that trained instinct. He always seems so reticent in almost every phase of the game. Something happened in the Tennessee game to Elmarko. For the very first time since he has donned a KU uni, he seemed to be in MIRU and SITU mode. I can't say his skill level was necessarily anything that we haven't seen. But his attitude was a new Elmarko. I am not sure what freed the beast but it was a very pleasant surprise. And for all the critique I have shaded on Elmarko, I want to make sure I give him all the credit he is due for this game. Listen, it is not just Elmarko, though. This team seems to be in a different headspace than the teams over the last couple years. What can we attribute that to? I certainly have no inside info so all I can do is speculate. But the one piece of evidence I have that seems to be the source of this welcomed new player mindset is a guy by the name of Jacque Vaughn. Jacque Vaughn is a winner and a great leader. Could it be that his intangible impact on this team is starting to bear fruit. Another new face that may have some impact is Melvin Council. Listen, the guy simply cannot shoot the ball well. But I would score him a solid A in every other aspect of the game. His player ratings have been right near elite level even with his abysmal shooting. That shows that in every other aspect of the game he has been elite. He is a dog and a pack leader. Maybe you have some other theories what has infused into the minds of this team. But there can be little doubt after the 3 games in Las Vegas that this team is more dog and less puppy of the last couple seasons.

The player rating is an interesting chart from this game. We have yet to have a game where we are firing on all cylinders. But other than the second half of the UNC game, we have been able to cover for those players who are having off games. The last couple seasons, we had too many games where the whole team seemed to be in a funk. This season, we have yet to have every player firing live but like championship caliber teams, we pick up the slack with teammates rather than all follow into the black hole of funk. This game is a good example. We played a very good and very talented and very well-coached Tennessee. Not only that, but we got a solid punch in the mouth followed by an upper cut that had us down 12 points with 14 minutes to play. Then the dogs came out. Tiller was just unable to find the groove at all and Flory was completely bamboozled the first half. These are two of the three guys who have been carrying us this season. And they were struggling mightily. Flory recovered a bit in the second half but Bryson was just a little out of phase. But Tre was in full Batman and up steps Melvin and Elmarko with assists from Kohl and Jamari. And especially Elmarko. It was junkyard dog attack with grit and determination. Tennessee did not relax at all. In fact they intensified as well. We just intensified more. And for all the obvious accolades for the scoring of Elmarko and Melvin, this win was actuated on the defensive end. But it was on offense where the new mindset of Elmarko was on full display. He simply attacked. He lost all the reticence that has plagued and characterized his game. If this is a true growth moment for Elmarko and not just a fluke game, KU's future hopes just made a great leap. When you look at the chart below, one of the flukes is that Mbiya scored out so highly. Mbiya did play very well but in fact he was the benefactor of being in the game during those pivotal 3.3 minutes when Elmarko and Melvin donned the capes and KU outscored Tennessee 12-2 in those 3.3 minutes. And note the 2 points scored by Tennessee. That is 0.6 points per minute or less than 1/3rd of the rest of the game. Defense fed our offense. So had Tiller stayed in the game during those moments, he might have been the benefactor of that run. Then again, maybe Mbiya was a defensive factor.

Should we be worried about Flory after this game? Well no, we shouldn't. In fact, I would say just the opposite. Yes, he struggled against bigger stronger guys. Well maybe not so much that they were bigger and stronger as there were just so stinking many of them. They replaced a giant with another giant. Tennessee is a big team. And Flory struggled mightily. So why am I encouraged. Because Flory does what he has done as well as anyone at KU for many years. He seems to learn almost every possession. He is like a sponge. And while he still struggled a little bit in the second half, he was clearly a different player. He did not back down or wilt. He kept coming just with a different approach. And not only Flory, but Self clearly made some halftime adjustments that didn't pay off immediately but ultimately paid off. There is just a lot to be happy about from this game. And to think even without Darryn, we have upside from where we have been. With Darryn we should have championship caliber upside.

KU was not the biggest benefactor of the week in the Big 12. That would go to Iowa State. Iowa State really improved their standing. Look at the Big 12 projection below. Iowa State has overtaken Arizona to lead the projection for the Big 12 race. KU is still back in 5th place but gaining ground.

And speaking of conferences, The Big 12 maintained its dominance but just barely over the SEC. But those two are both well ahead of the ACC. The Big Ten is even farther back and the Big East is truly the weakest thus far this season. TCU helped the cause of the Big 12 with a victory over Florida yesterday. Once again, look at the SOS for the Big 12. It is not even close. The Big 12 has played a SOS so much stronger than all the other Power 5 conferences.

Unfortunately, KU's excellent performance in Las Vegas was matched by some other teams so KU has not moved up in the DPPI as much as I would have hoped. But what is happening is the teams are now bunched up a little more tightly. Michigan is by far the big winner of the week. They zoomed all the way into 1st replacing Duke. Duke is still a very strong 2nd place and Gonzaga is pretty solid in 3rd. But 4th through 12th are all bunched up pretty tightly. It will not take much for KU to move up. A decisive victory over UConn should do the trick. And you will be happy to know that as of right now, KU is a 3.2 point favorite against UConn in Lawrence. I'd say a 10 point victory would be a nice early Christmas present. 

Will Darryn return against UConn? Will he return at all? This is sort of becoming a mystery. Some might think that at this point even a return will disrupt the chemistry this team is developing. That may or may not be true, but even so it is worth it. He is that good. KU is on the verge of being a solid top 8 team without him. And that has been a developmental process over the course of 8 games. And that has been forged in the crucible of the 7th most difficult SOS in the nation. KU is currently ranked 9th in defense and 16th in offense. But perhaps the most important thing is that KU has been slowly and steadily improving. Of course, every team is to varying degrees. But KU is in the upper echelon of improvement rate. 

Thanks you Corpus. UCONN seems to have reloaded and looks tough….How is this Danny Hurley pulling this off?

I agree that things are much improved this year. This team is getting more fun to watch each game. Worst thing that could happen though is if DnP returns and the rest of the team loses some aggressiveness while watching and deferring to him. What this team has shown me is that they will not lose, they may get beat occasionally but they will go down fighting. As QB JD’s mom said, “You don’t lose, you learn”. A little learning could go a long way in March!