Four-Way Tie Raises Questions - Like Whose PT Will Collins Steal?
I haven’t yet acquired the statistical jones of some of Phog Blog’s contributors, but some stats are so glaring they get up and slap you in the face. Example: The current four-way tie for first in the Big 12. KU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech all stand at 4-1. True, it’s early yet to discern the shape of the conference race, but this unsightly log jam provides some food for thought:
Is Texas Tech a genuine contender? After the KU loss, word was that the Jayhawks lost to a team that was mediocre at best. Second thoughts, anyone?
How far can freshman Kevin Durant carry Texas? After Darrell Arthur’s less-than-sterling performance in last night’s played-up match-up with Kevin Rogers, it’s not hard to guess who would get the best of a Durant-Arthur match-up. Texas has other tools (DJ Augustin, A.J. Abrams), but Durant makes or breaks the Longhorns. So far, that’s been good news for Texas.
And, on the KU front: Whose minutes will Sherron Collins steal? Mario Chalmers’ foul trouble has freed up time for the poised freshman, but this won’t last. Bill Self has been vocal about “Glue-man” Robinson’s place in the line-up, and Chalmers seems to be coming out of the offensive fog that has troubled him for the last four games. But increasingly, KU is better when Collins is on the court. Collins flourishes under pressure and knows how to change the momentum of a game-so something has to give.
Your takes?
* Have the Phog Blog come to you! * Subscribe to Comments
11 Responses to “Four-Way Tie Raises Questions - Like Whose PT Will Collins Steal?”
Leave a Reply
Comment Policy:Be polite.You must be logged in to post a comment.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I think KU will continue to have a 3-way rotation at the G spot, with pretty evenly balanced minutes between Collins, Robinson, and Chalmers, foul trouble excepted.
Fans are clamoring for a more up-tempo KU offensive scheme. Comments to another post on the PhogBlog suggest that we should be scoring 90 points per night! Collins certainly is a skilled offensive player, without question, but Chalmers contributes as much to KU’s speed with his defensive play as Collins does with his offensive skills.
Although Russ Rob doesn’t display the offensive skills of the other two (he has them, I think, but he just doesn’t use them enough), he makes everyone else on the floor better. He may not be a vocal presence, but everyone on the team seems to acknowledge his leadership role.
I for one would like to see the 3G offense against teams with particularly strong back courts. We match up well on defense against such teams with Rush and the 3Gs, and that ball hawking defense is what fires our teams up. When only 2Gs are in against teams with good back courts, our defensive intensity seems to suffer.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:43 am
There’s either 80 minutes to go three ways or 120 minutes to go four ways, so it shouldn’t be a problem at all (especially considering Bill Self’s reluctance to play a guard in the first half once he picks up his second foul).
January 25th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Collins will keep playing at least 18 minutes a game and more when either Russ or Mario is in foul trouble. He’s a heck of a player, and he’s only getting better.
Tech was an at risk game according to the REAL standings for both KU and AM, so it shouldn’t really affect things very much. KU picked up an at risk game at Baylor I believe, so they should be back to a projected 13-3 record. AM was 11-5 predicted in the REAL standings as I recall, since they stand a chance of losing most road games down South and have to play at KU.
In my book, it’s way early to be comparing records without looking where people have played.
January 25th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Tech has taken care of business at home and split 2 road games against the middle-tier teams. That’s they way a contender is supposed to play. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you do bump them up. If the contenders are KU, OSU, Texas, A&M, and Tech, then the top of the REAL standings look like so (I think):
KU 13-3
A&M 11-5
Texas 11-5
OSU 10.5-5.5
Tech 10.5-5.5
KSU 9-7
January 25th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Tech’s 2 big wins confirms that Knight a) get the most of what he has, b) prepare for anyone if given the time, and c) flat out coach. I’m sure no one is disputing any of these factors.
I’m interested in Texas barely pulling one off in Lincoln. After seeing them in one of the best games of the year against the Cowboys, I was surprised to see them hanging on the beat the Huskers only by 1. Oh wait, I forgot, it is January and it is conference time. Gotta love conference play in the Big 12.
January 25th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I think the playing time distribution will be situational. If either Chalmers or Robinson are struggling on any given night, I think Sherron’s minutes should be up around 25-30. The same goes for the other positions, which is a big luxury that many teams do not have. The more I watch Collins, though, the more I want him on the floor, especially against teams that play zone.
Another thing I love about Collins is that it seems to me that he plays like he has limited minutes. In other words, he goes hard every play he is in there, whether pushing the ball on the break or after a made basket, or being aggressive with dribble penetration and good defense. He knows if he gets tired or isn’t on its ok because there are lots of other guys who can pick it up.
All I know is, when the game is close at the end, I really want Sherron Collins in the game. The only problem is, I don’t know who, between Robinson and Chalmers, I don’t want in the game.
Rock Chalk
January 25th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Right on Rock Chalk. As I mentioned earlier, at the moment, Robinson seems to be in a bit of a hole. His botched full-court pass against Missou really surprised me and made me think twice about his current confidence. Hoops is all about confidence and it is a long season, so I’m sure it goes up and down throughout the season, especially when the coach has given you the yellow light to put the ball up.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I think if we’re up than Robinson will be in, if we’re down it will be Collins.
January 26th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
To me, the key to what KU accomplishes this season is Collins. If he is given the opportunity to work through his mistakes defensively and to improve his decision making offensively, I can see a marked improvement in everyone’s play. I can see Mario and Brandon consistently getting open looks and taking their shots in rhythm. I can see Sasha, Julian, DA–maybe even Darnell–getting easy point blank shots when the D leaves them to help on Ron. And I can see an even more energized D–which can feed off of offensive success as much as vice-versa.
That is my vision, anyway: Apply pressure 40 minutes a game on both offense and defense. Do that and talent will out.
Self said sometime in the last few days that we are about 30 days away from putting it all together. I hope he is right. And I think he might be if he is thinking in terms of Ron’s development in running the offense and controlling the tempo. If that is not what he is thinking, then what is he planning to do with the “last piece of the puzzle”?
We are not a FF quality team NOW. I am optimistic that we will be shortly, but we must establish an offensive identity.
There is no doubt that Durant is the best freshman–perhaps the best player–in the conference. However, because of the posiiton he plays and his effect on his teammates, even though he has to improve in certain areas, Ron might turn out to be the most important.
January 26th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Great comment Mark. I think that the sting of the last two seasons’ endings have KU fans notabl y glum about our chances to improve and advance.
Collins is a handful and he does open up the perimeter with his penetration.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Mark, we’re on the same wavelength. I see a sustained aggressiveness in Collins that makes him stand out. He consistently brings it.