For Ref Blamers...You Know Who You Are

As a KU Jayhawk fan living in Big 12 country, I've adapted to the usual complaints made by some fans of other schools when we win. Cries of "must be nice to have a sixth man on the court" and "the refs gave you guys the game" are as predictable as Willy the Wildcat's weekly whiplash treatments (a regrettable side effect from wearing the bobblehead).

This particular season, however, has unleashed wave of untempered childish tantrums the likes of which I haven't seen since John McEnroe made an American spectacle of himself in Stockholm. The Big 12 even caved under the whining by actually issuing a statement addressing two individual calls, ignoring in the process an entire epidemic afflicting the nation wherein officials often lack consistency and the ability to initiate control over the amount of physical contact that has not only become routine, but expected.

While it would be easy for me to climb on a very high soapbox (and most of you know I can be quite long winded and focus intently on the minutiae), I will spare you the raging lecture and point out the two reasons KU continues to dominate, obliterate, and eviscerate the Big 12 in basketball every year.

Reason number one is well known to every person out there who has any remote understanding of the game of basketball. Bill Self's teams play defense. Period. Defense is like your grandmother: she's always been there to love you through the hard times, even when mom or dad aren't what you need. Grandma is always there to feed you and keep you fueled. Grandma knows that in this ever-changing world, you must always hold on to simple proven truths. And grandma knows that girlfriends may come and go but if you keep close the core of who you really are and never compromise, you will always find happiness. Defense is KU's favorite grandmother: she's wise, old fashioned, and always there when we need her.

You see, the shortest athlete can play good defense. The biggest player can as well. The best and worst shooters can always be taught basic defense. Not every athlete is born with Michael Jordan's vertical or Wilt Chamberlain's wing span. KU doesn't get the nation's top recruits every year (at least not on the level UK does), although they do get their fair share periodically. Many of their current NBA players were not certain pro bets when they stepped foot on campus. They were taught, they listened, and they grew tough and strong while learning that solid defense is the foundation of a winning team.

Now pay attention, because this important. Defense prevents opposing teams from scoring. When they don't score, they lose. When they shoot poorly because of suffocating defense, they lose. It won't matter as much if your squad is having a poor shooting night. Your team can make up for it by relying on their one tried and proven mainstay: defense. Bill Self's teams are consistently at the top in the nation in defensive efficiency ratings. Remember the Big 12 Tournament Championship game when KU caused a KSU shot clock violation? That is why they won. KSU shot poorly because they were up against one of the best defensive teams in the nation.

Reason number two that KU has been able to win is because they play big down low. Ever heard the term "live by the three, die by the three"? The reason it SEEMS as if KU "gets all of the foul calls" is because working the ball inside presents closer, more physical contact around the rim thereby affording many more opportunities to draw a foul. Bill Self's high/low offense creates this opportunity time after time. It is strategy, it is textbook, and it works. Get the ball down low and either score or draw a foul. Iowa State is lacking in size and has to make up for it by shooting outside, avoiding the interior because of KU's inside presence. It's hard to defend a team when they have a rare night of insane three point shooting but a team that refuses to push the ball inside simply isn't going to draw fouls. KU managed to win that game because we ALSO had an insane shooter that night, not because it was given to them. When we are fouled it is because we are pushing the ball inside and forcing the opposing teams into close contact.

I'll keep it short and sweet: this isn't rocket science and there is no conspiracy. Bill Self has embraced the two simplest concepts in basketball and convinced player after player and team after team that it works. Rather than look for excuses as to why your teams lose, maybe you should be asking why your coaches don't learn from him.