The Kansas Jayhawks and Samford Bulldogs are playing their Round of 64 matchup in the NCAA Tournament right now. KU is off to a hot start and adjusting to "Bucky Ball" well.
If you are unaware of Samford's play style, they are coached by Bucky McMillan. He implements a run-and-gun offense in which his team shoots a lot of 3-pointers, and they hit them at a high clip. They shoot 39.3% from beyond the arc, the sixth-highest percentage in Division I on the year.
Samford was very successful in McMillan's fourth year as head coach, going 29-5 and winning the Southern Conference. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) are particularly intrigued with the peculiar style that the Bulldogs run. Here are some of the best reactions.
Samford's chuck 3s and press all game style of play is ridiculous and I love it.
— MrManhattanKS (@MrManhattanKS) March 22, 2024
15-7 Kansas at first media timeout
— Brian Pedersen (@realBJP) March 22, 2024
Bucky Ball is fun, but if it can't score off turnovers and can't prevent wide open dunks and 3s this is going to be over before halftime
@SamfordMBB’s press is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. #BuckyBall
— Seth Taylor (@SethTaylor2) March 22, 2024
So this is the....Bucky Ball
— Monarch11 (@JV_757) March 22, 2024
I don’t know what style of basketball Samford plays but I think I like it
— Ben Doyka (@bendoyka) March 22, 2024
Samford trying to wear themselves out? 🤷🏻♂️😂 my guess is they come out flat in the 2nd half.
— Trace Kolb (@TraceKolb) March 22, 2024
BUCKY BALL, KANSAS, YOUD BETTER TURN UP
— HurleyMania dot bsky dot social (@HurleyMania) March 22, 2024