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saphojunkie · 04-06-2017, 11:27 AM

**** the elite 8. Final Four or bust, baby.

Will update as people declare for the draft/transfer/commit

ROSTER:

Spoiler!

UPDATE: Important new dates:

Kansas 2017 Summer Tour - Italy

Spoiler!

NON CON SCHEDULE:

Spoiler!

BIG 12 SCHEDULE:

Spoiler!

Mr. Plow · 01-25-2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

This is the 2nd year in a row we have 1 big man inside, who has flaws, and no bench. Now, to be fair Preston would have probably been in there instead of Doke and thats on Preston not Self. I dont think you could have recruited a 3rd top level one and done inside man to play this year. They would get all the playing time they want somewhere else. Preston being a dumbass really hurt us.

To be fair, this is 3 or 4 years in a row we've had a big not able to play for a variety of reasons; which is why Self has moved to more of a 4 out 1 in offense.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 01-25-2018, 09:57 AM

KU's team defense has really suffered the last couple years, too. It's easy to say it's directly related to not having enough big guys, but don't think that's fully it. Honestly, it has more to do with having a shit ton of boneheads on the floor (see Ellis, Johnson, Vick, Selden, Greene, Bragg, a younger Svi)... it brings the level of overall defensive cohesiveness down when the collective IQ levels are lacking.

Iczer · 01-25-2018, 10:11 AM

Not looking past this year, but next year is going to be pretty damn fun to watch.

KU should have plenty of depth in the front court next year. With the Lawson brothers who averaged basically a combined 33/18 together their last year in Memphis. Then add in De Sousa with a full offseason to work on his game. Azubuike isn't going anywhere. Plus freshman David McCormack. Oh and Lightfoot as well. Someone will probably have to redshirt next year.

Reerun_KC · 01-25-2018, 10:17 AM

Not much left to discuss on this until the 1000s of other fans here weigh in on this subject.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 01-25-2018, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Servant_KC

Not much left to discuss on this until the 1000s of other fans here weigh in on this subject.

**Bearcat** · 01-25-2018, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Servant_KC

Not much left to discuss on this until the 1000s of other fans here weigh in on this subject.

Mr. Plow · 01-25-2018, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Servant_KC

Not much left to discuss on this until the 1000s of other fans here weigh in on this subject.

This is why you owe me tickets to a men's KU home basketball game.

**Buehler445** · 01-25-2018, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I'd be considerably less concerned if this entire season hadn't been so concerning all along.

Everyone and every organization is entitled to an off year. But something feels a little 'slipping away' about this year. KU doesn't feel like the big dog with the big swinging dick. They seem vulnerable to every team they play. Then you have the eligibility mess.

Overall it's one game. And even if 2017/2018 is a disaster throughout, it's one season. But with what we've gone through with the Chiefs recently, he picked a bad time to show us even a little of the Wizard behind the Curtain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Self is still great at recruiting and developing 2nd tier talent. He's still behind the masters [whether that's because he's trying to stay cleaner, or what] in the 1&D game. Heck, probably our best overall 1&D in Embiid wasn't even supposed to be a 1&D, but still learning the game and healthy for at least a couple years. Explosive talent and tweaked bone structure turned that into an attractive long-term NBA investment instead of a teaching opportunity for KU.

It feels a little "slipping away" because this team is bad. The only guy that is an NBA talent is Doke and he isn't going until he can do SOMETHING besides dunk.

Bottom line is this: Preston is a go-tard who can't drive. And during the recruiting of this year's class, Diallo was on nobody's radar as even a remote chance of declaring and he's gone. This team looks far different with Preston and Diallo on the floor.

And with NBA type talented kids, that's what you get - Volatility. These high ass recruits have been coddled the whole time and pretty much haven't had to live any life. Consider what Releford brought to the table in terms of being coachable and putting himself on the line out there versus a guy like Xavier Henry. I'm a pretty good sized X Henry fan. He came and worked the defensive end hard. But while they ended up being in the same universe of productivity for KU, the year over year gains were far better for Releford than X. As well as taking a redshirt, defending the 4, some other stuff Releford was a good soldier that you weren't going to get out of X. Now, on the recruitment trail, you don't tell X to **** off and go find Releford, but the dynamics of 1 and done is different than guys that are a tick lower on the talent scale.

With one and dones, sometimes you get Josh Jackson, sometimes you get Josh Selby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrenheit

KU's team defense has really suffered the last couple years, too. It's easy to say it's directly related to not having enough big guys, but don't think that's fully it. Honestly, it has more to do with having a shit ton of boneheads on the floor (see Ellis, Johnson, Vick, Selden, Greene, Bragg, a younger Svi)... it brings the level of overall defensive cohesiveness down when the collective IQ levels are lacking.

They also changed the rules to make it harder to defend on the outside.

Also, the youth system continues to change, especially with bigs. I'm not sure there is a college kid today that is as comfortable working with his back to the basket as I was coming out of high school. Granted I was a no talent, but I could still run a post move. There are virtually no post moves anymore. If you go look at what Arthur was able to do in 08 vs what these kids do, it's night and day.

So the skills these guys come in with is ever changing.

Mr. Plow · 01-25-2018, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

They also changed the rules to make it harder to defend on the outside.

Also, the youth system continues to change, especially with bigs. I'm not sure there is a college kid today that is as comfortable working with his back to the basket as I was coming out of high school. Granted I was a no talent, but I could still run a post move. There are virtually no post moves anymore. If you go look at what Arthur was able to do in 08 vs what these kids do, it's night and day.

So the skills these guys come in with is ever changing.

Any more, bigs have to be able to hit outside shots more & more.

**Buehler445** · 01-25-2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Any more, bigs have to be able to hit outside shots more & more.

Right. And that all trickles down from the NBA. But they can still score with their back to the basket. It looks different because they’re usually trying to work motion or penetration but you still see guys get fed with their back to the basket.

But it’s still remarkable to me. I’m all about skilled big guys that can shoot and dribble and what that does to the defense. But at the same time a big guy in the lane with his back to the basket is still a very efficient look with a tiny bit of skill.

BWillie · 01-25-2018, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Anyway...

...I HATE the SEC/B12 challenge in the middle of conference play.

Why? I think it's a nice way to "relax" half way through the conference grind.

Reerun_KC · 01-25-2018, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

This is why you owe me tickets to a men's KU home basketball game.

Reerun_KC · 01-25-2018, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrenheit

**Lzen** · 01-25-2018, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

It feels a little "slipping away" because this team is bad. The only guy that is an NBA talent is Doke and he isn't going until he can do SOMETHING besides dunk.

Bottom line is this: Preston is a go-tard who can't drive. And during the recruiting of this year's class, Diallo was on nobody's radar as even a remote chance of declaring and he's gone. This team looks far different with Preston and Diallo on the floor.

And with NBA type talented kids, that's what you get - Volatility. These high ass recruits have been coddled the whole time and pretty much haven't had to live any life. Consider what Releford brought to the table in terms of being coachable and putting himself on the line out there versus a guy like Xavier Henry. I'm a pretty good sized X Henry fan. He came and worked the defensive end hard. But while they ended up being in the same universe of productivity for KU, the year over year gains were far better for Releford than X. As well as taking a redshirt, defending the 4, some other stuff Releford was a good soldier that you weren't going to get out of X. Now, on the recruitment trail, you don't tell X to **** off and go find Releford, but the dynamics of 1 and done is different than guys that are a tick lower on the talent scale.

With one and dones, sometimes you get Josh Jackson, sometimes you get Josh Selby.

They also changed the rules to make it harder to defend on the outside.

Also, the youth system continues to change, especially with bigs. I'm not sure there is a college kid today that is as comfortable working with his back to the basket as I was coming out of high school. Granted I was a no talent, but I could still run a post move. There are virtually no post moves anymore. If you go look at what Arthur was able to do in 08 vs what these kids do, it's night and day.

So the skills these guys come in with is ever changing.

Just FYI, I looked at a mock draft the other day and it showed Svi, Vick, and Devonte all going in the 2nd round. Also, it had Billy Preston as the last pick in the 2nd round.

**Buehler445** · 01-25-2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Just FYI, I looked at a mock draft the other day and it showed Svi, Vick, and Devonte all going in the 2nd round. Also, it had Billy Preston as the last pick in the 2nd round.

Svi and graham are gone. I can’t imagine Vick going if that’s where is projects. Sounds like Preston has some work to do in Bosnia

.

01-25-2018, 09:57 AM	#1292
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Fansy the Famous Bard's Avatar Join Date: Feb 2009	KU's team defense has really suffered the last couple years, too. It's easy to say it's directly related to not having enough big guys, but don't think that's fully it. Honestly, it has more to do with having a shit ton of boneheads on the floor (see Ellis, Johnson, Vick, Selden, Greene, Bragg, a younger Svi)... it brings the level of overall defensive cohesiveness down when the collective IQ levels are lacking.
Posts: 6,037

01-25-2018, 10:11 AM	#1293
Iczer Starter Join Date: Dec 2014	Not looking past this year, but next year is going to be pretty damn fun to watch. KU should have plenty of depth in the front court next year. With the Lawson brothers who averaged basically a combined 33/18 together their last year in Memphis. Then add in De Sousa with a full offseason to work on his game. Azubuike isn't going anywhere. Plus freshman David McCormack. Oh and Lightfoot as well. Someone will probably have to redshirt next year.
Posts: 272

01-25-2018, 10:17 AM	#1294
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Reerun_KC's Avatar Join Date: Aug 2005	Not much left to discuss on this until the 1000s of other fans here weigh in on this subject.
Posts: 934