🏀 KuBuckets Archive

I love KJ. But it's hard love. He brings so much to the game, but he doesn't bring enough.

I'm hard on KJ, the nice guy, because I feel sure he is the player that will determine what we do in March this year. Why is that? Because he is a guy who leaves most of what he could do in every game in the locker room.

I know I'll probably get hit with some negative reactions... but tell me why he's being outrebounded by Zeke? I'm not sure but I bet Zeke has twice his rebound average.

KJ is our athletic freak on this team. There are few athletes in college basketball with his physique and tone. Who shouldn't he own in college basketball? He showed potential when he battled Cooper head-to-head.

He should be a double-double machine, every friggin' game.

I'm not going to let him off the hook for being such a nice guy and he has a great spirit, shown by him catching up to his team after losing his mother. KJ is a great soul and teammate. But I'm talking about something else.

So I'm sending KJ a Christmas gift. Just for him. A clip he needs to watch every morning, right when he wakes up, before every game, and the last thing he looks at before bedtime so he can dream about his conversion to become the next Charles Barkley.

Pay attention to the Shaq interview. Barkley was only 6'4" and size didn't mean anything.

Merry Christmas to everyone... and especially to you, KJ, because I'm sick of you leaving your game in your head instead of on the court.

Poor KJ. This is a never ending conversation. I look forward to next year's board, so we don't have to talk about him and Harris.

He's really just a garbage guy and Self's favorite versatile defender. Some days are better than others.

Since Self will never NOT play him, i just hope he can play D and make what baskets come to him. Rebounding is obviously not part of Self's plan for him, or he'd yank him from the game more often.

Next year's conversations will be interesting without KJ. will we miss him more?

@rockchalkjayhawk Not to worry I;m quite sure we will be able to find somebody that we can crao[ p on surely

Even though I agree with you for the most part drgnslayr I do think we need to look a little deeper before we just lay blame on KJ for his paly. , let's dig into some stats between KJ & Zeke on the year and see.

OK :- - Minutes played per game , KJ 29.2 - Zeke- - 28.5 .- -- now here is going to surprise you from your statement made.- -Rebounding Average - -Zeke- -4.2 - -KJ - -4.0 ( so no not even close to doubled ) -- Asst per - -Zeke 3.3 , -- KJ 2.3
Steals per game - Zeke- - 0.6 -- - KJ- -0.6- - - blocks per - -Zeke0.2 . - -Kj- - 1.1- -- Turnovers per , - -Zeke 2.0 - - -KJ 0.9- -FT - - Zeke 78.6- -- -KJ - 78.3

Now in the more borader picture on the Season- -Shots taken- -Zeke attempted 71/125- ( here is a glaring difference- -Zeke has attempted 46 more shots then KJ) - - - Free Throws - - Zeke- -11/14 - -KJ - -18/23- -- -Now here where it shows in the rebounding comparison - - Zeke 3 offensive rebounds , - -KJ 21 offensive rebounds - -defensive rebounds - -Zeke 43 - - KJ - -232.

So actually Zeke and KJ are actually pretty much the same , just not that rebounding difference that you had mentioned by double.-- Zeke hitting the defensive boards quite a bit better , - -KJ more balanced defensive and offensive- - but as you see overall only two tenths difference in rebounding average.

What i really don't think some understand is , I just don't think KJ is that kind of player where he is going to be some scoring machine. I don't think Coach has him on the floor for- -I think he has him out on the floor because of everything else he does. - - -He can guard 1 through 4 and do a good job at it- - - He really shouldn't have to be counted on to score much more then what he si -- he averages I think right at 9 points a game.-- That's why Coach went into the portal and got these other guys -- they are suppose to help hunter in the scoring aspect of the game- -that's what Rylan - - AJ - - & Zeke were brought in for, -KJ - guards and guards well. KJ is not afraid to go to the floor for loose balls - more just hustle- - -does the dirty work then anything - I think KJ catch's a lot of unwarranted flack -- KJ is who he is - -just not a big time scorer that's all my friend

Just convince him everyone is Cooper Flagg. He was great that game

I've literally never seen KJ box anyone out. You know, wide stance, plant the feet, stick the butt out and claim the rebound. Dennis Rodman style. You don't even have to jump half the time. At least 4 times I counted Sunday he just stood there, too deep under the basket, feet together, and off balance, and was outrebounded by a guy behind him. Simply nuts that the coaches haven't done anything about it, although Bill did get mad during the game that time Brown had 3 or 4 offensive rebounds in a row after Flory's blocked shots.

Honestly, some D, set the screens at the right time in the offense, and 7-10 boards a game are all I want from the guy.

Most of KJ's rebounds seem to be offensive boards. On defense, he isn't trying to rebound because he is usually off to the races. Would everyone be happier if HD had 2 less rebs and KJ had 2 more?

I just hope KJ or AJ becomes Dr. J.

@mayjay said in Christmas Gift to KJ:

Most of KJ's rebounds seem to be offensive boards. On defense, he isn't trying to rebound because he is usually off to the races. Would everyone be happier if HD had 2 less rebs and KJ had 2 more?

I doubt it, just have to find something else to be un happy about then. - -KJ is fine. he is no worse then a 7'2 guy that gets his shot blocked more then any other 7'2 player I've ever seen. - -I think he got his shot blocked 3 times against brown.- -- I would love to know what his vertical is - -his explosion - Hunter's explosion is awful getting your dunk blocked by the rim- - OMG , but KJ has become the whipping boy- -well for this week amways

@SlimShaddy54

I wasn't sure on overall game averages on rebounds... I just remember several games where Zeke doubled him up. We have to remember that Zeke is often on the outside of the trey line on offense while KJ, if not setting a pick, is much closer to the basket. There is no good excuse for his rebounding... none... Barkley treats the ball like it is a baby tossed out of the window of a burning building. That is the difference between him and KJ.

No way KJ is as gifted at scoring as Barkley... but he would increase his point totals if he rebounded 10+ boards a game... either on offensive putbacks, or trips to the charity stripe.

@DanR

My thoughts exactly... but this is a criticism that should be leveled at all our coaching staff. None of our guys know how to box out on a consistent basis. I think Dan Hurley is about the only D1 coach that still teaches fundamentals. Pathetic.

@rockchalkjayhawk

I will miss KJ when he's gone. Not because I enjoy criticizing him. He is a crowd favorite for a reason. I'm going to miss his super slam dunks and his huge smile and enthusiasm after a big play. I'm just not going to miss having a 4 averaging only 4 rpg. Especially one built like Adonis who gets pushed around by skinny, small guys.

@BeddieKU23

A+!

@everyone

I know this is a broken record. I apologize. I just hate to see this team not reach anywhere near their potential and in my book, KJ is the key piece that could not only add huge stats (and victories) but also ignite this team! An alpha KJ would put this team in the drivers seat for another April trophy!

@drgnslayr Sorry and your right IF , IF KJ could , but if your counting on that happening then sorry - that's not happening. There are not to many of that Barkly mode or ability - -plus there are alot of different fan bases that I'm sure wish that just IF a particular player could average over 10 Rebs a game -- they would be in 7th heaven- you don't find a lot of players average over 10 rebs a game- -that's just not KJ & like I said before, That's why Bill brought in all these supposed stud scoring portal transfers to pick up the Scoring. KJ doesn't need to score anymore if the others on this team would carry their load of responsibility.

I would bet that you could go through this entire roster and find things that IF the player did we would be ALOT better, take your pick any of them, they all got flaws that we could bitch about and to a point we do

@drgnslayr KJ is easily my favorite player on this team but he is a big piece as to why we struggle. A hard truth is he isn’t starting at just about every other team in our conference. When I signed up to coach my son’s team, I told him he will have to work hard to be the best player at his position to play or at least start, he won’t just play because he’s my son. A coaches job is to put the best players in the right spot to win games. He should be in an extended Mitch Lightfoot type of role. It’s fine if he starts but he shouldn’t be playing more than 20 minutes on the average night. The best this team has to offer is with 4 guards from what I’ve seen.

@SlimShaddy54

I get that he'll never be a Barkley, especially with Barkley's offensive capabilities. He doesn't need to be Barkley. I'd take half-Barkley.

We need him to become "Barkley Lite!" lol

@drgnslayr lmao you crazy lol

@drgnslayr Remember, Barkley was a great stats player but never a champ.

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@mayjay

One man doesn't make a champ in the NBA... not even Jordan. But I am surprised he didn't get one in Philly.

Suddenly Self mentions how KJ is rebounding better and still has the most room for improvement.