KU has been here before, and everytime a Chicken Little screams the sky is falling. Most of the concerns on this post have been addressed.
We actually need to reload/rebuild. I've said before and will say again. Oubre is gone. Alex is likely gone and Self needs to push him because this Loangate is not going away. The NCAA will dog this until Alex declares. I don't think Self or Alex has a choice at this point. I don't know all the details, but the ultimate victim is Alex. We just lost a potentially great player and just never completed the season.
Selden needs to leave. He's digressing for some reason. He needs to review his stock status and if he's late in the first round, GO. If he's in the first round go and get picked up somehow. If not, there are a lot of options for his development. If Selden returns, he must return in beast mode with something to prove. I just don't think a return will do him much good. His fate is pretty much sealed.
Ellis may actually be the obvious sleeper. Many of us thought he'd return and will like do so. However, he's in a similar boat. His stock isn't too bad. Unlike Selden, he was actually on the upside of his junior season. I don't think it matters either way for Ellis at this point whether he goes or stays. I think staying may be to his advantage for his senior season. But, like Selden he risks losing what he's worked so hard to achieve. Ellis has a heart and a different way of looking at his life. I say he's back for his senior season, but it would be a pleasant surprise to me if he leaves.
Bottom line? Self needs to clean house and reload. It's time to keep a few core leaders: Mason, Graham (really matured), Green, Ellis?, maybe Lucas for experience. I'm not completely sold on Mari. He's a role player and a great model for work ethic. Svi is a diamond in the rough. I want that kid to stick around, learn, and grow. He needs to work on his shot. He can only get better. I don't care what Mickelson does at this point. I don't think he's going anywhere. He just gambled and lost.
Now let's reload with this core mentioned above. Let's add...Diallo, Brown, and maybe, just maybe Newman. I think Simmons April Fool's joke was interesting to say the least. Simmons may have ultimately just ruled out UK for Newman. But, he may know that Newman is LSU bound. I think with Oubre declaring just opened wide the door for Brown. If so, we may lose Green. Brown is going to bring what Green failed to bring all year as a sophomore. Lastly, if Selden leaves, it 'might' be the chip/domino Self needed to lure Newman. I always thought Newman was waiting to see what Selden would do. This is the ultimate reason for losing Selden. Now, I have no idea what Thorne's transfer means, if anything. I think he merely gives size and experience, pretty much Black 2.0. So, bottom line to bring in Diallo, Brown, Newman, and maybe Thorne, we'll have to lose...Oubre(check), Selden(?), and maybe Ellis.
We have 3 to give? Bragg gets 1, Diallo 1, Brown 1, and if Selden declares, 1, and we wouldn't have to lose Ellis. But, for the sake of pt, it's almost imperative that Ellis and Selden leave for Diallo and Newman. If we miss on Newman, I think Ingram might be our sleeping recruit. If we get both Brown and Ingram, Green is guaranteed gone. I doubt it will happen exactly this way, but very possible.
The Sky is not falling and either way KU will be ok. Always have is and will be fine. We get at least one more top recruit in addition to Bragg, even if it's Diallo, so be it. If we bring in Thorne, our 5 will be fairly competitve with him and Lucas. Diallo can get 25-30 mins, even with Ellis. Self will work it so that Ellis is a stretch 4 and Diallo is a true 4. We may get to see what some of us have been wanting for Ellis his whole time here as a big 3 (if we miss on Brown or Ingram).
