🏀 KuBuckets Archive

OK, we have had this discussion before BUT - - - here we are AGAIN approaching the fall signing period in Basketball and things for the fall period not looking good. Ya I know we all have heard before - - -Well these kids a lot are waiting to see who is coming back and who is returning and such before they sign. Well sounds good. BUT my counter point to that is - - If that is truly the case then WHY are these same quote - -unquote players going ahead and committing to other schools? - - I'm not necessarily talking about just OAD'S

Just seems to me that we are starting to settle into a trend. For about the last 3 yrs now, and as I have said before and STILL will stick by, feel like that there are times we are just not closing the deal, and that falls on some of our recruiters. When your surposedly leading for a particular player or seem to be and you've been all over him for an extended time and then BAM he ends up committing elsewhere? - - -WHAT HAPPENED? - -Someone is not finishing. You have got to stay on these kids for real, I've just got this twisting gut feeling that some of our recruiters when they feel or think we have got a guy pretty well wrapped up - -they back off, periods of non contact with that recruit.

I'm gonna use Ayton as a prime example, we was the ONLY school recruiting him for the longest time, ya I know there were qualifying issues or that's what we were told anyways, we had been in on him early, early, early, then finally a couple of others get in the mix, and we know the outcome. - - Question is seeing we were the perceived leader on him for the longest time- - - Did we back off of him, dead time - -OR did we stay on top of it and put our foot on his throat - -close it out?

Just becoming a trend with this - -every fall. Ya,Ya, Ya, I know I've heard it before oh well we ended up just fine, look who we got in the spring - -been there - -done that BUT I'm tellin ya one of these years and this could very well be the year where we go through yet another non eventful signing period and then spring rolls around and we are left scrambling thinking well we have got this stud that we've been waiting on and BAM nope - -then we really have to scramble - - lesser guys,- - -de-commits - -transfers not a good picture, with us having so many scholi's available or possibly - -I think we have just got to really turn up the heat, get really aggressive, apply more pressure on these guys. Maybe some of our guys are losing their recruiting edge. Something is not right, because you lay everything on the table and there isn't any single college with the obvious exception of maybe Duke, Kentucky that has squat over our School. - - Tradition- - -Exposure- - -Development for the N.B.A 15 players on opening day rosters, - -2nd winningest program in the history of the game - - The atmosphere, - -Great education opportunity - - just not getting it. - - Where we going wrong? A lot and I mean A lot of these kids just starving for the attention of the media. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54 some want to stay home. There's also always room at the oad schools. Some don't want to wait to play, example Alabama and Miami. Others just want to get thru a year, miss. State, Lsu. on the way to NBA. Well grounded kids that want to work, enjoy college, have a parent that's smart enough to figure that KU is the best choice, believe in the phog, come here. I would also include play w/other players that believe strongly in a team concept! No choice, is there?💙❤️🏀

@jayballer54

If you want some more the "sky is falling material" Carte'Are Gordon a top 20 2018 PF considered to have been a KU lock will announce for Saint Louis today at 2:30. Can't make this up

Correction he already committed. lol the check cleared for Travis Ford!

@Crimsonorblue22 All I'm saying this is becoming a trend and unless we can get this turned around one of these years we are going to be screwed - - I am 1000000% convinced that someone on this staff is not closing the deal. I realize that we have took on another challenge in the past few years like 4-5 yrs now of being in the race for the bigger fish. BUT I was just as fine with the 3-4 yr player. To many of these kids are media starved attention getting types - -thriving ,starving for the media- -playing to the media - -playing a guessing game

I'm to the point where ok, let's go back to the solid 3-4 yr player, we have done fine in the past with such type players. A kid that wants to commit, and really considers it a privelage an honor to have an offer from a school such as ours, puts there whole heart and soul into the school NOT one that is there just because he has to be.

If you have player " A - -big time stud - -top 10 player we are recruiting but wants to drag this dam process out play inny minny minny mo makes you wait it out till spring & then in the end run ends up committing to another school If you have that situation but yet have a really good but yet 3-4 yr player who wants to come and is willing to commit in the fall, then I'm at a point I say screw the drama take the other kid, we have been fine in the past, we would do fine in the present, - - the future.

If Coach Self is as good of a Coach as we all think - -and know he is he will STILL be able to develop these type of kids and compete quite nicely. How many OAD'S or other super studs has Wisconsin had? - but yet at least for the last few years they have done fine - -Xavier? Gonzaga? -- And Gonzaga is not loaded with OAD'S so before it starts up squelch that. There is a lot of other quality programs that do fine with 3-4 yr players because of development of the system.

I' just really at a point where this drama OA'D not all but a lot of them are just media, media, media, - -like little soap opera's everybody and their brother holds press conferences at a table with hats anymore that's just bullshit. - - did Wilt hold a press Conference when he turned pro? - - Did JO-Jo Hell no. tired of their games.

So it's either someone not closing out finishing up OR they just no matter how hard you do try to close are not ready to give up the media attention, so if I have ONE scholi left and it comes down to it then it's who ever wants to commit first PERIOD OAD or not. I'm tellin you one of these years and not to far in the future, like the upcoming when we could be losing a lot - -we could land up flat on our faces and be screwed. Have to settle for transfers, juco, de-commit - how that working for ya? - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@BeddieKU23 that's just crazy!

@Crimsonorblue22

More mind-boggling is a Top-10 recruit thinking Travis Ford is going to further your career. He's a guard coach, nothing else

@Crimsonorblue22 ya your right it IS that's what I've been saying thanks - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54

In an alternate world, where one assumes there are no shoe contracts with schools and coaches, the power teams of the summer games sponsored by the big shoe brands have built up no apparent brand lean in players, where there are no agents, and where there are just drivers of proximity to home, coaching skill, school basketball program quality, and a head coaches' abilities to sell and close, RECRUITING OUTCOMES OFTEN DON'T MAKE MUCH SENSE IMHO.

But in this world, where there are shoe contracts with schools and coaches, where power teams of the summer game sponsored by the big shoe brands do appear to build up some brand lean in players, and where there are reputedly not only agents but agent runners mentioned by coaches and sports media influencing things, RECRUITING OUTCOMES DON'T APPEAR SO SENSELESS IMHO.

I wonder when some investigative journalist will write the next book about recruiting that is quickly marginalized?

There seem to be fewer and fewer of them.

I wonder if that means if basketball is so squeaky clean now that there is nothing to write about?

Or if...

@jayballer54 Ayton could care less about college, which is why he chose to stay at home. We can't overcome not caring where you go. He might not even unpack his bags. I am not sad about him not cakewalking his year here.

@BeddieKU23 I love others can't accept another person's view or points of interest, like you wanna portray me as being the forever pessimist lol, tell you what you keep on thinking your way and I'll keep thinking mine. If you only want to hear a rosy peachy colored out look, callin others crazy, knock yourself out. Bottom line is, it is what it is. Keep gambling with a stacked deck and then get back to me. All I'm doing and stating is that there IS A TREND going on with our recruiting and how one of these days it can jump up and bite us in the ass ,Some one best be taking a different approach to things- -cause this isn't working. ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@BeddieKU23

Gordon is a Saint Louis kid. There was a time when SLU got lots of local kids to stay in town, which is what made that program as strong as it was. For city programs like that (SLU, DePaul, Houston, St. John's, Memphis, etc.) they are dependent on local talent staying close to home.

For Gordon, the only non-midwest schools he was even considering were UNLV and USC. The rest of his list was Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, K-State, Mizzou, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Texas. That's pretty clearly a kid interested in staying closer to home. No Kentucky. No UNC or Duke. Not even a Michigan State or Ohio State.

Not sure KU could have pried him away from Mizzou even had he decided not to go to SLU.

@jayballer54

Well you totally took that out of context, I was joking so as you said believe what you want. If anything I was feeding into what you were saying. KU just lost a Top 18 recruit to Saint Louis!

@justanotherfan

Yeah reading his comments he was high on staying home.

@jayballer54

I am not sure what your point is. KU follows a lot of players but actively pursues maybe a dozen each class; there is really no room or resources to recruit more players. Let's face it, much like most other elite programs, only the better, say top 50, players will get a decent chance to play unless you are a go-getter, like Mari who worked his butt of and got playing time. If you are not in the top 50 and do not have the confidence or desire to come and earn playing time, you are not going to get it at KU. BTW, you better be ready to play defense. This is the primary reason why we lose some of the so called prospects

Many OADs are just biding their time to get to the NBA and have no desire to even attend classes and some programs will allow them to do this but I am afraid KU will not . I remember hearing that Michael Beasley did not even bother to attend classes the second semester at KSU and was seen driving a Hummer around Manhattan, and as soon as the Tournament was over, he was gone...this is just not happening at KU under Coach Self. As you can see, this limit the talent available even more so. The squid, on the other hand, has made it clear that his job is to prepare players for the NBA and to get them there as soon as possible, you can see why this makes UK a more desirable destination for many players.

Last, I do not believe for a minute that KU will not continue to do well regardless of who signs. Coach Self has had to deal with complete turnover several times and he has manged to continue winning with classes ranging from average to outstanding. After 12 straight Conference titles, I don't know why you would even worry about this. Yes, someday the streak will end but he will still finish in the top 3 in the conference. Lay back, relax and enjoy watching Coach Self do what he does best...WIN!

We got Frank after we missed on the big names. We got Devonte after we missed on the big names. We got Landen after we ....that's right...missed. He's got a full two years more with Vick, two with Udoka, at least one with an experienced Newman (makes methink of Seinfield), one or two with Svi, one or two more with Bragg, at least two or more with Lightfoot, two with Coleby, along with Marcus Garrett. We don't have to sign every 5 star to be real good next year. I figure the plan is to get a top guard, and a top big to go along with our experience. If we don't. then he'll find the next Frank or Devonte out there. That's why he's won the conference 12 straight years. I don't want to have a situation where we're starting 3 or 4 freshmen like 2013. I don't think Bill does, either. That's why he doesn't go around promising minutes like Calipari.

My advice is don't fret or worry over who's coming. Since I've been at KU, we've made the dance every year except 89. We always get the players. If we're in the dance anything can happen, especially for a program like ours. I try to shy away from criticizing a kid who is now younger than my own children for choosing to go to college somewhere other than KU. Heck, even if they want to go to Kentucky, then great, happy for the kid! @BeddieKU23 points out there's other reasons for a kid to choose someplace like St. Louis.

And this isn't something we don't talk about often, but, someday this team will not hear its' name called in March. We've been extremely fortunate to have players and coaches without major scandal, injuries, health problems which led to Dukes missing the dance, to bad coaching hires, see UNC, Daugherty, to Kentucky missing because they just recruited kids who didn't have the swag to get them to the dance after winning the NC the year before.

It's gonna happen to KU some year. Sure doesn't look like this year, but we just don't know what lies ahead. We've got to be ready!

@jayballer54 said:

did Wilt hold a press Conference when he turned pro?

He didn't have to hold one. He was the first nationally recruited player with over 200 schools trying to get him. It was major news everywhere when he decided to go to KU.

Lew Alcindor did have a press conference a few years later. 80 reporters showed up.

@KUSTEVE So now we want to settle for continued conference championships? let's see which would you prefer Conference championships - -OR NCAA Titles? NCAA titles are a lot more difficult to win then conference championships. The point is IF we keep getting or losing out on the better players then ya, you can continue to milk those conference championships - -I myself am ready for more NCAA titles. Nobody say I want to be Calipari U. - But there is some other reason we are losing out other then staying closer to home. Hell if that's the case screw the recruitment - -why doesn't the player come right out and say no need to recruit I'm staying close to home, do us all a favor why don't they do that? - -I'll tell ya why they love the attention. So what ya say let's just say screw the upper crust and get the middle tier 3-4 yr player heard that around here a lot that way we can win 20 conference championships in a row and call it good

@jayballer54 Your distress is created by your outlook, not by my expectations. I fully expect us to win the national championship this year. If I am wrong, then I could be rightly accused of being a pollyanna content with conference championships. Until then, we're on a mission from God..bigger than Elvis..bigger than the Beatles...we ARE the KU JAYHAWKS, and we will win the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, BABY!

@jayballer54
Gordon told ESPN.com that his desire to inspire the best players in and around St. Louis to “stay home” played a big role in his decision.

“I’m hoping this starts a trend,” he said.

just my opinion here, but I don't think we should ever apologize or devalue the conference championships. Conference championships are championships. It's that simple.

Regional Championships are fantastic and National Championships are special.

I want KU to win those just like every other fan.

But statistically, teams that win Conference are more likely to win Regional and National Championships. So that's reason enough to care for Conference Titles.

We're overdue.

@jayballer54

Who said anyone is settling for Conference Championships? Conference Championships are nothing but a stepping stone to the NCAA Title and a sign of a consistently superior program. You have to admit that winning a Conference puts you in a better position (better seed) to contend for the title, right? Keep in mind that only one team has won more conference titles in a row than KU, UCLA which did it in 3 different conferences and with 3 different coaches, unlike KU that is doing it in just one conference and with just one coach. It is indeed an amazing accomplishment that hopefully KU will own all by itself and a record that might never be broken.

Do you really think that #7 Seed UConn in 2014 was the best team or had the better players? or even Villanova last year? Look at Kentucky and all its top recruiting classes; it has won just 1 Title in this Century, same as KU.

Relax, enjoy the ride and watch Coach Self do his magic...like he does every year.

@jayballer54 your overreaction in your original post is almost laughable.

We land plenty of recruits. Sure we lost out on a couple of guys. Sucks. But when you want to go somewhere that you can play for 4 years instead of sit the bench for 2 or 3, makes sense.

When someone stays home to play where their family can go to every home game easily, I have nothing but respect for that.

And, honestly, we are due for a down year at some point. Bill has kept the ball from dropping by being able to pull rabbits out of hats and find diamonds in a pile of crap.

Quit reading into the crystal ball so much. It's a bunch of guys guessing that have talked to these players like twice ever and they think they have a hunch. Crystal ball is a cool tool to see a huge change in trends.That is usually when it means something. But it means nothing in the whole scheme of things.

I expect us to get some commits after the season starts and we see where Bragg, Devonte and Svi will be next season.

If you don't like the drama of it, don't pay attention to it. Recruiting 18 year old kids is ALWAYS going to be a hard thing to do. Whether you recruit 3 or 4 year guys or not. We are looking at a Florida decommit that was ranked in the 50s. Graham and Mason both left for other schools. You just can't force kids to come to your school. We want players that WANT to play at a place where they appreciate the tradition and will continue to be great ambassadors for the program down the road. The chips will fall where they may, our coaches are working hard each and every day to get players to come here and to make players that are here better. Relax a little bit jayballer.

@BeddieKU23 plenty of time to see Ford struggle all season and decomit. Even if he doesn't, at least he gave us plenty of time to get in on other bigs.

@Kcmatt7

Do you think SLU will now have a designated flopper? Maybe this what did it for Gordon...LOL.

@Kcmatt7 well buddy wish I could say I was in the minority - - maybe in here could be, but multitude of other KU sites that tend to agree with me. I'd be glad to say I was in the minority but ummmm, NO, no I'm not. Now if you wanna take in here where you want to wear the Crimson and Blue shades then GREAT you do that, BUT like you said so quite nicely one of these days Coach gonna reach for the rabbit and pull out a stick of dynomite. and it's going to be ALOT MORE then a pile of crap as you say.

I guess as long as people here post things that don't want to rock the boat or cause waves it's good, BUT GOD for bid you see things different then people seem to think like was said to me " the sky is falling" thing is no matter how you want to twist it around, sugar coat all you want bottom line is - -If we can't start doing better closing things out on perceived leaders to commit for us - -umm ya THAT down year is coming & coming soon.- - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

We can cross off Sexton if this quote is correct.

“I will base my decision off of the best fit for me to come in and get stronger, faster and develop as an all-around player and person,” he told MADEHoops. “I want to be able to make mistakes without looking over my shoulder to see if I'm going to get taken out the game. I want to play my game on the court. I also would like for my family to be able to go to the games and support me.”

@BeddieKU23 💩

@Crimsonorblue22

The first part, he could do no better then working with Hudy.

The 2nd part, not worrying about coming out of the game, typical today's response from these kids. I'm sure Avery said you'll play 40 minutes, we don't have a backup PG. Playing in front of family, well Bama lot closer then Lawrence for his folks..

A lot of wasted recruiting efforts to be runner-ups..

@BeddieKU23 Agree, I'm afraid he is out. Maybe somehow we can pull Trae other then that I think we are out of options - - very unlikely Duvall comes, Can Garrett or is he a point? - - We Shall see, guess I need to go to the Alabama site an see whz up. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54 This site is full of smart and realistic basketball fans. Fans that don't overreact when we don't land a recruit. History is in my favor, being the level-headed fan that I am. That whole 27 straight NCAA appearances (soon to be 28 and the longest streak ever) along with that whole 12 straight titles thing we have going on has me pretty sure that we will land plenty of recruits every year.

You aren't rocking the boat, I'm just telling you that you are looking at false information (CB) that is 100% based on speculation and treating it like gospel.

You know who else hasn't landed a Top 25 prospect so far this year?????? Duke or Kentucky.

In fact, only 5 teams HAVE. Arizona, WASHINGTON, WESTERN KENTUCKY, AUBURN, and UNC.

Recruiting is going fine.

@Kcmatt7

Well Kentucky and Duke are about to see a lot of their targets start making decisions. 12 recruits could pick either program between now and the spring.

Kentucky is in on 9 of the remaining unsigned. They will sign PJ Washington #16, Nick Richards #11. Petty just canceled his UK visit so it looks likely he'll go to Bama with Sexton. Trae Young, Bamba, Diallo & Vanderbilt could all end up in Lexington as well.

Duke has Knox & Trent in the bag. I think they will get Carter as well. Coleman is a Duke/Texas battle. Bamba is a toss up battle between UK/Duke.

@BeddieKU23 They also have room on their roster and guaranteed playing time coming available.

We have exactly 3 guys that are guarantees to leave. And to back those guys up next season? 3 potential 1st round NBA picks. Talk about recruiting problems... :smirk:

@BeddieKU23 Just read comments from Rupp's rafters. Was Talking about Trae's trip to Lexington. He gave it the perfect 10. - - Kind of funny though comments from fans saying things like v- - -Well he also gave KU a 10 - - then another saying that Trae had given all his recruiting visits a 10 - - -Another sayin well if he gave us a 10 then why not commit lol. Then another saying well maybe he needed to re-evaluate his recruiting process pretty funny stuff. Is Garrett they we got the commit from a point guard? - - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@KUSTEVE @bskeet @Kcmatt7 Great posts. Let's face it, the Dance is a crapshoot. No second or third chance if you have an off nite or the opponent nails 3's from every spot on the court. No hoping if you lose somebody else can help you out by winning their game. Conf championship in the psuedo Big 12 usually gets you a 1 seed in the Dance. None of us want to settle for a conf championship, but we realize the importance of it. But I guess for some the doom and gloom of not signing a recruit is what makes the world go round. Me, I trust in HCBS and only wish for kids that want to come here and are willing to fight, scratch and claw for pt. And willing to come back another year if they don't get it the first year.

@brooksmd Sounds Good - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54

I am afraid you have not presented a good case and your are definitely in the minority when it comes to sites with members with a decent basketball knowledge; The basketball IQ in this forum is considerably higher than that in most other forums where all the do is fight. Look at the "old" site for example, some posts are downright embarrassing.

I am not sure why you think KU has a problem with recruiting. Having the #1 class guarantees you nothing. Look at Kentucky with all its #1 ranked classes since Calipari got there...in this century, they have as many National titles as KU, 1. You seem to forget that in the last 4 classes, KU has gotten the #1 pick twice with Wiggins and Jackson and several other highly ranked players...that left 350 other programs wishing they were KU. Coach Self seems to do best, not with the OADs, but with players in the 10-30 range and even lower. Frankly, you are imagining a problem where there is none and you expect posters to agree with you; good luck with that.

@jayballer54

Yes, Garrett is a PG and he's big for the position. "Combo Guard" would probably be a more appropriate title for him. He could potentially guard positions 1-3 in college because of his size. Exciting prospect, could be underrated. If he continues to develop his shooting, he's got a similar development arc as Devonte.

@JayHawkFanToo Exactly. Look at what HCBS has done with less than stellar teams. We've all seen experts claim that a past year was the year that there would be a new look at the top of the psuedo-Big 12 standings. And yet when the dust settled that big silly looking bird as some call it is still standing proud atop the list of also rans.

@wissoxfan83 I'm not going back to look when the last time a KU bb team didn't go to the dance that was attributed to the team itself and not because of a coaching screwup ala Larry Brown. If not for that Roy would've taken the team to the dance in '89 with an 11-3 conf/30-5 overall record. I doubt seriously KU will not get the call in my lifetime unless it's a similar situation. Unlike the Sleazy coached Kensucky team that couldn't make it past the 1st round of the NIT.

And BTW, can somebody point me in the direction to where I can get me a pair of them crimson/blue glasses. I mean if I'm looking at things that way I may as well be in style and wear the glasses.

@brooksmd I have some!!

@brooksmd Well, it's gonna happen some day. What if Self bolts for the NBA? We should be able to hire someone competent, right? But UNC said the same thing I'm sure and they missed the dance because Doherty didn't have any coaching chops. BTW, I think KU didn't make the dance in the early 80's. Not positive, I wasn't around KU then.

@wissoxfan83

KU missed the dance in '82 and '83 before missing in '89., so the streak would have had 6 more games.

@JayHawkFanToo Ummm, exactly where in the hell did you see I was asking for a Nu 1 Class? - - -A # 2 class. A # 3 class? love how you read in between lines lol- -and ONCE AGAIN UMMM NO fraid not in a minority but thanks anyways lmao. Ya we got Jackson, that has proved nothing yet, Wiggins win us a National Title? - - -NOPE. Sp exactly where has that benefited us? Just read on another site from posters how they thought it was time for different recruiters, let me slow this down - c-we are NOT CLOSIG OUT ON THESE KIDS - - you can't let that sink through then I'm sorry. This year AYTON MISS, GAK MISS, SEXTON GONNA MISS, YOUNG GONNA MISS. Chances not looking good For BROWN MISS. the kid that committed to UCLA MISS. Personally I could give a rat's ass if you agree with me or not. - -your entitled to that just like I am mine we agree to disa agree I'm not changing your mind, your not changing mind, but you have a great day - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@brooksmd GOT a great idea if this site has a store - -I'm SURE you can find them here ROFLMMFAO. ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

KIND of nice being able to get everybody riled by p - - - - - - in their Wheaties got to love it . such sensitive little tootsie's lol pretty sweet, starting see how other people across the nation look at us and understand lol it's great mercy, mercy, mercy but ummmm anyways ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54 quit being a dick. I mean dude, you're calling everyone else sensitive "tootsies" when you're the one crying over an 18 year olds decision.

Happens when you mix whiskey with your meds

@jayballer54

Again, what is exactly your point? You complain that we don't get high ranked players and when I show you how top players alone don't really make a difference and KU actually has gotten it share of high ranked players, now you change your tune...again.

KU has some of the better recruiters in college basketball and anyone that say otherwise does not know jack about college basketball. Many posters have tried to explain to you that with some recruits it does not make a difference who is the recruiter, they will go where they want to go anyways. Do you really think that KU's "recruiters" twirl their thumbs and just don't bother to follow up and close? If you believe this, then you probably need to hang around more on the forums you cited and less here; obviously listening to other well reasoned ex[explanations is not your forte and you are most likely wasting your time ...and ours. Nothing personal but this is my last word on the subject.

@JayHawkFanToo Well since he seems to be inclined with posters on other sites that it's time to get new recruiters I guess we need to fire the entire coaching staff. Obviously HCBS isn't getting the job done. I try my best to ignore and not comment on his posts but some times I just can't help myself. Keep hoping he'll go away and hang out with the doom and gloom posters on other sites.

@Ralph LMAO man then don't mix whiskey and pills - -AND UMMM ROCK CHALK ALL DAY BABY

@brooksmd roflmfao but yet you keep responding. You see I'm not one to always say oh it will be ok lmao, your drunk. or high or both lmao keep right on trippin lmao your making my day

@brooksmd 🚬🍻😳

Okay, lookie here, this has quickly turned away from the original post - -to now a war of words between me and other posters - -So look I'll be the better and say I'm wrong for getting away from comments about the thread and getting into a war of words with people, trading insults - -like being called a " DICK" it's cool I can be better then that.

You wanna say I'm a whiner - -a gloom and doomer, whatever it's ok I can live with that, it's your opinion. If you want to look at me as that way, then go ahead you can do that, if I can't give info from what others from other sites are saying about the situation seeing as how I have been so graciously informed that the other sites and posters don't know squat - -hey that's cool. See I can be grown up too, need to be bigger then trading insults.

I truly thought this was a site where you could give and open opinion and talk about how you feel about things, even if is JUST ONE PERSON'S OPINION - I think if you go way back and look at the header you will say JUST MY TAKE.

So it was JUST MY TAKE and man how quickly things digressed away, from the topic to insults - - somehow sayin we should fire the entire staff and how I'm a dick,, hoping I'll go away I'll say this I'm letting this go, BUT sorry to disappoint individuals I'm not going away - -I enjoy reading others threads evidently there are some that think I have NO KNOWLEDGE about what's going on and never talk negative - -that's ok I'll let you believe that/

Bottom line - - -I'm not going to exchange words anymore I would hope we ALL can rise above that, but if not that's on you. The only thing I can say I'm going to continue to post - -I'm going to continue to read, have had some really good conversations with people, we are NOT going to agree with one another 100% of the time and to some you wanna to try and ignore then by all means IGNORE that's your privelage it's America right - -freedom of choice AND freedom of SPEECH & EXPRESSION that's what makes the United States great.

Anyways I'm moving past this topic not going to exchange barbs anymore, you wanna comment great - -if not great I am looking forward to others threads as basketball approaches and say what you want, you can believe what you want all I say I would challenge anyone to say they devote and dedicate their passion anymore to KU then I - -and before you ask- -umm no I did not graduate from KU doesn't mean I don't bleed Crimson and Blue if I weren't an avid fan then I would have KU tat's on my body anyways I like it here, & here I stay. I appreciate everybody whether we bash one another or not. Thing is just as like any other scenario, when people start to agrue, things heat up and all common logic goes right out the window. But anyways my fellow Jayhawkers like always - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BAY

@jayballer54 I tried to give you away out of a stupid situation, but you f**** that up to.

5 more days until we play.

@KUSTEVE feels like waiting for Christmas morning. So excited!!

That school down the innerstate has their 1st exhibition tomorrow night. - - -their non-con is PATHETIC lmao - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54 just ole Bruce's way of padding the W category

@HawkChamp for sure - - he can only hope he doesn't lose any of them lol - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

With all the things out there to potentially worry about, I personally would put KU's recruiting prowess with 5-stars pretty far down on the list...

To borrow from a 60's movie title " Dr Strangeself, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb" Er, stop worrying about who didn't sigh with us and love the guys that self and staff manage to sign. Trust in the system, because we have a hell of a system !!

And yes, perhaps the most often brought up topic on this site - would you rather win another conf championship or a national title-
I will give my stock answer - of course you have to have the right guys (usually a fair amount of guys ranked in the top 50 ) and the right program and coach, but it is still so much fortune and chance to win the NCAA - I absolutely Love the regular season and coming out on top in the conference - love it!! The NCAA tourney is icing on my big fat delicious cake.

Hopefully things have cooled down here and can stay cool.

@Bosthawk I thought the name of the movie was "Dr. Billself and how I learned to stop worrying and love the 3bomb".

Some of you need a little mouth washing out like I got when I was a kid. I'll leave KUBuckets because I personally can't stand that language. And a reminder that the person who set this whole thing up has made this their #1 rule for KUBuckets. Please honor that!

@Jayballer54 The reason you seem to think most posters are on your side is a combination of bias and squeeky wheel. Everyone is going to have a bias towards information that supports their opinion. Being 100% objective is impossible. Two the squeeky wheel makes a lot of noise. Just look at this thread. ONE poster has posted numerous negative posts about recruiting on this thread. A half dozen or more have come across with the opposite view point, but a good chunk of the posts are negative due to one individual.

90% of KU basketball fans are casual fans and don't follow recruiting in the least bit. Even big time KU fans don't follow recruiting, because who cares until they sign? It's just a bunch of undue stress to place upon your shoulders if you can't enjoy the process.

@wissoxfan83 I apologize. I washed mine out this morning. Thank you for the reminder. We would hate to lose ya.

I just don't like it when people come on here and gloat about getting people riled up. Not cool.

Recruiting class rankings per 247 sports

2004 1 UK. 5 KU

2005 40 UK, 4 KU

1. 15 UK, 13 KU

2007 9 UK, 15 KU

2008 22 UK, 12 KU

2009 1 UK, 8 KU

2010 1 UK, 44 KU (stacked roster)

2011 1 UK, 17 KU

2012 1 UK, 14 KU

2013 1 UK, 2 KU

2014 2 UK, 9 KU

2015 1 UK, 12 KU

I'd say Bill's been pretty consistent myself. Somehow all those #1 classes haven't turned into rings for Kentucky. Could it be that if a team retains upperclassmen there isn't 40 minutes a game to guarantee freshmen? Could it be that you have to earn your minutes at KU because there are entrenched starters at many positions and another waiting in the wings?

@Kcmatt No problem bro!

@jayballer54

Currently, I'm not worried about our recruiting.

I like the narrative framework being built around Bill on who he is and who he recruits. This narrative has been spreading everywhere in America because Bill's coaching stock continues to climb outside of Lawrence.

That narrative is: "Bill Self has the ability to bring top tier players together with lesser players that develop while at Kansas."

This is the direction many of us were hoping Bill would take. A combination of top players with players fighting to the top. Not just a revolving door team.

And if you look at the current situation, we are still in line to have a VERY DOMINANT recruiting class, including a focus on guard play. If we do nail a couple of these guards, I will be extremely pleased because of Bill's direction to become "guard heavy" with talent. I always want at least one quality PG that will not be an OAD-style player so we can have the continuity going forward.

Most years we are all "running scared" right up through the summer, when we often pick up one or two key players.

Is it an advantage just to sign top tier talent early and be done early? I am coming to realize that Bill sees this a little different. I'm seeing that he prefers to still have a scholarship or two available late in the process, when he has a better understanding of what his real needs are. No one knows what players we will lose from this year's team after March (except for the obvious cases).

I'm also for signing some talent early. We will have some big holes after this year that need to be filled and we can't just wait until the last second. Don't forget the players we WILL have returning though. I'm very excited to see Malik on the court.

Some of these players we lose because they believe they will be beat out for PT minutes from a higher recruit. We can't sign every player we recruit. And just because we recruit them, that doesn't mean we are ready to sign them, even if we give them an offer. The offer process is to just "lock in" to a player at another level of commitment. That doesn't mean coach is promising PT minutes, etc.

I believe we will have some pretty good bones coming back for next year's team and Bill will fill in the holes and we will be very formidable next year. I believe a lot depends on Graham staying or going. If we win the NC this year, he will be gone. If we don't win it? Just step back a second and imagine a team with Devonte, Malik and Udoka and others. Udoka will be a complete MONSTER next year. We also have some sleepers on this team. Legerald? Man... that guy has sick potential. And Mitch? He is your 4-yr glue guy that will become a cornerstone in our program along the lines of Perry Ellis but perhaps more dominant.

There is just way too much information out there for us fans now. We catch the bits, but we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. We do really have to trust Bill and his staff or otherwise we go nuts with every tidbit of news about losing prospects, etc.

@dylans And in that time frame, UK has 5 SEC regular season championships and 5 SEC tournament championships. With 8 #2 or better classes. And the 2013 class not only didn't make the dance but didn't make it past the first round of the NIT. Yeah, I'll stand with HCBS.

@HawkChamp said:

@jayballer54 just ole Bruce's way of padding the W category

He must have gotten some advice from Coach Snyder. LOL.

@JayHawkFanToo ya looking at all the teams non con, kind of a mixed bag, some pretty good -- others really really sad. -- ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54 think I found the answer to all the recruting problems

(🐦 View Tweet?s=09)

@jayballer54 I sometimes get mildly concerned when it looks like we are going to miss out on a lot of highly ranked recruits because, like all Jayhawk fans, I want to keep the streak going and compete for NCs year after year. If Sexton picks Alabama and Brown doesn't go with us.....we could possibly not get any more highly ranked recruits this year. I am counting Garrett as a highly ranked recruit due to his "sleeper" status. There are, of course, many reasons why we lose out on guys we are after. I think one factor this year, is that we have so much uncertainly on our roster...........kids want to play right away, and if 2 of 3 of our guys that are "maybes" in terms of the draft come back............the freshmen can see too much competition for playing time. Even if we lose out on the rest of the top guys we are after, if only one of Bragg, Svi, or Graham comes back..........we'll be in good shape.

I'll be worried if I look at the roster going into next season and it doesn't look competitive. Pretty tuckish take but Self hasn't really had a bad team yet.