His name is James Sosinski. He's a tight end on the football team. He's 6'7" 260 lbs, and played JUCO ball averaging about 20 points a game. If/when the Preston thing falls apart, he should be added to the team.
Here's an article about him from a while back. https://arizonapreps.com/james-sosinski-a-two-sport-star-performer/ ↗
Larry Brown, for you youngsters, 'hired' a football player named Clint Normore who gave us some good minutes in 1988. He was a guard, but was crucial in that championship game. Might not have won without him.
I don't know the guy, but i really like this idea. We've had some good luck with teams that picked up a player from the football team.
We've been talking about that.
I've dropped his name a couple of times in different threads about an easy way to add depth. Self should call Beaty up on Saturday night or Sunday morning after the team gets back from Stillwater to work out an arrangement.
He has been mentioned by the few folks that can stomach football like @Texas-Hawk-10. Also Keegan did write about him earlier this year, I personally think that is our only option if De Sousa isn't cleared and even then what would it hurt to have another big body?? I'm shocked Self hasn't made a move on this yet but he could be waiting outta respect for Beaty even tho the kid never plays and the season had no chance of being anything after week 2.
Sosinski’s fine, but why not grab a 325 lb lineman or two?
Let’s set some real picks for a change!!!
How about picking someone up from the archery team. He can shoot some of the opponent’s high flyers in the thighs!!!
Self probably has a plan in action.
We could also use a guy off the martial arts team. Give new meaning to stiff screens!
@jaybate-1-0 Could you imagine being Sosinski if Self asked? That would be like being traded from the Browns to the Patriots. Dude probably be in the gym in a heart beat.
In all honesty I'd be shocked if De Sousa isn't cleared at this point because I bet Self would've done something else by now like add Sosinski. I think De Sousa is already bigger, stronger and faster than Lightfoot but has a ton to learn about the game.
Talk about a jack pot hit!!!!
Sosinski and Roy Hobbs (the movie version) will become synonymous!
@jaybate-1.0 Luke hobbs?
@kjayhawks I agree about desousa. I would be surprised if we don't get him. Yeah, he'll be behind but will be ready to go by march.
@wissox sorry everyone alluding to this being discussed. Busyness has meant I've missed a lot of discussion. I heard @Jesse-Newell mention it on a podcast the other day. I really have no idea if this kid could actually help. But when i see Doke playing at the end of a blowout like tonight I'm open to a lot of outside the box ideas to get the aircraft carrier some help.
Coach Self has indicated that he will not be adding a player unless he is sure he will contribute, he has also said many time that by conference playing time he prefers a 7-8 man rotation. KU is currently playing a 7 man rotation and once Cunliffe becomes available it will become an 8 man rotation.
There are two primary reasons why an athlete plays JuCo, either grades or he is not good enough to play in the higher divisions. As good as a player is in JuCo it does not mean he is good enough for Division I.
I know that Normore has been mentioned as a precedent, but the memory of his contribution is perhaps larger than the reality. While he played about 9 mpg, he contributed 1 assist and 1 turnover, less than 1 rebound and less than 2 points per game; any of the current deep bench players can do better than this and I seriously doubt Coach Self will pull the trigger and the former JuCo player is a very long shot at best...but I could be wrong. 🤪
@JayHawkFanToo 7 pts in the '88 championship game (no misses from the field), with 4 assists.
His only pts in that tournament. Which helps with the idea that there might be a guy somewhere who can provide a significant contribution when needed.
@JayHawkFanToo You don't add Sosinski with the expectation that he's going to be a major contributor, you add him because of the need for game day depth. He's a guy that could steal a few minutes for Azubuike so he doesn't have to play 35+ mpg in close games. Once KU gets to conference, we know the blowouts are going to end because Big 12 teams are much more familiar with KU unlike the teams we're playing now.
There will also be games where Azubuike picks up a couple of early fouls, is anybody here comfortable with the idea of Lightfoot or Cunliffe playing meaningful minutes at the 5? Sosinski may not have the height, but at 260 lbs., he can physically hold his own on defense in the paint which is what KU will need more help with if Preston never plays.
I have this feeling and think it would be good , but I think there is a very good chance Coach at least talks to and or takes a look at Sosinski. Like has been mentioned, at the least for the use of depth , some spare minutes if and when Doke gets in foul trouble or being able to catch a break for a couple of minutes here and there.
With the Preston situation being the way it is, to when he returns OR if he will return it makes perfect sense. As far as production/point wise from him we don't have to have that really - -it's not like he going to be playing 15-20 minutes a game even if he scores 6 pts a game - -good enough. A player to help Doke , grab a few rebounds that's all we ask. - We have plenty of scorers to have to count on him for huge scoring output. - I think he may just land on the bench before it's all said and done.
Seth Greenburg during halftime last night sure talked like De-Sousa was coming, he said helps on the way soon from De-Sousa. Still ok. - Would be a really big lift to have De-Sousa & Sosinki both obviously De-Sousa a lot more important but still it would give some much , much needed depth in the front court. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
How about shipping out the basketball players to help the football team? B-Ball team has much better athletes.......
Shakur Juiston the Juco that we wanted from Hutch is averaged 13 pts 14 boards and near 4 assists per game for UNLV right now on 64% shooting. Doing all the things he did in Juco
Cunliffe is going to be huge going forward. Just having another body that's been practicing with the team for almost a year gives us exactly what we need for depth. He's an athlete, can make the 3 and rebounds.
December is a slowish month for games, we have an average of 4 days off for every game we play. We also don't play a team in December that has comparable talent. Cuse is down, Arizona St is down, Washington is way down, Nebraska is down, Stanford has struggled.
Adding a Juco now makes zero sense if we are getting De Sousa. And what if Billy is back sometime in December?
To me the two (three) extra bodies are plug and play as need be. We have 7 guys right now that are just learning how to play together. Having 7 guys currently could very well pay off. All 7 are still learning their roles so its important that everyone is getting valuable floor time.
If we have an injury, well the story changes. Right now we are just getting by. We'll continue to get by until something changes
@BeddieKU23 the guy I wanted! But he was just a juco player.
Crimsonorblue22 said:
@BeddieKU23 the guy I wanted! But he was just a juco player.
I wanted him as well. Kid can play.
His handler wanted him at UNLV and so far looks like he ended up in a situation where he's getting to play a ton.
If I recall correctly, Juiston was definitely Division I material but ended up at JuCo for other personal reasons and it is not surprising he did well there and now at UNLV.
@JayHawkFanToo you were not positive about him
JayHawkFanToo said:
If I recall correctly, Juiston was definitely Division I material but ended up at JuCo for other personal reasons and it is not surprising he did well there and now at UNLV.
Yup, personal tragedy derailed him and he ended up at Hutch. We could have definitely used him, he's top 10 in the nation in rebounding right now. Looks like he's on his way to having a good season in Vegas. ISU fans have to be mad as well
You are correct insofar I thought Whitman would be a better option to fill the void with the bigs; KU could certainly use him now but I am sure he never imagined the play time that would become available just about now.
I seem to recall someone posting he is not playing anywhere now and a quick check of the NCAA Div. I-III does not show any Jack Whitman. How many kids pass on a chance to play for a blue blood to just fade into obscurity? I am curious to know what really happened to the 'stache.
Eh, Roy Hobbs from The Natural with Bob Redford?
@JayHawkFanToo He may not have left voluntarily despite the official story.
@JayHawkFanToo Maybe the 'Stache didn't like playing against elite players in practice. ML upbraided him, as I recall.
mayjay said:
JayHawkFanToo said:
I am curious to know what really went on behind closed doors.
I always want to know what runners and fielders are talking about in baseball. And what players and refs talk about all the time in our favorite sport.
I was reffing a thrilling junior hi basketball game once and while waiting for a substitution I looked at the girls jersey standing next to me which said "Horace Mann" (the name of her school) and I asked her who Horace Mann was. She looked at me like 'how am I supposed to know' and I gave her the ball to start play. Sometimes those convo's aren't all that exciting!
Regarding the outcome of that teen girl in the dorm incident, I would imagine that the powers what be are hoping that, given enough time, interest will evaporate so that a quiet toned down announcement can be offered. One thing definitely true about curious fans on this site; WE NEVER FORGET!
The available information to date indicates that no team player was involved so I just don’t see any announcement coming from the AD, and since the City Police Department took over the investigation, I don’t see one coming from KU any time soon either. All schools and not just KU prefer to keep this type of incident off the front pages.
Bill Self confirmed that 6’7 football player Sosinski did practice with the team one day this week and will explore walking on if things go well. I’m sure with De Sousa looking like he has a good chance of playing that this puts the final nail in Preston’s coffin. You would need both guys if Self thought he was gonna play.
Love the posts but I think you might be looking at this the wrong way. What would be better to adding to the lore of Coach Self than he taking a couple football players and winning a National Champonship. It would be legendary. It would be?? It would be?? How KU rolls.
Besides it might help recruiting in KU Football.
I’m with you. I would love to see Self break new ground and introduce a completely new kind of player and play to D1.
IMHO, Self only scratched the surface of what was possible in the horizontal game with drive ball and bad ball with traditionally sized players. A back line of agile 325 pounders playing 2-3 zone defense could change the game entirely to the horizontal, when the transitioned to offense and backed opponents down to take 60-70 % accuracy shots. Self is smart enough to pull it off, too.
But he doesn’t take such plunges unless he gets totally sideways. He’s one big man injury and Sosinski and one more wide body away from possibly trying it.