🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Come on, Billy!!alt text ↗

Do people think he's still going to play for us? Is this still an internal thing or is it with the NCAA?

@chriz good questions! I'd think he'd be long gone if he wasn't going to be playing. Getting real old! Can only imagine what its like for the staff!

I imagine the first day of the Spring semester is the line in the sand, only thirteen games left in the regular season after that date.

@chriz Billy can't depart. No transportation. His Dodge is still nestled outside The Palace with a blown tire hanging off a front wheel.

@Crimsonorblue22 Naw, it's not the eggnog. Ever since that guy, a day or two ago, nuked me for my sacrilege I seem to have waxed into a very happy and merry tear, appropriate to this fine holiday season. But seriously, regarding Billy, it would appear that the coaching staff, for several weeks, might just be perpetuating the myth of Billy's return mostly for the purpose of throwing a wrench into game planning of upcoming league opponents. Billy looks to be alike to former Kentucky ineligible recruit Enos Kanter, a player who spent a full season in Lexington as a practice player before moving on to the NBA. Would not surprise me one iota to learn, eventually, that KU saw the writing on the wall, then never even turned Billy's case over to the NCAA. Just quietly kept him aboard to work against Doke and Big Mitch in daily practice sessions. Itinerant NBA scouts can watch him on the practice courts. Billy gets a full year of free room and board, sleeping on silk sheets.

@REHawk I know Coach didn't want Mitchell Robinson to just hang out and practice for a year. I also don't think Billy would go to classes just to practice.

@Crimsonorblue22 Go to class? Spring semester? You think?

@REHawk yeah you could be right, he did skip already. I still think he wouldn't be here. We should know SOON! Ugh!

@Crimsonorblue22 I don't remember details of the Mitchel Robinson situation, but here's the thing. Bill Self and staff got stuck with this Preston situation. He was already on scholarship with every intention of playing this season. Then the car incident and subsequent eligibility issue. And of course, like Billy proclaimed, You people really don't know me! Nope. Who would have thunk it?
What we do know, and perhaps this is just a presumption, we are now heading into second semester play, league contests, and Billy is yet not eligible to take the court. Mystery guy. Suspicions abound. What's the staff to do, tell him to take a hike? Then he loses value to the program. No one to challenge the development of Doke and Mitch and Svi...except a walk-on from the football field.
This kid locked up a scholarship, then unknowingly or carelessly abused the contract. To date, it appears that Bill Self and Co. have made the best of the situation. A big talented practice guy.
Why hasn't Billy departed? Lots of possibilities. Maybe he will yet get cleared to play. Maybe some NBA organization with early draft rights has guaranteed him a first round selection regardless of his current eligibility. Who knows. All we do appear to know is that he is practicing but not playing. And the Self-speak occasionally rolls forth about the future of Billy's status.

@REHawk I don't have a lot of faith w/out him, do you?

I don't have faith with him.

We are better off riding with what we have

If what we have isn't good enough that's just a reality to deal with later. We have 9 guys who can make this season what it is

I hate to say it, but this is on Billy. I know it's hard to blame a 18 or 19 year old, but he obviously showed some sort of lapse of judgment. As many have pointed out these kids are primed from the get go on how to stay eligible and he blew it somehow.

@wissox I agree that it is on Billy. But there are also a lot of older adults that were involved as well that should have known better (regardless of what exactly went down)

The bigger question I have is why is this the new trend at Kansas? Is it the same at other schools and I just don't follow other teams as closely to find it? Preston, Diallo, Alexander, even Jackson and Bragg although able to play brought a lot of negative attention to th University. Brannen Greene, Nadiir Tharpe...Selby.

@Blown

It's not the same at other programs. It's a bad trend nobody really wants to blow the lid off

@Blown Well, we do seem to be accumulating a questionable array of eligibility cases, esp. among promising though reputationally borderline big men. But the scatterbrained incidents, such as Giddens, Greene, Tharpe, those fall into a different category., in my opinion. Pressure cooker explosions, I would call them. Guys who couldn't handle the silver spoons distributed by a storied program constantly subject to news highlights. Those three kids were loose screws. Collins almost got swept up in such a minesweep, his elevator incident. And B Rush...O My! Brandon was probably a land mine waiting to explode.
A lot of this is just part of the game, dealing with high caliber extraordinarily talented but young and yet immature individuals. They are probably very different than you and I. Bill Self has to be a master magician, juggling such jugheads. And maybe that's what Preston boils down to. Jughead.

C J Giles. How could I have forgotten that name?

As to other programs, I think many top level Division 1 programs go thru the same negative news, though some of it different from our recent array. And some of those programs don't earn quite the level of news scrutiny as does the greatest program in D1. Roy and Izzo and Calipari have dealt with their share. Focus is always cast upon the annual winners.

Gawd, its feeling more and more like Alexander every day.

One positive aspect of Preston’s late eligibility is that it will be challenging for other coaches to scheme against potential different line ups Self could deploy. They won’t have lot of scouting reports and tapes. This can also help in March.

truehawk93 said:

Gawd, its feeling more and more like Alexander every day.

very much so. Me personally , I just don't think we are going to see him on the floor period. - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

The main thing I've been tired of is all of the "we're getting close" stuff, now for how many weeks?

When I've talked about drama in the past, this is drama. This is the kind of distracting drama that impacts a team. It's nothing but a negative. We know it can't be a positive. Anything that doesn't help, really hurts.

I don't know the answer. But I agree that Self did not want, and would not want, someone to just practice and not play like this. But maybe, even if he has little impact this season, Preston may be here for next season if this is resolved.

But I get Self's dilemma, and perhaps we just need to accept it -- but it's hard to accept. If Billy Preston becomes eligible and is a full contributor by the NCAA tourney, he could be the difference between winning a national championship, and not winning one.

So maybe like it or not, we all just need to take it. Because the possible reward might be worth it. I hate drama in a team environment.

@Blown

I don't know why incoming freshmen aren't chaperoned everywhere with upperclassmen.

We put millions and millions of dollars into our program and have huge staffs. Kansas fans expect a lot, and they should.

And then we drop the ball by just setting these guys free to get in all kinds of trouble.

I appreciate that the kids coming in get lectured. But, come on... kids getting lectured remember how much of it?

This little screw up could easily cost us a national championship.

Whether or not the car is legit... the staff should have known this before the accident.

We put so so much into compliance. Our program is truly the best in D1, and is a model many universities are copying. Yet, these kids are free to screw up everything. Case in point!

@HighEliteMajor

When was the last time we had a drama free season? Every season is something new or something that just continues to derail a potential great season.

Self doesn't have many flaws but it's hard to defend his recent record with these OAD bigs.

I would suggest he start vetting these kids more for their "off the court" character then their on the court product. I know it must be incredibly frustrating to him, he's given a good deal of praise to Preston's talents when he signed, through the summer and into the fall and he's got nothing to show for that talk.

Absolutely agree Self is leading on the drama with the comments. We'd be just as pissed at no comment, no update. But the Coach-Speak "we're close" isn't any better

@BeddieKU23

Most every major programs has plenty of issues, we are just more attuned to the ones at KU.

@HighEliteMajor

The one big maybe even huge upside of having 3 top 30-40 players joining in this late is that the team will continue to improve until the end of the season and maybe even peak by tournament time. Most other teams have by now pretty much reached their potential and will improve only marginally while KU will continue to get better.

All the scouting teams have done of KU will go out the window, if Preston is able to play and DeSousa and Cunliffe develop as expected.

It’s in the NCAA’s hands now. So who knows. I still think Billy plays for KU, just a matter of when. I think sooner rather than later.

None of the 2018 commits (and obviously not Silvio) or 2019 targets have eligibility issues. Billy was always a question mark due to his record of bouncing around, especially his time at Prime Prep/API. Missing on Ayton caused a ton of ripples in 17. Billy is at USC if we land Ayton.

@FarmerJayhawk Not sure why you're guessing he'll play. Can you elaborate? I don't think any of us have a clue if he'll play or not.

If the staff thought he wasn’t, and he didn’t think he was going to play, I don’t think he’d still be at KU. At that point, might as well pull a Mitchell Robinson and just go train full-time instead of going to class and all that.

@wissox

I am with @FarmerJayhawk. Preston would be gone by now if the staff or Preston himself thought he would not be playing...unless he has made a deal with KU that he will stay one extra year, which given his actions to date does not seem likely.

@JayHawkFanToo we do have one more scholarship for 18-19... but Billy isn’t going to use it. No way he comes back and competes with Dedric and Silvio. Malik is more likely.

As an aside, pretty sure we could’ve gotten Robinson eligible based on the Braxton Beverly case. What a difference he would’ve made.

@JayHawkFanToo @FarmerJayhawk Or they could be practicing him hoping he'll play, but even they're not sure.

What's frustrating is the lack of information. We know a few facts, but that's about it. Why does it take so long? Who knows what? Who did what? When will we know more? So many unanswered questions!

Of course fans are frustrated that the Preston scholarship is not reaping visible rewards in game situations. But just imagine the practice squad which Bill has developed! That squad could be a top 25 rated talent. A red team of Preston, Dedric, Mitch, CJ, Cunliffe and Charlie Moore. WOW! What other topflight program gets to work daily against such competition? This is why and how Bill gets to rest our starters more than usual. Preston is a vital member of that unit. There is precedent for a first round NBA selectee never playing in a regular game for a school where he burned an NCAA scholarship. The league is following Billy, whether he plays or no. Those McD's kids with his size represent POTENTIAL running out of the ying yang. Now Bill has fetched DeSousa, eventually to man the spot which had been reserved for Billy. I think we've got to ride with the scenario of the status quo. Recent FBI investigative pressure has exerted a big thumb on all university compliance offices. Billy's problem could have been serious enough that KU has never even turned the matter over to the NCAA. Just a quiet quid pro quo between the program and the Prestons. Mom might have made that trip to Lawrence for a sit down and a handshake.

So since De Sousa re-classified - that opens yet another scholi for 2018 right? - -So what , does that mean we now still have 2 left for 2018 then since he re-classified? - - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

We have one left for 18 assuming Billy and Malik leave.

@Jayballer54 not unless he oads. Silvio would still be on scholar best season.

FarmerJayhawk said:

We have one left for 18 assuming Billy and Malik leave.

hmmmm, ok, so I was thinking we initially was giving out 4 for 2018, so let's see before De Sousa re-classified we had one left for 2017 right? -So he took that which filled us for this yr.

We was losing Devonte - -Svi - for 2018 as Seniors - then going off the assumption Vick was gone - -& Billy probably gone right? - -that would give 4 for 18 - -and if Malik that would be 5, - -so we used Grimes - -Dotson - - & McCormack so that should leave us 2 right? - -cause with De Sousa re-classifying - he counts against 17 -not 18 right? - -where am I off? - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@JayHawkFanToo

I agree we are more plugged into KU . Name a big program that's had any drama with its bigs in the last 3-4 years?

It's interesting, I've thought that KU decided to vet this situation itself in order to possibly speed the process. Last time we waited on the ncaa to do it's job diallo had to get a lawyer to bring resolution. There's no telling how long this situation would have took had KU reported the issue from the day it happened and let them dig. KU did the leg work instead. He's still missed 12 going on 14-15 and soon more so really what has been the benefit of KU doing anything. If it ends up helping Preston play 10-15 games I guess we can be thankful for their work. I'm sure they have worked hard to bring resolution to this.

Jayballer54 said:

FarmerJayhawk said:

We have one left for 18 assuming Billy and Malik leave.

hmmmm, ok, so I was thinking we initially was giving out 4 for 2018, so let's see before De Sousa re-classified we had one left for 2017 right? -So he took that which filled us for this yr.

We was losing Devonte - -Svi - for 2018 as Seniors - then going off the assumption Vick was gone - -& Billy probably gone right? - -that would give 4 for 18 - -and if Malik that would be 5, - -so we used Grimes - -Dotson - - & McCormack so that should leave us 2 right? - -cause with De Sousa re-classifying - he counts against 17 -not 18 right? - -where am I off? - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

We’re now full for 2017-18 since Silvio is a 2017 recruit. Assuming 4 leave (Devonte, Svi, Billy, Malik), and we have 3 signed, there’s one left for 18-19.

@FarmerJayhawk

Where is Malik going? He is a mile and a goat away from being a NBA player. And Self has made several comments over the past months inferring Malik will be back. Vick, on the other hand...

@drgnslayr I’d be stunned if Malik was back. He’s just ready for a paycheck, whether it’s in the D League or overseas. I’d love if he were back though. Takes some pressure of the freshmen to dominate the ball right away. Could easily start all 3 of Newman, Dotson, and Grimes. Assuming Vick leaves of course. I think it’s much, much more likely we have Vick than Newman.

drgnslayr said:

@FarmerJayhawk

Where is Malik going? He is a mile and a goat away from being a NBA player. And Self has made several comments over the past months inferring Malik will be back. Vick, on the other hand...

IF Malik doesn't cut it and test NBA - -& I'm not saying he is ready by a long shot - - he is not - - BUT he won't be back. I think it was a pretty given fact that he would sit his year and play a year, that's why Coach even took him on the guarantee that he play a year. - -After this year? - -he is gone - whether it is over sea's - -" G " league or whatever I just don't think you will see him back - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@Jayballer54

Scholarships don't have a specific year attached to them. The school can carry only 13 players on scholarship at any one time, regardless of whether they are freshmen, seniors or red shirts. If the school uses only 10 one year, it cannot carry the unused ones to the next year. It was lucky that KU had one left this year so Silvio can use it and he will be using one of the 13 next season as well.

I think this is what you were asking?

JayHawkFanToo said:

@Jayballer54

Scholarships don't have a specific year attached to them. The school can carry only 13 players on scholarship at any one time, regardless of whether they are freshmen, seniors or red shirts. If the school uses only 10 one year, it cannot carry the unused ones to the next year. It was lucky that KU had one left this year so Silvio can use it and he will be using one of the 13 next season as well.

I think this is what you were asking?

Thanks hell I just thought they carried over - -they could continue to carry for 3-4-5 years if they didn't use them. Thanks for the info - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

I've got an odd feeling that Billy Preston may just stay another year, if we can get him on the court. We all know he will not get good looks from the scouts. He hasn't done enough. He will fade into mediocrity if he jumps after this season. He would be 'smart' to stay one more year regardless of what happens with this mess. If he does, we will be HIGHLY touted as the #1 team in the nation and a strong F4 contender. He will likely go to the workouts, like Svi, and then realize he needs work. But if he translates well, he may be taken at some level in the draft.

@Jayballer54 Love Malik to death. But as much as the sitting may have done for him, it has also hurt him too. Again, my guess is, he will 'test the waters' and realize his stock is no where near where it needs to be at this point in his career. But again, we all know what happens with these guys too.

@truehawk93 I can’t see it happening. There’s not really a spot for him next season. Are we going to relegate him to the bench again? He’ll have to compete with Silvio for the 3rd big spot.

FarmerJayhawk said:

@truehawk93 I can’t see it happening. There’s not really a spot for him next season. Are we going to relegate him to the bench again? He’ll have to compete with Silvio for the 3rd big spot.

Is this assuming Doke is back? I'd definitely rather have Doke back than Billy just from a parts/roster construction perspective.

@BShark with the way he's been playing, I don't think he'll be back unfortunately. If he does though, do we lose more than two games all year?

HawkChamp said:

@BShark with the way he's been playing, I don't think he'll be back unfortunately. If he does though, do we lose more than two games all year?

Probably just due to the growing pains of so many new starters. The potential is scary though.

@BShark yeah Dotson and Grimes will need time. After that though, with Dok, no reason to not reach the final four. Too much depth and talent across the board. If we could get by the non con with no losses though, I think a one or two loss season would be realistic.

@HawkChamp Silvio as the third big is just ridiculous, the kind of talented depth we haven't had for awhile inside. Plus he will have the huge leg up of being with the team for half a season already.

@BShark and people wonder why I can't wait for next year. We'll finally have a real Bill Self team, which hasn't been seen since 2013. I'm ready to see some real toughness and defense like we used to see.

BShark said:

FarmerJayhawk said:

@truehawk93 I can’t see it happening. There’s not really a spot for him next season. Are we going to relegate him to the bench again? He’ll have to compete with Silvio for the 3rd big spot.

Is this assuming Doke is back? I'd definitely rather have Doke back than Billy just from a parts/roster construction perspective.

Yes. Doke has a ton left to work on from a NBA perspective. Can’t see him leaving yet.

@FarmerJayhawk boy I hope you're right. We have seen players do less and decide to still leave though.

@HawkChamp for sure. I just think Udoka is a different kind of guy. He is still just 18, so no rush. He’d be the same age as most OAD type guys as a junior.

@FarmerJayhawk

I'm usually wrong on predicting players directions, so you may be right.

And it is hard to say.... some players just aren't cut for college but kick butt in the league. Maybe the league is exactly what Malik needs. Maybe he is overwhelmed with having to go to school while playing ball.

I’m personally tired of Self claiming to hear word “real soon”, been hearing that for 3 weeks. I worried if we don’t get him soon, he won’t have time to delevop and won’t be a big bonus. The NCAA office is close til Tuesday now so I’d say the earliest word from the NCAA on De Sousa or Billy won’t be til Friday of next week. I think it’s fine that De Sousa can just practice because he probably wouldn’t be playing this soon anyway.

kjayhawks said:

I’m personally tired of Self claiming to hear word “real soon”, been hearing that for 3 weeks. I worried if we don’t get him soon, he won’t have time to delevop and won’t be a big bonus. The NCAA office is close til Tuesday now so I’d say the earliest word from the NCAA on De Sousa or Billy won’t be til Friday of next week. I think it’s fine that De Sousa can just practice because he probably wouldn’t be playing this soon anyway.

Self isn't even playing Cunliffe.

Silvio is much more of a need though.

@kjayhawks

I am curious, what exactly would you like him to say when that is all the information he has available to him? Until he announces the NCAA decision he will critized by some regardless of what he says.

@JayHawkFanToo Well just say I have no update, telling everyone real soon sucks because most folks "real soon" isn't 3 weeks lol.

If we are to believe the new news, Preston has to pay back money and doesn't have the money to do so.

@BeddieKU23 what options does he have?

@BeddieKU23

I understand that just came out yesterday. If that is the case, wouldn’t the logical answer be if you don’t have the money, give the dang car back?

@kjayhawks

3 weeks in NCAA talk is really nothing. 😂

@JayHawkFanToo

Don't they usually make you repay it to charity or something. I don't believe just giving it back solves the issue

@BeddieKU23 yes that's correct. Surely there is some way to repay the money

HawkChamp said:

@BeddieKU23 yes that's correct. Surely there is some way to repay the money

If it's a lot how do you expect him to do So?

Take out a loan to pay for what you owe just to play. Jeesh this is beyond ridiculous

@BeddieKU23 That would be a loan based on future earning potential which is against NCAA rules.

@Texas-Hawk-10 so what’s considered logical?

@Texas-Hawk-10

Yup so if they want him to repay the value of the car i have a hard time figuring out how they are going to pay for it. Maybe it won't be as much as we think, who knows. Just ready for ku to wash it's hands clean of this one

@BeddieKU23 Most players earn their extra money by working camps, but since those are not during the season, Billy might be SOL at this point.

Texas Hawk 10 said:

@BeddieKU23 Most players earn their extra money by working camps, but since those are not during the season, Billy might be SOL at this point.

Oopsadazy boys!!

BeddieKU23 said:

@Texas-Hawk-10

Yup so if they want him to repay the value of the car i have a hard time figuring out how they are going to pay for it. Maybe it won't be as much as we think, who knows. Just ready for ku to wash it's hands clean of this one

Where did you see this?

@FarmerJayhawk that's the rumor, plus precedent ala Selby

BShark said:

Self isn't even playing Cunliffe.

Yeah, I noticed that.

I know a few things. I know this game was absolutely CRUCIAL for us. A big part of why we have won 13 conference titles in a row relates to us getting out of the blocks fast. This Jayhawk team is not the right team to put in a huge hole and see if they can come back. We still refuse to play aggressive defense. Giving up 86 points to this Longhorn team should be a real eye-opener for us. If we give up 86 to the horrific offense of Texas, what will we give up to OU?! 130 points?!

So Self realized he needed to step up with some specific strategy to deal with Texas. He planned for us to attack from the perimeter. A big part of why we hit such a high % of treys last night related to limiting substitutions. We couldn't risk changing the flow of the game. Notice that we didn't have monster shifts in hot and cold last night. And we only had 8 TOs! Most of this relates to Texas playing really horrid guard defense. Wow, that was bad!

This was a game where Self out-coached the h3ll out of Smart! That was a big part of the frustration from Shaka. He knew he was out-coached.

HawkChamp said:

@FarmerJayhawk that's the rumor, plus precedent ala Selby

That would make sense. Hopefully the bar business is great over NYE.

@FarmerJayhawk

Fellow poster on here was at the game and talked to Gary Bedore about it.

@BeddieKU23 awesome, thanks. Should be coming to an end.

@BeddieKU23

Then sell the effin’ car and use the money to pay to whoever gets the money. He needs to prioritize what he wants; if the car is the priority then he does not belong at KU.

@JayHawkFanToo I don't think it works that way or he would have done that, anyone know?

@Crimsonorblue22

Is there any reason why he cannot sell the car? More importantly, is he still driving it?

@JayHawkFanToo I have no idea, would be so dumb! (To be driving it)

@Crimsonorblue22

We already know that obviously he is not that smart otherwise he would not be in this mess.

@JayHawkFanToo gonna wait to hear the whole story

@Crimsonorblue22

Could be an interesting or a really stupid story.

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So - I believe the word is that Preston needs to pay back car money but doesn’t have it...
this apparently was told to a ku bucketeer who was at Texas game by Bedore

@Bosthawk if that’s the case, sell the damn car and use that money to get square.

I’m willing to bet whomever gave him the car would buy it back... ok that was a bit facetious.