🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Let's see. Tarik Black is playing his 4th season of college basketball, it's senior night, he got his BA before he set foot on campus, and he is going to have a Master's before he leaves after this one season? He plays a musical instrument and is 6-9 and 260? And he has a kind of positive outlook that the maestro of positive, Bill Self, admires? And he has the insight at this young age to say of Self, "Here, I’m playing for a coach who has a national championship, who has coached many great teams, that’s had similar players and just knows what to do, when to do it, and the message that needs to be portrayed at the moment"?

Black should give the NBA a shot, if he wants to, but he has "coach" written all over him.

Go, Tarik, go!

@jaybate 1.0 I think he has winner written all over him, he'll forever be a Jayhawk! FOE! Thanks Tarik!

@jaybate 1.0 100% agree. He is totally thinking that way. And he isn't the only one. Sometime, I'd like to see folks list the most-likely KU players to be a future branch of the Bill Self Basketball Coaching Tree.

I would put Tarik up there with some of the highest odds.

Tyrel Reed is another I think could coach. Also Kevin Young, Russ Rob. Even Justin Wesley and Elijah Johnson wouldn't surprise me.

Chase Buford is likely to be in the business. Not sure about coaching..

KU could use a big man coach in a a year or two if the League or overseas doesn't work out.

Come back as a grad assistant get his doctorate in his studies.

He would be a great role model for so many young student athletes.

@jaybate 1.0 J I love TBlack. He's a great guy with the best attitude. I love his nose for the ball, aggressive nature, and just a super on and off court presence. I'd take a team full of Blacks any day of the week. I do hope he lands in Europe or an NBA DLeague team. He's a great guy to have on your team.

Remember how many fans bad-mouthed Tarik at the beginning of the season? There were some pretty nasty things said about him!

@Crimsonorblue22
I was one of those fans I suppose. He is growing on me however and much of it has to do with the qualities mentioned here, qualities which I should have recognized at the beginning of the season. Add me to the list of Tarik admirers!

@jaybate 1.0

"Black should give the NBA a shot, if he wants to, but he has "coach" written all over him."

Bingo! Or he could be a minister... or adviser for kids in trouble... Whatever he chooses I see him trying to continue his role as a spiritual leader. I bet he would develop into one heck of a good coach!

@Crimsonorblue22

Your recollection could be better than mine. I recall many posters not being sold out on Tarik; I was one of them. He came with a reputation of having an attitude problems which fortunately we have not seen at KU; in fact, it has been quite the opposite. Having said that, I really don't recall any posters saying "pretty nasty" things about him; perhaps you are thinking of the other forum where most of us used to post.

Tarik has been consistently inconsistent with a few big games and many more forgettable ones. As I mentioned in a different post, he could end up having a Jeff Graves like game, but the more likely scenario is that he, along with Jamari, will contribute solid minutes backing up Embiid. Maybe his bigger contribution has been off the court and during practice where he has been a leader and a mentor to the younger players. He seems to be a pretty decent individual and you have to respect anyone that finishes a degree in 3 years, in an age when many kids with no outside distraction take 5 years.

I am not sure if he has a long term future in the NBA. With luck and being in the right place at the right time might earn him some role playing time in the League; after all, many players with less talent have stuck around for a few years.

@JayHawkFanToo Tarik is a good example of what a positive environment (KU) can do for a young person! He's a huge blessing to this team, in so many ways! I think he's been a victim of this new foul system and was frustrated and probably still will be. I have a hard time understanding why some fans think this young team doesn't have chemistry. Watching Tarik's dunk and his team mates reaction was pure joy for me! Just glad coach Self brought him here. Whatever Tarik decides to do, he will always be a great leader!

I was hopeful when I heard Tarik was coming to KU. Then somewhat disappointed in his early foul problems. Probably a lesser player would've developed an attitude and lost his cool, ie Cousins from Kentucky. That's what I've liked about Tarik. Geez he's a load on the court and not the guy you'd want to take a charge from. But he's always let his play do the talking versus being confrontational. Tarik, good luck in your future endeavors and I hope one of them leads you back to KU as an assistant coach for our future bigs. RCJH (beer)

@jaybate 1.0 -- I'm thinking the cat is going to be a TE in the NFL. Just saying.

Tarik's dunk is an all time classic, and the KU bench's reaction (which was actually the starters) was THE best bench reaction I've ever seen.