Agree I think both KJ and the staff want him at the 3/4 positions. Here's the kicker though, if he doesn't improve his shooting skills playing him at the 3/4 will not be effective & Self will have to get creative again on how he's used (small ball 5, backup to Jalen).
BeddieKU23
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Baylor's backcourt will probably be one of the best in the country. We already know what Flagler & Cryer bring to the table. Keyonte George comes in as a Top 10 player & possible first round pick next year. The wildcard is Langston Love who missed all last year with the knee injury. He was a huge loss for them & if he's healthy he gives them another dude on the perimeter. I'm not sure they have a pure point guard on the roster but its probably not going to matter all that much in the end.
I do see KJ playing a role for his defensive versatility & athleticism. I'm very interested to see if he improved in the offseason. He was a bit behind in other areas of his game
Wesley Yates to Washington, now there's a head-scratcher
I expect Harris to score more & wouldn't be surprised if he was in the 7-10 range this season. I think he gained confidence down the stretch last season & wouldn't be surprised if the coaching staff pushed him a bit to expand his aggressiveness. Just a hunch though. A big step forward for him on offense would be learning how to draw fouls and just get to the line.
I'm still high on Joe making it here. It was clear he was in his own head last year trying to adjust to this level of play. 5 years ago he sits a year and probably benefits from that tremendously. He played through adversity and had some good moments here last year. I hope he's a consistent rotation piece in the backcourt. He's a better player on offense then he got the chance to show. Perhaps as others have said he's not a great fit here style wise but Self has made roles for guys like him stick in the past. Here's to Joe stepping up!
Yeah Zach never saw a shot he didn't like last year. I'm not worried about him in the least bit. Hopefully his efficiency improves a bunch with the freshman year behind him. He scored at a crazy rate for the minutes he got. He's wired to put the ball in the net.
2nd half of the year Jalen was much better shooting the ball. His FT% improved a ton which I think will translate to other areas. I fully expect he put in the work this offseason to have a career year shooting the ball from all 3 levels. It's just can he sustain that when he's the now the guy scouting reports are keying on. I'm optimistic he came back to prove he's the guy.
Joe can score & I would expect year 2 here will lead to more comfort & efficiency from him.
@drgnslayr said in Initial Impressions of Top 25 and 1 Preseason Poll:
I just think Tshiebwe will be a huge team motivational factor. It's a factor UK rarely has!
Yeah he has the ability to impact a lot that happens on the court & we have to face him again (ugh). It's really rare when the POY returns to such a big school. You might be right about being a motivational factor.
Crazy high number.
Specifically, shooting efficiency is my biggest concern for this team. Will be interesting to see where the usage goes with so many shots up for grabs
What is your optimism for Kentucky besides Tshiebwe? Wheeler is solid besides his limitations size wise & as a shooter. Not that high on the other pieces but I think they are in the same boat as KU, they need freshman & development to bridge the gap of what they lost.
Agree. Generally, it's tough relying on a freshman to carry such a role but this team probably can't reach its ceiling without him playing a lot. Shooting looks like a major concern for this team and we know Gradey can really shoot it. Shooting is my #1 concern for this team currently
I'm still bummed he's not here. Part of why I have guarded expectations with this group. We just lost some dogs in Och, CB & Remy. Dave & Mitch added the cherry on top. That's a lot of developed talent that left the doors. Hopefully KU fans are patient because I see growing pains this year.
@BShark said in Initial Impressions of Top 25 and 1 Preseason Poll:
@BeddieKU23 Udeh will be very fun btw
Yeah I'm really high on him once he settles in. Expecting highs and lows this year.
I agree. If Braun had returned this is a completely different discussion. Ceiling to be good. I'll wait and see.
You could make the case KU should be #1 preseason since they won it.
I'm confident in saying 7 of the 10 Big-12 teams are rank worthy in the preseason. The strength of this league is potentially as good or better then last year.
UNC imo is an easy choice as a top team coming in with what they return. They have 3 legitimate All American type players & it's going to be very difficult to beat them. Gonzaga probably has the 2nd best roster on paper returning.
After that, so many wait and see teams out there. I don't think there's as much overall talent spread across the nation this season
They seem to make a lot of clickbait content as well
Preseason rankings are difficult & unpredictable. It's the same mumbo-jumbo every year. With transfer numbers the way they are it makes it even harder.
UNC should be preseason #1 with what they return no questions asked.
I have no idea how good this KU team will be. I'm hopeful but the reality is this team lost more in the offseason then it has in a long time. The schedule is tougher as well. Our preseason ranking will not match the uncertainty
I'm good with Shaq for entertainment. He is good at what he does and I can't imagine he won't put on a good show for the fans.
YIKES
According to this CBS report KU hasn't had their hearing with the IARP & timeline for completion is looking at Summer 2023
but NCAA Vice President of Hearing Operations, Derrick Crawford, told the media on a call Tuesday that the four -- Louisville, Arizona, Kansas and LSU -- are on track to be resolved in "late spring, early summer of 2023." Louisville and Arizona have completed their hearings while Kansas and LSU have not, suggesting they may be ahead in the queue.
I take the Memphis ruling as a positive for KU. Memphis was clearly handed a slap on the wrist after making some interesting decisions at the time of the whole Wiseman saga.
Whether anyone should care now that almost all of this is legal anyway is another discussion. If the NCAA/IARP makes all of these cases go away in similar manner they may have finally done something right
Some good quotes from his commitment. I get the sense he is the perfect fit here. We'll see what role he earns.
A 6-foot-4 senior who 247Sports ranks No. 42 nationally, McDowell committed to the Jayhawks for several reasons.
“The history of the program, resources, and the opportunity to play early was a big thing," McDowell told 247Sports. "Coach Self and Coach Case they haven’t been recruiting me the longest, but I felt the most comfortable with those dudes and I know they believe in me. I feel like they are the best option to help me achieve my goals.”
Currently listed as a shooting guard, McDowell is a long and rangy backcourt player that can play the one, the two or the three in Lawrence. He's a sharp passer, clutch shot maker and has lots of room to add muscle to his frame. He also plays to win and when asked what made him a guy Kansas had to have, he thought those trait helped.
“The intensity and the heart, it’s mostly a mental thing," said McDowell. "It’s not as much talent because everybody at that level has talent, but not everybody has the will, so I think that is what it was. I’m talented and have the ability to do everything on the court because I’m a talented player, but I feel like it was the way I played the game, make the right pass and make the right play every time.”
It would make some sense if he's a late bloomer & the light bulb came on this spring/summer getting the opportunity to prove himself. It seems like he took advantage and earned himself a great chance now with KU.
Hearing that KU coaches pushed for his commitment last week when it seemed he was headed for Wake is interesting. Did things change with KU's recruiting board to where he was a take? Was he always a take and they just overcame Wake with NIL/KU brand etc? Anyways I'm happy with his decision. I see the potential to get him here and develop him. Here's his scouting report from today. Sounds like a guy they have great success developing into good players.
Scouting Report
McDowell is long and athletic with a solid frame that is only going to continue filling out. He runs and jumps with ease, covers the court, and gets well above the rim. While more wing than true guard right now, there is a skill-set that is clearly developing. He was reportedly not known as a shooter coming up the ranks, but shoots a clean and easy ball now and even flashes some glimpses of tough shot-making potential. Similarly, he is not an overly dynamic creator yet, but is good enough with the ball to be a potential big secondary handler and pick-and-roll threat down the road. Defensively, there’s clear tools with his length, size, and effortless mobility. Overall, he’s competitive and plays with a high motor on both ends of the floor.
In the short-term, McDowell is a player who can earn minutes and impact winning at the highest levels of college basketball. He’s farther along defensively than the vast majority of high school players, can play a role offensively without needing to dominate the ball, and has both the right physical tools and mindset necessary to ease the transition.
One of the reasons McDowell was underrated by so many, and truthfully still may be, is because he isn’t necessary the type of ball-dominant scorer or natural creator who is going to go out and get 25+ points every time out. In the long-term though, he not only checks a variety of different boxes that can translate up to the highest levels of basketball, but he’s simultaneously improving and evolving at a rapid rate.
Yeah we just saw how much chemistry came into play for Och/CB/Harris being familiar with each other before coming to KU.
Johnson certainly seems like a prospect that has maturing to do and if having Jamari there helps with that process we have something especially since Mari seems like a mature person from his comments. I know this take seems surprising but I'm high on getting him in here and seeing what happens. Certainly has some skills on offense that are intriguing. His comments certainly made me feel at ease, he seems like he wants to be a dog on the court.
@AsadZ said in Jamari who?:
Has anyone seen his tape on D. Can he guard at the next level.
Not sure you'll find that tape since he went from unknown to Top 50 prospect in 6 months. Most of what I've seen is offensive highlights which isn't uncommon for guards looking to get noticed. He's got long arms, good size and is a plus athlete. It would certainly appear he has the tools to defend, same with his buddy Johnson.
I like this take actually. If he plays like his comments suggest they may have found a very competitive dude with intriguing length. Obviously going to need the strength program here but if he also helps Chris Johnson that's a plus.
I get the feeling this one has a chip on his shoulder to prove himself on the big stage. Went from 2 star Recruit to top 50 this summer so he might be one of those late bloomers that was impacted by the covid years.
Stack talent, develop it and see what comes out the other side. This is the kind of Recruit that just helped us win a natty. No worries about leaving early unless he transfers. Hearing the staff pushed for him behind the scenes to land him makes you really think they know what potential he may have.. until otherwise I'll trust the staff here. Obviously not every player is a homerun but I wouldn't be quick to throw this one with some past takes that didn't pan out
I'm actually surprised we are in this recruitment tbh.
Jackson did a video interview and cut his list to 7 with KU in it.
Certainly seemed complimentary of some other schools, especially Texas & Villanova who he's taken unofficial visits to. Will visit Notre Dame officially after KU at some point. Seems very focused on how guards are used/freedom/style of play.
He's looking to decide just after the signing period in Nov and sign in the spring.
Yeah he certainly would be high profile. He just told the world he wanted to be a billionaire by 25.. If Self believes in his game then that's good enough for me. I have my concerns about the kind of baggage that comes with someone such as him. We'll see. I'm very interested to see how his Sr season goes as well.
KU will have a secret scrimmage against Illinois in late October
Picture posted today of team completing Boot Camp.
Bobby is missing from the photo. Wonder what's up with that.
Anyone know?
His stock has cratered below the earth. That's why its tough when these kids get so hyped up at such a young age.
Never hurts when the football team isn't doo doo as part of the experience for him. Picked a good weekend & hopefully Self can close here
This weekend. Could be a good thing with the football game
Yeah I'm interested to see how his sr season goes. I think he needs to prove he is more then a big name. Talented for sure but I wonder about his ceiling.
I'm higher on Elmarko Jackson if I had to choose between the 2. Dynamic play making that reminds me so much of Dotson
Bossi mentions that Mikey really likes KU.
Have a lot of mixed feelings with this one.
Seems like KU might be behind on the 24 class due to the restrictions on coaches and emphasis to recruit current class. Hopefully the 24 class is better then this one..
That ending to the Purdue/Cuse game was unreal. Those refs should be shown the door.
It's interesting because Louisville looked just as awful last week against UCF until the 2nd half.
Satterfield is a weird dude but he's hard to gameplan against with his style. I'm not convinced he has staying power there once Cunningham is gone. I was also surprised they were beaten that badly week 1. I'm not sure he's got dudes this year. I'll find out later. He's stuffed our D Coordinator in a locker in the first half the last two years
Flurry of CB's coming in for Chatman to Ohio St.
@Kcmatt7 said in KCmatt's Locks of the Week:
@BeddieKU23 same combo that got them a 5-7 record a year ago.
Purdue returned their QB from a year ago and despite a tough loss to PSU I think they mostly look like the 9-win team they did from a season ago.
No doubt they were not good last year. Fired the offensive coordinator and so far they are looking far better then projected. Whether the Louisville win was fluky or not (I'll know more around 11pm EST tonight). I was not discounting Purdue at all, I think they are a solid team that would have been expected to win this one rather easily before the season started. I think that gap has narrowed significantly, Cuse is at home riding some momentum. Surprised they are favored so I see why your taking the money line here.
Interesting game of styles. Purdue's QB can sling it (although he hasn't been that accurate this year) & Cuse wants to ground and pound with their stud RB & running QB combo.
I think Purdue gets beat.
Cuse is much better then expected so far, they have the best RB in the ACC & their QB is a runner that's difficult to take down at his size & surprisingly enough its their defense that's done well too when it was expected to be below average. I know my team (FSU) has a road tilt with them later this year and the projections for that one have already shifted from likely win to toss-up/perhaps even underdog.
I think you could add Miami to that group as well
Watched some recent film on him and was a bit surprised how good he is compared to where he was ranked/now ranked. Still think he's being undervalued, certainly appears to have the talent of a Top 20 player and has size and athleticism for the PG/CG position that projects forward as well. I think he'd contribute day 1 at KU, a bold prediction but his film popped
KU was in to see Bronny James recently as well. Bossi quick to say basically no shot
Think we are sitting in a good spot. Really like his game and it fits exactly what Self is looking for in a point guard.
It sounds like they are tight on numbers.
Really hoping we land Elmarko.
Don't think Gertrude is an option. Lot's of CB's to UVA to play in that exciting offense!
Bossi mentions Chatman leaning Ohio St.. Weird. Sounds like Jackson might be the top target and interested to see how it plays out with him
*Obviously, Kansas has already landed four-star guard Chris Johnson and word out of Lawrence is that Bill Self and his staff are pretty excited about the Houston native’s combination of size and athleticism in the backcourt. They’d like to keep getting more athletic in the backcourt. They’ve already hosted another four-star guard from Texas in Jamari McDowell and super athletic four-star wing Kaden Cooper was on campus over the weekend. Five-star guard Mikey Williams visited during June as did four-star Taison Chatman (who looks to be leaning towards Ohio State). In a few weeks, four-star Elijah Gertrude and top 20 Elmarko Jackson will be on campus. Big man Dennis Evans is among the others in the mix.
While Self will never turn down a quality big man, the priority for the Jayhawks appears to be adding athletic and versatile perimeter players. Jackson – who visits Miami – this weekend looks to be right at the top of their wish list and they’d be more than happy with any of Cooper, Gertrude and McDowell to go along with him.
It is hard to imagine that they would whiff on the entire group coming off of a National Championship but at the same time it is tough to say that they are the clearcut favorite for any of those guys either. Sorry I can’t give a clearer answer, but I do think their next commit comes from somebody within the group of their most recent and upcoming September visitors.*
Short term target TJ Power to Puke Town.