🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@mihawk

We all love Mari, and we are always happy to have a 5th year senior. It's great for our young guys to learn from our 3 senior's + 4th year Lucas. His value to the team probably is more a leadership & mentoring role for these freshman than expecting him to be the savior on the court. He was by far the worst performer in Korea. I'm not saying that is the premise for the season but when you add in a disappointing Jr season and continue it through these games you have to wonder what can he bring when Self went out and recruited over him with 2 All Americans.

He is quick, he can pass, and when his motor is in the right place he brings an infectious active attitude to the team. But he's a terrible shooter, a below average rebounder (that's being nice), he turns the ball over at a high rate and he's too small to bang with bigger guys. I'd say 10 minutes is about his max especially with the options we now have. He has to improve or he's going to sit, cut the turnovers, make the shots close to the rim and rebound the ball better.

@mihawk

I agree we have a team built for a championship run. I'm sure Mari will have a few games where we are glad he was in the lineup but the fact is he's so inconsistent. Korea didn't change anything for him and if anything he was losing a lot of minutes to Hunter & Bragg even without Diallo there. I think Mari will be the 5th or 6th big this year, its why Self signed 2 All-Americans Bigs this off-season.

@wissoxfan83

The inside presence involves both sides of the ball. We all thought Cliff would be a good 2 way player and well he never proved to be that. Whatever the reason, he wasn't the B2B player we needed nor the defender we needed. He did block shots but his post defense & guarding out to the line were not even average.

Diallo is a major defensive upgrade, he will block more shots & get more rebounds than any Hawk if he starts. His rim protecting will be something that could easily negate 6-10 pts per game at the rim (blocks + alters). He should be quick enough to guard off ball screens & be a better position defender. He isn't the B2B player but I think he will be so active that points will come his way. Bragg should be a good backup to Ellis being a stretch the floor athlete who can rebound and get on the floor for loose balls. He's a huge upgrade to Traylor who is so limited on both sides of the ball. Mickelson's emergence this summer also gives us a chance to have 3 basically new bigs. We will score more points per game if these 3 can establish roles in the rotation.

You are right the Freshman could be a crapshoot but I think by committee with Hunter we will see a lot more production.

@justanotherfan

UCLA is definitely the harder semi's game if both meet. St John's will be a mess, Wake Forest still isn't very good. Vanderbilt is expected to be a pretty good team but they have failed to live up to expectations more often than not. UCLA is a tourney team with more depth this year (4 star guards & SF type redshirt) so we definitely drew the tougher side. UNLV could be anything with its revamped roster that added Zimmerman & high-flyer Jones, the leading scorer from Mercer, & 2 quality transfers that sat-out. Either team will be a good early test..

I don't think anyone is sleeping on KU this year. Especially when Duke & Kentucky are rebuilding after dream season's. Kentucky looks even better now that Murray was great in the Pan Am games. When you look at the projected top 20 teams there isn't a ton of separation even in the top 10.

@RockkChalkk

Definitely, and TF fills an obvious need if we lose some expected players to the draft. His comparison is definitely to a Ben McLemore. I think it helps with the Texas recruits (Bolden, Fox, Herard) if we land him that they would look to join. At least that is the optimism.

@jayballer54

With Fergy, if he announces soon its going to be KU. Those close to his situation blurted out that he was going to commit months ago and the only reason he didn't was because he wanted to play out the AAU circuit as an hot commodity. Now that it's over he can finally decide on his school. Alabama has been mentioned as a possible place but if its anything less than the Hawks it will be an absolute shocker. Just the type of recruit we could use as a springboard for rest of the class (especially our other Texas targets).

Outside shot for Blackwell, seems how Vandy has been front and center throughout & are close to his home.

Bolden is more than likely a spring signee after his peach jam comments and clearly is letting UNC/Duke/Kentucky into his recruitment. Duke will probably lose ground after Giles commit

Jackson is still a Arizona lean to me especially with the Miller connection from the U19 games.

We are very much in the race for Porter & Young in the 17 class. If they do in fact end up a package deal its huge if we can keep in the race for them. Visiting for Late Night is a big deal as well.

@approxinfinity

Your right, this situation is no different than the one Thomas Robinson got himself in Portland. If Alexander is good enough he could make the team but when you look at Plumlee (already established), Leonard (already established role) & Vonleh (high draft pick & played well in Summer League) your looking at no better than 4th in the rotation. Won't be good enough to stick there.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Great post, Moore was more valuable than the stats showed. What if Self hadn't gotten a veteran pg to help Mason. His relationship with Larry Brown is why we even had such a player. We'd be spoiled to have a Moore on our team.

@Texas-Hawk-10

I'd rather have Graham, provided he improves and has a great year. Right now I'd take a Jr over a freshman any day. But I want to see how Graham plays either backing up Mason or playing alongside him. I'm sure he's going to be very good but we all thought Selden would be very good last year as well. You just never know what's going to happen. Graham has been injured twice, which has in some way cost himself & the team. I'm not saying he has durability issues but it could be wise to get a combo guard/pg in this class regardless.

As @drgnslayr has pointed out its good to get a PG in the door in staggered years so we are not stuck relying on a freshman. We could technically go another year without another pg signing because Graham still has 3 years and Mason 2. A 2017 PG would be a backup to Graham unless its an elite talent

@KUSTEVE

Sure, hopefully his play will speak for itself, if Self does role with the 2 ball handlers in the starting line-up.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Your right about the pecking order of what we will "need". At least 1 Elite big is at the top, 2 just for depth purposes if Diallo is gone. A wing will be a must if we were to lose Selden & Svi to the draft. At the moment, its all Bolden or nothing because while other bigs have shown interest, they haven't shown the kind of interest that leads to a commitment.

But I still don't see how its not reasonable that Fox comes here and plays off the ball Were all on the bandwagon for Graham starting with Mason this year so that they can play with each other. Fox is more athletic, has more length for that role than Graham does. I'm not saying Fox is an upgrade because we don't know how Graham will do if in fact he plays alongside Mason the whole season. But its an option, something that Fox I'm sure will monitor closely. If Graham has a strong season then there's no reason to recruit over him, but it never hurts to have a talent problem.

@drgnslayr

I think its both. Mason is arguably our best player as a low ranked post grad player. There's absolutely no way Self and his staff could of predicted that Mason would be this good this soon. Same with Graham, his recruitment didn't blow up until he spent an extra year in prep school at Brewster. He was solid as a freshman and more is expected of him this year. I think both came in with maturity beyond their years and its shown to be the best thing for KU.

There's a lot of ways to look at Fox. I think he could be more of a 2 guard in College. He is a very good PG in the HS ranks but Self could really use him at the 2 especially if Selden or Svi leave.

PG is probably the last position you want a revolving 1 year door because there's no chemistry built with the rest of your team when you replace your floor general every year. Mason & Graham represent that 4 year stability vs Fox's likely 1 year stopover.

Fox would definitely be more prepared if he came to KU learning from our 2 studs, and hopefully he has an open mind in that regard. If we miss on Fox, there's always Trae Young in 2017 who wants to be a package deal with Michael Porter. Fox isn't a must have recruit based on need, but you never want to lose top 10 talent to an in conference foe. Most importantly is establishing recruiting victories in Texas, which we've struggled to do.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Remember Fox really likes KU and we've put in the most work for his services. Texas has been hot on his tail because he's given them the chance to recruit him.

If Taylor goes pro after this year, Texas still has 2 Top 50 PG recruits who would be Sophomore's & they have already signed Jacob Young a rising PG prospect and younger brother of Joseph Young who was drafted by the Pacers this year. They also have Yancy who figures to start this year at the 2 guard & his senior year. Their back-court is just as crowded and full of talent.

That is why I've suggested that he could play some 2 guard because of his size, length & athleticism. He would be the perfect compliment to Mason & Graham especially if Selden goes pro.

@drgnslayr

We got lucky with Both Mason & Graham in regards to the 4yr type PG's. Both could have been playing for smaller schools (towson & appalachian st). Our staff did a great job identifying their talent but they would have been crazy to know Mason would become what he is, and Graham having the chance to follow in his steps as well. We could have struck out with those 2 and have been stuck in a situation where we would have needed a talent like Fox to lift us up. But that hasn't happened, Mason was the PG who helped turn everything around.

Fox is a super talent, one that has the NBA measurables, the hype & the game to be in the league but he's already likely a 1 year stop wherever he goes.

Excellent points all.

I think the combination between Self's style of play & the opponents style of play dicates @bskeet question.

Recently we usually are at the mercy of the opposing teams pace. If a team plays zone, unless they are horrible at it will mean a low scoring game for KU. If they speed the game up we usually play up to that level instead of what KU does in a normal game.

@joeloveshawks

You think Frank is an average shooter? I have to disagree on that note. He might be an average passer but he is a shooter and a scorer.

I think its crazy that Mason could leave after this year but a good year where KU makes the Final 4 his play will be magnified significantly by scouts. Tyus Jones just went 1st round and nothing he does sticks out in anyway. A Championship run does a lot to sway your stock especially if you play well. I think Frank will finish his career here but I'd be lying to myself if I didn't think he at least had a chance to make the league.

As far as Fox goes, his comments could be taken as he's waiting on Mason's intentions but Fox is also more of a combo guard than a true point guard. His size, athleticism would allow him to play off the ball and still be a primary ball-handler which seems to work so much better in Self's offense. I don't think he needs Mason to leave to come here he loves Self and KU. The only reason he hasn't committed was because of Smart and giving them time to recruit him. The staff has been all-in on him for a while now, we haven't pursued really any other top level PG in the class.

I like having the easier games, you can rest your starters and your bench can get some quality time in games.

The last 2 years have been grueling non-conference schedules. 2 years ago we went a whole month with a young team away from Allen Fieldhouse and the team unraveled.

Last year we had no breather's and by the end of the season we were beat up and tired. If we can give Mason & Selden & Ellis a handful of games where they are not playing 35 minutes its going to be beneficial come the end of the season.

I can't see a negative to the easier games when we have more than enough early season games against tough tournament opponents.

I think people have just ran with Fox's comments and are making more out of it then there really is.

I know we have discussed the possibility that he could look at his options after this year if he has another strong year and KU makes it far into the tournament. I think he does have NBA potential but he will have to prove he's one of the top 6 or so PG's this year to make a name for himself with scouts. His size is always going to limit his perceived ceiling in the league but there is no doubt he's a talented player.

Yesterday it was debating Bragg being a OAD, today its Mason leaving. What's next??

I'm glad the degree of difficulty is a notch below the last 2 years.

You have 2 heavyweight games, 1 true road game in a great environment, 1 neutral game @ Allen East , 1 trip to Maui for possibly 3 or 4 games & a few cupcakes to get the young players some PT.

It's challenging but not overbearing & not out the realm of possibility that this years team could run through them all because of the Korea experience. It will be interesting to see Self's comments in the fall on how quickly this team comes together in practice. I would assume because of all the experience coming back that things will go smoother and with the young guys already getting PT time in will be a benefit to the whole team.

@konkeyDong

Very nice rundown. I like the detailed summary of teams especially the what-if situations in Maui.

I like the optimism for an undefeated non-con. At the moment I don't think we will go through that schedule without a loss but as we've seen with UK last year, the more you win and stay undefeated the more pressure mounts. You want to lose at least a few because you learn from those loses.

Our toughest game early is clearly Michigan St. They are a tough team to project as usually Izzo's teams are a shell of themselves in the non-con part. The team we played in Orlando last year was not even 10% of the juggernaut he had rolling at season's end. Right now their best player (Transfer Harris) is still suspended indefinitely. So we definitely catch this team at an opportune moment. Valentine, Forbes, Costello, Schilling form a nice core and then you add in everything else. Davis was a big time catch, he should start from day 1. Harris will start if eligible. I think KU will win this game because of it will be better prepared for early success. Izzo will have this team ready for March.

In Maui there isn't a team nearly as talented as KU but Indiana is a team that could be very dangerous. They shoot it and often and that can be a recipe for upset especially early in the season. They will likely play a Zone against us as well which we always struggle to play against. I think if we meet Indiana its the 2nd most likely loss in the schedule. UCLA should be good this year with additional depth. I don't think a freshman will start for them as Alford showed he could facilitate & score just fine.

The Harvard game should be a blowout. Losing Sanders & Moundou-Missi is huge for them. They have had great success lately but this year will be a major step down. Visiting KU and likely having to start 3 new players I smell blowout city.

Oregon St. will be a scrappy team. How much the new players help them early will determine how close this game could be. Don't see anyway they beat us but they did play us tough before here.

San Diego St. is our #1 most likely loss in the non-con. They have developed a great home-court advantage and traveling to their gym is basically their Super-Bowl this year. They are a tournament team & a great defensive squad. They will rely heavily on a freshman to make shots which was their glaring weakness all of last year. Pope should also be a key player for them after only playing half the year. He's been projected to be a 1st round pick this upcoming year. This will be a drag out low scoring game. If KU is really a serious title contender they will find a way to lean on their experience and more talented team to win. A loss to them will not harm us in any way.

The Kentucky game: You know those road games in Big 12 play where KU should roll by 30 points but yet the 8th man in the rotation decides to have a career game from 3 and a frenzy crowd keeps the other team in it? Except this time it will be KU that is the jacked up team. Expect to see a spectacle in this one. I think KU will overwhelm them because of the revenge factor. The only saving grace for them is the game is played well into the season where the Wildcats will have established their identity.I still think it will be a double digit win as Self and the team looks to bury the hatchet from last years debacle.

So I have KU losing 1 game in the nonconf schedule. (poss. Indiana), Michigan St, (poss. UCLA), Oregon St could challenge us because of the neutral site factor but I think the UK game in Allen is a huge advantage for us this year. If we make it out of this good schedule with little hiccups then we can start to visualize how far this team can go.

@justanotherfan

Bragg needs to add serious strength while he's here in Lawrence. He was pushed around in Korea, no matter if they were older & stronger those same rules apply in college. He made up for it with hustle and scrappy plays on the floor and his length. I think defensively he's going to have to prove a lot (can he guard a 4 or 5 straight up). He wasn't known for his defense in HS and I doubt that changes anytime soon.

His offensive Skill-Set is advanced, and if he can shoot the ball consistently he's got a great chance with how the league is shifting to stretch players. Does he have a low post game? He tended to settle for a lot of jumpers in Korea. So far that's the only data we have to assess what he likes to do at the College Level. The staff will undoubtedly work on post moves with him. His upside is not a question, but how he puts it all together.

I don't agree with your competition argument. Diallo could be a OAD top 10 pick after this year. Sounds like stiff competition to me?
Ellis will go down in KU History. 3 year starter, possible top 10 scorer, possible All-American, All Big 12 player. He might not be an ideal talent for the NBA but in the College game he's as effective as they come. He's a senior, he's not going to sit no matter the promise Bragg may show from time to time. Sounds to me like competition hasn't changed a bit here.

After those 2 you have an emerging Mickelson. Who knows how much stock Self will place on his play. I think it was good enough to earn backup C minutes. If Bragg can play defense, he could earn some of those minutes as well.

At this point I'd be shocked if Bragg wasn't the focal point of the 16-17 team.

@drgnslayr

I went into the WUG expecting to come on here and say the same stuff about Selden that has been said for 2 years. He did a 180 or a 360 for me and now that we've seen the appetizer we definitely can't go into the main course and get a bad meal.

Things might have worked out the best for Wayne if he takes this huge step forward. As they say, it could be his time to shine!

@drgnslayr

The only clear "excuse" I see missing is the Motivation factor.

Wayne was motivated by the losses in the NCAA tourney the last 2 years. I bet he was motivated that he had no choice but to come back to school and prove scouts wrong after seeing his stock drop dramatically. With both of those fresh in his mind still, he was Hungry and proved it. The weight loss, the bounce, the smooth jumper were all there.

I think @jayhawkbychoice really nailed it on the Pecking Order. Wayne didn't have wing phenom's Wigs & Oubre in front of him anymore. He naturally inherited more responsibility without them and has seemed to thrive with that. He's now the focal point instead of the 3rd wheel. Confidence was through the roof, and he was acting like a true leader out there. Sometimes that's all it takes for guys to become better players. If it continues we will be a happy fanbase!

@DoubleDD

He could be a lottery pick if he grows into his body and defines his game. We saw glimpses of good things in Korea with no idea what he was doing. His hustle stood out, and he rebounded pretty well. His jump-shot wasn't there but we all saw the good form.

He's going to get minutes because if you assume he will take Perry's spot after this year, then he better play decent minutes so that he's prepared for the role. The fact is he's a backup right now, and unless he beats out Diallo to play the 5 (which I'm sure he doesn't want to do) he's stuck in a 1st big or 2nd big off the bench role. Nothing wrong with that, it allows him to learn from Vets & not place pressure on himself to be something he's not right now. If he's able to carve out more than 10 minutes a game, then he's doing good things its a crowded front-court.

@DoubleDD

If your right we better have locked down the elite posts in this recruiting class. Love the optimism towards Bragg but I hope your wrong that he's gone after 1 year. I don't believe given the minutes he will receive that its enough to jump.You are right about his NBA potential, he possesses a sweet jump shot that is coveted.

It is shaping up right now as a weak draft but there are a ton of Freshman bigs that could all be going pro that will impact some kids decisions.

At the top you got Simmons & Skal. Scouts are sold on them, will take some monumental leap from somebody to pass them. After that you have a scrum of Freshman with potential and some older players. Poeltl from Utah, Hayes from Wisconsin, Jones from Vanderbilt & Bender from Europe are rated pretty high. Freshman like Zimmerman, Stone, Diallo, Ellenson, Rabb, Swanigan, Jeter, Bryant & Devonte Davis were all rated higher or around Bragg and all will basically be in featured roles on their college teams. Bragg is the one situation where he's stuck behind a possible All-American. A lot will change by the spring when we will know what kind of player Bragg has become to know if leaving is a real option. He seems to be a level headed player with goals of developing within the system.

@drgnslayr

I certainly don't disagree with what you said. He is a talent and he's got a chance to be one of those rare post players that has skills you don't see often from that size. Defensively, he would be formidable at the College Level and coaches have to think his offense will come along with coaching.

From all the recent interviews with his handler, it seems KU has had zero recent contact so Self might have moved on from all this? Which is crazy to think he has chosen to recruit others after spending a lot of time before tracking him. How did Arizona St get involved with him? Because his handler knows the staff. There has to be more to this than meets the eye which I suspect has to do with his mentor running the show. Whatever school lands him pretty much gets the green ticket with his brother as well.

Given a clean slate I'm sure us fans would take Maker in a heartbeat with the talent he could become. But the uncertainty of him ever playing College Ball has to be the biggest issue surrounding him.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Exactly an injury to Ellis is the only way and nobody wants that to happen. Bragg will see enough time to be ready as a sophomore to lead. Carlton and the coaches know that

We will still have a nice nucleus next year even if we lose some early. I seriously doubt Svi will leave after this year but what do I know. If hes a starter he has a chance to show nba potential.

Mason, Graham, Vick & Greene is still a deep backcourt without Svi. With Svi the top recruits likely look elsewhere. We are after Ferguson, Fox, and Jackson the most. One of those 3 leaves us with an elite guard lineup again. Maybe a transfer point guard or a stash type would be good to get as well. You bring in someone to learn from Mason & Devonte.

Frontcourt definitely needs an infusion of talent. I just don't see Bragg as anywhere close to leaving, he just isn't going to have the role to be drafted that high. He comes back and the PF spot is his. Coleby & Lucas provide depth at the 5. We need one more elite recruit if Diallo does leave. We could also look at a development big like Herard.

If Svi & Selden go then signing Jackson or Ferguson or both is the priority.
If Diallo goes then signing Bolden and at least 1 more elite big who can score will be a must. We may have 5 to 6 spots to give but it's not necessary to fill them all when we still have great talent left. 2017 is absolutely full of Ku targets maybe the most in a long time so saving some for that class has to be on the coaches mind.

My one bold prediction so far. KU Will not sign anyone in the fall. All the targets seem set on announcing in the spring. The only kid I could see signing early would be Ferguson.

@JayHawkFanToo

It has more to do with his tools in a half-court setting where scouts and such have said he needs work on the offensive end. And they are right, he is not polished on offense but he does find plenty of ways to score. If he was a polished scorer he's the consensus #1 player in the country.

His HS team which had plenty of prospects (Dilliard Yakwe among others) didn't have the PG to further help him produce. He would try a lot of shoot jump shots and he's inconsistent with that. His FT form is solid though so it does bode well for development. Thankfully at KU he's got plenty of guys to give him the ball in the right spots.

In some of the higher profile games he played in they would get behind and Diallo would try his best to keep them close. He's not the typical ISO situation big but if he has good position he will power it home.

What is special about him is when play is in the open court. NO other big his size has the combo of Size, Speed & Athleticism when trailing a play or getting out and running with the guards. To say he has a knack for the ball around the basket is not giving him enough credit. He simply gets everything off the rim. His Defense is well spoken of, he's an elite shot blocker straight up & weak-side.

Self should plan on a lot of Lobs for him. The guards should feel good about being aggressive to the hoop because he's like the clean up specialist. If he can avg around 8-10 pts a game its going to be a fun year.

@JayHawkFanToo

I might have been over-zealous in my comment about Mason being quicker than most in the NBA. But I am confident in his abilities if he continues to develop as a PG. He already has a lot of qualities that could stick at the next level. Hopefully one day we weren't wrong for projecting him to make the NBA.

@drgnslayr

What's interesting about Maker is what changed from April when the Hoops Summit clearly showed he was over-matched compared to other bigs in the game (especially Diallo & Labissiere). He was a defensive presence but seemed really out of whack on offense. Now he's dominating events again and even the #1 player in 2017. Tantalizing talent with red flags. The NCAA Clearinghouse will have a field day with his eligibility.

I'm not going to lie I haven't been on the Maker train since all the issues with his handler have been become known. There's gotta be reasons why Kentucky & Kansas & every other school that was drooling over him before is no longer after him. Why is it Indiana & Arizona St are left? Because his handler has made it that way (or making it seem that way). Why is this kid not able to make his own decisions, its not like he hasn't been in America for a while now. Everyone seems to have a "handler" or a glorified booster telling them what to do or influencing their moves.

@drgnslayr

It would be the greatest thing since sliced bread if we keep the pace we had in Korea.

That would mean that Self is willing to evolve the system to the changes, and today's game. He certainly has the players to do it but a lot of that will depend on the health of Graham & Greene.
I'll hold back my optimism & enthusiasm until it happens because Self always leaves you guessing.

@HighEliteMajor

Mason definitely can make the NBA, especially at the rate he's going. He can defend & can rebound exceptionally well for his size. There's not too many NBA players quicker than him with the ball either. He should at least get some looks but let's see how his Jr season goes first.

@drgnslayr

Awesome on the basketball school reference, Mari could really use it. When the game slows down for him he plays well but there's too many times where he seems sped up. When you don't rebound the ball even average for your position, you turn the ball over at a high rate and your not a good shooter its hard to endorse playing time for him. Energy & hustle plays were his calling card and ever since Tarik left he hasn't been the same. I'm sure he's going to have a few games this year where he's one of the main reasons we win a game because he's done that in the past. Mari is a rare 5th year player in Self's tenure that is trending down the depth chart. That has usually been the opposite for kids that have waited their turn here.

Interesting note on Ellis, I had not thought of that but it's true Ellis is a player that gets down on himself easily. I think he finally realizes to think next shot, his teammates trust him and he knows he has to keep attacking. We have seen Perry play better then he did in Korea, even if it was an off week by his standards he still put up 13pts pg. He should easily average more than that during the season.

@JayHawkFanToo

Your right about the NBA trend.

I just thought it was funny that a 6'10 240 pound player thinks he's a 4. He's got good skills around the basket but not much in the ways of a stretch shooting, certainly not the stretch 4 that Carlton Bragg is.

Also interesting tidbits on Marques Bolden the Center a lot of fans on here including myself would like in a KU uniform.

Apparently his AAU coach Jeff Webster will have a major role in choosing his school. Webster was also Julius Randle's mentor & we all know how that worked out for KU. He also is friends with Kentucky assistant Payne.

So far Kansas, Kentucky & Duke will get 3 of his official visits. He may not take anymore than those although I bet he visits UNC as well. Of the 3 schools Duke is definitely the school late to the party but they have been at his games so far. He's not sure how he would fit in at Duke and he doesn't consider himself to be a true 5 as he said at the Peach Jam.

Nowadays nobody wants to be known as a 5 it seems

"Position in college—are you a center at that level or do you envision a different role?

I envision more of a 4, I don’t think I’m a true 5 guy, like a traditional center. "

"Based on that research so far—who do you think presents a favorable roster situation for what you are looking for?

Probably Kentucky or Kansas. They are going to be losing people at my position. Kentucky will probably be losing Skal, so they won’t have anybody like me in the post. Kansas they are losing Perry Ellis and a few guys, so they are going to need somebody to come in. "

He also goes on to say he's probably a late signing which means we can expect to hear from him in late April!

Clearly not as clear cut for KU as we may have thought before??

2017 there is a lot of KU targets already identified this early on. The interesting part of that is at this moment 2016 seems to be the class we may need the most star power.

The package deal of Porter & Young is one we definitely want to be in. Troy Brown, Mitchell Ballock, Ayton, Vanderbilt, Preston. All guys that have varying degrees of interest.. Could be a great class. But its extremely early for any of these guys.

Jackson & Ferguson would be such a deadly combination at KU. And they both could co-exist because Selden & Svi could be pro's next year..

@DoubleDD

Not sure why Ayton is a 100% lean according to the crystal ball. At this point his recruitment is in the infant stage so its really to early to tell what's going to happen. He's not committed.

@Kcmatt7

Agreed that Iowa St is as close of a rival as we have at the moment. No matter where the game has been played for the past few years its been intense. In Ames, Lawrence, or the Sprint Center. But that was what Hoiberg & their fans brought. Will it be the same with Prohm and after Niang is finally gone. Iowa St will have to stay not only relevant but very good for it to continue past this year.

I think Kentucky is as close of an out of conference rival as we have at this point. At least the bickering between fan bases over recruiting and everything else under the sun has pushed each and every game into either a deeper hatred for each other. The game in Allen this year figures to be crazy. KU needs revenge for last year and 2012. That is a rivalry that should be considered, The top 2 winning programs in College Basketball history battling every year. It already happens once every 3 years anyway but there's no reason why it shouldn't become an every year thing. Both fan-bases don't like each other, the history behind each school only adds to it.

I thought our rebounding stat was a very good sign. Officially 2nd in rebounds per game because of Germany only playing 7 games. I thought the boards were an improvement from last year where we struggled at times. Moving Selden to the 3 helped his rebounding go way up, Lucas was strong when in the game, Mason always gets his. Diallo figures to help even more, Hunter did a good job as well.

Ellis was a player I was disappointed with at times in the tourney because for a Senior with realistic goals of being an All American, First Team Big 12 and possible Top 10 scorer in KU History, he struggled at times. I thought we might see some more perimeter skills, but he was probably the most blocked guy in the tournament. 36% on 2's will not cut it. He's better than that, but we know what he is, and what he isn't. I'm sure he will be better when the real games come along.

Stats continue to say Mari should be our 6th big now. The eye test didn't change that view either..I bet he was upset with his lack of minutes and it showed. The turnovers & low rebounding rates just continue to haunt him.

Vick was a surprise. He was so fluid on the floor and was not afraid to take or hit big shots. The dunk he had against Lithuania on a fast break was filthy! He did have a few freshman entry passes but I thought overall he could be used if needed. He's definitely a talent I'm glad we got and will have for a few years.

@drgnslayr

Agreed, can't believe Germany didn't have to play 8 games as well. There should have been an extra day between games as someone mentioned. Really unfair with the format they had in place with so many games in a short period of time.

It would have been great to have the other 20% of the team but I think it adds to the glory of what this team accomplished. KU fans know these games weren't easy and it doesn't matter what other fan-bases think, we know that these games are huge for this upcoming season.

Here's a PDF file of Individual Stats & Team Stats from Korea.

You will Notice Selden's name all over these stats.

Truly awesome #'s. Imagine if he hadn't been 6-28 in the Germany game... Near 60% 2PT FG%, 50% overall. Really speaks volumes to his improvement!!

Also Mason led the tourney in Assists, speaks to his evolving development as a PG!!

http://www.gwangju2015.com/IRS/resGJ2015/pdf/GJ2015/BK/GJ2015_BK_C85B_BKM400000.pdf ↗

http://www.gwangju2015.com/IRS/resGJ2015/pdf/GJ2015/BK/GJ2015_BK_C85A_BKM400000.pdf ↗

@sfbahawk

The Canadian team in the Pan-Am's is night and day better than the team we played in Exhibition games. Anthony Bennett former #1 pick in NBA draft, fellow Big 12 past players Brady Heslip & Melvin Ejim. Top 15 recruit Jamal Murray signed to Kentucky & Kyle Witjer among others.

The Brazil team seems to have guys who played in the FIBA tournaments. Greivis Vasquez is playing for Venezula. So it looks like the level of competition in these games is much stiffer.

As @JayHawkFanToo has pointed out very well, whether we played the best of the best from Europe and the world is irrelevant and should not diminish what we accomplished. The WUG don't allow just anyone to play, if they did we would have dominated even more if we had our missing players (minus the injured one's). The determination this team showed in the 2nd OT against Germany was amazing.

@jaybate-1.0

Devonte will step right in provided he's healthy. He's taller so he's not the liability that Moore was sometimes when matched up against taller guards.

Devonte is more a true point which is the perfect compliment to Frank. His defense will be good, he can shoot and get into the lane. He might not have the attitude that Moore has but I imagine Nic didn't have that as a Soph. either. Who knows we may see him become a vocal leader now that he's got a year under his belt.

The dunk he had in the semi's against Russia was unbelievable. The acrobatic reverse layups really proved that his bounce was there. We all hope this Wayne is here to stay..

@HighEliteMajor

Your right, Vick is the odd man out. We have to improve our FG% & PPG as a team from last year and Vick is a kid who could excel at helping both of them. Whether a spot opens for him or not by injury or what-not he's probably not going to get much of a chance in a pressure situation to perform. The WUG did show that he could hit big shots & play in those situations with little system time. He will have to wait his turn.

@Texas-Hawk-10

Bragg should work his way to being the backup 4 to Ellis. He was getting more minutes than Traylor by the end of the tourney which to me signified that Self was comfortable with him in there. I wasn't discouraged by the mistakes or the missed shots because all that stuff will work out for him with PT and experience with his new team. He hustles, he rebounds, he dives on the floor and we know he can make jump shots. I predict he gets around 10-12 minutes a game he's too talented to just sit.

@drgnslayr

Hopefully everything that you listed. The extended minutes definitely gave Hunter confidence and he performed well. For the first time I think Self trusted him to be on the floor and just play. He still fouls a lot but he sure was active around the rim. The putbacks, the ability to alter shots and rebound those are all things we hope Diallo brings to the table. If we have a 2nd big capable of that its only going to help. He also showed he could hit a mid-range jumper which is a nice addition. Self always said he could shoot.

Not a bad analysis, I do think certain guys will get more minutes like Mason, Selden & Ellis. They will all be close to 30 or above. Where the minutes are fluid and you have reflected that is who starts at SG assuming Selden will slide to the 3 & who starts and backs up the 5.

The new million dollar question is with Selden playing the 3 and thriving in Korea will Self keep that going and slide Graham in or play the more traditional line-up with Svi. Those 2 could be interchangeable, small ball or go big whichever is working better. There are pro's to each scenario and I will leave it up to coach to figure it out.

The battle at the 5 has now become an interesting story-line as well. Hunter played so well, surprised even his coach that you have to think he earned himself a rotation spot. I think he's the new backup 5 to Diallo. Everything Self has said points to Diallo starting from day 1. Usually Self isn't this coy about a freshman but he's all but said the spot is his. That was before Hunter had such a great tournament so things could change.

Bragg will be much better in the regular season and expect to see him backup Ellis as the season goes on. Vick is offensively gifted, no wonder he blew up this spring in AAU. Great potential with him..

@JayHawkFanToo

Interesting, because if this team were to make the F4 or better it could happen where more than 5 leave because their stock could be high (its been said this could be a weak draft class).

Svi & Diallo are the big wildcards. If Selden slides to the 3 for the year then you'd have to assume Graham would play alongside Mason to capitalize on the 2pg style. Svi figures to get good minutes but how much? If he's starts he has a chance to show enough for scouts to want him.
Diallo is being projected lottery at this point and if he starts and gets enough minutes might show enough to jump. I think he might stay to work on his offensive game but at this moment it seems popular that he could be an OAD.

Good thing we are after some really good players most notably ( Fox, Ferguson, Bolden, Jackson) among others. Could be a great recruiting class and it looks like we will really need it.

@Crimsonorblue22

Word from Matt Scott & Ryan Noel is they have heard rumblings Mason could declare after this year. Remember he's got a baby to support. But most of it comes from D'Aaron Fox's interview saying that he thinks Mason could be gone next year which intrigues him to play for KU. We know he likes KU but if Mason & Graham are here still then its hard to imagine he signs.. Especially with Texas full court pressing him.

As far as Frank himself, he's an elite athlete for his size. You see him sky for rebounds, or get shots at the rim against bigger guys with success. His height will always be an issue but he certainly is talented enough to get drafted and stick. He's got great quickness and can defend. If he has a great season where KU ends up in the F4 or more he's going to get a lot of looks..

@DoubleDD

I wouldn't mind Self being more free with the offense, especially letting players create their own shots.

I think Selden, Mason & Ellis all excel at this style of play (our 3 top scorers). Hint Hint.

Will he let that happen in games that count is another question.

Maybe it will be called the freelance Hi/Low if Self was to consider tweaking it. Sometimes individual play as we saw from Selden most of the tournament can be more beneficial then relying on a system to do it for you.

@HighEliteMajor

If Self learns from what he's learning about his players then just maybe their is a chance that our offense could be more free flowing for individual play. I think Selden thrived on that as much as playing the 3. Even though he was 6-28 today, a few days ago that could have been 16-28. Wayne and Frank taking over some of these games are exactly how we win 8 straight. That (hopefully) sticks with Self and gives him confidence to stick with this offensive approach.