🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Wow

Run all the receivers on deep routes - if wide open great, but otherwise Bean should rely on his legs, not arm...

Other than the out route to Grimm, last half dozen throws by Bean have been awful. All in coverage...

I don't get putting the game into Bean's hands. 4 down territory - they can run 4 straight plays...

@kjayhawks said in Will weather be a factor tomorrow /predictions:

This is on bean at this point throwing into coverage repeatedly

Agree - receiver was blanketed. And, short of first down yardage. Don't understand the call. And, bad decision on the throw.

I hope that wasn't a harbinger of much of anything.... Even for a meaningless scrimmage, that was an awful exhibition of something - certainly wasn't basketball. HCBS has some work to do.

@BShark I think I know what this means, but would be nice to have more than an exclamation point... ;)

@Jethro said in And then we have these discussions:

@DCHawker I dunno- WSU has been to a bowl game 8 out the last 10 years. Colorado was 1-11 last year. I know they suck at basketball, but so does Colorado. Another easy win. The other team I have heard is Oregon St, but lots of folks aren't very excited about them. I might add that the Wazzu AD used to be the AD at Tator U ( formerly known as Silo Tech).

WSU is 7-6, 7-6, and 6-7 the past 3 (non-Covid) years. And, yes, they suck at basketball. But, Pullman WA and Corvallis OR? The former is almost impossible to get to. Spokane is a thriving metropolis compared to Pullman.

I don't get it. Neither would bring basketball, football or academic cred, they don't bring TV eyeballs, and they cenrtainly aren't recruiting hotbeds. What would be the rationale for either OSU or WSU?

@FarmerJayhawk said in And then we have these discussions:

OSU or Wazzu would be both hilarious and sad. Had a buddy interview for a job at OSU and said it was more like Tulsa than KU

And, embarrassing. The bottom of the P12 barrel in both athletics and academics...

Gradey 13th pick to the Raptors...

What stands out to me is that the team with 3 key freshmen and just one starter held their own against the team with 3-4 likely starters.

Also impressive that he logged 24 minutes in the deciding game...

Kaluma to KSU...

@rockchalkjayhawk said in Off-season starting lineup ever changing thread:

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Off-season starting lineup ever changing thread:

Ugh, I am likely the only one feeling this way, but with Kevin back that is an ugly ass, non shooting starting five. Dislike. Self has brought us back to the stone age of defensive stalwarts.

We desperately need a more modern approach to that lineup.

Would think that with that line-up, opponents would pack the lane and take their chances on us making outside shots. One way to counter would be to have Dickinson play the high role where he can make shots and he is a good passer. Kevin or KJ could post up smaller guys.

And, I would also expect quite a few more line-up changes during a game than in the past year. I would be surprised to see both KJ and Hunter playing a lot of minutes together, given that KJ is really the only back up 5 option right now. At least if there are quick fouls on either. A lot depends on Marcus' development, esp. if we don't get a Nelson or similar.

But, at least we should be able to generate a lot more scoring from the bench than this year...

From 247Sports - Kevin on the combine:

Kansas wing Kevin McCullar: “I’m just taking it one day at a time. It’s been good for me here. Had my pro day. Kinda meeting with teams and gathering feedback. I’m doing what’s best for me.”

@Jethro said in Bye Bye Ernest:

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Bye Bye Ernest:

@Jethro said in Bye Bye Ernest:

Not worried in the least. My question is where is KJ going to play? So, we have KJ, Timberlake, and Adams potentially at 4. Starting lineup of: Juando/Morris/ Timberlake/KJ/ Dickinson. El Marko and Adams coming off the bench. Why are we gnashing our teeth and pulling out our hair? That's a hell of a team.

There's only 3 front court players on the team right now. KJ has to be the starting 4 with the current roster composition because he isn't sitting behind Marcus Adams.

I also question who the starting 3 will be because I have serious doubts about Timberlake's defense being good enough to play 30 mpg for Bill Self, but starting Marcus Adams at the 3 also means you don't have a big man on the bench either. Self absolutely has to land a starting caliber 3 or 4 from the guys who withdraw from the draft otherwise front court depth will be a very major problem next season.

No doubt we need bench depth. But, we have 3 schollies available. I just don't think not getting Mgbako is going to be the death knell some seem to think.

We definitely need depth at the 4/5 - arguably starter quality at the 4, given that KJ will have to be the primary back-up at the 5 for now. Are we still looking at Nelson? Any interest or shot at Kaluma, who would seem to be a good fit? What about either of the Tennessee guys? If none of them, who are the best options of those who don't stay in the draft?

@BeddieKU23 said in Arterio Morris is a Jayhawk:

I don't support this take for optics alone. Some things should matter. But I know that may not be what others think.

If it proves to be wise to think otherwise I will but until then I don't agree

Well, at least one fan agrees with you. I don't understand this, not only from an optics perspective, but also in terms of talent and fit. Put aside the personal stuff. Exactly what did he show at UT which suggests he should be a Jayhawk? As down as I've been on Spears, I would have taken him over Morris (although alternatives would have been my preference). I assume the Spears visit is now a waste of time? We don't need a 5th (or 6th if you include Cluffe) 6-4 guard or smaller. I thought HCBS said we needed some size and athleticism, in addition to someone who could make treys?

Really, can't KU do better than this???

What is the issue with this portal season? We appear to be putting all our cards on a couple of players, without any clear indication we will land them. Some on this thread seemed to think Ingram was a done deal for example. Count me old school, but I like high character players who will well represent KU. I don't care whether he has skills, but I'm a hard no on Morris, and am disappointed that he is even a target. Would have been fine with Ingram as a JWill/McCullar hybrid replacement, but that ship has sailed. Not really a fan of going after Dickinson, notwithstanding his obvious skills. Issues and means less development for the current bigs. Having watched Spears in person, not really interested in him other than as a bench option - not efficient, doesn't make others better and doesn't play much defense. Fine with Timberlake, but more as a bench option than starter. Think Tyson would be a good fit - McCullar 2.0 - but looks like that may be going a different direction.

Am I alone in not wanting to go down the prima donna / problem child path? Nothing good has come of those recruits before now....

247Sports has two predictions for Tyson to Cal???

Shedrick to Texas and Disu announced he is coming back. Longhorns should be stout again...

If that is what we end up with post portal, then it is going to be a long season. Even with Self coaching, I don't think that is close to a 20 win team. As you note, no outside shooting. Even worse, that's 3 small guards and a 4 that doesn't rebound. Udeh's not great either. Rolling the dice going all in on Ingram and Dickinson. Whiffed on the first and may on the second, as well. Going to have to find some size and athleticism from someone who doesn't stay in the draft.

@Texas-Hawk-10 Fair enough. Some decent bigger wings, but not really 4s. Is there a reason Knect/CSU, Cleveland/FSU, Hart/MD haven't been in the mix? I get the love for Dickinson, but we got 12-13 ppg from the 5 spot last year and would think that would improve at least some with additional experience. We have to replace our 3 leading scorers (45 ppg) and 3 leading rebounders. Even if we get Dickinson, who plays on the wings - 3 and 4? Juan, Timberlake and Elmarko for 3 spots? That's pretty small. One of the other freshmen in the starting rotation? Just not sure where the points and rebounds come from if Dickinson doesn't work out.

@approxinfinity said in Should KU Even Bother Fielding a Basketball team next year?:

You know what. Im gonna assume Bill got this.

Probably a decent bet, but it seems like he is trying to draw to an inside straight. 26 of the top 35 transfers per 247sports have landed. Zags had 3 specific needs and met all 3. A lot of other teams have picked up at least 2 quality transfers. Conference foes are loading up. It seems like everything is hinging on Dickinson, when the 5 spot isn't our primary need. I'm more than fine with the trio we have. What we most need is a 4 who can score some, rebound and defend. And, unless one of the freshmen over delivers, we don't have anyone on the roster who can create their own shot.

JalenTyson from TTU in. Arguably their best 2-way player. McCullar 2.0???

@dylans said in Welcome Nick Timberlake!:

Is he better than Bobby or Joe?

Yes and yes. But, he isn't better than Gradey. We need to replace 3 double digit scoring starters. Timberlake seems like a solid roster addition, but is he a starter? If not, at this point we're relying on one of the incoming freshmen.

Edwards to WVU. Rest of the conference is reloading in the portal. Some good gets so far…

TJ Bamba to Villanova...

We all understand that Juan has his limitations. Outside shooting is suspect, he doesn't finish at the rim that well, and he can't really create his own shot (and FTs are a mystery). But, in addition to being a plus defender, what he does exceptionally well, perhaps better than any other PG we've had during HCBS's tenure, is RUN the offense - runs the sets that HCBS wants and makes sure that everyone else is where they are supposed to be. He generally gets the ball to the right man in the right place. It's then up to that guy to score the ball. During the NC season, we had a veteran team who could execute and score (most of the time). Much more hit or miss this season. If guys are missing bunnies that Juan sets up for him, his stats may look pedestrian - even if he has done all that can be expected of him (and that HCBS wants him to do). He can make other players better, but they have to execute, as well....

@BShark said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

@DCHawker said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

@BShark said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

Jalen was somewhat mediocre as an offensive hub, at least in terms of KU level. Love him forever, awesome Jayhawk, but it's true.

On the first part, I might just say not very efficient rather than mediocre - just sounds a bit harsh - but do agree on the second part.

Yeah maybe a bit harsh, but he was not efficient. It's fine though, he did what was needed.

And while he wasn't an efficient scorer or really create for others, he WAS efficient on the boards...

@BShark said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

Jalen was somewhat mediocre as an offensive hub, at least in terms of KU level. Love him forever, awesome Jayhawk, but it's true.

On the first part, I might just say not very efficient rather than mediocre - just sounds a bit harsh - but do agree on the second part.

I asked this question of @BShark previously, but will pose it again a slightly different way. Are we missing out on guys already in and who have committed? Waiting for some we think will enter but haven't yet? Yes, there were some later entrants last year, but is there any chatter about guys yet to come in who are better than the 1400 who have already entered? Or is it something else? Ingram is a solid player. But, he isn't better than JWill and probably not Kevin. Timberlake is a solid player, but not better than Gradey. As yet, I don't see how we can make up the 45 point slack through the portal?

@jayballer67 said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

Well think I'm going to gamble and say our 1st Portal commit will be - - - -Spears - -just got a feel

That's frightening if it is the best we can do and I hope you are wrong. Smallish lead guard who doesn't do anything particularly well on a team that went 7-25. 40% shooter; 30% from 3; 3.3 TOs per game. Inefficient and not a great defender. Worse than Juan in virtually every respect other than jacking it up more often. Well, that's not quite fair - he is much better from the FT line, so that is something...

Seriously, that's our lead play in the portal? What is he the answer to?

@BShark said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

Yeah looks like we aren't going after Shedrick. He is scheduling visits to Texas, Missouri, KSU and Xavier.

While you have to make a run at a Dickinson, a big isn't our primary need. With progression from Udeh and Ejiofor, and KJ, we are in decent shape. But, we need to replace JWill, Kevin and Gradey. We have zilch right now. Is there anyone out there at this point who we are in on and have a chance at who comes close to matching their production? That's 45+ points per game. Even if our current bigs pick up some slack, it won't be much. And Juan isn't going to turn into a scorer. Our freshman - maybe 10-12 ppg combined?

@BShark said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

The first real miss will be Hunter. The rest isn't worth going over.

All very disconcerting. I thought we were in good shape with likely transfers. Who is in play now that can meaningfully contribute? Who are the wings that can knock down 3s, defend, and create their own shots? Not a Georgetown cast-off I hope?

@BShark said in 2023 Transfer Portal:

@DCHawker It just makes so much sense... So he will probably go to Maryland...

You follow this stuff as closely as anyone. There obviously have been a lot of commits already. What is the timing for us? What are the key dominoes that need to fall and in what order? It seems that Dickinson is priority number one, but that shouldn't affect getting a scoring wing or two, or a big scoring guard? We need someone who can makes 3s and someone who can create their own shot. Ingram is in the portal now. I think we are in hard on Timberlake? Are there others? Does some of this depend on what McCullar ends up doing?

Utah vs. Denver today...Jayhawks prominent...Ochai with a team leading 28 points! That's the good. 10-25! from the field, so not very efficient, but...Doke with 8pts and 11 RB in a Utah win...CB solid in the loss with 14 pts on 5-8 from the field, 6 RBs and 3 steals and +4...

247 Sports has KU at the top of the list as the best destination and fit for Dickinson...

Kansas Jayhawks

When looking at Kansas’ fit for Hunter Dickinson, one only needs to mention two words: “David McCormack.”

The Jayhawks fed the post in McCormack’s two seasons as Kansas’ primary starter. McCormack ranked in the 100th percentile for percentage of possessions used in post-ups as a junior, then in the 97th percentile of the same category when Kansas won the National Championship in 2022, per Synergy.

Dickinson is a more talented and efficient post-up scorer than McCormack was. Also, his ability to pop and shoot (he made 42.1% of his 3-pointers this year) adds some variety to Kansas’ pick-and-roll game.

Kansas has a pass-first point guard in Dajuan Harris who could get the most out of Dickinson offensively and there’s no doubt that Bill Self could get the most out of Dickinson on defense. When the Jayhawks struggled defensively with McCormack at the five in 2020-21, Self tweaked the depth of McCormack’s drop which helped turn Kansas into a top 10 defense for the final month and a half of the season.

The need is there for the Jayhawks, too. Without a traditional center, Kansas had just 108 post-up possessions last year, with half of those going to power forward Jalen Wilson. KJ Adams had just 22 of those post-ups, a staggeringly low number when compared to the post-ups of the Jayhawks’ primary center from the last three seasons — Udoka Azubuike (202 post-ups) and McCormack (244, 209).

Make no mistake: Self wants to feed the post. And, currently, he doesn’t have a player like Dickinson (or for that matter, McCormack) who he can feed with that kind of volume. Schematically, it’s a hand-in-glove fit.

• Kevin Flaherty, 247Sports National Writer

25-28 FTs. That's pretty remarkable. Do they practice those at UM?????

@Crimsonorblue22 said in NCAA NON- KU GAMES:

Terrible call

If Cunningham hadn't kept backing up, he would've gotten the call...

Nick Collison sighting!!!

UM 19-22 from FT line. Making FTs wins games...

No defense by UT - UM shooting 63%...

@wissox said in NCAA NON- KU GAMES:

Jim Larranaga is a bit underrated as a coach.

He's a really good coach and good guy. UM has made adjustments - UT hasn't responded...

Why is it that we didn't match up with TX because they are so long and athletic, and yet Miami seems to be able to attack that length and athleticism pretty easily??? A lot of easy buckets in the paint...

SDS is definitely the stronger team - Creighton has had big trouble corralling rebounds that they get their hands on. Kalkbrenner definitely has fight in him but isn't strong enough to finish through or over the SDS bigs...

Another really solid stat line for Ochai last night - 20 pts on 8-15 from the field, 3 RBs, 4 assists and 3 blocks...

@FarSideHawk said in NCAA NON- KU GAMES:

This UCONN team looks unstoppable. I would rather anyone but UConn win the title this year. It’s mind boggling that they have the same number of titles as Kansas with absolutely no consistency as a program. They just show up every few years and win the whole darn thing. Somebody needs to do a statistical analysis of their program. Don’t think there is any other team in any sports with this type of inconsistency and titles. The standard deviation is off the charts.
Can’t stomach them having 5 titles in 24 years to our 4 in 70+ years!

Unstoppable - and unfathomable how they finished tied for 4th in the Big East, four games behind Marquette...

FAU +22 RBs. 82% on FTs - especially clutch down the stretch...

Just sad to not block out on FTs...

@DCHawker said in NCAA NON- KU GAMES:

If KSU loses this game, Johnson's 0-3 from FT line (one front end) and Sills missed layup are going to haunt...

Nowell is 6-6 from the line. Rest of team is 1-6....