Not really, ISU and Virginia are bringing the bulk of their teams back and Duke and Kentucky have the #1 and #2 ranked classes. The highest I have seen KU is #13 and that was after Cheeckey Baby picked KU; Bragg is ranked as low a #22 and before Diallo KU class was ranked in the upper 20s lower 30s., and if KU would have picked one of the other remaining top players it would have moved to the top 5. As of now, and if KU picks one of the quality players it is still pursuing it could move into the top 10...still a long ways from the top 2 ranked classes I would think.
JayHawkFanToo
13427 posts
Like I said before and much like in the NCAA Tournament, some team match up better with some teams than they do with others. Texas Tech is apparent not a good match up for ISU; it did not help, if I recall correctly, that ISU decided to play only on the last few minutes of the game. ISU seem to be a tough match up for KU and Stanford was even worse. In conference you better come to play every game otherwise you will handed your rear end; there is no way that KSU was a better team than KU and yet they beat us in Manhattan. This is one of the reason why I appreciate the Conference Title more than other posters, because to me it means continuous excellence throughout the season, rather than getting lucky for a few games.
ISU will have its key and proven players back plus some transfers and by all accounts it will have the best team Hoiberg has had there; in my opinion, they will start out as the favorite to win the conference. Until we see what Bragg and Diallo can do, KU will have a lot of potential and upside but not quite the proven team ISU will be. UK will be good, obviously they lost lot of players and will not be able to platoon but they still have the #2 recruiting class. Same thing with Duke, the lost 3 valuable players but they have the #1 class coming in. Virginia was legitimate top 4 team last season and they bring back just about everybody. Those are a few team off the top of my head that could be better than KU in addition to the ones mentioned ion the story. Keep in mind that ISU won 2 out of 3 against KU last season and they will be a better team next season. I believe KU will be very good but until we see them play some we really don't know how good.
I believe you left "early" off of the thread title. The actual title of the story was " UNC moves to No. 1 in Ridiculously Early Preseason Top 25 (and one)" It does convey a different meaning as the story uses "Ridiculously..." for the timing of the ranking rather than the ranking itself...which other than having KU maybe too high is really not too bad.
Beddie, I think you missed my point. I did not mean create a 2-point shot, I meant create his own 3-point shot; no sense in him wasting his skill taking 2 pointers when he is so deadly from long range, provide he is wide open with no one guarding him.
Greene just does not know how to get behind a screen and take a shot with a player 2 feet in front of him. He has been most successful when he is isolated either at he corner of at the top of the key, but now opposing teams do not let him unguarded and, as long as they have a defensive player within 3-4 feet from him, he is not effective. Look at players like JJ Redick or Stephen Curry...or just about any effective long range shooter... and how they use screens, they either get behind the screen to receive a pass and immediately shoot or dribble behind the screening player and shoot over the screen; this is what I mean by creating his own shot rather than going to the corner or top of the key, hope the defense shifts away from him and then receiving a pass while wide open and the taking the shot....defenses are wise to that and he does not get that many of those looks anymore.
Interesting, neither ESPN ↗or 24-7 Sports ↗have KU as having offered; KU is not even in his list of schools.
Greene is perhaps the best 3 point shooter we have had at KU; his form is text book and you could use videos of him to instruct other players on how to shoot. If college BBall was a 3 point shooting contest, he would win.
However, his main weakness is not his defense; he was playing better at the end of the season and getting defensive rebounds. His main weakness is his inability to create his own shot and his inability to make shots when covered tightly. If you recall, he was shooting lights out and then team started to guard him closer and his shooting touch went away. Say what you will about ISU but all the shooters there can create their own shots; yes, there are games when they are no hitting their shots but in general they do not heavily depend on being fully isolated without any one guarding them to take and make shots. At this time Greene doe not fit on any team's scheme. Contrarily to what other people believe that the way a game plan develops depends uniquely on KU, the opposing teams have a say in the matter and they also have competent coaching staffs and players and they have figured out that if you guard Greene close he will not be effective. Why would coach Self play a one-dimensional player that opposing team have figured out how to neutralize?
Maybe his injury prevented him from getting open and having a quicker release, but the best thing he can do in the off season is to learn to get open on his own and learn to shoot when guarded. If he can master these two thing and with the picture perfect delivery he has, he could then be a big weapon.
They look somewhat different than the release pictures...knock-offs?
Chaka Kahn is already taken by the New Texas coach Shaka Kahn't...
A full 25% of NBA players are now foreigners, many of them coming up through American colleges. There is also a growing number of quality foreign players playing HS stateside so it is not unexpected for some of these players to end up at KU. Look at a lot of the California schools and you will see they are loaded with foreigners. Programs like Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, Santa Clara to name a few, have depended on foreign players for a longtime.
UK still has the second ranked class and only Duke has better recruiting class.. UK still has plenty of talent, maybe not enough to platoon but enough to field a very competitive team. Now, if Skal Labissiere is ineligible, then they will need to start worrying.
I agree. The rotation seems to be pretty good right now and the team will be much improved over last year's team.
We lost Oubre and Alexander. - Yes, Oubre was good and getting better but in my opinion. the Alexander loss is not that big; he needed at leas another year before being really productive.
We gained (so far) Bragg and Diallo - No question this pair will contributor a lot more, particularly Diallo; the front line will be greatly improved.
Bonus - The rest of the players return with one additional year of experience. Any additional players are just icing on the cake, although they could potentially take playing time away from the current rotation players.
Net Result - Legitimate top 10 and probably even top 5; another quality player and we are a top 3 team.
If you have the talent, the NBA will keep the door open for you. Look at all the Euro players coming to the NBA a lot later than the average college player. Ricky Rubio was drafted in 2009 and did not make it to the Wolves until 2011.
Guidelines: Here are jersey retirement guidelines as stated in KU’s 2012-13 media guide:
“The concept of retiring the jerseys of outstanding Jayhawk basketball players was initiated prior to the 1991-92 season, when banners honoring Clyde Lovellette, Danny Manning, B.H. Born, Charlie Black, Paul Endacott, Wilt Chamberlain and Charlie Black were unveiled in the south end of Allen Fieldhouse. The original criteria for a retired jersey included KU players named college basketball player of the year, most valuable player of the NCAA Tournament or being named a four-time All-American. The list was expanded in 1997 to include Ray Evans, who holds the distinction of being an All-American in both football and basketball.
“The criteria were expanded prior to the 2002-03 season to include consensus first-team All-Americans, two-time first-team All-America selections and Academic All-Americans of the Year.”
KU officials said that the athletic director has the authority to adjust the criteria in special circumstances. In other words, a Jayhawk great can have his jersey retired without meeting one of the above guidelines.
The teams I mentioned are the ones that came to mind, first and mostly because I am watching the NBA playoffs. However, if you go down the list of all the teams in the NBA, just about every single one has at least a couple of superior players; they have to...otherwise they would not win a single game and they all do.
I agree 247 is a joke. I bet if we start a thread that Brown is considering joining the Harlem Globe Trotters and place a couple of Twitter post on his account with a link to the thread, they would be posting it as a fact shortly after that...maybe we should try something like that just for the fun...:)
I am sure he will find a nice shiksa goddess...
Congrats to her. What branch of Engineering? ISU engineering programs are pretty good.
Don't care for the league, 24 sec clock, being able to pick up the dribble at half court when driving the basket and so on.
Juwan Staten called...he says he can run the full court bouncing the ball 4-5 times like he did against KU... :)
I am the poster that made the comment about Poythress. I did not say or imply he is not good, he is ...at the college level but maybe marginal as NBA prospect. He has been in the program a long time and will be playing as a senior and my point was...how many players at UK have gone to the NBA as seniors since Calipari has been there? I can't think of one. Seems to me that all the NBA level players usually leave after 1 or 2 years and occasionally will stay a third year (Willie Cauley-Stein, who wanted to work his way to lottery pick); injury notwithstanding, it looks like Poythress NBA potential is limited and it would not surprise me Brown (if he goes to UK) playing ahead of him. His injury happened in his junior year and obviously he was not good enough to go to the League after his first or 2nd year at UK. Draft Express has him going at #52 in the 2016 draft, that is 8 spaces ahead of not being drafted, so there is no question that UK can use another SF and any top player at that position, such as Jaylen Brown, would likely start ahead of him.
Again, I am not saying that Poythress is not a good player; he is playing for an elite program so he obviously is; however, his NBA potential is at this time is borderline at best, and when you consider the talent Calipari has had at UK, he obviously feels he can do better than Poythress...fair or not, that seems to be the message he is sending That's all, that is my story and I am sticking to it
They are being referred as Wonder Bread and Mac and Cheese...
Definitely for a younger demographic...
I don't see in any of the list where KU has offered Izundu but he will announce on May 15th so there is some time. Tennessee is making a big push for him. He is a 3-star player ranked as high as #70 and #18 PF; a little lower than where KU normally prefers. Unless he is a late bloomer like Embiid, he is probably comparable to Lucas ranking-wise.
Too many maple leaves? It's growing on me...
I believe it is based on a twitter post ↗ mentioned in this story, allegedly from a kid at Wheeler HS, the school Brown attends. It's anyone's guess how credible it is...
Adidas will be releasing the Andrew Wiggins Rookie of the Year shoes...pretty cool...
Is that based on twitter post from a friend of his? I saw that earlier and a couple of other sources said it was not credible but I really don't know one way or the other... :(
You can use stats to justify any thing...what is it the Will Rogers said? In that case, how many point did the other team scored when Cliff was out of position? Do we have the +/- stat like we have for the NBA?
Like I said, we will not agree on this issue, why continue it?
The ESPN scouting report for Cliff is for Cliff playing in HS, not against McDonald's selections but against kids that worked at McDonald's. Sure. he was bigger and stronger than 99.99% of HS players but in Division I, just about every player is big and strong.
He just was not physically ready for college ball and his endurance was just not there and it did not look like he was a gym rat like many others.; also, his BBall IQ was lower than the average first year player and did not seem to improve as the seaon went on.
I know you don't like Jamari, but there is no question, in my opinion, that he has at times played very well for KU. You don't believe he is Division one caliber player and yet...there he is playing for an elite program. In my opinion, and I would think that of several other forum members, Jamari was a more valuable player than Cliff was.; in many ways and based on the hype, Cliff was underwhelming, underperformed and the end of the season was a disappointment. In my opinion, and it is just that, Jamari was more physically fit than Cliff and it has served him well.
Here is a little treat for you...
I know, let's just agree to disagree on this issue, at least we both agree that the 7' Greek would be great for KU.
It was not my intention to make you feel stupid and I apologize if it made you feel that way; however, now I am curious as to what part of my post had that effect? I thought I had just mentioned well known facts.
Athletic Scholarships are way too valuable to be used them on someone that will not contribute...even if it is practice. There are other ways to help student in need and looks like Michigan found a really good solution that helps the student complete his degree while remaining a member of the program.
I would not worry about that. @Crimsonorblue22 has connections...
The Midwest school offer a great value compared to the high cost East or West Cost schools. Most of the bigger schools usually have one or two programs where they excel; I am not sure which those are at ISU and you can probably do a little on-line research. BTW, "basketball knowledge" and "fan behavior" are not them, and the only classes in this area are at the remedial level at best.
I don't necessarily disagree with you, but how good Poythress really is? If he would be that good he would not be playing ball in his senior year, wouldn't you agree. Brown will likely leave after one year and will be drafted higher.
Probably a bigger domino in the coaching ranks now that the desirable Florida HC job is open...it's going to be an interesting Summer...
I see what you did there...
Fortunately...or maybe unfortunately, I was raised with is this sense of fairness and I cannot say Michigan did something wrong, at least in this case, when they actually did quite the opposite.
Having said that, they are most likely guilty of all the other bad things you mentioned, particularly the McGeary injury...and they blame EJ of all people. I am shocked I tell you, shocked...using my best French accent, of course. :)
Probably me...when I saw him at the start of the '08 game I though we were doomed but the way it worked out, he turned out to be our good luck charm. :)
...and Houston has Howard and Harden and Miami has Bosch and Wade and Cleveland has LeBron, Love and Kyrie and Portland has Aldridge and Lillard and Golden state has Curry and Thompson and Memphis has Gasol and Randolph and the Clipper have Griffin and Paul and San Antonio has Duncan and Parker and Ginobili and Leonard...every team in the NBA has a t least 2 super capable players, it is the other players that make it a Championship caliber team. Asks Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell... one had the complimentary players and has boatload of rings (11) , the other did not and has only 2.
I agree that the Thunder COULD be a hell of a team but currently it is not.. Just my opinion.
What opportunity to play? Austin Hatch played a total of 5 minutes the entire season (at the end of 5 blow out games) and made 1 of 3 FT for a total contribution of 1 point, and zero on all the other stats. Do you not know that he was taken as a token of appreciation for being a fan and the two tragic airplane accidents he had (lost his family) and not because of his basketful skills which the accidents pretty much took away?
Because of his health, his schedule was limited and "practice" got in the way of his grades. Michigan went far and beyond what many other programs would have done; most would not have taken him in the first place. Now he has an opportunity to continue with school and still be part of the basketball program as an student assistant. Can you please tell me what else should Michigan have done in your opinion?
How do you figure that? Did you actually read the story? Making him part of the team was good will gesture from Michigan in the first place since he is game (and health) is not at Div I level, actually it is not at any any college division level. By taking a medical red shirt exception, Michigan will continue to pay for his schooling for the next 3 years and they are also making him a student assistant. In my opinion, Michigan is doing absolutely the right thing to ensure he graduates with all his expenses paid.
The Greek kid is a long term project; he was rated 3 stars (I think) coming out of high school
Hey...the Chuck Taylors were the dream of every kid dreaming of playing basketball for 5 decades and well into the 1970s...
That story is based on one from the Detroit News that is based on a story on Scout.com that seems to be several days old and before the latest developments in the recruiting world. Don't forget that Wiggins had strong family ties with FSU and ended up at kU.
Interesting that Desmond Eastmond, the guy that is been quoted extensively and apparent;y is his coach since he was 12 is now in big trouble with the NCAA for klinks with agents...Link here... ↗ I don't believe it affects the players but the teams cannot compete in NCAA sanctioned events and will need to reform with different names and coaches.
I like whatever number Ed Hightower was...he was the ref at the '88 and '08 title games.
He's got old school swagger...I like that. Perhaps the best and most durable player that KU has had in the NBA in the last 50 years.
Maybe not quite the one hell of a team. I know they had lots of injuries but they missed the playoffs and fired the coach...how good can they really be? Just sayin'
Don't forget that "the Truth" just got done kicking Raptor behind. He talked the talk and walked the walk...way to back it up Paul Pierce!!!
Look at the projected starters for UK ↗...talk about going from feast to famine...
Very deserving award. I have watched him throughout the season and he has improved by leaps and bounds....I bet Cleveland is wishing they would have kept him, Love has not performed as expected for the Cavs.
Me too...