Big props to approx and anyone else that has had a hand in our little community here.
As for the WUG, @jaybate-1.0 and anyone else I guess, do you not think Self would fill any roster spot left open with a former KU big that meets WUG age and class requirements? I sure hope so
Not excited for the World University Games?
Glad to see Frank K picking up player of the year. Not sure I would have gave Cal COY over Mike Bray or Ben Jacobson. Neither were supposed to have the years they did and look what they got done with far inferior talent. Both of those guys and 75% of all coaches could go undefeated with that Nike OAD/TAD stack.
Marshall openly flirted with Bama pregame to the media which messed with his teams pysche all to get a bigger paycheck. And those fools love him for it.
Not sure how many of you are aware of this little investigation. And if the punishment doesn't involve loss of eligibility then this is what Self and Beaty need to start doing for all incoming players.
Cleveland.com Braxton Miller Salesman ↗
What Bill and Dave need to do is get a product, or better yet set up an Amazon Sellers account for all of our players. Have all the players rent out a warehouse and then they go to Costco or Sam's and buy everyday items in bulk. We then all just buy whatever they're selling from their Amazon Store and bam, our basketball players aren't pressured into the OAD money and decide to stick around a little longer and our football recruiting picks up because like the National Champions from Ohio State U, we're paying them.
Reading some of the articles about this rumor. Sounds like the AD Mike Holder gave Ford a 10yr deal back in 2009 and after that Gundy wanted one. But I guess Holder realized how absurd that contract was and has denied the better and bigger revenue generating coach which has irked Gundy.
That Ford's job is about 50/50 after three straight early exits or that Self is rumored to replace him??
Are we in for another summer of Bill Self to Ok State rumors???
@DoubleDD said:
Come one be honest the Koch family is conservative and donate big time money with the Reps. That's what you don't like about them.
Actually they're Libertarian but support the GOP because their true party will never win and get them the power and control they desire. And that's what big money politics is all about.
For what it's worth.... David Koch ran for VP on the Libertarian ticket back in the 80's. Got 1% of the vote. The most the party has ever received.
And that's enough politics.
Drexel wing Damion Lee told ESPN he plans to graduate in June and play immediately at another school in the fall.
Gary Harris was a Sophomore when he declared. My wife and I are KU fans first, Michigan State fans second. She was a huge Magic fan back in the day.
Doesn't it suck to be the only team from the "Champions Classic" not playing this weekend??
No it didn't hurt Wiggins, but I wasn't nearly as concerned with where Wiggins ended up in the draft as I was to how KU faired in the Madness. And we crashed and burned in that regard. So I'd rather not have a bunch of And1 mix tape moments for Newman while Perry, Frank, ect. stand around watching him get his. That's obviously not how KU succeeds.
So at what point do we (Self and Co.) rethink the whole OAD and KU?? Something seriously has to give. Either a change up in the Offense/Defense systems we run. Either more emphasis on getting the right guys (H/L guys) and not just the best guys out there. Or we scrape the OAD recruitment and get back to the TwoAD and ThreeAD guys.
Lets face it, OAD era hasn't panned out for us. Xavier era gave us the UNI, Ali's moment, and time to enjoy spring break without KU basketball to watch. Selby's time here got us an Elite 8 upset by VCU. Wiggins and Embiid gave us Stanford and another first weekend send off. And then this past season the Oubre and Alexander experiment gave us all the embarrassment of lil brother WSU bitch slapping us. (Note: Ben is NOT a OAD, he is a TwoAD. He and Jamari spent a year "red shirting" prior to his breakout)
Professional teams don't just go after the best guys in the draft, they usually try to get the guys that they need and the ones that fit their systems. So why does KU try to get every recruit 1-20?? Do they all fit our systems? Or are we under the impression they can all run our systems because they're so talented??
I wish Newman could come here, put up 18 per game, all in the flow of the game and not disturb our high/low. Wiggins didn't put up 18 per game so I'm not sure Newman will. Plus why would he come to a place that won't showcase his talents??
Towns go to move is to chicken wing the defender and then go up. Foulingest big I have seen all year. Watch him closely. Pulls the ball up, swings his elbows into his defender, and then takes it up.
And can someone other than CBS call the games and do commentary. ESPN has guys that drive me nuts but at least they have guys that know the college player and rules.
Can't get the the players names correct in our games. In the pregame show one of the "experts" said the reason the Harrison twins and Stein came back is to win a championship. Yea, not because they weren't lottery picks or in the first round..... And then tonight in the ND vs UK game they had Auguste with 5 fouls since he was one from fouling out. Think that brilliance was dropped by Chris Webber. Go figure, couldn't count in college, still can't.
Go Wisconsin!!!
@ralster Exactly. What's to stop Mr Nike Phil Knight from telling Oregon guys when I die you'll get 1,000?
@nuleafjhawk said:
@Kip_McSmithers Going to Texas would give him the opportunity to lose to KU every year.
Yes this would give him the opportunity but Marshall has yet to lose to Kansas. UK on the other hand has bounced him.
Going to Bama would give him the opportunity to lose to UK every year...
Sarcasm folks.
But..... it is by definition an extra benefit and I could see how this could be viewed as such by the notoriously idiotic NCAA!
Recruiting violation.
The draw of games like that Philly one is kids like Frank, Morris twins, TRob, Russ Rob, ect can have family and friends come out to watch them and they don't have to drive two days or spending a grand on plane tickets. Plus like @justanotherfan said it puts KU on in that schools tv market. Games in Philly and the east coast increase our recruiting foot print.
ESU, FHSU, PSU and Washburn are all exhibition games. Also, these are two games per season that KU has at home which equals money for KU and Lawrence.
We have discussed this topic before. KU makes money when the games are played on campus. Lawrence makes money when the games are on campus.
KU makes less money when the games are played at a neutral site. Missouri makes money when the games are played at the Sprint Center.
KU makes 0 dollars for playing in Wichita. The city of Wichita makes money when we play there.
KU loses out on money when playing a game off campus. Same for Lawrence. Financially there are two programs that run the entire athletics department. And I'd venture basketball revenue is the bigger of the two (football is the other). KU basketball doesn't just play these home games against SDSU and Rider for itself. Other programs depend on AFH sellout crowds. As do businesses and the city for all those tax dollars.
@truehawk93 : I think you're right, Zimmerman will stay home and play for UNLV.
Victor Ortiz?
Found this on Team USA website:
Only current university student-athletes or recent graduates, born between Jan. 1, 1990 (1987 all other sports), and Dec. 31, 1997, are eligible for the 2015 Games. For Kansas’ participation, only U.S. citizens can compete and incoming freshmen and transfers qualify.
Since Cheick was born in Mali we can count him out for the WUG. Damn!
@Crimsonorblue22 : There a NBA guys that could play, like Thomas, Jeff, Ben. And I know they can play if they so choose. But like @BeddieKU23 's example of Paul George, the Kings would be apprehensive about letting Ben play in these games. As for Jeff and Thomas, since they aren't starters and are more role players maybe their NBA clubs would be more open to them playing. That's if their clubs don't have them in Summer League games. Who really knows? I'm just speculating here. Maybe someone like @Jesse-Newell would have more and better information on this.
Also I'm not certain if Cheick signs he would be able to play for us during the games. He's originally from Mali so I'd venture a guess he'd have to play for them. Again, not certain. I'll see if I can confirm this either way.
Self and Roberts are supposedly visiting Diallo today. Hopefully all goes well and we get him to sign soon. This is the only good thing about our early exits, coaches can now solely focus on recruits. Unfortunately iSu can also hit the recruiting trail now and Freddy is schedule to meet Cheick on Thursday.
And to answer the question about Thon Maker, Thon would not be eligible. Neither would Joel or Andrew.
@justanotherfan : Bill Self must embrace matchup advantages, or he will always be vulnerable to early round upsets.
As you well know, I wouldn't hold my breath on this happening. For the sake of my family I've stopped screaming expletives at the television in hopes of exploiting obvious mis-matches from our team. How many times have we finally switched up our defense or applied a press too late?? Bob Huggins deservedly picked up the Big12 COY this year because he was able to do more with less than any other coach in the conference. He did that with less talent (sans Staten) and more players (I think he's played 12-13 guys on average).
As for those asking for new blood in the assistant coaching spot(s): IMO you're absolutely right. I'm just not sure "Snacks" is delivering. Yes he was the one that brought us Cliff, but he also brought us embarrassment (for his own actions and Cliffs ordeal^1). Since I'm not privy to practice and who did the game plan for which games this year I can't figure what else he's brought.
As for recruits next year, this is what I see.
Norm is after Jaylen Brown, Cheick Diallo, and Brandon Ingram and he already landed Bragg.
Kurtis is after Ivan Rabb, Thon Maker, and Stephen Zimmerman.
Snacks is after Malik Newman.
Snacks is after only one guy. And chances are he won't get him. Does this mean Snacks is going to "take another coaching position that well allow for him to chase his dream of one day being a HC" this off season? I surely hope so. We need someone with the desire to coach.
There are a few problems with our current list prospects. From what I've found out searching around the chances are we will strike out on them all but maybe, MAYBE, one of them. There still is a chance we get Diallo (and I hope we do and he doesn't end up in Ames) but really he's the only one showing up as high interest on the majority of the sites.
The other problem is, like someone else said above, we're recruiting the wrong kids to fit our system. I'd rather not go after the top kids that don't fit our h/l system unless we change up our current system to better utilize said greater talent. If we want to be a team that plays strictly h/l then only recruit those guys. I don't care if they're ranked 1 or 51, if they're who the coaches identify as being the best recruit for the h/l then throw the damn house at them to get them to Lawrence. We nearly beat a UK team in 2012 with guys that fit the h/l system perfectly. Withey (36) and TRob (31) weren't super recruits. In 08 Shady (16), Sasha (34), Cole (30), Darnell (54) weren't OADs. We do better with T(hree)AD 30-60ranks and T(wo)AD 16-30ranks. Those are the guys that stick around and buy in to the system. How often does anyone think Wiggins will come back? Ben, a two year guy, loves KU and comes back. Same for a lot of the guys that poured their heart and soul into being Jayhawks. And don't take this the wrong way. I think/thought Wiggins was great, personally I loved having him as a Jayhawk, but he's not h/l and he wasn't all in. Same can be said of Oubre, Greene. We recruited guys that don't fit our system and for one reason or another can't, won't, didn't buy in. Being the number one recruiting class would be great. What would be greater is getting a good recruiting class of guys that will plug into our schemes and make for a great team.
Here's to hoping we can figure it all out before tWG this summer. Nothing would be as embarrassing as laying a big fat egg before the NCAA season even starts!!!!
^1 - I've seen on other sites that it's believed Michigan State backed off of Cliff after finding something troubling out. Izzo made remarks about middlemen. Obviously something was fishy way before Cliff inked with KU. Which is troubling to me. Maybe this is new news to some here in Jayhawk land. Here's a link to enlighten you. Click here ↗
Leader on CBS has this bracket. Notice his/her Champ
How's everyone's brackets after the morning / afternoon session?
Committee got what they wished for. Funny how all the other 7 seeds were unranked with records of 21-11 for Iowa Hawkeyes, 25-10 for VCU, and 23-11 Michigan State....
UVa getting a scare here. Belmont within 3 now.
Louisville down 2 with 4:30 left in first half.
Big12 bringing it today. 2-0!!!!
Take that cat hostage for tickets...
West Virginia is missing bunnies. Keeping the Buffs in it. Robbie Huggins hates it.
Friends you choose, family you're stuck with. Why are you friends with them...? JK!!!!
Northern Iowa. I like watching the second half of these games. Especially when they're good.
What game are you watching? I just caught WVU. It's half time now so I'll switch it to one of the others.
Here you go
You know it. He got a little upset during the game. Interviewer asked why. Izzo said "You know why".
Watching Michigan State post game. Love Tom Izzo's interviews. Cracks me up.
Hope he doesn't mind. Just letting us common folk sitting at home, work, a pub, in their car while their wife is driving, ect. see what our buddy HEM is up to. Lucky...
HEM Twitter. Shows his seats.
I know, I was being facetious
Assholes.... jk
Calling his cable provider. Cussing them.
Come on Big12 brethren. Keep it going!
Rock Chalk!!!
I was wanting Christian to put that up