If Svi is gone, I would guess the starting 5 will be Graham, Newman, Vick, Preston, Dok. How do you all think that lineup compares to last season? Certainly more of a typical Bill Self lineup with 2 bigs.
My initial thought is that the backcourt isn't quite is good, and not quite as dynamic. Losing Jackson and Mason means losing most of our driving ability. I think Graham will be a 1st team all Big 12 caliber player next season, but I don't think he'll be able to have the kind of production to warrant NPOY consideration the way that Mason did. And Graham isn't Mason. Graham doesn't have the ability to drive and finish at the rim as consistently as Mason did. And he doesn't have a soft floater like Mason did. That's not to say he won't do those things occasionally, but probably not as frequently and consistently as Mason did. And nobody on the roster is replacing Jackson either. Probably don't need to elaborate too much on that. And that's not really a knock on next season's roster, because I think they might be the best backcourt in the country next season. But not in the same way that this season's backcourt was.
I like the frontcourt more. Whether Dok and Preston can stay out of foul trouble remains to be seen. Probably will struggle with that early on. But I'm excited to see what Preston and especially Dok can give us next season.
Best case scenario is that Josh gets drafted by Boston and gets to play for that coach and that organization.
Josh will go number 1 because he is the best player on both sides of the ball. The only aspect of his game that needs to improve is free throw shooting.
I think a non-Jayhawk might win it next season. Looking at Jevon Carter or Johnathan Motley.
@nuleafjhawk Ya, I think he's long overdue for an ass kicking. Hopefully the Jayhawks will oblige him today.
Lonzo better than Frank, though. Just ask Dad.
@BShark I'm guessing you aren't doing much to ease their suffering.
BIFM and BFM.
@BShark Now go beat the Zags. Go Musketeers!
Kansas wins by 30. Xavier denies Sean Miller another FF appearance and the game ends with Bill Murray smiling. Best day ever man.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON, XAVIER!!! GO GO GO
It's too bad we'll never get to see a Dok/Karnowski matchup. That would also be a whale of a game.
@BShark Me too, unfortunately.
Zona or Zags, who y'all got?
@DoubleDD Ya man, I didn't even think about the added motivation that the bird dynamic will bring to the table.
@DoubleDD I'd be happy if they just won the game.
Oregon will be a much tougher game. Oregon is the first team KU will play in the tournament that has guards.
Winner of KU/Oregon game gets the Big10 trophy.
Well I think that ended the NPOY debate.
Not that I frequent ESPN all that much anymore, but when I clicked on the NCAA tab today what I saw was:
"From Hill to Laettner, 25 years later" and
"How did it all go wrong for Duke?"
Cool, ESPN. Now I remember why I stopped visiting your site.
So. Assuming UCLA wins (which might not happen but it makes this easier), then:
ACC: (7- eight) 1 team in the Sweet Sixteen,
Big12: (8-3) 3 teams in the Sweet Sixteen,
PAC12: (8-1) 3 teams in the Sweet Sixteen,
SEC: (7-2) 3 teams in the Sweet Sixteen,
Big East: (5-5) 2 teams in the Sweet Sixteen,
Big10: (9-4) 3 teams in the Sweet Sixteen,
Which makes up 15 of the 16. The non-power conference team is the Zags.
@BShark Brace yourself for incoming ACC apologists.
What a great day.
If Duke loses I think ESPN might die.
But Duke definitely should have been a 1 seed.
Bert and the Cocks ftw
Oh man. I know I said I was done tonight but....
ACC killing it.
Alright I'm out for the night. Onto the Sweet Sixteen! Rock Chalk
Michigan St fans calling KU players thugs while Draymond Green is in attendance is pretty funny...
@wissox I did. Every time KU looked like they were about to push the lead there was a questionable call in favor of Michigan State. The offensive foul on Lucas, the technical foul on Vick. Trash officiating.
@wissox Seriously.
Game. You tried, officials.
5 v 8
You friggin joking me?
Why don't you just wear a Michigan St jersey, Reggie? Whines about the over-the-back on Ward but doesn't say a thing about the offensive foul on Lucas when it looked like KU was about to go on a run.
When Kentucky feels like playing defense they are really good.
@bskeet True. Good point.
It may remain on both of their shoulders. WVU looked pretty good today.
Is there a coach in the tournament who has more pressure on him to advance in the tournament and make a Final Four than Sean Miller?
@BShark ACC could use a UVA win tonight. I have Florida winning that game, though.
Florida St loses by 25 to Xavier? Wut?
@kjayhawks 6-2 if you count the play-in game for the Kitty Cats.
8-1
@BShark Ya slightly crazy. I have URI winning today but losing to Oregon. Have Oregon in the elite 8 actually.
@JayHawkFanToo Yep, could easily be 5-0 too if the Pokes didn't run into the Golden State Wolverines today. Unfortunately I think KState might lose to Cincy tonight.
Any chance KState beats Cincy tonight?
How do you call a flagrant there? Way to ruin the game.
Are we talking about the same Gregg Marshall who got ejected from a game for charging a pair of referees?
The same guy who's been quoted saying things like:
"They've been big brother for so long and they just don't want the little brother, who's now grown up, to be able to compete with them and maybe win. They don't want to give up that superiority in the household."
or
"Look at my salary, that's not mid-major."
Maybe I'm wrong about the guy, but calling him kind of a dick with a little-man complex seems pretty accurate to me.
Marcus Marshall, Juwan Evans, Donovan Mitchell, Quentin Snyder, Derrick Walton, Dillon Brooks, Monte Morris, Devonte Graham, Frank Mason.
Midwest is the point guard region.
What a strange game. OK State +19 on the glass. Shot 54% from the field, shot 43% from 3, shot 88% from the line, and only turned the ball over 10 times. And still lose by a point.