@ralster Regarding Josh, I view him as the absolutely best find, best fit, in the Bill Self Jayhawk Era. Wiggins and Embiid were very talented recruits, well on their way to professional stardom. This kid Jackson was MADE for Jayhawk Hoops under the tutelage of Bill Self. A rare gem indeed.
REHawk
1583 posts
I am impressed with the way in which our coaching staff is handling Udoka. Those starting scenarios are psychologically LOADED, with much confidence building, game to game. Udoka has begun to control his wild fouling. Lucas did a fine job yesterday, really stepping upward while the Bragg mess was swirling. This squad is a very very different and unique Bill Self construction. Wins are terrific, of course, but I am enjoying the ride.
@Crimsonorblue22 Yeah, these kids are like family to most of us. There were occasions when my own two offspring gave cause to my feeling similarly ill! And I know for certain that I caused much consternation decades ago for my own concerned parents.
@Crimsonorblue22 There is an article today on the old LJW site, Bill explaining his allowing Carlton to sit with his teammates. Also a reiteration that he will not suit up until legal issues resolved. But can practice, though in a much more limited capacity, as he will not be essential to the current game plans.
@Crimsonorblue22 Probably true. I was surprised to see him sitting with or near the team. Gave cause to my thinking that Carlton did nothing very violent. Otherwise, Bill Self would not have allowed him to show up with the team so soon.
@JayHawkFanToo Perhaps a very heavy burden for Carlton, the talk about his needing to step up his game to replace Perry. Whatever the outcome of his current dilemma, Carlton no longer will carry a portion of that load. Henceforth, he is his own man, entering a new threshold. Lotsa eyes and ears focused and attuned to the public image and future performances of the new Carlton.
@brooksmd Thanks for the info. Unbelievable smile for such an occasion. Carlton appeared more serious today in street clothes as the ESPN cameras zoomed in.
I'd wager some wooden nickles that those photos of Carlton are not official mug shots. Some photojournalist is yanking chains.
O Boy! Bill, the mirthful gods once again have pounced upon your shoulders. Best of luck in sorting out this mess...while continuing to march remaining troops to glory. We are counting on you not to tweet idiocies, but to generate the very best of decisions for all concerned.
@jayballer54 I would hope that he also enjoys shooting, and making, free throws...at, say, 85% efficiency.
Tony Dumas...Wasn't he a pal of B Rush? Vaguely, I recall that they played offseason streetball together. Tony might have spent summer time in Lawrence scrimmaging with our '08 guys? (Speaking of Rush, I grin every time I think of him. Hasn't BIll Self done a masterful job of handling some really talented but colorful lulus?)
I'm with Ralster on the minutes dangers with Frank and Devonte. Self sometimes sells wolf tickets regarding such issues as the minutes thing. Just as he does re injuries to his players. Stands to reason that every extra minute, esp. TIRED MINUTE, that a player is on the floor, more chance for injury. When our two fine guards play more than 33 or 34 minutes, I catch myself hanging tight to the arms of my cozy old recliner.
@globaljaybird For Travis and Shaka I can recommend a partial cure to their current griefs: Bacardi "Oakheart" Genuine Spiced Rum over lotsa ice and some coky colas. They could split a bottle a day...and two on Sundays. Get on the former wayward lost track of our very own good buddy Billy G.!
Red.Rooster, it is very cheery and gratifying, having you back in the fold. Some days my posts find no upvotes whatsoever; then BOOM!, your moniker appears. Here's hoping your wife is finding some relief, and that her and your days are less stressful.
I have probably been as rough as any poster when it comes to addressing the name Scott Drew. But after the past three weeks I have to admit that the guy has done one whale of a job this season...to date. Gonna be a mighty hard row to hoe for our program down in Waco this season. And Huggy nailed down a huge win vs. top ten Virginia today, so the Mountaineers look to be on the upswing.
@kjayhawks #3 UNC went down to the Hoosiers. Yee-Haw!
@Ralph Good news for Embiid. Also, he got a rest tonight, as the 76er game was cancelled, unsafe conditions, moisture on the hardwood.
Yes, Indiana just knocked off #3 North Carolina. Now if the Jayhawks can whip Stanford, KU is bound to rise at least one step in the polls Monday.
@drgnslayr The french horn is standing right next to that 5 ft. long trumpet with the ribbons fluttering from the spit valve!
@BeddieKU23 His size and strength alone will tantalize NBA scouts and money managers. But, hey, if Udoka does not look to be a solid lottery pick a year from June, then he definitely should return for year 3. He looks to me to be a Top 5 pick somewhere down the line, perhaps even Top 3. This kid was born much more ready than most players who ever picked up a basketball. Like Josh, another multimillionaire in waiting.
Well, if Graham should return, most of our conjecture on this thread is muted. Graham, Newman, Vick, Garrett, maybe Svi in the perimeter lineup. Wow! Garrett gets a chance to grow incrementally. Graham and Vick get a chance to go high in the draft, perhaps with Newman, perhaps with Svi. That said, the following year looks bleak unless Self works some more recruiting magic. Udoka will probably be gone, too, after next year.
Baylor and their coach? I got a chuckle reading one of the above posts, someone employing the word "snarky" in regards to usual assessments of Scott Drew. For several seasons, actually since he pulled that little pissant corridor stunt at AFH, I have been calling him Dreadful Drew. However, finally I must admit to the now glowing fact that the guy can recruit and coach. His progress this season, to date, is simply magnificent, already having knocked off 3 ranked teams and with a very special comeback victory after a huge deficit to Louisville. His squad this year will be very dangerous to deal with. At this stage of the season, I'm compelled to rank the Bears #2 in our league.
I have not followed Fultz, but keep hearing terrific reports about him. Our guy Jackson appears to bear the talent, intelligence, teammanship and determination to be a Top 3 draft selection wherever he goes. And if rookie Andrew Wiggins could be involved pronto in a trade for an established star the likes of Kevin Love, our current young star could probably serve the 76ers or anyone with identical trade bait. Josh looks to become a multimillionaire very soon. I hope he lands in a program which is an ideal fit so that we can follow his upward curve in the same way that we now see Embiid and Wiggins. Those 3 appear to be players who will become NBA All-Stars; and who will not embarrass or distress Jayhawk followers by creating newsworthy negative mayhem.
In my not so humble opinion, Baylor deserves this collapse of their football program. I just read that since 2011, a self reported Baylor-led investigation disclosed allegations by 17 women of domestic abuse, sexual assaults, rape and gang rape by Bears football players. Just imagine, if you will, how many more, by general statistical trend, went unreported. Now they carry a champion wide receiver named Zamora who was slapped on the wrist with a 3 game suspension for beating his cowering dog with a belt. The face of their sports program grows uglier by each season. Yet, the Nike Corporation and tv sports announcers seem to adore them. I can't believe that the powers what be in this conference have not sent them packing. Perhaps because no likely replacement program can stack up with a cleaner record? Am keeping hopes alive that Bill Self's operations can keep a tight rein, avoid such deep rooted ugliness. Tough chore for a coaching staff, I know, especially a football program with so many players to oversee and so many possible recruits to evaluate. Especially now that we have a prominent and still popular former U.S. President and a current President-Elect adding their two bits to national leadership by shady example.
@KUSTEVE My take is that Newman learned a valuable lesson, and that he is preparing to grab the brass ring next year in BIll Self's system.
What a marvelous opportunity for him this year, to practice daily against and alongside our terrific guards! He came out of h.s. as a very talented player.
@Crimsonorblue22 Better look out, Crimson, and not allow any of these guys to approach first base. You know what then is likely to happen, based on the sage and experienced advice of upcoming Leader of the Free World!
@REHawk Doke and Vick to start again vs. Long Beach State. Self says about this lineup change, "It could be permanent, but I don't suspect it will be." He elaborated by saying that our starting lineup will likely be based on scouting reports (REALLY!). If an opponent plays small, we will go with Doke and Vick. If opponent plays two bigs, so will we. IMHO, whether injured or not, some heat is being taken off Lucas and Bragg...and/or, adversely, some fire is being lit beneath their tails. Coach often defers to doublespeak.
@JayHawkFanToo Dreadful Drew has won his days in the sun quite early this season. By the time he arrives at AFH maybe he again will bear the cocksure edginess to drag his troops to the corridor during our pre-game video presentation. Actually, I would enjoy seeing that once more...then awaiting the resounding impact of our output vs. the Bears for a few more memorable seasons. In this league we really need a feisty coach whom fans dependably love to hate.
Well, my assessment, he's a kid with a brilliant game. Few teens can flap their jaws with much brilliance. Other, perhaps, than a 19 year old named Josh Jackson.
@KUSTEVE YES! And Mr. Mitch the Rebounder Lightfoot adds 12 pounds above his Light Feet!
@Crimsonorblue22 So do I. Fun basketball!
Noteworthy action statement by our coach tonight, starting Udoka and Vick. Worked marvelously against a weak opponent, and appears to be a timely adjustment to the lineup. Whether injured or just not capable of adjusting to the revised rules in the paint, Lucas isn't cutting it.
Bragg is more of a puzzle. I recall a late spring or early summer comment by our brazen new behemoth, 7', 295 and 16 years of age, proclaiming to amused Jayhawk followers that he, indeed, would become a starter on this current squad. Game #6, and Doke has arrived!
At least for the moment. Perhaps for the duration if he is determined to clutch the brass ring and progress in the way of Joel Embiid. Bill Self has made a very timely and ballsy move tonight. Plenty of new drama and new hope in store for team and fandom, merrily awaiting the next stage in The Experiment.
Fire the coach. Bring in Gillispie!
Kid's pretty cool, other than for some ultra-emotional displays last week. Fairly well bides his time, offense-wise in first three games. Contest #4 rolls around, and KA-BOOM! Enough highlights to light up his Sports Center resume' for the entire month of November! It did appear that he came close to a brutal clotheslining on that one super dunk; but he shook off the blow, kept his composure, and played right on. I look for him to lock down a spectacular league season. He has to be cautious to avoid a Ridley-type assault which might crimp his physical well-being.
A 3rd year NCAA player, Svi is still younger than many high school recruits and college freshmen. Including his teammate Josh Jackson.
@drgnslayr Wherever he does land, it appears that he will have earned a touch of luxury. At age 18 his game now shows polish and lots of professional promise.
I suspect that Bill is taking on his alignments 2 steps at a time, trying to uplift Bragg and Lucas first, then dealing with Doke's current and future play. The one thing that Coach won't allow is lack of effort. Udoka, if smart and determined, will grow from the benching and lack of minutes. No way will potential like his go unrewarded as the season moves forward. That kid is the best big man to come to Lawrence since JoJo. (emphasis on KID)
@approxinfinity Do it! Tell him how much we miss his missives. He is the poster I remember fondly as my first contentious opponent on the old LJW site. I never could best him in regards to hoops knowledge, but often enjoyed stirring his input. He appeared not to give a whit whether fellow posters liked him or not; but the guy injected really fine opinions and factual analysis almost daily during past seasons. This site will not be the same without him. Gotta track him down, resurrect his input. I really really hope he is above ground and well, perhaps just too disgruntled to engage until this current squad settles into steady winning ways.
Fascinating thing, discoveries of the real life travails of persons behind these Buckets monikers. For a long spell, I had thought of this person red rooster as someone I could tell, "Hey, after every Jayhawk loss I recommend devouring a batch of cow turds on hamburger buns"..and red rooster would give me a thumbs up! After today's reading I find a human behind that moniker, and am moved to sympathize with his family plight. His THUMBS UP are much more meaningful and dear. Now I wait and hope to hear from High Elite Major and some of the other posters who have disappeared from our beloved site.
Hey, Folks, don't we experience enough sports divisiveness on this site to keep everyone on edge and sometimes orgasmic? I had hoped we could stay away from this political bull hockey.
Dougie G. (Mr. Pants) offered an assessment of our two small guards today, saying that their height could be a season-long detriment vs. taller opponents shooting 3s (as did Indiana). He also offers a dig at Mason's and Graham's tendencies not to involve teammates to the max.
I never take Dougie's analyses too seriously; but he might have hit a nail upon the head this time out.
@jaybate-1.0 Bill had best plan meticulously about what to do with his expanding gut. He begins to look like a coach who, when constantly harried, might sooner than later be wheeled into a coronary ward.
When it comes to evaluating Frank's pro draft status, think Sherron. Without the weight gain problem, but probably also without the size to tantalize pro evaluators. Frank Mason most likely will play in Europe. Unless his legs crash and burn after another very strenuous collegiate season. Another dozen efforts filled with the exertions he exhibited Friday night, and we are likely to see Frank's NCAA potential squelched before April.
If Bragg does not get his mind and body into the game early on tomorrow night I would move Josh to the 4, utilize Svi and Vick much more in the second half. Gotta hope that Graham's "cure" has taken effect. Did I hear right, that his cramping problem had been ongoing for a couple of weeks, but he took more desperate action to deal with it only the day before the Indiana game? If those two things are true, then coaches and trainers are not taking these big contests so seriously as some of we posters are!
As I recall, Coach declared sometime a week or so ago that his team would not abandon learning principles in order to run willy nilly just to win one game. (At least, he stated something along that order.) Of course, what we saw with Frank in his last few minutes on the floor, some of those principles might already have been shitcanned...or perhaps the "principles" finally got kicked into high gear.
@justanotherfan So true. My "just nicked up" declaration was posted with tongue in cheek.
If Holly up to the task, physically, would be terrific to see her get more minutes of coverage. The most pleasant person behind a mic.
@BeddieKU23 LL merely nicked up. No real problem.
@jaybate-1.0 He'll probably be nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court...and clear the appointment by an overwhelming landslide.
@jaybate-1.0 Aw, I know you did. Just don't ever forget that this godforsaken Baylor Bear athletic program should be banished from our league! Hang em out as an independent, too scurrilous for acceptance into any honorable conference. I am not certain that North Carolina should not hang with them. Although NC's problems are more of an academic situation, something the NCAA has pretty much, at least in practice, given up on in terms of adjudication. Chapel Hill would appear to be a safer site for co-eds than Waco.