🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Looks to be thin as a rail. If KU should catch the intent to commit by another more college ready perimeter body, I would not be surprised to see Vick spend that optional year in prep school, bulking up and honing his skills before coming to Lawrence. I wonder what Larry Brown's story is regarding this de-commit.

Regarding the WUG ineligibilities of Svi and Cheick to play with the Jayhawks in Korea, the NCAA would go down as absolute turd heels if those two were not allowed to practice with and against their KU teammates. And Jayhawk Athletics would go down as the very same if the two of them were not issued tickets to join the travel contingency.

If he were eligible and interested, I would cherish an opportunity to see Kevin Young rejoin the Jayhawks for the Korean trip. Diallo could learn much, practicing against and watching that guy from the bench.

I was not very impressed with Thon's impact in the spring hoops hoopla. And I would not be one bit interested if he planned to come to KU only for one semester of eligibility. But if he (and family) were to commit to a year and a half in Lawrence i might show inclinations to look at his videos and study his high school stats. Noteworthy size.

Or is he perhaps iced down in Eastern Siberia?

If someone could launch an extensive search, by way of a transcontinental college hop, maybe Rio Adams could be unearthed. Betcha he would leap at the opportunity to rejoin the Jayhawk contingent for the WUG.

If Diallo can stay out of foul trouble and, right from the getgo, bring the energy of sophomore TRob or transfer Kevin Young, then we are in for some very exciting games of Jayhawk Basketball this season. I have watched and rewatched this spring's Jordan Brand Classic and McDee's games. Diallo bears the boundless expenditures of those two former Kansas players. Seems almost sad to think that his joyful enthusiasm will soon be harnessed to Patterned Systems Basketball. The results of that process will undoubtedly lead to more notches in his future wins column; but I hope he can take the court with that same undaunted bounce and winged flight which I witnessed in those recent schoolboy highlights. For another former foreign soccer palyer who is still relatively new to the sport of hoops, his flow was absolutely mesmerizing.

@jaybate-1.0 "Listen to Self in the off season at your risk." Ah-Ha! I offer a hearty second to that declaration. Mr. Sly Willie Self, dancing the fandango. (I just ran that expression by my spouse who warns that I should look it up before setting it to print. But, per usual, I am bulling onward with something which just sounds appropriate.) I doubt that Huggy or The Mayor will spend time analyzing such off season chatter from the Sunflower State. Maybe that newbie down in Austin will scratch his pate and spend a few mealtime hours in the attempt to digest and swallow. Essentially, I think that HEM is right in that Bill will stay true to his inside-out roots, perhaps with the addition of a few wrinkles.
I tend to think he is counting on a healthier Lucas to man up, fill that 5 spot for 20 minutes. Recruiting focus leaning more toward a significant acquisition on the perimeter, "...not necessarily a OAD or TAD."

Are the two exhibition games to be televised?

@JayHawkFanToo It was conjectured that TT was burning off calories late night in the FieldHouse, thumpin' the Hawk.

@Crimsonorblue22 Jack Crap in KC. Ooh, that's a topper!

Dang it, if only Dickie V. would step forth again and reward us with a #5 league projection!

@JayHawkFanToo Yeah, I read what Self said about Cliff. Interesting to me that no professional journalist covering Jayhawk Basketball performed the due diligence to unearth that fact. Keegan, Bedore, Tate, even Newell and the K C Star guy, what do you say? This did seem to be an ongoing crucial issue for some time. Was the ineligibility issue not determined by the NCAA until after the season? Seemed to me that the coaching staff was just waiting out the determination, not taking a chance on playing Cliff, so as to protect against possible forfeitures. Unless these writers are merely careless in their craft, something seems screwy to me regarding the Cliff issue.

@approxinfinity Maybe what turned out to be Fools Gold was Self's investing more minutes in BG than Svi during league play; then finding BG missing (almost a la Cliff A.) when post season chips were on the table. Was BG hiding the seriousness of the hip problem much earlier than reported to fans? And Cliff: was he or was he not "NCAA Ineligible?"

Speaking of over-recruiting, I wonder if Hunter Mick does not, perhaps, sleep fitfully, wishing that he had joined AW3 at a program like Nebraska?

@Crimsonorblue22 I hope to heck, come April, that Cheick is still on the floor, doing his Jayhawk thing. That would be a huge leap over the recent case of his highly ranked predecessor!

@Crimsonorblue22 HA! My wife and I were just now talking about the Cliff situation. I was very disappointed that Cliff did not rise to his pre-KU billing. Wife declares that many unknown factors might have intervened; and that maybe it just wasn't Self's insistence on system play.

@drgnslayr Okay. I'm mighty happy and relieved that we lured Diallo; and ISU didn't. This kid looks a bit scary in terms of preparing to try to shut him down. My biggest concern is: Can BIll Self back off just enough to allow Cheick to do his thing? Maybe cut him free for 20% free lancing? I think that Bill has developed a reputation of pushing too hard and too quickly to get his one and done recruits in line for mistake-free systems basketball; and, in doing so, stripping away some of their natural flow. Not to bag too much on Self. He is the one and only guy I want, right now, at the helm of Jayhawk Hoops. I would not for one moment consider trading him for Coach K or Pat Riley. As a matter of fact, I am very intrigued, watching his seasonal and situational developments. He is going to go down one day as one of a handful of greatest coaches ever to have worked the college game. I hope to see him in Lawrence for a long time.

@drgnslayr Come, come, slayr. You really think we would have whipped ISU for the league crown if they had gotten Diallo? How about a tie? Could you manage to concede a tie?

Greene is laid up; Svi and Diallo are ineligible for the WUGs. Will Self have to invite outsiders to shore up the 3 and 5 spots?

The acquisitions of Bragg and Diallo offers the Jayhawk Nation just cause for a huge sigh of relief. That said, we know that BIll Self is not quite done in tweaking this 2015-16 squad. Will it be a transfer perimeter player or a foreign big? Or both?

I don't see the Brannen Greene isssue as to whether Bill Self CAN adjust his system. I think it is more a thing THAT HE DOES NOT WISH TO ADJUST. At least, not ADJUST in a major way, and for the sake of steady 3 pt. wishful dreams. We have witnessed incremental changes (adjustments, if you will) in Self's recruiting philosophy and sometimes in his February and March offenses and defenses, usually based on player injury or availability. But in the big scope, he has won those 11 consecutive league titles and a few others by adhering to the system which elevated his winning percentage to such a remarkable level. Ralster has offered us unique insight into the intense manner in which Bill Self and Co. have studied league opponents, esp. the most recently competitive Fred Hoiberg who walked away this season with 2 victories in the 3 meetings of Jayhawks and Cyclones. Within context of the 9 league opponents for whom Self has to prepare for 2 or 3 meetings per season, his winning percentage has been superb. In the broader spectrum, post season Jayhawk play has been mercurial. His system has been studied meticulously...and too often has fallen to defeat by post season opponents who are on a roll; ironically, often by mid major powers whose lineups are filled with 3 and 4-year players. It might be concluded that Kansas Basketball under Bill Self is highly successful in something of a provincial manner, hanging its hat on traditional developmental escalations. This OAD business has thrown something of a monkey wrench into the manner in which Bill Self best operates. We fans clamor for recruitment of One and Dones; but OADs function counter to the Self System. And, back to my starting point, the 3 pt. game does not bode well in Self's coaching philosophy, at least in a regular game to game offense. Is somewhat amazing that he brought Greene and Frankamp to Lawrence at the same time he had Andrew White, another heralded 3 pt. shooter. Two of those three came to see the writing on the wall. The third, Greene, apparently comes from unbending stock. He has chosen to stay the course, and his father declares that there will be no red shirt. Personally, I think it is a giant gamble on Greene's part to stay in Lawrence. Perhaps a lesser gamble on the part of Bill Self to invest game minutes in Brannen, whose 15 minutes in the sun back in early league play this season was about as good as it is ever going to be, both for him and the Jayhawks.

I repeat. Brannen Greene and Bill Self are a mismatch. Right now we will have 4 and 1/2 perimeter players, at best.

@jaybate-1.0 The Cuonzo Thing certainly does baffle the likes of me. Those footers and 2 top ten recruits did not commit to Cal B because of the solid reputation of a winning Cuonzo Martin. More likely, it is the academics which lured them to sunny Cal B? I just rewatched last month's Jordan-Brand Classic. Announcers were braying about the influence of shoe companies on the current state of USA collegiate hoops. What you, jb-1.0, have alluded to for years regarding Big Shoe Influence has now become common chatter among the flies which surround and buzz the cow patties of NCAA Sports. You are indeed a visionary deluxe.

Man, I hope someone puts Cheick onto this site. In his first half week of commitment he has earned more grins from the Jayhawk Following than Brandon Rush and Rico Adams in their entire KU tenures, combined. Now if we can gather steam to boost Bill Self into programming the kid a freshman year statistical average of 15 and 9! (That's points and rebounds, not wins and losses!)

Aw, cheicks, awm jist a country boy from Mali. Lookin' to play this game for cheickels and dimes.

Hey, Jaylen, there is still a wee bit of wiggle room for Jayhawk perimeter minutes, beginning late June into midJuly. Like 28 minutes, and on a world stage. Come on down!

@Crimsonorblue22 Thanks for the delineation. I'm almost too old and nearsighted to recognize the difference between a Ned and a Nancy!

At risk of coming across like a negative nancy, I'm going to wade in on the Brannen Greene Issue. Brannen and Bill Self are not a comfortable fit. Outside of his 3 ball, what does Brannen bring to Bill Self Basketball? And will Bill ever adjust his offense to rely on the long range shooting game? Brannen brought his strength to the wrong program. For me, this Jaylen Brown Question is a no-brainer. If Self and Co. can fetch him, then BRING HIM ON! Granted, I have been convoluted about this OAD Business. But, hey, OADs are the reality of 2015-16 NCAA basketball. Traditional hoops powers have been dominated by the Anthony Davis/Jahlil Okafor "rent a player" wonder-kind. This J. Brown kid is a born-ready force. I've great respect for the likes of Lucas, Mickelson, Traylor. But if we are to count on those three and a questionable Brannen Greene to push us to the Final Four, then we're bound for another frustrating Jayhawk season. Svi is still a MAYBE, and Selden's consistency still more than somewhat in doubt. BRING BROWN ABOARD!

From what I saw in the McDonald's and Hoops Summit games, I am inclined to pronounce his name K-E-V-I-N Y-O-U-N-G. But with well over a 7' wingspan! Cheick is one of the most exciting high school players I have ever seen on a basketball court. This commitment looms huge for Jayhawk energy and enthusiasm.

WOW! What a commitment! Congratulations to the coaching staff. Cheick Diallo, you have just elevated a very good squad to potential superstar status. Really a sad situation that you and Svi can't join the team for World University Games, but I assume that you each will gain considerably from summertime practices with the Jayhawks. Welcome to Lawrence, KS.

Speaking of World U. Games, without Svi and Greene, we are likely to see some experimenting, esp. if Jaylen Brown does not come aboard.
Perry playing some 3? Bragg playing some 3? A Diallo signing could also affect the 3/4 jugglings.

Well, it is perhaps a bit early to levy judgment regarding the 2015-16 Big 12 title. Kansas might be filling slots until August. We will know more about how Bragg fits into the lineup after the World U. Games, and will get an opportunity to see if our key players have regained bounce; also, if some of our borderline starters have stepped up their games.

Still a couple of top prospects looming on the horizon. If we should obtain both of them, and if Bill should do some major tweaking, O MY!
I know, I know, big IFS!

@REHawk Thanks for your reassuring analysis re Perry's knee. I know beans about such injuries. Depending on recruiting, I wonder if Bill really is considering playing Perry a bit at the 3. Not likely, I should think; but he is likely to tamper with spacing this season, perhaps doing some experimenting this summer if the squad can manage enough wins to get to the second round of WUGs. The FIBA Rules shot clock should make for interesting developments in Bill's planning.

@HighEliteMajor Yeah, Jamari slipped my attention. Huh. Not certain precisely what I think in regard to his senior season. Plays with a lot of heart. Perhaps played in a lot more pain this past season than any of us realize. If an impact is, indeed, available, it will probably be a mini-step upward, as you have predicted for Lucas and Mickelson. Jamari's life story a remarkable upward process. Would be dandy to see it capped with a winning individual play in a Final Four event.

@Lulufulu FGCU=Joe Dooley.

Oubre still listed somewhere between 8 and 12 in most of the updated NBA mock draft boards. Alexander, late First Round/early Second.

When Bill announced, prior to this past season, that Perry Ellis would likely be his team's leading scorer, I don't think he was indicating a readiness to turn the scoring reins over to Greene and Frankamp, or to build an offense around Oubre or Alexander.

@jaybate-1.0 If that knee gives way, Bill Self had best be well prepared and ready to install Plan B. Perry Ellis represents the fulcrum upon which current Bill Self Basketball teeter totters.

In my not so humble opinion, the Jayhawks will be as good as Perry's knee. Unless those hip spurs were a really serious factor, I don't see Brannen Greene EVER fitting in well to Bill Self Basketball. His motion counterflows...upstream. Selden? Which Wayne will make a show? A dependable nightly show? And can Svi live up to his billing? Seemed like something of a waste, sitting idle after Christmas break last season. Maybe practice-time challenges elevated his game while visits with Hudy and co. sculpted his physique? Time will tell. I sure liked the way he moved the ball before Christmas. Mason and Graham? I've no skepticism re those two...so long as Mason's legs hold up. And from recent photo clips of his work in the weight room, his knees looked strong as iron. Gotta trust that both Lucas and Mickelson take giant steps up the ladder of improvement. At least one of them bound to make significant gain. I still crave the energy of Diallo. Like a pistol in a waistband, he is a certified difference maker.

So, the week's rumors were true. Relocated coach Ben Howland pulls the kid into Newman's dad's school.

Regarding Diallo, if the coaching staff is fortunate enough to sign him, but then glues him to the pine, Ol' Bill might as well dangle a white bandana, high in the act of surrender. This kid is no Alexander or Oubre. If he commits, THEN PLAY HIM!

I don't know where and how Bill Self would plant him, but I do know one thing: This current KU squad NEEDS the energy of that kid Diallo. I will be disappointed if we lose him. Talk about an exciting player. WOW! He is born and bound to zoom to the top of any fan's joy chart.

@Crimsonorblue22 The first time I saw that kid play Jayhawk basketball, I jumped off my recliner with excitement. I wish for him the very best. Here's hoping that he has found a comfy playing site and receives sound compensation.

@JayHawkFanToo Well, there you go. That's the difference between panhandling in New York City and Columbia, MO. SEC! SEC! SEC!

@drgnslayr My O My! Someone in the KNOW would have thought you must have played for Bill Self; and never missed a one of those proud 33 minutes that he inserted you into every single contest. Save the surgeries until late April or May!

@nuleafjhawk Speaking of panhandling, I've a long ago former acquaintance who attended U. Mizzou. Considerably overweight, and she never did see the sun shine on a Good Hair Day. Anyway, she was extremely bright, more than somewhat avant garde (sp). After early afternoon classes she would trudge downtown to sit near a busy streetcorner, begging for coins. Said she pulled in about a dollar and a quarter per hour...about the average going rate for hardbitten labor in Columbia, MO, back in the early '70s.

@drgnslayr No ACLs, no rotator cuff fix-its, no lingering arthritis. Just a bent nose and a few painful bruises. Ten minutes of agony, and then SHAZAM! Winter in the Bahamas.

@drgnslayr Just like jumpin' into the LOTTERY! Did you ever imagine that cutting yourself in for a piece of that NBA money could be so easy?