@Crimsonorblue22 Aw, I must admit that sometimes I am a guy who grumbles too loudly about the size of the hole in a donut!
Perhaps I have just assumed erroneously that Vick got himself placed on some kind of KU sanctions over a year ago by his interactions with a female student. Then the Josh kicking frenzy, well, the girl's family might just be waiting to read the size of JJ's NBA contractual agreement before deciding the measures toward possible recompense? Or maybe Vick will sue the girl for tossing the drink in his face...who knows? His eye for the basket could do with a bit of improvement his 3rd year in uniform. Perhaps tomorrow we will read that Tubby precipitated the Lawson outburst by accusing the kid of wearing a sock to pad the crotch of his game shorts? Topsy turvy world which I kinda get a kick out of discovering and responding to. I am reminded fondly of a deceased former friend, a school administrator, who annually declared to his faculty, "We've got the opening day of school and the closing day of the school year; and anything which falls in between is really inconsequential!" This fella died way too early, but it certainly wasn't from the cause of a twisted colon!
I hope that Svi returns. Heck, he was among the rare number of our top 7 players who played dependably well while not getting in a bind with punitive actions off court recently. A rare clean cut and exciting contributor to Jayhawk Basketball. We need more of his ilk!
@drgnslayr Very trying times for heralded coaches who head up topnotch Division 1 sports programs. Bill Self looks to be constantly barraged with public misdeeds of his players. He and his staff, the university, donors and fans can live with only so much serious distraction. Societal situation, I suppose. Just kick and lash out, bray feelings recklessly, broadcast to anyone who will listen, "I am important, attend to what I do and say!" There is a deeprooted sense of carelessness or powerlessness in a gifted young man who will kick a girl in the face, or stomp a few thousand dollars of damage into a girl's vehicle while she is behind the wheel, or who will bray obscenities to a coach whose program he has just deserted. Then I read national headlines reporting congressmen, senators, top echelon national political and military leaders acting and speaking just as acrimoniously. Some disgusting stuff abounds, in the not so humble opinion of this octogenarian.
@mayjay Thanks for the link. I am startled to note that few posters have dived into this thread. Can you just imagine the feelings of multi-million dollar donors who have contributed lovingly to KU Athletics, esp. the hoops program, reading this kind of trash on national sports sites? Journal World has not even touched upon the matter yet today. Perhaps I am merely an antiquainted fuddy duddy....
@Crimsonorblue22 I have not yet read the apology. But I am certain that our coaching staff will leap quickly to stifle any further such displays of inappropriate public attention by a Jayhawk recruit. This is the level of stuff which sports writers never forget. This kid is going to shape up or very quickly find himself shipped out. KU fans and coaches are already wary of a sloppyy situation involving a strong father and two sons storming our hoops program. Gotta trust that this was not a harbinger of lingering troubles for 2017-18.
@HighEliteMajor Lordy Lordy, what a head case for our coaches to work with, an incoming 3rd year collegian with the mind of a thug. Or maybe PUNK? Wasn't that the word which Frank Mason recently employed to differentiate losers from winners?
This type of rude outburst has to be stopped in its tracks. I'm not inclined to support a program which can't or won't put a stop to young Mr. K J Lawson's ignorant public misbehavior before it taints Jayhawk Basketball.
If the Lawson lads Should arrive in Lawrence with the determination which the Morris twins displayed after their freshman year, our coaching staff will have picked up a pair of authentic bargains. Tubby Smith has aged and grown a bit long of tooth, but he probably yet remains as good a coach as Reagan was an actor (before he shuffled into politics). Tubby and Josh Pastner are likely worth a solid B+. So the Lawsons should have learned considerably about Div. 1 Hoops during their years at Memphis U. Now they are presented with the opportunity of trying to fit into a quality program led by a quality coach and a quality trainer. If their dad remains cool and not adversely involved, as has unfortunately been the case with at least a trio of other player fathers during Bill Self's tenure, these two transfers could turn into real gold for Jayhawk Basketball. IFs and COULDs....
@drgnslayr Yeah, when I saw Roy's response to Loh yesterday on Yahoo News I thought, O Boy, aren't we fortunate to have Bill Self speaking for our university and the Jayhawk athletic program. Roy had best tuck in his horns before he finds himself on vacation with that O'Reilly guy from Fox...or warming a seat on United, soaring off and away from the grand state of North Carolina.
This thread represents a very fine tribute to one of the most focused and determined four year players ever to grace the Big 12. To heck with all that SMALL talk. Frank Mason stands marvelously TALL in the hearts of KU hoops fans and in the annals of Jayhawk Basketball!
@DoubleDD I'm guilty of the standard simplification: The NCAA Tournament is a crap shoot. But I have grown aware that the matter deserves much more serious introspection, inspection and review. The crap shoot aspect involves match-ups, and yes, officiating. Sites of games, injuries, player suspensions, family untimely tragedies affecting players or coaches; just a host of pinpoint happenings occurring during tournament time. It is unfortunate that really solid teams and players can experience cold shooting performances at a time when so much lies on the line. Then out of the blue freshman Cole Aldrich pops off the bench to help shut down an upper class opponent who has just won honors as National POY. Sudden tears, sudden smiles. Go figure!
@kjayhawks And if Svi departs this spring, we have two scholarships to offer. I hope and really think that Svi returns. He hasn't yet fully endeared himself to our hearts.
@Lulufulu I've mixed feelings about Roy Williams. I credit him with doing a fantastic job with the Jayhawks during his 15 year tenure. At the time I did not realize that he was committed not to recruit the East Coast...a thing which now stinks of chicanery with his N. Carolina mentor Dean Smith. He left some dandy players behind at KU, but chose not to jump early, at least til after Heinrich and Collison had gone pro. so, from one point of view, he left Miles, Langford, Simien in the lurch. Of course, we now know that those kids were placed in very capable hands of Roy's splendid replacement. But those remaining very accomplished players were faced with big adjustments. As I recall, Bill Self eventually had to intervene to stop their continued telephone contact with Roy. So then Roy inherited a team and program which was caught up in major academic scandal, the degree of which did not hit the headlines until years after his ascencion to the NC hoops helm. Good Ol' Boy Roy he still seems, at least his surface appeal. But down deep are buried some questionable character flaws. That's my two cents. By the way, Lulu, Roy is not a KU alum...unless your meant faculty alum.
@Texas-Hawk-10 Okay, I spent a few minutes on wikipedia. Embiid first sat behind D. Johnson at Montverde Academy, then transferred to The Rock for his senior season. Your guy Walker attended Holmes County High School. Forget the beer. Just get your stories straight.
@Texas-Hawk-10 Did I say Dakari Johnson went to IMG? Nope. I do think Embiid might have finished there, but could be wrong. I am still not convinced about that Walker business. Will you buy me a beer if you are wrong?
@truehawk93 I've no idea just what Duval's pt. guard situation would be at Duke or Arizona. But at KU he can share the floor with one of the best and most experienced floor generals on a possible Final 4 squad. A chance to start with Graham and Newman? WOW! With VIck and maybe Svi chomping at the bit to share floor time and a coaching staff currently second to none. A virtual blessing of an opportunity for Duval. And for KU, a guard who can go to the bucket!
@Texas-Hawk-10 As I pretty well recall, when Joel first immigrated to Florida he played second fiddle to Dakari Johnson; but then transferred the next season in order to glean more game experience (IMG Academy?). Johnson roared off to Lexington, but I think it was Norm Roberts who had unearthed Embiid and evaluated his glowing potential. Our coaching staff brought him in as something of a project, then literally the entire hoops world was astounded at his early progress. Even eventual Laker Tarik Black seemed happy to mentor him, then agreeably stepped aside when Joel was ready to start and shine. Meanwhile, Dakari had a so/so tenure at Kentucky contrasted with his high school promise.
Malik has landed in a very opportune spot. Considering our 4 and 5 positions, the lack of experience, there are bound to be some early growing pains and probably some huge struggles in trying to win a 14th league title. But if good team health prevails, Malik has maneuvered himself into position to perform under the big spotlight on a potential Final 4 team. That said, he must be patient and let the game come to him. Otherwise, if Svi does return, Vick will see lots of Newman's minutes.
@approxinfinity Dakari Johnson...
@HighEliteMajor ...and Frank declares he would trade all those honors for one Jayhawk National Championship. A very rare nugget, that kid.
Man O Man, now if Svi should return...WOW! Malik Newman, Vick and the entire squad just got a wonderful word of good hope.
@Crimsonorblue22 Yee-Haw! Sunflowers surround Lawrence!
@madmaxKU Terrific news, thanks. Do you have word to share on Cheick Diallo's progress? Or Perry Ellis?
@chriz Thanks for sharing the article. Heck, I thought Wayne stuck with the Pelicans. Great to read that the Grizzlies did hang onto his services and have called him up for remainder of season. I have not kept up with NBA wins and losses, but assume that Memphis will make the playoffs beginning April 14? If so, we might get opportunity to see Selden in action.
I was not an EJ fan, either of his character or competency. Would award him, at best, a 7.5 on each. Perhaps if he had not buddied with Tyshawn the former would be elevated. If Bill Self had not persisted in turning him into a floor general I've no doubt that his game would have improved. Sometimes forcing square pegs into round holes just does not work optimally. Bill has had to do that often, maybe because of the Nike impasse. Did work superbly this season with JJ; not so well with Bragg. Anyway, Graham's career stats already look better than EJ's, and he likely will blow up his current numbers if he returns for a 4th season, something I think would be in his best interest. I would like to see both DG and Svi return for a final season. Of the two, if I had to choose one I would go with DG. Experienced floor general very much in demand for next season. DG will elevate his senior campaign, not in the manner or maybe the brilliance of Frank Mason; but he is a sterling option to handle point guard duties for a top level Div. 1 program. Cut much more in pt. guard leadership role than ever was EJ.
@mayjay Good Friend, NEVER GIVE A INCH!
I have always thought that Self's second season at KU was hampered at season's end by a couple of significant factors. Langford was somewhat hobbled; the starters as a whole had played so many minutes that they ran out of gas in the Tourney. Freshman Robinson's ongoing battle with Self led to benching, so senior Miles had to exert max energy until his tongue was hanging into his shoestrings. That said, the theory that Roy might have gone further both years into the Tournament with those guys is legitimate. After all, the stars WERE his recruits. As for the Illinois program which Self abandoned, just look what Weber did with those kids of Bill's. We can only imagine the glory which Bill might have reaped from staying with that bunch. But we can't forget, Bill's second KU season was the first of our 13 year run of league titles!
@brooksmd Fair enough. Please send me a note of deconflict if you plan to send missiles. Just so I can move and hide my half dozen toxic Jayhawk t-shirts and a couple of KU caps somewhere off and away into the heart of my remote 30 Ozark acres before photos of them burning might be released on Fox "news."
@jaybate-1.0 Exxon on the uptick yesterday. Reminds me of Dick Cheney's former workplace, the billions reaped from reconstruction in Iraq.
Here's another thing about this rebuilding business: Can our terrific potential star contributor L G Vick maintain stability in his offcourt activities? His upward development is one of the keys to next season's success. Personal history demands that we keep our fingers crossed.
Seems that every season our program faces at least minimal behavioral distractions or temporary suspensions which lead to team upheaval or an unexpected defeat.
There are guys you chose to face battles with, then there are guys you prefer to party with. Often, those guys are one and the same. Sometimes the distinction is foggy. I'd choose to go to battle with senior Frank Mason. Or junior Frank Mason, for that matter. Sophomore Carlton Bragg? The distinction rings loud and clear. Carlton might yet resurrect his hoops career, but that seems best not to be in the cards while wearing a proud Jayhawk singlet. I wish him well; but am more than ready to move into 1917-18 without his shortage of battle ready determination. Our KU hoops warriors cannot drift into the careless lives of typical partying underclassmen. Jayhawk Basketball is mighty serious business. Those who commit fully to its demands reap lofty rewards...while coming, going and in the interim.
@Kcmatt7 What? I would indeed call it a rebuilding year if we have not one starter returning and also were to lose our first player off the bench. Even if only one of the two, Graham or Svi, should come back, we still would have lost 5 of our top 6 players. Man, that amounts to REBUILDING!
@mayjay Humph! Does this perchance have anything to do with scraping a tasty oreo mint from one of those 1500 calorie burgers you can fetch at the Golden Arches?
@truehawk93 "Step Curry." I like it!
@mayjay Man O Man, what a family saga! If this is Self's recruit with the fast twitch muscles I hope he settles in Lawrence. Well aware that jr. cllg. stars often find it very difficult to fit in and adjust to high caliber Div. 1 play, I can't see us going wrong with this kid. April and early May have become exciting recruiting periods for players to fit and fill slots on existing scholarship listings. We are bound to see a couple of key players move to Lawrence at semester's end.
Well, I grew more than somewhat exhausted while scanning the posts on this thread. My 2 cents: Bill Self declared that he really was searching for a dependable point guard; and I presume a recruit who can play immediately, not having to sit out a year. I look to see that need fulfilled.
@ralster Graham and Svi decisions loom huge. Will be comforting to all concerned when they firmly decide, esp. if they return. If they should both leave, what a rebuilding year ahead!
@jayballer54 Don't feel lonely, man. I'm a guy whom grandkids can help me reset my digital watch in the fall, then I can't recall how to reset it come spring. Copy and Paste? Jeez! That must be something out of Star Wars.
@Crimsonorblue22 ...just muttering to myself.
@REHawk Actually, REHawk, we might not see much of Frank Mason for a spell. NBA combines and training sessions will yank him off and away from springtime Lawrence, probably just as they did Sherron. I hope he can make it to the banquet (or has Self already hosted his last banquet for this season?).
@betterfireE Ah-HA! If that is the case, then Frank had best sit down for a chat with LightFeet...Pronto! That kid is the most colorful cut-up on our current bench squad.
Most likely we will soon read info about the prolonged investigation into that runaway girl (or those GIRLS) who became victims of malfeasance in the hoops dorm, back midseason. Man, I hope none of our players gets charged with that rape or providing drugs or alcohol.
One player's abrupt departure at semester as well as Bragg's history of misjudgment loom more than somewhat mysterious in possible regard to that Bad Night. Hopefully, Bragg's paraphernalia will not play a part in the eventual court proceedings of that lingering fiasco.
@dylans Thanks for the clarification. Wife and I are electronically impaired; haven't much focused on the e-lingo.
Here's my two cents, Folks: Keep this site as simple as possible. Old guys like me are slow to change, and are confused or befuddled by change. Already, I have no idea what this "tag" stuff means. I don't want to chance clicking onto something only to find that I might have unintentionally paid a discourtesy to another poster.
@Crimsonorblue22 Heck, I have not kept up on these recent threads. Are you indeed in Phoenix, waiting for to utilize tickets which were purchased with the presence of Bill Self and full Co. once in mind?
@Crimsonorblue22 You tell me, just fill out the credit card info and submit it; should be safe, as we all did it. YIKES! Dontchew know, not many of the posters on this site are folks who play it safe??? One of my offspring is going through hell trying to straighten out a stolen identity mess which likely originated from one of his distant internet revelations. I am a wary old cuss. Oops, there is that word OLD again. By the way, if you actually are aged beneath year 12, I probably should not be communicating with you here on this or any site! The one thing I need less than my credit card info being stolen is to be labeled an old pervert!
@Crimsonorblue22 Anyway, aren't you still a youngish woman? You should be able to help me figure out this donation route. But then, if you are older than eleven, maybe not!
@Crimsonorblue22 Yeah? Well, I can yet clip my own toenails. But barely!
Bill Self has developed exponentially since he once sat on Larry Brown's learning bench. Another topnotch award for our Jayhawk Hoops Program. Now Bill is all set to relax, kick back to enjoy future pressure-free entries into the NCAA TOURNAMENT!!!
@HawkChamp ...and freshman guard Marcus Garret, once he begins to adjust to the offense (whatever the new offense will BE).
Guys, I am too old and wary to engage in online listing of credit card info. That said, I do have a PayPal account, but have no idea how to go about contributing via that route. Would much prefer to mail a $25.00 check, but am aware that gets into the revelation of approxfinity's private security. So...any suggestions? If so, please outline in detail. As I said, I am old, old, old. This is a terrific site which I call up daily. I hope it is maintained until I kick.