@FarmerJayhawk said in ZACH CLEMENCE COMING BACK?:
@BShark good life advice generally tbh
Unless you're Billy Preston, then don't listen to your mom.
Texas Hawk 10
9941 posts
@dylans said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@wissox said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@dylans Obviously it's an unprovable argument. 86 team beat the national champs twice! 97 team lost to the national champs! I know 97 was awesome and I surely would lose this argument a lot of times, but I also might win it a number of times too.
Funny thing is the 08 team, while super tough and resilient, paled slightly compared to the others mentioned. I don't think the 22 version was the best of the best KU teams either! But they both won praise the lord and are legendary teams.
IMHO The ‘08 team would wipe the court with any other team Bill has trotted out. That defense was flat nasty. They took offense when the other team scored and might just go off on a 20-0 run purely out of spite.
96-97 was loaded in the post and Paul on the wing. Love me some Vaughn. Wow woulda coulda shoulda gone undefeated.
‘86 was before my time. Started watching in ‘90
I'd love to see a 7 game series between the '08 team and the '20 team. That 2020 team was an absolute monster of team defensively and I think they could pick and roll the 2008 to death with Dotson and Doke because I don't think Jackson or Kaun could handle Doke down low. The big advantage the 2008 team would have is their outside shooting. Chalmers was at 47% and Rush was at 42% each at a very high volume and the 2020 team was not good from deep.
That to me would the keys between those two teams, could the 2020 team's defense force the 2008 team into a bad shooting night and could the 2008 team take Doke out of the game? What would hurt the 2008 team's chances at doing that is that none of Jackson, Kaun, and Darrell Arthur could shoot 3's so they wouldn't be able to pull Doke away from basket on defense.
I think if these two teams played a 7 game series, I would take the 2008 team in 6 or 7 games because I think they'd have enough good shooting nights even against that 2020 team's defense which I would pick as Self's best defensive team overall while 2008 would be his best offensive and probably 2nd best defensive team in my opinion.
@Jethro said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@Jethro said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@wissox said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@dylans Obviously it's an unprovable argument. 86 team beat the national champs twice! 97 team lost to the national champs! I know 97 was awesome and I surely would lose this argument a lot of times, but I also might win it a number of times too.
Funny thing is the 08 team, while super tough and resilient, paled slightly compared to the others mentioned. I don't think the 22 version was the best of the best KU teams either! But they both won praise the lord and are legendary teams.
The Danny and the Miracles team might be the most bizarre national title team ever. We all know why they're called the Miracles, but if you told someone entering the season that KU would wind up winning the national title, not many would've batted an eye or been surprised by that outcome since KU was a preseason top 10 team. Everything between those two points tells a very different story obviously.
We weren't even close to being Top 10 that year. Maybe preseason we were thrown in the Top 10 based on the year before, but we were seriously lacking that year.
That's the point, KU had high expectations entering the season and that if you told someone before that season started that it would end with KU winning a title, it wouldn't have surprised that many people. This is also why I ended my statement with the journey between the start of the season and the title tells a very a different story about how that season went.
So, you think after losing every starter off the 86' team other than Danny we all thought 88 was in the bag? I assure you that was not the case.
Had KU entered the '87-88 season having lost 4 starters, I think that'd be a valid point, but that's not reality now is it. KU did take some lumps during the '86-87 season which was to be expected, but still managed to finish in the top 20 of the polls with a Sweet 16 appearance, not too bad for a rebuilding year amd not all that different from our '08-09 team in a similar boat.
So, going into the '87-88 season, KU was coming off of a Sweet 16 appearance and returning 4 starters off of that team, includingDanny Manning. Based on that reality, KU was a justified preseason top 10 team with national title aspirations having the best player in country anchoring their team.
So again, if a team is coming off of a Sweet 16 appearance, returns 4 starters with one of those being the consensus best player in college basketball and you tell someone before any games tip off that season that team will win a national title, it wouldn't surprise many people.
@Jethro said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@wissox said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@dylans Obviously it's an unprovable argument. 86 team beat the national champs twice! 97 team lost to the national champs! I know 97 was awesome and I surely would lose this argument a lot of times, but I also might win it a number of times too.
Funny thing is the 08 team, while super tough and resilient, paled slightly compared to the others mentioned. I don't think the 22 version was the best of the best KU teams either! But they both won praise the lord and are legendary teams.
The Danny and the Miracles team might be the most bizarre national title team ever. We all know why they're called the Miracles, but if you told someone entering the season that KU would wind up winning the national title, not many would've batted an eye or been surprised by that outcome since KU was a preseason top 10 team. Everything between those two points tells a very different story obviously.
We weren't even close to being Top 10 that year. Maybe preseason we were thrown in the Top 10 based on the year before, but we were seriously lacking that year.
That's the point, KU had high expectations entering the season and that if you told someone before that season started that it would end with KU winning a title, it wouldn't have surprised that many people. This is also why I ended my statement with the journey between the start of the season and the title tells a very a different story about how that season went.
@wissox said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@dylans Obviously it's an unprovable argument. 86 team beat the national champs twice! 97 team lost to the national champs! I know 97 was awesome and I surely would lose this argument a lot of times, but I also might win it a number of times too.
Funny thing is the 08 team, while super tough and resilient, paled slightly compared to the others mentioned. I don't think the 22 version was the best of the best KU teams either! But they both won praise the lord and are legendary teams.
The Danny and the Miracles team might be the most bizarre national title team ever. We all know why they're called the Miracles, but if you told someone entering the season that KU would wind up winning the national title, not many would've batted an eye or been surprised by that outcome since KU was a preseason top 10 team. Everything between those two points tells a very different story obviously.
@jayballer67 said in And then we have these discussions:
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in And then we have these discussions:
SDSU does nothing for the Big 12 and why would UConn want to move to the Big 12 after they fought to leave the AAC to go to the Big East.
If Yormark really wants to get to 16, another Florida school to pair with UCF would make sense. Why not make a run at Florida State because they're one of the driving forces behind the ACC's new pay structure and have poked around the ACC's GoR to try and leave before.
Serious discussions between the Big 12 and U Conn - -more so then Gonzaga. AGAIN YorMark saying that he would like to have total different media deal in /basketball solidifying the Big 12 as the best Basketball conference.--- U Conn if w going the Basketball route would 10000 % bring prestige to the big 12. The Women by themselves is HUGE plus the success the men have had would do nothing but add to the dominance of the mens side
UConn left the AAC in large part because of travel costs for their non-revenue sports. That issue doesn't get better in the Big 12 with occasional trips to Utah thrown in the mix. All of the talk about UConn to the Big 12 has been one way speculation with nothing that I'm aware of on UConn's side to show they are interested in moving to the Big 12 after fighting so hard to leave the AAC to rejoin the Big East.
UConn wouldn't join as basketball only members, their anchor of the football program that only made a bowl game by beating the other crappy independent schools, Liberty was their best won last season. Their football program wouldn't be far off of what KU was for the last 15 years if they moved into the Big 12.
@Jethro said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
Pretty sure Braun has been drunk until today since he had his camp in KC today.
SDSU does nothing for the Big 12 and why would UConn want to move to the Big 12 after they fought to leave the AAC to go to the Big East.
If Yormark really wants to get to 16, another Florida school to pair with UCF would make sense. Why not make a run at Florida State because they're one of the driving forces behind the ACC's new pay structure and have poked around the ACC's GoR to try and leave before.
Sounds like Berhalter will be returning as manager and will be announced tomorrow officially.
The Wichita St. game is official now, Sat. Dec. 30 in KC.
@mayjay said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
@wissox No, I charge. Just sign over however much K pays to live in yours! 🤑
Good luck with that, Coach K is clearly living rent free in @wissox head too, lol!
@wissox said in Jayhawks in the NBA -- 2022:
Kieff won a championship as well. Darrell Arthur is a part of the Nuggets office staff so he just won a ring too!
But Markieff didn't win an NCAA title though. Self has had 8 KU players win NBA titles now, 5 of them have also won NCAA titles. The 3 that won NBA titles without an NCAA title were Markieff Morris with the Lakers in 2020, Andrew Wiggins last season with the Warriors and Wayne Simien with the Heat in 2006.
Morris and Simien easily could've had NCAA titles as well because there's no way KU loses to Melo in 2003 if Simien plays that game and KU was the best team in the country in 2010 and 2011 entering the NCAA Tournament.
@Jethro said in 2023-24 Non-confernce Schedule:
@Texas-Hawk-10 What is quicker...the valley or El Paso?
From where I'm at, it's about 5.5 hours to Brownsville and the Valley, Laredo, Eagle Pass, and Del Rio. El Paso is about 10 hours from Houston.
@wissox said in 2023-24 Non-confernce Schedule:
@Texas-Hawk-10 Hmm, I'm amazed. Would have guessed it was further. Don't know what the drug cartels are doing right now and how safe it'd be to make a drive like that. Of course driving here then you have to deal with the Chicago cartels! Just kidding on that.
Houston to the Mexican border (several crossings) is about 5-6 hours depending on the part of Houston you start from.
Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Henry Bibby, and Billy Thompson are the only 4 other players to win an NCAA and NBA title in back to back seasons.
Christian Braun is just the 5th player to ever win an NCAA title and NBA title in back to back seasons. And the 34th player to ever win an NCAA and NBA title.
@AsadZ said in 2023 Transfer Portal:
@Texas-Hawk-10 On the other spectrum we have Dok, I love him but is he suitable for today’s NBA
Doke's game doesn't translate very well into the modern NBA.
@approxinfinity said in 2023 Transfer Portal:
@Texas-Hawk-10 is fitness an issue with Hunter at all? I think i read recently that Jokic lost weight and got in prime condition and that was how he made the leap to superstar level, but he was already an all star at that point.
Conditioning isn't an issue for Dickinson. He averaged 32 mpg each of the past two seasons.
@AsadZ said in 2023 Transfer Portal:
Pardon my ignorance folks.
My question is on Hunter Dickinson.
If he is a legit footer who can shoot treys, why isn't he an NBA prospect?
Athleticism is an issue. His game would be a much better fit in the NBA about 20 years ago. Nowadays, a team that drafts him would hope they're getting a version of Nikola Jokic because their games are similar. Jokic was a second round pick so Denver obviously didn't expect Jokic to develop into a multiple time MVP.
@wissox said in 2023-24 Non-confernce Schedule:
@Texas-Hawk-10 Mexico is right next door to Houston, just drive down there for the game!
I know that's not a serious response, but got me curious about how far that drive actually is. Houston to Mexico City is about the same distance as Houston to Chicago which is about 16 hours.
@Gorilla72 said in 2023 Transfer Portal:
Louisiana (D1) grad transfer Jordan Brown entered the transfer portal. 6’9”, 19 PF, 9RPG. Sun Belt 1st team. PAC-12 1st team in 20-21. 4th school coming up (Nevada, AZ & Louisiana)
Love to have him, doubt he'd look here. If Self adds a post player, it won't be a high profile player looking for minutes because KU doesn't have many minutes to offer. I would guess a younger, developmental type who could conceivably be fine with 10ish minutes per game next season.
@AsadZ said in The Big 12 and a bowl game in Mexico.:
I have been to Mexico City a few times, generally media shows when something goes wrong which makes many Americans feel unsafe.
They will have security personnel and will be provided with VIP treatment.
The bowl game would be in Monterrey, not Mexico City.
@Kcmatt7 said in 2023-24 Non-confernce Schedule:
I don't like the Mexico City game. I don't really understand it if I'm being honest. What is the commercial benefit? Is Mexico City really going to watch amateur basketball?
Obviously I could be very wrong. Perhaps Houston has a very loyal alumni base in Mexico City that I'm unaware of.
Basketball doesn't make a ton of sense because it's not that popular of a sport in Mexico. They have a pro league as that's where ex-Jayhawk Lagerald Vick is playing, but based on IG posts, the crowds for games are pretty small. There's also only ever been 4 Mexican born players in the NBA so it's not like Mexico is a hotbed of foreign talent. Argentina and Spain are the two Spanish speaking countries where basketball has thrived the most
Baseball and soccer games do make more sense because those sports are much more popular in Mexico and would be exhibitions played against local club teams. There's also talk of a bowl game in Monterrey in 2026 that would make sense as well because American football is also pretty popular in Mexico.
It sounds like Kansas and Houston will be playing in Mexico City next season. Not super thrilled about that because I didn't get to see KU last season because of the schedule and now that they were going to play in Houston where I would've gone regardless of when the game was, now it won't happen because the game will be in Mexico City.
@BeddieKU23 said in 2023-24 Non-confernce Schedule:
Yeah looks like UConn still has Clingan, Newton & Karaban from the title team so 3 important pieces. The freshman Castle will play a lot and is highly touted not only for College but the NBA as well. They need more pieces and perhaps they are still recruiting the portal. Still don't look like a team on paper that could beat KU at this time..
I'm not saying or implying that UConn will be better than KU next season, just that most places currently have them pegged as a team that shod be ranked around 10th next season with everyone's rosters mostly in place for next season.
Jokic with some praise for Braun in the post game interview.
@kjayhawks said in SCRIMMAGE SZN:
Will interesting for sure, guy I talked there said no way Timberlake starts.
Who would he start over? He's not better than Kevin McCullar, KJ Adams, or Arterio Morris.
I'm not sure how long ago it's been since Hawk Talk was at Henry T's... 30 years?
Roy was doing it at AppleBees when I left Larryville in '96. When I moved back in 2010 it was at Salty Iguana. Last few years it's been at Johnny's West.
I will also say that I've given Henry T's many many chances since 2010, and they've let me down nearly every time.
Edited to add: Yankee Tank Beers were pretty good though, but they shut down in April.
Coach Bonnie did her Hawk Talk show from there. One of my study groups used to meet there on occasion and a couple of times she was doing her show so it hosted a Hawk Talk 7-8 years ago or however long ago it was that she was here.
@approxinfinity said in Upcoming NBA Draft:
@Texas-Hawk-10 drafting a big man i understand. Drafting okafor in particular i do not.
The 2015 class was weak as hell though. Myles Turner was the only other 5 available at 3rd that class that was worth drafting and Okafor was considered a much better prospect that Turner at the time.
The "Process" was an absolute disaster of a rebuild, but I can't say that I blame Philly for taking Okafor in 2015. Philly drafted Okafor knowing full well that Joel Embiid was going to miss his second straight season because of foot issues and didn't know if he would ever play.
Embiid not play a game his first two seasons and only played a little over 1/3 of his third season.
@BeddieKU23 said in 2023-24 Non-confernce Schedule:
Salty lineup, especially the Maui field. The marquee names though are in rebuild mode (UK, Indiana, UConn) so perhaps fortunate.
Kentucky- Down from last year, 7 scholarship players right now.
Indiana- Replaces 4/5 starting lineup including both stars Jackson-Davis & Hood-Schifino. Road games are never easy though in non-conference.
UConn- Star big Sonago gone, Jackson gone, Hawkins gone, some bench pieces moved on. Still have talented pieces but not nearly the juggernaut they became in March.
UConn is still projected as a top 10ish team by most places now with most teams generally knowing who they're going to have for next season.
Obviously there's a grain of salt with rankings at this point, but ESPN has KU 1, Purdue 3, Tennessee 5, Gonzaga 7, UConn 9, and Marquette 10. Most likely, we won't play two of those teams because of the Maui bracket, but who knows what that final bracket will look like and there's a possibility of a 1st round game featuring a top 10 match up and at least one top ten team going 1-2 at best out there by losing the semifinal and 3rd place games.
The non-confernce schedule has officially been released.
Nov. 1- Fort Hayes St. (Exhibition)
Nov. 6- North Carolina Central
Nov. 10- Manhattan
Nov. 14- Kentucky (Champions Classic)
Nov. 20- Chaminade
Nov. 21- UCLA/Marquette
Nov. 22- Gonzaga/Purdue/Syracuse/Tennessee
Nov. 28- Eastern Illinois
Dec. 1- UConn
Dec. 5- Kansas City
Dec. 9- Missouri
Dec. 16- @Indiana
Dec. 22- Yale
Dec. 30- Wichita St. (@ T-Mobile Center in KC)
KU could potentially play up to 7 ranked opponents in the non-confernce this year. 5-6 is more likely which is still ridiculously tough and will test these guys early. Also, that Maui field is just insane, potentially 5 top 10 teams could be in that tournament.
@approxinfinity said in An ugly topic: Bill Self’s health:
@Texas-Hawk-10 you’ve listened to a lot more of interviews of his than me i think. I dont recall mentions of troubling instances of drinking but i wasnt looking for it as a tell.
It's not that Self has outright said as much, but more so piecing together stuff based on what he said in this recent interview about his health and what's happened to him in the past 18 months. The closest Self has come to mentioning anything was after the 2014 loss to Kentucky (72-40) that he wished his water bottle was vodka. That's a tell-tale sign going back almost a decade now about Self's drinking habits.
The NCAA investigation, his dad's death, and the title run are all very high stress situations individually, but all 3 happening at the same time in the public eye is more stress than most of us have ever been through. This is also an industry where alcoholism is very common and that combined with a poor diet and lack of regular exercise going back well before early 2022 and it's not that surprising that Self is having health issues.
Hopefully he's listening to his doctors and sticks to a healthier diet and getting more exercise ands cuts out the alcohol.
@Jethro said in An ugly topic: Bill Self’s health:
So now we've decided Bill is a drunk. We just make it up as we go along, don't we?
A drunk and an alcoholic are not the same thing. Based on what Self has admitted to in regards to his eating and drinking habits, his health issues, and the change in his physical appearance in recent years, I feel like there's a lot of evidence that supports Self being a functional alcoholic.
It sounds like from his interview that dealing with his dad's death and winning the title last year pushed him to a place he hadn't been before in regards to his drinking habits.
@dylans Self has had two heart surgeries in the past 12 months and missed the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament this year and you don't think his lifestyle has affected job performance or his health? How many people here seriously believe that KU still loses that Arkansas Game if Self had been on the bench instead of Norm?
@kuballin10 Just because Self hasn't had a DUI and isn't a naturally angry person doesn't mean he isn't an alcoholic. There's plenty of alcoholics out there who have never had a DUI and aren't angry people.
Biggest thing Self can do for his health is find something to replace alcohol as his coping mechanism for whatever it was that's caused him to drink as much as he has in recent years. Getting on a treadmill or exercise bike would be ideal replacement behaviors that should be easily accessible whether at home during the off-season, in the weight rooms in tge athletic facilities, or in the team hotel on the road.
@approxinfinity said in An ugly topic: Bill Self’s health:
@P-H-C thanks. I may be wrong. But if I am, I think he is well equipped to kick the habit.
It’s possible @Texas-Hawk-10, but couldnt the puffiness be due to lack of exercise, poor sleep and a poor diet? Doesn’t seem like definitive proof that he drinks regularly.
Alcoholism is the most common cause of puffiness like Self’s which is usuallyvery noticeable in the cheeks. It becomes very noticeable once an alcoholic sobers up and the puffiness goes away.
Lack bad eating and lack of exercise is usually most noticeable around the gut and as Self has definitely put on a bunch of weight over the last several years. Lack of sleep is usually most noticeable under the eyes when people have dark circles and "bags" under their eyes.
@approxinfinity said in An ugly topic: Bill Self’s health:
@kuballin10 i doubt Self drinks like a fish.
These health issues might suggest otherwise. Not all alcoholics function the same way. As puffy and bloated as Self has looked in recent years, I don't doubt that Self let himself go in regards to his health and drank like a fish.
You might be able to count on one hand the number of games that a starting line up that includes Harris, Morris, McCullar, KJ Adams, with Dickinson behind them gives up 70 points.
That line up could easily be Self's best defensive line up he's ever had.
@BeddieKU23 said in Off-season starting lineup ever changing thread:
What quality 5 is going to come here and play less then 10 minutes a game?
Grant Nelson in an ideal world, but beyond that not likely someone withdrawing from the draft, but someone coming up from a low major looking for more exposure even in limited minutes.
With this mornings news, new line up should be
G- Harris
G- Morris
F- McCullar
F- KJ Adams
C- Dickinson
Bench (Rotation level minutes)
G- Jackson
G- Timberlake
F- Marcus Adams
Deep Bench
G- Johnson
G- McDowell
F- Braun
A rotation quality 5 should be the final piece to this puzzle.
@BShark said in Bye Bye Ernest:
@FarmerJayhawk said in Bye Bye Ernest:
@benshawks08 give me Nelson and McCullar. We’d be an absolute menace on D
Yeah Nelson and Spencer would be my top picks. Realistic educated guess is Pullin and Kaluma which is also pretty damn good.
Kaluma and Spencer would be my personal choices. Spencer is a proven sniper and top level defender amd Kaluma gives more options for subbing and line up combinations in the front court and wing spots.
@jayballer67 KU isn't why his stuff is going to auction, that is a total click bait, bullshit title from whichever site you're looking at that posted it.
Frank's own social media accounts explain what happened and ot once was KU mentioned as being involved in this situation.
Frank had his stuff in storage in Sacramento while he was playing in France. His unit didn't get paid at some point and stuff went to auction. It's sadly a fairly common occurrence for stuff like this to happen where someone loses their storage unit while overseas. He probably had it set to autopay with an account, that account got updated, changed, etc. and payments stopped and after awhile, his unit was sold off.
@Jethro said in 2023 Transfer Portal:
Wonder if Timberlake and Morris would decommitt if we get another guard.
Morris is a much higher ceiling player, but I would take Spencer over Timberlake every time.
@Jethro said in Welcome Parker Braun!:
@benshawks08 said in Welcome Parker Braun!:
@Jethro I agree he’s probably our best option right now but I don’t think he’s the same LOCK for minutes that Juan, KJ, and Hunter are that would deter a quality player from joining the team.
Agreed. If they used Timberlake in the Remy role, it probably would be better in the long run. I am PRAYING they don't recruit Caleb Love, though. Surely they can see he isn't KU material.
If we didn't have Morris and still needed a starting caliber 2, I would go after Love because I think he'd be really good in a situation where he's primarily playing off the ball. Since we have Morris, Jackson, Timberlake, Johnson, and McDowell, there's no need another guy who can play the 2 spot so I doubt we'll hear about KU having interest.
A wing and a big are the needs remaining and should be/are the focus.
@FarmerJayhawk said in 2023 Transfer Portal:
It’s happening!!! 🐦 View Tweet?s=46&t=c0LiaNrxev6XfT7LIH8dAQ
Welp, I guess that's what happens when you have a fake majors.
@Jethro said in Bye Bye Ernest:
Not worried in the least. My question is where is KJ going to play? So, we have KJ, Timberlake, and Adams potentially at 4. Starting lineup of: Juando/Morris/ Timberlake/KJ/ Dickinson. El Marko and Adams coming off the bench. Why are we gnashing our teeth and pulling out our hair? That's a hell of a team.
There's only 3 front court players on the team right now. KJ has to be the starting 4 with the current roster composition because he isn't sitting behind Marcus Adams.
I also question who the starting 3 will be because I have serious doubts about Timberlake's defense being good enough to play 30 mpg for Bill Self, but starting Marcus Adams at the 3 also means you don't have a big man on the bench either. Self absolutely has to land a starting caliber 3 or 4 from the guys who withdraw from the draft otherwise front court depth will be a very major problem next season.
@benshawks08 said in Bye Bye Ernest:
Just saw Udeh is visiting Duke and K state. Ouch.
TCU is also on his list to visit.
@wissox KU was always going to lose one of Zuby and Udeh at some point because they played the same position and were the same class. Losing both in the same year sucks, but nobody should be surprised that one of them was eventually going to leave because top 50 recruits don't go to a school with the intention of being a career back up.
@kjayhawks said in Bye Bye Ernest:
Biggest mistake of his life IMO, if him and Zuby go some place where they can play right away it won’t be power 5. They have probably played their last NCAA tournament game if they ain’t willing to go to a program and develop.
Zuby's list of schools he's visiting starting today is Villanova, St. John's, TCU and San Diego St. He'll be a major program in a system that plays to his strengths as all have defensive minded coaches and the one school on that list that's a mid-major is coming off a Final Four appearance. All 4 of those schools are places he will either start or be the first big off the bench and be a significant contributor.
With the roster composition we had, KJ made too much sense at the 4 due toba lack of Natura 3/4's on the roster. KJ at the 4 also would've allowed Self to bring back elements of the hi-low because KJ and Hunter would have been a great combo for it. We also know Self isn't opposed to playing KJ at the 4 as there were times last year KJ and Udeh were on the floor together.