Recruiting class rankings per 247 sports

2004 1 UK. 5 KU

2005 40 UK, 4 KU

1. 15 UK, 13 KU

2007 9 UK, 15 KU

2008 22 UK, 12 KU

2009 1 UK, 8 KU

2010 1 UK, 44 KU (stacked roster)

2011 1 UK, 17 KU

2012 1 UK, 14 KU

2013 1 UK, 2 KU

2014 2 UK, 9 KU

2015 1 UK, 12 KU

I'd say Bill's been pretty consistent myself. Somehow all those #1 classes haven't turned into rings for Kentucky. Could it be that if a team retains upperclassmen there isn't 40 minutes a game to guarantee freshmen? Could it be that you have to earn your minutes at KU because there are entrenched starters at many positions and another waiting in the wings?

@Jayballer54 The reason you seem to think most posters are on your side is a combination of bias and squeeky wheel. Everyone is going to have a bias towards information that supports their opinion. Being 100% objective is impossible. Two the squeeky wheel makes a lot of noise. Just look at this thread. ONE poster has posted numerous negative posts about recruiting on this thread. A half dozen or more have come across with the opposite view point, but a good chunk of the posts are negative due to one individual.

90% of KU basketball fans are casual fans and don't follow recruiting in the least bit. Even big time KU fans don't follow recruiting, because who cares until they sign? It's just a bunch of undue stress to place upon your shoulders if you can't enjoy the process.

@Ralph That's how I started my day too! Ohh... Same same....

I ran into the Texas Tech players (and Tubby) at a hotel last year. None of them were an impressive physical specimen. Monte' and Naz fall into that category as well.

I have always been impressed with the upperclassmen at KU after Hudy is done with them!

@Crimsonorblue22 He really wants to be a Jayhawk! Someone should slap his momma!!!

@wissoxfan83
Whenever I throw out a good FU it usually leads to fisticuffs... FU (insert smiley face - currently not working)

@BeddieKU23 Xavier McDaniel and Antoine Carr? Long gone, VanVleet and Baker were nice also rans, but won't have the pro careers that the aforementioned did.

As far as the bracket goes: you have to beat the 6 teams in front of you. If you are the best you can win all games inspite of venue, refs, and opponent. Villinova didn't exactly have a cake walk either.

Tough brackets can become easy brackets when Duke loses to Lehigh. Or the rare case of MSU bowing out early. It stinks when you have to play an under seeded team while being overseeded yourself. However, if you are truly the best you will over come these obstacles and more as if pre-ordained. You can even come back from a seemly insurmountable deficit in the final 2 minutes (helps to have 4 awesome guards) with a little Miracle.

@wissoxfan83 And the silly crowd rushed the court. Tsk tsk.

@jayballer54 Fixed it for you. If you start with a # It sets the font size huge.

#1 KU

@wissoxfan83 Selden was always injured. Mason was gimpy two years ago. Greene had knee surgery a couple of years ago too. Embiid was a BIG loss 3 years ago. KU generally has good health, but sometimes we fans don't know the extent of the injuries until after the season if ever.

But overall KU basketball has had very good luck in the health department.

I was disappointed that Dick got his voice back.

@BeddieKU23 Get a ring this year, recruit the heck out of the 2017 and 18 classes with momentum! Dominate the Big12 for its last remaining years...Join the ACC and take the streak to 25 years...

@BeddieKU23 reload year!

I've sat in section 223 in the first seat at the very top. The entrance is at the top for those sections, so prepare to walk down steep stairs when you arrive if you're not up top. The view was awesome though and I thought it was ok clear to the edge of section 221. I imagine the view from 220 would be ok and better the closer to section 221 you can get.

Also 18 conference games eliminates 2 non-con games that they used to have. The home gate is valuable to the whole city as well! I'd like to see more quality road opponents to prepare for adversity in the tourney. This may be a recipe for more losses and a lower seed that also creates adversity in the tourney though.

Whatever the schedule; I'll watch and cheer for the good guys!

@drgnslayr Hard to be cooler than Mario...

Keith "Freeze" Langford was pretty damn cool.

Oubre seems like the most "hip" player.

Wiggins has the most potiental influence and could define what Oubre thinks is cool down the road.

@HawkChamp my comment was for @jayhawk-007, I didn't even read your post. A game of Take 'Em is hero ball. =(ISO) isolation plays= one on one = take 'em it's all the same thing. Yes our guys need to win one on one battles, but not if an open shooter is waiting that's just selfish.

I don't believe he (or she) is advocating for 100% hero ball, I just don't want to see it more than a couple of times a game when there is an extreme matchup advantage like if the midget Forte is trying to guard Josh Jackson. But if a bad switch hasn't been made I don't wanna see ISO ball.

Iso/ hero ball doesn't even work at the nba level (think Kobe). Good team play will destroy Iso ball everyday (GS Warriors). What we need are more alpha types. The '08 squad had rush, chalmers, Collins, and Darrell all of whom could, and did, go off for 30 pts in a game.

I guess what I'm saying is you don't have to be selfish to score a ton even within Bills system. The trick is getting the players to recognize and take the good shots. As well as pass out of lower percentage shots.

No Hero needed this season. Graham, Mason, Bragg and Jackson will provide plenty of offense!

Now they're not messing around.

Those 2 turnovers are killer though.

7 first downs for both teams. 15 minutes time of poss. for KU vs 8 for Baylor.

The KSU game is the game I dread the most. There isn't much of a talent gap and never has been, but the scoreboard will be lit up like a Christmas tree by KSU. It's all coaching and that's what makes me sick.

Looks like KU is about to get big boyed.

@wrwlumpy If you have a T-mobile phone, check on Tuesdays. They have free give aways. Last week it was a free subscription to ESPN the magazine (Normally $15-25 for a year) that also includes ESPN insider access. I pay the least I can to get it usually around $20 per year (free this year!) but the body issue alone is worth the price of the subscription (it's simply amazing!!!)

It's a little buggy. I keep getting formatting errors that fix if I leave and come back.

They should name the Big12 Championship trophy after Bill. The Bill Self Big 12 Championship trophy! Congrats if you get one and aren't named Bill, if you are named Bill...it's expected.

@approxinfinity said:

Alright I'm going to take a dump in just a minute then send it to Julian. Henceforth we are in the disposable zone!

I recommend a flaming paper bag! Just kidding- Great work @approxinfinity

It was a bit chippy 9 months ago. Too bad about the data loss; glad I was caught up on my reading!

I bet he picks KU!

@HighEliteMajor All caps is 100% the only way to yell in text adding bold turns it into screaming. That is what I was referencing.

Your comment yesterday was out of left field. It wasn't in the flow of conversation and was simply an attack to make yourself feel big. It is a typical KSU tactic.

@KUSTEVE I like it!

@HighEliteMajor Yelling at someone for posting an article supporting "your" coach...Hmmm I've got issues.

I don't understand why you can't enjoy a positve article. When some one posts about emotion you shoot them down with statistics. Someone posted an article with statistics to prove "your" coach is good, but now he doesn't pass the eye test.

I understand there is such thing as constructive criticism. It's how you get better. The problem is you are just venting at this point. It's not constructive. It's even leading to outright attacks on other posters like @crimsonorblue22 yesterday. This doesn't do anything for discussion either.

@JayHawkFanToo Good call on the conniption fit...

@HighEliteMajor No need to yell. He points out it's an old article. Sorry it throws your world view into such a tizzy. Why do you hate Bill so? A year ago Bill Self had the best decade. A year later the numbers favor coach K. So BIll has the second best decade currently running. Seems like something to be proud about if you are a loyal KU supporter. Clearly KU didn't win 10 NC in a row so there is room for Improvement, but dang enjoy the moment before it's gone.

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@JayHawkFanToo I still don't think 4-5 losses on the road will win the big 12.

I hope Bill schedules a team that presses like that twice a year to prep the Jayhawks for the tournament. Oh wait, they're in the big 12, it's been taken care of.

Will KU be scared of heighth? No, the Anteaters have been conquered. Also great scheduling.

Will KU handle a zone? Yup, looked good against the two different zone teams played so far.

Is the sky falling after one loss? Not yet, besides its my fault for setting foot in Manhattan on gameday. The Jayhawks and Bill Self had nothing to do with this loss. :)

Well crap, my bad. I won't let it happen ever again.

@Crimsonorblue22 Yeah, and the guy in charge of Diallo's NCAA clearing (Oliver Luck) wrote the $25K bonus into Huggy's contract (for beating KU) while he was AD at WVU. Sounds inpartial to me...

I apologize in advance if KU loses to WVU. I've got a business meeting in the little App-hole on gameday. Last time I sat foot in Man-crappin' was before Acie Law IV beat KU at home in front of my own two eyes. Terrible game to go to.

I apologize now. Maybe you can counter my bad mojo?!?

:)

Tom Izzo. He's my second favorite coach, so ok I guess...

Yes, Brannen is instant offense, but his attention span is that of a gnat. Actually I've seen gnats with more focus... Limited minutes keep him focused. I had hoped his suspension would keep him focused longer than it did.

Svi so far is just potiental. When he gets it put together watch out! But for now he just fizzles, no pop.

Mr. Consistancy, Frank Mason makes the team go. Ellis is the anchor. Selden gives them the pop to go over the top. If Graham does his job everyone else has a much easier time of it.

I hope LeGerald or another stud wing with handles can ease the burden Graham's Sr. season. I'd hate to go back to the one ball handling guard crap we had the last few seasons.

You really should post more @ralster I enjoy your perspective. And value your insight.

If Ellis sets his mind to it it will happen. He set his mind to getting a 4.0, he did and was valedictorian. He set his mind to winning 4 straight HS b-ball championships, he did it. Now he has stated a goal of the Final Four, how could this not happen? He has set his mind to it, it will happen. I just wish he had set his goals 2 wins further down the road.

@JayHawkFanToo said:

A team with a 4-5 road record might well win the Conference this year...the Conference is ubber tough this year...

Not quite; KU isn't going to lose 5 games this year let alone conference games this year.

Go see your National Champs while you can. Ellis' senior year will be special!!!

Tubby is a better coach than he gets credit for. He will have his guys ready. I expect a better game that it looks like on paper.

@HighEliteMajor

It is my favorite composite perimeter group I can recall at Kansas

Favorite guard group for me was/is Chalmers, Robinson, Rush, Collins.
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Second favorite group (and it's not even close) for me was Jacque Vaughn, Jerrod Haase and company.

This years group could jump up to second with a NC, but until they recreate the havoc Mario and RussRob created defensively (not to mention Rush's man disappearing) and the way the ball moved on offense in 2008...I haven't seen anything like it in the Bill Self era until this year. You see it in flashes, but not consistantly...yet.

At the beginning of the game Bayor shot a free throw to take the early 1-0 lead. Graham came down and hit a three. Baylor misses. I think Graham missed three cleaned up by a rebound dunk by Ellis! Then another Graham 3. 8-1

Then Selden joined in the three parade; you saw the rest of the rout.

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