@HighEliteMajor My gut tells me that Greene is 2 full years older than this kid, physically more mature and has a year of NCAA basketball / Bill Self practices under his belt. Also, Greene seems like he has quite a bit of fight in him.I like Greene's chances to play in front of SM.
joeloveshawks
853 posts
Unreal. Bill working his magic. What does this do to our lineup? Does he take the spot of CF due to his size and the fact that they are both advertised as sharp shooters?
I won't comment on all of the back and forth about if white people or black people are more athletic but I will say I don't think we need this kid. We are loaded as is. Let's take the incredible back court we have in Selden, Green, CF, Mason and Devonte and build confidence in these kids by giving them minutes...in real games. There are already too few minutes to go round and it is not like we are lacking on talent. We have studs at all positions.
@HighEliteMajor I fully agree that it will create a huge amount of pressure in March. No doubt about it. I was pretty amazed that the pressure did not get to them this year in March after being heralded as a "40-0" team in the preseason. Maybe the 8 seed actually helped them? It made them play with a chip on their shoulder. I don't see that being an issue for UK this year.
I truly hate Kentucky and already can't wait for our game with them in November.
Jamari and Perry review the season
[Jamari and Perry](
This does not look as difficult as last year but it is not going to be easy. Kentucky and Florida are obviously tough and to think we may play Michigan State again is pretty nuts. At least MSU and Florida lost a huge amount of Seniors. I guess we will know very early on where we stand when we meet a team like Kentucky on a neutral floor.
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2014/may/13/2014-15-non-conference-mens-hoops-schedule-loaded-/ ↗
@drgnslayr I am also excited about Devonte Graham but it is impossible to get over excited. We are literally basing our thoughts about Devonte on a few Youtube mix tapes we have all seen and that is it. I remember watching Wiggins highlights from high school and saying to myself "this guy will be totally unstoppable". Obviously he had a great year but he was not unstoppable as he was in high school. Far from it at times. I expect Graham to have a tough transition into Div 1 basketball and I assume he will get 5-10 minutes this year behind CF and Mason and Selden and will be more of an impact player his sophomore year. If I am wrong that will be great as I am sure Mason and CF are incredibly ready to take the starting spot.
@truehawk93 I mostly agree but I am not sold on Graham. I think he will have to beat out CF personally more than the other way around. CF is a superior shooter and has a year in the system and showed he can play some D. He is not a liability.
I'm 100% with you on Greene. He is the real deal and hopefully he will get tons of minutes. I have said this before on here but I would love it if he starts at the 3 over Oubre.
@BucknellJayhawk3 Also, I agree with you that Devonte seems like the least likely freshman to start. Alexander to me is the most probable to start at the 5.
@BucknellJayhawk3 I have to think it is up in the air. Greene and AW3 are both big guys and can shoot. We saw that Greene has a pretty good killer instinct and I think most of us feel that AW3 is a very solid player but has not broken through.
Personally, I feel it would be great for our team if Oubre came off the bench. It would mean that the guy who beats him for the spot is playing great basketball and Oubre seems like a good energy guy off the bench. If I was a betting man I would say Oubre starts but I would like to see Greene in the game often as he looks to be a man who can step up and hit big shots. My consistent thought is that AW3 is the odd man out and should potentially look to redshirt a year. Another season on the bench makes no sense for him if that is what happens.
I'm thrilled we landed Graham but I can't jump on the bandwagon just yet that he is a day 1 starter. Think of how many guys have come into KU with the same or even higher expectations and struggled to get minutes. I think that Frankamp will get the nod at PG as he is going to be a year in the system, has a cool and calm demeanor, can play a bit of D and is the best shooter between him, Mason and Graham.
Selden will start. Ellis will start. Those are obvious. I think Oubre will start at the 3 and Alexander at the 5.
I see Jamari, Greene and Mason being first off the bench with Graham having to prove himself to get minutes away from Mason and CF and Mickelson getting minutes too. I see AW3 and Lucas being the two guys who get mop up time or are plugged in if we have injuries / suspensions.
@icthawkfan316 I would love to see a Bill Self team that bombs more 3's. Last year when the ball when in the air from behind the arc I just assumed it was not going in. This is not really due to a team of guys who can't shoot...it is partially how Bill coached last years team. He obviously did not like guys jacking up 3's and is notorious for the quick hook. I feel a big year coming on for both Greene and Frankamp from deep. Both guys have as pure a stroke as you will ever see. They just need to be on the floor enough to get in rhythm. There is a lot of talk above about who the odd man out is going to be and who is going to start and who is going to watch from the bench. Of course there is a lot to be seen but I truly truly hope that both Greene and Frankamp are on the floor a lot. Every year in March I realize how important having guys who can shoot 3's can be. It was one of many things our squad lacked last season. Rock Chalk.
I love Bill's comments about our PG situation in the Newell article. It is amazing that he now feels that PG may be our deepest position. What a difference a year can make.
It will be very very interesting to see who starts at PG. Seems like Wayne is an obvious starter at the 2 spot and may play some 1. I personally think Mason will get the job but that is really just based on gut with Devonte and CF getting some action at the 1 and 2 and more or less being interchangeable parts...sometimes bringing up the ball and sometimes playing off. If Mason gains confidence on his shot that could be key for him. We all know that CF can shoot and Wayne is a good shooter. Hopefully Graham's High School shooting carries over into Div 1 at the highest level.
This may still leave AW3 as the odd man out at the SF spot. Oubre is supposed to be an instant impact player and Greene obviously got the minutes over AW3 last year. Who knows though...there are always surprises, injuries, suspensions and Self's dog house to think about.
@brooksmd I'm never too surprised when this happens...kids getting overlooked that is. Trey Burke and Russ Smith were not even top 100 prospects coming out of high school. Shabazz Napier who gets more praise on this site than most any player was barely ranked inside the top 100 when he went to UCONN. You just never know. Personally I think he looks great and am excited about him but I feel his ranking was partially helped by KU recruiting him.
Not sure how many of you get ESPN Insider. Here is the breakdown.
Kansas has been in the market for a strong point guard and on Friday got their man in Devonte Graham.
Why he committed: With the departure of Naadir Tharpe, there is a major opportunity for playing time on a team that is loaded at every other position. “It played a big factor in my decision to attend Kansas because he [Tharpe] played the same position," Graham said. "The tradition of Kansas and having a great opportunity to play right away fit what I was looking for.”
[+] EnlargeGraham
Arianna Hoffman/ESPN.comDevonte Graham's game progressed during his post-graduate year, and Kansas came calling.
Bill Self's success -- 10 consecutive Big 12 titles -- made a Kansas offer hard to turn down.
“At Kansas, the goal is to compete for a national championship and their situation is extremely attractive to accomplish that goal next year. Winning is important to Devonte,” said Brewster head coach Jason Smith.
What he brings: As a lead guard with excellent athletic ability, Graham shows the balance between being a facilitator who is thinking about setting up his teammates and a scorer. His basketball IQ is what stands out, as he understands spacing and flow within his floor game, or he can turn it up a notch and play at a faster tempo. He can be trusted by his coaches because he is more of a decision-maker vs. a risk-taker with vision and passing accuracy to connect with his teammates. He led his Brewster team in assists (171 in 33 games) and his assist to turnover ratio was terrific at 5-1. As a 3-point shooter, he shines by knocking down shots on a fairly consistent basis, which complements his floor game so well. Once inside the arc, watch out for his dribble pull-up game and floaters, as he is equally adept in those areas. Defensively he levels the drive well as he stays in front of his man and will step in and take charges off the ball, which is uncommon for most high school players.
How he fits: The biggest void for Kansas was a floor general who can make an assist and/or score from the point guard spot. Graham is efficient and effective in both categories. First and foremost, he is a determined defender on the ball, and defense is where it always starts with Kansas. He can set the tone by how he pressures the ball along with a group of elite athletes who are big, strong, fast and quick, which will lead to many easy points in transition. In the half-court offense, he will run the show by being an extension of Self on the floor, initiating Self’s signature high-low offense or side and middle ball-screen actions. With Graham’s shooting prowess, his man cannot leave him to double Cliff Alexander or Perry Ellis inside or Graham will make them pay. He was the main reason Brewster Academy won the prestigious NEPSAC title and national prep school championship, and that fits Kansas' winning tradition just fine.
Who he reminds us of: Smith has had his share of elite point guards over the years at Brewster Academy and compares Graham to the others. “He defends like Dogus Balbay [who plays at Texas] while having a quick first step similar to Semaj Christon [who plays for Xavier] and shoots it better than any point guard I ever coached.”
How Kansas' 2014 class is shaping up: With a pair of standouts in No. 11 Kelly Oubre on the wing and No. 3 Alexander inside, Graham is not only the missing piece to this recruiting class, he is the X-factor to Kansas being a legitimate Final Four team. This class -- which moved up to No. 5 in the rankings with Graham's commitment -- has offensive firepower along with a defensive mindset and high-level athletic ability to make waves as freshmen.
@konkeyDong I was being sarcastic.
Just read this on ESPN. Funny how this has all worked out in 24 hours.
@joeloveshawks Now I see this discussion was already started...beat me to the punch.
@REHawk I agree with that. The logjam seems like less of an issue now.
Let's assume that we don't land Graham for a minute. I for one would love to land him but think he may play behind CF and Mason no matter what. At any rate, what is our lineup? This is kind of what I think but not sure how things will shake out.
PG - Mason starts with CF backing up but getting 50% of the PT.
SG - Selden will obviously start. Greene backing up...but can he handle the ball well enough to play lots of 2?
SF - Oubre starting with AW3 backing up.
PF - Ellis obviously starting with Jamari off the bench.
PF/C - Alexander starting with Mickelson and Lucas splitting off the bench and one of those guys will get more minutes than the other.
Thoughts?
Sad to see Tharpe go. Always liked him. Seems like a really nice kid. Hope he goes to a program where he can get big minutes and gets a degree after his Senior year.
Also sadly I agree that as a team we are probably better off with him gone. Could be a huge year for Mason and CF.
@truehawk93 Glad this is at least over with. Good luck to Turner.
Do we think Bill turns up the heat on Graham?
@truehawk93 Hat Ceremonies may be my least favorite thing in this world. I'm still mad about how Cliff handled his announcement. These things are such a spectacle and KU is rarely the hat chosen.
Hoping we land Turner for future growth. I have seen him play a handful of times and he looks like a future stud...not a day one contributor. He is pretty thin and does not look like at all ready to play D1 post defense to me. It took Austin at least 2 years at Baylor and honestly he never really reached his potential. It does not help that he was playing at Baylor under Drew who has never been known for developing players.
Does anyone else have the feeling that next year is our year? I know this is KU and we are all trained (or delusional) thinking that we can cut down the nets every year but I really like the look of a year from now, especially if we land Turner. It could be the year of Mason and CF at the PG as Juniors, Greene, AW3 and Oubre still rotating at 2/3 and Turner, Cliff, Jamari and Perry all as battle tested post players. Please note that I am thinking that Oubre and Alexander both hang around for a 2nd year. Stranger things happen...see this upcoming roster for Kentucky.
@nuleafjhawk no idea why the letters are so large. Certainly not on purpose. Sorry about that.
@bskeet Great list. My list is similar so I will just give 5.
No. 1 VCU 2011. The team we had was stacked. The draw in front of us was a joke. We should have won this title more than any other year except 1997. I hate Shaka Smart. Anything else I can add?
No. 2 Michigan 2013. This is probably the one and only time I have been guilty about making plans for where to watch the next KU game during a game that we then lose. Up 10 with a couple to play. Missed layups, throwing the ball away, giving up 3's instead of 2's...all of that hurts. But what hurts the most is that this was as veteran a team as you could ever have in today's college basketball and we blew it.
No. 3 Arizona 1997. At least this team went on to cut down the nets and proved they were pretty stellar but when you have the most talented team in KU history it is hard to believe that this team did not at least get to the Final 4.
No. 4 Bucknell. This has to be one of the biggest upsets in tourney history and came against a pretty good KU squad. Senior years for a ton of studs. I was so intoxicated by the end of the game that it is a blur but it still stings to this day when I even hear the word Bucknell.
No. 5 Kentucky 2012. I know that this one is odd since it was an amazing season with an amazing run and we had no bench but god we were close. After getting sort of blown out early we clawed our way back into this game and missed a number of open shots late that could have made this a close one. I really hated that UK team which probably adds to my continued disappointment.
@joeloveshawks to have a killer instinct which is something we missed last year. Not sure you can take away too much from the Jordan game, though. It was all offense.
I can't wait for these kids to be in Lawrence. As I have stated before both look t
@JayHawkFanToo Absolutely. No doubt about that. Again, I would love to have him but similar to Austin I think he is going to need at least a year or 2 of college ball before he is a game changer.
@JayHawkFanToo Thanks for the link.
I hope we land Turner but I don't feel he is going to be an instant impact guy who puts up 10-15 a game. To me he is a bit of a project. He is very tall and can shoot but he is very skinny and does not really play at all with his back to the basket. He would be coming off the bench in my opinion since he has to deal with Cliff who is a low post player along with Perry who may be our best scorer next year. Not to mention the fact that Jamari turned it on at the end of last year and Mickelson and Lucas are pretty good and certainly big guys.
Honestly at this point if we land Turner I hope it is to develop him...not to have him play off the bench and then jump to the NBA off potential. Not that that happens to often, I suppose. Just hope we get a couple years out of kids.
@HighEliteMajor What are your thoughts on AW3 this coming year assuming he does not transfer? We seem to be pretty stacked at the 3 with him, Greene and not Oubre coming in. I suppose having a ton of depth is a good problem for KU...but not sure it is a good thing for AW3. He seemed to be odd man out last year and is going to be coming into a Junior season where he may not know how much playing time he will see. I'm pretty shocked that he is not looking to transfer or at least maybe red shirt if he is only going to spend his 2nd to last season in Lawrence on the bench.
@FarSideHawk Seems like this is for security in case of injuries and the fact that we are losing Tharpe and probably Selden at the end of this year. I am sure Bill is still going to go after the top PG's available for the next recruiting class he brings in. We are overdue to land a top shelf PG.
My wife was out of town last night so I was able to park myself in front of the TV to watch the entire game. I know you can't take away much from "All Star" games but I think this game is one of the best as they do play to win since it is the USA vs. The World format.
Cliff Alexander - looks more polished on defense than offense. He blocked a number of shots (a couple called goal-tending that looked clean) and altered a number of shots and was aggressive on the boards. His offense looked very raw. He can certainly dunk with authority but does not appear to have a great deal of post moves (if any). Okafor who he played in the post with had a host of moves that made me think it is a bit further along in his development.
Oubre - very impressed. He chucked up quite a few deep 3's that did not connect but he also hit a couple that looked really pure. He is long and plays the game in an effortless manor. He can get to the rim with relative ease and apparently his wingspan is over 7 feet. The coaches on the USA team obviously like Oubre as he played most of the game. He may be a streaky shooter his first year.
Turner - I know he got hurt and has an ankle sprain so it is even more difficult to evaluate his play. That said, did anyone else who watched this game think he seemed slow and out of position and that he is not a low post player in any way and really seems to look like Isaish Austin...a 7 foot guy who can shoot? I certainly hope we land this kid but he looks more like a project to me than a guaranteed contributor from day one. If he signs with KU I can't imagine he would start over Perry or Cliff.
Others - overall Okafor (Duke) looked like the real deal as did Stanley Johnson (Arizona). Jones (Duke) is a good floor leader. It will be interesting to see how he runs Coach K's system. Duke should be pretty solid with these kids coming in.
Overall - I love the fact that KU also had both our kids in the starting lineup but after watching these guys I think I am most excited by the fact that I don't see the NBA execs drooling over Alexander, Oubre or Turner (if he comes to KU) in the same way they did over a lot of last years class. We may get really fortunate and have class that helps build the program and best case scenario I think we have these kids for a couple of years before they think about leaving.
@drgnslayr Looks like a stud. I say we go all in on this kid for 2015 and use what we have this coming year in Mason and CF and maybe we will be pleased / surprised with the results. We only have one scholarship for next year and I hope that Turner fills that spot. We really don't need another unranked PG transfer or Juco player.
I read on KUSports today that we are looking into Devonte Graham still and that he has cut teams off his list and we are still on. Also, apparently Self is looking at a guard from Independence Community College. Is it just me or do these kids not sound like the answer? I know we are all disappointed with the play of Tharpe (he may not even start his Senior year) and that we don't know if Mason and CF are going to make a big leap their sophomore years...but this seems desperate. Mason and CF were top 100 guys coming out of school and both showed flashed of being able to get it done last year. I think we are in better shape this year as they will be older and Selden is going to be a beast as the 2 guard spot which will help balance out the back court.
If Bill lands a fabulous pure PG I would be thrilled. A Tyler Ennis type would be nice to see in Lawrence. I'm sure the kids from Appalachian St. and Independence Community are good players but are they somehow better than what we have? I seriously doubt it. Let's develop what we have in Mason and CF and hopefully land a 10 top PG for the future.
@truehawk93 I hope that it is Mason's for the taking...and CF's. I know they both looked very much like Freshman this year but why can't they run the show? Is a kid that was supposed to go to Appalachian State who is unranked the answer?
@KirkIsMyHinrich Good luck Jo Jo. You will be missed.
Are there any links anyone has to Turner actually being a KU lean or is that just wishful / hopeful thinking? Legit question, not trying to be a downer.
@konkeyDong Agreed. A number of those are Roy's issues and not Bill's. All KU losses at the end of the day.
I watched every minute of last nights game and I was very very impressed with UCONN and their ability to hold UK at arms length from start to finish. Great coaching, clutch shooting, great defense and to me an extremely deserving team to cut down the nets.
Watching UK I had the opposite feeling. Just seeing Coach Cal upsets me. I know that his post season record at UMASS, Memphis and now Kentucky is incredible but the guy is dirty and arrogant and after a loss (like last night) full of excuses. I know there has been a lot of Self bashing going on since the Stanford loss but I am 100% serious in saying that I would rather lose early with Bill than cheer for a team with Cal at the helm all the way to the finals.
@nuleafjhawk Awesome story.
@nuleafjhawk I agree, man. I really do. Bill is stubborn and could certainly change some things "in game" in the tourney. Having some luck would also help. As good as Kentucky and UCONN have looked in the tournament they have both needed a few breaks to be playing tonight.
@nuleafjhawk Roy took our Jayhawks to the Elite 8 5 times in 15 years. Bill has taken us to the Elite 8 5 times in 11 years. I know Roy made it to the Final 4 more times (so far) but I think Bill is doing ok and stacks up pretty well and has a few more years to improve on Roy's post-season resume at KU.
@JayHawkFanToo Bill is absolutely the best coach at KU in the last 50-60 years. Roy may have gone to more Final 4's but Bill has been to two title games and was able to win one of them which was the biggest hole in Roy's KU resume. Also, the regular season consistency is unmatched. The tournament results have obviously been up and down but you see that at any major program. Look at Cuse, Duke, UNC...for that matter look at UCONN since everyone is analyzing so closely right now. Every major program has had mixed results in the tournament lately...some worse than KU. Kentucky is really the only program I can think of that has not fallen on their face in the tourney in the last 5-10 years and of course one of those years they were in the NIT.
I for one hope that Self is the head coach at KU for another 10 years.
@HighEliteMajor As a constant reader (sometimes poster) on this site I know that HEM is most of the time the professor and we are all the students. His insight is pretty much unmatched and I truly enjoy reading his posts...along with so many others on this site that know endless amounts about KU and college b ball.
That said, I have to disagree with the statement that KU is not a top 5 program. I actually do agree that National Titles are a huge part of the equation and that UCONN and UK should be included in the top 5 list of the last 10-20 years but to think that KU is not a top team seems like bitterness over the fact that our incredibly talented team underachieved...again.
Who exactly is top 5? I know this is a pretty gray area...or a very gray area. If you asked a Syracuse fan, do you think they would say they are a top 5 program? I bet they would think so. They have a national title (same as KU) in the last twenty years. They have other Final 4's as well and win 25-30 games a year under the coach with the 2nd most wins in NCAA history.
Is UNC? Is Duke? UNC has lost early the last two years in March and spent part of both of the last seasons unranked. Are they a top 5 program? Sure, they have 2 titles in the last 20 years (one more than KU) but does their appearance a few years ago in the NIT go against them? Does the fact that Duke has lost to a 15 and a 14 seed in 2 of the last 3 years kick them off of a top 5 program list? That seems like underachieving in my book. Personally I would still consider both programs elite and probably top 5.
Is Florida a top 5 program? I don't really think so but that is probably biased as I have always thought of them as a football school who had one of the greatest b ball recruiting classes ever and road that to 2 titles. Are their recent Elite 8 runs and this years Final 4 enough to say they are a superior program to KU? Again, I don't think so but who knows...they do have more national titles than KU...
@Crimsonorblue22 No, I don't think so but that is just a gut reaction. I think Embiid has the potential to be one of the most dynamic players in the country if healthy and I think this back issue is not as bad as it seems. He has only played the game for a few years and needs to get bigger, stronger and more accustomed to the wear and tear.
If Jo Jo leaves (and I think he will) I would like to see Turner but I think we will be pretty stacked with either or neither of them.
@Crimsonorblue22 Agreed. I don't think Perry will move to the 3 at all. It sounds good in theory but he is going to play the 4. A "stretch" 4 maybe but a 4 all the same.
I think Perry will start no matter what. Even if Jo Jo is back I think Cliff comes off the bench. Perry is a proven scorer at the D-1 level and will be in his 3rd year of the Self system. He will be a better defensive player next year (that should not be hard) and will be one of the focal points for our offense.
I personally would love to see Tharpe take over as a 6 or 7 man off the bench to shoot and play the 2 guard with CF and Mason owning the PG spot. Selden will obviously start at the 2 and either Oubre or Greene at the 3. The 4-5 rotation of either Jo Jo (possibly Turner), Perry, Jamari, Cliff, Mickleson and Lucas is a pretty crowded group for minutes down low.
Am I the only guy who thinks that Frankamp / Mason are going to be a great set of PG's for the future? They may not be the be all and the end all this coming year but I would love to have those guys stay within the system, get tons of minutes and be extremely confident running the offense as Juniors and Seniors. I say promote from within.
I may hate this Kentucky team more than any other team in history. It all starts with Coach Cal. To me he is all that is wrong with college sports. The fact that this team underachieved all year and is somehow now in the Final 4 makes me think Cal did some sort of deal with the devil after they were handed an 8 seed.
It does not make it any easier to watch Kentucky knowing that they have some of the most annoying and obnoxious fans in all sports. This Final 4 run with the "greatest freshman class ever" only shows that the horrible OAD formula can work.
I am so depressed.
@JayHawkFanToo Totally. I would say the best team wins it all about 50% of the time?
I was just saying I loved the group of guys we had last year. Older guys who were tested with a young guy like B Mac who could add some NBA level athleticism.
I would say the 88 team wins that game about 1 out of 100 times. The 08 team was stacked and if we play Memphis 10 times I think we split.
@JayHawkFanToo Great point but I think that last years team was the best formula for us. We just blew a big lead. If we win that game against Michigan I honestly think we go to the title game.
We had so much leadership, incredible defense, multiple guys who could shoot and as you said a lottery pick. I am still hurting from that loss. That game is #1 on my list of games that hurt due to the 5th year senior guys and the amazing starting lineup we had. The Stanford loss is not remotely close on my list.
@JayHawkFanToo I agree. I would go if I was Jo Jo. Of course his situation is a bit unique since he did not grow up dreaming of the NBA but it would still be difficult to put off a big pay day for another year.
I give him a 10% chance of returning. I hope I am wrong. If I am I plan to do cartwheels around my house. He could be so so special next year if he is in a KU uniform.
I was oddly lucky and was on an airplane during the game. I tried to take a redeye home and slept at the airport in order to try and catch the game. I assumed while I was in the air that the Hawks were taking care of business and was shocked (and still am) that we could not take down a pretty average team in what appeared to be part of a very open draw for us in the South Region.
But since we are now talking about whether we will be better next year it is of course hard to say since we don't know who is staying and who is leaving. Obviously if Jo Jo comes back we will be pretty good as he will be one of the best players in the NCAA. My assumption is that he is gone. Just my opinion. No possible way for me to back that up.
So let's assume Jo Jo is gone and that we don't land Turner. Really just doing this as worst case scenario...I still think we have a chance to be better.
1- I hope that Frank has a great summer and gets more confident shooting. I see him and Tharpe and CF trading off a lot of minutes possibly with Tharpe being even moved more to the 2 as all he really does well is shoot.
2 - I assume Selden is back and will be a stud and not just for us but nationally.
3 - Greene showed a lot of signs of being a stud this year. I assume he starts in front of AW3 and Oubre. If Oubre is better and can start from day one that is great but who knows.
4 - Perry / Jamari. Pretty good amount of experience and leadership. They both get an offseason to work on their faults. Hopefully Perry can get better at D and better at shooting over guys who are bigger than he is.
5 - Cliff is probably the starter if he is as advertised. Mickelson and Lucas will be good backups but probably not great ones.
At the end of the day I think we will be a better shooting team next year which is key. That is why we lost to Stanford. Lack of shooting. CF had a mini coming out party in the 2 NCAA games and I think he could be a game changer next year and the years ahead of us. Thrilled to have him in the lineup. Oubre is supposed to be a great shooter and Greene has shown that he can be elite if he can just get some minutes. Selden has flashed of being a shooter. The multiple shooters on the floor game plan seems to work out ok...ISU is still dancing.
@globaljaybird Even without Jo Jo I think we have to lose to OSU / Tech tomorrow and have other teams make huge runs in their own conference tournaments to drop all the way to a #4 seed. That would be a huge slide. I assume if we lose on Thursday we are a #3 and if we win a game or 2 in KC we will be a #2. The #1 seed seems 100% out of the question. Let's just start playing well. Personally I would rather see us beat OSU than Tech. OSU is a very good team and it would be a nice confidence builder for our young guys moving into March.
Also, this lowering seeds for injuries is unbelievable. How is that even part of the discussion? If Jabari Parker gets hurt in the ACC tourney what seed should Duke be if this is how we do things? An 8? He is their whole team.