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Bill Self's Kansas University basketball team has added Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins and Brady Morningstar, and subtracted Jeff Hawkins, Christian Moody, and Stephen Vinson.
The incoming class is far more athletic than the outgoing one and gives Self even more lineup flexibility than he had last year, when the Jayhawks were Big 12 regular season co-champions, Big 12 tournament champs, and already one of the most athletic teams in the country.
Self, if he so chose, could go with an extremely small lineup or a freakishly tall one and still have a better team on the floor than most of the ones KU will face.
Most of Self's lineups will be somewhere in between, but just for fun, here's a look at combinations that will take the floor, and others Self could use if he wanted to get really creative:
Returning Starters
PG: Russell Robinson
2G: Mario Chalmers
SF: Brandon Rush
PF: Julian Wright
C: Sasha Kaun
Denis Poroy/AP Photo
Darrell Arthur, right, attempts to block a shot during the McDonald's High School All-American game. Arthur will likely play a number of different positions for the Kansas University men's basketball team next winter.
Average Height: 6-foot-51â2
Comment: This is the safest guess as to what five players will take the floor when KU opens its season in November. But as last season proved, the starting five at the beginning of the season can look a lot different from the one at the end. C.J. Giles and Hawkins began the season as starters and finished it coming off the bench, supplanted by Chalmers and Wright. This lineup jelled well for the Jayhawks late in the season and Robinson took on a leadership role, but what it lacked was a clear-cut go-to scorer late in games.
NBA first-rounders
PG: Sherron Collins
2G: Chalmers
SF: Rush
PF: Wright
C: Darrell Arthur
Average Height: 6-foot-5
Comment: It's difficult for sub-6-footers to make it in the NBA, but talent evaluators are convinced Collins is that special a talent. He's quick, strong, bold and creates space for himself with an amazing handle. By the time Arthur has been toughened up by banging against Kaun and Darnell Jackson in practice, this could be the starting five with one possible wrinkle: Russell Robinson at the point instead of Collins. Either way, this lineup would have the feel of Villanova's the past two years, in terms of style of play and size, with not quite as much three-point shooting and more production from the interior players.
More on KU basketball recruit Darrell Arthur
- 6Sports video: Arthur announces selection
- 6Sports video: Day makes all the difference for recruit
- A dream come true
- Current players welcome addition
- Self has several lineup options next winter
- Keegan: Self knows how to close deals
- Tittrington: Slim Shady's rare gifts good reason to be excited
- Shady Delay (05-09-06)
- Woodling: Oh boy, another Malik (05-09-06)
- 6Sports video: Arthur delays decision and press conference (05-08-06)
- KU hoops recruit to reveal long-awaited decision (05-08-06)
- 6Sports video: KU basketball prospect to make decision (05-07-06)
- Party on, but Arthur's decision still off-limits (05-07-06)
- Top prep Arthur to announce Monday (05-07-06)
Burners
PG: Collins
2G: Chalmers
SF: Robinson
PF: Rush
C: Arthur
Average Height: 6-foot-3
Comment: Stanley Redwine would love this team of sprinters. It's possible these five never will see the floor at the same time, but if they did, it would be difficult to imagine a team that can run the floor faster ever has been assembled. The downside: If teams could get the ball past the trapping guards, they could exploit the lack of bulk. The defensive pressure this lineup could apply would be considerable. With the front-court depth KU has, though, they won't ever have to resort to using Rush at power forward. A more likely lineup at times: Replace Rush with Wright at power forward.
22nd Century lineup
PG: Wright
2G: Rush
SF: Arthur
PF: Giles
C: Kaun
Average Height: : 6-foot-9
Comment: Defending the backcourt and handling the ball without turning it over would be the factors that would keep Self from unleashing this futuristic lineup on the basketball world, but it would be a huge team that could get up and down the floor quickly, block a ton of shots, and ignite the crowd with monster dunks. Wright, if he continues to tighten his ballhandling and tames his hyperactive nature, could handle the point because of his superb passing skills. No need to play him there on this team. Collins, Robinson and Chalmers make better point guards.
With so much talent competing for 200 minutes of playing time and the rules stipulating only five players can be used at one time, the competition for minutes could make practices, closed to the public, even more entertaining than some of the games.
More like this
- Keegan: Self knows how to close deals 16 comments / May 10, 2006
- Tittrington: Slim Shady's rare gifts good reason to be excited 1 comment / May 10, 2006
- Tale of the tape March 1, 2006
- Jayhawks to seek new voice March 1, 2006
- Keegan's top 25 5 comments / February 28, 2006

Comments
priceiswright (anonymous) says...
I think you might have missed a squad that has a very good chance of seeing the floor together next season. Self has said recently that he wants to start using Wright some at the SF position next season. While this team would only have two real threats from three-point land, with Julian's improvement at the end of the season and Brandon leading the team last year good luck getting a rebound against this squad.
Windex Team
PG: Chalmers
2G: Rush
SF: Wright
PF: Arthur
C: Giles
Average Height: 6-foot-7
May 10, 2006 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JJHawq (anonymous) says...
I like this team...
Press and Run
rr
mc
br
jw
da
All 5 can take their man off the dribble and 4/5 can shoot from outside.
May 10, 2006 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
phoga15fan (anonymous) says...
Lots of talent makes it fun to speculate. However, keep in mind that Russell is the "Self" proclaimed heart and sole of the team. You do not win the Danny Manning Award and fall out of the starting lineup.
May 10, 2006 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mariofan11 (anonymous) says...
How about this squad?
PG CB McGrath
SG Greg Gurley
SF Patrick Richey
PF TJ Pugh
C Greg Ostertag
Don't tell me they wouldnt win a couple national titles.
May 10, 2006 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ESUjayhawk (anonymous) says...
haha
May 10, 2006 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ku_bringback_danny (anonymous) says...
Who cars who starts there all good too bad the NCAAs doesn't have a 6 man of the year award.
May 10, 2006 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DocBean (anonymous) says...
down by ten late in the game team
pg Robinson / Collins - tough D. / offensive threat
2G Chalmers - shown he can hit the big shot
SF Rush - will prove he can will his team to a win
PF Jackson - free throws win games
C Arthur - has shooting range
1st off Bench - Wright - should have a breakout year.
big time players make big time shots, and this lineup is loaded.
you'll need 110 to beat us team
pg Collins
2G Chalmers
SF Rush
PF Wright
C Arthur
1st off Bench - Robinson
you won't score double digits team
pg Robinson
2G Chalmers
SF Collins
PF Giles
C Kaun
1st off Bench - Bobby Knight
May 10, 2006 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cobweb (anonymous) says...
We're going to have guard play like Villanova with a front line like Florida, Texas and LSU.
May 11, 2006 at 4:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Huskerhawk (anonymous) says...
Wow, what a season we're in for!!
May 17, 2006 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )