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Kansas forward Justin Wesley goes up to the bucket between Fort Hays State defenders Karron Mckenzie (2) and Lance Russell (21) during the second half on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.
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KU vs. Fort Hays State
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KU vs. Fort Hays State
Kansas defeated Fort Hays State, 101-52 on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.
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KU coach Bill Self
Kansas coach Bill Self talks to reporters following the Jayhawks' 101-52 exhibition victory over Fort Hays State.
Justin Wesley wasn’t happy with himself after reviewing his performance against Pittsburg State from Kansas’ first exhibition game on Nov. 1.
“That’s the good thing about film. You actually see yourself out there,” the KU sophomore forward said. “I don’t think I gave as much effort as I should.”
Wesley worked to correct that issue Tuesday, contributing 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes during KU’s 101-52 exhibition victory over Fort Hays State.
“I felt like tonight I did a better job of using my athleticism,” Wesley said, “as far as running the floor and kind of being all over the place defensively.”
The 6-foot-9 Wesley — who has gained 20 pounds since first arriving at KU at the beginning of last season — made three of four shots and all six of his free-throw attempts.
KU coach Bill Self said Wesley, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, had the potential to impact the Jayhawks’ program the same way former KU walk-on Christian Moody did.
“I thought he played really well,” Self said of Wesley. “His hands to me looked better. He’s a great athlete as you can tell — not a good athlete, a great athlete.”
Part of Wesley’s improvement came from going against Marcus and Markieff Morris in practices last season.
There were a handful of times when Wesley left practices with bloody noses after taking unintentional elbows to the face.
“It taught me how to play and be physical,” Wesley said. “It was great.”
The red-shirt year also helped him realize what would be expected of him; that included knowing how hard to go in practice and learning KU’s 100-plus plays.
Wesley has already talked to Self about his role this season, which is to be a ball-mover and to help KU gain extra possessions.
“He’s not a natural scorer. He’s an intangible guy,” Self said. “But the way he scored (Tuesday) is the way he can score in a game.”
Wesley hasn’t allowed himself to think too much about how his college basketball fortunes have changed in the last three years.
During the 2009-10 season, he averaged 1.2 points and 9.9 minutes at Lamar.
Now, as a sophomore, he’s likely the first big man off the bench to start the season for 13th-ranked KU.
“A lot of people say it’s a rags-to-riches story, but it’s just one of those stories that happened to turn out good for me,” Wesley said. “Coach told me the other day that this is the chance of a lifetime. I’m just going to do everything I can to not let it pass me by.”
KU coach Bill Self talks about signing of Andrew Wiggins May 14, 2013
Ben McLemore interview March 28, 2013
360 QTR of Cowboy Stadium March 28, 2013
Jayhawks arrive in Dallas March 27, 2013
Jeff Withey talks about the team staying loose March 23, 2013
Comments
bobbysfissure 1 year, 6 months ago
Orville Moody? Are you crazy?
Alohahawk 1 year, 6 months ago
There are a lot of us out here in the Jayhawk Nation who would have given just about anything for the opportunity to play on the Jayhawks's BBall team. Coach Self realizes you have the ability, so make us proud, Justin. Give it everything you can. Keep improving and who knows, you might be playing professionally in a few years. That's the nice thing about being a Jayhawk. The sky's the limit. Us armchair quarterbacks may be envious, but it doesn't mean we're not rooting for you to succeed.
As you've realized, having been a KU fan for so many years, we're all one big family of Jayhawks at heart. Something which recruits who go elsewhere will lose out on and never have the opportunity to appreciate. You're one of the smart, and lucky, few who get to play for KU.
yates33333 1 year, 6 months ago
If he is as good as Christian Moody, and I hope he is, KU is in for a better season than I thought.
bradh 1 year, 6 months ago
I like the change in attitude and performance Bill gets after a year.
kushaw 1 year, 6 months ago
If it's a Rag's to Rich's story than I have no problem comparing him to Richard Scott. We just have to get J-Wes a nice flatop fade to go with it.
diegohawk 1 year, 6 months ago
Shaw..... One could only hope. RS was a stud and to this day I can't think of another to wear the uni that sealed the paint like he did for KU. JW seems to be a couple more seasons of development on the offensive end with DM away from playing for pay whether here or abroad. Kids got the athletic tools just needs to refine the basics and develope a signature move or three while embracing the garbage man mentality.
jhawkrulz 1 year, 6 months ago
It is amazing having him come off the bench and have TRob on the floor at the same time. I think at one point in time they had Trob, JeffW, and JWesley on the floor for a very tall lineup.
I kind of think of him as TRob's freshman year, you could tell he had skills he would rock everyone, but was a little raw in his talents. I'm hoping as time moves forward Jwesley continues to polish his talents. With more game time, I think he will mix very well into the fold.
If he is athletic enough to guard like a 3, than we could play very tall during certain games of the season...I'm not a defensive mind though. He did seem very athletic against and undersized team yesterday.
drgnslayr 1 year, 6 months ago
I think he has a drop of Shady in him.... hopefully he can develop a closer resemblance with time and effort!
Go Justin!
REHawk 1 year, 6 months ago
Another prime example of what the Kansas coaching/training program can do for kids with promising size and talent. Kudos to Keith for paying his brother's way to KU last season. Justin quite probably has found the trail to glory.
HighEliteMajor 1 year, 6 months ago
Easy, fellas. Let's see the guy play against some real competition before assuming he'll be anything more than simply a serviceable body in lieu of a real recruit. Could he be solid? Sure. But certainly not worthy (yet) of even anticipating that he'll be "amazing" or comparing him to Darrell Arthur or Richard Scott. Temper your enthusiasm, at least until the post-game threads next Tuesday.
kushaw 1 year, 6 months ago
I see a big difference between Arthur and Scott, but I like the potential of the Scott comparison. Scott was a JUCO transfer and came in with zero expectations. Nobody even knew the guy until you saw him step on the court for the first time and then you had check the media guide to figure out who he was. I think the same can be said for Justin Wesley thus far regardless of the competition. Wesley has had a pretty good start and if he can continue to progress and contribute, I have no problem making the comparison. You're right, we shall see as the season progresses.
jayhawkerjoel 1 year, 6 months ago
Richard Scott was NOT a JUCO transfer. He played at KU between 1991-94. You might be thinking of Freeman West.
kushaw 1 year, 6 months ago
You are absolutely right, I am getting Alonzo Jamison and Richard Scott mixed. It's easy to do between those two. Jamison went to Junior College before coming to KU as he was recruited by Brown, but then his scholarship was honore by Roy Williams. My bad, I often get "Zo" and Richard Scott confused.
jayhawkerjoel 1 year, 6 months ago
Scott is one of my all-time favorites - great kid that always outworked everyone on the floor.
OakvilleJHawk 1 year, 6 months ago
2011-2012 Equation for Kansas basketball:
{ [Kansas/depth x talent] + [guard x 3] } - [Morris x 2] + [HCBS] = 27-7
HighEliteMajor 1 year, 6 months ago
That's funny, my solution was 26-8. I'll check my math ... perhaps I didn't calculate something correctly.
kushaw 1 year, 6 months ago
From that equation, I had 25-9 initially. I am checking my math as well.
ralster 1 year, 6 months ago
HEM, You might need to add a modest +1 to the "heart" factor for Justin Wesley. I agree with Self's statement of "he's not a natural scorer", but I also saw the intense, game-face, upset-with-himself look he displayed as he sat down on the bench for the final minutes of the PittState game. He took that frustration into the filmroom, channelled it into positive production the very next game.
I'm NO predictor (or else I'd be in Vega$), but I like the idea of letting Danny+Self "write" on the pedigree'd 6'9 220lb athletic 'slate' that Justin Wesley is...I want to see what he has given us by the end of the BigXII season.
dnvrhawk 1 year, 6 months ago
Teahan shot 100% last night from the field and free throws. Nice! Tharpe - not too shabby either.
ralster 1 year, 6 months ago
Just think like an opposing coach: Teahan+Tharpe just played their way onto the scouting report. Add that to the known headaches of TRob, TT, EJ...and the growing scouting concerns regarding Releford+Withey, and possibly Wesley too...
This is all good...
Towson going to get the 2011-2012 Jayhawk kitchen sink...Imagine Self in the post-Towson press conference getting asked 'whatcha hit 'em wit?'..."everything."
John Calipari will have (only) 3 days to prepare for us. I'll wish him luck--he will need it.
Yahweh 1 year, 6 months ago
I'd imagine both KU and UK have already been practicing against each others' looks. Perhaps off and on for quite some time now. They might not be able to scout the talent so well yet, but these two coaches have a very good understanding of what to expect from each other Xs and Os-wise and how to plan accordingly.
ColdCoffee 1 year, 6 months ago
The one thing that concerns me is the UK press. I'm really hoping that we do better against a team that presses and runs well. Otherwise, I'm seeing a VCU nightmare of a game (just not getting into a rhythm). Funny thing is, I like the idea of Tharpe running the point against a press (despite is "lack" of experience compared to TT) -- love the kid's speed, cutting, and passing. Not saying he'll be perfect, but like that we have him as an option (e.g. having TT + Tharpe + EJ + TRob + Releford as an anti-press line-up).
yates33333 1 year, 6 months ago
Unlike most posters here I like John Calipari, but I sure don't wish him luck against K.U. I hope his team gets drubbed although I don't expect it.
Kiimohawk 1 year, 6 months ago
Here is an example of what can happen to Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor if they apply themselves.
It should be an inspiration to them.
OakvilleJHawk 1 year, 6 months ago
My apologies for reposting this but it is interesting. Rivals.com ranks KU's junior class [TRob, Travis, Jeff, Elijah and Kevin] as the 2nd best junior class in America.
Throw in Tyshawn and Conner from above and Naadir and Justin from below and HCBS may have a very surprising rotation.
Next year, replace Tyshawn, TRob and Conner with BenMac, Jamari, Zach, Perry and who knows who else and Kansas will keep on rolling!!!!
montereyjay 1 year, 6 months ago
Scott couldn't shoot free throws but he could get 20 garbage points! Dennis Rodman proved that the NBA can use garbage guys! Wesley can shoot free throws so things are looking up.
ralster 1 year, 6 months ago
I am uneasy with the "christian moody" analogy. Maybe the entry into that logic is they both started as walk-ons?? When I see the athleticism Wesley has swatting shots out of the gym, and his pedigree to a very athletic prior KU player, I ask why we would "limit" his developmental ceiling by comparing him to a plateaued player. I understand the 'compliment' by comparing him to the "greatest walk-on ever", but I would like to hope the very focused/motivated/athletically-gifted Wesley could possibly achieve more??? Self himself said "great, not just good, athlete".
The biggest clues to Wesley so far are the +20 lbs, the pissed-off focus after game 1 that resulted in the noticeable improvement in game 2. We simply need whatever he can reliably give us.
yates33333 1 year, 6 months ago
Ralster. I usually agree with your comments, but Moody carried KU his senior year. He was a basketball player. His athleticism may not have been much but he was certainly KU's greatest walk-on ever and a very good basketball player. I hope Wesley turns out to be better, but this year I am hoping he will be a player of Moody's caliber.
ralster 1 year, 6 months ago
Yates33333, Agree.
My speculation on Wesley is all about "possibilities" for JWes, since we havent seen much of him. He does have Self+Danny as well, which in all fairness Moody did not get the benefit of. So I could 'amend' my recollection of Moody to say we have no idea how good he could have become if he had DManning...I also recall Moody at the FT line vs. Mizzoo, but then FT woes can strike any team, so I shouldnt digress from my bigger picture point about "realizing a player's potential (while still @ KU)".
RCJH
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