Hang ’em high

Back to this Year:

I've seen enough, I want one of these 2 line-ups:

PG-Collins
SG-TTaylor
SF-Releford
PF-MkMorris
C-Cole

-or-

PG-Collins
SG-TTaylor/Releford
SF-McMorris
PF-MkMorris
C-Cole

With plenty of off-the-bench tic for Little (when he's back), Reed, Appleton, and Q. Not so much for Brady M, and especially Cool Hand Tehan.

LASTLY, last night one of the ESPNU announcers referred to Cole Aldrich as "The Sheriff". I don't know where he got it, but I love it. I dub thee...

November 19, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hang ’em high

*If what X says is true, then I blame the Yankee's for X not coming here. If they had not have drafted C.J., then he would have ended up playing bball here. He would have had a long career under Self, and he would have been a Jayhawk for life. But, the damn Yankee's took him in round 1, he went and played for their farm squad, and 4 or 5 years later he walks-on @ Memphis because he would never see the court for KU. THAT IS A LOT THAT HAD TO GO EXACTLY AGAINST KU FOR US NOT TO LAND X.

*X would have been perfect with next year's team. When you watch these guys this year, you can see that we need a 3 that can put the rock in the hole from deep as well as inside. We need a pure scorer. Bill said it himself, "we need a difference maker". X was the difference between very good and great (next year). His services will be sorely missed.

*I was quite upset about this yesterday, but a realization came to me last night, and I fell into a peaceful sleep (ala Good Will Hunting). You see, I watched the UMass @ Memphis game the night before X's decision (doing my own little scouting of UMass). I saw something that had never occurred to me while watching a Memphis home game: They (Memphis) plays in an NBA arena that is 3/4ths full (for good games), with a WEAK student section. I mean they have no cheers, no ambiance, no scene that would indicate a college crowd. That crowd (@ FedEx Forum) is an NBA crowd. I mean, the sound guys play hip-hop while the game is going on (ala NBA); the crowd never gets too loud, they don't cheer for hustle plays, they don't know (or care) about the rules or small details of the game, basically, they don't care like we do. They don't LOVE like we do.
So (back to how I fell asleep), if X doesn't want the college atmosphere in the college town- if he prefers the city life and the NBA crowd- then his heart is not where KU wants it. And that is why we don't want him: because he didn't want us and what we are compared to Memphis.
I mean, Memphis hasn't graduated a scholarship player (with a real degree) in decades. We graduated 6 players off last year's NC squad. And for all of you that read DJax's letter- that is what KU basketball is about, not just getting kids into the NBA, but making them into better men while they are here.

*Memphis is now 1andDone U. They are rapidly becoming a haven for kids that don't care about college. This is a fickle approach in the long run, and let me tell you why: if the NBA goes back to the old age limit Memphis is done, if the Jennings situation works out in Europe, if Cal leaves for the NBA, etc. Memphis is one rule change away from mediocrity and a coaching change from obscurity. Kansas is forever.

November 19, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas basketball notebook

Back to this Year:

I've seen enough, I want one of these 2 line-ups:

PG-Collins
SG-TTaylor
SF-Releford
PF-MkMorris
C-Cole

-or-

PG-Collins
SG-TTaylor/Releford
SF-McMorris
PF-MkMorris
C-Cole

With plenty of off-the-bench tic for Little (when he's back), Reed, Appleton, and Q. Not so much for Brady M, and especially Cool Hand Tehan.

LASTLY, last night one of the ESPNU announcers referred to Cole Aldrich as "The Sheriff". I don't know where he got it, but I love it. I dub thee...

November 19, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas basketball notebook

*If what X says is true, then I blame the Yankee's for X not coming here. If they had not have drafted C.J., then he would have ended up playing bball here. He would have had a long career under Self, and he would have been a Jayhawk for life. But, the damn Yankee's took him in round 1, he went and played for their farm squad, and 4 or 5 years later he walks-on @ Memphis because he would never see the court for KU. THAT IS A LOT THAT HAD TO GO EXACTLY AGAINST KU FOR US NOT TO LAND X.

*X would have been perfect with next year's team. When you watch these guys this year, you can see that we need a 3 that can put the rock in the hole from deep as well as inside. We need a pure scorer. Bill said it himself, "we need a difference maker". X was the difference between very good and great (next year). His services will be sorely missed.

*I was quite upset about this yesterday, but a realization came to me last night, and I fell into a peaceful sleep (ala Good Will Hunting). You see, I watched the UMass @ Memphis game the night before X's decision (doing my own little scouting of UMass). I saw something that had never occurred to me while watching a Memphis home game: They (Memphis) plays in an NBA arena that is 3/4ths full (for good games), with a WEAK student section. I mean they have no cheers, no ambiance, no scene that would indicate a college crowd. That crowd (@ FedEx Forum) is an NBA crowd. I mean, the sound guys play hip-hop while the game is going on (ala NBA); the crowd never gets too loud, they don't cheer for hustle plays, they don't know (or care) about the rules or small details of the game, basically, they don't care like we do. They don't LOVE like we do.
So (back to how I fell asleep), if X doesn't want the college atmosphere in the college town- if he prefers the city life and the NBA crowd- then his heart is not where KU wants it. And that is why we don't want him: because he didn't want us and what we are compared to Memphis.
I mean, Memphis hasn't graduated a scholarship player (with a real degree) in decades. We graduated 6 players off last year's NC squad. And for all of you that read DJax's letter- that is what KU basketball is about, not just getting kids into the NBA, but making them into better men while they are here.

*Memphis is now 1andDone U. They are rapidly becoming a haven for kids that don't care about college. This is a fickle approach in the long run, and let me tell you why: if the NBA goes back to the old age limit Memphis is done, if the Jennings situation works out in Europe, if Cal leaves for the NBA, etc. Memphis is one rule change away from mediocrity and a coaching change from obscurity. Kansas is forever.

November 19, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

FINAL: KU defeats Florida Gulf Coast, 85-45

Will this new format on kusports.com have the live broadcast of the game? I still don't get espnu here in denver on comcast. If anybody has any other link to this game (if this site doesn't have the coverage), please, please let me know.

November 18, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Uneasy opener

And guys, I'm just not seeing Reed starting all year. He should be starting now, but I hope that some of these freshmen force Self to put Reed back on the bench. I could see Reed as second off the bench as a 3 point guy.

Think about it this way, Reed is starting over Releford. Releford's game is superior in most every aspect (except the 3-ball, even though Reed was 0 for 5 last night). Releford is taller, a better defender, a better athlete, etc. Releford started for the U-18 USA squad, and he's not good enough to start for this Jayhawk squad?... rrrriiiigggghhhtttt.
I've got nothing against Reed, I think that he could be a huge asset for this team; but I think that he would be more valuable as a spark off the bench.

November 17, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Uneasy opener

w/o McMorris @ the 3 I'll go with this:
PG-Collins
SG-Taylor
SF-Releford
PF-MkMorris
C-Cole

I'm fine with that at the end of the season.

KU,
That connection that I spoke of goes WAY beyond the court. Twins are just connected in an energetic way. I can't explain it, I don't understand it, but I've seen it as much as it can be seen (2 of my best friends are twins). I have 4 brothers, and our connection is nothing like my twin friends. I'll bet you've heard those stories about how one twin felt the pain of the other even though they were 1,000 miles apart; well, the connection, while impossible to understand, does exist.
So it doesn't matter if it is elementary defenders or D-1 defenders, I'll bet either way the Morris's are still connected. They have been connected since before they were born, why would they stop now?
I'll bet if they got out on the court at the same time, you would see the connection (as much as one can "see" a connection). Since you don't like McMorris at the 3, then I could see them on the court at the same time with Mk at the 5 and Mc at the 4 (when Cole is in foul trouble or needs a rest).

Remember that McMorris was (by far) our highest rated recruit (according to Rivals). But it looks like Mk might be our 2nd best rebounder (next to Cole); so I like Mk next to Cole in the starting line-up. Which leaves our best freshman out of the starting 5 if he can't suit up @ the 3. Maybe that is just the way it has to be...

Remember, we could be getting a MAJOR upgrade @ the 3 if X commits. I know X is listed as a SG (so was Rush), but X would play the 3 on this team (Rush played the 3 for us). How good would this team be with X @ the 3? Do you see why I want this kid so bad?...

November 17, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Uneasy opener

*I remember that Rush was the only freshman that started 3 years ago. We had 3 McD's AA's on the bench (Wright, Downs, Chalmers). Bill Self is the master at the idea of "earning it". Believe me, last night's starting 5 will not hold for the season (which we already knew).

*Eventually talent will rise to the top (or is it cream?). When that happens, and players separate themselves from the pack, we will be a very good team. Think 3 years ago when it all began to come together when the freshmen earned their way into the starting 5.

*My starting 5 for the end of this season:
PG-Collins
SG-Releford
SF-Mc Morris
PF-Mk Morris
C-Aldrich
Bench-Taylor, Appleton, Reed, & Morningstar (for the PG and SG spots, and occasionally the 3); Little (for the 3); Q & Kleinmen (up front).

*MkMorris & Cole up front is a mountain of manly rebounding. Both of those guys can get 20 in any given night. Think how nice it will be for Collins knowing that he can jack up shots and get the ball back when he misses.

*The scouting report on McMorris is that he can guard all positions except the 1. This was reported by the LJW. So I don't worry about him (defensively) @ the SF spot. The scouting report also says that he can knock down the 3 ball, which is something I (and Bill Self) like out of a SF.

*ONE OTHER THING 'BOUT STARTING McMORRIS @ THE SF SPOT: This may sound a bit strange, but I read an interview that the twins gave prior to coming to KU where they said that they have a sort of a "sixth sense" about each other on the court. The article went on to say how they can find each other on the court without actually "seeing" the other. I remember the article mentioning no-look passes, behind-the-back passes, around-the-head (you heard me right) passes from twin to twin. NOW, remember how hard it was for Rush (@ the 3) to get the ball to DA (@ the 4) down low? That often resulted in a TO. When it didn't end up as a TO it was an easy basket for DA (or DA would dish it back out for a Rush 3). I think that the connection can be even crisper between the twins. You HAVE to have them on the court at the same time. You guys saw their #'s @ prep school, those gaudy #'s happened with them on the same court at the same time. I say we have it happen again.

November 17, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Snaer to announce on ESPNU on Friday; Self happy with new signee Robinson

Snear last visited FSU, and I get the feeling that he will end up there. Even though we are (BY FAR) the best school on his list, I just feel like he's not headed our way.

It'll be interesting to see the X interview. They will have to ask him the questions that we have all been wondering... Who is leading, When do you think you'll know?..., etc. I wish that he would fool us all and decide (unexpectedly) on Friday. I could just see it now, they cut to X, he's wearing a KU hat, the interviewer says, "Xavier, I see you have a Kansas hat on, does that mean anything?" X says, "Not much, just that I'm going to Kansas."

One can dream...

November 12, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU hoops target Snaer to decide Wednesday

I actually think that Snear will not pick KU. Marquette loses ALL of their guards after this year. He would easily be the feature player there.
Same goes for FSU, they lose an NBA bound guard this year. But FSU is on the other side of the country.
That "yet to be named" school may be the one. Could it be USC? Washington?

If Snear does come to KU, several things would be set: We will not get X, that would be enough to push him to Memphis. We will be done with guards. If Cole goes pro, we will want another big. Bill Self likes his 5 bigs. We will also be VERY, VERY good with Snear, Robinson, and EJ.

I still want X though. His pure scoring will work great with the team's busy D. What if we kept everybody from this year and added X to the 2009 recruiting class? I think it would look something like this:

PG: Sherron Collins/EJ/TT/Reed/Apple
SG: TT/EJ/Reed/Apple
SF: X/Little/Marcus Morris
PF: Marcus Morris/Robinson/Q
C: Cole/'Keif Morris

That is a deep, mean rotation.

November 10, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )