Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of columns in which Journal-World assistant sports editor Gary Bedore answers questions about Kansas University men’s basketball.
Hi again. I was going to say it’s nice to pen this Q-and-A session during baseball season — Opening Day is THE No. 1 day of the year, you know — but baseball season already appears to be over around here.
The once-proud Royals are off to one of the most horrific, embarrassing starts in Kansas City-area sports history.
If this is the best product major league baseball can give to Kansas City — the MLB’s monetary inequities have turned the Royals into I-70 roadkill — maybe the team actually should be contracted.
Baseball in Kansas City used to be like NFL football in Kansas City, competitive and exciting.
Now it is a virtual disgrace. To be so many games out this early in the season is … wait … I said “early in the season.” The season is over!
On that note, here are your Q’s and my A’s regarding Kansas University men’s basketball, which, unlike baseball, is in the news around here virtually all year long.
Q: Nick Bahe is one of my favorite players. Why is he leaving KU?
A: He actually is one of my favorite players, too.
One good thing about covering KU basketball is that it is SOOOOO big, even the walk-ons get covered heavily.
Thus, media members like me get to know guys like the seldom-used Bahe, who is — I guess I should say was — one of the most likable players on the squad.
Bahe is leaving because he has discovered, after playing two years here, that he has the ability to log significant minutes at a mid-major school.
So he’s off to Creighton University, where he should fit in nicely as one of the Blue Jays’ three-point bombers.
Nick could have stuck around here and continued to help the team out at practice and played mop-up minutes in games — there’s nothing wrong with that role; a lot of guys would give anything to have that role on KU’s team — but Nick’s goals are to get back on the court and be a factor in games like he was in high school.
Q: Who do you think will win the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA title next year?
A: It’s early, but I’d have to go with Duke for the NCAA title and Missouri for the Big 12 title.
Relax … just kidding on Mizzou.
I can’t even come up with the Big 12 winner. Oklahoma and Texas are the popular choices, but I don’t know ’bout that. I’ll tap Iowa State No. 1 if Curtis Stinson stays in school. Look for the league champ to have four to six losses.
Q: I am trying to find a Scot Pollard Kansas University jersey. Do you have any local contacts to get one? I want to pick up two. Huge Indiana Pacers fans in Cincinnati are looking.
A: Unfortunately, I can’t help you.
I do not know how you can get a KU Scot Pollard jersey. It’s been awhile now since the zany Indiana Pacers’ forward played here.
You might check eBay or post something on one of the many fan message boards — kusports.com’s message board should work.
Fans sometimes have such items for sale.
I’m sure there are a lot of Pollard jerseys floating around out there, probably some picking up dust in somebody’s closet, so give that a shot.
Q: Do you think KU switching from Nike to adidas will hurt the basketball program? A lot of recruits like to wear Nike, don’t they?
A: True, a lot of preps prefer Nike shoes over the other brands.
I can’t imagine love of Nike versus adidas being a deal-breaker in recruiting, although I guess it’s possible. Anything’s possible in recruiting.
Remember, it’s a free country. KU’s players can wear whatever brand of shoes they want going to class and walking downtown.
They just must wear adidas at practice and on game day in front of the national TV cameras.
Frankly, if a kid doesn’t want to come to KU because of the brand of free shoes he’s wearing, I would think he’s got some other issues and might be better off elsewhere, anyway.
Q: What did you think of the performance of Downs, Chalmers and Wright in the all-star games?
A: I was quite impressed with the Talented Trio.
Julian Wright exudes excitement. He’s long, wiry and sure can run the floor. In the Nike Summit, he twice caught baseball passes and glided in for impressive dunks.
He’s not known for his outside shot, but he did hit a mid-range jumper or two during the games I watched.
I thought Mario Chalmers played great in the McDonald’s game.
He looks like he’s the real deal at point guard. In the old days, you could pencil Mario in for four years, and he’d probably accomplish as much as Vaughn, Miles, Hinrich, etc. But in this day and age, I guess KU would be lucky to have him run the point a year or two before the NBA beckons.
Then there’s Micah Downs.
He didn’t get to play much in the McDucks game, but while in there he hit a long, long NBA-range three-pointer.
It sure looks as if he has the outside stroke. But so did Alex Galindo. The question is: Will Micah buy into major-college basketball and come to play defense as well as offense?
He definitely has some talent, no question about that. He’s going to be able to stretch the defense as long as he’s willing to play defense and earn himself some playing time. You’ve got to do more than shoot to play for Bill Self.
Q: I’m doing a speech on KU basketball 2005-2006, and I wanted to know how far do you think the team will go this year? How good will they hold up against highly ranked teams? Do you think that the team this year will be a better team than last year? Who do you think will be the leader or the key player or players? Please e-mail me back as soon as possible — the speech is six days from now!
A: I’ll help you out a bit, but if you get an A on the speech, you owe me a gift certificate to my favorite downtown coffeehouse.
That said … I think the 2005-06 KU team will be the type of squad that improves as the season goes along.
The ’05-’06 Jayhawks might struggle early because of the loss of top players Keith Langford, Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles and Mike Lee. Those guys could be counted on for a lot of points, rebounds and assists. They will be missed.
It certainly will take awhile for the three incoming McDonald’s All-Americans to mix and match with all the returnees. It will be a very, very young, inexperienced team.
For that reason alone, I’d say the Jayhawks will be picked to place third or fourth in the Big 12 and probably be in line for a No. 5 or 6 seed, maybe even a 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament when all is said and done. It’s the type of team that could drop double-digit games.
I didn’t say will drop double-digit games; I said “could” drop double-digit games.
While the squad doesn’t figure to win the regular-season league title, it might be the type to catch fire late and win the Big 12 tournament and make a mad dash in the Big Dance.
As far as leaders … senior Christian Moody probably will be the team leader, along with whomever emerges as the point guard — Russell Robinson or Mario Chalmers.
J.R. Giddens will need to mature and lead, also.
In fact, much of the team’s success will hinge on how Giddens plays. A breakout year for Giddens would help offset some of those senior losses.
If J.R. doesn’t turn into a poor-man’s version of Paul Pierce next season, KU could be in trouble. He simply has to break out and show the potential that once had NBA scouts drooling.
The development of the freshmen and the development of C.J. Giles and Sasha Kaun will be vital if the Jayhawks hope to make something memorable out of what, on paper, is a rebuilding season.
Good luck with your speech!
Hi again, I was going to say it’s nice to pen this Q and A session during baseball season – Opening Day is THE No. 1 day of the year, you know – but baseball season already appears to be over around here.
The once-proud Royals are off to one of the most horrific, embarrassing starts in Kansas City-area sports history.
If this is the best product Major League Baseball can give to Kansas City – the MLB’s monetary inequities have turned the Royals into I-70 roadkill – maybe the team actually should be contracted.
Baseball in Kansas City used to be like NFL football in Kansas City, competitive and exciting.
Now it is a virtual disgrace. To be so many games out this early in the season is … wait … I said “the season.” The season is over!
On that note, here are your Qs and my As regarding KU basketball, which, unlike baseball, is in the news around here virtually all year long.
Q: Nick Bahe is one of my favorite players. Why is he leaving KU?
A: He’s actually one of my favorite players, too.
One good thing about covering KU basketball is that it is SOOOOO big, even the walk-ons get covered heavily.
Thus, media members like me get to know guys like the seldom-used Bahe, who is, I guess I should say was, one of the most likable players on the squad.
Nick Bahe is leaving because he’s discovered, after playing two years here, that he has the ability to log significant minutes at a mid-major type school.
So he’s off to mid-major Creighton University where he should fit in nicely as one of the Jays’ three-point bombers.
Nick could have stuck around here and continued to help the team out at practice and played mop-up minutes in games – there’s nothing wrong with that role, a lot of guys would give anything to have that role on KU’s team – but Nick’s goals are to get back on the court and be a factor in games like he was in high school.
Q: Who do you think will win the Big 12 and the NCAA title next year?
A: It’s early, but I’d have to go with Duke for the NCAA title and Missouri for the Big 12 title.
Relax … just kidding on Mizzou.
I can’t even come up with the Big 12 winner. Oklahoma and Texas are the popular choices, but I don’t know ’bout that. I’ll tap Iowa State No. 1 if Curtis Stinson stays in school. Look for the league champ to have four to six losses.
Q: I am trying to find a Scot Pollard Kansas University jersey. Do you have any local contacts to get one? I want to pick up two… Huge Indiana Pacers fans in Cincinnati, OH are looking.
A: Unfortunately, I can’t help you.
I do not know how you can get a KU Scot Pollard jersey. It’s been a while now since the zany Indiana Pacers’ forward played here.
You might check EBay or post something on one of the many fan message boards – kusports.com’s message board might work.
Fans sometimes have such items for sale.
I’m sure there are a lot of Pollard jerseys floating around out there, probably some picking up dust in somebody’s closet, so give that a shot.
Q: Do you think KU switching from Nike to adidas will hurt the basketball program? A lot of recruits like to wear Nike, don’t they?
A: True, a lot of high schoolers prefer Nike shoes over the other brands.
I can’t imagine love of Nike versus adidas being a deal-breaker in recruiting, though I guess it’s possible.
Anything’s possible in recruiting.
Remember, it’s a free country. KU’s players can wear whatever brand of shoes they want going to class and walking downtown.
They just must wear adidas at practice and on game day in front of the national TV cameras.
Frankly, if a kid doesn’t want to come to KU because of the brand of free shoes he’s wearing, I would think he’s got some other issues and might be better off elsewhere, anyway.
Q: What did you think of the performance of Downs, Chalmers and Wright in the all-star games?
A: I was quite impressed with the Talented Trio.
Julian Wright exudes excitement. He’s long, wiry and sure can run the floor. In the Nike Summit, he twice caught baseball passes and glided in for impressive dunks.
He’s not known for his outside shot, but he did hit a mid-range jumper or two during the games I watched.
I thought Mario Chalmers played great in the McDonald’s game.
He looks like he’s the real deal at point guard. In the old days, you could pencil Mario in for four years and he’d probably accomplish as much as Vaughn, Miles, Hinrich, et. all. But in this day and age, I guess KU will be lucky to have him run the point a year or two before the NBA beckons.
Then there’s Micah Downs.
He didn’t get to play much in the MacDucks game, but while in there he hit a long, long NBA-range three-pointer.
It sure looks as if he has the outside stroke. But so did Alex Galindo. The question is … will Micah buy into major college basketball and come to play defense as well as offense.
He definitely has some talent, no question about that. He’s going to be able to stretch the defense as long as he’s willing to play defense and earn himself some playing time. You’ve got to do more than shoot to play for Self.
Q: I’m doing a speech on KU basketball 2005-2006 and I wanted to know how far do you think the team will go this year? How good will they hold up against highly ranked teams? Do you think that the team this year will be a better team than last year? Who do you think will be the leader or the key player or players? please e mail me back as soon as possible the speech is 6 days from now!
A: I’ll help you out a bit, but if you get an A on the speech, you owe me a gift certificate to my favorite downtown coffeehouse.
That said … I think the 2005-06 KU team will be the type of squad that improves as the season goes along.
The ’05-’06 Jayhawks might struggle early because of the loss of top players Keith Langford, Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles and Mike Lee. Those guys could be counted on for a lot of points, rebounds and assists. They will be missed.
It certainly will take a while for the three incoming McDonald’s All-Americans to mix with all the returnees. It will be a very very young, inexperienced team.
For that reason alone, I’d say the Jayhawks will be picked to place third or fourth in the Big 12 and probably be in line for a No. 5 or 6 seed, maybe even a 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament when all is said and done. It’s the type of team that could drop double-digit games.
I didn’t say will drop double-digit games; I said “could” drop double-digit games.
While the squad doesn’t figure to win the regular season league title, it might be the type to catch fire late and win the Big 12 tournament and make a mad dash in the Big Dance.
As far as leaders … senior Christian Moody probably will be the team leader along with whomever emerges as the point guard – Russell Robinson or Mario Chalmers.
J.R. Giddens will need to mature and lead, also.
In fact, much of the team’s success will hinge on how Giddens plays. A breakout year for Giddens would help offset some of those senior losses.
If J.R. doesn’t turn into a poor-man’s version of Paul Pierce next season, KU could be in trouble. He simply has to break out and show the potential that once had NBA scouts drooling.
The development of the freshmen and the development of C.J. Giles and Sasha Kaun will be vital if the Jayhawks hope to make something memorable out of what, on paper, is a rebuilding season.
Good luck with your speech!
Q: When is Late Night in the Phog?
A: Oh if I had a dollar – or the Royals had a victory – for every time I’m e-mailed that question. Late Night is always the Friday closest to Oct. 15. This fall it’ll be Oct. 14.
Q: Would you give me the entire roster of the ’96-97 team that lost to Arizona? I think that was the year we had maybe our best team ever and went 32-2 or something like that. Thank you. Jeff
A: Sure, Ryan Robertson, Jacque Vaughn, Billy Thomas, Joel Branstrom, Nick Bradford, BJ Williams, C.B. McGrath, Scot Pollard, T.J. Pugh, Paul Pierce, Jerod Haase, Steve Ransom and Raef LaFrentz made up that team.
Q: Should KU build a new arena, like Missouri?
A: Nope. When you’ve said Allen Fieldhouse … you’ve said it all.
Q: I heard rumors that some people want Bill Self to resign or be fired cause they are mad that Roy Williams won a National Championship after only two years at UNC and they don’t understand why KU didn’t. It seems they have a lot of reservations that Self isn’t the best coach for KU. Is this really true or is it just vicious rumors from a nut that is still mad that Williams left?
Also who is Rodrick Stewart? I hear he is a new KU recruit for next year, but there is no info on the website like there is on Chalmers, Wright and Downs. My son also heard that a 6 foot something 300 pound player was to visit KU campus within the last couple of weeks, is that Stewart or someone else. I know Dwight Lewis will visit but for 2006 recruiting class.
What is the real reason Galindo is transferring? To play closer to home or for other reasons? I’ve heard many theories. Is there rumors of anyone else transferring?
I hope this not too many questions, but I love my ‘Hawks and want to know everything. ! Thank you Vivian
A: Wow, a plethora of questions. So many questions I’m gonna need an intermission after answering all six of them.
I don’t think anybody wants Self to resign or be fired. I think there was the usual overreaction by some angry fans right after the Bucknell Bummer, but I think most everybody agrees it takes a while for a coach to build one’s own program and get one’s own players playing his own system.
So Self he won’t be resigning or getting fired. He’s one of the top five or so coaches in the country, so why would he get the boot??
Rodrick Stewart is a 6-4 guard who transferred here from Southern Cal. He’s a very good athlete who didn’t shoot well in his one season at USC.
You might do a search under his name on kusports.com archives for the stories we’ve had on him. We’ve already had plenty of stuff on Mr. Stewart. He’s supposed to be a lock-down defender who can run the floor and jump.
The big question is … will he be able to stick a jumper and score?
The 300 pounder you mention, Chicago’s DeAndre Thomas, has committed to Missouri. KU recruited him for a time, but never offered him a scholarship or anything close to that.
Galindo has said he’s leaving to be closer to home. Obviously that’s part of it, but certainly not all of it. Had Alex had a big freshman year, points and minutes wise, I’m sure he’d be happy as can be, and be staying.
He didn’t play a lot when he was healthy, so assuredly playing time figures into his decision. It normally always comes down to playing time when kids leave.
In fairness to Alex and the KU staff, he did suffer some injuries which stymied his development.
There are no rumors of anybody else leaving at this time.
Q: Where will Wayne Simien, Keith Langford, Aaron Miles and Michael Lee get drafted?
A: That is the million-dollar question.
I would encourage you to read a great column on ESPN Insider by Chad Ford which has identified the glut of players expecting to be drafted in the first round. He says eight or more players will be disappointed on Draft Day.
I would say Dub will be tapped No. 21 in the first round. That’s my prediction. Hopefully he’ll far better than that and go in the Top Ten, but I don’t see how with all the underclassmen and foreign players taking up space.
Mike Lee won’t get drafted. I predict he’ll play for the Kansas City Knights if the ABA is still in existence, which it figures to be.
I predict Aaron Miles and Keith Langford will be tapped in round two. I predict Keith will be picked by the Rockets or Mavericks or Spurs in his home state of Texas. I predict the TrailBlazers will pick up Portland native Miles.
There’s a possibility Miles and Langford won’t be chosen. If that happens, I predict both will play for NBA summer-league teams and hopefully head to Europe if it looks like they are not going to get good looks at veterans’ camp in the fall.
Remember, it took Billy Thomas seven or more years to make the big leagues.
Q: Gary, has anyone questioned Coach Self or has he questioned himself on the correlation between the late season swoon and his “shortening” of the bench … it seems to me that as soon as he stopped using the freshman players to any extent the team’s record began to fall almost immediately.
It would seem to me that he would of liked to use the younger players both to keep the seniors’ legs and to give the freshmen invaluable experience. The Final Four teams all seemed to go 9 or 10 deep on regular basis. Brent
A: Yes, Bill Self has said he probably could have done a better job with the freshmen. The freshmen sure did not contribute a whole heck of a lot, which as you pointed out, sure did not help the team any during its stretch run which contributed to the one and done.
All the freshmen showed great promise during KU’s summer trip to Canada. What happened to them??
Injuries slowed the progress of C.J. Giles and Alex Galindo and to a certain extent, Darnell Jackson.
C.J. had a boot on his foot half the season or more. Galindo’s groin woes were a nuisance at least half the season. Jackson had a scope after the Canada trip and various bumps and bruises all year.
As far as Russell Robinson, who knows what happened? He’s said publicly he hit the “freshman wall” just past the halfway mark of the season. Once he hit that wall, he never again really received much of a chance during games.
Self has said Jeff Hawkins simply passed Russell by on the depth chart. Too bad because the Robinson that showed flashes of brilliance in Canada and early in the nonconference season, could have been valuable in the end, I feel.
Sasha was good in some games, pretty ordinary in others. He also didn’t receive much playing time down the stretch. His minutes were spotty.
I will say this – I think it’s pretty obvious Dub felt most comfortable playing next to the veteran big man, Christian Moody, who knows how to set a screen, execute the high low and pass the basketball.
For a long stretch of the season, it looked like Simien and Moody would lead the team to the promised land, however. Then came Moody’s injury and staph infection and it was pretty much downhill for KU from that point on.
I wouldn’t consider the freshmen failures. Remember Kaun and Jackson have only played basketball four or five years now. I will agree their development was not steady this past season.
Self says he has not lost faith in the freshmen, so we’ll see how they do during their soph seasons. Let’s hope they don’t endure the dreaded “sophomore slump,” or things really could get ugly.
Q: When I was a child (I am now 77 years old) my mother quoted a “cheer” that went, ‘Johnny took a bite, Katie took a chew. Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KSU’ Tell me please, was there ever such an institution as KSU? The younger generation of Jayhawk grads think I am putting them on.
A: Happy 77th birthday! A nice long life you’ve lived with 20 or more birthdays certain to come.
Your question, however, has pretty stumped me. KSU, of course, is Kansas State U. Could that be what you meant?
Q: Gary, are you surprised by Kirk Hinrich’s success in the NBA?
A: Nope. I always thought the kid could play in the NBA. He’s very very fast, deceptively fast.
I figured if John Stockton could play for 20 years in the NBA, Kirk could do the same. Both are winners. I guess he’s still not the most accurate three-point shooter, but he’s good enough.
Q: It seems the turning point for Kansas was the double-overtime loss to Texas Tech. From then on the team seemed to struggle and at times appeared to have no drive or direction. A coach cannot be responsible for everything as in this case the seniors should have taken ownership of the team and kept them moving forward. Am I way off base here?
A: I don’t think you are way off base.
In retrospect, that Tech loss was huge, especially considering KU had that game won until the phantom walk call on Aaron Miles down the stretch. A killer call.
Who knows what would have happened had KU won that big road game and headed home with a big dose of confidence?? I can’t imagine Iowa State coming into town and beating KU as the Cyclones did, had KU beaten Bobby’s Red Raiders.
As far as the seniors’ taking ownership, I respect your opinion, but there also were some extenuating circumstances.
We can’t underestimate Langford’s injury and illness problems. He didn’t even practice for the most part for two weeks prior to the NCAAs. He lost 15 pounds. Hard to show leadership when you are hooked to an IV in the hospital. It’s not his fault he was a mess physically.
Mike Lee played darn well in his last five, six games. Simien was his same, consistent self. He did miss the big game-winning shot versus Bucknell, a shot he probably hits seven of 10 tries.
Aaron MIles, meanwhile, truly picked a bad time to have one of his worst games. To not hit a shot and record only four assists versus Bucknell was definitely not the right way to go out. It’s hard to say whether he wasn’t mentally ready that 9 p.m. game or what.
Ultimately, you are right. It’s the seniors’ team. It’s their legacy and responsibility. For whatever reason – the fact they seemed to live on the edge in games all season – sure came to bite them vs. Bucknell. A killer mentality was missing pretty much all season.
Q: I do not have a question, but I do have a comment. Maybe it is time to help the basketball team to move forward. They might have lost a ball game but they are winners in many other ways. How many teams can say that their senior players will graduate? We have not seen any of the players name in the police reports. There are many other ways to be a winner!
A: I agree with you. This season is over. Can’t get it back. Time to move ahead.
Q: Is KU going to go 0-3 at the EA SPORTS Maui Inviational?
A: I hope not. That would not help a young team’s confidence at all.
Plus, the fans tend to overreact around here and 0-3 might really put the team and its backers in a deep funk. I remember a few years ago KU went 0-2 in New York at the Preseason NIT and people were writing the demise of Roy Williams.
I still remember Williams blowing up at the media for acting like his program was in the gutter. Of course reports of the team’s demise were premature, the Jayhawks advancing to the Final Four that year.
That said … Arizona, UConn, Maryland, Arkansas, Michigan State and Gonzaga are the opponents, along with Chaminade. It’d be nice if KU could catch a break and be matched against Chaminade in the first round, though I bet ya UConn will get that matchup.
Going 0-3 is a possibility, so is 1-2 or 2-1. I can’t see the Jayhawks going 3-0 in Maui with such a young team, but maybe the Jayhawks will gel early and prove me wrong.
Q: After watching Bill Self coach for the past two seasons do you think that he has the ability to maintain the same level of play that KU enjoyed during the Roy Williams era? I know that Bill Self is an excellent recruiter. He has certainly proven that with the players he’s recruited for next year; however, I’m concerned about his coaching. In assuming that you’ve seen Bill Self coach during practice, let me ask you this: Is Bill Self as good a teacher as he is a recruiter?
A: The media wasn’t allowed to watch practices this past season, so I can’t tell you a lot about his teaching during workout sessions. We got to watch practice last year, however, and I was impressed with his style.
I do sometimes question the physicality of practice. It seems to me players should save the banging for the games, but Roy’s teams also were extremely physical at practice. Very very physical.
All I can tell you is Bill Self is one of the best coaches in the country and it doesn’t do anybody any good to doubt that. Let him continue to bring in his own players and I’d suggest you just feel confident you have one of the best coaches to mold the team.
It’s not easy to follow a legend and fans can help him in his building of his own KU program by once and for all forgetting about Roy Williams and concentrating solely on KU, Bill Self and his players.
Q: Gary, we have seen the following remark all season long “whoever has the best practice will play in the game.”
That philosophy may sometimes be flawed. It is evident that practice production does not always flow through to actual game time. Practice time does not equate to the excitement and competition of playing against a first class opponent with a fieldhouse full of fans. Some players may perform better under the exposure while others are intimidated.
Do you remember Lincoln Minor? He seldom missed a three-point shot during practice. The “best practice” policy would indicate that his three-point shooting efficiency would carry through to game time. However, Minor went 0-17 for three’s during games of the championship year.
Milt Newton would never have been playing during the 1988 National Championship games if Archie Marshall had not been eliminated due to injury. Milt was buried deep on the bench because he wasn’t one of the top five practice players.
Instances from another time, another coach. BUT, big winners.
I don’t recall when the junior varsity team was eliminated, but it seems to me that it might be time to reinstate that program. There are enough dollars flowing through the basketball program that funding should not be a problem. The talented and much touted freshmen on this years squad would have had the opportunity to mature, develop, and build a feeling of being a part of the team.
The JV team plan that was abandoned afforded the players a 10-game series played against junior college teams. That is how I remember it, but I don’t have any way to research the details. When the junior varsity team was dumped I thought it was a bad decision and this year’s experience has reinforced my thoughts. There will be at least 17 players on the team next year just as there were this year. The JV team could help the underclassmen to avoid the pitfalls experienced by this year’s team. The opportunity to play a full game against a top notch juco program as opposed to 2-to-3 minutes tops (if any playing time at all) as a sub off the bench would be a true opportunity to showcase abilities and improve weaknesses. If you also think the JV should be reinstated I feel that you have the power and influence to start the conversations in the right places. You have the clout in the KU basketball community to approach this subject with Lew Perkins and perhaps get a discussion started. Good ideas often come from outside a program whether it be sports or business.
A: A JV program would be valuable but was outlawed by the conference years ago.
As far as practices vs. games, you are probably right, but coaches have to play the guys that EARN the time during practice. I mean it’s always been the basis of coaching and playing. You gotta produce in practice and win your spot at practice.
Sure, some guys are game-day players, but it’s an age-old rule: you play the guys who EARN the minutes at practice. I can’t argue with that, can you?
Q: Well i want to know if i could have a posibility to try for the team I am good and very fast player and I am from Ecuador but I was there for a year and I am going this summer so i would like to try out.
A: It’s against the rules for coaches to give you a tryout, but I’m sure if you come up to KU this summer you could play in pick-up games with the current players. If they think you are a great player, they could tell the coaches.
That’s how Bud Stallworth became a Jayhawk. He came to band camp, played in a pickup game or two and boom … he was scoring 50 versus Missouri. Good luck.
Q: What are the chances of one or two of the present freshman redshirting next season, if they are not in the nine-man rotation? Hopefully, this is an option to prevent to prevent them from transferring or sitting on the bench. I understand Galindo is the only one contemplating transferring. Do you foresee any other potentials?
A: I don’t know if any of the present freshmen will redshirt, but I guess it’s a possibility. KU still needs the three big men to produce, maybe even more than ever, so it’s doubtful they will redshirt, though I still think it’d be good for Darnell to maybe sit a year.
I doubt Russell would redshirt. I would think KU will need his ballhandling skills. Heck, he might be starting point guard. Anything is possible, but I don’t think likely.
As far as kids transferring, it’s the new era. I think rosters are gonna fluctuate a lot from now until doomsday. Most blue chippers are thinking about turning pro as soon as they can. Players who don’t excel early, also are considering moving on, seemingly more than ever.
I’ve said many times it’s not a good era for college sports. I feel that way more than ever.
Q: Gary, I have not heard or been able to figure out what the Jayhawks will do with a whole team of all-star small forwards. How is this going to work? What will the starting line up be? Who will be benched: Giddens, Wright, or Downs? If they all play, someone will have to play post. Will this be Wright or Downs? I’ve heard that Wright doesn’t want to be a full time post man. I’d like to hear your take on how this will work.
A: Well, I think Bill would still like to play two big guys if possible, but is open to anything. He says the team will pressure, not press, but pressure, more next year.
I’d assume the lineup would be: Chalmers, Wright, Giddens, Moody and Giles. But it could be Chalmers, Wright, Giddens, Robinson and Giles or something like that.
I’m sure the coaches will be a lot of brainstorming this summer, but Bill could always go small.
What about a lineup of Chalmers, Wright, Downs, Giddens and Robinson? Think about that one for a while.
Q: In light of the young team we will have next year, do you believe Christian Moody will play as many minutes next year as he did this year?
A: I think Christian will have to come to camp and earn his minutes. I don’t think a starting spot will be given to him.
There’s a lot of talent on this team and Bill might elect to go with the other guys. I do think it’s all up to Christian. If he’s as good or a bit better than last year, he might earn similar minutes.
He definitely is reliable and more athletic than you think. And now he’s a scholarship player, no longer the best walk on in history as stated by Bill Packer. I’m not downgrading Christian; I just don’t think his starting spot is guaranteed, not with all this young talent on board.
Q: Just how good is Mario Chalmers?
A: He is darn good. He’s got to be one of the best incoming freshmen point guards in the U.S., and KU needs one with Miles graduating.
Q: When Chris Piper played for KU, I don’t remember him for being a scorer. But rather he was always assigned the other team’s top scorer to stop. Am I right or wrong? Also did he ever score 20 points in a game. I can’t remember him scoring much more than 10.
A: Yes, Piper was a good defender and a great role player. He was more athletic than he was given credit for. I do not think he ever scored 20. I’ll ask him the next time I see him and get back to you but I can almost guarantee he never scored 20.
He was the kind of player every team needs. A real team player who could play defense, pass the ball and score when necessary.
Q: After an upsetting loss to Bucknell in the first round it makes me wonder if Kansas will make it back to the tourney next year. Is the basketball program going downhill? Andy Katz from ESPN made predictions on how the rankings will start out next season and KU was not in the top 25. Is our basketball program in trouble losing four seniors and Alex Galindo who I thought would be a big contributor next season.
A: I wouldn’t say the program is in trouble. I would say anything’s possible in regards to earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
KU could stay in the top 25 all season and garner a 4 or 5 seed in the NCAAs, or indeed the Jayhawks could struggle. If the team struggles too much, yes, of course, it could miss the tourney and have to play in the dreaded NIT.
I don’t expect KU to miss the NCAA Tournament, but even good teams sometimes finish two games under .500 in this tough league.
The Jayhawks are going to have to buy into the team concept right away. It’s going to take a united front for this team to conquer the field in Maui and win at Georgia Tech and St. Joe’s and take care of Kentucky at home and Cal in Kemper.
The fans are going to need an entirely different attitude next year also, and bring their A game to the fieldhouse every night. The young Jayhawks are going to need support from the fans, not fans all scared the team might lose or even worse, ready to boo if J.R. bricks 10 threes in 11 tries.
It’s going to take a united front … I’ll say it again.
I think KU should be ranked about 18th to start the season. Then it’s up to the Jayhawks; they can be the country’s surprise team if the young talent emerges quickly, or they could flop and finish two to four games under .500 in the league and not make the NCAAs.
We shall see.
Q: The pre pre-season polls are starting to appear and to no surprise, KU is no where to be found in the Top 25. But it’s never too early to begin speculating. Who do you think will be next years starters? Seems like Moody and Giddens are locks. Do you think one or two freshmen (Chalmers and/or Wright) have the stuff to start right away?
A: If I had to predict it’d be Chalmers, Wright, Moody, Giddens and Giles. But it could be anybody, really. Heck, Jeff Hawkins might start and I’m being serious. Yes, I think any of the three freshmen have the talent to start. If they impress and emerge in the preseason, youneverknow.
Q: Hi Gary, I’m a little surprised at the lack of a sendoff for the seniors this season. In fact, I felt this particular Jayhawk squad overachieved considering the lack of consistent support from the underclassmen.
Big Dub was truly sparkling throughout. Langford was gritty. Miles ran the team with poise and showed leadership through deed on a nightly basis. Lee was steady off the bench. It’s too bad that sadly the same couldn’t be said for the rest of the team. I do wish each of them well in the future. The seniors will be missed more than many fans are willing to admit.
A: The awards ceremony attendance surprised me a bit. It was a small crowd, about 300 or so, though some insist there were closer to 500, maybe even more than that, there. Who knows? Nobody seemed to be willing to make an estimate so the media went ahead an estimated the crowd totals. Nobody counted heads since it was free admission.
Some say it wasn’t promoted well enough. I say phooey to that. KU basketball doesn’t need to be promoted. We ran an item in the paper three weeks before the ceremony and a big preview the day of the ceremony. Believe me, that’s normally enough to get the word out.
KU’s camps never need to be promoted ’cause everybody knows Self has two sessions of camp every summer and fans gobble up all available camp slots.
To tell you the truth, it was a beautiful spring evening and I even remarked walking in, ‘I wonder how many people will be dumb enough to come to this ceremony tonight?’
By that I meant, who would give up a beautiful evening to do anything outside rather than come to an indoor event which basically consisted of things only the players and their family members are interested in.
So it’s not a big deal only 300 showed. The players still feel the love from all the sellouts and maybe some fans actually had fun spending a spring evening with their families instead of attending a dull awards ceremony. More power to ’em.
Q: Who will win the NBA title?
A: That’s easy. Da Bulls.
Good bye, good luck and dunk you very much.