For example, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self suspended Carlton Bragg indefinitely after he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Bragg is on diversion and if any condition of that agreement is violated, a judge could revoke it and reinstate the charge.

The Jayhawks already lost a key player for the season when promising center Udoka Azubuike underwent wrist surgery. Somehow, without Azubuike and for the moment Bragg, Kansas has played well enough to project to a No. 2 national ranking when Monday’s poll is released and is coming off of a pair of victories against top-five teams.

What if another suspension comes? What if another player suffers an injury? Fewer blowouts have resulted in fewer minutes for walk-ons. Even so, based on limited evidence, it doesn’t seem to be as talented a group as in many years.

It’s a little late in the season to hold emergency tryouts, but if it ever comes to that, going outside the athletic department isn’t a must.

Two members of the football team who have started games in the past but don’t project as 2018 starters are rusty on the basketball court, but have exceptional athletic ability and were accomplished high school players.

At least since JaCorey Shepherd moved onto the NFL, Montell Cozart generally is the first mentioned when I from time to time ask football players to name the best basketball player on the team. Cozart averaged 18 points and six rebounds as a senior at Bishop Miege.

Derrick Neal averaged 12.7 points and 4.7 assists for a Dallas Lincoln High team that made it to the Class 4A regional quarterfinals his junior season. Derrick’s twin brother, Erick, recorded the first triple-double (27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists) in UT-Arlington school history last season.

Don’t forget, KU defensive back Clint Normore joined the basketball team in December of 1987 and scored seven points in the 1988 national-title game.