With the news that Kansas University men’s basketball center Joel Embiid [won’t even practice for the next couple of days][1] as he tries to recover from some knee and back issues, it’s feasible to think his coach, Bill Self, and the training staff might decide to hold him out for a game or two, if necessary.
The No. 7 Jayhawks (18-6 overall, 9-2 Big 12) lost in overtime at rival Kansas State on Monday with the freshman center [limited to 18 minutes][2].
Looking at the next two games on the schedule — [TCU (9-13, 0-10) comes to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday and KU travels to Texas Tech (12-11, 4-6) on Tuesday][3] — they might not miss him quite as much in those matchups. If Kansas decides to give the 7-footer some extended time off to heal, the Jayhawks’ next marquee game wouldn’t be until Feb. 22 against Texas.
The uncertainty around Embiid’s immediate future started becoming evident Monday night, so naturally members of the national media began to speculate on how KU would adjust to the valuable big man’s absence, if that is indeed how the situation plays out.
• Brian Hamilton at SI.com wrote that [Kansas could still thrive][4] if freshman guard Andrew Wiggins asserts himself on offense.
Hamilton referenced Wiggins’ play in the closing seconds of regulation at K-State, when he put back his own miss, as an example of what the 6-foot-8 guard can do with his athleticism.
> “…Kansas had a chance because Andrew
> Wiggins decided to give his team one,
> and it’s clear by now there’s no harm
> in the Jayhawks demanding more of
> that.”
He goes on to suggest KU’s offense is better off — especially if Embiid is out — with Wiggins taking an active approach.
> “Meanwhile, his effective field goal
> percentage, a measure that takes into
> account success (or failure) from
> three-point range, has been up and
> down. That figure has soared as high
> as 75 percent against Iowa State on
> Jan. 29 before plunging to 20.8
> percent in the next game, at Texas on
> Feb. 1. But a correlation between
> Wiggins’ willingness to be even
> slightly more selfish, and the
> offensive efficacy that follows, has
> become clear.”
Obviously, Self knows that more than anyone, and the coach will continue to try and get the best out of his explosive one-and-done guard.
• ESPN.com college basketball reporter Myron Medcalf discussed what an injured Embiid means for Kansas [in a video chat][5].
“That’s a big blow for that team,” he said.
Medcalf, like many watching the Sunflower Showdown on Monday, thought it was “mysterious” when Self kept his talented center out of the game for extended stretches, even though Embiid wasn’t in foul trouble.
He said the key to how this impacts KU depends on how long Embiid is ailing. Medcalf hypothesized it could become more difficult for Kansas to win a 10th straight Big 12 title and/or earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament if he misses much more than a couple games, because he is a “defensive force.”
• As far as Embiid’s personal longterm value on the basketball court goes, the NBA still loves his potential.
ESPN’s Chad Ford has Embiid at the top of his [draft big board][6], at No. 1. ESPN’s Jeff Goodman projects Embiid as the top pick in [his mock draft][7], too.
Ford has Wiggins as the No. 2 prospect, and Goodman has him getting chosen third, after Duke’s Jabari Parker.
On Ford’s board, KU freshman Wayne Selden is 27th. The 6-5 guard goes 22nd in Goodman’s mock draft.
• KU’s OT loss at K-State dropped the Jayhawks to No. 9 in [ESPN.com’s power rankings][8].
Oddly enough, Duke, [which lost to Kansas earlier this season][9] and plays in the weaker ACC, has moved past Kansas and up to No. 7.
Over at Gary Parrish’s [Top 25 (and one) rankings][10] for CBSsports.com, which are updated daily, the Jayhawks are No. 7.
Parrish said [he had no reason to drop KU in the rankings][11] because of its six wins against RPI top-30 teams and eight victories against the top 50.
• Finally, here is the Twitter roundup of some of the top media tweets during and after KU’s Big Monday loss at K-State.
ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla sat courtside for the live broadcast, but had plenty to say afterward.
They'll be fine. Need health & little more maturity. RT @crownroyal64: @sportsiren After lastnights game. What is your take on KU??
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) February 11, 2014
Bill Self doesn't lose much but even in defeat last night was extremely classy. His post-game comments about KSU crowd was great.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) February 11, 2014
Hard road games in @Big12Conference. RT @BlakePennSMS11: @franfraschilla What's the Overall Problem with KU in your Opinion?
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) February 11, 2014
Yahoo’s Pat Forde enjoyed the atmosphere and competition of the overtime rivalry game.
Excellent game. What a great rivalry is all about. Huge win for K-State and by no means a bad loss for KU.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 11, 2014
Goodman couldn’t help but praise Brannen Greene after the freshman guard scored on an offensive rebound and stole the following in-bounds pass for another layup in KU’s late rally:
Brannen Greene needs to play more — especially if he's not a liability on the defensive end.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 11, 2014
And, of course, anyone who saw KU’s late surge, capped by Wiggins recovering his own miss to tie the game in the final seconds, had to be wowed.
That was the best play Wiggins has made all season. Unbelievable hustle, learning to play well when he's not playing well.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 11, 2014
Kansas played hard for approximately 90 seconds. And yet the Jayhawks head to OT.
— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) February 11, 2014
Basically, as Medcalf tweeted, who else is looking forward to the Big 12 Tournament?
The Big 12 tournament in Kansas City will be wild this year. I don't know who's winning that thing.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) February 11, 2014
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2014/feb/12/self-injured-embiid-shut-down-days-least/
[2]: http://kusports.sportsdirectinc.com/basketball/ncaab-boxscores.aspx?page=/data/NCAAB/results/2013-2014/boxscore872606.html
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/schedules/mens-basketball/2013-14/kansas/
[4]: http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/02/11/kansas-freshman-andrew-wiggins-aggressive-kansas-big-12/
[5]: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/93889/video-medcalf-on-what-embiid-injury-means-to-ku
[6]: http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=10434719&src=desktop
[7]: http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=10439156&src=desktop&wjb
[8]: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/powerrankings/_/season/2014/week/15
[9]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2013/nov/13/classic-win-ellis-wiggins-lift-ku-past-duke/
[10]: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rankings/top25
[11]: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24439177/kansas-body-of-work-keeps-jayhawks-in-top-10-of-top-25-and-one
