KU ROSTER 2026-27
-
if Melvin is potentially our second best player, we’re in a world of hurt. You want a repeat of last year? I sure as F do not. He seems likable and passionate enough, sure, but I’d like some new blood on the roster.
-
Would Melvin be taking the spot of a better, younger player? I don’t think so, but educate me if I’m wrong. Apart from his skills, he very works hard and would set a great tone for all the new additions. I’d love to have him.
-
They did bring in Kinney from the HS ranks at the position and paid him a fairly large NIL for the #20 overall player. The chatter that i had seen on him so far at KU was mixed, suggesting he may not be ready to carry such a role under Self in year 1. He's a talented player though.
I think his camp would probably be really upset if Council came in. I'm sure they are already given Council's case is in limbo still -
I don't want a repeat of the last several years to be clear.
The roster is brand new outside 2nd year returnees Mbiya and Rosario so I guess I don't understand the new blood remark when 85% of the roster is brand new. Be careful what you wish for as well with this new group. There's potential but not a lot of certainties.Is your comment more directed at Council and the lack of shooting efficiency or something else specific to him at the PG position? He did struggle in the last few weeks of the season and that's something that can be hard to overlook. He also played a ton of minutes (100 more then anyone else). With the injuries to Peterson, Jackson & Dawson that seemed to put even more on Melvin's plate that ultimately wore him down.
KU currently only has 2 ball handlers on the team. A freshman and a Soph making the jump up in level from Toledo. There's been a lot of talk of Stokes being a facilitator as well due to his skills and lack of other options. If we can add Council to the mix you're solidifying the position from a lot of things.
Returning a starter with a ton of experience who knows the system and can lead sounds like a good thing to me
-
We do really need a ball handler. This will show up big time by March without depth in that area. Maybe we will be pleasantly surprised by someone developing into that role where we weren't counting on it. As of now, I see Stokes having to handle the ball too much. Typically, I'd panic because I know that means we are asking him to do so much... especially for a freshman. He is likely to get worn down as the season progresses. He's a gifted, tough athlete with tough alpha mentality, but he hasn't played a year in the B12. It's a rough conference.
I'm still hopeful we will clear and bring on at least one guy that can make a difference. D1 is such a mess. Time is of the essence now and you have to watch to see who is enrolled in classes and who isn't.
-
@HoraceZontal said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
Would Melvin be taking the spot of a better, younger player? I don’t think so, but educate me if I’m wrong. Apart from his skills, he very works hard and would set a great tone for all the new additions. I’d love to have him.
The problem is the younger players aren’t sticking around after year one or two. Look at Flory and his improvement from year 1 to 2. That’s the whole issue with Self struggling in this new age of college athletics. Self is at his best getting guys to buy in and develop them. Our best teams have been made up of mostly upperclassmen that were here for years. Now you work with a guy for a year or two and he gets a big bag to go elsewhere. It’s almost foolish to buy in to a guy thinking he’ll be here for 4 years anymore. Hope one or two guy will and the rest you have to recruit from the portal or as OADs.
-
@BeddieKU23 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
I don't want a repeat of the last several years to be clear.
The roster is brand new outside 2nd year returnees Mbiya and Rosario so I guess I don't understand the new blood remark when 85% of the roster is brand new. Be careful what you wish for as well with this new group. There's potential but not a lot of certainties.Is your comment more directed at Council and the lack of shooting efficiency or something else specific to him at the PG position? He did struggle in the last few weeks of the season and that's something that can be hard to overlook. He also played a ton of minutes (100 more then anyone else). With the injuries to Peterson, Jackson & Dawson that seemed to put even more on Melvin's plate that ultimately wore him down.
KU currently only has 2 ball handlers on the team. A freshman and a Soph making the jump up in level from Toledo. There's been a lot of talk of Stokes being a facilitator as well due to his skills and lack of other options. If we can add Council to the mix you're solidifying the position from a lot of things.
Returning a starter with a ton of experience who knows the system and can lead sounds like a good thing to me
Again, I realize I’m in the minority here, but I do not want Melvin back. some of it being the ridiculous eligibility rules. Plus I didn’t buy into the “dawg” PR campaign, for multiple reasons. Dude cannot shoot at any level. Can’t make a 3, rarely could make a layup, or get to the rim. Struggled a lot to the naked eye at times. Plus the chemistry last year seemed sooooooo bad, and he was part of that.
So inviting him back officially clogs the lane again. No thanks. Let Stokes have space to roam!
I just don’t like the Melvin-like profile on PGs. Not a winning formula, IMO.
-
@rockchalkjayhawk I agree with you about the eligibility rules being ridiculous and that is a valid reason not to want Melvin back on principle. I also agree that he was not a good three point shooter. Your concern about his presence clogging the lane for Stokes is also valid, though it does have to be weighed against the positives Melvin would bring to the table.
Where you are wrong though, is in saying that Melvin could rarely make a layup or get to the rim. He was excellent at getting to the rim and good at finishing while there.
-
@Jayhawk_69 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
@rockchalkjayhawk I agree with you about the eligibility rules being ridiculous and that is a valid reason not to want Melvin back on principle. I also agree that he was not a good three point shooter. Your concern about his presence clogging the lane for Stokes is also valid, though it does have to be weighed against the positives Melvin would bring to the table.
Where you are wrong though, is in saying that Melvin could rarely make a layup or get to the rim. He was excellent at getting to the rim and good at finishing while there.
ha! a few points of agreement!
Thanks for that.I don't have any stats to back it up, but just what I recall watching last season (but backed by his low FG%). i didn't think he was good at getting to and finishing at the rim. i recall more than a few chicken-sh*t attempts that ended up in a whimper.
Again seems like a nice enough guy, but onward, please. I know i'm a broken record about Melvin. I'll shut up now. maybe.
-
@rockchalkjayhawk His low overall field goal percentage is not a product of him being bad a finishing at the rim. It is dragged down by the fact that his 3pt% was low and the fact that Council took way more desperation shots at the end of the shotclock than anyone else on the team (I will find a source to verify this later). I will see if I can hunt down his fg% at the rim.
