Some of Us Skeptics May Be Doubting Malik Newman's Consistency, But the Naismith Award Folks Aren't
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Graham and Newman are named to pre-season watch-list by the Naismith Award folks!
Don’t you think its time they had a “watch list” for being watch listed?
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Definitely need to get a feel for his playstyle and decision-making, maybe reserve judgement until several games in, or end of nonconf.
Right now, he reminds me of Elijah Johnson v2.0, but if he has some alpha in him, he instantly surpasses EJ by a little bit. If he has a lot of alpha in him, he’ll make us not miss Mason/Josh as much.
More importantly, I’m hoping he has big chemistry and a intuitive “feel” for what Devonte is doing. To have a 2-headed monster at guard, they have to become that and play that way. Iron out the miscomms…
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The scariest thing is WHO is going to replace 200+ FT attempts and 47% trey shooting? (And thats just Frank). By extension, that means a lot of fouls on the opposition to earn 200+ FTs, which as the games grind on, starts to deconstruct the opposing team. Welcome to Self’s lessons, young KU players…can this team start doing to opponents all the little things that add up by the end of the 4th period.
Because we like and had gotten accustomed to the 20pt blowouts by the 4th period. Thats the royalty way. Can the kids deliver?
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JayhawkerRedLegs said:
The scariest thing is WHO is going to replace 200+ FT attempts and 47% trey shooting? (And thats just Frank). By extension, that means a lot of fouls on the opposition to earn 200+ FTs, which as the games grind on, starts to deconstruct the opposing team. Welcome to Self’s lessons, young KU players…can this team start doing to opponents all the little things that add up by the end of the 4th period.
Because we like and had gotten accustomed to the 20pt blowouts by the 4th period. Thats the royalty way. Can the kids deliver?
I don’t think we have anyone on the roster that can draw fouls like Frank did. It’s just going to be a different team.
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@JayhawkerRedLegs EJ ??? No. Maybe if you’re talking about dribbling the bb. Anything else would be a huge advantage for Malik.
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@KUSTEVE Ya we cant say much, remember the preface: small sample size. I see a 6’4 athletic guard with an improving 3ball, known as a slasher. I saw him look great vs PittSt, then looked lackluster in the only other game Ive seen him in (point made?), dribbling into trouble and turning it over, against FHSU…and even getting benched to start the 2nd half.
Good god I hope Malik shows me more than EJ did? Let’s also see what kind of D he can play, after a year of Self tutelage. It took EJ 3 years to “get it”.
Man I hope Malik is better, and a quicker learner! TBD…
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Replacing great players is always hard.
But Devonte plugs and plays for Frank at 1, likely with a little drop off just because two super human seasons in a row seem improbable. He’ll be quite good though. Forecast: a slight fall off in production.
Vick plugs and plays for Devonte at 2, with maybe a wash being feasible, though can one reasonably expect Vick to have that dagger in the heart timing Devonte had so much of at the 2? Jury is out. Vick seems darned good. And Vick may have it in him to swing to 1 and spell Devonte the way Devonte spelled Frank about 40% of the time. Forecast: a wash.
Malik at 3 could be an increase. Could be.
Svi at 4 seems a drop off from Josh. Even Preston at the 4 seems a drop off from Josh, unless Preston owns one of the low blocks. Preston so far does not look like he has the ferocity Josh had and that is required of freshman to deal with Blue Meanies as a starter; that’s probably why Preston is subbing in. Forecast: half the time, Svi is the 4 in a 4-1 and we have a fall off from last season, while half the time Preston is there in a 3-2, and we have better inside presence but likely not more scoring.
Azuibuke and Preston rotating at the 5 (when Preston is not at the 4) SEEMS an improvement, but then everyone had a tendency to underestimate Landen Lucas. The guy could get down and rebound with most bigs and grab 10-15 reebs in serious contests and he didn’t need to be fine tuned and rotated out, as Buke and Preston will require. Forecast: a wash. Next season these guys would be a murderers row far surpassing Landen, but this is not next season.
1st rotation on the perimeter is Garrett. Everyone loves a frosh that can guard and muscle a little, until its a pinch and we need some buckets.Last year Self had Vick who could glue, or score. This season Garrett can glue as well and board better, but score? So far he doesn’t seem half the threat Vick was. Forecast: If KU plays half court, Garrett might be an improvement, but if KU has to squirt and score, KU likely would be worse. Call it a wash, since we will have to do some of both.
On the whole, I’m with you about it being very tough to replace Frank and his FTs.
One the other beak, last year’s team could never come down court and throw it inside and have a credible chance to score in close; this team could become formidable that way, if Buke and Preston learn to dance together even just 20 mpg. If they were to get like Astaire and Rogers, or the Morri, for 20 mpg, with this perimeter, it could be a very formidable bunch.
Quick, someone call Broadway and get a choreographer into Allen Field House as soon as possible.
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@jaybate-1.0 Appreciate your thoughtful analysis as always my man.
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@JayhawkerRedLegs I should probably forgive EJ, and I’m sure I will at some point. Not there yet.
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Devonte should fill in reasonably well. I have seen his name in various lists as a POY candidate.
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No one guard ever will replace the fierce determination of Frank Mason…and his 200+ from the line, 47% treys. We are bound to lose a couple of close games this season, games that Frank would not have allowed us to lose. That said, our over-all guard play looks to be on a speedy uptick. Devonte might not rise to the level of National POY, but he appears bound to become a giant headache for opposing coaches and frustrated defenders. Vick looks to have improved ever so much during the offseason. Finally, we get the services of Newman, the Macburger with Mustard guy who, for about 18 months, has chomped at the proverbial bit to get back into the arena. Steady Svi stayed around to embellish his credentials. Garrett looks to be an unusual freshman guard, born ready. Doke showed us that he is bent upon avoiding mega fouling. Now if Preston can bounce back and stay shy of Bill Self’s dog house this current Jayhawk squad bears terrific potential. That word POTENTIAL is probably worth at least 3, perhaps 4 conference losses; but could be loaded with happy prospects for post season glory. Right now I would say that jaybate has touched upon a significant factor. Will Newman work in harmony with his talented point guard? If so, all comers BEWARE!
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@REHawk I know I’ll get booed for this, but I have always thought Devonte was a better point guard than Frank. I didn’t say better scorer …I didn’t say better offense creator, or better shooter. But, as a point guard, my money is on Devonte. Before the senior deferment, Devonte was every bit as good as Frank, if not better, imo. I think Devonte is a better passer, and a better distributor as a point guard. He will not match Frank’s scoring numbers, but he will blow him away on assists, which, imo, is more important as a point guard.
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KUSTEVE said:
@REHawk I know I’ll get booed for this, but I have always thought Devonte was a better point guard than Frank. I didn’t say better scorer …I didn’t say better offense creator, or better shooter. But, as a point guard, my money is on Devonte. Before the senior deferment, Devonte was every bit as good as Frank, if not better, imo. I think Devonte is a better passer, and a better distributor as a point guard. He will not match Frank’s scoring numbers, but he will blow him away on assists, which, imo, is more important as a point guard.
Eh, you could argue Devonte better shooter. Now, that’s different from being an EFFECTIVE shooter. A lot of Frank’s looks (and this is by good offensive design) were well open due to screening and the opposition being afraid of him simply taking it to the rim if they went harder around the screen. It was a lose/lose proposition for opposing teams guarding Frank, and a big part of what made him so great.
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@BShark Thinking back on last year it’s hard to believe Frank missed half his three point attempts. I don’t seem to remember nearly that many misses.
Dude was on fire NBA jam style.
