McDonald's All American Week Events



  • @BShark

    Great player. Hope we can shut him down Saturday



  • @Kcmatt7

    It’s funny I remember KU after Vanderbilt for a long time but I’d watch him in AAU and I couldn’t figure out why he was ranked so high. He got a ton of publicity for doing well in the events in the spring and he really had a diverse skill set for his size but I just didn’t think he was that good especially since he can’t shoot outside the paint. I think his injury was a distraction for the team.



  • Kcmatt7 said:

    @BeddieKU23 I think Washington comes back. So they should have 4 solid post players who are multiple years into the system for a change. Add in these new guards, who I think will be much more talented than this years group, and you have a very good team.

    Keldon Johnson looks like a bonafide stud.

    He is.

    Cal will convince some number of post players to return. At this point EJ Montgomery is the only possible addition that would be “Kentucky level”. He has 6 bigs on the roster right now if you count Gabriel. So my guess is he has at least 3-4 5* post players in the 2nd/3rd year next year. Poor Cal…



  • @BeddieKU23 He was a KU lean I’ll leave it to you to figure out what happened. cough248tn3gn35Nike29524coughcoughcough.



  • @BeddieKU23 Agreed. Cal literally just threw him out there and said go play lol. I mean I think Vanderbilt is a freak of nature athletically. But Cal must have thought that was enough. Vanderbilt looked like he was still trying to play AAU ball the few games he did play in.



  • BShark said:

    @BeddieKU23 He was a KU lean I’ll leave it to you to figure out what happened. cough248tn3gn35Nike29524coughcoughcough.

    I’m okay with how things played out. I voiced my opinion on Vanderbilt several times during the recruiting process with him. Bad attitude on the court, didn’t play hard. KU has signed the opposite of that outside of Preston since the 17 class.



  • @Kcmatt7

    He is a gifted athlete, just like Diallo. But neither of them have the intangibles you need going forward. They relied so much on overpowering HS kids that they never had to learn to play tough or give effort 100% of the time. Knox, Washington, Green those guys bought in.



  • BeddieKU23 said:

    BShark said:

    @BeddieKU23 He was a KU lean I’ll leave it to you to figure out what happened. cough248tn3gn35Nike29524coughcoughcough.

    I’m okay with how things played out. I voiced my opinion on Vanderbilt several times during the recruiting process with him. Bad attitude on the court, didn’t play hard. KU has signed the opposite of that outside of Preston since the 17 class.

    Agree it worked out for KU. Vanderbilt feels like the kind of player Self used to favor in recruiting. Ie just get freak athletes and try to teach them how to shoot/play basketball.

    It’s very hard to try and find as many oad players as Cal likes to sign per class that will buy in 100%. He signed himself up for that. Allegedly he “passes” on guys that he thinks won’t buy in. In this class alone I saw that mentioned with Romeo, Simi, Moses Brown and Bol Bol. I think it’s mostly crap.



  • Sounds like Dotson dominated Quinerly day one at MCDAA. I mean it’s just practice but that’s pretty exciting.



  • Scrimmage is on at 3pm today. I’m home sick from work so at least there is that to look forward to.



  • Is it streaming?



  • @Buster-1926

    KU is well represented with 3 players, only Duke with 4 has more. Below is the official roster although several of the players listed as undecided have selected teams, Zion to Duke, Quinerly to Nova, Moses Brown to UCLA; Jordan Brown and Montogomery still undecided.

    0_1522174863471_6FD04E9D-AD4D-442F-A3CE-A3F9E3698652.png



  • Our lineup next year is going to be very solid. We have Dotson, Grimes, Lawson, Lawson and Azubuike, De Sousa, or McCormack. That matches up just fine with anybody. If Langford joins, he would push KJ to the bench, but that just makes the team even deeper. KU won’t be hurting to match up against anyone.



  • Still wondering where our perimeter shooting will come from. Grimes is good. Dotson needs work. Garrett needs lots of work. Moore is average but could become reliable. KJ needed work coming in. Ogbaji had a great senior year shooting. Dedric wasn’t efficient either.

    If Newman and Vick leave you really need someone like Langford…



  • @justanotherfan I feel KJ is mixed in at the 3 and 4, mostly 4. Doubly true if Doke leaves. I think Doke is up in the air at this point. Front court is still extremely good w/o him. The Lawsons have that Morrii type synergy thing going on, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they are mostly on the court together, at the 4/5 when the situation calls for it.

    @BeddieKU23 Yeah, it’s going to be somewhat of an issue, compared to the insane clip the last two teams have shot the ball at. Grimes is a good shooter though, about Romeo’s level imo. Next year is going to be difference. Going to out athlete and defend people to death.



  • Langford is a nice piece to add for the shooting reason that @BeddieKU23 points out. Grimes is the only true knock down shooter in next season’s group, although both Lawson’s, Dotson and Moore could all be roughly average.

    The difference is that next year’s group will be able to get more easy shots in the paint, so we won’t have to stretch the defense as much to create lanes for people. Those lanes will create organically as people drive off the closeout. Plus, we will see a lot more guys that demand double teams. Dedric will command double teams wherever he goes. Grimes will as well. Depending on his progress, KJ could. Dotson will command help when he puts the ball on the floor.

    Next year’s team will be able to run other teams’ off the floor with depth and athleticism, an option we haven’t had for a few years because we just didn’t have the additional personnel. De Sousa and KJ will see a lot of transition lobs when they beat their guys down the court.

    Next year’s squad will be about getting easy baskets and being able to lock in defensively in a way we haven’t seen from KU since probably 2012.



  • I don’t think 3pt shooting is as bad of an issue as we think. This team doesn’t look like UK did this year, at least as I’m picturing it. Dotson will shoot better than SGA, Grimes will shoot better than Diallo, Newman/Vick/Langford shoot better than Knox. So, I feel pretty good about our shooting being good, just not good enough to carry you for an entire game probably. But if we have the post play we expect, we should make up for a lower 3pt% with better defense and rebounding.



  • If anybody thinks Marcus Garrett doesn’t start on a Bill Self team for the rest of his career then you haven’t been paying attention to what gains Coach’s trust. Marcus’ shooting will come around and add to his phenomenal intangibles.



  • @BigBad I have Garrett starting if Vick leaves and Langford ends up at IU or Vandy.



  • My two biggest basketball friends are Duke and Indiana fans. If we get Langford then I have bragging rights for a while!



  • Kcmatt7 said:

    I don’t think 3pt shooting is as bad of an issue as we think. This team doesn’t look like UK did this year, at least as I’m picturing it. Dotson will shoot better than SGA, Grimes will shoot better than Diallo, Newman/Vick/Langford shoot better than Knox. So, I feel pretty good about our shooting being good, just not good enough to carry you for an entire game probably. But if we have the post play we expect, we should make up for a lower 3pt% with better defense and rebounding.

    Dunno about that. SGA is at 40%. The others I can see though. Diallo is at 34% and I’d hope Grimes would be better than that. Someone should be comparable to Knox at 35%. Green and Gabriel were both high 30s. And this was a relatively bad shooting team of course.

    We could have 0 of Newman/Langford/Vick so I’m not willing to pencil any of them in yet.



  • @BShark SGA shot less than 2 per game though. And in conference play, 1.4 per game. So he is taking only the widest of open 3s to shoot 40%. Not that great. There is a reason nobody really guarded him past the 3 point line.



  • @Kcmatt7 I think Dotson will be similar, from what I’ve heard and watched.



  • Dotson will be a very good player for us though of course.



  • @BShark I would hope he has the capability to shoot 2.5 3s per game at a 35% clip. That’s about my expectations.



  • Grimes shot 38% this year from 3. Surprisingly he wasn’t a good FT shooter this year… Whacky

    Dotson can shoot it, just needs KU coaches to help him get up shots. I’d say Dotson compares to Duval in that their strengths are getting in the lane and making a play or finding an open man. Dotson however does have range on his shot. I expect he’ll improve over time.

    As @BigBad said Garrett will likely start next season. They have a lot of refinement to do on that shot especially from the FT line. That I can imagine will be his biggest off-season goal.

    The Transfers- they can all make a 3 and you hope the year off gave them time to refine some things.

    If Vick leaves we need Langford badly. Size, athletic, really good shooter and can get his own shot.



  • @BeddieKU23 Dotson looks like the best PG at MCDAA. If he keeps it up he might find himself going up the rankings. I’ve always thought he is a multiple year guy buy if he plays himself into being OAD that probably means KU has an amazing season.

    Dotson is a true PG.



  • BShark said:

    @BeddieKU23 Dotson looks like the best PG at MCDAA. If he keeps it up he might find himself going up the rankings. I’ve always thought he is a multiple year guy buy if he plays himself into being OAD that probably means KU has an amazing season.

    Dotson is a true PG.

    He might not have the measurable’s of a typical OAD PG but he definitely has the chance to be really good here. I think this is the 2nd or 3rd time he’s beaten Quinerly H2H and Jahvon is really good himself. I hope he stays around at least two seasons. It is unique for him though that there’s no Mason or Graham in the wings so the opportunity to play big minutes as a freshman is there for him to be noticed by the NBA. I’m excited to see his defense here, he’s every bit a ballhawk as Garrett was coming in. His ability to get to the rim and finish will also remind us of someone…



  • Nas Little looked like the best player in the scrimmage yesterday. At least imo. Dotson looks exactly how you want him to. Romeo never looks like he is trying, but still puts the ball in the basket. Zion looked like Zion. I was not impressed with Barrett or Reddish yet though. Keldon Johnson didn’t stick out. Grimes definitely didn’t stick out. Quickley looks noticeably not as good as basically everyone else there. Big Dave plays HARD. He is just heavy footed as could be.



  • @Kcmatt7

    Little has some serious bounce to him.

    I think Barrett will show out in the game, kid plays hard and is so active. Nightmare to guard.

    I haven’t really been a big fan of Reddish but you see the prototypical size and potential that has him ranked so high.

    If Big Dave is heavy footed Naz Reid makes him look like Superman. I agree though Dave will be someone Hudy can really help improve on certain aspects of his ability. I love that he already has this mentality to work and play hard and has changed his body up on his own.

    Agree on Romeo and the other guards. Grimes has kind of blended in other settings like this. Will be interesting to see how he does in the games as he has this, Jordan and Nike Summit all coming up.



  • Coby White looks like a good shooter going to UNC. Joel Berry 2.0 for 4 years. Needs to do something about that hair though, that’s a joke



  • Kcmatt7 said:

    Big Dave plays HARD. He is just heavy footed as could be.

    Yeah. He’s going to be great in time. Vernon Carey is a special prospect but he totally worked McCormack over in a game earlier this season. I hope McCormack is okay with taking his time and maybe even redshirting. Everything I’ve read/heard you’d think he would be but you never know until a kid gets into a situation.



  • BeddieKU23 said:

    @Kcmatt7

    Little has some serious bounce to him.

    I think Barrett will show out in the game, kid plays hard and is so active. Nightmare to guard.

    I haven’t really been a big fan of Reddish but you see the prototypical size and potential that has him ranked so high.

    If Big Dave is heavy footed Naz Reid makes him look like Superman. I agree though Dave will be someone Hudy can really help improve on certain aspects of his ability. I love that he already has this mentality to work and play hard and has changed his body up on his own.

    Agree on Romeo and the other guards. Grimes has kind of blended in other settings like this. Will be interesting to see how he does in the games as he has this, Jordan and Nike Summit all coming up.

    I think Barrett is the best of the Duke wing Cerberus and that it’s not particularly close.

    Much like Garrett was a guard pressed in the Self mint I feel like McCormack is a big that will please Self. The kind of player that plays more than portions of our fan base thinks he should. However there is just so much depth next year down low. Doke leaving would change everything though.

    I don’t think Grimes or Romeo are alphas. It’s okay though because Dotson is extremely alpha. I think Dotson gets massive minutes next year. I’m not as sure on Grimes. I feel like he is a somewhat unique player and has a lot of good things that he does but I can see him getting in Self’s dog house.



  • BShark said:

    Kcmatt7 said:

    Big Dave plays HARD. He is just heavy footed as could be.

    Yeah. He’s going to be great in time. Vernon Carey is a special prospect but he totally worked McCormack over in a game earlier this season. I hope McCormack is okay with taking his time and maybe even redshirting. Everything I’ve read/heard you’d think he would be but you never know until a kid gets into a situation.

    I watched the replay of that game. Carey looked like a grown ass man.

    I’m hoping with Capel leaving, maybe Norm can try to get in his ear some more. Would be perfect timing for him to come with (I think) everyone but Big Dave and Mitch probably gone. Even if we have one of Dedric or SDS, I expect there to be a starting spot available.



  • @Kcmatt7 Certainly doesn’t hurt that Self will be coaching Carey for team USA.



  • DraftExpress saying Dotson looks like the best PG in this class…



  • @BShark Great point. Forgot about that. Really think he is the type of guy we could steal away.

    I keep waiting for Bill to get another crack at a top 10 big man with actual size and strength. Not like Diallo who was a bean pole.



  • @Kcmatt7 There is a very real chance N’Faly Dante reclasses to 2019. In that scenario I feel KU has a real good shot to get one of them. I have no idea who to preference there, Self gets just one of the two and I’m happy.

    I think Doke is 100% gone after next year if he does stay after this season. Dedric I expect to go pro after next season. Silvio I don’t know. McCormack will still be around. Mitch isn’t a guy that will factor into the decision making of recruits. So we could be looking at McCormack being the only clear rotation post player after next season. A scenario like that would make it possible to bring in JRE, Hurt and Dante. Talk about a hum dinger front court… Hurt and Dante are absolutely NBA talent. Silvio sticking around and getting 2/3 would be fine too. Lol.

    Dante already living in KS can’t hurt. Like Cheick he is from Mali. From my understand Cheick still does like KU/Self despite how it all went down. Given the recent success with African post players at KU I think KU has as good a shot as any to get Dante.



  • BShark said:

    BeddieKU23 said:

    @Kcmatt7

    Little has some serious bounce to him.

    I think Barrett will show out in the game, kid plays hard and is so active. Nightmare to guard.

    I haven’t really been a big fan of Reddish but you see the prototypical size and potential that has him ranked so high.

    If Big Dave is heavy footed Naz Reid makes him look like Superman. I agree though Dave will be someone Hudy can really help improve on certain aspects of his ability. I love that he already has this mentality to work and play hard and has changed his body up on his own.

    Agree on Romeo and the other guards. Grimes has kind of blended in other settings like this. Will be interesting to see how he does in the games as he has this, Jordan and Nike Summit all coming up.

    I think Barrett is the best of the Duke wing Cerberus and that it’s not particularly close.

    Much like Garrett was a guard pressed in the Self mint I feel like McCormack is a big that will please Self. The kind of player that plays more than portions of our fan base thinks he should. However there is just so much depth next year down low. Doke leaving would change everything though.

    I don’t think Grimes or Romeo are alphas. It’s okay though because Dotson is extremely alpha. I think Dotson gets massive minutes next year. I’m not as sure on Grimes. I feel like he is a somewhat unique player and has a lot of good things that he does but I can see him getting in Self’s dog house.

    No question in my mind Barrett is better. If he had a perimeter shot that was consistent he would have ran away with the #1 spot. Looks bigger too.

    I’m not worried about Grimes at all but you never know what to expect with Freshman until they get comfortable playing for Self. Can’t wait to see him and Dotson build that Chemistry together this summer.

    Agree on Dave. I think they recruited the right big for this class. Good already, can get even better over time. I think we’ll see the staff mention over the years how much they like him as a person. Great mindset already to work with.

    Garland surprised me a little so far and has looked a bit bigger to me then I remember.

    Not going to take much from a practice setting where the play means nothing and there is zero incentive to play hard. It is however nice to see our Trio + possibly Romeo all in one setting. 18 class certainly looks a bit down compared to some others but I’m extremely pleased with what we got signed



  • @BeddieKU23 It is really crazy Devon loves going to the hole -and quick mercy he is quick. – Really looking forward to seein my boy on the court. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer73

    Yup his attacking style will be important on next years team.



  • Ryan Noel said “Dotson is probably going to be the fastest guard KU has had under Self.”

    alt text



  • @BShark I wouldn’t disagree with that. - -I can see that, - -the kid can be an absolute blur - -and loves taking it to the rim - really quick - - really - -really quick. - - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • “Game” starting soon.





  • Romeo has been really good. His skill set really fits these games. But the game itself has sucked. Can’t wait for the Hoop Summit where these guys really get after it.



  • Next years team is going to be SWEET! Could be back to back national championships? I have faith!



  • @FarmerJayhawk Yeah this is brutal.

    @Statmachine I think 0 is more likely than back to back but next year’s roster is definitely exciting.



  • 0 is more likely sure I said “could happen”. I could get hit by bird poop today too? KU winning back to back is more likely than me getting pooped on by a bird today.



  • If you were to go to Vegas today and bet on KU winning back to back or Statmachine getting pooped on by a bird the odds would be KU winning back to back. Some people live life looking at the glass half full lol. Thats me! I still think its possible!