BOLD PREDICTIONS



  • @KUSTEVE

    You are right that if Grimes can play like any other guys that have lead their teams to national titles as freshmen guards, KU is in the chips for sure.

    Self could start Vick, or Charlie, or even Dotson at PG, if Grimes were that Magic like player that can take over the game at will any time after having made everyone better before hand.

    Do you think Self thinks Quentin Grimes is ready to produce like Magic did his first college season, or like Jordan did his last college season? Well forget Jordan, because he didn’t do it his first varsity season, did he?

    I guess that is what you’re suggesting. Grimes is Magic like.

    You appear to read Self as saying Grimes is better suited to leading this team’s roster to a ring than Andrew was suited to leading his team to a ring.

    Grimes must be pretty GD good NOW!

    If this is what you believe Self is really thinking, then I’m in!!!

    LAST ONE TO FINAL FOUR TICKETS IS A ROTTEN EGG!!!



  • @KUSTEVE A couple of points.

    The first is that Dedric Lawson actually isn’t an elite rebounder. His advanced rebounding numbers are pretty similar to Doke and nowhere near T-Rob who was KU’s last truly elite rebounder. I don’t even think Dedric is as good a rebounder as Lucas is.

    The second is that Lagerald Vick is hardly a dead eye from 3. His 3 point percentage has been in the 37% range the last two years and he’s always been a very streaky shooter like Elijah Johnson was.



  • @jaybate-1.0 So you disagree with Bill said about Grimes? You don’t have to take my word for it - takes Bill’s word. He doesn’t have to produce like Magic Johnson. That’s a straw man argument, imo.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 I think you proved my point in the fact you had to go back 6 years to find anyone on our team that had as many boards per game as Lawson. I guess elite is in the eye of the beholder, as TROB averaged 6.4 rpg as a sophomore. Are you trying to compare Trob’s junior campaign with Lawson sophomore campaign? I’ll grant you that 37 to 38% from Vick is not Svi good, but if he has the proverbial senior bump, we could see 40%+, and that qualifies as eagle eye, in my books. Like I said, it’s in the eye of the beholder.



  • @KUSTEVE Here’s why Dedric averaged double digit rebounds per game at Memphis his sophomore year, he played 35 minutes per game. For comparison, Doke played about 24 minutes per game last year as a sophomore and T-Rob played 15 minutes per game as a sophomore.

    Per 40 minutes as sophomores, T-Rob averaged 17.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. Azubuike averaged 11.9 rebounds per 40 minutes and Dedric Lawson averaged 11.5 rebounds per 40 minutes.

    Rebounding percentage as sophomores, T-Rob had a 19.1% offensive rebounding %, 30.7% defensive rebounding %, and a 25.3% total rebounding %.

    Doke had a 12.4% offensive rebounding %, 20.7% defensive rebounding % and 16.9% total rebounding %

    Dedric had 9.1% offensive rebounding %, 22.8 defensive rebounding %, and a 15.9% total rebounding %.

    Those were numbers Dedric put up against largely inferior competition in the AAC so I don’t see those numbers getting better with fewer minutes against better competition.

    The one area where Dedric has a slight edge over Doke in rebounding is on the defensive end, but it’s not a huge advantage and this isn’t saying Dedric is a bad player, but he’s not the elite rebounder people here are making him out to be.



  • @KUSTEVE

    Well then what freshman that has lead a team to a ring would you choose as a fitting precedent. I’m not doubting. Just trying to see how good Grimes has to be as a freshman to make this dog hunt rings.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 I don’t think rebounding is going to be a big problem for this team.



  • This KU team is very good. A top 5 team easily and everyone seems to think top 2 (along with UK).



  • @BShark I’ve never said this was going to be a bad rebounding, just that I think Dedric’s rebounding ability is being overhyped by a big section of the KU fan base. If Dedric was the lone big, I’d be concerned, but with the depth in the frontcourt, I think KU will be just fine in the rebounding department.

    The area I see KU having some issues this year is scoring. The back court is so young and inexperienced except for Vick and lacks that guy that you have to guard on the perimeter that I see a lot of teams packing the paint against KU I can see some games where KU may go 6 or 7 minutes without a FG because of the make of the team.



  • jaybate 1.0 said:

    @KUSTEVE

    Well then what freshman that has lead a team to a ring would you choose as a fitting precedent. I’m not doubting. Just trying to see how good Grimes has to be as a freshman to make this dog hunt rings.

    Carmelo Anthony…



  • @jaybate-1.0 I think you’ve made your mind up. Bill has a way of breaking through ceilings on things like that. Everyone said freshmen couldn’t thrive in his system, and then Wigs and JJ both had great years. After Bill made the fools gold comment about 3s, and we were all convinced he would never run a 3 point offense, he constructs one of the best 3 pointing shooting teams in college basketball. So, I understand the conventional thought is you must have an experienced point guard or a Magic Johnson talent frosh to win it all. I might be whistling in the dark- i happen to think this team can win it all, and I laid out my case.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 Do you see Doke playing more than 24 minutes, or Dedric playing any less than 35? Doke averaging 24 minutes for the year meant for practically the entire season, we had 36 minutes where we got whipped badly on the boards ( Silvio helped a lot, but he wasn’t in there for very long). It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Doke out rebounded Lawson, but I could see Lawson coming out on top as well. The point is, we have two REALLY good options going for boards. Now, if you don’t want to deem Lawson “elite” as a rebounder after a 9.9 average, that’s your preference. I just know it’s been a long 6 years without having 2 good rebounders on the floor at the same time.



  • Texas Hawk 10 said:

    @BShark I’ve never said this was going to be a bad rebounding, just that I think Dedric’s rebounding ability is being overhyped by a big section of the KU fan base. If Dedric was the lone big, I’d be concerned, but with the depth in the frontcourt, I think KU will be just fine in the rebounding department.

    The area I see KU having some issues this year is scoring. The back court is so young and inexperienced except for Vick and lacks that guy that you have to guard on the perimeter that I see a lot of teams packing the paint against KU I can see some games where KU may go 6 or 7 minutes without a FG because of the make of the team.

    It’s definitely going to take some time to get cohesion on offense. There are some potential line-ups where the shooting would be very bad.



  • @KUSTEVE

    No, mind wide open. I really do want to know who board rats are thinking Grimes will compare with among freshmen on ring teams of the past. I haven’t seen him yet. No doubt he is good if Bill thinks he is ready to play immediately. But at what role and level of contribution do folks see him at? That’s what I am trying to learn from you and others. Will he start and be a hub, like Rush. Will he be second fiddle like Wiggins became with Embiid? Will he just dominate and run the show like Magic? I still don’t have a feel for what folks are expecting from him.



  • jaybate 1.0 said:

    @KUSTEVE

    No, mind wide open. I really do want to know who board rats are thinking Grimes will compare with among freshmen on ring teams of the past. I haven’t seen him yet. No doubt he is good if Bill thinks he is ready to play immediately. But at what role and level of contribution do folks see him at? That’s what I am trying to learn from you and others. Will he start and be a hub, like Rush. Will he be second fiddle like Wiggins became with Embiid? Will he just dominate and run the show like Magic? I still don’t have a feel for what folks are expecting from him.

    Grimes is a absolute Stud. - He is a player that is going to come in and be a starter from day one , he is as for sure the most certain one and done there is There has even been some talk that as the season plays out and this is Not from KU people but others that say by seasons end Quentin Grimes might just be the best player in the Nation Quentin is going to play very much a MAJOR role for KU this year – Coach knows he is ready to go> - Let me ask you who else would play the 2 which that is the position he will be starting that would have the impact Quentin is going to have? - -Not Vick - Vick will be spending the majority of his time at the 3 - -KJ ? - - KJ is good - -plays some 2 I hear but as big as impact as Quentin will have? - - No Way. Quentin I feel is more talented then KJ - again KJ is good but not Quentin good.

    Marcus? - -I love Marcus but at this point offensively Marcus isn’t nearly as talented as Quentin - Marcus kind of limited unless he has vastly improved in the off season. - -I love Marcus defensively think he is really good - - on that side of the ball they may be more equal , but offensively not a chance - -Our boy from KC - -I don’t think he is a 2 is he? - -might be -but again I don’t think he is at Quentin’s level. - - Put it like this also - -who else do we have for that position that was ever considered a strong OAD canidate ? As far as who he compares to? – I don’t really know - -I kind of hate trying to compare anyways - -Quentin is Quentin which is very good - Everyone does there own thing - - -he is going to be a lot more of a hub then a 2nd fiddle, Quentin and Dedric are going to be very big parts. - -HE isn’t just going to totally dominate of course he will have moments just like any other Freshman - but a lot more good minutes then bad - -The kid is a stud - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer73 Here’s a nice breakdown on Grime’s game:



  • @KUSTEVE …83rd percentile of FIBA in all jumpers, 88th in catch and shoot, range beyond college 3, compact release, near perfect form, has every offscreen action down pat, high bball IQ, 3.1 to 1 Assist/TO ratio… NICE!



  • @jaybate-1.0 I watched every minute of the FIBA tournament. Grimes had the ball in his hands a lot. My first impression was that he is big physically. Big enough to take the ball inside and defend the big guys on switches. Grimes isn’t slender like Garrett. Grimes also made the biggest effort to get his teammates involved. Most players on those tournament teams just go one on one. But, he turned the ball over too; usually trying too hard to get it to a teammate. Grimes’ three point shooting was off, but there’s no reason he can’t be a spot-up shooter. I can’t wait to see these guys, Thanks Coach Self.



  • @stoptheflop

    Thanks for the insights. Sounds like quite a player.



  • @jayballer73

    Seems Self faces a tough choice. Grimes might be best at 2 or 3, taking over the ball for stretches, the way MJ used to.

    But Self needs a point guard to let QG play that way.

    Maybe Self WILL get away with Charlie and Dot at point with Grimes or Vick at wings switching off onto tall PGs.

    OR Self can make Grimes a tall point guard, use Vick/Garrett at 2, big Ded at 3, and rotate all his remaining 5 bigs at 4 and 5.

    If Grimes can do what you saw, then I say give him the keys and let him drive and kick. Oscar Robertson and Derek Rose seem like Grimes best precedents. Both demolished the NCAA.

    I like Rose for a precedent. Rose had CDR AND an bunch of bigs. Ded = CDR. Figure KU’s bigs will be better than Memphistos. Figure KU won’t miss FTs down the stretch or run into a better coach.

    Hang banner.



  • jaybate 1.0 said:

    @jayballer73

    Seems Self faces a tough choice. Grimes might be best at 2 or 3, taking over the ball for stretches, the way MJ used to.

    But Self needs a point guard to let QG play that way.

    Maybe Self WILL get away with Charlie and Dot at point with Grimes or Vick at wings switching off onto tall PGs.

    OR Self can make Grimes a tall point guard, use Vick/Garrett at 2, big Ded at 3, and rotate all his remaining 5 bigs at 4 and 5.

    If Grimes can do what you saw, then I say give him the keys and let him drive and kick. Oscar Robertson and Derek Rose seem like Grimes best precedents. Both demolished the NCAA.

    I like Rose for a precedent. Rose had CDR AND an bunch of bigs. Ded = CDR. Figure KU’s bigs will be better than Memphistos. Figure KU won’t miss FTs down the stretch or run into a better coach.

    Hang banner.

    I don’t think we will see Grimes at the point this year , true he can play it - believe he did play it some in High School - just not seeing it at KU. - - I don’t think you might have to worry as much with our point as you might think. = =Devon is a very capable pg and other then being a Freshmen which again he is going to struggle at times such as like possible with that dam West Virginia press and possible some other stretches.

    As most here know I for sure love Devon I just like his mentality kid is super quick and loves driving the ball tough kid reminds me some of a young Frank myself same bull doggish approach - I’ll take him any day. - - Now Charlie more likely then not will probably start the season as the starter and that’s ok that’s a luxury for us 2 pretty decent pg’s however I don’t think it will be long before Devon takes that spot. he is just to good not to you remember the saying it’s not who starts a game but it’s who is on the floor at the end? - -umm ya - - Devon.

    Gonna be a lot of Dedric & Quentin for us and then throw Doke on top of that. - We are just so deep we can throw so many different combinations at a team. - Our depth is gonna be a huge factor this year. Going to allow the guys out front to be more aggressive cause they know they got help in back if they get beat Got the Bruisers allow the guards to take more risks at stealing the ball over playing the passing lanes and such. Then on our front line they don’t have to worry as much about foul trouble be more aggressive on the boards and such - -Someone get in trouble just throw another one in. - - McCormack - – DeSousa - – Mitch - - - Hell even KJ can slide down for a bit -we can go big - -we can go small - -we can combo MERCY - -look out. - Again I’m not real big in comparisions I just let them be who they are. - Some get a bad rap cause people try and tag them with a comparision and they might not meet some one’s expectations then all we hear is how they were such a bust. - I’m telling you though we are going to enjoy Quentin for his one year here and yes it will be one year just sit back and enjoy. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @stoptheflop

    I also watched all the games and I was surprised when he played PG because he obviously was projected to play SG in college. I will guess that Coach Self saw in practice how good he was and decided to have him run the point; a real luxury to have a capable 6’-5" PG.

    He was extremely good against competition that in some games was the equivalent of a JuCo team but other times was very good and he was rightly named the Tournament MVP. No doubt he is the best combo guard of his class.

    KU has had several players (in recent years) that were ready to start and contribute very early on, McLemore, Selden Jackson. Wiggins come to mind and others did not start right away but did as the season went on, Embiid, Oubre come to mind and others such as Perry, Mason and Graham that you could see their potential became outstanding players but not necessarily from the get go.

    From what I have seen, Grimes might be the player most ready to start and contribute from day one in recent years; Coach Self has pretty much said the same thing. You mentioned that at the U18 his 3 point shot was not as good as expected but he was shooting from FIBA range which is farther out than college; I expect him to be a 40% or better 3 point shooter, he was at that level his junior and senior HS years and with the additional training I am sure he will be up there in college. More concerning is his FT shooting since he has averaged around 64% which is low for someone that will be shooting fa air number of them.



  • Grimes is the kind of player Self can shuffle around 1-4 depending on situational need. I would guess mainly 1-3 with the roster KU has this season. He will hope to become a pg in the NBA. He has great pg instincts. Think DWill.



  • @BShark

    I agree. Grimes is the best combo guard of the class that can play 1-4 and might actually be the best PG in this team, but for the team, he is a better option at SG or wing. Moore is a natural SG but with the build of a small PG so I expect that when playing with Grimes they might switch position at times depending on the match ups but the primary PGs for the team will be Moore and Dotson with Garret as a distant third option. When playing a tall PG that would have too much advantage over Moore or Dotson, Grimes can slide to that position or Garret can play PG as well.



  • Has anyone heard news in regards to Silvio?



  • twhalen said:

    Has anyone heard news in regards to Silvio?

    Nothing more that I know of. All I have heard is that Coach Self is fully expecting Silvio to be Eligible and ready to go - nothing otherwise that I have heard at this point. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @JayHawkFanToo Yep. Lot’s of roster flexibility. Who knows maybe Vick plays pg. 😉

    @twhalen I am not getting the same vibes from this as the Preston situation. The first game will be very telling. If Silvio plays I would expect him to play all year. If not…



  • @twhalen

    No news is good news?

    As far as I know he is still in school and working out with the the team. I really don’t expect the NCAA to do anything until the FBI has acted and by that time the season might be over. I assume KU will get assurances from the NCAA that Silvio is still eligible because it would not risk having to forfeit games, more so in a season where the National Title is a very realistic goal.



  • @BShark

    If Vick plays PG maybe Doke can slide and play wing…😃



  • @jayballer73

    The thing is: to win a ring, KU’s starting 5 and first two rotation players HAVE to play a scheme that can OVERCOME whistle asymmetry and flat out beat the other 2-3 best Nike EST teams in the country, when they shorten to seven to keep their best guys on the floor 38-40 minutes with the refs no calling the KU OPPONENT back into the game from 20 to 5 remaining and then putting the KU opponent on the FT line the last 5 minutes. This is the recurrent pattern every non Nike EST team faces each March.

    So: Self has little choice but to get his most dominant two scorers in position to strike as quickly as possible to avoid passing to get open looks that just allows more no calls.

    Any non Nike EST team that runs the stuff down the stretch against any TOP 3 Nike EST team is playing into the structural asymmetry apparently imposed on such games.

    My point here is this:you don’t want to run offense all season and run 8-9 man rotations that rely on point guards passing to get Grimes, or Ded, the ball, because the no calls stop that cold in March.

    You also don’t want to waist your time with Grimes and Ded driving for short treys, because those COMPLETELY disappear in March.

    The 7 man rotation and the 40-50% trey and the carry them up on your back dunk are the only way on offense for a non Nike EST team to have ANY chance in a Final Four these days.

    I’d rather invest in Grimes at PG now instead of having to shift over to in March.

    Besides, even if Grimes plays 2, he will effectively take over point to seal close conference games.

    Cut to the chase.

    START him at PG so opponents face maximum stress from tip off and rest whenever they crack.

    That way you get to run with what brung you when the refs weigh in in March.



  • @jaybate-1.0 - – Sorry to disappoint you but I don’t think your going to be seeing Quentin at the point , I strongly feel they recruited these TWO players for very specific positions. I think they recruited Devon and fully committed to him as being THE pg on this roster and he is good enough to do that, I also think they recruited. Quentin fully as a 2 wing player - Not saying he won’t play any other position BUT I think if anything you have more of a chance of seeing Quentin playing some 3 more then the pg.

    We have two very solid pg’s to man that spot - ya you might and again I say might see Quentin possibly play a LITTLE pg but to suggest that Coach is going to move him over and have him starting at the pg? - - - Not happening. - For one If they were going to do that I don’t think they would of invested so much time in recruiting Devon again and with Moore who has had a year of playing as the pg at a major college has that College experience - just don’t see it - -not at all , not in the scenario your trying to paint anyways - -Quentin if I were to wager I would say he will be playing the 2 spot 90 % of the time with probably at least the other 5-10 % at the 3 - -it just doesn’t make that much sense to try and have him come in and take over as a pg when you have two very competent other pg’s already there, that’s not making us of the entire squads contributions/talent and Devon is a talented player and will be just fine as the pg - leave Quentin at the 2 there is a bigger need for him there then our pg spot - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer73

    I am already disappointed.

    Vick and Grimes relegated to wings by a couple short point guards that Vick and Grimes will have to cover for on defense and shoot for on offense.

    Orthodoxy costs will be paid to the end of the season.

    Unorthodoxy costs would only have to be paid till January or early February.

    But orthodoxy and playing the OADs that keep the OAD spigot open will likely prevail.

    And we will likely celebrate another 30+ win season, a title from overwhelming numbers and get shot out of a gym when we have to shorten to 7 against a team with a 6-3 point guard, a 6-6 2, and a stretch 4 as good as Ded, and a 5 that can shoot the trey and pull Doke out to 20 feet.



  • @jaybate-1.0 Seems like though we have just recently had a couple of short point guards Well Devonte not that short but seems like Frank and Devonte shot the ball pretty well, just because your short doesn’t mean you can’t play the game. - Look at Tiny Nate Archibald - - - The Small fry from Kentucky a couple of yrs back , Frank - our POY - were gonna be all right



  • @jaybate-1.0

    What makes you think Dotson is a short guard? Every single publication (even KU) lists Dotson as 6’2” the same height as Devonte and Chalmers and taller than RussRob, Sherron, Mason and Tharpe and just an inch short than Tayshawn Taylor, all of the recent PGs at KU. Moore is the same height as Collins, Tharpe and Mason…and no, I am not going by KU measurements, which actually proved to be spot on if you look at the listed height at KU and compare with measurements at the NBA combined in the last few years, I am going by listed measurements in other publications which list height. You are welcome to find a recent publication that lists Dotson shorter than 6’2”; his height in elementary or middle school do not count.



  • @JayHawkFanToo I probably started that. He looks about 5’11", but everything I’ve found is saying he’s 6’2".



  • @JayHawkFanToo Here Dotson is working over Jahvon Quinerly, and Dotson is definitely taller than Jahvon, who is 6’1". We’re going to be just fine at point guard, because Dotson is a BEAST:



  • @KUSTEVE Dotson is the best PG in last year’s class. FIGHT ME ANYONE THAT DISAGREES.



  • Crimsonorblue22 said:

    Can Zion stop doke?

    He’s strong enough to hold his position against Doke in the post. Whether his technique is sound enough to do so without fouling is beyond me because we haven’t seen him tested like that.

    Because Doke doesn’t have a lot of post moves (he’s not Kevin McHale down there), if a player can handle the strength, he can be guarded.

    It’s just that 95% of the players in college BB can’t handle Doke’s strength. Zion is one of the strongest incoming freshmen I have ever seen.



  • The big question is …can we shoot the ball from outside and stretch the defense. I think we can. Several people on here have doubts. Bill has doubts :

    “And I’ve said hundreds of times already, and I’ll say it some more: We’ve got a lot of nice players — really nice players — but unless we have a couple of guys kind of emerge as knockdown shooters, nice players can be guarded pretty easily.

    “We’ve got to find some guys that can consistently stretch it.”

    And that’s the million dollar question. I like our chances…Vick becomes very important. Charlie gets more run. Grimes has to show his mettle. Dedric and KJ have to shoot better from 3. That’s our challenge. I think we’re up to it.



  • I think Grimes will be an improved shooter in college.

    In HS, Grimes often had to create his own shot. He has excellent form and shot the ball pretty well, but he had to do a lot of work off the dribble. He is a good catch and shoot guy, and should have a chance to use that skill more often at KU.

    Dotson/Moore will be the best PG he has ever played with on a consistent basis. That takes the burden off him to playmake every trip, which should help him be more efficient.

    He will also have D. Lawson commanding double teams inside. That should help bend the defense in his favor. Remember, in HS Grimes was always the focal point offensively. At KU, he will have opportunities where he is the second or third option, or will have plays where the defense is drawn away from him.

    @KUSTEVE raises the point of shooting, which is a key factor. I think Grimes and Vick are going to be able to stretch the D. Lawson may be able to help as well. KJ, Moore and Dotson are good enough shooters to keep the defense honest. KU doesn’t have a Graham or Svi to hold a guy outside at all times, but KU has enough solid shooters to keep the defense from packing it in.



  • jayballer73 said:

    @jaybate-1.0 Seems like though we have just recently had a couple of short point guards Well Devonte not that short but seems like Frank and Devonte shot the ball pretty well, just because your short doesn’t mean you can’t play the game. - Look at Tiny Nate Archibald - - - The Small fry from Kentucky a couple of yrs back , Frank - our POY - were gonna be all right

    It means you can be NPOY and be one of the best short guards of the modern era and need help from wings, get contaied against NBA perimeter bodies like Quentin Grimes, and not make the Final Four in the case of Frank Mason, whom I dearly love and respect.

    But competitive basketball officiated as it has been in the March Carney means any obvious weaknesses like short players playing shorter as the game wears on get ruthlessly exploited by Nike EST opponents.

    War is hell.

    Assymetrically officiated Carney ball played against NIKE EST teams stacked with OADs is at least a war game with live rounds.

    No prisoners taken.

    All weak links broken.



  • JayHawkFanToo said:

    @jaybate-1.0

    What makes you think Dotson is a short guard? Every single publication (even KU) lists Dotson as 6’2” the same height as Devonte and Chalmers and taller than RussRob, Sherron, Mason and Tharpe and just an inch short than Tayshawn Taylor, all of the recent PGs at KU. Moore is the same height as Collins, Tharpe and Mason…and no, I am not going by KU measurements, which actually proved to be spot on if you look at the listed height at KU and compare with measurements at the NBA combined in the last few years, I am going by listed measurements in other publications which list height. You are welcome to find a recent publication that lists Dotson shorter than 6’2”; his height in elementary or middle school do not count.

    ————————

    You already know EXACTLY why. HOWLING!!!

    And Charlie is positively diminutive with historical indexing!! 😂

    Next.



  • justanotherfan said:

    …I think Grimes will be an improved shooter… At KU, he will have opportunities where he is the second or third option, or will have plays where the defense is drawn away from him… KJ, Moore and Dotson are good enough shooters to keep the defense honest. KU doesn’t have a Graham or Svi to hold a guy outside at all times, but KU has enough solid shooters to keep the defense from packing it in.

    ——————————

    I am grateful to you for trying to put this issue in a reasonable and reassuring light, but…

    OMG! You, whom I trust implicitly at least to try to ring out the fantasy talk and tell it as it is; i.e., without the hype, have done so again and…alas, you have confirmed my worst fears.

    First, Grimes, on a team full of newbies and transfers will be second or third option some of the time 😱.

    Second, the team doesn’t have ANYONE like Svi and Devonte that teams have to stretch to guard every possession.😱😱😱

    Now think with me a moment here.🤔 💭

    No. One. Like. Devonte. Or. Svi.

    Last season, Nova had SIX guys like Devonte and Svi!!! Hell, two were in the paint!! 🤬

    Every second or third year some team has 3-4 like Devonte and Svi. Heck, only a few years back even the bang ball cheese heads had 2-3 outside AND a footer that could pot the triceratops. And it seems Consonants always has 3 trey guns.

    And EVERY season it seems like a few teams have at least 2 like Devonte and Svi, right?

    So this means this team is trying to win a ring without as good of 3pt shooting (not even talking about Nova grade here, just average Final Four grade shooters), as some other elite teams almost certainly will have, AND in a season when many coaches will be trying to emulate and implement some or as much of Nova’s trey offensive and defensive schemes as possible.

    😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱



  • jaybate 1.0 said:

    Last season, Nova had SIX guys like Devonte and Svi!!! Hell, two were in the paint!! 🤬

    Actually, Nova really only had three guys like that - Bridges, Divincenzo and Brunson. They had two interior guys who could shoot, but feasted more on the fact that many teams would not send their 4 or 5 man out to guard them, as opposed to being outright knockdown shooters. They had one other guy that benefited from a stretched defense (Booth) by getting good, unguarded looks.

    Nova benefited from being able to stretch the defense in so many ways that someone always had an open look. I think Grimes, who is a better player than all but probably Bridges (and maybe Divincenzo) will get the same benefit, which is probably worth a couple percentage points.

    KU will benefit from open looks. Vick hits open looks. Grimes will. Moore does. Dotson probably will. The Lawson’s might.

    There are enough capable shooters that KU should have adequate shooting. It won’t be great, but good enough to get the job done.



  • @justanotherfan

    Actually they had six.


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