Mitch



  • @Marco Self’s rotation is typically 7-8 deep, not 6 deep. Self is also not going to change his defensive philosophy, especially when ymwhat you think should be the strategy does not fit the strengths of this roster. Out of those 4 freshman, Wilson is the only one who appears like he could play some good minutes this year. McBride likely will out of necessity of not playing Dotson 40 minutes per game. Don’t be shocked though to see Dotson average 36-37 mpg if McBride isn’t up to par.

    When B12 play starts, Self will have an 8 man rotation like he prefers, he’s not going to suddenly change who he is or what he does because his way has won 82% of the games, 14 B12 titles, 3 Final Fours, and a national title. Self won’t change his stripes.



  • This is how CJ at The Athletic sees it: Devon Dotson 33-37 Marcus Garrett 23-27 Ochai Agbaji 25-29 Silvio De Sousa 20-25 Udoka Azubuike 25-30 Isaiah Moss 18-22 David McCormack 15-20 Jalen Wilson 13-17 Issac McBride 5-10 Tristan Enaruna 3-7

    Really playing 8 guys, 9 if Dotson gets in foul trouble or we need some shooting immediately or something like that. Mitch and Braun will probably RS. KU has a pretty good graduate engineering programs so I’d think that would be pretty attractive to Mitch



  • @FarmerJayhawk I like that minute distribution. I would say a little bit higher for Moss and a little bit lower for Azubuike who has never averaged more than 23.6.



  • @FarmerJayhawk

    I sure hope Marcus works on his shot before November to get that many minutes. I remember numerous opposing teams not even bothering to guard him and doubling up on whoever our best scorer on the floor was.

    Great defender, Self’s dependable go to guy, great attitude, experienced, seems like good kid, all the above. Just couldn’t score. Man, if he can make at least a few jumpers to keep opposing defenses honest, then heck, I could see him play full games. Keeping my fingers crossed.



  • @FarmerJayhawk If Mitch takes the RS, that does look pretty on target to me, as well.



  • HighEliteMajor said:

    @FarmerJayhawk If Mitch takes the RS, that does look pretty on target to me, as well.

    Pretty sure he will. I mentioned it earlier and Farmer did as well that he might as well get his 5th year of school paid for.

    We need to remember that he was going to RS last year when the staff thought they would have Doke and Silvio all year.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich that’s where my head is at too. If Moss gets more consistent (since playing for Fran would get in anyone’s head) I could see him pushing 25 MPG, mostly at the expense of Garrett. I could see Wilson surprising with how well he defends too. Could mean we play small a bit more.



  • @FarmerJayhawk Moss starting and Garrett coming off the bench makes a lot of sense to me. Even an inconsistent Moss helps every other starter in that lineup on offense with the spacing he creates. Bringing Garrett off the bench with a rangier 4 than De Sousa (Wilson or maybe Enaruna) presents fewer issues with spacing and Marcus can handle the ball for a while if Dotson needs a break.



  • I thought Mitch switched his major.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 - from the KU Athletics web site:

    “ACADEMICS - Plans to study in the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas.”

    I thought he had switched to Business…



  • @Gorilla72 I know I heard him say he switched. I’m sure they haven’t changed it.



  • @FarmerJayhawk Like I said, redshirt Mitch.



  • @FarmerJayhawk Braun will get about five minutes a game.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich I think we should redshirt Garrett and Mitch.



  • Let me say it, redshirt Mitch and Garrett. Oh no, Garrett might transfer! Go ahead… Really, what does he offer? Not squat. Play McBride and Braun.



  • I think Marcus, if healthy next year, will be an integral part of our special sauce that will carry us far into the tournament. He stands to become the defensive leader on our team and with defense being half the game Marcus will be very important. His tenacity should be contagious, especially next year as more of our players start to buy in to Selfball. I think of a lineup with Devon, Marcus and Silvio and I see a team capable of becoming an outstanding defensive team. One look back at last year, and the National Champion, should put the exclamation mark back on defense again… where it belongs.

    Obviously, fans get excited with offensive potential. Some of our recent signings fill the holes on offense. But it is still defense you want to count on at tournament time. All teams seem to have a bad offensive night in March. It only takes one to be sent home.



  • @drgnslayr i think Big Dave could be part of that lockdown defensive unit. He may surprise with his speed. I think he can close out on the perimeter much faster than Doke



  • Marco said:

    Let me say it, redshirt Mitch and Garrett. Oh no, Garrett might transfer! Go ahead… Really, what does he offer? Not squat. Play McBride and Braun.

    alt text



  • @BShark That’s right Bunk.



  • @approxinfinity Anyone that is saying to play Braun over Garrett…I just can’t take their basketball takes seriously.

    On Dave: he might end up being the best 5 on the roster. Will be interesting to see how he does as a JR/SR.



  • @Marco You’re killing me, Smalls.



  • @BShark, @Marco also believes all 4 freshman will play 10+ mpg next year.

    I think it’s a good development group and Tristan Enaruna looks like an elite level prospect later on, but Jalen Wilson is the only freshman who might play big minutes and that’s largely dependent on Mitch redshirting, and even then Wilson may not play 10+ mpg with the depth KU has.



  • @drgnslayr It wasn’t offense that sent us home in the Final Four against Villanova- it was a total defensive collapse. Last year, we were down by 25 to Auburn at halftime. 25 points. The most exciting part of this team is they will defend better than what we’ve seen in years.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 So, are you thinking a Doke/Mac at the 5 and a Silvio/JW at the 4 rotation of bigs? That would certainly help free minutes up on the perimeter if JW was at the 4.



  • @KUSTEVE Only if Mitch redshirts. If Mitch doesn’t redshirt, I think McBride plays the most among the freshmen and that’ll just be a few minutes here and there to give Dotson a breather. If Wilson isn’t ready to play, expect Garrett to be the universal sub and play spot minutes at the 4.

    Isaiah Moss is the one newcomer who should play big minutes. I don’t see it with the rest of them this season.



  • Texas Hawk 10 said:

    @BShark, @Marco also believes all 4 freshman will play 10+ mpg next year.

    I think it’s a good development group and Tristan Enaruna looks like an elite level prospect later on, but Jalen Wilson is the only freshman who might play big minutes and that’s largely dependent on Mitch redshirting, and even then Wilson may not play 10+ mpg with the depth KU has.

    We see it fairly similarly. There is no way all the FR play 10+ minutes. I do think Mitch takes a RS and that Wilson ends up getting there on minutes. I believe that if Mitch didn’t RS, he’d play more.

    Someone recently (don’t remember if it was here or elsewhere) that they could see Moss going the Moore route. I simply do not see that AT ALL. He’s 6’5’’ and can shoot + defend. His defensive numbers not being great are in part due to Fran switching defenses frequently and having helter skelter rotations. I actually think Moss could really shine under Bill. The BIG is also kind of a meat grinder compared to the Big 12.



  • I think Wilson will play 10+ minutes regardless of whether or not Lightfoot takes a RS. I think around 15 ± a few minutes for Jalen. And I think Enaruna has a better chance of getting above 10 minutes than McBride (or Braun), but that depends more on Mitch. If I had to guess I’d say only 1 freshman gets more than 10 mpg next season and that’s Jalen Wilson.



  • http://www2.kusports.com/news/2019/jun/17/redshirt-or-not-redshirt-kansas-senior-mitch-light/

    @KirkIsMyHinrich Really, for McBride, it’s the ball handling. My view is that high level skill makes his PT opportunities better, because he has no competition for that, really, other than Dotson. And the skill is one that is critical. Everyone can dribble, but not like a PG. If we plan Garrett or another player at top, our entire attack changes. I’m not suggesting McBride is really ready. I don’t know. But when assessing McBride vs. Braun and Enaruna, I think this give him a big leg up because the others have major competition. McBride has a natural slot. If McBride can spell Dotson 7-8 mpg, and maybe get a touch of time together with Dotson (the two PG thing is something Self likes), that might = 10 minutes. Just my speculation.



  • I think Wilson settles in at the SF position here as a freshman. He’s a big guard and his combination of size and skill is an advantage for him doing what he does naturally which is score and play well within a team structure. There’s certainly scenario’s out there hypothetically that would put him in a 4 guard lineup defending and scoring from those 4/1 sets Self instituted with past units. As a freshman I don’t expect they put that much pressure on him to be a duel position player.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich Self will not expand his rotation deep enough to have Enaruna play big minutes this season.

    Even with the deepest rosters Self has had, he’s never willingly gone beyond 8 deep. Why is this year going to be any different? I can realistically see Self using a 7 man rotation this year if Wilson’s game isn’t B12 ready. Garrett can sub 1-4, so if Wilson isn’t good to go, Self will have no issues playing Garrett as a universal sub.



  • @HighEliteMajor I agree with your post but I don’t see Dotson playing fewer than 30 minutes per game next season (I’m thinking around 32 or 33), and so I don’t see McBride getting more than 10 minutes per game unless Dotson goes down. Enaruna has more competition for minutes but he also has a lot of upside and I could see him playing his way into minutes off the bench, especially if Mitch takes a RS and Jalen spends time at the 3.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich Jalen won’t spend much time at the 3 next year because that’s not the need next season. His minutes will come spelling DeSousa for the most part.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 How do you know? Wilson or Enaruna haven’t even played a game in college yet. Maybe Enaruna ends up being better than Wilson. Maybe Braun or McBride end up being better than both.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich There’s this thing called YouTube where you can watch videos of players. Knowing Self’s history in regards to freshmen and rotation depth also are guiding my thoughts on this.

    Of the 4 freshmen, Jalen Wilson is the most college ready today, but not an NBA level prospect. KU’s current roster composition also says that most of Wilson’s minutes will come at the 4 this year as a stretch 4. Foul issues or injury is when Wilson will play the wing because he doesn’t have the handles to be a perimeter player right now, even a wing.

    Tristan Enaruna is the best NBA prospect, but like Svi, he needs a lot of refining to get to that point. He’ll be a very good player, it just won’t happen until year 2 or 3 at KU.

    Isaac McBride has the Mason and Graham diamond in the rough potential, but he’s not an immediate impact player and likely won’t be a polished player until years 3 and 4 (if he becomes polished). There’s a reason McBride is a 3 star player and with a different roster composition, he would see minimal meaningful minutes this season.

    Christian Braun is a local kid that hopefully turns into a Brady Morningstar level of impact, but don’t depend on that though.

    KU’s 2019 recruiting class is a developmental class that doesn’t have an obvious superstar player in it. These are all players that currently have major flaws in their game that will keep them at KU for at least 3 seasons.



  • @approxinfinity

    I think you are right. I’m looking at Big Mac right now and I have to look at him twice to recognize him. He has changed that much since March. He’s a lot more chiseled. I’ve never seen anyone change their athleticism so quickly. He is going to be a force next year that we won’t realize until he’s in games because we don’t know how well that will transfer but it surely will be a positive. He’s slowed the game down and is using his energy more efficiently, too. His midrange shot is coming along. I’m sure his defense will be much improved as well. David is “dialing in” to the game now and he’s not ready to just concede he’ll be riding the pine.

    I mentioned the hopes of RSing Mitch. We do really need to address our big situation because we can’t sit guys like David for most of the season. He’s worked harder than anyone and he deserves PT.

    Managing player minutes has become one of the most important aspects of coaching D1 today. We are seeing a record amount of transfers and unhappy campers in the game. All that not only disrupts team personnel but also creates recruiting problems.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 There is this thing called youtube? Is this a serious post? This is a joke. You know who else looked good on youtube? Quentin Grimes. To state conclusively in June that one freshman is going to get minutes over another freshman when the two players are similar in rank and neither has played a game in college is absurd. You have no idea how the minutes are going to play out at this point. Our head coach has no idea at this point.

    This is worse than the time when you thought Cam Reddish being 100% healthy vs 80% healthy was going to be the difference in a potential game against Texas Tech.



  • drgnslayr said:

    @approxinfinity

    I think you are right. I’m looking at Big Mac right now and I have to look at him twice to recognize him. He has changed that much since March. He’s a lot more chiseled. I’ve never seen anyone change their athleticism so quickly. He is going to be a force next year that we won’t realize until he’s in games because we don’t know how well that will transfer but it surely will be a positive. He’s slowed the game down and is using his energy more efficiently, too. His midrange shot is coming along. I’m sure his defense will be much improved as well. David is “dialing in” to the game now and he’s not ready to just concede he’ll be riding the pine.

    I mentioned the hopes of RSing Mitch. We do really need to address our big situation because we can’t sit guys like David for most of the season. He’s worked harder than anyone and he deserves PT.

    Managing player minutes has become one of the most important aspects of coaching D1 today. We are seeing a record amount of transfers and unhappy campers in the game. All that not only disrupts team personnel but also creates recruiting problems.

    I hope they can RS Mitch, but I’m doubtful that it happens.

    When that was the plan a year ago, we also thought we’d have De Sousa to backup Dedric and we’d be 4 deep in the post.

    Not the case anymore.

    As far as Big Dave getting PT, I wouldn’t worry about it. Doke can really only handle about 25 MPG. De Sousa, probably the same.

    That gives him and Mitch 30 MPG to split and basically 15 mpg guaranteed.



  • Marco said:

    Let me say it, redshirt Mitch and Garrett. Oh no, Garrett might transfer! Go ahead… Really, what does he offer? Not squat. Play McBride and Braun.

    WHOA - there pander - -are you fricken serious? - -are you blind? - -or what - GOD I can’t believe you just said that.

    Not really sure what the hell you been watchin - you sure in the hell haven’t been watching Marcus. - just a little FYI - a whole of a hell lot more to the game of Basketball then just putting the ball in the little hole. - -Man I’m almost speechless - for that kind of a statement to be made - are you fricken Serious? - did you actually think before you made that statement? - gotta say pretty pissed when I hear a statement like that. – You see there is this thing called defense - -you do that or are suppose to do that part also in a Basketball game - most don’t – Marcus however DOES - -hands down KU’s best defensive player That’s why you see Coach putting Marcus on the other teams best offensive player a lot of the time. - -Come on man I know you must of tripped and hit your head on the floor. - -Ther is no fricken way would we ever want Marcus to transfer - I bet you could take a poll and see just how many people would ever want to see him leave

    Dam Dude I REALLY - REALLY can’t believe you said he does do squat - - -hmmm, hmmmmm, hmmmm, Seriously - ok I gotta go take a shower - - cool off. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • KUSTEVE said:

    @Marco You’re killing me, Smalls.

    Me too buddy that statement was just insane



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 If you don’t mind, how do you define willingly? Also what is your minutes threshold. Last year the 9th and 10th guy were over 300 minutes and both around 10 a game. The depth the previous two years was bad but going back to when Self has real depth the 9th guy does tend to at least get some run.



  • @BShark Self went deeper last year because of the Doke, Vick, and Garrett situations. Injuries forced Self to play more people more minutes than normal. Self didn’t willingly play 11 players 10+ mpg last season. Circumstances beyond his control forced that. I’d also be willing to bet that going back and looking at individual game box scores will show Self still mostly played 8 players, just that the 8th player was different on a game to game basis depending on match ups and who was hot on a given night.

    For me, rotation level minutes are 10+ per game. Without Doke’s injury, Agbaji never plays, without Vick, KJ doesn’t play the minutes he does at the end of the year to get to rotation level minutes. Garrett’s injury forced Moore to play more as well which bumped his minutes.

    Self didn’t play Moore and KJ the minutes he did willingly, he did so out of necessity due to injury and discipline issues.

    We’ll see a deeper rotation in November and December because Self is figuring out combinations, but that rotation will be at 7-8 players by the time B12 play starts.



  • I would agree last year wasn’t a great example.

    But say

    https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/kansas/2011.html

    https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/kansas/2015.html

    I think next year could end up like this where there is a fair bit of depth but outside of the top few guys it’s not great.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich You’re using a hypothetical to prove a point?

    Here’s what YouTube does, it allows you to see the skill levels of players. How are their handles, footwork, shooting form, physicality, stuff like that. The red flags were there with Grimes from the beginning and I was never on his bandwagon because I’d seen him in person in HS multiple times. There were times he didn’t even look like the best athlete on his team, he didn’t make teammates better, he didn’t blow by opponents.

    Self has been here long enough that his tendencies aren’t secrets. When he has experienced players like he will this season, freshmen tend to have very short lashes. Self doesn’t have to go beyond 7 deep this season and KU would be just fine. Those freshmen are going to have to earn every minute they play because none of them are better than a player in front of them except for possibly Wilson over Lightfoot, but even then Lightfoot has a big experience edge over Wilson. McBride is not better than Dotson, Wilson is not better than Agbaji, Garrett, or Moss, Enaruna isn’t better than Mitch today, and Braun is the worst scholarship player on the roster.



  • @BShark 2011 appears to be the exception, but even then KU dealt with Selby’s suspension and injury, Releford was hurt, and only 4 players played in every game so even that year seems like Self was forced to expand his rotation at times due to players not being available for whatever reasons.

    2015 was a freshmen heavy class that never really gelled and I think a tighter rotation probably would’ve helped that year. This year’s roster has very little in common with that roster group as far a age goes.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 From what I’ve heard Wilson is the type that will battle and fight to get his minutes. Would love to see it.



  • I would be stunned if the rotation is beyond 9 guys. Each of the 9 has a pretty defined role for this time of year. Wilson, Garrett, and Moss are really the only ones in flux. And ideally Moss fits like a glove at the 2 so Garrett can be a do it all guy off the bench. And no way Garrett RS’s barring injury. He’s our 2nd best PG and best perimeter defender. No idea why you’d take that guy off the floor on a team that needs ballhandling and perimeter defense.



  • FarmerJayhawk said:

    I would be stunned if the rotation is beyond 9 guys. Each of the 9 has a pretty defined role for this time of year. Wilson, Garrett, and Moss are really the only ones in flux. And ideally Moss fits like a glove at the 2 so Garrett can be a do it all guy off the bench. And no way Garrett RS’s barring injury. He’s our 2nd best PG and best perimeter defender. No idea why you’d take that guy off the floor on a team that needs ballhandling and perimeter defense.

    Garrett taking a RS is the hottest take I’ve seen since the Dave should RS take on the phog. Neither will RS like you said barring a medical one.



  • FarmerJayhawk said:

    I would be stunned if the rotation is beyond 9 guys. Each of the 9 has a pretty defined role for this time of year. Wilson, Garrett, and Moss are really the only ones in flux. And ideally Moss fits like a glove at the 2 so Garrett can be a do it all guy off the bench. And no way Garrett RS’s barring injury. He’s our 2nd best PG and best perimeter defender. No idea why you’d take that guy off the floor on a team that needs ballhandling and perimeter defense.

    I couldn’t agree more then what you say Farmer - - - I mean some fail to realize that there is more - ALOT more to the game of Basketball then just putting the basketball through a little hole. - -you woul have to totally insane to take Garrett off the floor at times - he is our best defender - -hands down and people want t keep him off the floor?

    Like one mentioned - everyone of these guys have a very defined role on this team – Marcus role is to defend - he has defended multiple positions numerous times and down it well - he hasn’t been or should be counted on as a scorer with this team this year , this is not a need from him - thee are many options without having to bank on him for offense. - - Some of these people just don’t get it



  • I hope McBride is good enough to get minutes this year to season him for next year. It looks pretty bleak without Dotson on the roster.



  • @dylans Bill is targeting every pg in the 2020 class


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