Getting me pumped - -just a little
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@KUSTEVE Well yes I read the article. But I was most interested in what you saw before the article that might separate him from the other freshmen. I really like the kid. I just see a guy much more likely to be a year two guy.
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@HighEliteMajor Specifically, I was blown away with Braun’s first interview with the press. Here was a guy that didn’t flinch, looked completely in his element, and didn’t look, sound, or act like the stage was too big for him. So, i took note. Contrast that with McBride, who sounded a little like not ready for prime time. Then Braun goes out, and scores and scores in the summer scrimmages. Then several teammates compliment him on his toughness and grit. Impressive.
I think his friendship with Ochai helps a lot. He competed for years against him, and he is watching Ochai bloom, and I think it serves as a great example that Braun can play at this level, too. I don’t think Braun thinks that Ochai is that much better than him ( right or wrong), so maybe that is why Braun is so confident. I also think having Dujuan Harris sign with us helps as well, since Braun has played with him for years as well. This is all pure speculation on my part, but I think the future bodes very well with these guys, and Braun will make his mark on the program at some point in the next few years.
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Almost no way Braun plays this year.
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@KUSTEVE I think numbers get him, especially the Moss transfer – as @BShark is suggesting with his little chance prediction. I just don’t know. But I love hearing what other folks see/feel/believe on these guys. He’s a pretty good ballhandler. I’ll be interested to see what that might bring if he is the 2 or 3. Self loves more ballhandlers. When I saw him play a few times, he wasn’t a PG type, that’s for sure. He was mechanical with the ball, is maybe the best way to say it – again, though, just an observation. He played for a team that was way better than the opponents. No stout pressure. When a defender got on him, he turned his back to the defender at an angle, which is not what really good ballhandlers do. He didn’t make defenders pay off the dribble when he brought the ball up. But then again, he won’t be a PG. Great guy to have as second or third option with the ball. He has time.
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Braun needs time to bring his skill level and frame up to Big 12 standards. He’s grown a couple inches in the last year apparently and needs to add some good weight. Along with that he’ll have to work on his skill level (e.g. get used to shooting as he gets stronger). I think he’ll be a really good player by the time he’s a junior.
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@HighEliteMajor I don’t ever see him playing on the ball, and no one is speculating he will be a main factor this year in any way. Of course, we said the same thing about Ochai last year, so you never know.Technique can be learned, but confidence in yourself can be a tricky business. I would submit Q as a perfect example of a player devoid of confidence. Every interview he had, he talked a mile a minute … you could feel the anxiety rushing out of every pore. I think confidence is the straw that mixes the drink…the great equalizer…
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@jayballer73 I’ve been on Braun’s bandwagon from the get-go, and it wasn’t just me being lucky - I saw a player who is very smart and athletic. And he is still growing, don’t forget. Braun is going to be an immediate contributor, and by his junior year will star.
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HighEliteMajor said:
@KUSTEVE I think numbers get him, especially the Moss transfer – as @BShark is suggesting with his little chance prediction. I just don’t know. But I love hearing what other folks see/feel/believe on these guys. He’s a pretty good ballhandler. I’ll be interested to see what that might bring if he is the 2 or 3. Self loves more ballhandlers. When I saw him play a few times, he wasn’t a PG type, that’s for sure. He was mechanical with the ball, is maybe the best way to say it – again, though, just an observation. He played for a team that was way better than the opponents. No stout pressure. When a defender got on him, he turned his back to the defender at an angle, which is not what really good ballhandlers do. He didn’t make defenders pay off the dribble when he brought the ball up. But then again, he won’t be a PG. Great guy to have as second or third option with the ball. He has time.
The numbers crunch was most of my reasoning. I like Braun, and what is being said about him but I feel it is just too hard for him to find minutes this year. Whether it’s on the wing or as a stretch 4 there are many players in front of him.
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@BShark Opportunity is as important as anything. You never know when and how that presents itself.
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Credit to user sportinghawk on the phog for digging these up but these are some quotes from Bill about Anrio Adams…
“I really think Anrio … based on what we’ve been told and what we’ve seen, has a chance to be one of the very best ones to come out of there,” KU coach Bill Self said of Rainier Beach
“He can handle like a one (point guard). He can score like a two (shooting guard),” Self added of Adams, who averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds a game for last year’s 27-3 state champs.
“His mindset will be more to score. He’s a really good athlete. I think he’ll give us an element of toughness, too. He’s a good player. He’s capable of being an elite guard,” Self added.
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@BShark
Headcase
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@KUSTEVE I think Q was shaken, not stirred…
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Here is Braun’s interview after spending a week in our program. This is a very poised and sharp kid:
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If Christian Braun is as productive as Tyrell Reed or Brady Morningstar over the course of his KU career, I’ll take that right now.
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Here’s the path to PT for Braun : Injuries and more injuries.
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Texas Hawk 10 said:
If Christian Braun is as productive as Tyrell Reed or Brady Morningstar over the course of his KU career, I’ll take that right now.
That’s a pretty low bar. VCU says thank you.
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HighEliteMajor said:
Texas Hawk 10 said:
If Christian Braun is as productive as Tyrell Reed or Brady Morningstar over the course of his KU career, I’ll take that right now.
That’s a pretty low bar. VCU says thank you.
Ignoring that KU also missed 13 FT’s in that VCU game and collectively shot 35% from the field, but clearly losing that game was the fault of one player and not the other 5 who played big minutes that game also shitting the bed as well.
Is a 3 star recruit at KU that earns 1st team all-defense as a senior, honorable mention all-Big 12 as a senior, shoots 42% from 3 for his career, and is a multi-year starter really a low bar for Braun by the time he leaves KU? The only reason KU recruited this kid is because he’s a local kid. If he’s from anywhere else but KC, KU isn’t even looking at him.
You also need to stop blaming Brady for that VCU loss because the entire team, including Self, had a bad night that night, not just Brady.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 he will be more productive than either of those guys - both of whom I liked - due to his size, athleticism and all around skill, both offense and defense.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 Just because you THINK you know, doesn’t mean you know. Free your mind.
I regularly pointed out that playing Brady was a huge mistake. He proved over and over that he had a hard ceiling. When he faced a certain level of competition, he folded. Just because a guy can play well against Richmond (hit a 90 mph fastball) doesn’t mean he can do it against high level competition (96 mph fastball).
We talk about guys getting their own shot. Brady couldn’t. Against better defenders, he’d shoot highly guarded garbage. He shot well wide open. But in high intensity games, like VCU, his form went in the tank. He would lean forward, as if rushed. And don’t give me that complete baloney about his defense. Again, he guarded some guys really well. But he just collapsed against higher level guys. His line of ability was clear and obvious, as much as anyone I’ve ever seen. When he was outmatched, it was really bad. It was a consistent discussion and observation.
Of course, Self relied on Brady, gave Brady big minutes, then shied away from playing him those big minutes vs UNI in the preceding year. One wonders why? All I know is I regularly criticized the high minutes distribution to Brady all season, and then when it counted, Self went another direction.
My issue was always what my eyes told me … the guy couldn’t hang against high level competition, like falling off a cliff. That led to my sole point — he would cost us when it really counted.
Brady Morningstar never made one three point shot in our last game of the season – NCAA losses to Michigan St., UNI, VCU. Not one. Against VCU, he could barely move – he was 0-3 from three, and 1-4 from 2 point range. In total, in three season ending NCAA tourney losses, Brady made four total baskets, and not one three pointer. Total shooting 4-16 in our most important games of the season.
I’m sorry, I’ve won this argument too many times. I think I’m like 121-0 now.
By the way, I don’t blame Brady. He certainly tried his hardest and worked hard during his tenure here.
I blame Self 100%. He cost himself at least one FF relying on that guy after the evidence was clear he struggled against high level competition. But he then repeated his gross error with Landon Lucas two seasons in a row and LL was way overmatched and useless vs Nova and Oregon. That was observed and noted here before it happened. That error was even more costly. I think most now see the LL disaster. Some don’t care because they’re ok with losing in the tourney.
If Braun is Brady, his tenure here will not be a success.
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This is very good news https://twitter.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/1159845721954086914?s=20
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FarmerJayhawk said:
This is very good news https://twitter.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/1159845721954086914?s=20
Confirms what we have seen with pics of Doke looking slim.
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I just want to say it once…FRIDAY…THANK GOD IT"S FRIDAY!!!
Now, back to your regularly scheduled basketball conversation…
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KUSTEVE said:
I just want to say it once…FRIDAY…THANK GOD IT"S FRIDAY!!!
Now, back to your regularly scheduled basketball conversation…
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Dok 7’8” wingspan! Protect the rim young man!!!
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All of our scholarship players will get some early season minutes… minutes where they can prove themselves.
If Braun stays healthy, he should be one of our quicker developing players. Hard to say how quickly he can make an impact at this level but I wouldn’t count him out of anything.
Taking a developmental strategy, players like Braun and his attitude and hustle, he should be given plenty of opportunities to prove himself and earn minutes. Reward those who totally buy in to Selfball. The carrot needs to stay in front of these guys to help keep them motivated and advancing quicker.
My only prediction right now on Braun is that he will become a big-time contributor at some point. The “when” is up to him!
