Reasons to believe in next year’s team



  • @wissox

    Bill is foaming at the mouth to have a more physical version of Marcus Garrett on this team.

    I agree with the fear that we won’t have enough offense… but if picking up one guy… at least McCullar should help us obtain an elite defense. Acquiring a scorer would be helpful but not going to replace Och, CB, and JWil’s offense. As it stands, I don’t think we have an elite defense. So we don’t take McCullar we won’t have elite play on either side of the ball.



  • I think there’s a decent chance we’re not done in the portal. I know they’d make a spot for Hunter if he wanted to commit.



  • @FarmerJayhawk said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    I think there’s a decent chance we’re not done in the portal. I know they’d make a spot for Hunter if he wanted to commit.

    Bill wants a starting 2guard.



  • @BShark said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @FarmerJayhawk said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    I think there’s a decent chance we’re not done in the portal. I know they’d make a spot for Hunter if he wanted to commit.

    Bill wants a starting 2guard.

    Yeah, if no Hunter I wonder if they’d look at Grant Sherfield. Put up gaudy stats at Nevada



  • @FarmerJayhawk Might have burned bridges there last I heard. What I do know is if Self wants to fill a spot he’s gonna do it. Definitely something to monitor.



  • @BShark said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @Crimsonorblue22 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @rockchalkjayhawk Jalen isn’t looking to great, don’t count on him being a better shooter. He needs to put in time. CB kinda shaky in scrimmage too. Anybody else watch?

    Jalen has looked much worse against better competition.

    Didn’t light it up today in the big boy camp? how’d he do?



  • The hyperventilation thread. We haven’t even completed the roster, and we’re eviscerating the team…just like we did last year.



  • @Jethro 100% guilty of it. If remy doesn’t take off though then we wouldn’t have won. So many on here we’re right we can’t win a title with Juan playing all the minutes and that applies next year as well.

    Need Hunter or Ramey

    Juan Hunter/Ramey McCullar Wilson Clemence

    Bench Bobby Rice Dick Kj Udeh

    Joe’s odd man out. If we don’t get another guard then Rice starts at the 2 and Joe backs him up.

    Cam and Cuffe don’t play

    Crazy to think mcd national player won’t start heck same for Rice and Udeh. One of them has to surprise us.

    What I learned is Self might have figured out March being laid back/confident/chill not his tense usual self.

    Trust in Self



  • @kuballin10 Every national champion has a we wouldn’t have won if such and such had happened. It happened. We’re thrilled. Join the fun.



  • @Jethro You gave us a PHOF candidate with that one!



  • @BShark Potential casualty, Cuffe or Yesufu.



  • @AsadZ said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @BShark Potential casualty, Cuffe or Yesufu.

    I am pretty sure we won’t ask Cuffe to leave. We had him reclass then redshirt, and were on thin ice previously with his AAU (he is the first player we got from them since Cheick). We are seemingly tentatively not having that door shut (recruiting another couple guys from there again and not being turned away) and don’t want it slammed shut. So if Cuffe left after this year it would have been his decision I think.

    Joe would make a lot of sense. Don’t think you even have to force him out by any means. It’s like, well Juan is starting at the 1, transfer is now coming in starting at the 2. Primary back-up small guard is Bob with Rice and Gradey chomping at the bit for minutes too and well, it’s a tough squeeze.



  • I can envision the conversation between Self and Joe



  • I hope there’s a few more moves left but at this point I don’t know what’s going to make a meaningful impact.

    I just don’t understand the Cam Martin situation from redshirting to still being here.

    I’m also surprised Cuffe is sticking around. Personally I’m high on him but I expected him to look around.

    If Braun does leave that really hurts the upcoming squad. Leader, scoring option, proven winner among many other things. Makes J Will returning of paramount importance.

    McCullar is a nice get for what he provides. Perhaps he flourishes here and steps his game up offensively.

    Young team with a lot of unproven pieces that will have to play.



  • If Braun leaves and JWill returns, who do y’all see as next years leader? McCullar is new, Juan doesn’t seem the type, rest are pretty young. 🤔



  • @Gorilla72 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    If Braun leaves and JWill returns, who do y’all see as next years leader? McCullar is new, Juan doesn’t seem the type, rest are pretty young. 🤔

    JWill 100%.

    I think Bobby and Zach end up taking the biggest steps forward in terms of improvement though.



  • @Jethro Agreed and I feel like the offensive concerns listed seem overblown. Clemence was a bucket every time he stepped out on the court last year and will open the floor up to get to the hoop even if we have average gaurd 3 pt shooting. College 3pt% generally improves year over year too so I don’t think that will even be as bad as it looks. If I had to pick a something to be worried about, it would be getting Clemence to improve on interior defense and having gaurds that can pressure the ball and make the entry pass harder will help some there.



  • @RockkChalkk said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @Gorilla72 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    If Braun leaves and JWill returns, who do y’all see as next years leader? McCullar is new, Juan doesn’t seem the type, rest are pretty young. 🤔

    JWill 100%.

    I think Bobby and Zach end up taking the biggest steps forward in terms of improvement though.

    JWill is among the most experienced, but he didn’t seem to be a leader last year. Early on he moped about his drunk driving ticket/team suspension. Later he let Remy, Christian and Big Dave lead, both by example and verbally.

    I hope JWill steps up. Otherwise, the Hawks may have a void there. 🤞🏻



  • @wissox I am enjoying the fun. I can’t stop laughing at the fact they won when I was so down on them. I wasn’t around for 88 so this changed my entire mindset.

    100% agree things have to fall your way and they did. Nova kid hurt, bacot hurt ect we capitalized and made the plays though!

    All that but the thread is about next years team which I was referencing how last years March team was different than the entire year. Last years team with a healthy remy is a champ. Without probably lose to creighton or providence easy.

    Then with that frame of mind it’s so important to get someone who can score to play the 2 or eat into Juan’s minutes unless he improves offensively (which he could).

    I’m happy and enjoying it and still can’t believe they won it!



  • @BeddieKU23 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    I hope there’s a few more moves left but at this point I don’t know what’s going to make a meaningful impact.

    I just don’t understand the Cam Martin situation from redshirting to still being here.

    I’m also surprised Cuffe is sticking around. Personally I’m high on him but I expected him to look around.

    If Braun does leave that really hurts the upcoming squad. Leader, scoring option, proven winner among many other things. Makes J Will returning of paramount importance.

    McCullar is a nice get for what he provides. Perhaps he flourishes here and steps his game up offensively.

    Young team with a lot of unproven pieces that will have to play.

    The people that think we’re going to be limited offensively don’t know Dick. "But Jethro, he’s new. New is bad. He’s never played college basketball. " Gradey, see that spot? Go run to that spot, and we’ll throw you the ball, and you shoot and make it, ok?



  • I’ve been heavy on the scoring coming from the new players for a while now, particularly if both Wilson and Braun leave (though it seems like Wilson could return). Our returning players, other than Yesufu, are not really natural scorers. The thing about being a natural scorer is that you can start the game 0-3 or 0-5 and then get it going. If a guy like Harris starts 0-5, he’s not going to be thinking he needs to get up 6 or 7 more shots tonight. That’s not his game. He’s a true PG that wants to distribute, defend and get into the paint when he can. But Rice and Dick are more scoring oriented. They will be looking for their shot because that is their game. I just don’t see how we don’t get scoring from the new additions, particularly when you add McCullar in that group. That’s even moreso if Wilson stays in the draft - I’m assuming CB is gone at this point.



  • @Jethro Ha, I see what you did there. I used to have your same belief but after watching him in one of those all star games, playing against other incoming frosh, I was quite disappointed and lowered my expectations to be more realistic. Its rare to have a true frosh that can come in and put it all together to a point where he is a reliable scorer. Last few I can think of were JJ, Wigs, Jo. I just don’t think Dick is in that class of talent and ability to be the scorer we hope for in his first year.

    Its also not in Bill Self’s history to put someone out there to just spot up and shoot without having to worry about thinking about anything else. Guys like Greene who I’d say is a better shooter couldn’t carve out time because he couldn’t play D. The one trick ponies don’t see the court much with Self. At least not enough to rack up a strong scoring line each game.



  • I saw some of sunrise games on tv, Gradey’s the real deal. All star games are so unorganized it’s really hard to judge. They are the opposite of what Self would call a game. It’s not a team game.



  • @kuballin10

    I can’t think of a single poster in here this past year that went “all in” on this team for winning the trophy!

    I feel sure we can all say that things fell right and also that we peaked at the right time! Part of that peak was getting Remy back at near 100%.

    My big optimism now is that Self sees the game differently, especially our play in March. Do you think his energy was different this past March over previous Marches? I thought he was very poised and confident… more so than usual. Whatever it was… I hope it sticks and we don’t have to wait another 14 years to bring home the prize again!

    Concerning next year’s team… truth is… until we get this bunch together and playing, we won’t know what we have as far as points go. Sure… we have ideas about guys scoring gifts, but that changes, especially as new teams are put together and kids have a new coach/environment.

    Personally… I hope we get McCullar and Wilson back. I think that will give us a very solid team. The offense will have to get sorted out, but that is Self’s job. He managed to get these guys playing at a high level so I remain optimistic. I like what I’m seeing possible for next year already!



  • Gradey/Zach/Harris trio can put up plenty of points. Need a high jumping big to do nothing but flush lobs and set screens and one wild dog like KJ to rebound. Gold



  • @drgnslayr great post. 10000% agree and hope Self learned. He felt they’d win every game in the tourney and his cool confidence just oozed through the team. He had that smirky grin on his face even when it was a dogfight and that’s when as a fan you know we are gonna win.

    Self changed in that he said he wouldn’t play or trust someone in March who didn’t produce in Feb. He made a huge exception with Remy in the big 12 tourney which he wanted to win and it paid off. He not only did that but continued that into the ncaa’s and played the perfect balance of Juan and Remy. That plus big Dave being an animal and everyone playing with stones got us a title I still can’t believe we won.

    I am sure there were a few on here that still believed and should be credited for having faith when I had known.

    I wish but know it won’t happen we start: Hunter Rice Mccullar Wilson Zach

    Bench Bobby/Joe Dick Udeh KJ

    No way this happens but Bill did have Remy start over Juan but then the injury ect changed course. I’m hoping Bill starts the best guys and let’s them play the most minutes.



  • @DanR I think you’re right but hearing from the insiders on this board the coaches already don’t think these freshman will be able to guard or grasp the system defensively. Hopefully they loosen the reigns and let the guys play and get out and run like they had this group do.

    Run, run, run (a play out of ole Roy’s book)



  • @kuballin10 Juan started every game except the last regular season game against Texas.



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  • @Crimsonorblue22 Juan started every game after Remy got injured. Remy started first game vs Michigan State.



  • @RockkChalkk said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @Jethro Ha, I see what you did there. I used to have your same belief but after watching him in one of those all star games, playing against other incoming frosh, I was quite disappointed and lowered my expectations to be more realistic. Its rare to have a true frosh that can come in and put it all together to a point where he is a reliable scorer. Last few I can think of were JJ, Wigs, Jo. I just don’t think Dick is in that class of talent and ability to be the scorer we hope for in his first year.

    Its also not in Bill Self’s history to put someone out there to just spot up and shoot without having to worry about thinking about anything else. Guys like Greene who I’d say is a better shooter couldn’t carve out time because he couldn’t play D. The one trick ponies don’t see the court much with Self. At least not enough to rack up a strong scoring line each game.

    I really got a kick out of your post. Especially your scouting report. I knew if I put some bait out, I’d get some bites. All in good fun- thank you for participating!



  • @DanR said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Gradey/Zach/Harris trio can put up plenty of points. Need a high jumping big to do nothing but flush lobs and set screens and one wild dog like KJ to rebound. Gold

    That’ll be Ernest Udeh early on. He’s going to be the guy that plays 10-15 minutes a game amd has a few foul outs because he’s a very aggressive defender and won’t have to worry about playing extended minutes. Maybe not as physically imposing as Doke, but similar mindset and style of defense when Doke was playing behind Landen Lucas.



  • @NormRoberts @Crimsonorblue22

    Technically you both are right. Juan started msu because Wilson was out. Who Bill would have started not sure but I’d guess Juan because in msu game he played 36 mins to remy’s 27



  • @NormRoberts nope it was like I said



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Correct.I forgot Jalen wasn’t starting the first couple games then Coach announced Remy wouldn’t start again after injury



  • Remy and Juan.

    Russ Rob and Sherron.

    Parallels, in some ways. And totally different duos in other ways.

    Winners in all ways 😉



  • Juan/Tyrese/McCullar/JW/MJ/Gradey/Clemence. Best perimeter defense in the country.



  • @Jethro said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Juan/Tyrese/McCullar/JW/MJ/Gradey/Clemence. Best perimeter defense in the country.

    Hunter is going to Texas. It’s done.



  • @BShark that sucks as Hunter is better than Ramey wish it’d worked out. What you’d hear as the reason it didn’t?

    Assuming Jalen’s back; who else do we go after? I’ve seen Ramey thrown out there any other nba guys that could withdraw and we find that 2 spot that can score and play alongside Juan?



  • @kuballin10 Rumor is 750k. We typically max at 500 for starters. Assuming Jalen is back the roster might just be set. Personally I would have sent Cam packing but I’m not in charge (thankfully lmao).



  • Not having a final roster and its almost June has to be exhausting. I can’t see this being a sustainable thing every year.



  • @BShark

    Yeah I don’t understand the Cam situation at all, never will. He’s not going to play minutes anyway



  • @BeddieKU23 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Not having a final roster and its almost June has to be exhausting. I can’t see this being a sustainable thing every year.

    June Bill is the new spring Bill.



  • Hunter also would be the main PG at Texas, wouldn’t be here.



  • @BShark got it thanks for the info and I wish you were with regards to the roster and maybe pushing someone out the door lol Bill gettin’ soft! Haha jk



  • @FarmerJayhawk do you agree with this?

    I don’t because Hunter is better than Juan so why not take him and make Juan the backup? I’m confused why the hang up and holding a clearly better player back so Juan can play pg. Juan is a great teammate whether starting or off the bench he will stay positive he’s a great kid.



  • @kuballin10 it’s hard to disagree since we just won a title with him at PG. I’d play them both together: Harris Hunter McCullar Wilson Clemence. Rotate in Rice and Dick. Not to say Hunter would be off the ball all the time. Remy played on the ball quite a bit when he and Juan were on the floor.

    I don’t think the frosh are ready to roll major minutes right away. Over the last couple years (definitely since covid made HS and travel ball sparse at times) freshmen are less prepared than they’ve been in a long time. You won’t find many 20-50 ranked dudes who played a lot for tournament teams. And 2022 isn’t a super strong class either. Especially with college players as old as they are with the extra year, it’s tough for a rook to break in. So I think Dick is best suited as a shooter off the bench, and Rice as a 6th man/swing player. Hunter is one of the few guys in that range who came in and was great right away. Sure hasn’t been the norm.



  • Not sure if this is on another thread but Hunter goes to Texas



  • @wissox said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Not sure if this is on another thread but Hunter goes to Texas

    Looking more and more like McCullar, huh.

    Whatever happened to that smaller school Missouri dude?



  • @rockchalkjayhawk said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @wissox said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Not sure if this is on another thread but Hunter goes to Texas

    Looking more and more like McCullar, huh.

    Whatever happened to that smaller school Missouri dude?

    Headed to MS State it appears. I’m befuddled by the lack of announcement.


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