Reasons to believe in next year’s team



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

    Tait’s take on MJ today:

    “MJ Rice, who arrived in Lawrence around 4 a.m. today, has looked far and away like one of the best players out here today. Physical on the drive, smooth on the pull-up, range to the 3-point line. All of it looks easy, too. #KUbball”

    Also from Tait: “ Tough drives through contact at players big and small, pull-up jumpers, run-outs in transition and shots from behind the 3-point line all were a part of Rice’s outing on Wednesday. His red team fell in the bragging-rights game, 81-79, to a blue squad that received 30 points from Joe Yesufu and 16 more from Adams, including the game winning dunk with just under four seconds to play.”

    Yesufu and Adams putting guys on notice…



  • @Jethro Keion Brooks left Kensucky for Washington.



  • See I’m some what confused , surprising I know lol. See when we were recruiting Rice I heard and read a lot about people not even knowing if Rice would even play in a college game , saying probably just go play some form of pro instead of College. After he committed to KU, again had people worried and saying they would believe it when they see it about him actually showing up.

    Then I hear all about Grady wand I have seen how good Grady is , the I see people’s what they believe would be their starting 5 this coming year , and I read some talking about Mj and limited minutes .Now I’m not complaining or bitching but I’m just thinking , why is it so hard for people to project Rice not having a bigger impact and struggling to get meaningful minutes . I guess that just solidifies our team when we have this quality of a player if he is going to be hard pressed to play quality minutes.

    I mysel am saying it’s going to be hard - - very hard - -if almost not impossible to keep MJ off the floor even in his freshman yr if he is what he has been projected as and I’m just confused and taking nothing away from Grady - -just confused some who is better Grady or MJ - -both rated high it’s just MJ looks to me seems to bring it all. Complete all around game. Shoots the three - -has good medium game - - attacks the rim or can offensively - -rebounds the ball just solid - -real solid. Nice position to be in with this group of freshmen I actually think MJ gonna surprise some , why it would be a surprise but just sit back and watch and apprciate when the time comes.



  • @jayballer67

    Rice the more College ready body physically, he’s a grown man. Both are going to play a lot. They both bring some different skills to the table & its a luxury to have them both



  • @jayballer67 They’ll both likely play in the 25-30 minute range because they can both play the 2-4 spots for Self. The reason why people tend to be higher on Dick than Rice right now is because Dick’s recruiting stock increased over the past season quite a bit whereas Rice’s stock went down to the point where 24/7 even lowered him to a 4 star recruit.



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

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

    Tait’s take on MJ today:

    “MJ Rice, who arrived in Lawrence around 4 a.m. today, has looked far and away like one of the best players out here today. Physical on the drive, smooth on the pull-up, range to the 3-point line. All of it looks easy, too. #KUbball”

    Also from Tait: “ Tough drives through contact at players big and small, pull-up jumpers, run-outs in transition and shots from behind the 3-point line all were a part of Rice’s outing on Wednesday. His red team fell in the bragging-rights game, 81-79, to a blue squad that received 30 points from Joe Yesufu and 16 more from Adams, including the game winning dunk with just under four seconds to play.”

    Yesufu and Adams putting guys on notice…

    Just a silly deep bench again this season. Bill should have plenty of levers to pull all the way to March. A step forward from Yes and Adams and the bench has potential to be as good as the starting 5 on certain days…

    Team 1:

    • Harris
    • Rice
    • McCullar
    • Wilson
    • Clemence

    Team 2:

    • Pettiford
    • Yesufu
    • Dick
    • Adams
    • Udeh

    Legitimately, I think Bill could finish top 3 in the league starting that 2nd group lol.



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

    @jayballer67

    Rice the more College ready body physically, he’s a grown man. Both are going to play a lot. They both bring some different skills to the table & its a luxury to have them both

    ya that is the one sure thing I noticed about MJ , well developed he is for sure college ready body - strong



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    @jayballer67 They’ll both likely play in the 25-30 minute range because they can both play the 2-4 spots for Self. The reason why people tend to be higher on Dick than Rice right now is because Dick’s recruiting stock increased over the past season quite a bit whereas Rice’s stock went down to the point where 24/7 even lowered him to a 4 star recruit.

    I understand. I think Mj has a lot he can bring to the table. -I think he is going to be able to finish in contact - - physical really likes to attack the rim from times I saw - glad we have them both



  • @BShark is Mccullar hurt?



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Currently no



  • @BShark wondered why he didn’t play yesterday. Thx!



  • @Kcmatt7 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Team 1:

    Harris Rice McCullar Wilson Clemence

    The bench will be very deep for sure. Somebody (s) will not be pleased about playing time!

    I think Self will run out countless lineups before he finds the right mix. That may take til Mid January.

    IMO that Team 1 lineup is just asking for opponents to clog the lane.



  • I’m going to take the chance but going to anyways. I think we might be surprised or some will I think that Cuffe just might surprise some people playing more minutes. - All I have to say to others is to the other players - - Don’t F - - - up watch your back because Sam is on a Misson and is going to be like a Shark in blood infested waters - - Be Ready



  • @Kcmatt7 Best post of the day. You still got it!



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

    @Kcmatt7 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Team 1:

    Harris Rice McCullar Wilson Clemence

    The bench will be very deep for sure. Somebody (s) will not be pleased about playing time!

    I think Self will run out countless lineups before he finds the right mix. That may take til Mid January.

    IMO that Team 1 lineup is just asking for opponents to clog the lane.

    Not sure what you can do about that playing Harris/McCullar/Wilson together.

    They need Wilson and McCullar to have breakout years from deep.



  • @Kcmatt7 I think Wilson will for sure, McCullar has a very good chance in our offensive flow and Harris will improve his percentage so people at least have to guard him. If he doesn’t and Joe or Bobby play well he will see minutes decreases similar to Remy’s return.

    Clemence will hopefully draw some bigs away from the bucket giving us room to drive.

    This team has me really excited to see how they gel and who Self trusts and gives minutes to.



  • @Kcmatt7 Yeah these three are the locked for sure starters and all 30+ minute guys. Will be interesting that’s for sure…



  • So the guy gets into town at 4 o’clock in the morning. At 3 that afternoon, he participates in an informal scrimmage against his teammates.

    Tait says" Tough drives through contact at players big and small, pull-up jumpers, run-outs in transition and shots from behind the 3-point line all were a part of Rice’s outing on Wednesday. "

    KJ said “It was cool seeing what he can do,” sophomore forward KJ Adams said. “His jumper’s really smooth. His confidence level is up high and it gives him (a chance) to hit shots like he did today. I think he’s going to be really good.”

    He scores 18. He lets the team know who the alpha is. This is a dude that’s built like TROB. This is the definition of “college ready body”. This is a guy that can get his own, and assert his will whenever he wants. This guy is on another level.



  • He’s that tall?



  • @Jethro

    Very talented kid. Also context, it was a “scrimmage” where the last 10 minutes were basically uncontested shots on both sides



  • @Jethro

    Also if we are talking comparisons, Wayne Selden is a good one. I think they are very similar coming in.



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

    @Jethro

    Also if we are talking comparisons, Wayne Selden is a good one. I think they are very similar coming in.

    I would say senior Wayne. When Wayne first got here, he was a little pudgey…a little slower than what we were expecting. Now, he worked his tail off, and transformed his body, so kudos to Wayne. MJ is already there. I made a reference to Trob, but not because of his height. Trob’s senior year he had some big guns, and was just ripped. And MJ looks like he’s cut from the same cloth. Doesn’t look like there’s an ounce of fat on him. Wayne was a great 3 point shooter (imo), but he was never great at driving the ball to the hoop. MJ is a driver- don’t think he’s at Wayne’s level of shooting from the perimeter quite yet, but MJ will shoot some midrange stuff, will take guys to the hole, and hit the occasional 3. I think he’s a guy that is just a gifted athlete who has learned to press his advantages on the court. Teams are going to have quite a problem figuring out how to stop MJ, imo.





  • He also said jwill would be back wed and Juan was looking really good.



  • Self mentioned he thinks KJ will play more on the wing going forward, contingent on bigs stepping up.



  • Expects Gradey & MJ to battle for a starting spot but positions are open outside a few.

    Leaders- JWill, Juan, McCullar. Says team not void of leadership.

    McCullar- Perfect fit for playing interchangeable lineups



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

    Self mentioned he thinks KJ will play more on the wing going forward, contingent on bigs stepping up.

    Dedric is as good of a passer as we have ever had. Grimes is one of the best guards we have ever had.



  • @BShark still though, I think it’s a possibility. KJ did surprise me a few times with his quickness and handles. A small sample size is an understatement though.



  • @Jethro older post in this thread, but that was a great video on how smooth Grady is, thanks for the share!



  • KU will play at UK next year as part of the SEC/Big-12 Challenge announced today. January 28th is the date.

    Pencil in Oscar for 30 and 30 + 3 fake injuries from Wheeler



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

    KU will play at UK next year as part of the SEC/Big-12 Challenge announced today. January 28th is the date.

    Pencil in Oscar for 30 and 30 + 3 fake injuries from Wheeler

    Ya, Tshiebwe is going to murder us. Oh well



  • Myself , I’m kind of getting tired of playing Kentucky in this Challenge. – UK fans feeling the same way. Just takes some of the luster off when it’s yr after yr. - When you gt two blue bloods and they get together for a match - - -Cool. Yet yr after yr just don’t do it, so many other teams to play. - Kentucky fans were hoping they might get Baylor this year, can’t really say I blame them



  • @jayballer67 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Myself , I’m kind of getting tired of playing Kentucky in this Challenge. – UK fans feeling the same way. Just takes some of the luster off when it’s yr after yr. - When you gt two blue bloods and they get together for a match - - -Cool. Yet yr after yr just don’t do it, so many other teams to play. - Kentucky fans were hoping they might get Baylor this year, can’t really say I blame them

    I’m excited we get the chance at revenge this year. Punk them at Rupp! We have a 10 point advantage in coaching every time we play them.



  • Jalen is back in Lawrence and back on the work out grind @Crimsonorblue22 I know you were wondering.



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

    @jayballer67 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

    Myself , I’m kind of getting tired of playing Kentucky in this Challenge. – UK fans feeling the same way. Just takes some of the luster off when it’s yr after yr. - When you gt two blue bloods and they get together for a match - - -Cool. Yet yr after yr just don’t do it, so many other teams to play. - Kentucky fans were hoping they might get Baylor this year, can’t really say I blame them

    I’m excited we get the chance at revenge this year. Punk them at Rupp! We have a 10 point advantage in coaching every time we play them.

    Lol well that 10 point advantage that you say we have - - - sure the hell didn’t help us last year lmao



  • @jayballer67 Bill made a calculated choice to not amp up the team for that game. WE had just won a double overtime game against 13th ranked Tech, were scheduled to play at # 20 Iowa St, #8 Baylor, and at #20 Texas after 'Tucky. If we amp up against 'Tucky, then we run the risk of losing at the Clones, and against Baylor, which would’ve put us in a such a deep hole in conference, we might not get out. Bill even said he didn’t care about the game.



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

    @jayballer67 Bill made a calculated choice to not amp up the team for that game. WE had just won a double overtime game against 13th ranked Tech, were scheduled to play at # 20 Iowa St, #8 Baylor, and at #20 Texas after 'Tucky. If we amp up against 'Tucky, then we run the risk of losing at the Clones, and against Baylor, which would’ve put us in a such a deep hole in conference, we might not get out. Bill even said he didn’t care about the game.

    It was actually simpler than that. Bill was spending time dealing with the NCAA shit (trying to negotiate) and didn’t have time to do much of a gameplan.



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

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

    @jayballer67 Bill made a calculated choice to not amp up the team for that game. WE had just won a double overtime game against 13th ranked Tech, were scheduled to play at # 20 Iowa St, #8 Baylor, and at #20 Texas after 'Tucky. If we amp up against 'Tucky, then we run the risk of losing at the Clones, and against Baylor, which would’ve put us in a such a deep hole in conference, we might not get out. Bill even said he didn’t care about the game.

    It was actually simpler than that. Bill was spending time dealing with the NCAA shit (trying to negotiate) and didn’t have time to do much of a gameplan.

    He won’t have that problem this year.



  • @Jethro Hope not!



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

    @jayballer67 Bill made a calculated choice to not amp up the team for that game. WE had just won a double overtime game against 13th ranked Tech, were scheduled to play at # 20 Iowa St, #8 Baylor, and at #20 Texas after 'Tucky. If we amp up against 'Tucky, then we run the risk of losing at the Clones, and against Baylor, which would’ve put us in a such a deep hole in conference, we might not get out. Bill even said he didn’t care about the game.

    I have to laugh at that. So your telling me that he didn’t amp up his 10 pt Coaching advantage for that game lmao. - - Has nothing to do with the players as you said we had a 10 point Coaching advantage every time we play – - so I get it he gave his brain the night off for that game lol - - gotcha bud - -I like that. - -just giving you the business - -every brain needs a night off



  • @jayballer67 You said I was full of it at halftime during the championship game, too. Remember? When I said we’d come back, and you said the game was over. I am really clueless why you are so afraid to play Tucky…lol. Did you forget who our coach is???



  • We will give Kentucky a hell of a game at Rupp this season. For both teams, there is a lot of pride on the line.



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

    @jayballer67 You said I was full of it at halftime during the championship game, too. Remember? When I said we’d come back, and you said the game was over. I am really clueless why you are so afraid to play Tucky…lol. Did you forget who our coach is???

    No where did I say I was AFRAID of us playing Kentucky. - -I’m TIRED of us playing Kentucky in the Challenge. BIG DIFFERENCE It’s the Big12 /SEC Challenge- - not the KU / Kentucky challenge year , after year, after year. - -I wanna play some other SEC teams not just fricken Kentucky every dam yr that crap gets old. I’m not afraid of KU playing anybody - -I just want something new different. Florida - - -LSU - -Auburn there ARE other good teams other then Kentucky in the SEC - - THANKS



  • We should play Kentucky every year, imo. At least 2-3 power house non-con games a year. Would love to add UNC into that mix now that Roy is retired.



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

    We should play Kentucky every year, imo. At least 2-3 power house non-con games a year. Would love to add UNC into that mix now that Roy is retired.

    We can play 10 powerhouse teams a year just sick and tired of playing Kentucky every year. believe it or not there are other power house teams other then Kentucky. - -Hell let’s play Duke - -there is a power house -or let’s play Gonzaga - -that’s a power house - Let’s Play Michigan - - let’s play North Carolina - -just not Kentucky - -every dam year every other year every two three years that’s great but not every dam year



  • Champions classic has Kentucky, Duke, Michigan state and us. I think we play Duke this year. Where? Fav. mems, Frank and Wiggs! Speaking of Wiggs, I ordered that shirt his lil girl had on after his awesome 5th game. Wiggs dunk over luka. 100% cotton. Lil stiff, probably shrink to a toddlers size. I knew it’d be that way. Lost power, stormy here!



  • @jayballer67 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

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

    @jayballer67 You said I was full of it at halftime during the championship game, too. Remember? When I said we’d come back, and you said the game was over. I am really clueless why you are so afraid to play Tucky…lol. Did you forget who our coach is???

    No where did I say I was AFRAID of us playing Kentucky. - -I’m TIRED of us playing Kentucky in the Challenge. BIG DIFFERENCE It’s the Big12 /SEC Challenge- - not the KU / Kentucky challenge year , after year, after year. - -I wanna play some other SEC teams not just fricken Kentucky every dam yr that crap gets old. I’m not afraid of KU playing anybody - -I just want something new different. Florida - - -LSU - -Auburn there ARE other good teams other then Kentucky in the SEC - - THANKS

    I hit a hot button…lol.



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

    @jayballer67 said in Reasons to believe in next year’s team:

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

    @jayballer67 You said I was full of it at halftime during the championship game, too. Remember? When I said we’d come back, and you said the game was over. I am really clueless why you are so afraid to play Tucky…lol. Did you forget who our coach is???

    No where did I say I was AFRAID of us playing Kentucky. - -I’m TIRED of us playing Kentucky in the Challenge. BIG DIFFERENCE It’s the Big12 /SEC Challenge- - not the KU / Kentucky challenge year , after year, after year. - -I wanna play some other SEC teams not just fricken Kentucky every dam yr that crap gets old. I’m not afraid of KU playing anybody - -I just want something new different. Florida - - -LSU - -Auburn there ARE other good teams other then Kentucky in the SEC - - THANKS

    I hit a hot button…lol.

    LMAO Scorchin. - - I’m just tired of Kenucky guys wanting to play powerhouses - Great - play Arkansas - - play louisville - -play Michigan State - - Play Michigan - -Play Duke-- -Play North Carolina. - play any of Hell play Auburn - -Play Gonzaga - - Play UCLA - - anybody but KENTUCKY every dam year they are not the only powerhouse team to boost ratings lol - - Sizzlin Button lol. Jethro you a goof lol



  • Wow. shocker. Saw an early mock draft for next year, and surprise, surprise! Gradey Dick mentioned as the last pick in Round 1. Here we are debating his chances to start, when he’s a projected NBA pick! Wadda we know…

    1. G Gradey Dick Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 195 pounds | Kansas: Freshman

    Dick is way more bouncy and athletic than what meets the eye. On top of that, he can shoot out of the gym. He averaged 17.9 points per game on one of the best high school basketball teams in the country, Sunrise Christian Academy. He knows he’ll have to work for that starting slot, but can slide in and help fill the void of Ochai Agbaji (No. 14 this year) and Christian Braun (No. 21) next season.



  • @rockchalkjayhawk

    He’s very talented, but definitely shouldn’t be an OAD. His body is a ways from being NBA ready and he still needs to learn more of the game.


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