Other games



  • #1 rated Houston gets to play Tulane tonight, then East Carolina, Wichita and some other stiff. They did beat 2nd ranked Virginia a long time ago, the same Virginia getting blown out by BC tonight. If we played their schedule we might actually be undefeated.

    #2 Alabama gets a stiff test from USCarolina tonight. (sarcasm font) SEC teams get easy games after easy games. Bama to their credit scheduled non-conf strongly so their schedule is top 10, but nowhere near our #1 schedule.

    Meanwhile we’ve played 9 games against teams with numbers next to their names since the beginning of January. So has every other B12 team.



  • UNC is so bad. It’s almost funny at this point



  • @FarmerJayhawk said in Other games:

    UNC is so bad. It’s almost funny at this point

    I was just going to say, it’s a good thing you’re also a Jayhawks fan this season. Apparently Brady Manek was really good.



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich yeah, KU will always be my team.

    I hope the powers that be come around to last year’s run being a fluke.



  • @FarmerJayhawk So you went to UNC correct? Are you originally from Kansas?



  • @kjayhawks bachelor’s and master’s KU, PhD from UNC. Yep, from Lebanon originally.



  • @FarmerJayhawk Dr Farmer, not to many of those!



  • 23 offensive rebounds for UNC saving the day



  • Iowa goes 3-27 against Badgers and only scores 52 points. Fran spent a timeout with his team down 10 and 4 minutes left arguing with the refs instead of coaching his team.



  • Alabama’s Miller goes off for 41 tonight. 52% of their points, 40% of their shots. Guess he wanted to let off some steam.



  • @kjayhawks Good ole’ Lebanon, KS. Went to kindergarten and 1st grade there.



  • @COHawk crazy!



  • Hate to say what years those were!



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich said in Other games:

    23 offensive rebounds for UNC saving the day

    Winning a close one against ND should work against them. It was like watching high school ball.

    Yes… Baylor D is pretty bad, even with Everyday Jon back in the lineup. Those guards many are claiming to be the best in D1 give up way too easy on D. I think I prefer our guards moving forward into March. Let’s see what happens!



  • @drgnslayr

    Yeah that trio doesn’t defend a lick, especially the freshman phenom supposedly going in the Lottery before Dick. We all know Gradey will have to improve defensively but he makes up for a lot of things with effort and winning plays. All those tip outs for boards and transition plays are a nuance to his game that isn’t brought up.





  • @approxinfinity said in Other games:

    https://twitter.com/austinmassey247/status/1628413882703175681?s=20

    Well seeing that would cause one to defend Tech a little bit. I mean that list there and their projected seeds in the tourney and yet Tech ha more quad 1 wins then any of those listed. Sure they have had some bad Non Con losses but put the teams that’s listed there and their projected seeds & put them into the toughest Conference in the Nation- - what would their records be?

    Now I’m not really saying Tech should be in BUT for argument sake they deserve to be in there just as much as these teams listed do. - -just asking but where does Tech Stand in the Ken Pom compared to these othre teams ? - I think they and their fans would have a complaint just looking at this



  • This is a classic definition of a flop. Flop tech was awarded on this. This dude was trying so hard to draw a charge call he forgot that if he falls down the shooter will be wiiiiiiidddddddeeeeee open! https://twitter.com/BenScottStevens/status/1628597166825414656?s=20



  • @BeddieKU23

    With Gradey coming on like he is, I am seeing potential as a lottery pick now… I just hope he doesn’t go and values his experience in Lawrence enough to stay.

    Does he necessarily make more money by leaving early? I know it means another year at NBA pay and I’m sure he won’t go unless he’s sure of a guaranteed contract.

    As fast as he is improving… he could be a for sure Top 5 pick next year. So he’s a year later but his $$$ starts much higher.



  • @wissox

    Remembrance of our very special Marcus Smart… who pulled this but could push off backward a lot harder without contact!



  • @jayballer67

    I’ve watched Houston all year. They leveled off their quality of play in January. It has really hurt them to play such a weak schedule. Had they already started in the Big 12, they would contend for a conference title but with many extra losses… but they would be much improved. I’m guessing they would finish 3rd or 4th in the Big 12.

    As of right now, I don’t see them as our biggest threat in March.



  • @drgnslayr said in Other games:

    @BeddieKU23

    With Gradey coming on like he is, I am seeing potential as a lottery pick now… I just hope he doesn’t go and values his experience in Lawrence enough to stay.

    Does he necessarily make more money by leaving early? I know it means another year at NBA pay and I’m sure he won’t go unless he’s sure of a guaranteed contract.

    As fast as he is improving… he could be a for sure Top 5 pick next year. So he’s a year later but his $$$ starts much higher.

    No, this is a relatively weak draft once you get past the top 5 of so. Gradey coming this year is a virtual lock to be a lottery pick, not so much next season. He absolutely should not return next season and should go play in the NBA next season.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10

    I agree it’s a weak draft but whether weak or not, it’s the quality of the player and how they fit into the team that determines their first contract.

    I don’t buy that at all… that he isn’t a lock for a lottery pick next year. Aren’t you seeing how much improvement he is making in his complete game since January?

    He’ll come back next fall and will have added considerable strength. A stronger Gradey is outright frightening. And his skills level will jump in leaps and bounds.

    I think you have misjudged his potential for improvement… and the reason he would go lottery this year isn’t based on his current playing status. He’s still nowhere near playing on a NBA court today. If he goes as a lottery pick it will be based on his potential… which is clearly there.



  • @drgnslayr said in Other games:

    @BeddieKU23

    With Gradey coming on like he is, I am seeing potential as a lottery pick now… I just hope he doesn’t go and values his experience in Lawrence enough to stay.

    Does he necessarily make more money by leaving early? I know it means another year at NBA pay and I’m sure he won’t go unless he’s sure of a guaranteed contract.

    As fast as he is improving… he could be a for sure Top 5 pick next year. So he’s a year later but his $$$ starts much higher.

    pretty sure if he is a lottery pick - - he has a guaranteed contract. - - If he is lottery Coach will tell him to go. Coach did the same with JO , Jo- -telling him your not doing yourself any good staying here. Jo Jo wanted actually to stay but Coach told him to go - - Coach will tell Gradey to go if he is lottery





  • There are zero reasons for Gradey to come back next year.



  • @Woodrow said in Other games:

    There are zero reasons for Gradey to come back next year.

    ZERO - - nothing really to gain. I’ve always said a player a 1st round draft pick - - why take the chance coming back to College and getting yourself hurt with a possible serious injury / season ending injury- -and there goes your 1st round status - -hell possibly NBA career. - -FOR WHAT? - -one more year of College



  • @drgnslayr said in Other games:

    @Texas-Hawk-10

    I agree it’s a weak draft but whether weak or not, it’s the quality of the player and how they fit into the team that determines their first contract.

    I don’t buy that at all… that he isn’t a lock for a lottery pick next year. Aren’t you seeing how much improvement he is making in his complete game since January?

    He’ll come back next fall and will have added considerable strength. A stronger Gradey is outright frightening. And his skills level will jump in leaps and bounds.

    I think you have misjudged his potential for improvement… and the reason he would go lottery this year isn’t based on his current playing status. He’s still nowhere near playing on a NBA court today. If he goes as a lottery pick it will be based on his potential… which is clearly there.

    A lot of reputable mock prediction sites have Dick as a top 10 pick now. His deficiencies that you pointed out are physical based ones, not skill based ones. It’s much easier to develop physically in the NBA where you focus full time on development. Personal trainers, dietitians, and stuff like that year round as opposed to the restrictions the NCAA places on schools in that regard. Even going to the G-League doesn’t have the stigma it once did and the level of competition there is still much better than it would be at KU. There’s a reason it’s almost unheard of for projected lottery picks to return to school. There’s also a much higher risk of his draft stock dropping which would cost Gradey millions as opposed to jumping up a couple of spots and not significantly increasing his pay.

    The risk isn’t worth it for Gradey to come back and potentially jeopardize his future to be drafted a couple of spots higher.



  • Gradey never won a ring like his teammates. He might want one himself and next year could bring back the same team with another chance if they don’t win it this year.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10

    I don’t think he jeopardizes his stock by coming back… except for the small chance he has an injury that really gimps him up.

    I think he takes a bigger risk of injury jumping to the league when he isn’t physical enough yet. He’ll get bounced around by men, even in G-league.

    I do agree that the stigma isn’t there with G-league now.

    I see his stock climbing considerably if he stays here another year, unless he’s a Top 5 pick this year.

    He is a kid who grew up loving KU basketball. In the future, his memory of his “college days” is basically a memory of a “college day” if he goes OAD. In the long run, what exactly does he gain by leaving one year early? I see more potential of him to receive big-time hype next year, like Och did, regardless of our title win last year.

    Maybe it helps to go this year if we reach the Final Four… and for Gradey, he can say he truly had the KU experience.



  • @wissox said in Other games:

    Gradey never won a ring like his teammates. He might want one himself and next year could bring back the same team with another chance if they don’t win it this year.

    Next year will be insane if some of our newbies really contribute:

    https://www.on3.com/college/kansas-jayhawks/news/elmarko-jackson-breaks-down-kansas-incoming-class-jamari-mcdowell-chris-johnson/



  • I don’t see Gradey as some kind of marginal NBA prospect like many seem to.

    I see him as a future NBA star once he rounds out his game and he’s taken big steps already this year.

    It is wrong for him to think desperate thoughts like he’s only a marginal NBA player. He is the real deal. IMO… his best development is to not jump too fast in basketball worlds. Master this level then jump. Play with players still near your level while you strengthen your body and develop your skills.

    He should be enjoying this time in his life. You only do college once! Comparing that to going OAD… yes, he can work on his development with personal trainers, etc., but it isn’t exactly a fun time. It’s living half your life on runway tarmacs and checking in and out of hotels while dealing with all kinds of PR events and non-basketball things. Outside of having classes and homework, he can focus on basketball while in Lawrence. Completely more chilled environment for development. Not even close.

    He’s not a kid coming from a tough background where money really means survival. No way to compare him with some other players. He should start thinking of himself as valuable, and as someone so valuable wouldn’t his preference be to enjoy his college experience now!

    Sure worked for Och and CB!



  • @drgnslayr You nailed it, Gradey is a future star. I think the thing he needs most is to fill out his frame, so just time. As for working on skills he can do that year round with no classes and world class trainers in the NBA. His basketball skill development would be considerably faster without all the college nonsense.

    His personal growth will suffer. Look at previous OADs for examples of stunted maturity - better than the guys who jumped from HS, but just marginally. Gradey seemingly has had a very solid upbringing and support system making that less of a concern.

    Gradey is gone. I don’t like it, he would grow leaps and bounds next year under Self. A full off-season in the weights and conditioning program would be tremendous as well. It’s just not going to happen. He should collect around $12 million guaranteed in a 1st round rookie contract across his first 3 years. Then he’s into the second contract faster where the real money begins. By then his frame will be filled out and he should be established as a player. His current skills should translate very well to the NBA. It just his frame and maturity -basically he’s young is the only knock.



  • @drgnslayr There’s a huge difference between Dick and Agbaji and Braun. Gradey Dick already has an NBA skillset which is why he’s being projected as a top 10 pick in a lot of places. Agbaji and Braun each had significant holes in their games that kept them off draft boards that they had to show scouts they had addressed to be NBA caliber players.

    Would I love to see Gradey come back? Absolutely, but it isn’t going to happen and it would be foolish of Dick to come. The reasons to go far, far outweigh the reasons to return.



  • I would love for Dick to come back but I think he’ll be a lottery pick and should move on. I think his NBA game could be similar to Klay Thompson in terms of style of play and production, although I think he could be a better rebounder than Thompson because of his height. Thompson was taken with the 11th pick in the 1st round of the 2011 draft. That’s about where I see Dick being drafted, and maybe even a few spots higher.



  • Even without my selfish thoughts about getting him back…

    Maybe I’m just really KU and most of the players just see it as an opportunity to go pro.

    When I was at KU I had access to the floor at AFH most mornings and I took it. There wasn’t enough NBA money worth what I would have experienced wearing the uniform and having that experience.

    It’s all about the $$$ now. That is all you can say. An extra year to possibly make more. Puke!



  • @KirkIsMyHinrich

    I see that resemblance to Klay. I think Gradey has even more speed and flow with his shot. Klay maybe a bit more elevation.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10

    Foolish to come back? Come on… all about the $$$ only? So it sucks to have the college experience and more important to buy a house next year in a city somewhere you’ve never been and blend into a pro team on the bench?

    All because you may (or may not) enrich your bank account a bit more in the long run? You’ll bank $320 mil over your life instead of only $310 mil?

    It’s such a childish, frightening way to consider your life choices.



  • @COHawk @FarmerJayhawk one of the few towns smaller than the one I grew up in. Cracks me up when people say Manhattan has a small town feel. I from a town of 600 Manhattan has zero things in common with it.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 said in Other games:

    @drgnslayr There’s a huge difference between Dick and Agbaji and Braun. Gradey Dick already has an NBA skillset which is why he’s being projected as a top 10 pick in a lot of places. Agbaji and Braun each had significant holes in their games that kept them off draft boards that they had to show scouts they had addressed to be NBA caliber players.

    Would I love to see Gradey come back? Absolutely, but it isn’t going to happen and it would be foolish of Dick to come. The reasons to go far, far outweigh the reasons to return.

    Ya he isn’t coming back , not when your a projected lottery and he shouldn’t’. Hell doesn’t matt to me If I was him and was a projected lottery - - if the team that drafted me didn’t have me play - -I’m good I’ll sit back and collect my guarnteed money–lol - -na he won’t be back his time is in the NBA got quite a future I think



  • Guys have come back for more college. It’s not unheard of. Not everyone chases the almighty dollar. I know it’s a risk, but should the unthinkable happen, a guy with his stature in this state will work for the rest of his life in a lot of places. I don’t think he’s gonna be hurting. Plus he’s making money now with NIL and will continue to do so. NIL is a game changer for guys staying in school I’d think.

    I’d also think the whole KU experience is worth coming back for. It’s really possible you’ll not exceed it the rest of your basketball career in the NBA. Go in the draft and end up playing pro in a place like Sacramento or Minneapolis, or Detroit? Or play in the greatest arena in basketball as the BMOC? Sure money will help you comfortably live in each of those places, but the experience of playing in Lawrence? I’m betting he sticks.



  • Why we talking Gradey in “Other Games”?



  • @drgnslayr

    Gradey already has the rep as the best shooter in this draft class & the feedback on him has consistently been lottery for him. It’s always a risk coming back another year when your stock is this high. Selfishly I would love to see it but it’s really a no brainer for him right now.

    Yes, there is a big difference in $ between say the 14th in 5th picks on the rookie pay scale. Over 3 years it’s about a $9 million difference.

    He’s been the best freshman since Josh Jackson came through with 100% less drama attached to him. IMO, he’s got a great shot to go down as the best freshman to play at KU under Bill Self. We’ve had good one’s & he’s trending to put his name at the top, if he’s not already there. He’s really been the perfect fit here and selfishly I wish we’d have another year.



  • @dylans

    Defense has also been one of the main criticisms of Gradey at the next level. I agree physically he’ll have to grind it out to get much better.



  • He can become stronger and improve his D. Furthermore, he can improve on driving and finishing through contact.

    He is doing very well financially with NIL, does not need the cash now.



  • Houston’s schedule reminds me of a typical Gonzaga schedule or even Wichita St several years ago when it was in the Missouri Valley. Houston only has played 4 Q1 games, 3-1, while Kansas has played 18 Q1 games,13-5. Houston has only played 2 games against top 25 teams, Alabama and Virginia. Clearly, the folks voting in the polls aren’t taking into account the opponents the top teams are playing and beating; most of Houston’s conference wins are against teams that are .500 or below. Houston’s CV going into the tournament isn’t worthy of a #1 seed.



  • @stoptheflop With Houston, at least there is a track record of success the last 3 tournament years- 1 S16, 1 EE, and 1 FF. I agree 100% that our schedule is on another world compared to Houston. But there are many power 5 teams that are ranked that are playing cupcake schedules as well. Virginia - played 2 ranked teams since December. UCLA- played 2 teams currently ranked all year, and only 1 since Jan 1st. Purdue has played 3 teams currently ranked.

    Truth is, nobody can stand up to a B12 team’s schedule. I’m coming around to the idea that college basketball is inherently inequitable, but our saving grace is the fact we come out of the B12 as a lean, mean fightin’ machine. Our backs were against the wall, and we peeled off 5 straight wins in the toughest conference in college bb. Our ridiculously hard schedule certainly helped last year. To validate the #1 SOS, let’s go win another title.



  • @wissox When there are over 1,000 posts, there are bound to be a few random digressions!



  • @drgnslayr said in Other games:

    Even without my selfish thoughts about getting him back…

    Maybe I’m just really KU and most of the players just see it as an opportunity to go pro.

    When I was at KU I had access to the floor at AFH most mornings and I took it. There wasn’t enough NBA money worth what I would have experienced wearing the uniform and having that experience.

    It’s all about the $$$ now. That is all you can say. An extra year to possibly make more. Puke!

    You are projecting your priorities onto Gradey when you’re not in his position. It’s easy for all of us who are alums and weren’t high level athletes with pro sports level potential to tell someone to hang around and enjoy the college experience because none of us were HS POY’s, none of us were McDonald’s All-Americans, none of us were 5 star recruits, none of were projected lottery picks.

    Basketball is a business and these players make business decisions about their futures. So Gradey Dick is going to make a business decision after this season that getting a guaranteed $20-30 million on a rookie contract is life changing money, even for someone who comes from a financially stable background.

    Christian Braun grew up a die hard Jayhawk fan too and that still wasn’t enough to get him to come back for his senior season once he was developed enough to be an NBA prospect, and he was never a potential lottery pick. I use Braun as the example because he grew up a die hard KU fan like Gradey and came from a financially stable background like Gradey amd still made a business decision.



  • If there is anything that would make Gradey think twice (and its a longshot at best), it’s the fact the 2024 draft class could be a historically bad one. A lot will change in 12 months from now but its already being talked about in this way.


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