Kyle Cuffe



  • Is officially redshirting this year. Helps clear the air if he decides to look elsewhere after the season.



  • Bill shot from the hip yesterday on this. Basically said he wouldn’t be playing anyway. Pretty sure Cuffe and Martin will be gone.



  • @BShark said in Kyle Cuffe:

    Bill shot from the hip yesterday on this. Basically said he wouldn’t be playing anyway. Pretty sure Cuffe and Martin will be gone.

    Cam Martin is the only player KU is losing based on eligibility as he is a super senior. Everyone else is eligible to return based solely on eligibility. With the incoming class a d loss of a scholarship, 4 players minimum will be leaving the program. We know Martin, Wilson, and Dick will be 3 of them. Cuffe seems like a strong candidate to transfer as does Zach Clemence at this point.

    MJ Rice and Zuby will be interesting to keep and eye on as well. Will Rice be a Quentin Grimes situation of needing a fresh start elsewhere and if KJ Adams stays as the 5 long term for KU, combined with Udeh’s development, does Zuby stay around as the third 5 when he’s good enough to get big minutes at other P5 schools?

    Also, with the recruits coming in, do Yesufu and Pettiford both stay? I could easily see one of those two transferring out as well. Pettiford has had injury issues each season and is a below average offensive player and Yesufu is a below average shooter who’s never met a shot he didn’t like which isn’t a great combination. So do one of those two end up leaving as well with Jackson and Chris Johnson coming in likely both ready to play from day 1.

    The scariest thing about next year for KU fans is going to be scoring. I could realistically see a starting 5 of Harris, Jackson, McCullar, Adams, amd Udeh which is it happened isn’t scoring a lot of points. Scoring is absolutely going to be the biggest hole on this team next and needs to be the absolute top priority for Self this off-season amd hope it works out better than Remy did for 75% of the season. If not, this team could easily end up bottom half of the B12 next season.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 https://twitter.com/JordanGuskey/status/1628852172816277504

    I do think they get this done for Cam and he transfers somewhere to actually play next year.

    I’ll wait to see the final roster but I think they will grab a scorer for the starting 4 spot in the portal. Zach and Joe are guys I could definitely see leaving as well. MJ it would be foolish not to think he could, but word has been positive regarding him sticking around. Idk if it’s fluff or not. I do think Zuby will at least stick it out for one more year but we will see there. As much as Self would love McCullar back I think we only get one year based on recent hearings.

    Don’t think you can start Adams next to Udeh but if anyone would do it, it’s Self.



  • True , but also I mean only logical if he came back now and even did play just really a wasted year of eligibility, but with Jackson coming in plus others we have probably just not gonna work out. - -To bad too I really liked the kid, think he has some skills just the wrong place -wrong time as it turned out I reckon



  • @Texas-Hawk-10

    A Bill Self team will never be bottom half of the big 12



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 said in Kyle Cuffe:

    @BShark said in Kyle Cuffe:

    Bill shot from the hip yesterday on this. Basically said he wouldn’t be playing anyway. Pretty sure Cuffe and Martin will be gone.

    Cam Martin is the only player KU is losing based on eligibility as he is a super senior. Everyone else is eligible to return based solely on eligibility. With the incoming class a d loss of a scholarship, 4 players minimum will be leaving the program. We know Martin, Wilson, and Dick will be 3 of them. Cuffe seems like a strong candidate to transfer as does Zach Clemence at this point.

    MJ Rice and Zuby will be interesting to keep and eye on as well. Will Rice be a Quentin Grimes situation of needing a fresh start elsewhere and if KJ Adams stays as the 5 long term for KU, combined with Udeh’s development, does Zuby stay around as the third 5 when he’s good enough to get big minutes at other P5 schools?

    Also, with the recruits coming in, do Yesufu and Pettiford both stay? I could easily see one of those two transferring out as well. Pettiford has had injury issues each season and is a below average offensive player and Yesufu is a below average shooter who’s never met a shot he didn’t like which isn’t a great combination. So do one of those two end up leaving as well with Jackson and Chris Johnson coming in likely both ready to play from day 1.

    The scariest thing about next year for KU fans is going to be scoring. I could realistically see a starting 5 of Harris, Jackson, McCullar, Adams, amd Udeh which is it happened isn’t scoring a lot of points. Scoring is absolutely going to be the biggest hole on this team next and needs to be the absolute top priority for Self this off-season amd hope it works out better than Remy did for 75% of the season. If not, this team could easily end up bottom half of the B12 next season.

    pretty solid post. Agree think Cam is gone , really nothing shocking there I think between Joe & Bobby I think my gut leans more to Joe leaving then Bobby , I think Bobby just kinda toughs it out and takes any minutes he gets. -I dunno also I think you could very well be right , the question is which one - -between Zach & Zuby - -for some reason again I feel I lean more to Zach then Zuby - -I’ve just had this sense that Zach will transfer out looking for more minutes , of course same could be said for Zuby and yet I think he sticks at least for possibly one more year if nothing else to see how things play out. The kid does have some talent , hustles really well I just don’t know. Yet I just think Zach is gone. -As far as the possibility of MJ - Good chance he leaves too. I just don’t think he has the patience to wait for playing time , or the discipline I think he is a kid where he was THE STAR and has had a hard time finding his role here and accepting the idea if you are not willing to play D your not going to get a lot of minutes. - -Yet maybe a 50/50 just not sure



  • @BShark said in Kyle Cuffe:

    @Texas-Hawk-10 https://twitter.com/JordanGuskey/status/1628852172816277504

    I do think they get this done for Cam and he transfers somewhere to actually play next year.

    I’ll wait to see the final roster but I think they will grab a scorer for the starting 4 spot in the portal. Zach and Joe are guys I could definitely see leaving as well. MJ it would be foolish not to think he could, but word has been positive regarding him sticking around. Idk if it’s fluff or not. I do think Zuby will at least stick it out for one more year but we will see there. As much as Self would love McCullar back I think we only get one year based on recent hearings.

    Don’t think you can start Adams next to Udeh but if anyone would do it, it’s Self.

    Dam buddy I apologize cause I hadn’t read your response to Texas – Hawk but reading yours now - -sounds like we are pretty spot on the same about the players and possibility of who leaves - -who stays. - -I too am more or less thinking that Zuby may very well try and stick it our one more year and see what happens - -I hope so. I didn’t mention on my reply but I too think Kevin is gone after this year - love his defense - kind 50/50 on rather I’d have him stay or let him go after the year - -if he did come back no problem for me , pretty decent rebounder and his defense is really good but offensively w might be better elsewhere.



  • Latest updates to team health

    Zach can play, not 100%.

    Zuby can play, closer to 100% then Zach.

    Joe has been out the last few days, sounds like he’s sick/cold. Didn’t practice Thursday, hoping he does Friday.



  • @BShark With Self talking about how important experience is, I can’t see him willingly letting McCullar go. McCullar’s rebounding and defense alone make him an invaluable piece for any Bill Self team, let alone next season when KU will be significantlylackingin experience. With McCullar not being an NBA prospect right now, he needs to come back and Self is who will give him the best chance at getting drafted in 2024. If he gets his outside shooting up to 35% next year, he’ll be a draft pick.



  • There is actual talk of McCullar having a chance in this year’s draft. He may go unsigned, but he’s been gaining attention as of late where he might entice someone in the 2nd round or get one of those 2-way deals.

    Has the Covid year to use so NIL could be a factor here along with potentially having an even bigger role on next season’s team. Perhaps he gets feedback again that pushes him to grind another year?

    I’m not expecting he returns at this point but would absolutely love if he did. I think this one will be worth monitoring.



  • @BeddieKU23 said in Kyle Cuffe:

    There is actual talk of McCullar having a chance in this year’s draft. He may go unsigned, but he’s been gaining attention as of late where he might entice someone in the 2nd round or get one of those 2-way deals.

    Has the Covid year to use so NIL could be a factor here along with potentially having an even bigger role on next season’s team. Perhaps he gets feedback again that pushes him to grind another year?

    I’m not expecting he returns at this point but would absolutely love if he did. I think this one will be worth monitoring.

    Is there a comparable player in the NBA for McCullar?



  • And it’s hard to say if we’ll ever miss Cuffe. Never really had a chance to evaluate his game. He certainly came in with some East Coast hype.



  • @rockchalkjayhawk

    Kenpom lists Theo Pinson & Kent Bazemore as comps. Pinson went undrafted but was a starter on UNC’s title team in 2017 and has found a role in the NBA. I recently heard some others that are in the league but can’t recall their names.



  • @BeddieKU23 said in Kyle Cuffe:

    There is actual talk of McCullar having a chance in this year’s draft. He may go unsigned, but he’s been gaining attention as of late where he might entice someone in the 2nd round or get one of those 2-way deals.

    Has the Covid year to use so NIL could be a factor here along with potentially having an even bigger role on next season’s team. Perhaps he gets feedback again that pushes him to grind another year?

    I’m not expecting he returns at this point but would absolutely love if he did. I think this one will be worth monitoring.

    I’ve seen McCullar generally rated somewhere in the 70’s as far as draft prospects go so he is absolutely on the NBA’s radar and I’m not arguing that he isn’t or shouldn’t be.

    NIL is the game changer for players like McCullar. He’d likely get a Summer Leahue invite and a G-League deal, potentially 2-way deal. A 2-way deal is worth just over $500k regardless of how much time a player spends in the NBA or G-League now. McCullar’s NIL deals at KU are likely not too far off of that so that’s likely not a huge incentive. If he goes the Agbaji and Wilson route of improving his shooting and he gets his outside shot to around 35%, he likely becomes a late 1st round pick or early 2nd round pick similarto how Wilsonis projectedright now. If he sneaks into the end of 1st round, that’s $3-4 million guaranteed for McCullar making it a much wiser decision to return. Even as a 2nd round pick, the rookie minimum is a little over $1 million still making that route the better option long term for McCullar than leaving after this season.

    I absolutely believe McCullar should and will declare for the draft again this season and go through that process again and I will always advocate from that position. Scouts are going to love his rebounding and that he can guard multiple positions in the NBA. Guys like that though are a dime a dozen and usually bring some other skill set with them. What other skill does McCullar have that’s NBA caliber? I don’t see one with him now. If he develops his outside shot to get to 35% next season, suddenly he becomes a 3&D NBA caliber player.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 said in Kyle Cuffe:

    @BShark With Self talking about how important experience is, I can’t see him willingly letting McCullar go. McCullar’s rebounding and defense alone make him an invaluable piece for any Bill Self team, let alone next season when KU will be significantlylackingin experience. With McCullar not being an NBA prospect right now, he needs to come back and Self is who will give him the best chance at getting drafted in 2024. If he gets his outside shooting up to 35% next year, he’ll be a draft pick.

    I would agree that he wants McCullar back if given the choice himself.


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