Other games
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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.
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
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 $$$ starts much higher.
No, this is a relatively weak draft once you get past the top 5 of so. Gradey coming this year is a virtual lock to be a lottery pick, not so much next season. He absolutely should not return next season and should go play in the NBA next season.
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I agree it’s a weak draft but whether weak or not, it’s the quality of the player and how they fit into the team that determines their first contract.
I don’t buy that at all… that he isn’t a lock for a lottery pick next year. Aren’t you seeing how much improvement he is making in his complete game since January?
He’ll come back next fall and will have added considerable strength. A stronger Gradey is outright frightening. And his skills level will jump in leaps and bounds.
I think you have misjudged his potential for improvement… and the reason he would go lottery this year isn’t based on his current playing status. He’s still nowhere near playing on a NBA court today. If he goes as a lottery pick it will be based on his potential… which is clearly there.
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
With Gradey coming on like he is, I am seeing potential as a lottery pick now… I just hope he doesn’t go and values his experience in Lawrence enough to stay.
Does he necessarily make more money by leaving early? I know it means another year at NBA pay and I’m sure he won’t go unless he’s sure of a guaranteed contract.
As fast as he is improving… he could be a for sure Top 5 pick next year. So he’s a year later but his $$$ 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
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This one has him at 6.
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There are zero reasons for Gradey to come back next year.
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@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
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
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.
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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.
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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.
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@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:
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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!
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@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.
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@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.
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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.
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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 $$$ now. That is all you can say. An extra year to possibly make more. Puke!
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I see that resemblance to Klay. I think Gradey has even more speed and flow with his shot. Klay maybe a bit more elevation.
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Foolish to come back? Come on… all about the $$$ 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.
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@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.
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@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
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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.
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Why we talking Gradey in “Other Games”?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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@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.
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@wissox When there are over 1,000 posts, there are bound to be a few random digressions!
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@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.
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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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@BeddieKU23 said in Other games:
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.
Still not worth it because 2023 is very weak as well beyond the top 3.
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You are right… and I am projecting my concepts onto his decision. But it is a general issue he has to address… what his college experience is worth to him. Obviously, my concepts are unique to me.
Your comment about basketball being business is spot on. It is definitely a business decision. But it is a life decision, too, which does involve lifestyle. For example… I have an investment adviser. He helps me with investment decisions… but he does it within my lifestyle desires. I picked him because he told me from the beginning he wanted to know me as a person before helping me make business decisions. I know I stepped out on a ledge here with this topic. I did so to emphasize his decisions now are quality of life, too. You were wise to emphasize the business aspect because that is a huge part of this decision, too. Oh and… business/$$$ is obviously piercing into lifestyle, too!
I don’t think Christian was in the same boat. First… he was able to get multiple seasons under his belt to get more of the “Jayhawk experience.” He tested the waters first and knew what he had to work on and he did. He wasn’t near at this level of marketability in the NBA during his freshman year. And… he left after we won a title! He did get the full Jayhawk experience and left while probably peaking his marketability. I definitely think he should have gone when he did!
Which gets to… let’s say Gradey wants to have the full Jayhawk experience. I think we can all agree if we win it again this year, that will be accomplished. But what if we only make it to the Elite 8? What if we fizzle out after the Sweet 16? Does he leave with a stale taste in his mouth? So the guy that grew up wearing crimson/blue now leaves on a sad note and leaves no real legacy at KU? Someone mentioned JoJo… JoJo really didn’t leave a legacy at KU. But he was an African man we stole out of Florida who also probably had more financial needs and possibly immigration needs. Even though he left KU banged up and with a failed March, I didn’t lose a blink of sleep with him leaving because he didn’t have crimson/blue in his blood.
Guess the question with Gradey is… how much does he value his KU legacy?
Second question… what is the anticipated difference in his bottom financial line if he leaves this year versus next year? I think that can only be properly assessed by a good agent who puts players’ interests above their own.
Is it possible he comes out better financially by waiting another year? I agree the draft will be more competitive next year. Does that mean Gradey doesn’t keep up by improving enough to match the higher competition in next year’s draft? This is an area I feel very strongly about. From what I have seen him do this year and improve I see him making monster leaps next year. I’m not concerned with him keeping up with a better draft.
Concerning injury risks… I see it being higher if he goes early. He will be thrown into long seasons against tougher players playing more aggressively. I don’t see it being so different from the NFL and college players leaving early. Gradey’s body is developing… not only from working out. His core strength is also determined by his age. I’d like to see stats on how many rookies get hurt during their first year in the league.
BTW: I appreciate developing depth in this discussion. Thank you for keeping it challenging!
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@drgnslayr Braun did test the waters after his sophomore year and the feedback he got was that he wasn’t good enough to be drafted by the NBA at that point which is why he came back. As soon as Braun received the feedback that he would be drafted, even if he wasn’t a lock to be a 1st round pick, he still left despite knowing 2023 would be a weaker draft than 2022 and having a chance to become a lottery pick. It’s the same reason Jalen Wilson is still here, his feedback the last 2 years was that he wasn’t good enough for the NBA. Gradey won’t get that feedback. He’s going to get the feedback that he will be a lottery pick and most likely a top 10 pick.
There’s a non zero chance Gradey hurts his draft stock by coming back next season due to injury, lack of further development, the NCAA dropping a hammer on KU, KU being significantly worse team next season.
Even if Dick gets injured in the NBA next season due to the length of the season, that’s an adjustment that every college to NBA player goes through when they they transition from playing 2 games a week for 5 months to playing 3-4 games per week for close to 7 months. The NBA also has better full time health care and trainers than college programs do that will help Gradey make that adjustment. I’d personally rather make that transition and adjustment knowing I have a guaranteed $20-30 million coming my way.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Other games:
@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.
Just to be clear, you are ALSO projecting your priorities onto Gradey when you are not in his position. You don’t know if the business and money are graders priorities any more than @drgnslayr knows his commitment to having a legacy as a jayhawk. If anything, @drgnslayr has more of an idea based on everything we’ve heard Gradey himself say. He’s talked about wanting to win a championship, wanting to leave his mark on the program. We’ve never heard him talk about finances or business as a motivating factor in any of his decision making.
You naught be right about making a business decision at the end of the year but he could just as easily make a decision based on other factors.
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Happy we are going this deep into something… it’s been tough to go deep when we have such a good team that responds well to coaching, has a great attitude, and for most of the year has good energy on the court. Self nailed it by calling this team overachievers.
Think back on years when we had so much to complain about and discuss deeply!
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I’m strictly stating some ideas only. Not trying to say “my way or the highway.” I usually agree with @Texas-Hawk-10 and do so in most of above.
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
Happy we are going this deep into something… it’s been tough to go deep when we have such a good team that responds well to coaching, has a great attitude, and for most of the year has good energy on the court. Self nailed it by calling this team overachievers.
Think back on years when we had so much to complain about and discuss deeply!
Good point. And honestly I think Gradey and Kevin are the biggest reasons for this. They are the newcomers. They are the ones supposed to be having adjustment issues. Supposed to be struggling to figure out what exactly it takes to be successful within a bill self coached team. But they seemed to just “get it” right away.
Our only real gripe early was the 5 position vacancy. But KJ stepped up SO big rattling of a dozen straight double digit scoring games that it was hard to complain about that anymore.
The bench has been suspect, but Ernest seems to have figured it out enough to give us 10-15 a game.
I thought Rice would be a talking point all year but he’s never really showed enough for anyone to think he needs to be getting big minutes.
Every issue that pops up seems to be solved relatively quickly. Seems like a good group of coachable guys. Credit to all of them but big props to Wilson and Harris for leading this team down the right path. They’ve walked it before so maybe it’s just easier this time…
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@benshawks08 said in Other games:
@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Other games:
@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.
Just to be clear, you are ALSO projecting your priorities onto Gradey when you are not in his position. You don’t know if the business and money are graders priorities any more than @drgnslayr knows his commitment to having a legacy as a jayhawk. If anything, @drgnslayr has more of an idea based on everything we’ve heard Gradey himself say. He’s talked about wanting to win a championship, wanting to leave his mark on the program. We’ve never heard him talk about finances or business as a motivating factor in any of his decision making.
You naught be right about making a business decision at the end of the year but he could just as easily make a decision based on other factors.
I’m actually not projecting my priorities onto Gradey. I’m looking at the trends of what history says based on what hundreds of other people in Gradey’s position have done in the past. People in Gradey’s position who are already projected lottery picks rarely maintain, let alone improve their draft stock by returning to school for another year which is why it’s very rare for a player in that position to return to school.
Being a lottery pick means whatever team drafts or trades for Dick will have a significant financial incentive in helping Gradey continue his development as a player. If he returns and slips to the second round, that financial incentive is gone because a team no longer has to give Gradey a guaranteed contract and doesn’t have the same financial incentive to maximize the chances of development.
My personal opinion is that I’d love to see Gradey back because his scoring abilities would be a huge asset to a team that’s going to enter the off season with major question marks in that area next season, even more than this past off season. And Gradey is someone that could conceivably average 20+ next season because he’d have to carry the scoring load next season. If he succeeded in that, he very well could be a top 5 pick. But history says that’s not likely what would end happening though.
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Lots of discussion in here about the lack of bench minutes in games. I think @Texas-Hawk-10 believed/believes our bench needs more PT. So do I. But I also understood why Self pushed his main 5 so hard… so they would gel into something special.
Hard to blame bench when they don’t get minutes to grow into roles.
I feel like we are peaking at the right time… Still some games to lift up even higher.
Still wish we would get more out of our bench. Not sure about Rice. I know injuries hampered him this year. He shows very short sparks of hope. He definitely has some strength behind him which has been shown when he fights opponents for the ball on rebounds and loose balls. But he still seems out of rhythm out there and I think he just needs more PT to establish his game.
Ernest is becoming a beast! His arms are long and his hands are quick and strong… and his mind sees things and anticipates. It wouldn’t surprise me if he saved us from a loss moving forward this year! Love how he changes the game when replacing KJ.
I think our guys now realize the way to change a game positively is to focus hardest on defense and then our defense will help our offense… specifically on run outs. Rebounding is important, too, and I just lump that into our defense because we don’t have defensive success without getting stops.
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
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.
I learned my lesson with Embiid. Braun was another superfan of the program I just knew would come back. My batting avg not too good on these. It wouldn’t be unheard of for Gradey to come back, but passing on a lottery selection would be too tall an order, me thinks. I would like to pleasantly surprised if he did, but I seriously doubt he does return.
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I’m not sure my batting average on guessing who comes back is .500.
But heck, in the majors, anything over .300 makes you an all-star! lol
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It wouldn’t surprise me if Gradey has the toughest decision on whether to go than any player we have ever had.
I feel like he wants “legacy status” but because of his performance, the league will make it really tough to come back.
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
Lots of discussion in here about the lack of bench minutes in games. I think @Texas-Hawk-10 believed/believes our bench needs more PT. So do I. But I also understood why Self pushed his main 5 so hard… so they would gel into something special.
Hard to blame bench when they don’t get minutes to grow into roles.
I feel like we are peaking at the right time… Still some games to lift up even higher.
Still wish we would get more out of our bench. Not sure about Rice. I know injuries hampered him this year. He shows very short sparks of hope. He definitely has some strength behind him which has been shown when he fights opponents for the ball on rebounds and loose balls. But he still seems out of rhythm out there and I think he just needs more PT to establish his game.
Ernest is becoming a beast! His arms are long and his hands are quick and strong… and his mind sees things and anticipates. It wouldn’t surprise me if he saved us from a loss moving forward this year! Love how he changes the game when replacing KJ.
I think our guys now realize the way to change a game positively is to focus hardest on defense and then our defense will help our offense… specifically on run outs. Rebounding is important, too, and I just lump that into our defense because we don’t have defensive success without getting stops.
Agree on the defense. My favorite nugget was hearing that Jalen has taken to telling the guys “THEY DONT SCORE AGAIN” in pivotal moments.
Listening to the Mitch and teahan podcast where they brought on ochai was cool. Ochai talked about how that team would get into the mindset that “not even God could score on us” for a few key possessions.
With Kev, Juan and KJ, this team could still get there.
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Your last post is spot on.
I just don’t think Gradey fits the typical mold. I’ve never seen a guy adjust his game like he has in his first year.
Next year should be perfect for him to be counted on for points and to have teams hit him with challenges like double-teams and weakside help.
His next leap will mean he becomes super efficient at hitting shots while being grill guarded. When he makes that step in college it isn’t much of a leap in the pros to do the same thing.
He’s starting to get it as in almost every game now he shows sweet moves to create scoring space. His moves look almost as slick, effortless, and smooth as his shot. His moves now are strictly finesse… put some strength behind him and WATCH OUT!
It was great to hear Self compliment him on his shot and put him into his own category for a freshman. He can soon extend that compliment to include any past player he has ever coached!
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It’s easy to compare Gradey’s game with several pro players. I like the Klay comparison.
Strangely… as a college player… I keep connecting his game to Larry Bird, even though their games so differed. I’m still trying to figure out why my tuition is thinking this way. I caught 10-15 of Larry’s college games live and courtside.
Maybe it’s when we are seeing Gradey pull off a quick, effortless move on a defender and score. Bird used to do that. He made it look like he wasn’t even trying. The ease in which Gradey step-hooks around a defender to get shooting space… or follows his shot for a putback… or comes in on a rebound and tips out to other guys… even some of his drive finishes at the rim where the ball leaves his hands before the defender jumps.
I’m figuring this thought out while I write… maybe the connection to Bird is… the game has slowed down for him and he’s seeing moves ahead of defenders.
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@drgnslayr Shot form is probably a big reason for the Bird comp. Dick has that high overhead release on his shot that Bird had so that might be where it comes from.
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I’m figuring it out right now.
I think I have it figured out.
Bird used to make defenders look dumb and incapable.
Gradey is starting to do that to defenders.
lol
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@drgnslayr said in Other games:
Lots of discussion in here about the lack of bench minutes in games. I think @Texas-Hawk-10 believed/believes our bench needs more PT. So do I. But I also understood why Self pushed his main 5 so hard… so they would gel into something special.
Hard to blame bench when they don’t get minutes to grow into roles.
I feel like we are peaking at the right time… Still some games to lift up even higher.
Still wish we would get more out of our bench. Not sure about Rice. I know injuries hampered him this year. He shows very short sparks of hope. He definitely has some strength behind him which has been shown when he fights opponents for the ball on rebounds and loose balls. But he still seems out of rhythm out there and I think he just needs more PT to establish his game.
Ernest is becoming a beast! His arms are long and his hands are quick and strong… and his mind sees things and anticipates. It wouldn’t surprise me if he saved us from a loss moving forward this year! Love how he changes the game when replacing KJ.
I think our guys now realize the way to change a game positively is to focus hardest on defense and then our defense will help our offense… specifically on run outs. Rebounding is important, too, and I just lump that into our defense because we don’t have defensive success without getting stops.
Heard some stats on Udeh - - - - in the 22 games Udeh has play he has 14 blocks ( which when you consider the first few games he played in wasn’t very many minutes ) - - -so 14 blocks is pretty good. - -Think about this I’ve heard both - -Heard Udeh has a 7’4 wingspan - -then I heard that he has a 7’2 wispan either way that’s monster wing span. They put in perspective today saying look at it this way Shaq is 7’2 - so his wingspan is as wide aas Suaq tall ---- crazy. - Then the other stat that is pretty dam good for a big man in his 22 games he has 17 steals is what they said - -crazy good
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Even if Dick is not a lottery pick he will in all likelihood be a 1st rd selection. That=guaranteed contract.
The chances of getting hurt in his rookie year are irrelevant. Getting hurt as a KU soph could destroy his career. I hate it, but leaving is a no-brainer, especially with the NCAA trying to figure out how to take over the NIL crap. (We know the NCAA changing anything is always with the goal of maximizing their own revenues. Players’ NIL could be severely reduced pending time-consuming judicial decisions otherwise.)
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@mayjay said in Other games:
Even if Dick is not a lottery pick he will in all likelihood be a 1st rd selection. That=guaranteed contract.
The chances of getting hurt in his rookie year are irrelevant. Getting hurt as a KU soph could destroy his career. I hate it, but leaving is a no-brainer, especially with the NCAA trying to figure out how to take over the NIL crap. (We know the NCAA changing anything is always with the goal of maximizing their own revenues. Players’ NIL could be severely reduced pending time-consuming judicial decisions otherwise.)
What I’ve been trying to say.he is for sure 1st round - -think 1st ten picks are lottery right ? - -If it is - he will for sure be lottery. - If not and still 1st round pick then he has a guaranteed contract.
He takes that chance comes back for another year - like you say he gets hurt it very easily could ruin his NBA career his future, Why would you take that chance when you know you have a guaranteed contract , no matter how much you like College life- - just a no brainer, If he is a lottery pick or 1st round - -would lay anything that Coach would tell him to go - just like JO , Jo - - Jo , jo wanted to come back but Coach said no - -your not doing any good here talking about his career. - Grady is gonna do well in the NBA
