KU ROSTER 2026-27
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@kjayhawks2.0 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
This is getting very interesting and do we have the money for all of this? Guess if a few football players checks bounce it’s okay not like they’ve earned them at all in most cases.
From my limited understanding it's easier to raise money now for known quantities (can't get more known than Mel and TKR) at this stage if they want to be here than it is "mystery recruits" early in the process.
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While adding Tre is a no-brainer, I think Melvin's situation is more nuanced. There are likely two point guards already on the team with higher ceilings. Would we bench one of them to play the guy with a higher floor? Melvin is among my favorite transfers all time, and I really enjoyed watching his enthusiasm and determination, but his outside shooting just is not there. And if there's a chance to get a solid post player where we really need another guy, that seems to be the priority for the last slot. Farmer Jayhawk mentioned the chance of one of the current guys to shift into a manager role, but I just read something from Bill Self who said once the school uses scholarship money to pay tuition that that player is locked in for the year. So there's only one spot left. Self also mentioned that Melvin might actually decide to go elsewhere as there may not be much in the way of NIL money for him (or maybe playing time?) at KU.
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@MN-Hawk Definitely a tough one to sort out. I believed, all along, this day would come and Both Tre and Mel would obtain at least temporary approval. Both will be challenged, and I wouldn't be surprised if we go 1 for 2. I know Melvin's outside shooting is subpar, but when looking at this team, maybe what we need most from him is his junkyard attitude and energy. I'm thinking we should have solid trey shooting this year. Actually... I wouldn't mind seeing Melvin be our 6th man. Imagine that energy he will bring off the bench! Looking at Melvin's stats... he's solid, except for outside shooting. Melvin is a team cheerleader. I can think of so many Self teams that needed someone who could spark the team! Just my opinion.
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I was wondering if he’d be satisfied being a 6th man. Perfect role for him to my mind.
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I can see why people say Melvin would be perfect as a 6th man. He certainly would be. However, I think that's unlikely to happen. If Melvin were to join the team, he would start unless Blyden turns out to be really really good right away and takes the starting point guard role from him
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They need a big man more than a PG if you have to choose.
If they find a way to get both bending whatever rules, than Melvin starts and plays a ton and it is what it is. Lowers our ceiling imo, but he would be the heart of the team.
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This post is deleted! -
The dog may be back it officially
https://x.com/KUHoops/status/2106773996716863893 -
For added context, last night Melvin Council posted on social media that he would announce his choice this morning between Kentucky, LSU, and "Mitchigan". There was some suspicion at the time that he may have been trolling.
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I guess that means neither Dajuan nor KJ were available.
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He was trolling socials
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Really mixed feelings about this development. Council arguably raises the floor for the team, but also lowers the ceiling. Whose minutes does he take? Kinney, a 5* recruit who is a legit PG? Blyden a combo guard, who also comes from a non-Power 5 conference, who had better stats his freshmen year than Council has had. Definitely a much superior shooter. Same with White. High floor but not particularly high ceiling - his production has been consistent throughout his career. He is a solid role player. Is he really an upgrade on a second year Kohl or Parker?
Depth has been a chronic problem in recent years. That shouldn't be the case this year. But depth only matters if you take advantage of it.
I think this all can only work if HCBS completely changes colors and will play 10 guys significant minutes. Big and small line-ups. Constant pressure with fresh bodies. "Starters" - Dawes, White, Stokes, Blyden and Council? Second line (thinking hockey analog) - Mybia/Reeves, Kohl, Barnett/Adkins, Parker, Kinney? I would really like at least Kohl and Kinney to get meaningful playing time to be able to develop.
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Yea, this seems to be the year to expand your rotation for sure.
I count 11 guys who should play decent minutes.
That leaves out Trent Perry, Luke Barnett, Atticus Richmond, Will Thengvall and Grant Mordini.
The others seemingly deserve PT.
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I could get behind the feeling that Melvin does not raise our ceiling, but to say he lowers it is categorically false. Many many great teams, including some that have won national championships, have started guards who are not good 3-pt shooters.
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@Jayhawk_69 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
I could get behind the feeling that Melvin does not raise our ceiling, but to say he lowers it is categorically false. Many many great teams, including some that have won national championships, have started guards who are not good 3-pt shooters.
I don't think that Council's ceiling is particularly high. IMO, both Blyden and Kinney have higher ceilings, which was my point.
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@DCHawker That is probably true, but it doesn't mean that Council limits the team'a ceiling
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@DCHawker did u see Tre play summer ball?
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@crimsonblu22 Just a few highlights. I really hope he can step it up. But for 4 years in college with 4 different schools and conferences, he's been basically the same player. His numbers last year were nearly the same as his sophomore year (better 3pt%).
I like him and I like Council. But the fact is that with both of them and the #2 in the draft, we just weren't very good.
So, we replay White and Council. Swap Stokes for Peterson. Is Dawes/Mbiya/Reeves better than Flory? Blyden is probably a step up. But is that enough to turn a 20 win team into a 30 win one? Maybe with a much, much better and deeper bench - but again, only if we take advantage of that depth...
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@Jayhawk_69 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
I could get behind the feeling that Melvin does not raise our ceiling, but to say he lowers it is categorically false. Many many great teams, including some that have won national championships, have started guards who are not good 3-pt shooters.
He is inefficient on offense as a whole. I could live with the 3pt shooting, it’s the 4/17 games with 12 missed floaters.
IMO he has to take a major step forward in shot selection (or shot making).
