Lawson Brothers Coming to KU
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The Lawson Brothers …coming to an arena near you. RCJHGKU.
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Another radio spot with their dad. Starts about 30 minutes in. Some interesting tidbits: Dedric liked KU even back in HS, they know Newman and Vick pretty well. The Lawsons have known Vick since the kids were 6 or 7 years old. Bill Self was in Memphis YESTERDAY. Basically no one knew about this and it didn’t leak. Amazing in this day and age… Lawsons know Tarik Black. Dedric called Tarik to ask him about Kansas and Tarik of course was very positive about KU and said he wished he would have played 4 years under Self.
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@JayHawkFanToo Vang and Young were not on scholarship last season.
2016-17 scholarship players were:
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Frank Mason
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Lagerald Vick
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Sam Cunliffe/Evan Maxwell
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Devonte Graham
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Svi Mykhailiuk
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Josh Jackson
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Malik Newman
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Carlton Bragg
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Dwight Coleby
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Landen Lucas
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Udoka Azubuike
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Mitch Lightfoot
Sam Cunliffe and Evan Maxwell essentially shared the same scholarship since Sam came in when Evan left. That left one open scholarship last year which was probably left unused last year since the only walk on senior last year was Tyler Self and he didn’t need the scholarship.
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I think the potential for signing other family members in the future is a definite plus… but I seriously doubt Bill is willing to take on two recruits that can’t offer something first. The #1 reason to bring in these transfers is to help us now, and Bill sees that potential and thinks it is worth it to lock up two unplayable scholarships next year in order to have a future with these brothers. Sitting a year will make a monster difference in their games, so throw out any current negatives on athleticism, etc. They both have the length in height and reach.
I do believe there were some attitude issues at Memphis, but that may have easily been caused by the Memphis system, which is in no way near the level of Kansas basketball. The Lawson brothers are going to receive all the love of the Jayhawk family and that makes a monster difference with many players. Look at what both of these brothers are facing; many already like to look past them on to their future family members coming into college basketball. I know I would have a difficult attitude if I wasn’t receiving the respect I deserved. Memphis just isn’t Kansas.
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@drgnslayr I agree with this one. The Lawson’s are not coming here because of their brothers and cousin. These guys who will likely start as soon as they are eligible or at the very worst, be the first wing and big off the bench. They are not occupying scholarship 12 and 13 once they are eligible in the hopes of their younger relatives coming here. That was the sole purpose I believe of bring Evan Maxwell in last spring/summer was because of the potential of his younger brother. Maxwell was never going to be more than the last big at KU, but at the time, there was speculation that his brother could develop into a top 50 player which never ended up happening. That, along with Evan not being a good player at KU’s level led to him leaving to go elsewhere to finish out his career.
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Outside of Danny Manning finding eligibility in 2018-19, Dedric Lawson will start and be a favorite for Big-12 POY. Dude has game. We are talking Thomas Robinson his Jr year for the type of production we will get from him.
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It sounds like a lot of the issues had to do with Pastner’s departure from Memphis. That wasn’t a pretty exit for all involved and that’s the coach that got the Lawson’s to stay home in the first place.
Then Pastner is replaced with Tubby and the roster was decimated. Tubby Smith is no longer the coach he once was and he doesn’t recruit well. Memphis went from getting Top 100 kids to recruiting Juco’s and unranked kids just to fill the vacancies. Tough for talented kids from Memphis to swallow seeing a really good basketball program year in and year out fall apart, especially one they have grew up with.
I’m sure the Father being involved didn’t help things especially when he was demoted by Tubby this past year. Seems like a no win situation. It’s likely Pastner hired the Lawson dad to secure the son’s staying in Memphis. You have a coaching change and old school Tubby doesn’t see things the same way baby faced Pastner did. He’s demoted to have a role within the program just so the apple cart isn’t totally turned upside down. These Lawson kids could have left last year but they stuck it out. Now they reach for a better situation, the same fresh start Carlton Bragg is seeking.
A side-note: Self is playing an important recruiting angle here. Gonzaga just took two high level transfers (Williams-Goss McDonald’s All American out of HS) & (Williams Top-100 recruit of out HS) to the Championship game. Those two guys were intergral parts of that team.
Self is banking on guys like Malik Newman (Top 10 recruit, Mickey D kid) helping this season and the Lawson brothers (both Top 50 recruits) helping the next year. Reports are that Newman’s year off really helped him, I imagine the same will benefit these two brothers.
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Exactly. The other brothers and cousin if they come here are just a bonus. Dedric fills an immediate need, a post player for the season after next. One that is better than pretty much any post player KU can realistically recruit in the 2018 class. This kid has proven he can fill it up at the D1 level. He’s already fantastic! With a year off in the KU program working with Hudy and surrounded by better talent, watch out.
Should be a great 4 for Self. Would agree, he should be the Big 12 preseason POY in a year and a half.
Tubby just doesn’t even want to try to play the game anymore, if he did, he wouldn’t have upset the apple cart with Keelon Lawson.
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Lots of articles say Tarik Black and Lagerald Vick sold the brothers on KU and HCBS.
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His dad on the radio said Dedric called up Tarik to ask about KU/Self.
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Here is a cool article from 2013 by Gary Parrish talking about the Lawsons. To say he predicted they would be great is almost an understatement:
Dear America: Meet the Lawson brothers from Memphis - CBSSports.com http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/dear-america-meet-the-lawson-brothers-from-memphis/
Also info on the dad and mom. Dad not a flunky by any means–state HS champ coach before joining Memphis.
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@mayjay just read that and came here to post it, lol. Its always interesting to see articles written a few years back come to fruition. I am excited for these guys to come to KU!
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Anyone know if the Lawson Brothers can play this summer in Italy? I have been wondering this since yesterday
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@BeddieKU23 at first I thought no, but I know red shirt kids can play in exhibition games till regular season games starts. Are these games considered NCAA games?
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An old scouting report on Dedric Lawson from Draftexpress. Informative.
After seven years under Josh Pastner, Memphis basketball will transition to a new era this season under the leadership of Tubby Smith, with Pastner departing for Georgia Tech. Last season Memphis failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, but found a bright spot in American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Dedric Lawson. Lawson, a Memphis native who finished off his high school career at Arlington Country Day in Florida, was a consensus top 50 recruit who participated in the McDonalds All American Game and Jordan Brand Classic. After an impressive individual season under Pastner in which he tied the program record for double doubles by a freshman, Lawson received an invitation to the NBA Combine, but ultimately received the feedback he needed from NBA personnel after a poor showing, and opted to return to Memphis for his sophomore year.
At 6’8, with a wingspan that stretches to 7’2.5 Lawson has the size and length to play either forward position at the pro level, but most likely projects as a stretch-4 given his athletic limitations. He has a solidly built frame, but lacks the real strength or power to use it effectively. After his performance at the NBA Combine this summer it has been a point of emphasis for him this off-season to add strength and lower his body fat, and he is reportedly coming into the season at 236 pounds, 11 pounds up from what he weighed in at the Combine. It will be essential for Lawson that any additional weight comes in the form of muscle.
He is smooth and fluid, but lacks quickness in a serious way and is predominantly a below the rim player who lacks the explosiveness or burst to be effective athletically in a crowd. It will be interesting to see if improving his body helps maximize his physical tools to be more effective athletically than he currently is.
What makes Lawson an intriguing pro prospect is the diverse offensive skill set that he has for someone with his size and length. While he is by no means a polished ball handler, he is comfortable handling the ball in stretches, and is more than capable of taking his man off the bounce in isolation situations or pushing the ball in transition. He is not explosive with change of direction, but he plays at his own pace and has a slow, methodical, old school game where he is able to create his own offense off the dribble.
He is also a gifted passer, particularly from his position and averaged 3.2 assists per 40, but also posted a high turnover rate of 3.9 per 40. The turnover numbers are definitely on the high side, but somewhat to be expected from a freshman forward with a high usage rate as a ball handler. While Lawson has the tools to create his own offense, he was not efficient last season at turning those scoring opportunities into points. He averaged 19.6 points per 40, but only shot 42.2% inside the arc and only finished 46.6% of his shots around the basket. Part of those low numbers can be attributed to Lawson’s lack of explosiveness, but he also had the tendency to force plenty of bad shots in traffic, particularly on runners and floaters, which he finished only 4 of 17 attempts (per Synergy).
Assist per 40 went up, turnovers down. 3.9 to 2.8
Per 40 scoring average increased from 19.6 to 22.2. Given that he played 34 minutes a game this is insignificant.
Shooting % inside the arc increased from 42% to 52%.
He has a fairly rudimentary back to the basket game, but with his ball handling and footwork is occasionally able to get to impressive mid-range jumpers out of his face up game, which he can hit, but hasn’t yet proven he can convert consistently. Teams played a fair amount of zone against Memphis last season, and Lawson was effective flashing to the middle for quick jumpers or playmaking opportunities. He has soft hands, good touch around the basket, and excellent scoring instincts, but will need to improve the efficiency in which he turns close field goal attempts into points.
As a freshman, Lawson definitely showed some potential as a stretch four who can knock down shots from behind the arc. His release his on the slower side, but when he is given time and space, he is more than capable of converting perimeter scoring opportunities. He shot 35% on 3.0 attempts per 40 last season and had eight games where he knocked down at least two shots from deep. He has solid mechanics and proved to be consistent from the 17’ range, but will need to stretch that consistency to beyond the 3-point line. It will be essential for Lawson to become a steady perimeter scoring threat so that he can stretch defenses and use his ball handling ability to attack hard close out situations.
Per 40, 3 point % went down from 35% to 27%. Sounds like a year off will help him tune in his shot.
Defensively, Lawson is a bit of a mixed bag, and while he has the length to be a factor, he struggles in one on one situations and needs to improve how he defends ball screens. He is regularly beaten off the dribble or caught out of a stance, issues that can be improved with more consistent effort. His lack of strength hampers him in the post, and his added bulk should be able to help his ability to defend bigger players around the basket. He was able to average 2.1 blocks per 40, an impressive number which is a product of his length and timing as a rim protector. Lawson’s defense may be effected by the offensive load he is asked to carry, but NBA scouts will definitely be looking to see whether he improves on that end of the floor, as there’s likely no path for him to play at that level without significant refinement.
Blocks per 40 increased from 2.1 to 2.5. For reference Dedric had 68 blocks this season which is slightly less then Landen Lucas and Josh Jackson had combined. His length and instincts will make him a good rim protector at the 4 spot.
Perhaps Lawson’s most NBA ready skill is as a rebounder on both end. He has excellent instincts tracking down balls outside of his area and uses his length well to go up and get difficult rebounds. He had 19 games last season in which he totaled double digit rebounds, and was able to find a good deal of quick scoring opportunities on the offensive boards. His rebounding numbers are particularly impressive given his lack of elite strength or athleticism. Having just turned 19 years old in October, and thus one of the youngest players in his class, Dedric Lawson has plenty of room for growth as he looks to build on what was a very strong statistical freshman season. Lawson has a unique skill set, and there are not too many guys his age and size who have the scoring instincts and guard skills that he does. He’ll need to improve his athleticism and play with more efficiency on both ends of the floor, but it seems that Lawson has the tools and skill set to be in the conversation in a future NBA Draft.
Dedric had 20 double double’s this past season, just 1 more then his freshman year. About as consistent as you can expect out of any player.
We are extremely lucky to have landed these two brothers
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@BeddieKU23 Should be able to. And the exhibitions.
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@Kcmatt7 I don’t recall any red shirts playing in the exhibition games before. (I’m not saying it can’t be done.) I doubt we get to see them in Kansas until '18, but the Italy trip should be a nice opportunity to see them play in crimson and blue.
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@dylans Oh you are right about the scrimmages… I just looked up the rules. Now I have no idea.
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Yeah 2.5 blocks a game is damned good. Only surpassed recently at KU by the likes of Cole and Withey who both had seasons over 3. Obviously not the same kind of player but that really puts it in perspective imo. Embiid was offering up a similar number (2.6) in his partial year here but of course Embiid’s presence also altered many more shots (like Cole and Withey) so the overall impact won’t be the same, but it’s clear that he can have defensive value.
His advanced stats from last year are pretty similar to Josh. A little better in some areas but a worse 3 pt shooter. Similar usage rates too, so you know he can get it done as “the guy”. And yes Josh had a higher usage rate than Mason, which I found interesting.
His total numbers look like a mild improvement from his FR to SO year, but the advanced numbers were a huge gain, especially on offense. He went from 99 ORTG to 113 and from 0.6 to 4.5 OBPM. PER jumped from 19 to 27. Very impressive stuff that shows he has a pretty good feel for the game. Given the year off to work in KU’s system, he should have a hell of a year for KU.
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KJ might get to play in the exhibitions because he won’t be using a redshirt. But if Dedric uses a redshirt than he can’t play. As much as I can understand it.
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Only FR can play in the exhibitions and then take a red shirt. I remembering hearing this during exhibition game broadcasts before.
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Memphis has never been the same since Calipari dumped on them. And that is a real pity… because Memphis is one of the best basketball towns in America. Always has been. But after Calipari, the fans and university haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye. Lots of distrust… lots of frustration… lots of apathy.
It doesn’t surprise me that many fans came out to boo Kentucky. Other fans wanted to but didn’t feel the resentment towards Kentucky, just Calipari. They know their basketball in Memphis. I feel bad for them. They may need another decade to recover, or may never recover.
I believe you are correct.
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IDK…i’m not too excited by this pick up. Yea, Self will up coach them but the result will be the same with or with out them. We will win the big 12, streak continues and we will lose in the tourney.
Since when did we become ISU? With Self’s credentials, top 10 OADs should be raring to come to kansas. something doesn’t add up.
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I heard a school in Columbia, MO is currently taking applications for new fans. Best of luck.
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I was so hoping the updated site came with an Ignore Button. Hopes dashed…but Elpoyo certainly knows how to take darkside to a new level
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Would have been nice. Only one team wins it all each year, and KU is typically well positioned. There is an alternative scenario where Self is not landing talented players and the team bottoms out and fails to win the B12. I mean if the B12 is so bad obviously KU would have NO CHANCE AT ALL if they didn’t win the league…
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I’m very excited to have the Lawson clan. Dedric will walk into a starring role- the guy is flat nails. We’re talking huge rebounders here, folks. And that is certified…and smokified.
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From the Wichita EGGLE:
**“Dedric is the taller of the two and probably the better player. He is extremely skilled and a great shooter from 17 feet and in. He’s a great rebounder and a big-time passer for a big man,” reports Eric Bossi of Rivals.com. “I think there are a lot of similarities to the way (former KU forward) Marcus Morris played. Not an exact comparison, but if you are looking for a recent Kansas player he’s probably the best comparison.”
Dedric, who finished the 2016-17 season with 19 double doubles (he scored 35 points against Iowa and 26 against Oklahoma) was a finalist for the 2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award after joining Ben Simmons, Frank Kaminsky, Draymond Green, and David West as collegians with 600-plus points, 300-plus rebounds, and 100-plus assists in a season.
“With Dedric you are talking about a first-round NBA draft pick. He is a guy who, assuming if he’s as good as he has been, he is someone who can compete for the Big 12 player of the year,” Bossi said of the former McDonald’s All-American.
K.J., who was ranked No. 54 in the recruiting Class of 2015 by Rivals.com to Dedric’s No 33 ranking, exploded for 28 points and 16 rebounds in a game against Houston and grabbed 19 boards versus East Carolina this past season. He hit 39.9 percent of his shots, including 22 of 66 from three (33.3 percent).
“He is a junkyard dog,” Bossi said. “He is a small forward but can play as an undersized power forward. He’s another good rebounder and is tough on defense. He will get out in transition and score. He had an injury that held him back for a little bit but now he is back to getting healthy. He is starting to return to the player of old. K.J. is a potential all-league player. These are definitely impact guys.”**
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something doesn’t add up = @elpoyo
Very true!
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@elpoyo dig a little deeper… why aren’t we landing top 10 recruits? It isn’t because HCBS can’t recruit…
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@elpoyo Yeah, I am bummed that we just landed a 20 and 10 PF and his Brother that would have outscored all but 3 of our starters! Sad day
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To find another KU big that has averaged 20tps and 10reb you have to go all the way back to Wayne Simien 04-05. After sitting a year his brother should put up some stout numbers too. I would say they are KU’s leading scorers and something to get excited about!
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In fact I think Coach Self should be looking in the transfer market for a proven PG to add to that class. Doke, Lawson, Lawson, Garrett, Vick, Lightfoot, Cunliffe, and add in a solid PG transfer and another Big and we got ourselves a contender! Doke, Lawson, Lawson, Lightfoot, Cunliffe, and Vick will all have been playing D1 for at least 3 years.
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I’m excited about the Lawson’s, but why was Memphis so bad? Their shooting percentages will surely go up under Bill with a supporting cast that is far superior to what they had, right? Was Memphis’ problems guard play or coaching or what? Seems like the brothers carried a large portion of the load. Can they be more efficient when not leaned upon so heavily?
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@dylans Their dad was an assistant coach. He was demoted and I believe that was the straw that broke the camels back. So I hear…
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Almost comical some things being said from other sites , From our wonderful School back east. The Beloved Duke Blue Devils fans. - -Starts from a poster , I just read we are in the mix for the Lawson brothers? - - Another posters response - - That would be awesome - - They are great players. several posts along these lines. - - -And then - - -WAIT FOR IT - - - WAIT - - -WAIT.
Ah yes THERE it is - - -well they just committed to Kansas, OH how quickly it turns lmao.
Poster: -Self offered the boys some new cars , K wouldn’t match. Another post: Let Kansas have them - - We don’t need a father having his kids transfer if they don’t get enough playing time. - – UMMM , Pssssssssssssst - -I don’t know BUT just kind of have a feeling that MAYBE - - just MAYBE - -that’s not going to be a problem at KU.
AH yes and then we have this from another poster classic - - idiotic - -yes - -moronic - - yes - -brain dead - -yes but yet here he is: - - They will be shooting students just like the Morris twins with BB guns in no time. - - - -They will probably bond well with Vick, I’m sure he can show them the ropes on how to disgrace the program - - NOW that the Car Rapist Jackson is gone. And the Worlds dumbest stoner is transferring, he will probably in up at Washington or Colorado. – Dam ya gotta love it -aren’t the DOOKIES SO SPECIAL?
Got a question? Wonder if they can Major in Stupidity at Duke? lmao - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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To the poster that asked “why KU doesn’t ever get any package deals” here you go! Maybe not in the form you wished for but never the less these guys dropped right in our laps!
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Memphis didn’t have the players the past few years. Pastner wasn’t winning the way they wanted to after the success of Calapari. A lot of transfers. Guard play is a good place to start where their issue’s were. Tubby Smith wasn’t the best choice, he doesn’t recruit at a high level. Now 6 of their 8 scorers are gone, I don’t know how you keep Tubby after that even if its today’s culture. The brothers were the only talent on the entire team. They resorted to playing walkons, Juco transfers they got in the spring and unranked 3 star prospects. That’s not Memphis.
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Tubby is a good coach. Two years ago he pulled off a miracle at TT. Demoting the father to a made up position of Director of Basketball development caused all of this. Self won’t put up with any parental crap - Micah Downs, David padgett, Conner Frankamp prove that. Tubby now has lost his entire team. I’m just sad for Tubby.
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@jayballer54 We are all guilty of some trash talking other programs. I for one cant stand UK BUT I will say this. Landing top guys takes a good sales pitch. If you want a stable full of 5 star guys your sales pitch better be as if you are recruiting MJ, or LJ to play for you. You roll out the red carpet and tell them the sun shines out of their ass. Make them feel like the sky is the limit and feel like they are on their way to the NBA hall of fame. Coach Self from what I hear is more abrasive and tells most guys that starting positions are earned. Its all about the sales pitch and if Coach Self wants to land more 5 star talent he needs to change his sales pitch. Then there is the whole Nike shoe thing and a slew of other variables BUT I personally believe it has more to do with the sales pitch. What do you think LeBron James would say if Coach Self said to him starting positions were earned not a given vs Cal saying come to UK and Start, win a title, make UK history and leave here a star!
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I have always been of the opinion that Tubby Smith is overrated. He was pretty much asked to leave Kentucky where he won one National Title in his first year with the Players and team Pitino left in place and as the recruiting went down so did the team which finished 6th and 4th in the SEC in his last two season.
After Kentucky, in 6 years at Minnesota he did not have a single season conference winning record and the highest he finished was 6th, in 3 years at Texas Tech. he did not have a single season conference winning record and the highest he finished was 7th and in his one season at Memphis he finished with a 9-9 record and tied for 5th. In other words, he has not had a single season with a winning conference records in the last 10 years and in 3 different conferences.
Not necessarily the coach you want to play for if you want to be part of a winning program.
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Smart move, Mr. Lawson.
You won me over with “Money isn’t the issue.”
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@jaybate-1.0 Its the principle.
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Doke might be gone after next year and I’d rather have Grimes than a PG transfer but overall, I like your thinking.
Memphis was a 5 alarm tire fire. Dedric was extremely efficient and KJ a lot more middling. But outside of those two they have a guy that is a 6th man for a good team (Markel Crawford) for their third best player, another similar guard as the 4th guy and it was a steep drop right off a cliff after that.
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Feel the same way. I think Tubby is an old school guy and that is getting lost in today’s game. At Texas Tech his goal was to slow the game down and limit possessions (especially against KU). I don’t know what he’s doing at Memphis but this past year he clearly didn’t have enough talent around the Lawson’s to be any good. He’s losing basically his whole team and the best recruit he’s has signed to date is in the 150’s area. Memphis fans have to be furious about what’s going on.
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Maybe Bragg could go play for Tubby now?
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@Statmachine Yes it is true about schools or the fans always seemingly trying to ONE UP the other on the trash. - -I just have to laugh though when a program thinks they might have a chance to land an upper type of player- -when they in the race for that player it’s like they are one of the greatest players there is and THEN - - BAM once their program is eliminated -it’s like these same posters have just went through menopause - -the change of life and NOW these same players the other school that does get them is total Garbage it’s truly historical . - -Gotta love it - - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@Statmachine while we get recruits like Josh Jackson BECAUSE Self recruits the way he does.
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@Eric-san yes, but if you look at KU’s list of offers they are almost all 5 star guys. Then when we miss on the vast majority and fail to fill all of our scholarship’s he scrambles and settles for scraps. Its worked out with Frank, Devonte, Vick, and the Lawsons but we have had too many walk on type of guys here lately IMO.
