Coach's say KU " The Team "
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I’m more scared of Duke than UK, personally.
Nobody on that UK team looks like they can carry the team when they need it. Rim protection looks like it will be a challenge for them. And nobody that looks like they will be a threat both from 3 AND off of the dribble. To me, look like a bunch of one dimensional offensive players that will be easy to guard.
Duke on the other hand, scares me. I think they have 2 guys that can legit carry the whole team. So, even with a lack of depth, they worry me. They have a great lineup to be able to play a lot of position-less basketball. Which, to me, is the new advantage in basketball. The Zion factor is real to me. I think, if the refs let him, he could just physically take over a game and there would be nothing you could do about it.
I would also throw Nevada into the ring as a Top 5 team I would not want to face. I may be scared of them more than any other team. The Martins are able to play positions 1-4. They return 67 PPG, added a Top 20 recruit and a 13 PPG Grad transfer (Both PFs). Should allow them to play the Martins on the perimeter, or post up smaller players. They will be the longest team in CBB this season and a ton of fun to watch.
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The Grimes-Herro battle will be the second coming of the Graham-Hield battle. Hero is the biggest surprise for UK and the go-to guy it has been waiting for. This going to be a great season.
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@mayjay Nope. Just another Jayhawks fan.
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@JayHawkFanToo Herro probably won’t even start.
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@Kcmatt7 Duke is going to be scary. During their summer trip to Canada they had 2 guys average 29.7ppg! Williamson finished with (29.7 per game) and 35 boards (11.7 per game) for the entire Canada Tour. Barrett also end up averaging 29.7 points across the Blue Devils’ three summer exhibition games!
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Duke was also short 2 starters and their 6th man. Zion and RJ were the only offense the entire trip
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Unlike other players that can either score inside or outside only or need to be set to shoot, Herro is a natural scorer that can can create his own shot and score from anywhere, in transition and as a spot up shooter as well.
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@BeddieKU23 Be that is it may, that’s still impressive. I don’t know if any of the current Kansas roster could carry that much of the scoring load, maybe Dedric. I really hope Duke’s freshmen play like freshmen in the tournament.
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Will the UK-Duke game at the Championship Classic feature the most 5 star/McDonals All Star players ever? No doubt the MSM will anoint the winner of that game the favorite…until KU beats UK at Rupp in January.
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dylans said:
@BeddieKU23 Be that is it may, that’s still impressive. I don’t know if any of the current Kansas roster could carry that much of the scoring load, maybe Dedric. I really hope Duke’s freshmen play like freshmen in the tournament.
Grimes could, definitely Dedric.
Missing 3 guys definitely inflated their numbers, Barrett was out there jacking up shots like Kobe for parts of those games.
Zion showed a lot during that trip. He’s the very definition of a freak athlete, generational type really. He also showed he’s an elite rebounder. I saw plays where kids were afraid to get in front of him in transition. I can’t say I blame anyone getting out of the way of an 280 pound manchild. He’s the key to their season
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I’m just excited that the Champions game will be the first game so we don’t have to stay up til 1 am listening to Dick Vitale
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@JayHawkFanToo I just said that I don’t think he starts.
Not arguing with you that he can shoot. But I think he probably has some limitations that keep him out of the starting rotation.
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Also, great opportunity for the staff to scout both Duke and UK playing superior competition.
Zion is a LeBron class athletic freak but he is carrying 280 pounds and an injury or season long durability are definite issues for him. I suspect Duke will limit his playing time to minimize risk although it does not have the bench depth that KU and UK have so production will suffer some when the stars rest; they really don’t have Devonte like players that can play 38 mpg.
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I agree. With as many stars as UK has… and with some returning for a change, hard to tell who will start. Like KU, UK will have a deep bench but, if their recent Bahamas trip is an indication, Herro will play substantial minutes and likely be matched with Grimes when KU plays them.
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Duke doesn’t have the depth to sit Zion. This is a 7 deep roster. Past that they will struggle. They better hope he stays injury free which was an issue for him this past year.
Lebron is an appropriate comparison for him. It’s truly amazing at his weight how athletic he is. Skies in the air for 1 hand rebounds. Dunks from the FT line. It’s basically unheard of
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Duke better be praying that a couple of bench players develop quickly like KU did last season until Silvio was able to play. No margin of error for Duke.
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@JayHawkFanToo my projections for UK:
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PG: Hagans
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SG: Quickley
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SF: Johnson
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PF: Washington
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C: Travis
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- Herro
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- Green
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- Montgomery
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- Richards
The thing I see from UK, bad defense. Again. Their rim protection got worse this season unless one of Richards or Montgomery are a big surprise and play 25 MPG. They really don’t have much returning, imo. Basically two starters (if you include Travis) and a backup PG. I expect Richards, Washington and Green to basically be the exact same player they were the season before. So nothing special from any of them.
I just struggle to see where they upgrade over last season’s squad. They will probably be forced into a 4 guard scenario multiple times this year due to lack of post depth. Both PJ and Richards were in foul trouble A LOT last season. EJ Montgomery probably won’t be an exception, as most freshman bigs are notoriously bad at fouling.
I see an 8 loss team. Probably even double digits if the SEC pans out the way I think it could. Tennessee, Florida, LSU, MSU, Auburn, Mizzou, A&M, Vandy and Bama will all be tough this season.
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I believe Quade Green starts at SG and Hagans at PG, but still, a pretty loaded starting 5 with 3 returning players (including Travis), and the bench is talented albeit unpredictable. With Herro it has a better shooter than any they had last season but overall defense is still a question mark depending on how good of a rim protector Richards becomes or Montgomery plays.
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Their 7 will get them a long ways most of the time.
Bolden/Delaurier is their weakest position, no post depth.
Perimeter shooting will be one of the biggest concerns for them as well. Their best shooter will come off the bench.
The 3 headed monster of Reddish, Barrett & Zion is scary if they mesh. That’s 3 top 10 picks
Their PG missed the trip with injury. Some fans are a bit worried there because the backup is a 3 star recruit.
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Bolden was highly ranked out of HS and even KU recruited him heavily but so far he has been a disappointment. He will be a junior that has yet to be a starter. I am sure he could have developed much more at a different school where he would not have been recruited over time and again.
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Bolden has dealt with injuries but it may be a case where his HS ranking was a bit inflated to his true ability. I haven’t seen much from him that made him that coveted recruit a few years back.
He was good defensively for them on the trip but struggled offensively. The 5th starter in that lineup is definitely not an NBA player in waiting
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@JayHawkFanToo he should have transferred.
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Rivals 5-star, ranked#11and #1 Center. He certainly has under performed.
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Agree. Maybe he wants that Duke degree…
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Three point shooting deficiency.
Three point shooting deficiency.
Three point shooting deficiency.
Three point shooting deficiency.
Three point shooting deficiency.
No proven PG.
No proven PG.
No proven PG.
No proven PG.
No proven PG.
No proven PG.
Finally, name the last team to win the national championship with a starting center making <50% of his free throws?
Otherwise we have a lot of good players that will be fun to watch develop.
