Ochai
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For those w/o a sub I think the main take-away is that Bill views Ochai as our 2nd best perimeter player, right there just behind Dotson.
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@BShark I was shocked how good he looked in that scrimmage. He looked so much quicker and stronger than last year.
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BShark said:
For those w/o a sub I think the main take-away is that Bill views Ochai as our 2nd best perimeter player, right there just behind Dotson.
That’s great to hear.
Just got to hope that leg keeps healthy with the workload he’s going to take on this season. The way his season ended was not what we saw when he burned the red-shirt and gave the team a huge boost. We have a lot of players that are benefitting from another year in the system but he may be the one that benefits the most given the situation he came into
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The team is going to be off the chain athletically. The difference from last year will be profound.
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@KUSTEVE Replacing Q and Dedric with a broom and a bag of rocks would be an improvement athletically to be fair.
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@BShark I’m trying to think of a front court that would compare…maybe the Morii with TROB off the bench…maybe Withey and TROB…maybe Shady and crew, but I think for raw muscular bulk, you’d have to put a Dok, Silvio, and Dave right up there with any of them. The Morii and TROB could score, same with Shady and company… but there isn’t any of them that could dunk like Doke. And I have an idea that Silvio is going to make his mark as a ferocious rebounder, and Dave is just going to get better and better.
Then add in the athleticism in the backcourt with Ochai and Dotson, and you basically have 3 other guys that can be used with Marcus, JW, and Moss. The only one of those I would say isn’t as athletic would be Moss, but he has an important skillset we need, and the defensive chops not to hurt us when he’s in the lineup. Experience. Great defense. Offensive firepower. Deep as the ocean. Athletic.This team might have the best chance since 2008…a true legitimate chance to be national champions this year.
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@BShark Thanks for the posting.
It’s nice to hear Self’s view on Agbaji. Most here know my opinion of the kid. He’s got the make-up and skills of a very high level player. A good comp is Brandon Rush, but I also think Agbaji has more intensity than Rush, and is more agile and guard-like. Excited to see him progress. Agbaji has got “it”, and Self notices – a good combo.
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I just hope he comes back with a big heaping of self-confidence. I think he lost his edge last year and perhaps that might have been a confidence issue.
He should be confident… he is a major cog at KU!
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@BShark Why would you insult the athleticism of brooms and rocks like that!!
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The word around the program is he’s the most improved guy on the roster. He’s healthy finally and things are really starting to click above the neck. It’s also the first time he’s had really great, consistent coaching since he didn’t go to a hoops factory and was a role player in AAU ball. I’m not saying he’s Jo because he was a freak show among freak shows, but they both have a ridiculous growth curve.
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FarmerJayhawk said:
The word around the program is he’s the most improved guy on the roster. He’s healthy finally and things are really starting to click above the neck. It’s also the first time he’s had really great, consistent coaching since he didn’t go to a hoops factory and was a role player in AAU ball. I’m not saying he’s Jo because he was a freak show among freak shows, but they both have a ridiculous growth curve.
Great stuff to hear. If healthy I expect his improvement to carry over into games
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@BeddieKU23 same. We know he’s got the ability. Just has to translate to the court.
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Sorry if this was already posted.
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@KirkIsMyHinrich Hadn’t seen that. Thanks!
Oh my, Bill is gushing about Dave.
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@BShark He was a puppy last season but you could see the talent and upside. He’s going to be a good player next season and a very good player as a junior.
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@KUSTEVE This kid…he’s a keeper.
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@BShark He’s just beginning to come into his own. By next year, he’ll be a dominant force.
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In order to be called sped up you gotta first be fast. Daves going to punish teams on both ends once he figures it all out. Quick and huge, motivated and smart.
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Man Coach didn’t hesitate 1 second when ask about who the most improved player from last year was did he? – BAM David McCormack hands down without a doubt - sounds promising to me. - the kid is built like a brick house anyways - -HE GONNA GET NASTY - -rock chalk all day long abby
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Agbaji is going to tear it up this year. This team can be a juggernaut defensively, and mix and match offensively.
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Marco said:
Agbaji is going to tear it up this year. This team can be a juggernaut defensively, and mix and match defensively.
This is one thing we are in agreement on now.
I’ve seen the light @HighEliteMajor
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With Self saying Dave is the “best big man shooter” does that mean he starts over Silvio at the 4 and we get the traditional high low with serious size? This team gives Self lineups to use his old high low system and also the 4 out stuff he has used the past few years. Should be fun to watch.
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BigBad said:
With Self saying Dave is the “best big man shooter” does that mean he starts over Silvio at the 4 and we get the traditional high low with serious size? This team gives Self lineups to use his old high low system and also the 4 out stuff he has used the past few years. Should be fun to watch.
I think Silvio is starting, at least at the beginning of the year. Self and Silvio I think feel as if they owe one to the other. Silvio could have easily went pro (and before anyone asks, not the NBA) after this year, the way I understand it he had good offers but he wanted to come back and play for KU and Bill.
Regardless of who starts, Dave is going to get some minutes. It’s a great three headed monster that I think gets about 70 of the post minutes.
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The defense should be decent this year. I think expecting them to be elite or one of the best in the country is a lot of Kool-Aid drinking. Self’s defenses haven’t been elite in years, especially with the rule changes. Yes we should rebound well, protect the rim, we have a defensive perimeter stopper in Garrett and a ballhawk PG in Dotson. Ochai showed promise defensively from the wing as well. However I think the scheme we run on defense has been average at best. Does anyone really think the scheme will ever change? Maybe it does. I’m in wait and see mode here
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To follow up I think this team has good individual pieces on defense but watching how good Tech & Virginia were on defense last season was about the sum of the parts and the scheme. If you don’t have all guys engaged defensively and the scheme be good enough this defense probably will be a slightly better version then the previous few seasons
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@BeddieKU23 Hoping Self has realized this after being smoked in the tournament two straight years…
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Looking at Kenpom here’s the avg defensive ranking for KU since 2005 broken up in 3 year clusters.
2005-2007- AVG ranking 7
2008-2010- AVG Ranking 6.6
2011-2013 - AVG ranking 4.6
2014-2016- AVG ranking 11.3
2017-2019- AVG ranking 29.3
Trending down defensively since 2014 for various reasons. The ceiling is there for this to be a very good defensive team. Based on the numbers I think a return to the top 10 is possible.
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Yeah, just didn’t have the bodies plus playing small w/o the pieces to defend small in 17 and 18. Last year was encouraging in that KU got back into the top 20 despite having two well below average athletes starting and playing big minutes.
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BShark said:
@BeddieKU23 Hoping Self has realized this after being smoked in the tournament two straight years…
It should be at the top of the list. The worst defensive team in the Self era made the final 4 two seasons ago. But your right they got smoked in the Final 4. Last season we knew the defense wasn’t great after Doke, Vick and Silvio all ended the season not playing.
I’m excited to see this group on defense but I’m not buying an elite defense t-shirt just yet. They certainly have the pieces to be very good.
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@BeddieKU23 and if they don’t, somebody’s on the bench that would love to try!
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Yeah its amazing they were in the Top 20 considering the roster.
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On Dave’s improvement. The numbers clearly showed last season that the more minutes he played the better he was. He wasn’t a spark plug, instant impact guy off the bench. If he’s made the leap from his freshman year its a very encouraging sign because then Self can depend on him to come on regular rotations and foul trouble and be an anchor in the post. I was worried he would improve but not have enough minutes consistently to impact the game. If Self isn’t just pumping Dave up at this point I expect there to be minimal drop off when his number is called.
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BShark said:
Marco said:
Agbaji is going to tear it up this year. This team can be a juggernaut defensively, and mix and match defensively.
This is one thing we are in agreement on now.
I’ve seen the light @HighEliteMajor
Well, this is definitely a “big tent” item … all are invited.
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Doesn’t this team cry out, louder than any recent predecessor, to play conventional? To feed the post? 3/2?
And as mentioned above, defense, defense, defense. Great summary on the KenPom rankings - @BShark. Really enlightening.
I like the 4/1, but when it comes down to it, I still believe nothing beats the 3/2 high/low. But you have to have the regular and constant use of the kick out three. Inside out. And make that a primary weapon.
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HighEliteMajor said:
BShark said:
Marco said:
Agbaji is going to tear it up this year. This team can be a juggernaut defensively, and mix and match defensively.
This is one thing we are in agreement on now.
I’ve seen the light @HighEliteMajor
Well, this is definitely a “big tent” item … all are invited.
Woh woh woh! Tmi
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Sorry, I thought it was funny. Carry on
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HighEliteMajor said:
Doesn’t this team cry out, louder than any recent predecessor, to play conventional? To feed the post? 3/2?
And as mentioned above, defense, defense, defense. Great summary on the KenPom rankings - @BShark. Really enlightening.
I like the 4/1, but when it comes down to it, I still believe nothing beats the 3/2 high/low. But you have to have the regular and constant use of the kick out three. Inside out. And make that a primary weapon.
That was @BeddieKU23 on the kenpom averages.
This is why Moss is such a great fit. If this team is going to bang and bash he is a perfect fit as the old spot up 3 guy in Self’s offense. I think it will be the majority, with most likely Wilson being the back-up 4 which gives a lot of flexibility. Mitch will be the back-up 4 if he doesn’t RS but I believe that is happening from what I’ve heard.
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@HighEliteMajor The last two years, it’s abundantly clear we’ve had a defensive problem. We lost to Tech by 30. We got blown out by Nova. We got humiliated by Auburn. If the 3/2 helps us defensively, then I’m all for it…100%.
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I think Big Mac will get plenty of PT this year. Doke can’t go 40 mpg, or even close. And no reason to run Silvio ragged either. And then there is foul trouble. I can see Dave pulling 25 mpg, perhaps when you figure in factors like foul trouble, maybe pushing a little higher. We need a 3-big solid rotation to run constant 2 bigs.
With the improvement of Dave what I see it taking away from is the smaller lineup.
Nothing is set in stone, and if we run a 2-big lineup and it doesn’t produce well, you can expect to see a smaller lineup again. Anything to push success. I see Dave’s uptick challenging minutes from guys like Jalen, Marcus and others who could get some minutes at the 4 in a small lineup.
Notice I didn’t even mention Mitch. I wonder why…
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@drgnslayr I just visualized a scorers table with subs checking in that inspire me. oooooo… November comes after June right?
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@drgnslayr Jalen is 6’8’’. The sooner he realizes he is a 4 the better imo.
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@drgnslayr KU will have 7 players at or near 25+ minutes per game next season.
The question with Dave’s minutes and his ability to play alongside Doke will be if he has the range to be the high in the high-low. If not and his range is still primarily inside of 10’, that limits Dave’s minutes to strictly backing up Doke instead of some minutes next to him.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 Supposedly he’s the best shooting big on the team, better than Silvio.
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@BShark I suppose the other question with Dave at the 4 is does he have the quickness and agility to guard 4’s out on the perimeter?
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@Texas-Hawk-10 It’s definitely another issue. I like what I was starting to see last year with him working on screens and being able to recover. He also looks like he has slimmed down pretty well.
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Texas Hawk 10 said:
@BShark I suppose the other question with Dave at the 4 is does he have the quickness and agility to guard 4’s out on the perimeter?
Maybe that’s a risk worth taking now that the 3 point line has been moved back. Unless the 4 is a known 3 point shooter with accuracy guys with stretch ability might not be as accurate now.
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KUSTEVE said:
@HighEliteMajor The last two years, it’s abundantly clear we’ve had a defensive problem. We lost to Tech by 30. We got blown out by Nova. We got humiliated by Auburn. If the 3/2 helps us defensively, then I’m all for it…100%.
Coach use to pride himself with the bust as Defense – what happened? - like you say these last years have been bad – -really bad. - -I don’t know how many countless times last year I watch opposing players have WIDE - - -WIDE open 3’s - -hell they had time to pack a lunch throw the picnic cover down spread it out eat it and - STILL have time for the wide open 3 - -time and time again - -and if they weren’t wide open then All I saw was some one give like a half hearted jog out kind of throw an hand up and like Olay defense or allie - -allie all in free type approach - use to be if you didn’t play bust ass defense for Coach - you didn’t play - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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I don’t think Dave plays hardly any 4. No way he can guard most 4’s, let alone switch onto guards. Silvio can switch onto a lot of guards and has some skill, so he’ll play A LOT.
