Here is the link. Its a great story!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1891203-meet-kansas-joel-embiid-a-cameroon-native-blossoming-into-a-top-nba-prospect

And, I purposely spell Joel’s name like that, its a Superman reference of course, The guy is a stud! Just imagine if he sticks around for one more year? I mean really, it could happen. If we don’t win a title this year and if JoEL thinks he can learn more and get better at KU. Then the likelihood that we win the title in '15 is greatly enhanced. With what we will have returning and coming in, we could be even better next year. Pre season #1 type stuff.

Our KU team this year is very young and still inexperienced. They are still “soft” in areas they would never be normally. Releford telling them they are Soft defensively, not going after 50/50’s and all that. I agree. Most, if not all of us agree. They have a long road ahead of them to reach those goals of toughness and killer instinct that every team in the Self era has had before them. I hope that Releford’s words spark them, make them mad, get them going. They need that extra spark this year, from a former player and excellent defensive presence that is Travis Releford. I love it when former players come into the locker room to chat with the current team. It has got to be humbling on some level for the current ones to hear that from the alums.
To switch gears a little bit, I took a peek at Kenpom just now and much to my surprise KU has a top 15 ranked defense and offense. It seems they are making progress because it wasn’t long ago, when they were outside the top 20 in one or both of them. We cant really say it is because they have played a couple of easy games either. If you look at the top 20 teams in Kenpom right now. KU’s Strength of Schedule is way way better than any of them. The next best one against KU’s is literally double what KU’s is. In order for KU to climb up the rankings once again they absolutely need to cut down on the TO’s and fouls which should happen as they get more and more used to the rule changes. They also need to get a chip on their shoulder, they need to get pissed that Travis called them soft, they need to dive after lose balls and rack up the floor burns. Im not a betting man by habit but I will wager that the conference play will bring out the best in these guys. They don’t want to be the ones who let the streak go.
RIght now, I cant say for sure if they will win the conference and go far in the NCAA’s. But I sure as hell hope they will. They have the tools and the talent to do it.

Most of you have probably seen this already but here it is again anyways.

Taking a stroll: Self said he took a long walk Sunday, prior to the Ice Bucket Challenge. During his stroll, he pondered the makeup of his 12th KU team.

“I know I’m going to like our speed. I know I’m going to like our hungriness. I think I’m going to like our aggressiveness,” he said. “The only thing that will be different with this team is, we’re used to having size. Our standing height is by far the smallest it’s been in a long time.

“But we also won a national championship (in 2008) starting two 6-8 guys (Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson), but we had 6-11 (Sasha Kaun) off the bench. We won a lot of games when Wayne (Simien, 6-9) and Christian (Moody, 6-8) were our two big guys. But still that hasn’t been the way we’ve been successful of late. So we’re going to have to adjust and do some things defensively I think will benefit our personnel and maybe some things offensively to open the court more to allow our guards maybe to post more.”

I think it exciting and interesting how Coach feels about this team so early in the season. He is saying positives about their aggressiveness, hungriness and speed. The latter being not so much of a surprise but to show such fortitude this early says good things to me about the 14-15 season. All those guys coming back knew they underachieved last year and they got to " nut up or shut up this season" Quote from Woody Harrelson in Zombieland. They are smaller this year but they will all be fast and they will all be hungrier on defense this season. They learned the hard way last season. You dont play great D and learn how to be a wolf pack, your not going far in the dance. The 2008 team was an absolute wolf pack on defense. If this years guys can aim for that level, they will be much much tougher to beat.
Can we just start the season already? I Need my college basketball!!

Anyone ever get an ear on what happened to this guy? We clearly have some good basketball minds here but man, I miss reading his stuff.
I still read articles on the kusports site but I don’t post there anymore. Seems the traffic has slowed quite a bit there too. Shame. It was a great place for basketball fans to get all they want during the season and to contribute their own thoughts. Btw, those 10 question survey things really suck, a lot. everytime it asks for a typed answer I always insert a random curse word.

Who’s gonna watch the first preseason game tomoro, and where will you be!? I cant freekin wait people. Im gonna go to Johns upper deck, downtown KCMO by the P&L. Coincidentally its the night before my Bday so Imma be partay ING!

Good evening or morning fellow Jayhawks! I’m back and settling in to my new home in the wonderful state of Vermont. Seriously, its really beautiful here. I just wanted to leave a message and say hello. We are in the dog days of summer still and the next basketball season is a couple months away still but I am just as excited as ever to see our guys play! Not being a Kansan will mean getting espn full court so I can see all the games and, I wont be going to AFH anytime soon. Bummer. But there is always a chance I can catch a live KU game at an early season or late season tournament. MSG is mere hours away from me by train or car! Im thinking of checking out some University of Vermont games when the season starts too but I know it wont be the same. No program can compare to KU. Not even Duke or UNC, both of which I respect a great deal. Yah, I said it. I respect Coach K and Coach Williams. But I digress. I’m happy to be back in here and able to converse with everyone here about the best game ever.

ps. Dig the new format!!!

HEM, I just wanna say that Im glad you are posting on here. You and Slayr both.

I just want to say I am just as excited and impatient for this season to start as I was last season. That said, I think our guys will be tougher this year. Self boot camp for 8 days and then a marine style boot camp for another 2!? Geez, if that doesnt get our guys a toughness edge, then nothing will. Having been through 2 months of Navy boot camp myself, I can directly attest to that one. Coach said since they have zero senior scholarship players this year, they need to be given an extra push to help them develop those leadership traits. I feel good about what coach is putting them through this year before games and practice starts. They will be physically stronger and tougher than last year. I hope mentally tougher as well.
couple more thoughts, The Bruise Brothers continues this year with Jamari and Cliff in Tarick’s place. Frank Mason will, I hope, be like Sherron Collins was his sophomore year.

@HighEliteMajor irrational feeling followed by a mean and irrational post. yes this game hurts but should we be pointing all the fingers at Coach Self? He is one of the best and I am proud to have him. Should we be calling him out for this and calling for him to resign? Come on man. Your a Jayhawk fan, you should know better.

@HighEliteMajor SO HEM, ARE YOU READY TO CALL FOR HIS JOB!!! GO RIGHT AHEAD MAN. You make valid points but if you can do better than Coach Self then be my freekin guest… If not, then stop posting on here. I am sick of listening to your constant bashing of KU and our future hall of fame coach. You have made me and likely others upset with your continued boohooing and trashing of one of the best programs and coaches in the country.

Yeah, its all speculation at this point. But, thats what makes it fun! This team has a lot of unknowns, even with all the guys that were here last year. A few things are set in stone. This team is loaded, more so than last year. I like Self’s remark about how this team reminds him of 08. I can see that, but at the same time its not entirely accurate. The 2008 team was a battle tested hungry wolf pack. In 2007 they would have gone further if not for UCLA beating them in the elite 8. That motivated them, made them mad, and we all know what happened next. Both 07 and 08 teams excelled on defense. Last year plainly sucked at defense. Even with JoJo being the stud shot blocker and Wiggs being our best perimeter D guy. Will this team be better at defense than last year? Most certainly. But, will it be top 5 rated defense? I think boot camp plus a couple days with the Marines putting the hurt on the team will do wonders for their toughness and molding into a defensive wolf pack. We also know the offense will be spread around a lot more with this team. Nobody will break Wiggs freshmen scoring record for the foreseeable future, or single game scoring record. But, who ever the starting 5 are, they could very well each average double figures, not unlike the 08 team.
I have a good feeling about Oubre and Selden on the wings this season. I also have a good feeling about Frank Mason, I think he can give us a presence like Sherron did in his sophomore season. Im calling him Sherron 2.0. If Coach is saying Greene still needs to buy in on D, then he probably does. Conner is going to light it up from trey this season. The lid will finally come off. With all the praise Coach has given Devonte’ I just don’t buy a freshmen PG starter. I am impressed that he got top honors from the Marines though.
Traylor and Alexander are The Bruise Brothers 2.0 Perry will see his share of playing time but if he doesnt improve on D this year, I bet he gets to ride the pine a little bit more. Lucas seems to be ready to have a break out year and I hope Mickelson gets his chance to shine too. Like I said, this team is deeeeep. Coach could easily have 2 five man teams this year. We all know that wont happen.
If Greene cannot show he can defend, I agree he may get the DSC role. If Mickelson cannot play outside his comfort zone, he may get one too. KU vs UK will be a very very tough game for us to win. But I hope we do.

@jaybate-1.0 I like that. I like it a lot. I hope you are right. It will pay off in dividends for KU in the not too distant future.

@BeddieKU23 I dont buy that Coach will sit Oubre. That kids got major talent. Not Wiggins but a stud on the court for sure. He may play more small ball this year because we dont have the size we did last year but Im betting our starting 5 will be Mason or Frankamp, Selden, Oubre, Ellis and Alexander. One thing about Coach that is predictable is how he runs the team line ups year after year. Experience trumps everything but when you have a freshmen talent like Oubre, or Wiggins or Rush, they dont sit, they start.

I just want to say I am just as excited and impatient for this season to start as I was last season. That said, I think our guys will be tougher this year. Self boot camp for 8 days and then a marine style boot camp for another 2!? Geez, if that doesnt get our guys a toughness edge, then nothing will. Having been through 2 months of Navy boot camp myself, I can directly attest to that one. Coach said since they have zero senior scholarship players this year, they need to be given an extra push to help them develop those leadership traits. I feel good about what coach is putting them through this year before games and practice starts. They will be physically stronger and tougher than last year. I hope mentally tougher as well.
couple more thoughts, The Bruise Brothers continues this year with Jamari and Cliff in Tarick’s place. Frank Mason will, I hope, be like Sherron Collins was his sophomore year.

Most of you have probably seen this already but here it is again anyways.

Taking a stroll: Self said he took a long walk Sunday, prior to the Ice Bucket Challenge. During his stroll, he pondered the makeup of his 12th KU team.

“I know I’m going to like our speed. I know I’m going to like our hungriness. I think I’m going to like our aggressiveness,” he said. “The only thing that will be different with this team is, we’re used to having size. Our standing height is by far the smallest it’s been in a long time.

“But we also won a national championship (in 2008) starting two 6-8 guys (Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson), but we had 6-11 (Sasha Kaun) off the bench. We won a lot of games when Wayne (Simien, 6-9) and Christian (Moody, 6-8) were our two big guys. But still that hasn’t been the way we’ve been successful of late. So we’re going to have to adjust and do some things defensively I think will benefit our personnel and maybe some things offensively to open the court more to allow our guards maybe to post more.”

I think it exciting and interesting how Coach feels about this team so early in the season. He is saying positives about their aggressiveness, hungriness and speed. The latter being not so much of a surprise but to show such fortitude this early says good things to me about the 14-15 season. All those guys coming back knew they underachieved last year and they got to " nut up or shut up this season" Quote from Woody Harrelson in Zombieland. They are smaller this year but they will all be fast and they will all be hungrier on defense this season. They learned the hard way last season. You dont play great D and learn how to be a wolf pack, your not going far in the dance. The 2008 team was an absolute wolf pack on defense. If this years guys can aim for that level, they will be much much tougher to beat.
Can we just start the season already? I Need my college basketball!!

Gosh, this summer, not unlike summers past, is seeming to move too slowly at times. Especially when the college basketball season is thought about. I know late night is in early October now but we still have 2 months and change until the first game of the season.
As to my thoughts of how KU will do this time…I’m betting they break 30 wins. Kentucky is going to be a tough tough game. That team is double stacked. But if KU can beat Kentucky I think it would bode well for the rest of the season.

Great stuff. I’ll miss Robin Williams. RIP Funny man

I ditto what Approx just said. That was really good.
When’s that book coming out again?

Haven’t read this yet but I am going to. I have to say something first. Jaybate IS a writer. Last time I heard, there was a book coming, isnt that right Jaybate? Honestly its been a couple months almost since I have been on the site here. It may be out right now, I don’t know. P.S. Hi Jaybate! Good to see your messages again

Link to Wiggins story…

Hope that link works. If it does not, go check the article out on Bleacher Report. Its a good read.
On that same topic, at first I was of the opinion that Andrew should have been able to stay in Cleveland and work with the best player in the league right now. He would have been able to follow LeBron and pick his brain for many seasons, learning all kinds of stuff to make him a better player down the road. But after some thought and reading other articles about opinions to the contrary, I think Andrew could also benefit from going to Minnesota and having his own team to build upon, learn and grow with, mature as a player on his own as the corner stone of that team. Not too dissimilar from Steph Curry or John Wall.
There is no doubt to me that Wiggins will be an All Star, a many time All Star. It just remains to be seen how quickly he can get there and I think having his own team to be the lead guy on could help him get there quicker. It will force him to be The Man and not take a back seat approach to LeBron James in Cleveland. Had Wiggs stayed in Cleveland, and I say this like its already happened, he would be the 4th option on offense. He would have a harder time getting rookie of the year that way. He would also have a harder time growing into his own that way. I’m excited for him to get shipped to The Timberwolves now. I think it could be a great opportunity for him.[link text]([link url]([link url](link url)))