@drgnslayr said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:

Food for thought: Michigan's starting 5 were all transfers last year!

Wheres the +5 likes button. I gotta get on that.

@BigBad honestly id rather have a clean slate than elmarko and jamari stay. That take may not age well if we are completely rudderless next year but I would prefer Self have absolutely clean slate, no pets, no crutches, build something entirely new.

@FarmerJayhawk haha nice! Well done!

Gonna have to pay more attention to Dusty May.

Was this you @farmerjayhawk ?

@Texas-Hawk-10 alright. We have bifurcated the original point here. You make compelling arguments about Haslem and Collison being team leaders. And honesty, a positive team culture should be something we as fans value more than we do. We tend to focus on rings and devalue the more human side of professional sports.

However, if we are talking about rings, I would stick by my assertion (and maybe frame it a little better) that if we are so lucky, our most talented players being leaders is a recipe for success. Especially when dealing with a more limited budget and with younger players in the mix, like in college.

I believe you would be hard pressed to find championship teams in ncaa that didnt have top guys who gravitated toward the microphone. Im talking about the kind of leader that leads you into battle but if the troops cant do it, they do it themselves. Thats the kind of guy that takes the pressure off and whose presence gets the most out of everyone else. In that St johns game, melvin was 6-15, Darryn was 5-15 and Tiller and White were non existant. Flory was 6-9. Zuby was 6-14 to put things in perspective, but got the job done down the stretch. Didnt feel like 6-14.

That 6-9 from Flory is tantalizing. Could that have been 9-13?

@RockChalkinTexas-0 wow!
Look at that!
Very cool.

Wow our brackets are a rough lot this year looks like its down to DanR if UConn wins and Dusty May, Future Head Coach, if Michigan wins.

Nobody picked UConn in our challenge.

The one day that, with company coming, a partially mowed backyard is preferable.

I know, I’m a heathen. Among other things, of course. Be well guys.

@mayjay DP isn't soft, agreed. I think any exec that dug a little would see that the story now presented about him being gunshy after full body cramps (in addition to the hamstring issues) will see that it fits with what they already have known about the kid for a long time. He's a winner and competitor and didn't wish for any of that. Ultimately I'm not sure DP was a good fit for a Kansas roster with 3.5 other guys that Bill trusted, and not sure that Kansas was the most confortable fit for him. Had he been at a school like Duke, flush with other high profile talent that the announcers could fixate on, he may have healed in peace without the BS scrutiny. In the end, if we goes number 1, maybe the case could be made that by taking the harder route, DP had to show how tough he was. I think he passed the test.

ESPN panel currently projecting DP as #1 pick. Good.

As far as Haslem, I'd say Lebron was one of the leaders as well, barking orders at Mario and doing his talcum powder thing. Things people accept because you're the best player on the team.

@Texas-Hawk-10 lol. Ive been hallucinated upon in 2021. Thanks.

@Texas-Hawk-10 Nick Collison won zero rings as a player. This supports my theory.

Well. Maybe Flory can recruit Kohl to stay. from one underutilized freshman to another. Year 2 is what you survive year 1 of Bill for. </fan fiction>

There's a consistent theme here. Bill Self is sawft.

What would the roster and staff have looked like if this hadn't happened? https://kualumni.org/news/kansas-signs-mens-basketball-head-coach-bill-self-to-lifetime-contract/

Do we still win a championship in 2022?

Should you ever give a coach a lifetime contract in NIL era? Does this undermine natural tension and accountability? Expectations dont change.

Mike Krzyzewski signed a "lifetime" contract with Duke University on November 14, 2001 immediately after winning a title, and then won in 2015, and 2021. Not all coaches can get 10 McD AAs every year and the Dukie whistle. So, thats anomolous.

As of March 2026, there are only 2? lifetime ie rolling year-to-year-contracts in college basketball: Bill Self (Kansas) and Rick Barnes (Tennessee). Barnes signed his in 2025.

@rockchalkjayhawk you said it well.

The big unknown factor to me is locker room demeanor. Work ethic. Team identity. This year we had a kid who wasnt a leader getting paid the most. Scorer, good kid, smart. DP was all these things but not a leader. Probably will be with time and if he is graced with good health.

I think Flory could be a leader next year. Lets make sure we at least have our highest paid guys be leaders.

Tbh as far as I could tell, Flory and Self had a good relationship. Would love to see that be the foundation of our locker room. Flory as the senior statesman and Self whisperer

Someone flash the Boothman beacon, lets bring Flory back

I take that back, immediately. Dont fund art. It would suck all the joy out of it.

@nuleafjhawk I meant player types that need to get paid. If only we funded art.