So, small sample, but in the first 3 games, DP hasn't shown much to justify #2 pick (and supposedly #1 as a Jayhawk). ~10 PG, 3 RBs, 2 assists averages. Time will tell...

@Jayhawk_69 Fine with trying small ball - which may be the best lineup against teams without bigs that can score and dominate the post - but odd that we stayed with it most of the game. Not sure what the lesson was in having Ngongba dominate down low most of the game? Clearly needed a big body on him. And why, why do we continue to switch to end up with Kinney or a guard having to defend a footer in the paint?????

@Kcmatt7 said in Duke vs KU:

We can run and out athlete anyone when we play small. Ball moves way better. Lane is clears out for drives.

Mbiya and Reeves just aren’t athletic enough. When TKR is finally playing they won’t get any run.

But our small ball lineup is getting destroyed by Duke's bigs. They are taking full advantage of switches. Also getting offensive boards and tip-ins.

4-9 from the FT line...

I might have to retract the better defense comment. Duke is penetrating and kicking out for wide open 3s or getting mismatches down low. Much better spacing. We keep running the iron age weave at the top that gets exactly no one a clean look or downhill lanes...

Defense is much better than against Louisville, but offense is terrible. Apparently they don't have any plays to get guys clean looks...

The good:
White and Council carried the offense. 45 points combined on 50% from 3 and 50+% from the field. But it is scary to think that we had to rely on two guys who weren't on the roster a month ago.
While he may not be NBA ready at this point and his outside shooting was just bad, I think Stokes will be the best overall player on the team before long. He rebounds, he passes, and he isn't afraid to attack the basket (although he got stuffed several times).
Reeves and Mybia combined for 11 RBs and 10pts in 32 minutes. Take that production from the 5 every game?

The not so good (or just plain bad):
<30% from the arc.
Virtually no production from what one would think is one of the deepest benches in years - Blyden, 2pts in 12 minutes; Parker, 2pts in 14 minutes; Kinney, 4pts in 21 minutes (although 6 assists); Dawes, 5pts in 22 minutes.
Porous defense - giving up 89pts. 53pts in the 2nd half - we've seen that movie the past couple of years. Poor rotation leaving wide open 3s and too many easy drives to the basket. Self teams used to be characterized by tough defense and being able to win games when shots weren't falling. No more.

The game wasn't a disaster as Louisville has talent and a good coach. But losing at home and giving up half a century+ in the 2d half doesn't leave a good taste...

So much for our depth. Don't have stats available, but I think that White, Council and Stokes have more than 60 of our 81 points.

Council and White have over half our points. Outside shooting is awful. Inexplicably defense not very good either. Given size and mobility, you would think we could really defend the perimeter, but not the case tonight.

@kjayhawks2.0 But he needs to make the FTs...

Hawks cannot hit an outside shot...

Well, it's a strong starting line-up, but how does HCBS deal with the locker room and likely very pissed off guys? Assume start TKR, Dawes, White, Stokes and Council with ~30 minutes each? Means limited minutes for Blyden, Kinney, Reeves, Mbiya, Parker, Rosario, Barnett and Adkins - 50 minutes total for those guys? Or does HCBS split Reeves/Mbiya at the 5, TKR and Dawes at the 4 (with one occasionally at the 5 in smaller lineups), White and Parker/Rosario at the 3, Stokes almost always at the 2, with some minutes for Blyden, and Council at the point with Kinney and Blyden backing up? Garbage time for Barnett and Adkins?

What KU cannot overcome is a QB who is, sadly, just not P4 level. Okay against lesser competition, but less than ineffectual against real defenses...

@crimsonblu22 Just a few highlights. I really hope he can step it up. But for 4 years in college with 4 different schools and conferences, he's been basically the same player. His numbers last year were nearly the same as his sophomore year (better 3pt%).

I like him and I like Council. But the fact is that with both of them and the #2 in the draft, we just weren't very good.

So, we replay White and Council. Swap Stokes for Peterson. Is Dawes/Mbiya/Reeves better than Flory? Blyden is probably a step up. But is that enough to turn a 20 win team into a 30 win one? Maybe with a much, much better and deeper bench - but again, only if we take advantage of that depth...

@Jayhawk_69 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:

I could get behind the feeling that Melvin does not raise our ceiling, but to say he lowers it is categorically false. Many many great teams, including some that have won national championships, have started guards who are not good 3-pt shooters.

I don't think that Council's ceiling is particularly high. IMO, both Blyden and Kinney have higher ceilings, which was my point.

Really mixed feelings about this development. Council arguably raises the floor for the team, but also lowers the ceiling. Whose minutes does he take? Kinney, a 5* recruit who is a legit PG? Blyden a combo guard, who also comes from a non-Power 5 conference, who had better stats his freshmen year than Council has had. Definitely a much superior shooter. Same with White. High floor but not particularly high ceiling - his production has been consistent throughout his career. He is a solid role player. Is he really an upgrade on a second year Kohl or Parker?

Depth has been a chronic problem in recent years. That shouldn't be the case this year. But depth only matters if you take advantage of it.

I think this all can only work if HCBS completely changes colors and will play 10 guys significant minutes. Big and small line-ups. Constant pressure with fresh bodies. "Starters" - Dawes, White, Stokes, Blyden and Council? Second line (thinking hockey analog) - Mybia/Reeves, Kohl, Barnett/Adkins, Parker, Kinney? I would really like at least Kohl and Kinney to get meaningful playing time to be able to develop.

@Jayhawk_69 said in Border War:

That game went about as expected. The good news is our season is far from over. If Marshall can start playing like a serviceable starter I think we have a shot at a bowl game.

Was there anything in the game that has you believe that Marshall is a "serviceable" P4 starter? 13 of 30 (and one of those was a wing and a prayer). 2 INTs. 4 fumbles (only 1 TO). 20 rushes for 23 yards. Really undersized.

Some of the ineffectiveness is due to O-line woes, but definitely not all. Multiple really bad throw/decision-making. I really question whether either of our QBs is capable of winning games for us against quality competition...

Mizzou has 230 yards; Jayhawks 100. Fortunate to be tied...

@DanR said in Border War:

Too short to throw from the pocket

And not particularly accurate. And no indication of high QB IQ...

@Kcmatt7 said in Border War:

@DCHawker said in Border War:

@Kcmatt7 said in Border War:

@kjayhawks2.0 said in Border War:

I’d say Isaiah get one more drive then you have to pull him those 5 yards just cost us 3 points

I think you gotta just let him get all the reps this year. Let him learn, if he’s going to be the QB for two more years after this

Based on what do you think he is a multiple year P4 quarterback? Yes, work through some mistakes, but he has to show something??? Thus far, Simmons
looks a lot better and he's just 19...

You haven’t seen enough to write him off. So I think you have to assume he’s the future and you let him get experience in the big moments until proven otherwise. Not like Ballard has proven anything either.

I'm not writing him off - just saying that I've seen nothing in 2 games to lead me to believe that he is a quality P4 QB. Not saying that Ballard is either...