@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...

@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...

Defense has been surprisingly solid; offense not so much. Marshall 3-9 - some bad misses on what should be easy throws...

said in Border War:

Don't get the sense that K's play calling is creating any advantages....

Except for the last couple of plays...

Don't get the sense that K's play calling is creating any advantages....

One good throw by Marshall, but otherwise hasn't looked like he is up to the moment or the opponent...

Neither Marshall nor the O-line looked good on that possession...

@CasterTroy Don't really like that trade. I assume White would expect to be part of the starting 5, but then who isn't? He isn't better than Dawes at the 4 or Stokes on the wing. Ahead of Blyden? I would rather have better ballhandling at the 2-3. Does that leave Parker deep on the bench? If HCBS would really play 8-9 guys, maybe, but history tells us he won't...

With this schedule every home game should be a W. The question is whether we can win at least 3-4 on the road, which would likely put us in the mix for a conference title. KSU and Utah should be definitely winnable. TCU, Cincy?

@Jayhawk_69 Should have clarified that it is unprecedented in the Self era to have a projected preseason seed that low...

Fwiw, which is not much, CBSSports today KU projected as a #7 seed next year. Unprecedented. Whether that bears any relation to reality remains to be seen. But it is a reflection of how little is thought of what the Hawks have lost and have coming in. Same seed as VCU, which lost its best player in the portal to Tennessee...

Juke Harris to Tennessee - after already adding Hill, Ames, Lundblade, and Haralson - all of whom are arguably better than our 3. Does Tennessee really have a much bigger budget? Or, are we waiting in the hope to land someone who pulls out of the draft, e.g., Momcilovic?

From USA Today. Last updated May 2.
Best remaining players in 2026 college basketball transfer portal, latest news

F Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
    Latest intel: Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Kansas reportedly in the mix; declared for NBA draft but could return to college
G Juke Harris, Wake Forest
    Latest intel: The Detroit Free Press reported Michigan is out of the running, and On3 casted a prediction for Tennessee. North Carolina was also linked.
F Allen Graves, Santa Clara
    Latest intel: Duke and LSU among those in the mix; declared for NBA Draft but leaving door open to college return. He was invited to the Scouting Combine.
G Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
    Latest intel: Another going through draft process; heavy Kentucky interest.
G Paul McNeil, NC State
    Latest intel: Another with Kentucky interest, North Carolina and Michigan reportedly involved, but a return to NC State not being ruled out. His former coach at NC State, Will Wade, is now at LSU, which could be another suitor.
F Jordan Burks, UCF
    Latest intel: A late addition to the portal, Burks had previous stops at Kentucky and Georgetown. He averaged a career-best 13.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg for the Knights this past season. A 6-9 forward who is a 37% shooter from deep should be a hot commodity.
G Hamad Mousa, Cal Poly
    Latest intel: The 6-8 Qatari guard began his career at Dayton before transferring to Cal Poly prior to last season. There he averaged 20.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg and shot 37.2% from behind the arc.
G Tijan Saine Jr., Weber State
    Latest intel:Per ESPN, Saine is hearing from Washington, Missouri, NC State, Mississippi State, LSU and Texas State.
G Vyctorius Miller, Oklahoma State
    Latest intel: He recently finished a visit to Kansas.
G Abdi Bashir Jr., Kansas State
    Latest intel: Has Zoom calls set up with Kansas and NC State and has already visited St. John's.

Five more to keep an eye on: Christian Harmon (Arkansas State), Akai Fleming (Georgia Tech), Cayden Charles (St. Bonaventure), Mihailo Petrovic (Illinois), Dennis Parker (Radford)

@Jayhawk_69 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:

Now Bill's patented 7-man rotation looks pretty clear. Kinney, Blyden Jr, Stokes, Dawes, Reeves, Rosario, and Mbiya. This team will not be good at shooting. They will be crazy fast and should be good on the glass.

Hope, wing, and a prayer if that is our rotation. Exactly 1 guy who has produced at the high major level. Two freshmen and two returnees with minimal minutes (especially Mbiya). Is Kinney really capable of running things for 30+ mpg??? Are we confident Reeves and Blyden can produce against P5 talent every game???

This line-up only works if those things happen and if Rosario follows a Braun trajectory and Mbiya really progresses. Even then we still need quality depth at the 4 and point. Any Euro talent lurking out there? Not much left in the portal...