I don't think anything in the message would be too surprising. We know Self rides his players, especially when he thinks they aren't giving full effort. Sounds like DP wasn't feeling 100% yet and it was showing, and Self expects that if you make yourself available, you give 100% effort. Is a little concerning given how often DP has missed time and his ongoing hesitancy to play though small knocks, but I'm sure clashes like this happen more than we know between Self and players.

@kjayhawks2.0 Yeah health is this team's only major weakness lol. That and would like a more consistent bench, but both Mari and Elmarko have shown they can make an impact at times.

May be an unpopular take, but DP is good enough that he can call the shots on how much he plays and think Self should continue to let him as long as there is an understanding he will be fully available/play through pain a bit more come the tournament. The team seems to have adapted well to him being in and out of the lineup so I don't even mind it too much anymore.

@stoptheflop You're worried about dropping a game vs Utah and I'm over here thinking if we can sweep zona, a B12 champ isn't off the table.

Don't disagree with your thought process, but also think KU would have to play their worst game of the season for Utah to have a chance to win. This team hasn't shown that they routinely sleepwalk through games, so I'm not worried too much about that happening.

@wissox83 I think credit would have been given that the inbounder didn't give melvin a chance to clear the area after he got up. This wasn't the typical play that the technical foul rule you are referencing covers where a defender is set guarding the ball or there is intent to hit the ball early. So while yes, the rules could perhaps call for a tech on the play, I think it is also fair to say the spirit of the rules would not call for that.

Yeah chemistry was still high when he is on the court last night for maybe the first time. Assumed it would happen given time as the other players adjust to DP, but good to see it actually play out. Still need to work on the defensive rebounding a bit but otherwise loving this team.

No NFL games to compete against on Friday

I don't think these rule suggestions are bad, but the courts seem likely to strike down anything restricting player movement unless there are contracts or it is collectively bargained for and I haven't seen any movement on the NCAA side to put either in place

@Jayhawk_69 I think everyone is assuming that but no official word.

Will be at the game so selfishly hoping he plays a bit. If not, won't be too bothered though as long as the rest of the team comes to play. I feel like we always sleepwalk through the last game before Christmas, so hoping we can avoid that this year.

@BeddieKU23 I would agree his stock hasn't been impacted by his injury yet. Key word there is yet though. If he sits out the rest of the season that won't be the case though and some front offices will have long term durability concerns along with questions on whether he will be overly cautious with injuries when he get to the NBA or if he will be willing to play through minor injuries in the playoffs. Maybe in some years that doesn't matter, but you have AJ with a similar long term upside and Boozer whose floor is probably a plus starter in the NBA. Even then it still depends on the team picking, but sinking money into an injury prone star is an easy way to take yourself out of running for a championship, especially with the new CBA. DP has plenty of reason to show this isn't going to be a lingering issue the rest of his career if he can.

Also add in that these players are aware that their marketability is important. Showing out in conference play and the NCAA tournament is the best way for DP to gain there.

Plenty of reason for him to play, and once his hamstring is fully healed not much downside to playing. Not like he is going to stop training/practicing leading up to the draft and there isn't a significant difference in injury risk between that and games.

@rockchalkjayhawk I thought we were going to pull it out until about 3 mins left when we started missing FTs right as we had a chance to tie. Then uconn hits the deep 3 and KU's offense went into desperation mode too early.

@BeddieKU23 Idk adding the best PG in CBB to any team would bring a top 60 offense at least into the top 25. Maybe DP falls short of that, but he has been as good as advertised in what we have seen so far so not putting it out of the question.

At worst, we have a similar offensive output for 35 mins of the game, but instead of council shooting a low percentage 3 in the last few mins of the game to keep us in it, we have DP and Flory running a P&R and actually have a decent change of scoring. Love what we are getting from council but iso ball with the clock winding down is not his game and not what he was brought in for.

@kjayhawks2.0 are any of these sources reliable? Cause only people I hear/see saying that are obviously speculating or just frustrated about him not playing yet.