NCAA Tournament 2024

[Back2Lawrence]

Hunter is the biggest bitch on this team in a long long time. Maybe ever?

[pdub]

Eh.
Brannen Greene wasn't that long ago.

[MICHHAWK]

compared to a dude like brennen greene. hd doesn't even register.

[jfish26]

I love y'all.

But you're just, out of anger with what Hunter represents, somewhat out of touch with reality.

In >32mpg at Kansas, Hunter has better rebounds/40 (13.5) than, in their BEST full-time seasons with Bill...

Wayne * +
Sasha +
DJ * +
Shady +
Marcus +
Withey +
Perry * +
Dedric * +
McCormack +
Jalen *

* HD better steals+blocks/40
+ HD better assists/40

The only bigs I found with better rebounds/40 were Cole (+), Markieff (+), Thomas (+), Joel (+) and Udoka (+).

I didn't bother checking at the obviously-inferior-player level (like Landen, Lightfoot, etc.).

I guess it depends on what glasses you're wearing, but Hunter is, statistically at least, a more effective rebounder than a whole lot of guys who would not be referred to as the "biggest bitch" we've had. If you want to limit the universe to centers only, as a rebounder Hunter is right in the middle over our golden era.

And the fact that none of the five guys with better rebound rates had better assist rates (and look at Hunter's other category leads over the rest of the list) adds color to the notion that Hunter is arguably the most well-rounded elite rebounder we've had.

I get that you hate what he represents, and some of the theatrics. I will say, again, that he brings a lot of this on himself. I'm not saying he's lovable or even likable, or that you'd trust him to water your cactus.

But this bitch is probably the difference between a disappointing 4-seed and missing the tournament altogether, and his numbers and draft non-stock indicate - to me - that he's getting more out of the talent and athleticism he has than most.

And what else is effort?

[pdub]

Landen Lucas 2016 had more.
Embiid 2014 more.

Dickinson is still a douchebag.
His effort level is visibly lacking at points but he's still an absolutely incredible college player despite this.
I'm good with him bouncing end of this season.

[DCHawk1]

I love y'all.

But you're just, out of anger with what Hunter represents, somewhat out of touch with reality.

In >32mpg at Kansas, Hunter has better rebounds/40 (13.5) than, in their BEST full-time seasons with Bill...

Wayne * +
Sasha +
DJ * +
Shady +
Marcus +
Withey +
Perry * +
Dedric * +
McCormack +
Jalen *

* HD better steals+blocks/40
+ HD better assists/40

The only bigs I found with better rebounds/40 were Cole (+), Markieff (+), Thomas (+), Joel (+) and Udoka (+).

I didn't bother checking at the obviously-inferior-player level (like Landen, Lightfoot, etc.).

I guess it depends on what glasses you're wearing, but Hunter is, statistically at least, a more effective rebounder than a whole lot of guys who would not be referred to as the "biggest bitch" we've had. If you want to limit the universe to centers only, as a rebounder Hunter is right in the middle over our golden era.

And the fact that none of the five guys with better rebound rates had better assist rates (and look at Hunter's other category leads over the rest of the list) adds color to the notion that Hunter is arguably the most well-rounded elite rebounder we've had.

I get that you hate what he represents, and some of the theatrics. I will say, again, that he brings a lot of this on himself. I'm not saying he's lovable or even likable, or that you'd trust him to water your cactus.

But this bitch is probably the difference between a disappointing 4-seed and missing the tournament altogether, and his numbers and draft non-stock indicate - to me - that he's getting more out of the talent and athleticism he has than most.

And what else is effort?

I don't doubt or disagree with any of this -- until the very end.

That said, Hunter's stats are inarguably padded, given, as you say, that he "is probably the difference between a disappointing 4-seed and missing the tournament altogether...." Everyone else on that list had a supporting cast that relieved them of the responsibility -- except Dedric, which is, in part, why the comparison is so apt.

I am hardly angry at what he represents in general. I am angry at what he represents in particular, which is (and again the comparison to Dedric) a nonchalance about his role in representing the name on the front rather than the back of the jersey.

I don't think he's a bitch. But I don't think he's a particularly great Jayhawk either.

[pdub]

"...a nonchalance about his role in representing the name on the front rather than the back of the jersey"

This.

For me, I'm not disputing he isn't an excellent college player.
Hell, I think objectively he's getting snubbed from AA teams and probably deserved B12POY.
But also I DO see effort lapses. I'm not alone in seeing them.

You're right that loosing exacerbates this problem.
You're also right that his being a douchebag exacerbates the problem.

Like Dedric, I defended his output as a player.
Without Hunter ( assuming we don't have Udeh and Zuby ) we probably are a team fighting for a NCAA tourney spot.
That doesn't mean we can't think that A. he could be better and B. he's insufferable.

[MICHHAWK]

i don't doubt that hd will be in the lineup on thursday night. i can't say the same for km.

[Back2Lawrence]

He's definitely a bitch.

He champions himself every opportunity he gets and sulks when things go badly.

The eyetest says he doesn't even try to move to the ball a lot of the time. Yes, his stats are good on paper, and I don't disagree we might have missed tourney without him (but then we'd have Udeh coming back for next year as an upperclassman, too, right?).

Since day one, he talked about getting his bag. Now, while I hate that as a college basketball fan and don't fault that as humans trying to maximize their earning potential, I'm still a college basketball fan first, so this, above all else, makes him a bitch. You aren't wrong. It's what he represents. If he leads us deep in the tournament, I won't cheer him as an individual. He's less than Pdub's proverbial meh.

[pdub]

And the biggest reason why he'd even think about coming back will be to make more money than he could have somewhere else.

Not to try and redeem this season, get better with the players here and win a title.

He was interviewed after an L the other night and just joked about how bad of a season they've been having saying something along the lines of, "well it must be me."

That should piss you off. Or you should at least take it seriously.

[MICHHAWK]

He's definitely a bitch.

He champions himself every opportunity he gets and sulks when things go badly.

The eyetest says he doesn't even try to move to the ball a lot of the time. Yes, his stats are good on paper, and I don't disagree we might have missed tourney without him (but then we'd have Udeh coming back for next year as an upperclassman, too, right?).

Since day one, he talked about getting his bag. Now, while I hate that as a college basketball fan and don't fault that as humans trying to maximize their earning potential, I'm still a college basketball fan first, so this, above all else, makes him a bitch. You aren't wrong. It's what he represents. If he leads us deep in the tournament, I won't cheer him as an individual. He's less than Pdub's proverbial meh.

is this your version of a pep talk.

[pdub]

All this said, I'd bet big on him to have a monster game Thursday night.
Like 25 and 13. 4 plus blocks.
We will need to take advantage of Samford's weakness - the interior.

[Back2Lawrence]

He's definitely a bitch.

He champions himself every opportunity he gets and sulks when things go badly.

The eyetest says he doesn't even try to move to the ball a lot of the time. Yes, his stats are good on paper, and I don't disagree we might have missed tourney without him (but then we'd have Udeh coming back for next year as an upperclassman, too, right?).

Since day one, he talked about getting his bag. Now, while I hate that as a college basketball fan and don't fault that as humans trying to maximize their earning potential, I'm still a college basketball fan first, so this, above all else, makes him a bitch. You aren't wrong. It's what he represents. If he leads us deep in the tournament, I won't cheer him as an individual. He's less than Pdub's proverbial meh.

is this your version of a pep talk.

A pep talk to/towards/about HD? Nah. I don't like him even a little bit.

[randylahey]

All I'm going to say about hunter. I hope he's healthy.

It's time to see what he's all about. It's March madness, shut the haters up. This is the moment he came to Kansas for

[jfish26]

And the biggest reason why he'd even think about coming back will be to make more money than he could have somewhere else.

Not to try and redeem this season, get better with the players here and win a title.

He was interviewed after an L the other night and just joked about how bad of a season they've been having saying something along the lines of, "well it must be me."

That should piss you off. Or you should at least take it seriously.

As far as I can tell, Hunter's NIL quotes you pull (like the one about people giving him shit for doing what they might do in their lines of work) all came from a Barstool podcast last May, and an ESPN article last June.

While we're here openly speculating on Hunter's internal motivations for coming back (or not), it's probably worth at least adding to the mix that he said (in the ESPN article) that we were not the highest bidder. I would imagine that what he can make here is around the same range as he what he could make in Europe (which makes sense, when you think about it).

And if he chooses here...what would you take from that, particularly in that context?

As for "well it must be me" - I do not lurk in players' social media accounts, but I have to imagine he's hearing a LOT there of the sorts of things that get said here. Probably worse! I, personally, think "well it must be me" is a perfectly understandable thing for someone on the receiving end of that to say.

[pdub]

All I'm going to say about hunter. I hope he's healthy.

It's time to see what he's all about. It's March madness, shut the haters up. This is the moment he came to Kansas for

That moment happened when he inked his NIL guarantees.

[Back2Lawrence]

All I'm going to say about hunter. I hope he's healthy.

It's time to see what he's all about. It's March madness, shut the haters up. This is the moment he came to Kansas for

i'll still not like him, regardles of what he does on the court this tournament.

[pdub]

While we're here openly speculating on Hunter's internal motivations for coming back (or not), it's probably worth at least adding to the mix that he said (in the ESPN article) that we were not the highest bidder. I would imagine that what he can make here is around the same range as he what he could make in Europe (which makes sense, when you think about it).

Well another big issue here is, I don't trust the guy so it's tough to take whatever he is saying to heart.
I think some of the first things he said before KU's PR team got to him were things he meant.
His candor instantly changed a few days after he arrived here.


And then he got on the court and started being a douche and then more of that has trickled out in bits in interviews and media clips.

[TDub]

lots of good talk here, I have nothing more to add other than I agree with a lot of it

[jfish26]

While we're here openly speculating on Hunter's internal motivations for coming back (or not), it's probably worth at least adding to the mix that he said (in the ESPN article) that we were not the highest bidder. I would imagine that what he can make here is around the same range as he what he could make in Europe (which makes sense, when you think about it).

Well another big issue here is, I don't trust the guy so it's tough to take whatever he is saying to heart.
I think some of the first things he said before KU's PR team got to him were things he meant.
His candor instantly changed a few days after he arrived here.


And then he got on the court and started being a douche and then more of that has trickled out in bits in interviews and media clips.

This all seems so selective.

In the Barstool interview, he said, "I basically gave [my legacy at Michigan] up to try to be selfish and do what's best for me and my career, not what's best for anybody else's career."

I assume you believe him when he said that?