2024/2025 Lineup

[DeletedUser]

Are there any players on our team Ousdahl likes?

Elmarko I think.

Can't wait for us to lose a game and then hear the "i wonder if we'd be better off drowning Dajuan in the training pool and giving the keys to the Ferrari to Elmarko".

[BiggDick]

well, if the injury didn't happen, I DO think the plan was to have Elmarko up to speed enough for a Remy-sort of role, like, "welp we got a good stretch out of Dajuan so instead of playing him until he looks gassed let's give the keys to our more talented dood who isn't as pure a PG but can still make dynamic things happen"

[DeletedUser]

well, if the injury didn't happen, I DO think the plan was to have Elmarko up to speed enough for a Remy-sort of role, like, "welp we got a good stretch out of Dajuan so instead of playing him until he looks gassed let's give the keys to our more talented dood who isn't as pure a PG but can still make dynamic things happen"

The plan was to play DH and Elmarko together. Not to replace DH with Elmarko. Labaron Philon was supposed to be our PG of the future, and DH backup.

Elmarko has not shown he does anything dynamic yet except run fast and jump high. I think you just create some of this shit in your head. He's not a great ballhandler or passer, turns it over a lot. He's athletic, quick on defense, has some size...he's got a long ways to go to be whatever you're describing him as.

And for as much as you bitch about DH turnovers, I've got bad news for you...Elmarko averaged more turnovers per 40 this last season, as a secondary ballhandler than DH has in any season he's played at KU as the primary ballhandler.

[pdub]

I

You what?

[BiggDick]

the key term there was, "up to speed enough."

The best thing about freshman is, they become sophomores.

I really think what I described was and is more likely than expecting a big role this year for Jon Voight's Lebaron.

Heck, that's prob why Lebaron jumped ship months before Elmarko got injured. He didn't wanna have to be 3rd string at best.

Also, in a sense we kinda traded that dood for Griffen didn't we?

[BiggDick]

I

You what?

the suspense is killing me!

[randylahey]

But he was the worst rim protector.

Metrics say otherwise.

A lot of variable go into how metrics and advanced statics are compiled. It isn't always the most accurate representation of a sport. Do you think hunter is quick? Do you think he do a good job rotating over and blocking shots at the rim?

I don't remember us having a slower less explosive center in a long long time.

Maybe Greg ostertag? Chenowith? Idk that was a longggggg time ago

*and to clarify, I'm not talking about his ability to guard someone 1 on 1 on the block. Hunter is good there. I'm talking about his ability to rotate over as a help side defender and block shots. He is terrible at that. IMO that is a centers most important job, to be a help defender and anchor your defense with shot blocking. It was a missing element last season

[pdub]

But he was the worst rim protector.

Metrics say otherwise.

A lot of variable go into how metrics and advanced statics are compiled. It isn't always the most accurate representation of a sport. Do you think hunter is quick? Do you think he do a good job rotating over and blocking shots at the rim?

I don't remember us having a slower less explosive center in a long long time.

Maybe Greg ostertag? Chenowith? Idk that was a longggggg time ago

*and to clarify, I'm not talking about his ability to guard someone 1 on 1 on the block. Hunter is good there. I'm talking about his ability to rotate over as a help side defender and block shots. He is terrible at that. IMO that is a centers most important job, to be a help defender and anchor your defense with shot blocking. It was a missing element last season

I know you hate statistics in general.
Facts etc.
Just not your strong suit.

[randylahey]

But luckily, bidunga has already shown glimpses of weak side shot blocking. Being a quick twitch athlete is pretty essential as a center

[randylahey]

Pdub, how do you feel about hunters athleticism last season?

[pdub]

You said Hunter was the worst defensive center Self has ever had.
This is not a true statement.

How do I feel about Hunter's athleticism? Not great.
How do I feel about his height and wingspan? Pretty damn good.
How do I feel about him as an effective basketball player? Also pretty damn good.
How do I feel about him as a Jayhawk? Not great.

[randylahey]

You said Hunter was the worst defensive center Self has ever had.
This is not a true statement.

How do I feel about Hunter's athleticism? Not great.
How do I feel about his height and wingspan? Pretty damn good.
How do I feel about him as an effective basketball player? Also pretty damn good.
How do I feel about him as a Jayhawk? Not great.

I agree with this for the most part. Except whether or not hunter is selfs worst defensive center. It's a reasonable debate. So far we've narrowed it down to maybe 1 guy... Landen Lucas. Landen was an unranked 3 star guy who's arguably the leash talented big we've had through the program.

I do agree hunter is good on the low block 1 on 1. But, here at Kansas, team defense is a big deal. I don't think I've ever seen a center contribute as little to a team defense as hunter. To me, anchoring the team defense by rotating and challenging guys at the rim is a centers most important job. Hunter barely does that

[randylahey]

I'm hoping we see improvement there this season. I imagine hunter spend his off-season working on agility. And having bidunga will allow hunter more rest and to play with better energy

[twocoach]

Anyone here going to be in Lawrence on Friday Nov. 8th for the UNC game? I will be in town for Dad's weekend Friday and Saturday night that weekend and will buy you a beer after the game if you're around. Not sure where we'll head to watch the game, depends on how many of the other dads are in town that early.

[BiggDick]

the Landen Lucas of point guards.

kinda surprised no one went for this but also kinda not.

And, since we're so fond of stats, check these out!


Player 1: 5.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 2151 total minutes

Player 2: 6.4 points and 4.8 assists in 4083 total minutes

[DeletedUser]

You're responding to your own posts now?

[BiggDick]

Anyone here going to be in Lawrence on Friday Nov. 8th for the UNC game? I will be in town for Dad's weekend Friday and Saturday night that weekend and will buy you a beer after the game if you're around. Not sure where we'll head to watch the game, depends on how many of the other dads are in town that early.

I won't be, but thanks for the offer! This is the kind of energy I like to see around the message boards. Enjoy Lawrence and the game dude.

[twocoach]

You said Hunter was the worst defensive center Self has ever had.
This is not a true statement.

How do I feel about Hunter's athleticism? Not great.
How do I feel about his height and wingspan? Pretty damn good.
How do I feel about him as an effective basketball player? Also pretty damn good.
How do I feel about him as a Jayhawk? Not great.

I agree with this for the most part. Except whether or not hunter is selfs worst defensive center. It's a reasonable debate. So far we've narrowed it down to maybe 1 guy... Landen Lucas. Landen was an unranked 3 star guy who's arguably the leash talented big we've had through the program.

I do agree hunter is good on the low block 1 on 1. But, here at Kansas, team defense is a big deal. I don't think I've ever seen a center contribute as little to a team defense as hunter. To me, anchoring the team defense by rotating and challenging guys at the rim is a centers most important job. Hunter barely does that

McCormack was a pretty mediocre to poor defender and a virtually nonexistent shot blocker and we still won a national title with him. Dickinson was a better shot blocker last year by probably 30% over any season by McCormack.

[BiggDick]

man, I'm gonna just go full guttermeter with this one then prob be done for the day.

Not that I don't appreciate the shit out of Self's 2nd natty, buuuut...

does it ever feel like 2022 was less a function of having the best team that season, and more a function of just finally getting one of the best tournament breaks of all time??

16
9 (down a starter)
4
10 (and literally started Charlie Moore)
2 (down a starter)
8

and that 8 sucked all season but got hot at the right time but also still so inexplicably mid that they returned almost everyone but didn't even make the tournament the next year

like don't get me wrong, thank the lord we won it. But, holy shit, what a cakewalk!

[pdub]

Yep.
I mentioned DMac here as being sometimes a meh defender.
I think he was good in spurts. He certainly was excellent in our last 6 games in 2022.