Kansas Crimson

If Cam can get easy buckets inside and Clemence can't, that would be the reason he plays. I'm not sure if he can, but Self doesn't seem confident that anyone else can either.

Mjl wrote: ↑Sat Oct 22, 2022 2:56 pm If Cam can get easy buckets inside and Clemence can't, that would be the reason he plays. I'm not sure if he can, but Self doesn't seem confident that anyone else can either.

If you believe what self is saying right now, none of them can. So it doesn’t really make any sense to give Cam the reps.

After watching some highlight videos, Ernest has the quickest, highest flat-footed jump. He obviously needs to get up to college ball speed but I think he has the chance to be most explosive. Zuby is close behind. He is also athletic and looks a little smoother than Ernest. Also has good timing for blocking shots. When the light comes on for one or both of these guys, look out!

AlOerter wrote: ↑Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:52 am After watching some highlight videos, Ernest has the quickest, highest flat-footed jump. He obviously needs to get up to college ball speed but I think he has the chance to be most explosive. Zuby is close behind. He is also athletic and looks a little smoother than Ernest. Also has good timing for blocking shots. When the light comes on for one or both of these guys, look out!

Agreed. Those 2 are better fits to be the lone "big". Better raw athletic tools. Zach and cam are skilled players but would have fit in better at kansas 15 years ago when we played with 2 bigs. Neither one is really a center or a wing

It kind of feels like self wants to see one of zuby/Ernest and one of zach/cam to establish themselves and get the bulk of the minutes. One guy with the typical interior "big" playstyle and one guy who can be the big that stretches the floor

KJ is probably just gonna back up jalen at the "4" whenever jalen is out. And hopefully not out there as the "5" much. And be used situationally as a "disruptor"

Self can put him in to fuck up the other teams rhythm if they get on a roll. Put him on their best player, maybe play some weird lineups with a bunch of forwards that switch everything

randylahey wrote: ↑Sun Oct 23, 2022 1:13 pm

AlOerter wrote: ↑Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:52 am After watching some highlight videos, Ernest has the quickest, highest flat-footed jump. He obviously needs to get up to college ball speed but I think he has the chance to be most explosive. Zuby is close behind. He is also athletic and looks a little smoother than Ernest. Also has good timing for blocking shots. When the light comes on for one or both of these guys, look out!

Agreed. Those 2 are better fits to be the lone "big". Better raw athletic tools. Zach and cam are skilled players but would have fit in better at kansas 15 years ago when we played with 2 bigs. Neither one is really a center or a wing

Yes, I would call Zach and Cam stretch 4's in older parlance. No reason you can't go back to that if it fits your personnel. They need to be able to guard their assignment who's likely to be smaller and quicker. But they can also cause match-up problems for the other team's D. We've seen teams with long wing players but they are usually able to put it on the floor when necessary.

But I think self might be afraid his best lineups right now might be with KJ as the undersized 5. Until one of our bigs figures things out

I wonder who the initial starting 5 were for the Illinois scrimmage...too bad there isn't more details in general.

For game 1 my money is on KJ.

Self has no real incentive to speculate publicly about the battle for that starting spot at this point. Saying everyone is similar is the coach speak thing to do.

Speaking of the scrimmage, this below, and also the rumors are that we didn't look too good. Of course, even if true, nothing that should be worried about at all.

InfiniteJ wrote: ↑Sun Oct 23, 2022 1:41 pm I wonder who the initial starting 5 were for the Illinois scrimmage...too bad there isn't more details in general.

Saw some film of

Dajuan
Yesefu
Mccullar
Wilson
Kj

Might be our week 1 starting lineup

BasketballJayhawk wrote: ↑Sun Oct 23, 2022 2:04 pm For game 1 my money is on KJ.

Self has no real incentive to speculate publicly about the battle for that starting spot at this point. Saying everyone is similar is the coach speak thing to do.

According to the scrimmage info here it looks like you may be right.

More footage from Illini scrimmage...

https://fb.watch/glJwiY0Ax1/

I'm curious who's going to emerge as the better defender this year. Pettiford or yesefu?

I think McCullar is going to be the consistent glue guy.

AlOerter wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:02 pm I think McCullar is going to be the consistent glue guy.

I think he's our best all around player. But won't be our star or leading scorer