Kansas Crimson

Tomorrow, or next year, is not guaranteed. If he can help this year, he should play this year.

I guess I've always felt like red shirt decisions should be based primarily around what's best for the player....this doesn't feel like it'd be best for the player. It seems like a knee jerk reaction to losing our center.

I agree KJ has been pretty terrible.....but if he's been that bad and Self had him (and Moore) ahead of Ochai then that probably speaks to have good Ochai actually is.

We seem to do this every year....we think the guy we've never seen must be better than who Self has ahead of them on the depth chart/in the rotation.

Regardless, I don't think it'll happen, so it's kinda whatever.

I think it's like 85% going to happen.

Even if there was a small chance it was going to happen, Self wouldn't tell the public that it's being discussed.

Also, to say that it's a sure thing that the best thing for Ochai to do is not play this year is not a slam dunk at all.

We're looking at a lean year in 2020. Who knows beyond that. When will Ochai get to play on a F4 contender again? Might not happen. Will Bill be around for all 4(5) of Ochai's years?

Further, if Ochai redshirts now, he can't ever do so again. Meaning, he's stuck at Kansas. A lot can happen in 4 years where that might not be the best for the player.

With the ridiculous transfer restrictions, the best thing for a player now might be to never redshirt freshmen.

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:12 pm I guess I've always felt like red shirt decisions should be based primarily around what's best for the player....this doesn't feel like it'd be best for the player. It seems like a knee jerk reaction to losing our center.

I agree KJ has been pretty terrible.....but if he's been that bad and Self had him (and Moore) ahead of Ochai then that probably speaks to have good Ochai actually is.

We seem to do this every year....we think the guy we've never seen must be better than who Self has ahead of them on the depth chart/in the rotation.

Regardless, I don't think it'll happen, so it's kinda whatever.

If Agbaji pulls his redshirt and plays an important role in leading us to big things then he is a KU legend for life. That would be favorable for him. And quite honestly, the opportunity to even TRY to do that is a favorable life lesson he would benefit from forever.

I guess I'm not seeing this sudden opportunity that's opened up. He'd be the 6th guard in the rotation at best and that's assuming he'd be ahead of KJ which is a giant assumption.

An "important role" is not 5-10mpg and some DNP CD.

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:31 pm I guess I'm not seeing this sudden opportunity that's opened up. He'd be the 6th guard in the rotation at best and that's assuming he'd be ahead of KJ which is a giant assumption.

An "important role" is not 5-10mpg and some DNP CD.

Vick and Dotson are the only 2 regular players shooting over 31% from three. We are without Dok so we will be playing a lot more small ball. That requires more threes to be taken and made.

If there was no opportunity or need then Self wouldn't be talking to Agbaji about and he sure as shit wouldn't be telling the media, unprompted, that he was talking to Agbaji about it.

Maybe this is just Self using the media to try to light a fire under KJ and Moore, who would be the guys losing minutes to Agbaji if he played. We'll see.

Self says a lot of stuff to the media.

I'm sure it's been talked about. I certainly don't think it's a lie that it's being considered. It sounds like it will partly be a staff decision and partly left up to the family to decide. I trust their decision either way.

Anyone got any idea what Ochai shot from 3pt land in high school?

Moore and KJ are averaging about 26.5 minutes per game combined just for the record.

Dotson is going to play mason/graham type minutes. So basically 38min per night. Grimes probably going to be bumped to 35+ per night too soon if he keeps improving. Vick already averaging 34min per game and that's with a game where he was benched for long stretches.

So we don't have a ton of minutes that are needing to be filled now that Dok is out. He was only playing 20min anyway....

I'd rather we play DMac, and scrap going 100% small ball. We've got a mcd's all American center on our bench. Use him!

Ochai doesn't magically make us a good small ball team imo. Just added depth.

Have Self and Co completely given up hope on KJ and Moore? Why are they even here?

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:50 pm Self says a lot of stuff to the media.

I'm sure it's been talked about. I certainly don't think it's a lie that it's being considered. It sounds like it will partly be a staff decision and partly left up to the family to decide. I trust their decision either way.

Anyone got any idea what Ochai shot from 3pt land in high school?

I don't think Bill would give this one the light of day if it wasn't all but a done deal. You think Bill wants there to even be a possibility that this doesn't happen, we flame out, and people get to point to January, and not October, as the time when the decision was made?

jfish26 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:00 pm

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:50 pm Self says a lot of stuff to the media.

I'm sure it's been talked about. I certainly don't think it's a lie that it's being considered. It sounds like it will partly be a staff decision and partly left up to the family to decide. I trust their decision either way.

Anyone got any idea what Ochai shot from 3pt land in high school?

I don't think Bill would give this one the light of day if it wasn't all but a done deal. You think Bill wants there to even be a possibility that this doesn't happen, we flame out, and people get to point to January, and not October, as the time when the decision was made?

You're most likely right.

I don't see Ochai as the answer, but guess it can't hurt to see.

I hate small ball with non shooters. It just doesn't work. Ochai isn't going to make that big of a difference.

I guess it all comes down to preference. My preference would be to not panic, and just give DMac and Mitch the minutes Dok consumed. They're better equipped and prepared than a freshman who hasn't been playing imo. McCormack is a McDonalds AA. I just don't understand why we wouldn't just throw him into the fire rather... but maybe it'll be a combo of both. A little ochai and more DMac/Mitch.

It's not so much that Bill doesn't like McCormack, it's that Bill doesn't think Dedric can play the 4 spot next to another big.

jfish26 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:00 pm

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:50 pm Self says a lot of stuff to the media.

I'm sure it's been talked about. I certainly don't think it's a lie that it's being considered. It sounds like it will partly be a staff decision and partly left up to the family to decide. I trust their decision either way.

Anyone got any idea what Ochai shot from 3pt land in high school?

I don't think Bill would give this one the light of day if it wasn't all but a done deal. You think Bill wants there to even be a possibility that this doesn't happen, we flame out, and people get to point to January, and not October, as the time when the decision was made?

Bill Self doesnt give a shit what "people" (fans) think. Just saying.

Self is trying to figure out how to win more games and reach this team's potential. He is exploring all available options as he should. We'll see.

I just wouldn't be surprised to hear that Moore and KJ were still in the gym after practice getting up extra shots.

CrimsonNBlue wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:06 pm It's not so much that Bill doesn't like McCormack, it's that Bill doesn't think Dedric can play the 4 spot next to another big.

You're definitely right about that.

I think Self deserves some heat for that. He's had over an entire year to figure that out....or recruit some shooters.

I like small ball, but you need newman's and Svi's and graham's/mason's....can't have 2 non shooters out there....if Self wants that style he needs to recruit that style of player.

Can you imagine how big of a cluster fuck this would be if Dok was healthy and SDS was cleared....and we could only play Dedric as a lone big. I'd lose my mind.

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:15 pm

CrimsonNBlue wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:06 pm It's not so much that Bill doesn't like McCormack, it's that Bill doesn't think Dedric can play the 4 spot next to another big.

You're definitely right about that.

I think Self deserves some heat for that. He's had over an entire year to figure that out....or recruit some shooters.

I like small ball, but you need newman's and Svi's and graham's/mason's....can't have 2 non shooters out there....if Self wants that style he needs to recruit that style of player.

Can you imagine how big of a cluster fuck this would be if Dok was healthy and SDS was cleared....and we could only play Dedric as a lone big. I'd lose my mind.

I agree that if Bill is going to fall in love with the 3-ball (which he has), then he needs to recruit jump shooters.

As far as De Sousa, he can play at the 4 next to Dedric, aka interchangeable bigs like Markieff/Marcus and Shady/Darnell. Dedric has problems playing next to Udoka/McCormack. Honestly, Dedric and our offense hasn't looked horrible when Dedric plays next to Mitch. Mitch obviously has his own shortcomings, though.

Why should the Dok injury cause Agbaji to lose his red shirt?

I think it's a dumb idea.

This team has plenty of pieces. Bill can figure it out...

sdoyel wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:57 pm Why should the Dok injury cause Agbaji to lose his red shirt?

I think it's a dumb idea.

This team has plenty of pieces. Bill can figure it out...

Because without Doke (and without Silvio), the balance of pieces on the roster suggest going to a four-out base set. We're a guard or wing short of being complete for that, because KJ is bad.

sdoyel wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:57 pm Why should the Dok injury cause Agbaji to lose his red shirt?

I think it's a dumb idea.

This team has plenty of pieces. Bill can figure it out...

I thought they had "no answers"?

Glad to see you are feeling better.

IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:15 pm

CrimsonNBlue wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:06 pm It's not so much that Bill doesn't like McCormack, it's that Bill doesn't think Dedric can play the 4 spot next to another big.

You're definitely right about that.

I think Self deserves some heat for that. He's had over an entire year to figure that out....or recruit some shooters.

I like small ball, but you need newman's and Svi's and graham's/mason's....can't have 2 non shooters out there....if Self wants that style he needs to recruit that style of player.

Can you imagine how big of a cluster fuck this would be if Dok was healthy and SDS was cleared....and we could only play Dedric as a lone big. I'd lose my mind.

You do realize that wasn't the style Self wanted going into this season, right? You're bashing him for not recruiting players to fit a system he had no intention of using outside of a few minutes here and there depending on matchups and game situation.

I also think the Dedric can't play with Dok, or another big, is blown way out of proportion. Can't remember which article it was, but they mentioned how the offense is averaging 10 more points per 100 possessions with Dok on the floor as opposed to off of it. And considering how much Lawson was on the floor while Dok was, I think that's a little telling.

It's more than a coincidence that arguably the 3 worst offensive performances of the year came during the 5 games Dedric was the primary lone big.

The 8 games they played together, I'm not counting the Wofford game when Doke played 4 minutes, Dedric was still putting up 19/11. And that includes the 0 point, 7 rebound shitstain against Vermont. Outside of that he averaged 21.7/11.3.

Is Dedric better on the block than he is in the high post? Obviously. Does that mean he can't play with another big? Not to me.

With Selfs lines like “we have to play him if he burns the shirt”, sounds more like a threat to Vick. Dude looked drunk out there.