{"id":2954,"date":"2013-11-08T17:23:26","date_gmt":"2013-11-08T21:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/?p=2954"},"modified":"2024-09-08T23:02:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T03:02:30","slug":"lift-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/2013\/11\/08\/lift-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Lift Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finally, the games begin.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a long run since that sad Friday night in Dallas last March when Elijah missed, Trey hit, and Michigan knocked off the #1 seeded Jayhawks out of the NCAA tournament in overtime. Given how last season ended, this has been a surprisingly un-angsty off-season. Well, there was angst plenty of angst until May, but then for some reason a lot of that went away.<\/p>\n

But after the Andrew Wiggins announcement, the celebration, the anticipation, the heaps of hype, KU finally tips things off tonight.<\/p>\n

So what to make of, likely, the most talented team but least experienced team of the Bill Self era?<\/p>\n

Well, first let\u2019s acknowledge this year begins a whole new era of Kansas basketball. I\u2019m not just talking about Wiggins\u2019 time on campus. I\u2019m talking about Self going all-in with chasing the top recruits and the Jayhawks beginning to look more like Kentucky, where new crops of freshmen show up each fall to be replaced by another group of kids straight out of high school the next year.<\/p>\n

To be honest, I\u2019m torn. I don\u2019t think Self will ever go full Calipari. I think he will always do his best to balance the roster and also recruit guys who are talented and can be All-Conference caliber players, but who will spend more than one or two years on campus. Perry Ellis, for example. I love having Wiggins, Wayne Selden, and Joel Embiid on this year\u2019s team. But it bums me out they\u2019ll each likely be in Lawrence one season. Some of the fun of recruiting is imagining how multiple classes will mesh over time. And much of the fun of being a fan of a college team is watching guys come in talented but raw and turn themselves into complete players over three or four years. Andrew Wiggins won\u2019t play with whichever of the stud big men, and possibly point guards, Self signs for next year. He\u2019ll be catching lobs in Boston or Salt Lake or Philly.<\/p>\n

Anyway, enough of that. Let\u2019s talk about the team.<\/p>\n

Yes, Wiggins will not live up to all the hype he\u2019s received. That was always unlikely and as the hype has reached ridiculous levels, I think it\u2019s become impossible. I would wager he won\u2019t even be the best freshman, statistically, in the country. I think many people who only pay attention to college basketball forget he\u2019s a ridiculous prospect because of the player he will be<\/em>, in three or four years. He has crazy athletic ability and a terrific fundamental core. But he\u2019s also a slender 6\u20198\u2019\u2019 kid. He won\u2019t overpower people the way Michael Beasley did. He isn\u2019t a good enough shooter (yet), nor big enough, to do what Kevin Durant did his one year at Texas. Nor does he seem to have that assassin element to his personality that will lend itself to averaging 25 a game. And KU doesn\u2019t need him to score 25 every night. His stats will be modest, he will have games where you wonder what the fuss is about. But he\u2019s still going to be really freaking good, and he\u2019ll get better every game, every week, and look like a completely different dude in January and February than he is now.<\/p>\n

That said, I\u2019m sure, at some point, there will be a slew of \u201cWhat\u2019s Wrong With Wiggins?\u201d columns and blog posts if KU struggles early and he\u2019s only averaging 11 or 12 points per game. In the one-and-done era, there\u2019s no time for patience.<\/p>\n

The same goes for the other two super-frosh, Selden and Embiid. They\u2019ll have rough patches, Embiid especially. But there will also be moments where they look like men among boys.<\/p>\n

Perry Ellis is going to be really good. Maybe the best player on the team. He\u2019s done what so many guys his size have done during the Self era: struggled through their freshmen years then come back stronger, more confident, and much better as sophomores. He looks like a different dude this year. When defenses collapse on Wiggins, he\u2019ll be the beneficiary. He will quietly get work done and be good for 16 and 6 just about every night.<\/p>\n

The one failing of Bill Self\u2019s recruiting in recent years has been at point guard. He\u2019s finished second or third for just about every one of his top targets since Sherron Collins.1<\/a><\/sup> Thus, point guard seems like the weak spot in this year\u2019s lineup. But I\u2019ve liked what Naadir Tharpe and Frank Mason have shown in the exhibition games. Yes, D2 opponents. But they\u2019ve both pushed the ball, kicked off the offense, made smart plays, and not tried to do too much. That\u2019s all KU needs from the 1 spot this year: smart, efficient play. Plus, Selden and Wiggins are perfectly capable of bringing the ball up at times. By February they\u2019ll be adept enough to run the point for extended periods if needed.<\/p>\n

I think Andrew White III and Brannen Greene will both see limited, but important minutes. Wiggins, Selden, and the points can all shoot it, but these two guys have size, athleticism, and gorgeous strokes. If they can get on the court, they\u2019re going to get lots of open looks when defenses collapse on Wiggins and Selden slashing. I love White\u2019s attitude and what he did to his body and game over the off-season. I hope Greene follows his lead.<\/p>\n

This team is big, fast, can jump, and has ridiculous upside. Will that be enough over the Big 12 season to extend the title streak and then make a long run in March? I still think Oklahoma State is the Big 12 favorite, simply because they\u2019ve been through the battles already. KU matches up well with the Cowboys, and I expect those two games to be amazing battles. But as much as things always seem to work out in KU\u2019s favor in the Big 12 season, whether it\u2019s another contender not being able to handle the road or losing a fluke game somewhere down the stretch, I think this is the year KU loses a dumb game or two while OSU takes care of business. I don\u2019t think Marcus Smart lets OSU lose too many games this year.<\/p>\n

As for March, who knows. It all depends on match ups and locations and who is hot and how the chemistry of each team is. Two years ago Kentucky blew up the idea that a team dominated by freshmen couldn\u2019t go deep into the tournament and win a title. Then last year\u2019s Kentucky team lost in the first round of the NIT.<\/p>\n

KU has massive amounts of potential. The question is do they have enough time to put it all together. I hope so. And unlike recent seasons, when I\u2019ve been fine missing a game here and there, or even actively avoided games if my stress level was too high, I\u2019m going to watch as many minutes as I can this year. The nights it all clicks, it\u2019s going to be pretty spectacular.<\/p>\n

I think you know what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n

Rock Chalk, Bitches<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
    \n
  1. \nTyshawn Taylor was committed to Marquette and only took a look at KU after Tom Crean left for Indiana. Elijah Johnson was recruited as a two-guard. Naadir Tharpe and Frank Mason were both back up plans after preferred options signed elsewhere. ↩<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Finally, the games begin. It\u2019s been a long run since that sad Friday night in Dallas last March when Elijah missed, Trey hit, and Michigan knocked off the #1 seeded Jayhawks out of the NCAA tournament in overtime. Given how last season ended, this has been a surprisingly un-angsty off-season. Well, there was angst plenty of angst until May, but then for some reason a lot of that went away. But after the Andrew Wiggins announcement, the celebration, the anticipation, the heaps of hype, KU finally tips things off tonight. So what to make of, likely, the most talented team but least experienced team of the Bill Self era? Well, first let\u2019s acknowledge this year begins a whole new era of Kansas basketball. I\u2019m not just talking about Wiggins\u2019 time on campus. I\u2019m talking about Self going all-in with chasing the top recruits and the Jayhawks beginning to look more like Kentucky, where new crops of freshmen show up each fall to be replaced by another group of kids straight out of high school the next year. To be honest, I\u2019m torn. I don\u2019t think Self will ever go full Calipari. I think he will always do his best to balance the roster and also recruit guys who are talented and can be All-Conference caliber players, but who will spend more than one or two years on campus. Perry Ellis, for example. I love having Wiggins, Wayne Selden, and Joel Embiid on this year\u2019s team. But it bums me out they\u2019ll each likely be in Lawrence one season. Some of the fun of recruiting is imagining how multiple classes will mesh over time. And much of the fun of being a fan of a college team is watching guys come in talented but raw and turn themselves into complete players over three or four years. Andrew Wiggins won\u2019t play with whichever of the stud big men, and possibly point guards, Self signs for next year. He\u2019ll be catching lobs in Boston or Salt Lake or Philly. Anyway, enough of that. Let\u2019s talk about the team. Yes, Wiggins will not live up to all the hype he\u2019s received. That was always unlikely and as the hype has reached ridiculous levels, I think it\u2019s become impossible. I would wager he won\u2019t even be the best freshman, statistically, in the country. I think many people who only pay attention to college basketball forget he\u2019s a ridiculous prospect because of the player he will be, in three or four years. He has crazy athletic ability and a terrific fundamental core. But he\u2019s also a slender 6\u20198\u2019\u2019 kid. He won\u2019t overpower people the way Michael Beasley did. He isn\u2019t a good enough shooter (yet), nor big enough, to do what Kevin Durant did his one year at Texas. Nor does he seem to have that assassin element to his personality that will lend itself to averaging 25 a game. And KU doesn\u2019t need him to score 25 every night. His stats will be modest, he will have games where you wonder what the fuss is about. But he\u2019s still going to be really freaking good, and he\u2019ll get better every game, every week, and look like a completely different dude in January and February than he is now. That said, I\u2019m sure, at some point, there will be a slew of \u201cWhat\u2019s Wrong With Wiggins?\u201d columns and blog posts if KU struggles early and he\u2019s only averaging 11 or 12 points per game. In the one-and-done era, there\u2019s no time for patience. The same goes for the other two super-frosh, Selden and Embiid. They\u2019ll have rough patches, Embiid especially. But there will also be moments where they look like men among boys. Perry Ellis is going to be really good. Maybe the best player on the team. He\u2019s done what so many guys his size have done during the Self era: struggled through their freshmen years then come back stronger, more confident, and much better as sophomores. He looks like a different dude this year. When defenses collapse on Wiggins, he\u2019ll be the beneficiary. He will quietly get work done and be good for 16 and 6 just about every night. The one failing of Bill Self\u2019s recruiting in recent years has been at point guard. He\u2019s finished second or third for just about every one of his top targets since Sherron Collins.1 Thus, point guard seems like the weak spot in this year\u2019s lineup. But I\u2019ve liked what Naadir Tharpe and Frank Mason have shown in the exhibition games. Yes, D2 opponents. But they\u2019ve both pushed the ball, kicked off the offense, made smart plays, and not tried to do too much. That\u2019s all KU needs from the 1 spot this year: smart, efficient play. Plus, Selden and Wiggins are perfectly capable of bringing the ball up at times. By February they\u2019ll be adept enough to run the point for extended periods if needed. I think Andrew White III and Brannen Greene will both see limited, but important minutes. Wiggins, Selden, and the points can all shoot it, but these two guys have size, athleticism, and gorgeous strokes. If they can get on the court, they\u2019re going to get lots of open looks when defenses collapse on Wiggins and Selden slashing. I love White\u2019s attitude and what he did to his body and game over the off-season. I hope Greene follows his lead. This team is big, fast, can jump, and has ridiculous upside. Will that be enough over the Big 12 season to extend the title streak and then make a long run in March? I still think Oklahoma State is the Big 12 favorite, simply because they\u2019ve been through the battles already. KU matches up well with the Cowboys, and I expect those two games to be amazing battles. But as much as things always seem to work out in KU\u2019s favor in the Big 12 season, whether it\u2019s another contender not being able to handle the road or losing a fluke game somewhere down the stretch, I think this is the year KU loses a dumb game or two while OSU takes care of business. I don\u2019t think Marcus Smart lets OSU lose too many games this year. As for March, who knows. It all depends on match ups and locations and who is hot and how the chemistry of each team is. Two years ago Kentucky blew up the idea that a team dominated by freshmen couldn\u2019t go deep into the tournament and win a title. Then last year\u2019s Kentucky team lost in the first round of the NIT. KU has massive amounts of potential. The question is do they have enough time to put it all together. I hope so. And unlike recent seasons, when I\u2019ve been fine missing a game here and there, or even actively avoided games if my stress level was too high, I\u2019m going to watch as many minutes as I can this year. The nights it all clicks, it\u2019s going to be pretty spectacular. I think you know what\u2019s next. Rock Chalk, Bitches   Tyshawn Taylor was committed to Marquette and only took a look at KU after Tom Crean left for Indiana. Elijah Johnson was recruited as a two-guard. Naadir Tharpe and Frank Mason were both back up plans after preferred options signed elsewhere. ↩<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[31,58],"class_list":["post-2954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-basketball","tag-kansas-jayhawks"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2954"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14408,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2954\/revisions\/14408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}