December 30, 2021

Jayhawks basketball is basically an open run now

Plus MAX NBA JAYHAWK HEADCOUNT and thoughts from Nevada

This is a big thing to set aside, but for the sake of this post, we will acknowledge but *not* dive deeper into the obvious question that pervades all things—should we even be doing this? The answer is “No,” but the games will go on, for now1.

When Harvard had to cancel their trip to AFH this week because of COVID issues in their program, KU found a team willing to play. (Nevada must have gotten stuck at MCI.) For Saturday’s game, TCU, citing the same COVID issues that are prevalent in every pocket of America right now, also backed out, and we will be playing George Mason Saturday. This won’t be the last time this happens, and KU is no doubt sliding into program DMs like “u up?”

KU basketball’s schedule is basically an open run now. This is where we’re at. Each game feels like it could be the last one before an extended hiatus, so it’s up to us to enjoy them as much as we can (provided that they are taking place in the safest environment possible!)

Is this trolling?

Oh god.

While I completely understand the KU fanbase’s frustration with David McCormack, I’ve always rooted for him. He plays hard! But how he is used makes no sense, even with his (notable!) improvements as a kicker-outer. Self’s comments often have a double meaning, and I’m forced to bust out the microscope on this one—is this something he’s doing to keep Dave confident and engaged? Or is it abject trolling?

Here’s my thing—at what point is forcing the ball to Dave a disservice to Dave? If Dave gets a NBA training camp invite, he’ll be using roughly 0% of the things he’s been pushed to polish. Centers (Jokic excluded!) just aren’t used in isolation plays that often anymore. Dave should be ripping down rebounds, hitting the outlet, and finishing lobs created by our guards, who love throwing them arguably too much. What’s the endgame here?!! The whole saga is tearing me apart!!!

It seems as if Self will always look inside-out as opposed to outside-in, no matter what current of energy is flowing through the game. It’s an old plot point, but it’s still one we’ll have to keep monitoring against our will at this point.

Searching for MAX JAYHAWK in the League

Malik! Dotson! Chieck Diallo! Mario Chalmers next? We’re looking at Max Jayhawk headcount in the NBA, and [Bryan Cox ba-da-ba-ba-ba voice] I’m lovin’ it.

On opening day, the League held 13 Jayhawks on NBA rosters. That was good enough for third place in the college-to-NBA affiliation rankings; Kentucky had 27, Duke had 22, and then us, tied with Texas at 13. Now, with Newman and Diallo in the mix, we’re at 15. Dotson, Doke and Marcus Garrett were included in that initial 13 number, though those three have spent the majority of their service time in the G League.

That number has a chance to swell, though. Chalmers is attempting a comeback—I have no idea what the odds are there. Tarik Black is in the G League as well, averaging 16 and 12 for Grand Rapids. Frank Mason is playing well enough for the Lakers’ affiliate and yet… nothing? If anyone ever needed a new agent….

Let’s say all three of those guys get a hardship call-up. That’s 18 Jayhawks in the league. Let’s keep going. Where’s Xavier Henry at these days? Is that Keith Langford’s music?!! We might be cracking 20 before President’s Day.

Impressions from Last Night’s Formal Scrimmage against Nevada

It’s been forever since the Jayhawks played basketball—their last game was on Dec 18 against Jossell. So let’s “News and Notes” this thing.

Wow, what a game from Dajuan Harris (“He was the best player,” Bill Self) and I love his moon shot three-ball. That dime to Mitch cutting to the rim made me LLOL… Remy Martin was in control and dynamic with the ball in his hands. The sooner we give him the keys, the sooner we find our ceiling… Christian Braun is a fiend… The more I watch this version of Ochai Agbaji, the more I think “this dude is going late lotto.” His game is so polished and he’s working it so aggressively. Some nights his stat sheet can scan a little thin outside of scoring, but last night he picked four steals… just like last season, David McCormack is getting more confident and decisive as the games go by. He’s gotta stop leaving his feet ten seconds too early trying to tee up a poster block… nice game on the glass for Jalen Wilson, who KU is going to need… free Big Z, Zach Clemence. I was always worried that he would transfer to find a system more friendly to his offensive skill level, and I’m on DEFCON 8 with this anxiety after games like last night, this is probably its own post… Jalen Coleman-Lands is a good player, I just don’t think this is his opportunity. It was worth a shot.

Stay safe out there, Streakers. See you in the New Year.