Something I was thinking about while getting stomed last night - take out 2009 when we lost 5 starters from the championship team (and still won the Big 12 and made the sweet 16) - out of the (other) last 4 years, we have twice (2010, 2011) been the overall #1 seed and favorite to win it all, and lost before the final four; the other two years (2008, 2012) we were overlooked as a championship threat, and ended up with two championship appearances with one national title.

I'd like them to go to Tharpe as the starter for two reasons. One, Elijah is really struggling and I would like to see if having him come off the bench might get him back on the right track and take some pressure off him, and two... we're losing a lot after this year and it would be nice to have a guy like Tharpe get more minutes and be ready to take over next year. It could benefit us for not only this year but for next as well.

I don't know what everyone is worried about. We're still one of the handful of teams (as usual) that have a legitimate serious shot at a national title this year...again. It'll be the same next year.

I'm not too anxious about Frankamp. I know it is one half of one game, but he didn't do all that well when they played Scott City in Dodge. Scott has some really smart guards, but no one very physical. He only put up 9 points on just under a half of play against a very good but still 3A team.

He's got a ways to go yet. I'd imagine he's going to be like Reeds freshman year. He's probably a little quicker than reed at this point in his career but I don't think he's going to have much of an impact the first year.

I hope I'm wrong.

For those saying EJ is not a PG. Was TT not a PG either?
Last year Taylor 4.8 apg, 3.6 tpg
2013 EJ. 4.9 apg, 3.5 tpg

Personally I don't think either is a prototypical PG but Self runs the offense with more ball handling combo guards. The point remains though that TT was no more of a PG than EJ, he was just a better scorer, player and probably defender.

lol... you do understand he was one of the top scorers on an international team? Not sure what if anything you can get out of a quarter and a half vs Scott City. Depends on what your expectations are and how reasonable they are. Frankamp is a scorer, there's no shot he doesnt like. But he has looked to get his teammates more involved this year.

Well the thing I took from it is that he needs to get stronger. Physically the guards from Scott are not all that strong or fast. They're sound fundementally, but Frankamp will see a lot better athletes by a huge measure next year.

He plays on a national team. He plays against plenty of physical players internationally. He's gone up against the best guards in the country(high school wise and in the world.) While farm school basketball is a different breed for city guards.. He's seen it and them some. Only thing will be learning Self's system.

It's still concerning though that Scott city's guards could shut him down. Playing against good competition is one thing but if you put a good D-1 PG against Scott City's guards, they get thrashed. He's not there and it appears he's a ways away.

Since I have a nephew that plays at North and watched the game, Scott City in no way shut him down, I will assume since Heights held him to 5 points in the 1st qrt, they held him down? Then scored 32 after that point. Its ok to question if he is a PG, not sure he is either, but the kid has played against the best this country and others have to offer for the last 4 yrs. Ability isnt something you should question, especially since you have a qrt and a half worth of evidence.

He is an off guard, athletically, he wont be a mismatch, he moves his feet on defense and is physical. Ball handling and getting the shooter first mentality out of his game could be a challenge, even this past summer, he took a lot of shots outside of the offense during international play. But he is a smart kid with good basketball IQ, coaches kid. The thing for you guys(KU) is having too many chiefs and not enough indians next year. i.e not enough distributors and more scorers.

Spin it how you want. I wasn't impressed. If you want to think he's going to light the world on fire as a freshman, fine. I don't think he will. I think he has the tools to contribute eventually, but I'll be impressed as hell if it is in year one.

Like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

too each their own. There's a reason why people that watch basketball do like him, and you dont. Perhaps you dont know what your seeing?

Hope so. I'd shit purple twinkies if he lights it up next year.

Most freshmen don't make a significant impact in their first year. I don't think he's saying anything too crazy here. In fact, it's probably likely.