Posted this a while back, but Shaka should be thanking his lucky stars for a KU team that went 2-21 from 3, while his club was about 50%. Its the only thing that got him his job today. Maybe one day, Shaka will have another chance to get to the final four after another team shots 9% from 3.

While Greene may be the better shooter, he brings little else to the floor. He's a spot up shooter. That's what he is. Nothing wrong with it.

Greene is a 21 year old junior and can barely dribble a basketball without turning it over. Svi has the far higher upside.

I thought it was interesting that Self apparently trusts Svi enough to throw Selden/Svi/Greene out there at the same time, and have Svi be the main ball handler.

Shaka won't be able to live off that fluke win forever. With all the resources that Texas has, there's really no excuse for them not to be a top 3 team in the B12 conference every year. Let's see if he can pull off what Barnes could not.

There's no stat for ball handling, so your point is invalid.

If there isn't, I'm sure somebody is already coming up with one as we speak.

There is this, though:

Brannen Greene turnover rate, 24.5% (2nd worst on team above Jamari).
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk turnover rate, 15.4% (3rd best on team behind Perry and Frank).

The reason Svi gets PT is because he limits his mistakes.

Ok but you'll have to point me to what Svi does better. And do better than "ball handling", I don't have time for bullshitters.

He is a better ball handler. But.....if nothing else, he's a better defender.

The other unnoticeable stat is how many defenders Texas had worried about that 3 threat from Svi, they were not giving him any space out there which was opening up inside lanes for other players.

Doesn't make a douchebag dunk at the end of games when everyone is standing around letting the clock expire?

There is no stat for being a douche, your point is invalid.

LMAO

It's not ballhandling. It's being able to run the offense. Svi ran the POINT GUARD position with Graham and Mason off the floor.

Svi can be trusted versus pressure as your primary ballhandler. He's 6'8. That's crazy. He makes great passes. He has shown Selden-like vision with flashy passes that nobody but him realizes are even possible. He has shown Graham-like stability when it comes to not trying to force flashy passes.

He has shown decisiveness with the ball, not waiting for the play to reveal itself, but playing through the offense until the opportunity is real. Most of all, he is the best defender over 6'2 on the team.

Last night, he was helping on the drive (as all of the wings were clearly told to do). The point guard drove, then kicked it to the strong corner, where Svi had helped off.

Now, this had happened three or four times to Selden, as well. The Texas player, instead of putting up the three, knew he had his man off balance, so he drove the baseline. Either Selden would have to over commit and foul or he would be late and there would be an open path to the basket.

Thankfully, our bigs were prepared and rotated to cut off the drive. Selden didn't over-commit and foul, but instead funneled his man to the waiting Landon "IMMA GET FIVE BLOCKS" Lucas. It was team defense, beautifully executed.

Except, when Svi helped off and had to over-commit to get back into position, a weird thing happened...

He didn't over-commit.

He landed perfectly in place, cutting off the baseline drive before it could even get started. In the immortal words of Professor Slughorn "It was wonderful magic... marvelous to behold." A 6'8" small forward had such quick feet, that he could go from free throw line to corner in a flash and still be in perfect defensive position.

It's little things like this that make me honestly question if a returning Selden won't lose his starting spot to Svi. Self's history emphatically denies it, though. But I can see a world where Svi is our best player next year, by far.

If Svi gives you even 80% of the shooting ability of Greene but also provides sound offensive play without the ball, handling the ball, on-ball defense and off-ball defense...

What is there to discuss?

Alabama commit Terrance Ferguson just re-opened his recruitment.

Ferguson is a 6’6 SG. five star. He was supposed to be a heavy KU lean before committing to Alabama on his visit, and is now de-committing (never signed).

Given that #1 Josh Jackson is a major possibility, Thon Maker just scheduled a visit, or Ferguson could come in, I’d say the future looks bright.

We currently have one more scholarship to offer. I think it's going to come down to if Selden or Diallo comes back. If they both do, it will be a four star big man, I'd say.

If Selden leaves, Jackson or Ferguson commits.

If Diallo leaves, I think we land Maker, Bolden, or Allen.