At least we can conversations on who should get the minutes. That wasn't the case a few weeks ago.

Yeah, unless Traylor takes a step backwards, I can see him getting quite a few minutes next year.

I think you guys here get it, but don't expect a lot from Tarik. The extrapolation above is funny. Memphis was very thin inside, and were counting on Tarik to anchor inside and play 30+ minutes a game. Unfortunately, between foul trouble, poor play and questionable attitude issues, he wasn't available for more than the 20 minutes a game. I'm guessing that's all Self is going to ask of him. You'll wonder why he doesn't rebound better and impact the game more than he does though as you watch him play.

Why not? Perry Ellis was #24 in the country on Rivals, and he didn't start.

I think Embiid is going to be a better pro prospect than college freshman. He has tons of physical talent, but I see him getting into some defensive trouble.

You can mark me down as saying Lucas could surprise a lot of people. And he'll start, because there are no other big men who know the offensive sets as well or what HCBS wants out of the defensive strategy.

Self ALWAYS goes with experience and defense first. When Embiid starts learning what his job is and can play in position without fouling, he could start, but I just always bet on the guy who's spent a year practicing getting the nod early in the season.

I think all five bigs will get a lot of minutes in non-con play. Once we hit January, I have no idea what will happen.

Sweet, sweet depth.

Dude, we have THREE guys who should be pushing for serious playing time at the 2/3 spot. Except they won't, because we have the #1 player in the country there.

Amazing team next year. So amazing.

Excellent post. That's what I think. I bet Lucas becomes a far better player than people expect. I'd guess his rebounds per minute will be very high.

So you like Lucas, but not Ellis?

Ellis is going all blows up this year. I have never seen the lights come on for a player the way they did for him last year. It was incredible.

I just realized how much happier I would be if this were a completely KU-basketball related board. Oh well, back to the "Chiefs have losing record or lose their 2nd round pick" dumpster fire thread.

Ellis should be much better this year. He had a rough first year for sure. Of course the expectations for Ellis should be much higher than Lucas no? He should benefit from another year of weight training too.

But dude, we also talk about the Royals here.

Is that nick Faldo?

Not true at all. See: Wright, Arthur, Henry, Selby, McLemore.


Self plays talent even if its young talent. What Self does NOT do is redshirt a guy and the have him starting his (RS) freshman year over more talented guys - in his own words, he redshirts guys because they will be a nonfactor at 18 but will contribute at 21 or 22.

Of all the guys Self has redshirted, show me one that started over a top 10 recruit the next year (the closest example is Morningstar starting over Elijah, who was a 30-40 recruit, not top 10). He saves them for their junior/senior years when KU is short at a position (Reed, Teahan, Releford).

And Mizzou sports, which is lifeless and pointless as they are not winning championships any time soon.

If it weren't for KU basketball...wow, the Midwest would be a laughing stock for sports.

Self has said that he prefers to recruit/have great offensive players and make them great defenders as well. If he had to choose he'd rather pick up a great offensive guy that is lacking on the D and make him a better defender to round out his game. He likes to make players work on both ends so they are ready to have a long tenured NBA career.