Quote:
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch
The entire program needs a re-boot, much like OU football does with Stoops who is Self's doppelganger. I suspect both will rebound fine.
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I have very mixed feelings about rebooting KU basketball. I know we're expected to be in the top 5 each year by virtue of being KU, but North Carolina and even Kentucky's recent struggles show that there is something to be admired about Self's consistency.
There have been multiple occasions during the past two seasons where it felt like Self was on cruise control with his (elite) talent. The kids we have are young, I get it, but last year's roster (regardless of Embiid's injury) had absolutely zero business losing in the first weekend.
This year it was clear from the outset that this team could not and would not function as a traditional Self team. We had no real inside presence, and I thought expecting this team to function as an in and out team would be akin to positioning Salvador Perez at shortstop. Nonetheless, Self doubled down after embarrassing losses to Kentucky and Temple, and kept up that style of play until we were out of the tournament. There is a relatively solid train of thought that Self's refusal to position Wiggins at the 4 was a failure of equal consequence.
Personally, I'm behind Self as long as he continues netting us championships (about that whole stripped season - how likely do you think that is, btw?), but if he ends up bolting for the NBA, I won't be as torn up about it as I would have been two years ago.