***** Official 2017-2018 Kansas Basketball Repository Thread *****

[saphojunkie]

**** the elite 8. Final Four or bust, baby.

Will update as people declare for the draft/transfer/commit

ROSTER:

Spoiler!

RETURNING PLAYERS
G Devonte Graham - Sr.
F Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk - Sr.
G Malik Newman - Jr.
G Legerald Vick - Jr.
F Udoka Azubuike - soph.
F Mitch Lightfoot - soph


INCOMING PLAYERS
F Billy Preston - Fr.
6'9" - 240 lb



G Sam Cunliffe - Soph (eligible after first semester)
6'6" - 200 lb



BONUS:

His sister:



G Marcus Garrett - Fr.
6'5" - 180lb



F Jack Whitman - SR.
6'9" - 220 lb

BYE BYE
Frank Mason, National player of the year
Landen Lucas, chased a rebound all the way to Europe
Josh Jackson, Can't wait to be a Boston Celtic Phoenix Sun.
Carlton Bragg, Crazy bitch antics
Dwight Coleby, Transfers gonna transfer, good luck.

UPDATE: Important new dates:



Kansas 2017 Summer Tour - Italy

Spoiler!

Wednesday, August 2, 6:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Central)
Kansas vs. Stella Azzurra, HSC (Rome)

Thursday, August 3, 6:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Central)
Kansas vs. Players Group, HSC (Rome)

Saturday, August 5, 7 p.m. (Noon Central)
Kansas vs. Players Group, PalaSport Enrico Somaschini

Sunday, August 6, 7 p.m. (Noon Central)
Kansas vs. Italy All Star A2, PalaSport Enrico Somaschini

Video stream subscription information - http://bit.ly/2srzfLW

NON CON SCHEDULE:

Spoiler!

TUE, OCTOBER 31 TBA
PITTSBURG STATE (EXH.)
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE


TUE, NOVEMBER 7 TBA
FORT HAYS STATE (EXH.)
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE


FRI, NOVEMBER 10 TBA
TENNESSEE STATE
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE


STATE FARM CHAMPIONS CLASSIC
TUE, NOVEMBER 14TBA
KENTUCKY
STATE FARM CHAMPIONS CLASSIC
CHICAGO, ILL.
UNITED CENTER
TV: ESPN NETWORKS


TUE, NOVEMBER 21 TBA
TEXAS SOUTHERN
HOOPHALL MIAMI INVITATIONAL CAMPUS ROUND
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE

FRI, NOVEMBER 24 TBA
OAKLAND
HOOPHALL MIAMI INVITATIONAL CAMPUS ROUND
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE


TUE, NOVEMBER 28 TBA
TOLEDO
HOOPHALL MIAMI INVITATIONAL CAMPUS ROUND
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE


SAT, DECEMBER 2 TBA
SYRACUSE
HOOPHALL MIAMI INVITATIONAL
MIAMI, FLA.
AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
TV: ESPN NETWORKS

WED, DECEMBER 6 TBA
WASHINGTON
KANSAS CITY, MO.
SPRINT CENTER

SUN, DECEMBER 10TBA
ARIZONA STATE
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE

SHELTER INSURANCE SHOWCASE

SAT, DECEMBER 16TBA
NEBRASKA
SHELTER INSURANCE SHOWCASE
LINCOLN, NEB.
PINNACLE BANK ARENA


MON, DECEMBER 18 TBA
OMAHA
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE


THU, DECEMBER 21TBA
STANFORD
SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
GOLDEN 1 CENTER


BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE

SAT, JANUARY 27TBA
TEXAS A&M
BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE
LAWRENCE, KAN.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE
TV: ESPN NETWORKS

BIG 12 SCHEDULE:

Spoiler!

DEC 29 (FRI) 8 P.M.
AT TEXAS
TV: ESPN2

JAN 2 (TUE) 8 P.M.
VS TEXAS TECH
TV: ESPN2

JAN 6 (SAT) 8:15 P.M.
AT TCU
TV: ESPN2

JAN 9 (TUE) 8 P.M.
VS IOWA STATE
TV: ESPN2

JAN 13 (SAT) 11 A.M.
VS KANSAS STATE
TV: ESPN/ESPN2

JAN 15 (MON) 8 P.M.
AT WEST VIRGINIA
TV: ESPN

JAN 20 (SAT) 5 P.M.
VS BAYLOR
TV: ESPN

JAN 23 (TUE) 6 P.M.
AT OKLAHOMA
TV: ESPN2

JAN 27 (SAT) 3:30 OR 6 P.M.
VS TEXAS A&M
BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE
TV: ESPN

JAN 29 (MON) 8 P.M.
AT KANSAS STATE
TV: ESPN

FEB 3 (SAT) 11 A.M.
VS OKLAHOMA STATE
TV: CBS

FEB 6 (TUE) 8 P.M.
VS TCU
TV: ESPN2

FEB 10 (SAT) 1 P.M.
AT BAYLOR
TV: CBS

FEB 13 (TUE) 6 P.M.
AT IOWA STATE
TV: ESPN2

FEB 17 (SAT) 5 P.M.
VS WEST VIRGINIA
TV: ESPN

FEB 19 (MON) 8 P.M.
VS OKLAHOMA
TV: ESPN

FEB 24 (SAT) 3 P.M.
AT TEXAS TECH
TV: ESPN/ESPN2

FEB 26 (MON) 8 P.M.
VS TEXAS
TV: ESPN

MAR 3 (SAT) 3 P.M.
AT OKLAHOMA STATE
TV: ESPN/ESPN2

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by TambaBerry

we have a lot of tough games coming up Texas A and M being the hardest probably

They really have no tough games coming up. A&M is in middle of January.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Coogs

Better not sleep on Arizona State.

A home game to Arizona State? Another easy win.

[KC_Connection]

This could be the best defensive team they've had since Withey left. They are particularly good in that regard when Udoka is on the floor.

They are incapable of drawing fouls or getting to the basket offensively in the half court (other than Udoka), so Self is going to need them to keep shooting threes. The more threes they shoot this season, the better they will do.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

A home game to Arizona State? Another easy win.

Possible. I watched them last night and today. Very quick. Lots of shooters.

[BWillie]

Garrett is more valuable to this team than Newman or Svi if we dont decide to chuck 3s as offense. Either way he needs more minutes. He can definitely be a poor mans Josh Jackson at the 4 for this team if needed.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Garrett is more valuable to this team than Newman or Svi if we dont decide to chuck 3s as offense.

They won't be able to score effectively if they don't take 3s. Nobody on the team can really score in any other way other than Udoka (who good teams will either foul or double).

Either way he needs more minutes. He can definitely be a poor mans Josh Jackson at the 4 for this team if needed.

I think Garrett is already a better defender than Jackson was. Will be a very important piece all season.

[TambaBerry]

we shot 23 free throws and the big guy only shot 4 of them

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by TambaBerry

we shot 23 free throws and the big guy only shot 4 of them

That's nice and all, but KU is 332nd in the country in free throw rate this season for a reason. One game where an awful team allowed KU to destroy them in transition doesn't mean all that much.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

That's nice and all, but KU is 332nd in the country in free throw rate this season for a reason. One game where an awful team allowed KU to destroy them in transition doesn't mean all that much.

Tiny sample size, KCC.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Pants

Tiny sample size, KCC.

Not really, though. Graham, Svi, and Vick have played tons of games with this school and have never been able to get to the line. Newman never drew fouls with Miss. State either. We know what these guys are and that's three point shooters (although *real small sample size alert* Graham has weirdly lost his shot since becoming a great passing PG).

If you're expecting any of them to suddenly develop that skill, you'll be disappointed. KU is going to have to take tons of threes to be an effective offense and there's nothing wrong with that.

[TambaBerry]

I think you're over thinking things. These players have never had the opportunity to take those kind of shots. We had Mason and Jackson last year doing that. I think we'll be fine

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Not really, though. Graham, Svi, and Vick have played tons of games with this school and have never been able to get to the line. Newman never drew fouls with Miss. State either. We know what these guys are and that's three point shooters (although *real small sample size alert* Graham has weirdly lost his shot since becoming a great passing PG).

If you're expecting any of them to suddenly develop that skill, you'll be disappointed. KU is going to have to take tons of threes to be an effective offense and there's nothing wrong with that.

Thats why Garrett is so valuable to this club. He appears to be slithery and a good driver that picks up fouls. I absolutely love that kid. Love that his HS coach already actually taught him how to play basketball.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Thats why Garrett is so valuable to this club. He appears to be slithery and a good driver that picks up fouls. I absolutely love that kid. Love that his HS coach already actually taught him how to play basketball.

l watched the game yesterday. Garrett is a defensive wizard. He is still 4 games removed from guarding High School kids.

[Lzen]

I have noticed that Svi is actually taking it inside more this year. Hopefully, he continues that throughout the season and not just against weak competition.

[Lzen]

This is great stuff.

http://kubook.net/

Even though he knew he’d be a top-three pick, Joel Embiid was hesitant to enter the 2014 NBA draft following his freshman season.

Norm Roberts: “Joel didn’t want to enter the draft. He sat in my office in tears. He kept saying, ‘I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go. Call my mom and dad and tell them I want to stay.’ Then it was like, ‘Joel, you’re going to be a top three pick. You could be the No. 1 pick.’

“Luc, his mentor, said, ‘Norm, how could this kid not go in the draft when he’s going to be a top-three pick? How am I going to go back to his country and tell them that I told him to wait? What if something happens with his back or his foot? How can Joel do that and let his country down?’ He said that, and Joel was sitting right there. We all got up and started walking out of my office, and Joel turned around and looked at me and said, ‘Coach, can I call Coach Self? I’m going to have to go. I’ve gotta go, Coach. I’ve gotta go.’ I said, ‘OK, big fella. OK.’”

With just two weeks remaining in conference play, Ben McLemore’s banked-in 3-pointer to force overtime against Iowa State in the Big 12 opener had been the biggest moment of KU’s 2012-13 campaign. When all was said and done, however, that overtime win in January didn’t prove to be the most memorable game of the season. It wasn’t even the most memorable game against Iowa State. That matchup occurred Feb. 25 in Ames, and one particular Jayhawk was motivated more than others.

Elijah Johnson: “Leading into that game, I’d had some crazy experiences at Iowa State, stuff you couldn’t see on TV. Some of their fans lost their cool more than a couple of times. Our team knew about it and the coaches knew about it, but that was about it.

“The year before, in 2012, when they beat us up there, they stormed the floor and hurt a referee. He was bleeding from his head. That same game, one of their fans spit in my face as I was running up the tunnel before the game. There was a guy in the stands that was trying so hard to get my attention. He didn’t get it, but he got the attention of the person next to me. I believe it was Merv Lindsay. Merv looked up and said something smart to him, and he started grabbing the rail and lunging at us—and then another guy spit toward us. I happened to look up just as that spit was coming down and it hit me. I turned around and lunged in his direction, but then I thought about what was happening, and I regained my composure.”

Assistant coach Joe Dooley: “The spit hit him right in the face. I was right behind him when it happened, and I was amazed that he kept his poise. He was definitely pissed off, and I was scared he was going to run into the crowd. I remember thinking, ‘How could someone do something like that?’’’

Elijah Johnson: “I got to the locker room and lost my cool. I was the last one in the locker room and Tyshawn was already giving a speech. I walked right past him and Ty said something, but Merv was like, ‘Someone just spit in his face. Leave him alone. He’s mad right now. He’s real mad.’ Then we went out there and they beat us. They rushed the court and wouldn’t let us off, and then they hurt that referee. The KU people helped take him to the locker room. My blood boiled about that night for a whole year. I couldn’t wait to go back up there.”

As talented as Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid may have been, anyone on Kansas’ staff will say that, of all of KU’s one-and-done freshmen, Josh Jackson had the biggest impact on the Jayhawks’ program.

Josh Jackson: “I may have been a freshman, but I didn’t mind jumping on someone at practice if they weren’t working hard. I think I earned their respect pretty quickly. Sometimes, when guys are older, it can be kind of dangerous because you don’t know how they’re going to receive it. But when I was at practice and saw someone not giving the same effort as I was, I was on them. I didn’t care of it was Frank or Devonte’ or Udoka (Azubuike). Some days we would go back and forth and argue, but at the end of the day, we all remembered that we were on the same team and that we all had the same goal.”

Landen Lucas: “I haven’t seen a freshman with the mentality and mindset that he had. After a few months he was carrying himself like he’d been with us for three years. And the thing was, everyone was fine with it because everyone respected him.

“If we were doing extra running or people were late, a senior would usually step up and say something. But Josh would jump in and voice his opinion, as well. If we were having team meetings and there was something that needed to be said or things needed to be changed, he would state his opinion.”

Kurtis Townsend: “Josh was completely different than Wiggins. With Wiggs … I think one of his main goals was not to get hurt. His whole deal was, ‘Let me make sure I don’t get a serious injury that will keep me from being the No. 1 pick.’ Whereas with Josh … he was a guy that absolutely hated to lose. Even though he knew he was going to the NBA, he wasn’t looking that far ahead. While he was here he was focused on winning, and he attacked every game and every practice that way. His approach was really good.”

Bill Self: “Josh could not have handled a group of teammates better than he did, especially considering he knew he was: the alpha dog, the one that leads verbally, the one that leads by example. He realized, ‘I’m a great competitor, but these other guys around here ... they compete just as hard as I do.’ He’s a winner, and he respected the other guys because he knew they were winners, too.

“Another thing Josh realized after he got here was that No. 0 (Mason) was pretty strong-minded himself. I think Josh thought he’d come in here and say, ‘I’ll just make this my team.’ Well, you had some pretty strong-minded dudes that had done quite a bit. Josh was able to respect that and still impose his own will on things at the right time.”