***** Official '24/'25 KU Men's BBall Repository Thread *****

[cmh6476]

The Team:

https://kuathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/

The Schedule:

https://kuathletics.com/sports/mbball/schedule/

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Ceej

Also, we're not gonna bring up the fact that I (like some others) said he'd be back his sophomore year.

I should add here that just because one team scout says he should stay, that doesn’t mean that is the consensus league viewpoint or that he actually will stay despite that (see Furphy for just the most recent example of that).

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

We are losing a top 3 player in NCAA next year but no KJ means any starting lineup KU puts out actually has a chance to succeed as opposed to no chance to succeed. I don’t know that we’ll even be better than this year right now but I’m willing to take my chances.

We will immediately get better next year with no Dickinson.

I can't wait.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by BWillie

We will immediately get better next year with no Dickinson.

I can't wait.

No KJ, yes

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I should add here that just because one team scout says he should stay, that doesn’t mean that is the consensus league viewpoint or that he actually will stay despite that (see Furphy for just the most recent example of that).

I'll be the first person to say I was wrong if he declares.

Will you do the same if he stays?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Ceej

I'll bring the first person to say I was wrong if he declares.

Will you do the same if he stays?

Yes

[Ceej]

I just thought about this potential roster if Flory does declare.

Oof.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

No KJ, yes

https://sports.yahoo.com/kj-adams-ka...bXPtM_WWzRin0O

How KJ Adams and Kansas basketball shut down Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg

shreyas laddha
Wed, Nov 27, 2024·4 min read

Forget the “Jordan Rules.”

The Kansas men’s basketball team seemed to devise its own set of rules to limit Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Let’s call KU’s strategy the “Flagg rules.”

The Jordan Rules were a defensive strategy used by the Detroit Pistons to stop Michael Jordan in the 1980s. Similarly, the Flagg rules were the key to KU’s 75-72 victory over Duke in the 2024 Las Vegas Showdown.

Kansas coach Bill Self and his squad put on a defensive masterclass in limiting Flagg’s impact. Flagg had two points on two shots in the first half. He also had two turnovers.

He finished with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field, adding three assists and five rebounds. He also had four turnovers. Before Tuesday’s game, Flagg was averaging 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Jayhawks’ first move was to put forward KJ Adams on Flagg. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Adams had a significant advantage in strength over the 6-foot-9, 205-pound freshman.

On top of that, Adams did his job staying in front of Flagg and getting into his airspace. Wherever Flagg went, Adams was right there with him, as illustrated in several first-half sequences.

He even provided help defense on a couple of occasions, including a highlight block with 14:35 to play in the second half.

On that play, Flagg drove to the basket on big man Hunter Dickinson. Adams arrived to help and swatted Flagg’s shot. He tried to recover the ball but knocked it out of bounds.

On the next Duke possession, Adams stopped a three-on-one fast break by swatting Kon Knueppel’s shot at the rim.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Jayhawks were well aware of Flagg’s ability — and standing as a potential No. 1 overall pick. But Adams was able to provide a challenge as a college basketball veteran.

“He’s a great player, he’s a good prospect that’s probably going to be out of here next year,” Adams told reporters in Las Vegas. “ I think just keeping the ball out of his hands and making it a challenge for him to score. If we did that, I think that helps us win a lot.”

Adams earned praise coach Bill Self, too. Self, speaking to Jeff Goodman and the Field of 68 podcast, called Adams a “warrior.”

“KJ Adams, when he was matched up with Cooper and (they) didn’t force a switch, that dude guarded,” Self told Goodman on the podcast. “ I was concerned he would make it a personal challenge rather than a team challenge and get three fouls in the first half or whatever. But he played to his strengths. He also played with poise. But defensively, that dude out there showed he can do a lot of stuff.”

Adams’ defense was just one part of the “Flagg rules.”

Another factor was KU’s double teams. Kansas sent well-timed second defenders who flustered the freshman, causing him to make careless turnovers or pass the ball away.

In 38 minutes, Flagg had four turnovers and took the second-lowest number of shots of his young career (he took eight shots vs. Wofford while playing 28 minutes).

The usually hyper-aggressive Flagg seemed like a passive player in the first half. He looked tentative at times. The Jayhawks also kept Flagg from attempting either a potential winning or game-tying shot twice in the final 15 seconds.

“(The game plan) was to try to heat them up,” Adams told reporters in Las Vegas. “Try to get them to think about it way too much. I think I got them a little bit.”

The Jayhawks put out the blueprint for defending Flagg on Tuesday night. But it’s not an easy one to follow without a defender like Adams, who has strength, versatility and experience.

“I know KJ can guard anyone in the country — he can guard 1-5,” Kansas guard Dajuan Harris told reporters in Las Vegas. “He did it two years ago playing the five. He switches 1-4 right now. So I believe in him. I told him a couple of weeks ago before this game that I knew what he was going to do on the defensive end.

“Even though (Flagg) is a great player and does everything for them, all the respect goes to (Adams), because he’s the reason why we won the game because he played great defense on him.”

[BWillie]

Just found this interesting. 3FG Attempts per game in Bill Self era

2004......17.0
2005......18.0
2006......16.3
2007.......15.4
2008.......17.1
2009.......16.7
2010.......18.0
2011.......18.7
2012.......16.5
2013.......16.1
2014.......15.9
2015........15.6
2016.......19.2
2017........21.9
2018.......25.0
2019.......20.6
2020.......18.6
2021.......22.1
2022.......19.8
2023........20.1
2024.......17.3
2025........21.1

Our opponents shoot around 25.0 the last few years for a reference.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Just found this interesting. 3FG Attempts per game in Bill Self era

2004......17.0
2005......18.0
2006......16.3
2007.......15.4
2008.......17.1
2009.......16.7
2010.......18.0
2011.......18.7
2012.......16.5
2013.......16.1
2014.......15.9
2015........15.6
2016.......19.2
2017........21.9
2018.......25.0
2019.......20.6
2020.......18.6
2021.......22.1
2022.......19.8
2023........20.1
2024.......17.3
2025........21.1

Our opponents shoot around 25.0 the last few years for a reference.

Without looking at the numbers, I guessed 2018 would be the highest.

4 shooters around Doke was fun to watch when that team was on. It got ugly a few times when they were playing poorly, but Svi/Graham were lighting it up.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BWillie

We will immediately get better next year with no Dickinson.

I can't wait.

And he was our best player this year.

[Ceej]

Zuby Ejiofor with a monster game tonight.

[RaidersOftheCellar]

BWillie wants to buck the trend and win games 40-35. He’s a visionary.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by RaidersOftheCellar

BWillie wants to buck the trend and win games 40-35. He’s a visionary.

With this team, yeah probably. This team probably plays too fast. We don't have good athletes or guys that are great in the fast break.

Bad roster construction and just trying to make due right now. We know HD, Juando and KJ are going to play 30 mpg a game. It is what it is at this point.

[KC_Connection]

We are sort of dominating Baylor today after thrashing them yesterday. In the only sport left that matters left this year.

Omaha bound?

[cmh6476]

I'm assuming if KU is just now announcing an NIL deal for Flory with Freddie's, he's coming back..