The portal.
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@drgnslayr you keep making these posts that i think should be their own threads!
I am optimistic. I probably need to temper my optimism more than I am.
I’m sure our team won’t always look like a high ceiling, high floor roster full of alphadawgs once the season starts, like they appear to be when they’re bright, shiny signees.
There will be stumbles, there will be underperformers.
But none of the signees thus far have seemed like bad fits, or guys I don’t want to root for (Hunter, when his transfer to us was announced). None of them seem soft, or contact averse. All of them seem to have demonstrated leadership qualities on their teams. All of them appear to be interested in playing some defense. Bill has seemed involved in the recruitment.
We retained Flory.
I’m happy and excited about basketball again, but I would be happier still to see some staff shakeup and when we see the roster rounded out.
If we get 4 more guys cut from the same cloth as those we have already acquired, it could be something special.
Looking forward to no crutches, no excuses, and no bullshit. Bring your hard hats and man up boys.
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Stokes shoots it a little better than given credit for too. 30% on 2.6/game last year. The FT% is a little concerning but he took almost 10/game. Just silly
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@BShark said in The portal.:
The rumor about how much Zach Clemence got is WILD.
850k…
Does that come with expectations?
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Wish I could say I’m tickled as a peach about Council , but reality is he has track record of another player we have had recently that can’t shoot, his percentages lack, I just hope we can still do better, Now if w happen some how to get Stokes THAT is a real coup or Coward would be sweet too
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I am rather tickled. Not quite as much as a peach but about as much as a tangerine I would say.
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@BeddieKU23 So, he seems like a solid rotation piece, but more than that? Did we choose Council over Lee, or did Lee choose Florida over us?
If the former, do we think HCBS and staff is better at talent evaluation than Golden and the UF staff? Gators just won the Natty without a single top 100 recruit.
Are White, Dawson and Council better than portal guys signed by 2-3 dozen other schools, including some in the B12?
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@DCHawker I personally think the Council fit is better than Lee would have been. Lee certainly has upside but he was a bit too ball dominant next to DP, and was a poor catch and shoot guy.
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We got a kid from…St. Bonaventure. Wow, KU basketball is so back.
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@wissox not like those guys who originally committed to Towson and Appalachian State.
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@DCHawker You know I’d be the first to agree regarding scouting guys but the issue is more the system
Will be another good year to compare transfers and how they pan out council vs Lee
I think the staff is adjusting and I think Council is eerily similar to Tyshawn. He’s the better get for Self’s system so I’m happy with it. Good defender - produces turnovers and more athletic. His 3 ball looks like Tyshawn’s and he doesn’t shy away from the big moment.
@FarmerJayhawk @BShark What’s the starting lineup looking like
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@kuballin10 too early to say. 4 more roster spots to fill. Another starter and a backup big are the main priorities right now. But as of 11:28 PM 4/16 it’s DP, Council, Dawson, White, Flory.
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Yea the core of the rotation has been built. I think the staff is taking home run swings on another wing before they just add.
Does anyone know, isn’t the window only open like 5 more days?
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Yes to enter, unless coaching change occurs after the portal closes. Those players get 30 days to decide. Also have the draft guys that could pull out but those will be known dudes
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This post is deleted!
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@approxinfinity Whadya mean, those schools were major powers back then! Good point though, but my comment just reflects my general mood on all of this portal madness.
Scott Drew has zero guys on his team right now. Portal madness X100.
College football players who portalled back in December are now portalling again in the spring portal period.
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@FarmerJayhawk said in The portal.:
@kuballin10 too early to say. 4 more roster spots to fill. Another starter and a backup big are the main priorities right now. But as of 11:28 PM 4/16 it’s DP, Council, Dawson, White, Flory.
Therein lies the problem. Decent 5 to have on the floor for stretches, but is that really a line-up that can compete for a B12 title, let alone make a run in the tournament? 4 guards/wings, and an undersized 5. No real shooters. The recent formula for championships and FF success is 3 guards/wings who can attack the rim, hit 35%+ from 3, and defend the perimeter, and 2 mobile, rangy bigs who can set screens, execute the pick and roll, rebound, and defend both on the perimeter and at the rim (they don’t have to be scorers other than lobs and put backs). We need another wing who is a starter ahead of Council, Dawson, White, and a starting caliber 4-5 to rotate, not just back up Flory. Would also be good to have a true point guard, even if just as a bench piece.
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I’m not saying the roster is championship level, but I do disagree agree with the 2 big idea. We won the championship recently with 4 guards. In 2020 we had the best team with 4 guards. Our 3 years In a row of elite 8/final four Devonte frank etc were 4 guards. I think it’s a small sample size to say you need two rangy bigs. I do think however you have to have size and length at the two guards that play the 3 and 4. Advantage is if all 4 guards can shoot, which maybe the thing you’re getting at. I think we will definitely have an athletic team that can run. Excited to see that vs slow Hunter jogging down the court
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I don’t think you can play two bigs unless your 4 is athletic and can shoot like Marcus Morris. We’ve struggled bc we’ve played two bigs and they both can’t shoot lol
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@DCHawker that’s why I added the disclaimer. We’re not done adding.
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@FarmerJayhawk said in The portal.:
@DCHawker that’s why I added the disclaimer. We’re not done adding.
They have the #1 player in the 2026 class (who could potentially reclassify) visiting
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Council is the better fit here and is the opposite of what we have had in the backcourt recently. Fast, athletic and does a lot of things that should compliment others here. It’s a solid take that could end up really good. They targeted him and from what’s been posted about this kid, he seems like someone that’s a good fit for Self on both ends. We shall see.
Lee was always Florida it sounded. We gave it a shot.
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I also think we will push for another starter/hopefully a wing. Council could end up a 6th man type/ or Dawson depending on the next couple additions. Really would give Self some flexibility with lineups
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@BShark said in The portal.:
@FarmerJayhawk said in The portal.:
@DCHawker that’s why I added the disclaimer. We’re not done adding.
They have the #1 player in the 2026 class (who could potentially reclassify) visiting
Trying to gauge just how good Stokes is. Film just shows dunks in transition and some high level athletic ability. He reminds me of a more athletic Jalen Wilson, straight line speed and aggressiveness. I like the fit here but just wondering how much he could really impact a team if he joined.
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@BeddieKU23 said in The portal.:
@BShark said in The portal.:
@FarmerJayhawk said in The portal.:
@DCHawker that’s why I added the disclaimer. We’re not done adding.
They have the #1 player in the 2026 class (who could potentially reclassify) visiting
Trying to gauge just how good Stokes is. Film just shows dunks in transition and some high level athletic ability. He reminds me of a more athletic Jalen Wilson, straight line speed and aggressiveness. I like the fit here but just wondering how much he could really impact a team if he joined.
FWIW I would have taken Zion Williamson. Similar (smaller) mold.
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@jayhawks2010 said in The portal.:
I don’t think you can play two bigs unless your 4 is athletic and can shoot like Marcus Morris. We’ve struggled bc we’ve played two bigs and they both can’t shoot lol
Florida rotated 4 bigs, almost always 2 on the floor. Only one could shoot. Houston rotated 3 bigs, none of whom had an outside shot. Auburn played two bigs, one of them a scorer. Duke played one true big, but 3 and 4 were 6’11’ and 6’8’. Michigan played 2 bigs. TTU had a starting line-up similar in size to our current projected, but Toppin > Flory and Williams > White. Fredericko also played almost 20mpg. UConn teams only had one true big, but he was dominant and they had a lot of size across the line-up - 6’4" to 6’8".
The problem isn’t with necessarily 2 bigs that can’t shoot - it’s that the past two years we haven’t had guards/wings who could attack the paint and finish at the rim and/or consistently hit from the arc. Both shortcomings are why we have had double digit losses and early exits.
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@BeddieKU23 said in The portal.:
@BShark said in The portal.:
@FarmerJayhawk said in The portal.:
@DCHawker that’s why I added the disclaimer. We’re not done adding.
They have the #1 player in the 2026 class (who could potentially reclassify) visiting
Trying to gauge just how good Stokes is. Film just shows dunks in transition and some high level athletic ability. He reminds me of a more athletic Jalen Wilson, straight line speed and aggressiveness. I like the fit here but just wondering how much he could really impact a team if he joined.
I am in agreement. I think the kid looks like a freak of nature. But, to sound very old man yelling at clouds, his immaturity on the court shows up in his highlight film like crazy. I love the identity this team seems to have right now. I’m not sure Stokes naturally fits into it.
I would much prefer dropping the bag to go get Coward than add Stokes if given he choice.
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I think KU has 4 of their 5 starters for next season and most of the rotation.
I don’t see Council starting over Jackson (I know people will argue that one, but Council doesn’t scream Big 12 starter to me, at least KU level starter). I also don’t think Dawson should start either.
Right now, I’d roll with Jackson, Peterson, White, ???, and Flory to start with Council, Dawson, ???, and Tiller/??? as the rotation pieces off the bench.
This team won’t be a great shooting team, but on paper at least, it looks like this team should be an above average scoring team and defend at an elite level. This absolutely looks like a Bill Self basketball team at this point on paper.
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Rakease visited Miami and will now visit Tennessee. Working on one to Auburn as well. I think of all the guys that left this will be the one that ages badly for us…
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@BShark said in The portal.:
Rakease visited Miami and will now visit Tennessee. Working on one to Auburn as well. I think of all the guys that left this will be the one that ages badly for us…
Interesting take. He didn’t show anything in his brief time in Lawrence. Are you basing that off his HS production? Seems like he could be a glue guy, maybe. But I’ve underestimated players before.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 Agree re Council. Seems like a really solid rotation guy willing to go hard when he is in. But, a starter? A <15ppg scorer at St. Bonaventure? FG% 44%. 3pt% 30%. Just 2 FTAs per game averaging 37 minutes. Against much lower competition. Just 6’4’’ and 180lbs. Not sure how he will measure up against other B12 guards/wings. Same with Dawson. 14ppg for a double digit loss team in the A-10. Just 41% from the field. Also 6’4" and 185lbs. White also seems like a solid rotation piece, but just 10ppg for an okay Illinois team and just 23mpg. Is he really a starter on a team that aspires to titles? 6’7’’ and 210lbs. Not really a 4 and doesn’t shoot well enough from outside to be a 2-3?
All good rotation players, but starters??? Are we going to have to get 25ppg+ from DP?
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@dylans Self did like him and I think his interest is telling as well. Heck of an athlete for sure. Still a young kid and Self’s substitution patterns did him no favors. I felt this way when Zuby left as well. He is one the staff would have taken back but with our plan and commits so far I understand his decision.
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@BShark Do we know why he even left?
Like did he actually expect to get big minutes based on who was in front of him? I just don’t get what happened here.
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@Kcmatt7 so first of all Bill made a lot of minute and role promises to guys last off season that didn’t end up happening. The talk to Rakease and his people this off-season was that while they would love to have him back they are in win now mode with Bill being near the end of his career. Kease was told that he would be battling with Jamari for 9th or 10th man if their portal plans came to fruition.
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Oh and this info comes from the best possible place. I won’t have access this directly very often.
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@DCHawker I think some questions we still have is- – -- -Have w improved this team in shooting the Ball like you said Council 44 % Fg , - -is that improvement ?- - shooting just 30 % on 3 pt shooting ?- -that’s not improvement. - -White isn’t by any means a better shooter, Peterson ya ok, that’s one – Flory unless he has really busted his ass during the Summer has no outside shot- – lobs is what we know at this point. - – - Have we improved our 3 point shooting ?-- Again Council for sure is not— - White is not , are we still in a position as to where opponents are going to be able to back off on certain players to clog the lane again, making us prove more then once in a while we hit the three or outside jumper ? - - Have we improved our rebounding, stronger ?-- -I know Flory Starting will get boards— -but he gets in foul trouble, who comes in to help on Boards then ?- - White is a better rebounder then KJ ?-- of course he is BUT who is making up the Difference Dickinson takes with him ?
There are pluses I agree , Our defense will be better for sure , This is where Council helps-- --Darry is suffice.-- If Flory can avoid foul ttrouble for sure better at the five Athletically, mobile , quicker , better rim defender,
Agree some More You give a team a combo of Darryn/Flory to build a team around that’s a dam good start. -Heard Really likes Dawson-- Heard that Coach himself was the first one to make contact with Dawson and like was the one who recruited Dawson 98 %- -Really likes Dawson. Again other thing is been hearing more White didn’t come here to come off the Bench- -and if they recruit over him he is out, not sticking around. We have a nice start to build around DP and Flory just adding the right pieces. Council really don’t think is who we want as a starter, bw good rotational player but not starting.-- If we could add Coward and a quality mobile back up five for Flory, with length - -Have Darryn & Flory & Coward &- Wilson – would be nice
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@dylans said in The portal.:
All I know is there is a big push to get as much money right now before the ruling on NCAA direct payments puts a salary cap on it. Basically breaking the salary cap before it’s in place. More loopholes to come…
It seems like that new rule will be a big mess immediately. So I’m KU and we only have $2 mil left in our legal kitty fund. Won’t we contact a corp with big pockets (cough… cough… Adidas) and have them make up the difference with a private NIL package for the guy we want to sign? Private NIL is unlimited and will remain unlimited!
Gosh… is this another one of those KU-Adidas situations where the NCAA smells trouble so they just investigate us again for a decade and then come up with nothing?
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Had to Chuckle at this coming from TOS.-- Posters were talking about Staff shake up.-- LOL-- one poster says all we need to do is bring SNACKS BACK problem solved lmao-- Another poster responded to that post with a- —YIKES ! ! ! ! had to laugh
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Mini Peja in the portal yes pls
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I’ll take a guard tandem that drives the ball and scores any day over a couple of perimeter shooters. All it takes is trey shooters getting cold to lose games. I’d rather not count on the trey and then take it when its there. Penetrating guards are the guys who stir up the defense and create scoring space for others. It also earns us plenty at the charity stripe and puts defenses in foul trouble. Another thing it does… rarely discussed… it exhausts all those non-contact-playing guards who then suddenly can’t hit their treys.
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@FarmerJayhawk said in The portal.:
Mini Peja in the portal yes pls
Yes. Surprisingly not a good 3pt%, but averaged 18ppg for a P5 team and definitely progressed from freshman year. DP, Dawson/Council/Elmarko, White/Stojakovic, and Flory plus another 20mpg quality big would start to get the juices flowing. Coward, Stokes would be icing on the cake…
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For the first time I now watched tape on Council. Thought I was watching TT. It doesn’t appear that he can finish with his left hand. His jump shot is like TTs first 3 years… shuffling his feet and not establishing his lower body form. TT went to shooters camp before his senior year and started to correct his form. To me, he looks like a 6th man candidate. Maybe his defense can earn him more PT.
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@drgnslayr said in The portal.:
For the first time I now watched tape on Council. Thought I was watching TT. It doesn’t appear that he can finish with his left hand. His jump shot is like TTs first 3 years… shuffling his feet and not establishing his lower body form. TT went to shooters camp before his senior year and started to correct his form. To me, he looks like a 6th man candidate. Maybe his defense can earn him more PT.
Very much agree. Feels like a guy who comes off the bench but stays on the floor.
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Couple of other decent guys : Andre Stintjakovic ( Peja’s son ) entered 6’7 17.9 ppg from Cal entered- but has a do not contact tag – might already have a team in mind sounds like.
Then We have P J Haggerty from Memphis pretty good , AAC POY Avg 21.7 ppg---- 5.8 Rpg- -& 3.7 assist per game
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@Kcmatt7 said in The portal.:
@drgnslayr said in The portal.:
For the first time I now watched tape on Council. Thought I was watching TT. It doesn’t appear that he can finish with his left hand. His jump shot is like TTs first 3 years… shuffling his feet and not establishing his lower body form. TT went to shooters camp before his senior year and started to correct his form. To me, he looks like a 6th man candidate. Maybe his defense can earn him more PT.
Very much agree. Feels like a guy who comes off the bench but stays on the floor.
Yeah Bill is going to love him I feel.
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Push the chips in for Stokes. That’s where I’m at. Go big or go home
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@drgnslayr said in The portal.:
@dylans said in The portal.:
All I know is there is a big push to get as much money right now before the ruling on NCAA direct payments puts a salary cap on it. Basically breaking the salary cap before it’s in place. More loopholes to come…
It seems like that new rule will be a big mess immediately. So I’m KU and we only have $2 mil left in our legal kitty fund. Won’t we contact a corp with big pockets (cough… cough… Adidas) and have them make up the difference with a private NIL package for the guy we want to sign? Private NIL is unlimited and will remain unlimited!
Gosh… is this another one of those KU-Adidas situations where the NCAA smells trouble so they just investigate us again for a decade and then come up with nothing?
Ugg
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@TYOHawk Wow… just watched Stokes. In some states he could be arrested for molesting the rim like that!
I’m with you. Let next year be a “Self tribute” year and let Self SMASH THE F*CK out of college basketball! Lets put an exclamation point on college basketball. Lets show Duke how to get the job done with star freshmen!
Go on, Bill… show college basketball how its done!
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@drgnslayr Unless Bill and his staff start turning away minions under 6’6", we might as well forget about dominating the NCAA!! j/k
