I wasn’t expecting to well up in tears for someone I hadn’t personally met, but I did. I’ve been to four funerals of friends and family this year and was able to stay composed, but this hit me harder than expected. @RockChalkinTexas apparently holds a special place in my heart. I enjoy my bucketteers; don’t any of you dare leave!

Everyone stay safe and healthy as possible this holiday season!!!

@wissox said in My crisis of faith in Bill:

Bill Self had a phase where he recruited some questionable character guys. It really impacted this program, saddling us with the black eye of the half decade long investigation. The dude with the car accident (I’ve repressed the memory of his name and couldn’t care less to learn his name), the dude with the shoebox money (ditto my other parenthesis), Josh Jackson the most talented of all the lowlifes we brought in. The dude who raped the woman. Vick, had some issues, forgetting exactly, Jalen Wilson DUI, and the aforementioned Cliff Alexander, a victim of his own ma if I recall correctly. I might be wrong but Selfs first decade with us was his strongest and we avoided these headlines.

The original post, excellent btw @approxinfinity, and @MoonwalkMafia, was what’s happened to recruiting. Bill Self is still struggling to recover from the black eyes of the last decade.

But part of this is waiting for NCAA to work out the negativity of the NIL and portal eras. We brought in some highly ranked 5 star for next year. Normally I’d be stoked but now I’m just thinking he’s another Grady or Furphy (who had like 1 good game while he was here using us to get to the league). So while maybe the character issue has been resolved, finding loyal guys to the program who see all of the ‘trappings’ that come with being a KU player has been difficult. I laugh at guys like Grady Dick who took the money and play for a gosh awful Toronto team. Must be really fun playing in a boring league in front bored fans. He was getting paid here and would be a huge part of KU lore had he stuck around. Instead he’s an NBA afterthought. Would’ve gotten paid after this year or even his senior year a bunch.

88, 08, and 22 have forever etched themselves into my mind and make enduring these down periods a little less difficult. But I fear the aura of KU ball wearing off a little bit and always look at IU basketball, or Nebraska football as examples of programs that ruled their sport that haven’t been able to get it together since. Anyone see IU fans abandon the Assembly Hall the other day against Illinois before the first half was even done? My worst nightmare for KU right there.

Having met Jalen Wilson and seeing as he has had no other issues I take offense to his inclusion on the bad actors list. He made a childish mistake, atoned for it, and didn’t have another single issue - if I’m not mistaken. His attitude and demeanor improved drastically after that and he became a model student athlete on and off the court.

Worst case scenario- KU in line for the number one overall seed, plays no games due to a pandemic. Leaving nothing but what if’s for all.

@BeddieKU23 Yes, Kelly should’ve stayed another year, but I’m still upset that Paul Pierce left early.

I love that Bill Self is being blamed for tuning out a roster devoid of post talent and yet his team is playing the best basketball in the nation, undefeated, and ranked #2.

The warts will show, but Bill is doing a masterful job once again.

Wow. Hope he figures life out quickly. He’s blowing a couple once in a lifetime opportunities.

Just realized Buckets turned 10 years old last October!!! Thanks to all who have helped make this site entertaining!

As a Chiefs fan, Mahomes is payback for watching other teams do that to our D for years.

Win at all costs and the fans cry about not looking to the future. Sit Cliff and lose tonight with an eye on the future and fans cry. It’a a good thing KU basketball coach isn’t an elected position. The man has done nothing but win games at a historic rate. KU is 14-3 with a freshman and sophomore dominated line-up in what has been the hardest schedule in the nation. I’m estatic with the win loss record, but think there is much room for improvement in play. That’s what has me excited, KU will be better in March and even better next year.

If Bill manages to win the conference title this year it will be quite the feat with 8 teams in a 10 team conference having been ranked in the top 25. That means 8 teams have been rated in the top 7% of all college basketball. KU will have to earn this championship!

@nuleafjhawk I wanted Skattebo too. He’s a beast!

@MR11 said in 2026 Recruiting ( Crazy but ):

@dylans said in 2026 Recruiting ( Crazy but ):

Flory averaged less points and more fouls per minute than AJ Storr, let that sink in.

Not giving yourself a lot of credibility in this argument by cherry picking stats to compare him to Storr lol.

That he is in anyway comparable to Storr or Griffen is extremely disappointing.

I can and will criticize him whenever I damn well please. His actions are that of an impetuous money grubbing unprincipled piece of crap.

Never said you couldn’t just that I think you are wrong to do so.

I have done just this. a man of principle- principles are expensive, I am all too aware. Also it paid off in the long run, just like being a Jayhawk would.

Maybe you have, and good for you if it worked out.

I’m sorry for you if you haven’t figured out that loyalty pays.

Can you say for sure that your situation was the exact same as Flory’s? Maybe you had a boss/company you trusted, do you know Flory has the same relationship with the staff?

Bill Self is now untrustworthy?

Were you also a 19 yr old from a different country likely being pushed by your guardian to make certain decisions? Have some fucking empathy before villainizing people, especially someone on a team you support.

I respect all upfront. My disrespect is earned. Flory has earned it.

@MR11 No it doesn’t, but in this case it appears to be the actions of a short sighted selfish person. Asshole is just shorter to write.

@ReggieKansas said in FINGERS CROSSED MY NEPHEW ISIAH SAYLES 2 KU IN 2028:

So I have a nephew at piper who is class of 2028 he is the number 1 player in the state of kansas ranked for that year. I know KU Is in his top 5. His mom is a big jayhawk fan. So fingers crossed bill can land him

Awesome. Enjoy the ride wherever he lands!

@BShark Good maybe they can get rid of him after this year if he asks for big money again and performs like last year. Flory might be able to play in the Euro league down the road, but he’s not an NBA talent, if you’re paying top of the market I’d expect top talent, not damaged goods.

@approxinfinity said in 2026 Recruiting ( Crazy but ):

The fact he came back means a lot to me. I think he could have gotten market value elsewhere and not dealt with the baggage of post negotiations but he chose to come back and stick with it. I am thankful. It was a massive returner for us and helped the other dominoes fall.

I don’t believe that a market developed. Who would pay top dollar for an undersized big with limited skill and a foul a minute habit? Sounds like a Bill Self big to me. Should’ve let him walk.

@MR11 said in 2026 Recruiting ( Crazy but ):

@dylans Ok lets slow down a bit with that rhetoric. Feel free to be disappointed with how he handled the situation, but that doesn’t make him a piece of shit. Would you stay at a job even if you love it if another company was coming in and offering to more than double your salary?

I have done just this. a man of principle- principles are expensive, I am all too aware. Also it paid off in the long run, just like being a Jayhawk would.

Cause that is what we are talking about here. Flory isn’t guaranteed to have a NBA career and also has to worry about getting injured and missing the opportunity to even get there. This could be his only chance to make a decent bit of money that could have to last him the rest of his life.

If your only plan in life to make money is basketball you’re a moron. There is a free education attached - one that most people pay handsomely for.

Ideally yes, you want players to love KU and only want to play here, but KU also can’t be lowballing their returning players that much and expect to get that kind of loyalty even with players that grow up KU fans.

Flory averaged less points and more fouls per minute than AJ Storr, let that sink in.

I do agree he doesn’t need to be coddled, he got paid and now he needs to shows up this season. If come next month, he isn’t showing any improvement, then he deserves all the criticism you want to give him.

I can and will criticize him whenever I damn well please. His actions are that of an impetuous money grubbing unprincipled piece of crap.

@HoraceZontal There is a good way to handle negotiations and a poor way. The way it was handled by Flory leaves me feeling he is an asshole, douchebag, piece of shit. It’s entertainment - he’s a heel. Fuck ‘em.

I hope someone that wants to be here takes his minutes. Flory isn’t worth the price. They’re low rent pros now, not children to be coddled, and this one is flat out a Calipari Kentucky caliber of low character - a mercenary.

Bummer. On to the next game.

Ok. I’m ready to fire Butker. His misfires are in one way or another responsible for all the Chiefs L’s