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.

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

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

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!

@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

Dirt around the bases like 80s royals baseball. It works, but man it’s ugly! Full turf is akin to playing basketball on a carpeted floor or a rubber court. It isn’t the quite the same.

@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.

@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.

@BShark said in The portal.:

The rumor about how much Zach Clemence got is WILD.

850k…

Does that come with expectations?

@drgnslayr 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…

@SlimShaddy54 said in KU Roster for 25-26:

@Woodrow Zero , for one been hearing if the recruit over Tre White he is out

Again? lol consistent I guess. To commit and never set foot on campus twice would be hilarious.

@SlimShaddy54 Tennessee just ran their QB off by refusing to up his pay to 4mil per. They had been paying him 2mil a season, starting his senior year in HS. SMH

@Jhawk69 Or some may say the Big12 looks pretty stacked at this point and KU has some work to do. But sarcasm is something my 9 year old is tying to master as well. Best of luck! It takes some practice.

The chick that ksu ran the national champ’s QB off for? Alanis Morissette would like a word.