I think I am glad I was able to deal with all the great traumas in my life–my failures, my decades of depression, my disappointments, and my inability to meet the expectations of others–out of the public eye. With that perspective, a few impressions:

I look at Grimes, and it is obvious he is clueless about how to be that fluid 1st rounder, and how to fix things when the game is going too fast. I see a guy who would have benefitted from expecting to develop more gradually, but modern cbb doesn’t allow that anymore.

I look at Dedrick, who has put up AA stats this year despite inconsistent passing to him and with no help in the post where he has been forced to play as the only big, and I see people questioning his effort? or his character? And I think, wow, has he ever complained? Is his stoic expression more important to people than his single-handedly keeping us as competitive as we have been?

I look at Mitch and wish he had been allowed to play the small forward position, and I marvel at his ability to stay enthusiastic. Despite having to come in as a 1.5 ppg undersized player expected to turn it around in the middle when everyone is floundering.

I look at Charlie Moore, and the only flaw I see is that he tries too hard, goes too fast, and tries to change every game with boneheaded “hero” shot selection. His passes would have led to twice as many assists but for the team’s crappy shooting.

And Vick. I look at Vick, and like everyone I wonder what is going on. If it is a mental issue, it is largely beyond both his control and his own understanding. If it is emotional distraction from outside, I can only hope he can learn to deal with it–maybe getting out of the glare will help. I see someone whose face alternates reflecting either a wild fierceness or a bizarre disconnect to the game around him. I see someone whose talent belies the ropes holding him back. And I wonder how heavy it may be for him, knowing at times he is the savior of the team and at other times the anchor dragging the team down.

Finally, I see fans dealing with seeing a team of lofty expectations appearing to dismantle as we watch. Disappointment, anger, cynicism, hopelessness and helplessness all combining to just sap the joy out of us.

I know 2 things, going way back to my very first post a couple or three years ago: those kids are out there trying so freaking hard, and they are vastly more crushed than we are when they lose. So, I am going to do what I can to remind myself that there is always a lot of fun watching KU, and that I can be both disappointed and appreciative for the team, and that if this year is a bust I guess reality had to come sometime. Almost a decade and a half of championship ball (conference AND an NC) is something no other fanbase has ever had. I refuse to let the possibility of it ending get in the way of my unbridled pride in the kids who have made it possible. I hope I never join KU’s enemies by thinking of ANY KU team as losers.

If the suggestion to designate Gr-asshole-nola as a booster as a hypothetical truly came from the NCAA, I think this is all a lot of worrying over something that won’t be as much of a slam dunk as KU and fans are fearing. Here is why:

First, assuming it is true that the NCAA would not consider SDS’s petition for reinstatement without KU agreeing to the hypothetical, that would mean the NCAA was not willing to perform its job without exacting this designation. Courts generally don’t get into second-guessing private organizations’ adjudicatory processes except when an organization does not follow its own rules. To allow deference, those rules must set out the procedures to be followed, must meet minimum standards of notice and right to be heard, and must require initial judgment or appeal to be decided by impartial adjuicators. Here, the NCAA’s rules require determinations on eligibility, both preliminarily and on reinstatement. The NCAA cannot possibly extort a procedural advantage in another case before doing its job.

Second, I fail to see how a hypothetical for one purpose could be used in an enforcement case. A hypothetical is not an admission, and it is not evidence, so it has no res judicata effect. A hypothetical in a circumstance like this is like a statement made in a settlement discussion–it cannot be used in court against the person making the statement.

An example: Victim falls on a sidewalk and is injured. The claim is made that the property owner negligently failed to clear ice from a storm several days before. In settlement conference, the owner breaks in to the lawyers’ negotiations and says, “Okay, if I didn’t clear the ice because the sidewalk was closed, how much do you want?” His statement cannot be offered in any subsequent proceeding to prove he did not clear the ice. Protected–we encourage candid discussions to facilitate settlements.

Here, I can imagine that the NCAA stonewalling involved claiming they would not resolve SDS’s case unless KU accepted a hypothetical to cement Gassnola’s role. KU says, “Okay, if–hypothetically–he was a booster who slipped $2,500 to SDS’s guardian, please determine his eligibility and any sanction for him.”

No way that statement can be used to establish the booster relationship.

I tend to think this story is based on discussions with scared peripheral people who are second-guessing the lawyers because of the brutal 2 year decision, but who have no clue. Chances are, in my view, the lawyers knew precisely what they were doing. I think they have a strong case against any preclusive use of the hypothetical. The NCAA likely knows that, too.

This issue is not something to be upset about. However, I think the NCAA can prove he was a booster without too much trouble, so I think the hypothetical is irrelevant. Kind of like a case I had where the highest military appeals court agreed with me that a certain hearsay statement by an unknown utterer should not be admitted against my client, but it did not matter because my client hand wrote his confession anyway.

If all the NCAA has is the hypothetical, however, KU’s lawyers should go to federal court and stomp their ass. Heck, I am still licensed in Kansas!

Udoka has a long ways to go in most regards but the look is perfected! And, we have to remember, Jeff Withey himself wasn’t Jeff Withey for the first couple of years…

From ESPN:

URI’s Hurley not talking job future after defeat Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley, who sources say is the front-runner for the UConn job, had no interest in addressing speculation about potential openings after his team’s loss to Duke, saying, ‘I could give a crap about who’s got an opening anywhere.’

So, this means he is definitely going, right?

Well, dammit, Mitch just might have to redshirt again. Maybe for a couple more years with these recruits and transfers coming in.

When he finally leaves KU, he will probably get a gold watch and a pension.

@BeddieKU23 If I used drugs, I might prefer Walton, but I’d rather have Bilas.

“It is unclear whether Jayhawks coach Bill Self will be charged with a coach control violation…”

Well, nice journalism here. I think the whole damn thing is “unclear” since it is just rumor getting repeated based on nothing new since the June statements by the NCAA.

@BShark Great article by CJ Moore. Here is a highlight that is amazing:

https://theathletic.com/2537301/2021/04/23/marcus-garrett-kansas-defensive-specialist-bill-self/ An appreciation of Marcus Garrett, Kansas defender extraordinaire – The Athletic

**Self’s way of making sure everyone appreciated how special Garrett was this year was to point out the man he defended never scored double-digit points against him, a claim that seemed maybe to have a hint of hyperbole.

Out of curiosity, I started keeping track, rewatching all of the defensive possessions that got tagged to Garrett on Synergy and charting them to see if Self’s claim was true. It was. The most points he legitimately gave up in the 29 games he played as a senior was six on two contested 3s against North Dakota State. If you really wanted to challenge Self’s claim, you could contend that Garrett allowed 11 points in a Feb. 8 win over Oklahoma State. That night his man made three 3s when he was helping in the post or tagging a roller, which made him late to closeouts, but he was simply carrying out assignments. Avery Anderson driving past him on a closeout was really the only bucket surrendered that day. In total, opponents scored 58 points on Garrett where he was the primary defender. That’s 58 points in the 956 minutes he was on the floor.

When revealed to Self, that number, not surprisingly, got him excited. He started doing the math in his head, figuring there are about 40 points in every game where you can say X-player on his team allowed that basket, and because Garrett played 29 games, that means he gave up on average one bucket a game.

“Unbelievable,” Self said.**

@RockChalkinTexas You are someone who makes this place beyond special. I have appreciated for years how much excitement and joyous fandom you bring to every post. When you also share your pain, your humanity and openness are so deeply moving that words are inadequate in expressing how I come even more to understand how wonderful your marriage was, and what a loss you feel. Especially while surrounded by celebration.

I am so happy for you to have the girls, and I am deeply moved that in all of the tears you come here to wish us merriment!

May your holidays be brightened by the happiest of memories, and may you and your family make many more this and every year as you share the blessings you all had, and have!!!

From an alleged newspaper you can find on the Web, or perhaps buy it and use it for lining bird cages:

Traylor to play in Greece

Former Kansas forward Jamari Traylor has signed a contract to play for GS Kymis, a team located in Kymi, on the island of Euboea, Greece, Eurobasket.com and the GS Kymis official Website reported.

Traylor, 25, averaged 10.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 40 games for the Redwell Gunners of Oberwart, Austria, last season. He was selected to Eurobasket.com’s Austrian League All-Imports Team and to the All-Star Game.

He also played 10 games in the FIBA Europe Cup. He averaged 9.1 points and 6.3 boards a game.

@jayhawks2010 People are displacing the panic they should be having about world events onto sports. Not just here–fanbases everywere seem more irrational than normal!

Not political…just a question on procedures. Visas for international college students are held up currently as the State Dept reviews social media (hasn’t said for what). Could that be putting a hold on announcing any recruiting efforts?

Have we lost @BShark ?

@approxinfinity IIRC, the Nets dumped salary and tanked right after JV was made permanent coach. Nets fans are nuts.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/45224476/college-baseball-2025-mcws-super-regionals-tournament-watch-schedule

If KU beats Creighton on Friday, they play the winner of North Dakota St. vs Arkansas (# 3 overall seed).

If KU wins the regional they play the winner of the Knoxville regional: Cincinnati, Wake Forest, Tennessee (#14 seed), or Miami.

Doin’ awhat comes natcherly…

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Recruiting Notes:

@BShark or @FarmerJayhawk y’all got anything about what KU’s plans are now that Williams, Sarr, and Fland are off the table?

I think they are setting up a visit to see @wissox.

@Crimsonorblue22 It is a hyphenated word, begins with s, and ends “—letes”

@Texas-Hawk-10 Anybody care to take bets on who will be compromised the most from any bill passed?

@wissox @ImmunoHawk Same here about not being able to sit outside!

Of course, a TEEENSY bit different… 94 here in Hilton Head, SC, this week.