KU gets huge commit

We will be a better overall team next year and I don't think it will be even close. The only issue is the dropoff at PG. EJ/Tharpe will need to improve significantly to replace Taylor. Fortunately, we will be getting more balanced scoring from other locations, so we won't need EJ to be a scorer. he can focus on PG duties and defense.

I fully expect Withey to have better numbers next year than T-Ron has this year. I know, I know. Hear me out. Those numbers will be gathered in a different style, but they'll be better. T-Rob is a more explosive player but Withey should be able to pile up the points if he continues to improve his strength, his post moves and his will to be aggressive. And the blocks. Good grief, he is going to be a beast on the interior defense next year. Compare his nest to last year (this year) to Cole Aldrich's next to last year (his sophomore season) and Withey is ahead of him in his progression in shot blocking at the same point in my opinion. Also, we will have a LOT more interior depth next year, so he will be able to play with less concern about foul trouble.

Look at T-Rob from last year to this year. He is only averaging 2 more points per 40 minutes played and 3 LESS rebounds per 40 minutes played than last year. I attribute this to a fear of getting into foul trouble. There are many times that T-Rob isn't as aggressive because he knows that the team cannot win if he gets in foul trouble. I think if we had quality depth inside that T-Rob would be averaging 20 and 14 on the season. Withey will be free to play as aggressive as he can next year knowing that he has several capable bodies that can come in if he picks up a few fouls.

So actually we are not in bad shape next year.  We might be in better shape to be honest.  WE won't have that go to guy or guys like this year, but with Withey we know we have some inside scoring and defense.  Releford is decent defender as is EJ.  Defensively we are going to be really tough.

Honestly, I think our team is going to be flat out NASTY on defense next year. Put 15 more pounds of muscle on Withey over the summer, the experience of an already excellent defender in Releford, a good defender in EJ, replace Teahan with McLemore, add in the smarts of Perry Ellis and this team is going to be amazing next year. If you tied McLemore's hands behind his back, he would be a better defender than Teahan due to sheer foot speed. Teahan has been KILLING us on defense this year. That will be addition by subtraction.

Gosh, reading all of this is getting me REALLY excited for next year...

February 25th might be among the biggest regular season dates in the history of Kansas basketball.   Besides a game that will likely decide the conference champion against some team that is leaving for the SEC on hand will be a collection of high school talent unequalled.    In attendance from the 2012 class will be KU signee Perry Ellis, the #1 overall recruit Shabazz (Shuh'boz) Muhammed, big man Tony Parker and an athletic freak Jakarr Sampson.    Joining them from the 2013 class with be top 5 recruit Chris Walker, Allerik Freeman (maybe), KU commit Conner Frankamp and KU commit and top recruiter Brannen Greene.  

It's shaping up to be a historical event, we need Allen Field House to be on another level which is asking a lot since it exists on another level most nights anyway.  

I am also getting excited. You guys are making me forgot we are in the running to have a deep March geez I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But Shoe wow that is crazy all the recruits coming, that place will be more energetic for a Mizzou game than usual with them being good this year and the earlier place. If several people end up in the hospital for hearing loss it wouldnt be a surprise. But boy I Cant Wait ( Herm Edwards voice) 

We will be a better overall team next year and I don't think it will be even close.

Really?  You've written off this year's team already?  Before conf reg season and tourney results? Before NCAAs?  Wow.  Because of our short bench and limited scoring options, the odds are against us playing deep in March but I'm not counting us out yet.  How do you define 'better' before this season is even finished?

Fortunately, we will be getting more balanced scoring from other locations

You're certain all or any of these incoming freshmen and first year sophs will be mature offensive threats immediately?  Like Selby?  Let's let them find their way to freshman English and the locker room before we start kissing their rings.  I'm expecting big things from the freshmen, and Traylor and Bmac will have had a year+ in the system but none of them will have played a single D1 game until next year.  I hope you're right and the two sophs can light it up and help provide this balanced scoring that you speak of but we're losing roughly 55% of our scoring (Trob, TT, Teahan).  Before I worry about how balanced our scoring is next year, I'm hoping that we have 40 ppg of scoring coming in or stepping up to replace what we're losing!  I'm bettin' Coach Self is worried about the same thing.

I fully expect Withey to have better numbers next year than T-Ron has this year. I know, I know. Hear me out. Those numbers will be gathered in a different style, but they'll be better.

That is a...well, hmmm, bizarre statement.  T-rob numbers (how many double dobules? POY? consensus first team) and Simien numbers come around once or twice in a decade at KU (if we're lucky) and you think we'll get them in back to back years? 

Pass the pipe, I need a hit of your good stuff. 

Currently, Withey is only playing ~4.5 mpg < than Trob.  If he increases his ppg and rpg by 50% next year he still won't equal Trob's ppg and rpg numbers.  To "fully expect Withey to have better numbers next year than T-rob has this year" is a high bar to set.  And if all this scoring is coming in next year, I don't expect Withey to play more mpg game next year than Trob is having to play now with our thin bench.

You are looking at improvements from year to year in other players (Cole Train and Trob) and extrapolating that to Withey from this year to next.  Withey has played great these past three games but what if he's already near his performance ceiling @ 11 and 7?  I'm not knocking him...if he is, it is still a high ceiling and loving watching him play.  But you can't necessarily assume other players' past development deltas onto Withey to the extent that he will better than a soon-to-be consensus AA and POY candidate (Trob).

I mean, that would be great if you're right but getting T-rob numbers - if I understand the point you're trying to make - in a single year is like catching lightning in a bottle and you think Withey will do it again? 

Should I pick red or black on the roulette wheel?

was thinking this but forgot to include in my previous post...

What if Withey is next year's EJ?  What if we're wondering next year why Withey isn't making the shots he used to or getting the rebounds he's capable of?  We expected EJ to be a major offensive contributor on this year's team and at 7 ppg he is scoring a little but much less than many of us expected from him in his jr year.

I only add these comments to point out that on paper, next year's team looks very impressive, but they're humans and more importantly they're 18-22 yr olds trying to study for tests; impress the co-eds; have a social life; and manage class schedules, social media and family expectations.  What we expect from them, based on youtube videos, newspaper clippings, and expected improvements from experience and age, may be more than they're capable out of the gate.

Fortunately, we have an oustanding coaching staff to prepare them but I get nervous when I read posts of grandeur for a future KU team before the incoming class has played a single meaningless pre-conf blowout game.

Really?  You've written off this year's team already?  Before conf reg season and tourney results? Before NCAAs?  Wow.  Because of our short bench and limited scoring options, the odds are against us playing deep in March but I'm not counting us out yet.  How do you define 'better' before this season is even finished?

I didn't say ANYTHING negative about this year's team. I just think next year's team is going to be better than the really good team that we already have! How do I define better? More balanced with better shooters, more scorers and a deeper bench.
I hope you're right and the two sophs can light it up and help provide this balanced scoring that you speak of but we're losing roughly 55% of our scoring (Trob, TT, Teahan).

We lost a whole lot more than that from last year and replaced it with guys that stepped into new roles. We have FOUR new starters this year. Next year we will only be replacing two starters.

"T-rob numbers (how many double dobules? POY? consensus first team) and Simien numbers come around once or twice in a decade at KU (if we're lucky) and you think we'll get them in back to back years?"

I just have a feeling on this one. Withey has watched the growth of T-Rob from bench guy to lottery pick. He has seen his potential when he plays agressively (National Player of the Week last week). We'll see.

"But you can't necessarily assume other players' past development deltas onto Withey to the extent that he will better than a soon-to-be consensus AA and POY candidate (Trob)."

Was it logical to assume that Withey would improve from the crap player he was last year to where he is now? NO. I am not ASSUMING he is going to, but I think the possibility and the potential is the there. If you do not share my same optimism, so be it.

You can't teach someone to be 7 feet tall. You can teach someone to be agressive and you can teach them the skills to utilize your 7 foot frame and agressiveness to dominate college basketball. We have the BEST big man teacher in the nation and Withey seems to be a smart kid willing to learn. The pieces are there.