Cam Lard

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

I stated earlier that I didn't think that KU would win the Big 12 next year if Lawson left. And now that Grimes has declared, I believe it is safe to assume that they have moved even further back to the pack. That doesn't mean that they can't win it, but even more so as of now, their talent is inexperienced and unproven. I wonder how deep Self will venture into the grad-transfer market.

Deep, I'd say. There are a lot of grad transfers out there. William & Mary's Justin Pierce tweeted yesterday that he & teammate Matt Milon might be a combo. They're both really good and might fit a team like Kansas with multiple openings. Are they "Kansas good?" I'm not sure. I think Pierce probably is & Milon probably could come off the bench.

 

[AdaSooner]

They'll still land multiple highly ranked high school kids, and I imagine they will look for at least one grad transfer. They always have a lot of roster turnover because of guys turning pro or transferring, so this isn't anything too unusual. Dotson is great and they have some good pieces around him.

I have never been into posting rumors, but this may be a good place to repeat what a friend I trust told me yesterday. He seemed to be absolutely certain that Bill Self will be leaving KU to coach in the NBA. He said he has friends in Kansas with connections to KU who said Self would be going to the Spurs.

I have no idea if what I was told is accurate? That’s why I want to make it clear that this is no more than an unsubstantiated rumor right now. I know there have been stories about Bill going to the pros or other schools before. All of them proved to be false. But, if he’s going to leave KU, there may be more reasons now than at any other time. Lawson and Grimes have already declared for the NBA. K.J. Lawson is transferring. As far as I know, DeSousa and Azulbuike will not be back. Numerous scandals involving KU players in the last two years and the ongoing FBI investigation had to take a toll on Bill.

KU still has a chance to improve their recruiting class and bring in more help with grad transfers. But from my perspective, which may not Be even close to being right, the prospects for a bright future at KU are as bleak as anytime in my recent memory.

Is it possible what I was told is correct this time?

 

[WTSooner]

I have never been into posting rumors, but this may be a good place to repeat what a friend I trust told me yesterday. He seemed to be absolutely certain that Bill Self will be leaving KU to coach in the NBA. He said he has friends in Kansas with connections to KU who said Self would be going to the Spurs.

I have no idea if what I was told is accurate? That’s why I want to make it clear that this is no more than an unsubstantiated rumor right now. I know there have been stories about Bill going to the pros or other schools before. All of them proved to be false. But, if he’s going to leave KU, there may be more reasons now than at any other time. Lawson and Grimes have already declared for the NBA. K.J. Lawson is transferring. As far as I know, DeSousa and Azulbuike will not be back. Numerous scandals involving KU players in the last two years and the ongoing FBI investigation had to take a toll on Bill.

KU still has a chance to improve their recruiting class and bring in more help with grad transfers. But from my perspective, which may not Be even close to being right, the prospects for a bright future at KU are as bleak as anytime in my recent memory.

Is it possible what I was told is correct this time?

As the HC of the Spurs, or an assistant? Hard to picture somebody with Bill's tenure and experience giving up a HC job for an assistant's job. And I don't think Popovich is ready to hang it up just yet.

 

[AdaSooner]

As the HC of the Spurs, or an assistant? Hard to picture somebody with Bill's tenure and experience giving up a HC job for an assistant's job. And I don't think Popovich is ready to hang it up just yet.

I didn’t ask that question, but I assume he was talking about a HC job. I doubt if a coach with Self’s reputation would agree to go in as an assistant, unless it was with a guaranteed, long term contract to take over after one season. You may be right about Popovich too.

Part of what I was told didn’t make any sense. Then again, as I began to think about why Bill would stay at KU, there were more reasons he might leave.

 

[Eielson]

I have never been into posting rumors, but this may be a good place to repeat what a friend I trust told me yesterday. He seemed to be absolutely certain that Bill Self will be leaving KU to coach in the NBA. He said he has friends in Kansas with connections to KU who said Self would be going to the Spurs.

I have no idea if what I was told is accurate? That’s why I want to make it clear that this is no more than an unsubstantiated rumor right now. I know there have been stories about Bill going to the pros or other schools before. All of them proved to be false. But, if he’s going to leave KU, there may be more reasons now than at any other time. Lawson and Grimes have already declared for the NBA. K.J. Lawson is transferring. As far as I know, DeSousa and Azulbuike will not be back. Numerous scandals involving KU players in the last two years and the ongoing FBI investigation had to take a toll on Bill.

KU still has a chance to improve their recruiting class and bring in more help with grad transfers. But from my perspective, which may not Be even close to being right, the prospects for a bright future at KU are as bleak as anytime in my recent memory.

Is it possible what I was told is correct this time?

I've been hearing similar stuff about Self to to the Bulls. I think it's just people throwing out stories that make sense, though. I don't think it's true inside info. Personally, I think the NCAA will be very soft in their punishments.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

I've been hearing similar stuff about Self to to the Bulls. I think it's just people throwing out stories that make sense, though. I don't think it's true inside info. Personally, I think the NCAA will be very soft in their punishments.

Didn't the Bulls HC just get a contract extension? Maybe I'm mistaken but I think I read that.

 

[Eielson]

Didn't the Bulls HC just get a contract extension? Maybe I'm mistaken but I think I read that.

They did. Self isn't going there, and I don't he's going to the NBA at all unless he thinks the NCAA is going to bring down the hammer on him.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I have never been into posting rumors, but this may be a good place to repeat what a friend I trust told me yesterday. He seemed to be absolutely certain that Bill Self will be leaving KU to coach in the NBA. He said he has friends in Kansas with connections to KU who said Self would be going to the Spurs.

I have no idea if what I was told is accurate? That’s why I want to make it clear that this is no more than an unsubstantiated rumor right now. I know there have been stories about Bill going to the pros or other schools before. All of them proved to be false. But, if he’s going to leave KU, there may be more reasons now than at any other time. Lawson and Grimes have already declared for the NBA. K.J. Lawson is transferring. As far as I know, DeSousa and Azulbuike will not be back. Numerous scandals involving KU players in the last two years and the ongoing FBI investigation had to take a toll on Bill.

KU still has a chance to improve their recruiting class and bring in more help with grad transfers. But from my perspective, which may not Be even close to being right, the prospects for a bright future at KU are as bleak as anytime in my recent memory.

Is it possible what I was told is correct this time?

He's not going anywhere. There's been talk for the better part of a decade that he may end up in San Antonio when Pop leaves because of his connection with RC Buford. If anything, I think the current scandal makes it less likely he'll leave for any other NBA job. He has been very adamant in saying that the situation actually has him fired up to stay around longer than he may have otherwise planned.

 

[stormspencer]

I commandeered this from another thread. The Big 12 was the #1 conference in Kenpom for the 6th straight year. However it appears that the Big 12, as a whole, is prepared to take a step backward next year. Take a look at these losses.....yikes!:

• Kansas loses both Lawsons, Grimes, DeSousa, Vick, and maybe Moore/Azibuke. If that ends up being the case, they are down to 7 scholarship players.
  
• Iowa State loses Horton Tucker, Wigginton, Lard, Shayok, and Weiller-Babb. Rebuilid....all hands on deck.
  
• Kansas State loses its 3 best players in Stokes, Brown JR, and Wade. I will be surprised if they don't take a significant take a step back.
  
• Tech loses Culver, Odiase, Mooney, Owens and Francis. Beard did a hell of a job rebuilding this year after losing a lot last year, so maybe he can do it again?
  
• Texas loses Osetkowski, Roach, and probably Jaxson Hayes.....and Shaka is still their coach....lulz.
  
• OU loses James, Reynolds, Calixte, Odomes, and McNeace (along with Lazenby and Freeman). But 3/4 of the best players return.....whew.
  
• TCU loses Robinson and Miller. They also had a lot of attrition during the year.
  
• West Virginia loses West, Bolden, Ahmad, Harris, and maybe Konate. But they gelled pretty well at the end of the year without those guys.
  
• Baylor loses Mason and McClure. They do return quite a bit.....I think they challenge for the conference next year.
  
• Oklahoma State returns almost everyone and should be noticeably improved.

Feel free to correct or edit anything that I said above if I'm misinformed. I didn't have to time to research every possible decision for every team. Going to be interesting next year.

 

[Eielson]

ISU and KSU were decimated, but other than that, I think the health of the Big XII will be just fine. Tech will take a step back, but that just means they won't win the conference and make it to the finals. KU will be better. The bottom 4 will be significantly better.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I commandeered this from another thread. The Big 12 was the #1 conference in Kenpom for the 6th straight year. However it appears that the Big 12, as a whole, is prepared to take a step backward next year. Take a look at these losses.....yikes!:

• Kansas loses both Lawsons, Grimes, DeSousa, Vick, and maybe Moore/Azibuke. If that ends up being the case, they are down to 7 scholarship players.
  
• Iowa State loses Horton Tucker, Wigginton, Lard, Shayok, and Weiller-Babb. Rebuilid....all hands on deck.
  
• Kansas State loses its 3 best players in Stokes, Brown JR, and Wade. I will be surprised if they don't take a significant take a step back.
  
• Tech loses Culver, Odiase, Mooney, Owens and Francis. Beard did a hell of a job rebuilding this year after losing a lot last year, so maybe he can do it again?
  
• Texas loses Osetkowski, Roach, and probably Jaxson Hayes.....and Shaka is still their coach....lulz.
  
• OU loses James, Reynolds, Calixte, Odomes, and McNeace (along with Lazenby and Freeman). But 3/4 of the best players return.....whew.
  
• TCU loses Robinson and Miller. They also had a lot of attrition during the year.
  
• West Virginia loses West, Bolden, Ahmad, Harris, and maybe Konate. But they gelled pretty well at the end of the year without those guys.
  
• Baylor loses Mason and McClure. They do return quite a bit.....I think they challenge for the conference next year.
  
• Oklahoma State returns almost everyone and should be noticeably improved.

Feel free to correct or edit anything that I said above if I'm misinformed. I didn't have to time to research every possible decision for every team. Going to be interesting next year.

I don't think anything in here is inaccurate, expect a couple of the guys listed as maybes have already announced they are leaving. But I expect if people made a list of other P5 leagues, it would look similar. Lots of guys all over have declared for the draft. But I do think e are in good shape relative to others with our three best players coming back, plus a very experienced, good transfer coming in who won't take long to fit in.

 

[TINY]

ISU and KSU were decimated, but other than that, I think the health of the Big XII will be just fine. Tech will take a step back, but that just means they won't win the conference and make it to the finals. KU will be better. The bottom 4 will be significantly better.

I’m not seeing an improved Ku roster next year. Also believe tech is going to win the conference again with beard at the helm. That guy is special.

 

[BCSooners]

Remember they can declare for the draft with an agent and go through the whole process and still fire their agent at the end to return to school. Won't really know about who's leaving until end of May more than likely.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I don't think anything in here is inaccurate, expect a couple of the guys listed as maybes have already announced they are leaving. But I expect if people made a list of other P5 leagues, it would look similar. Lots of guys all over have declared for the draft. But I do think e are in good shape relative to others with our three best players coming back, plus a very experienced, good transfer coming in who won't take long to fit in.

Is it realistic to hope that the Sooners will challenge for the conference championship next season?

 

[WichitaSooner]

Is it realistic to hope that the Sooners will challenge for the conference championship next season?

I don't think I'd go that far, especially with so much unknown about other team's rosters. I'll be shocked, for example, if KU doesn't add two or three (or more) really good players in the next few weeks. And we will be relying on a lot of guys who will be in their first year of D-1 basketball. I think two years from now is when we might be at our best, although not having Doo that season will be a loss. But I will be disappointed if we don't move into the top half of the league this season, at a minimum.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

"But I will be disappointed if we don't move into the top half of the league this season, at a minimum."

Agreed. That is a fair expectation.

 

[AdaSooner]

kU’s Dotson declares.

 

[skyvue]

kU’s Dotson declares.

This is an unusually high number of departures for KU, isn't it? I wonder if there is something in the air about Self leaving -- or if he might consider leaving because of the (relatively) empty cupboard all the departures have left him with.

 

[WichitaSooner]

This is an unusually high number of departures for KU, isn't it? I wonder if there is something in the air about Self leaving -- or if he might consider leaving because of the (relatively) empty cupboard all the departures have left him with.

Dotson is coming back, just going through the process to get feedback from the NBA. It'll be shocking if he doesn't come back.

 

[AdaSooner]

This is an unusually high number of departures for KU, isn't it? I wonder if there is something in the air about Self leaving -- or if he might consider leaving because of the (relatively) empty cupboard all the departures have left him with.

That was a factor in the point I made earlier. When my friend told me Self would reportedly leave KU for the NBA, I began to make a list of the reasons he could be right: A surprisingly thin number of returning players, a season that was anything but typical for a Self coached team, not to mention the uncertainties surrounding the FBI scandal and an NCAA investigation, seemed to suggest what my friend was told may be correct. Is Azulbuike coming back? Doubtful. De Sousa was declared ineligible for two years. He still has one more year left.

Do the players know something we don’t? WichitaSooner, who is a lot more familiar with KU’s program than I’ll ever be, was convinced early on that Dedric Lawson would not be drafted. He still might be right, but Dedric has at least declared for the draft, and his brother K.J. plans to transfer. We have also learned in the last few days that Dotson and Grimes declared for the draft.

Some or all of those players could withdraw their name in the end. But, if they don’t, Bill Self has his work cut out for him in building a team worthy of the competition he’ll face in the Big 12. Who could blame him if he left?