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Should someone redshirt next season?

Coach Self was asked about the possibility of any players redshirting next season.  While he basically wouldn’t talk about it right now, he didn’t exactly rule out the possibility either.  Let's face it folks.  Next year's KU basketball roster is loaded.  Beyond the obvious starters, there's going to be a heck of a battle for minutes.  It would come as no big surprise if someone was to redshirt next year.  Supposing someone does redshirt next year, who are the likely candidates?

As a reminder, here's the complete roster of scholarship players for next year.

Collins (Sr.)

Little (Sr.)

Aldrich (Jr.)

Morningstar (Jr.)

Reed (Jr.)

Taylor (So.)

McMorris (So.)

MkMorris (So.)

Releford (So.)

Withey (Fr.)

Henry (Fr.)

Robinson (Fr.)

Johnson (Fr.)

Frontcourt (4 and 5 positions): Aldrich, Withey, Morris twins, Robinson.  I don't see any of these guys redshirting.  Note that I'm assuming Little predominantly plays at his natural position (the 3) next season.  Withey is not a redshirt candidate since he burned his redshirt while sitting out the transfer year.  The Morris twins are joined at the hip so I don't see either of them redshirting.  In addition to being a high profile recruit, Robinson's rebounding skills are believed to be superior to the Morris twins.  Can't see Self redshirting a player who could potentially be his 2nd best rebounder (behind Aldrich).

Small Forward (the 3 position):  Henry, Morningstar, Little, Releford.  Obviously Henry won't be redshirting.  Morningstar has already redshirted.  That leaves Little and Releford.  To me, an obvious candidate to redshirt is Releford.  Of the 4 players I mentioned for the SF position, Releford would be the 4th option in my opinion.  I suppose Little could redshirt, but it's not likely.  You don't see many players redshirt their Sr. year unless it’s due to injury.

Backcourt (1 and 2 positions):  Collins, Taylor, Johnson, Reed, and possibly Morningstar.  With Taylor as the likely starter at the 2, he won’t be redshirting.  Johnson is simply too talented to redshirt.  That leaves Reed as a potential redshirt candidate.  I could see a scenario where Reed could redshirt, Morningstar would be a backup at the 2 position, and Releford would be the 3rd option at the 3.  That said, I think it might be tough to redshirt Reed.  He has shown on multiple occasions the ability to hit 3’s at crucial points in the game.  You would like to have him available on the bench when KU needs 3-point shooting and the starters are cold from beyond the arc. 

Note that I haven’t even mentioned CJ Henry.  While I’m skeptical that he will, it’s possible he could crack the backcourt rotation.  If that were to be the case coming out of the exhibition games, then I could see Reed redshirting.  Again, I’m not expecting that to be the case.  Momma Henry said she thinks CJ is only about 85% healed from his injury.  That, along with the rust he probably needs to shake off, lessens the chances that CJ will be ready to challenge for a spot in the guard rotation by the time the season starts.     

So in a longwinded, roundabout way I am suggesting that Releford consider redshirting next season with Reed as another possibility if CJ Henry is good enough to contribute right away.

 

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Yes

Tayshawn Talor or the new PG Johnson. Ty Reed and one of the Morris twins. So I say reshirt those three.

by MaxHawk on Apr 24, 2009 2:17 PM CDT reply actions  

whoa really?

Redshirt 3 players….I don’t think so

by I need more Esteban on Apr 24, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

Wow. I can't see that.

I can’t see redshirting Taylor. He’s in line for ample playing time. As for Johnson, you simply don’t see 5-star recruits get redshirted very often. Johnson is more of a combo guard than a true PG. I suspect Johnson gets steady PT (10-15 min) backing up Collins and Taylor.

From a PT perspective, it might make sense for Markieff Morris to redshirt but I can’t see the twins not being a part of the same graduating class (assuming they play 4 years). A year from now I doubt they want one twin to be a Jr. while the other is a So.

by KU_Lew on Apr 24, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions  

I don't think there is a chance at...

Morris reshirting. Withey won’t be available the first half of the year and that would leave us with essentially 3 bigs w/experience. Self will have a 4 man big rotation and that will require both Morris’ from the beginning.

Tyrel makes the most sense in my mind.

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen Kemp on Apr 24, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions  

this is a good possibility too...

but Bill Self had some very positive things to say about the guy at the banquet

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen Kemp on Apr 24, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

Good topic.

I would think Releford or Reed. Releford especially since he needs work on his ballhandling skills to really function as a true guard. Reed could imitate Brady and take a year off when the backcourt is going to be so crowded. It would make sense for Little or Markieff to consider taking one also, but the circumstances mentioned by KU_Lew probably prevent that.

by hunter s. royal on Apr 24, 2009 3:26 PM CDT reply actions  

I really like the thought of Releford taking a shirt...

I think in the long term the guy has the potential to play in the NBA, good size, good athleticism but he just needs some maturing. I know it would be a very tough choice for him to make but it might be a good one.

Of course maybe he’ll prove us all wrong and be a great piece to the puzzle next year.

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen Kemp on Apr 24, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions  

+1

i agree it should be Travis. We have Mario and X so Travis will not play on a regular basis. Mario should be healthier so he will play good minutes and be effective. Travis is in a top spot right now and there won’t be any room at the 3. Releford will be with us all four years and can give himself time to develop and really understand what is going on. He is a talent, but I felt he seemed lost at times and I bet you could be really good down the road.

by BaldJedi on Apr 25, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions  

Good point birdland...

I think that ties in really well with what we saw two years ago with Cole – Coach Self knew that Darrell, Sasha, and Darnell were going to be gone after the season, so he made sure to get Cole into every game (thats how he ended up averaging 8 minutes a game as a minimal contributor). We saw the payoff of that this season, so I really think that unless Self is convinced someone is going to get no playing time (like Brady when he would have had to beat out Sherron, Mario, Russ or B-Rush) he would rather play them and get them more prepared for when they will contribute.
Bottom line, this is Kansas, we’d rather have players play than sit, and there will always be players ready to play.

by 2.1 seconds left on Apr 25, 2009 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions  

It'll Be Releford

He is way down the depth chart so he won’t see minutes and he is still an underclassman. Also would not shock me if he transferred. You don’t need another redshirt for CJ as he will be a walk-on due to pro baseball.

by 500miles2Arrowhead on Apr 27, 2009 10:15 PM CDT reply actions  

agreed

If Releford were to transfer, now would be the time, but it would make sense for him to redshirt because we are now deep at the 3. He has shown a lot of inconsistencies and a year working on his game with a healthy Mario and a stud in X will only help his development. We will be dying for a 3 the following year and he may even be ready to start then. We could have a 20101-2011 starting lineup of Releford, Robinson, Withey, Taylor and Johnson and I would be okay with that.

by BaldJedi on Apr 28, 2009 12:13 AM CDT up reply actions  

Also CJ...

can’t Redshirt…once you are 21 years of age the NCAA eligibility clock starts and doesn’t stop so when he started at Memphis last year he had 4 years to play 4 unlike most guys who have 5 to play 4. CJ will be a sophomore when he shows up next year and has 3 years left regardless.

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen Kemp on Apr 28, 2009 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

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