…but is it finally time to start admitting that Self has a problem with rotation management? I’d take Self over any other coach right now, but watching him try to figure out a rotation is like watching him try to decipher hieroglyphics. The last three seasons went so well because even someone who hasn’t watched basketball before would be able to sort out the rotation. Take 07-08…three great big players (plus Cole as an emergency backup, who was alright, but raw)…four great small players (plus Stewart as an emergency backup, who was solid). No one else on that team was really worth putting in the lineup (Morningstar redshirting, freshman Reed, Case, etc), so it made the rotation incredibly simple. Having 14 legit D-1 players on a team is a serious problem for Self.

This current team reminds me of the 04-05 season. Preseason team to beat. Three excellent players (Miles, Simien, Langford – Sherron, Cole, X). One good role player (Moody – Brady). One solid sharpshooter off the bench (Lee – Reed). One incredibly hyped, inconsistent player that may or may not be crazy (Giddens – Ugh, take your pick between Tyshawn and Marcus). And after that? Oh yeah, that’s right…nothing. There were several great bench players on that 04-05 team, but their playing time was so scattered that there was no way they could get any real experience. One game Self would play the aforementioned six and throw in Robinson, Giles, and Jackson for a handful of minutes. The next game he wouldn’t play those three and instead go with Kaun, Galindo, and Hawkins. The entire season went like that, as if their playing time was being determined by roulette. When Langford got hurt down the stretch (Giddens was starting to play terribly at the end of the season…Miles, Moody, and Lee weren’t serious scoring options), Kansas was pretty much done because they didn’t have anyone that could fill in. 05-06 (with the horrific start) was the same until thankfully Downs transferred and Self finally realized that Vinson and Case shouldn’t be part of the rotation.

What I also want to ask is…where is the ‘DEEPEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY’ that we are constantly being told about? If there was one team to play high-tempo, 12-man rotation against…Tennessee was it (with a whopping total of 5 legit D-1 players). Tyshawn and the twins were awful for long periods of time, yet they didn’t get pulled. Where was EJ? T-Rob? Withey? CJ? Those are three highly touted five-star recruits and…well…CJ was highly touted by his dad, but he’s looked positively Teahan-esque in his garbage minutes. Halfway through the season, we don’t really know anything about those four besides the few minutes they play in garbage time…don’t know what they’ll look like in real game situations, don’t know how they’ll react, and they won’t have a chance to acclimate themselves for later in the season if Kansas may need them.

I’d like to see Self take one easy game (Nebraska or Colorado) and play those four a good chunk of minutes just so we can finally see what they’ll be like in a competitive game. CJ has looked really good and composed during his few minutes, but would he be the same in a close game? Even if they completely crap themselves, it’s no big deal…it’s one game, and we can remove them further rotation consideration. If they do well, then they get real game-time experience and there’s an actual option on the bench for the end of close games.

Is it just me or does Taylor seem to be getting worse? Maybe a Soph slump but he doesnt play D. He still passes the ball one handed, which according to reports Self has been all over him about. Doesnt shoot the 3 very well and cant find the open man or feed the post. Maybe iam just mad because of what happened today. But his play has just seemed horrible. I dont understand why he is still a starter? Maybe cause they dont view Reed or Morningstar as a starter but “C’mon Man”! Maybe he should concentrate a little more on practice then trying to fight the football team over women. And one last thing… He does not deserve to where Hinrich’s number 10. Atleast Sherron has earned Nick Collisons #4.

Also maybe its just me but now that I have had time to think about it maybe this was a good loss for these boys. Here me out. Its right before league play on Wed, which means this loss doesnt really mean anything except that it just really sucks. But maybe its just me but I find this team very cocky outside of Sherron, Aldrich, Reed, Morningstar. But the rest of the bunch I believe had gotten a big head on themselves and needed to be brought back down to earth and see that they were beatable by a bunch of walkons and a few schlorships players who really wanted to win.

I also believe this loss will make this team hungry and want to be back at the top. Just like the Michigan St. loss last year right before league play which I think helped em want to win the Big 12 again and prove they were the best. Because like we all know when this team plays like there is no tomorrow they are unbeatable. Just look at the Temple game. Again just my opinion though.