Your 2011-12 Jayhawks: Worst-Case Scenario Edition
by PenguinHawk on Feb 19, 2011 9:28 AM CST
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After reading some articles about current players' draft stock, I've begun some advance worrying about next year's team. What if everyone who could potentially leave, does? What is the ultimate nightmare situation for Kansas next year? A few notes and the official Worst-Case Scenario team after the jump.
You may notice that Tyshawn Taylor is still on the team. That's because I cannot conceive of a scenario in which Tyshawn Taylor actually believes it's a good idea to declare for the NBA at this point. I realize that for some of you, Tyshawn Taylor's presence will actually enhance the horror of the lineup I am about to unveil. Without further ado, your 2011-12 Jayhawks: Worst-Case Scenario Edition...
Starting Lineup
G - Tyshawn Taylor. Taylor will decide this is "his time," much like Sherron Collins did his senior year. Unfortunately, Taylor's "time" will be so sloppy that he becomes the inspiration behind Ken Pomeroy's newest statistical category, "balls dribbled off a defender's foot per possession" (ADJfuckup%)
G - Conner Teahan. What, you thought Self could resist starting a Kansas-born upperclassman? Teahan will break a school record by hoisting up 150 three point attempts. Against Emporia State. Teahan will hit only 17% of his threes, but lead the team in scoring by making 7.3 of them per game.
G - Travis Releford. The lone bright spot for the returning Jayhawks. Releford will be KU's top defender and will score over 14 points a game. He will also break his femur.
G - Naadir Tharpe. Due to a lack of frontcourt depth, Self is forced to start four true guards. This spot is really a tossup between Tharpe and Royce Woolridge, but Self elects to go with the freshman to get him experience from day one. He will easily be the best true freshman on the team.
C - Jeff Withey. Withey will stun Jayhawk Nation by showing up to Late Night in the Phog weighing in at just 175 pounds, despite an off-season regimen of sitting in a recliner eating frosting out of a jar while watching reruns of "16 and Pregnant" on MTV.
The Bench
-Niko Roberts - Boy, his first name is fun to say, isn't it?
-Justin Wesley - As an homage to his brother, will develop an allergic reaction to a painkiller injection.
-Royce Woolridge - Will change his number from 11 to 17, his biggest accomplishment of the season.
-June Junemann - Will lead the team in months per name
Overall record: 31-6 (15-1 in conference)
Now, I don't want to sound like a Negative Nelly here, so I feel obligated to lay out the best-case scenario as well...There is an NBA lockout and no draft. Selby, T-Rob, and the Morri all return, and Ben McClemore makes the right decision. Tyshawn Taylor will spend the off-season studying tape of great true point guards and will lead the Big 12 in assists. KU is preseason and postseason #1, beating the hell out of Roy Williams' UNC Tar Heels in the National Championship game.
What a difference an off-season can make.
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Scary indeed.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
I actually think this wouldn't be the WORST-case scenario.
I think the only thing worse would be for HCBS to use this mass exodus as a reason to start bringing in 4-5 OADs every year like Kentucky does. THAT would be the worst-case scenario for me.
...and the home of the Brave
Funny thing is,
the worst case scenario still leaves us with a decent starting lineup, though absolutely no depth.
by hunter s. royal on Feb 19, 2011 11:09 AM CST reply actions
yeah
I was just trying to think of a ridiculous place for him to transfer and that came to mind. I figured I’d throw in a Fetch North Dakota reference while I was at it.
by PenguinHawk on Feb 19, 2011 12:39 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I agree with the worse case lineup,
but the record would be considerably worse, IMO. Definitely scary. We better win the title this year if that is going to happen.
yeah it would
The further I got into the post, the more goofy I started getting with things.
by PenguinHawk on Feb 19, 2011 6:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Is this where we guess next year's lineup?
The twins split, TRob and Selby leave. EJ stays because now the way is clear to PT. Tyshawn stays, McLemore does the right thing.
Tyshawn, EJ, Releford, MkMorris, Withey.
Lots of McLemore and Tharpe off the bench.
I don't think TRob is leaving
Especially if the Morrii go, TRob will get a ton of minutes down low, rack up some stats, and improve his stock.
The worst case scenario is losing the Morri and Selby, which would leave us with:
Taylor
Johnson (he isn’t leaving, not with a starting spot up for grabs)
Releford
TRob
Withey / DeAndre Daniels (I really think Daniels could take Withey’s spot)
This lineup could be good, however three point shooting will be a big concern, and Taylor and Johnson will mean turnovers, turnovers and more turnovers…
Now what if Markieff stays… can he go? He’d get drafted, but would it be worth it…
A year without his brother would mean Kieffer would put up more points per game and a few more boards to boot. Then you got TRob and he in the low post… thats pretty solid. But I have a feeling the Morris twins are all or nothing… either they are both leaving or both staying and coming back with a “we want to win a title” campaign.
Shit happens when you win championships
Daniels plays the 3
and has said that Self was recruiting him as one. If TRob and Withey are our only bigs though he’ll definitely get some playing time down there.
If all three go pro (which I don’t think will happen) we’ll end up with
Taylor
Johnson
Daniels
TRob
Withey
Bench: Releford, McLemore, Tharpe, Guerrero (we’ve been recruiting him lately, if Selby goes I think we’ll go ahead and offer), Royce
by Walshdollar on Feb 19, 2011 10:55 PM CST up reply actions
There is no way in hell Releford doesn't start next year
He started briefly this year and when healthy Self likes to play him a lot.
However… chew on this POTENTIAL lineup… if we wanted to go super big
Taylor/ Johnson
Releford
Daniels
TRob
Morri / Withey
Could Releford play the two? I think he could… with better ball handling. He could certainly guard a two on defense, and I think he’ll keep getting better.
Thats a super tall AND athletic lineup… be really interesting if it ever saw the floor
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Feb 19, 2011 11:43 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, Releford and Daniels would be pretty interchangeable I think
but Releford will definitely be a lot more polished. And his defense is the best on our team, he’s literally the ONLY player that can stop the dribble penetration consistently.
Things I think
- I think Wesley might turn out to be a real contributor at some point. Maybe our most productive walk-on since Moody.
- I think everyone has given up on Royce way too soon. It really sucks that we didn’t redshirt him this year, but the kid wouldn’t be the youngest commit in Kansas history if he didn’t have some serious potential.
- I think Elijah’s frustration stems from getting a quick hook every time he makes a mistake on the court. As people have noted, with Reed and Morningstar gone, Self will have no choice but to give him a real chance. Don’t forget that this is the kid that, while still in high school, stood in the middle of Louisville’s court proudly wearing a KU shirt while the entire arena booed him. He’s my #1 choice for player most likely to have a breakout season next year.
- I think McLemore is going to have a tough time next year no matter what choice he makes. Pitting two bitter rivals against each other in a prolonged recruiting battle is just a bad idea. No matter what, he’s going to face extreme bitterness from the fanbase of the school he doesn’t pick, and every fanbase has its fair share of idiots that will go too far.
- Looking ahead, I still think Perry Ellis is one of the most important recruits of the Bill Self era.
- I think this is next year’s starting lineup:
Taylor
Selby
EJ
Releford
Robinson
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Feb 20, 2011 10:46 AM CST reply actions
That is definitely a small lineup
I prefer Releford at the three spot, but I could live with that.
I agree on Perry Ellis. Really, I think he wants to come here, and if the Morri go pro I think he’d come, as PT will be available.
I agree on Woolridge, I really can’t understand why Self would redshirt Teahan, who will be a senior next year, and not redshirt Woolridge who was a freshman. Kinda like how I wish we would have redshirted Johnson last year, or Reed when he was a freshman. Seems like Self kinda strikes out in this regard, and eventually we get in a position of “man, wouldn’t it be nice to have that guy another year.” I mean imagine if we were getting Reed back next season… be a huge asset.
I think Elijah just needs more time to develop. During the non-con, he showed some flashes of being a very good player.
Next year’s lineup looks to be kind of a catch 22. We will be a smaller athletic team most likely, built well to run, but we will lack depth, which makes running harder to do (and we know Self doesn’t like a deep rotation)
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Feb 20, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Good news, pretty sure Ellis is only a junior
so the Morri looking good is about the only impact they’ll have on him.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
Yep, Ellis is Class 2012
And the Morrii will be here next year*, because Mom wants them to play their senior year (she said so in the Journal World last week), and because there will be a lockout by the NBA owners (I do believe in Mike Wilbon… I do, I do, I DO).
.
.
.
*and Thomas (lockout) and Josh (lockout & not ready) and EJ (showing his quality as this season ends)
"So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
I'm with you that they all return
Even if some were to leave, my guess is that Coach Self pulls another Class of ‘08. We had very little when the season ended that year too. What’s he do in April/May? Recruits 60% of the current starting lineup.
There will never be a worst case scenario as long as Coach Self and staff are here.
Tyrel has already graduated
Maybe he plays some pro ball somewhere, but more likely is that he is back in school in no time.
The real question is how long will it take for him to come back as a trainer. Can you imagine that. DMan gets to provide the NC motivation when they are on the court, and Tyrel gets to motivate them when they are in rehab.
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