FanPost

All Eyes on the Returners: "You Down With OTT?"

I've been wanting to do this article for like two weeks on what I think our returners (I was going to say veterans, but I didn't want anyone confusing them with actual military veterans, so I'm going to call them returners) will look like on the KUMBB team next year. Here's the run down -- remember this is not counting any incoming players or walk-ons.

  • Frank Mason
  • Wayne Selden
  • Brannen Greene
  • Conner Frankamp
  • Jamari Traylor
  • Landen Lucas
  • Perry Ellis
  • Hunter Mickelson

While that's certainly not as strong as last year's team, considering we lost most of our key players to transfer, draft, or graduation, that's still a really impressive group to be bringing back next year. I'm really glad that Pretty Eyes Selden is coming back for a sophomore season, but I want to discuss today who is going to make the biggest jump next year. Who's do you think is going to impress you the most. Here's a quick breakdown:

  • Mason (so.): He will have plenty of opportunities this year, and he has already shown the capacity to charge in and create shots when needed. I think the best think he can do is learn how to slow down and play pass-first offense that fits in with HCBS' system more. (He has done this to some extent, but I think he can do more of it, considering he was only a freshman last year). Now that Tharpe is gone, this could be Mason's year to shine.
  • Frankamp (so.): On the other hand, this could be Frankamp's year to shine even more so as a starting one or two guard. He was good under pressure in the tourney and has a cool hand and mind when he's at the top of the key. His shots were erratic at best last season, but I think he's found his stride much like his fellow Wichitan did in the '13 tournament. Frankamp has yet to live up to his hype, but I think the tourney gave us a glimpse of his ceiling. If this kid can make that Atlantean jump in prowess and potential that all sophomores seem to make after their freshman season (a la Morris twins), then he could be an ideal 2-guard or backup point guard in the '14-'15 season.
  • Selden (so.): Oh, pretty eyes. I'm glad you came back for your sake as well as my own. Wayne's presence on the offensive side will prove interesting. He was a hot-and-cold sort of guy last year, but now that he's decided to come back, I think he will be able to "play his own game" and not have to worry about impressing anyone as a potential "one-and-done lottery pick." He is more of a liability on defense, obviously; if only he'd gotten to practice with Travis Releford. I assume Selden - thanks to his experience and size - will be our two guard, but it'll be interesting if Self decides to opt out for a smaller, but seemingly more defensive option in Frankamp.
  • Greene (so.): I think Greene is the biggest dark horse of this bunch. I really didn't pay very much attention to him last season. He was kind of a "meh" guy. He had a good stroke, made some shots, but played weak defense and frequently got taken out fast for it. I don't have much to guess about his play next season; obviously it will be better. But, I doubt it will have improved enough to top Selden's or Perry's ceiling.

This leaves us with our frontcourt veteran players. The first thing that stands out to me in general about this front court is its experience; everyone except Perry has a RS year under their belt. I'm assuming Self will start Perry at the 4 again and leave the 5 to one of the incomers... or possibly Mickelson???

  • Traylor (RS jr.): I really like Jamari. I love his energy and his kind of "devil may care" attitude. He's not a super star, but he's the kind of guy who makes the game a bit more enjoyable when you watch him. I'd like to think that he hasn't hit his ceiling yet. I'd love to see him come in and have a T-Rob '12 type of year. But, I doubt that will happen. The best that Traylor can do for us is to keep doing what he has been doing -- getting rebounds and slappin' em back in the hoop on offense. Although, ideally, he could do it while committing fewer fouls and making more free throws. (Seems like he did make a surprising number of FTs last year for a reserve big, but IDR for sure.)
  • Lucas (RS so.): I think Lucas is probably the big who has the highest long-term ceiling. I would love to see him become a Cole Aldrich type. He can muscle people out of the way to get rebounds and he has a nice, even stroke when he actually gets a ball on offense. He still has three more years to play, and I don't think we've seen the tip of the iceberg, considering he hasn't had too much chances to prove himself. He's still a relative unknown, although we can say that rebounding is his forte at present.
  • Ellis (jr): Oh Perry, Perry, Perry. We've caught glimpses of his potential; but bigger and more informed opponents wouldn't let him go to work this season like they did in the '13 tournament. This is the year that Perry needs to start opening up the taps. He's mechanical, but the problem is -- I think -- most of our opponents have figured out his system. The best he can do is throw some new moves into his repertoire and keep adapting his play to the opponents'. I want to see him explode on offense this year -- like 25+ points a game. But, knowing Perry, I think he'll just be a Kerry Meier type -- he'll make the plays when we need him, but he won't be the superstar... Just "Old Faithful."
  • Mickelson (RS jr): I really don't know anything about Hunter. He is perhaps the biggest unknown in the program, considering he's a transfer who didn't have too much playing time at Arkansas and has been on our bench as a transfer RS for the last year. He could tear it up; or he could diddle around as a reserve when we need him. Looking at the aforementioned frontcourt returners, what we really need right now is someone who can create shots down low. Ideally, that would be Perry, as that's kind of his thing. (He can make free throws like a machine, but he's not the right body type to rebound.) If Perry can't create offense inside, then Hunter might be our best option among the returners.... but this means he has to be up for the challenge.

So, those are my ramblings. Based on the above and your own opinions:

  1. Which returner will have the best year next year? (Offensively, defensively, both?)
  2. Who will make the biggest jump in terms of potential and execution (a la freshman-to-sophomore Mo Bros)?
  3. Who should be our starting point guard next year? Should any of the returners fill the starting 2 and 3 slots? Who should start on frontcourt?
  4. Do you think any of our returners will 'underachieve' next year? Who would it be, if anyone?
  5. Are you amused by the fact that this is an Off-Topic Thread, yet the topic is not off-topic?
  6. Will anyone ever appreciate my "Pear-y Ellis" joke?

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