JimBob
06-20-2009, 01:24 PM
KU widely favored for next season
Pundits pick Jayhawks as Kansas returns stars, introduces Xavier Henry.
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 6/20/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 6/20/2009 3:50 AM
The next college basketball season is still five months away, but a clear-cut Big 12 Conference favorite has already emerged. It's the same team that has emerged as the clear-cut favorite to win its second national championship in three years.
"KU sure looks like the prohibitive favorite," ESPN.com's Andy Katz wrote of the Kansas Jayhawks recently, "the UNC of the 2009-10 season."
The opinion is both national and regional.
"I certainly think Kansas has to be the favorite in the country," OU's Jeff Capel said on the Big 12 coaches teleconference last week, "with what they have returning what they have coming in."
Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins could be about to make their first million in the NBA. Instead, they are back in Lawrence for one more season as the nation's premier inside-outside combination, prompting a lot of those Tar Heels-of-2009 comparisons.
"Sherron Collins can be coach Bill Self's Ty Lawson," wrote ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde, "and Cole Aldrich can be his Tyler Hansbrough."
Also back is sophomore star-in-the-making Tyshawn Taylor, who just made USA Basketball's U19 National Team, forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris and occasional starting guards Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed.
Players like Morningstar and Reed might find court time harder to come by now that a heralded recruiting class, headlined by Putnam City McDonald's All-American Xavier Henry, has arrived. FOXSports college basketball writer Jeff Goodman recently called Henry "arguably the most talented wing player in America."
On ESPN.com, analyst Doug Gottlieb wrote: "From top to bottom, KU has the best roster and coach combination in the country. The only question facing Bill Self is whether or not there will be minutes to keep everyone happy."
Actually, Self can probably think of a few more questions. Here's one: Can the Jayhawks, who emerged from the pack to win the '09 Big 12 title during a so-called rebuilding year, handle being frontrunners? Are they ready for that proverbial bull's-eye?
"No, we're not," Self answered last week. "I don't know if that's all bad right now. We talk about being hungry and all those things... Hopefully having the bull's-eye on your back does create a toughness level you're going to be faced with in order to have a chance to win it."
There are physical adjustments Self wants his players to make as well. The Morris twins have both reportedly packed on 20 pounds. Center Jeff Withey, a touted transfer from Arizona, needs to add even more weight. Even Aldrich, likely college basketball's best low-post defender, has something to work on.
"He's got to become stronger in the lower body and have a stronger base about him," Self said.
Otherwise, perhaps the Jayhawks' most important task will be to ignore the plaudits from the national pundits. Is it possible complacency can set in five months before a season starts? Something Self said last week should guard against just that: "We're going to get some knots put on our heads in some form or fashion. Hopefully it's not with a lot of losses....
"We do have a chance to have a great team. We do. But there's not as much margin for error as maybe what we had when we had basically seven pros playing a couple years ago. These guys all have to develop and grow."
Pundits pick Jayhawks as Kansas returns stars, introduces Xavier Henry.
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 6/20/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 6/20/2009 3:50 AM
The next college basketball season is still five months away, but a clear-cut Big 12 Conference favorite has already emerged. It's the same team that has emerged as the clear-cut favorite to win its second national championship in three years.
"KU sure looks like the prohibitive favorite," ESPN.com's Andy Katz wrote of the Kansas Jayhawks recently, "the UNC of the 2009-10 season."
The opinion is both national and regional.
"I certainly think Kansas has to be the favorite in the country," OU's Jeff Capel said on the Big 12 coaches teleconference last week, "with what they have returning what they have coming in."
Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins could be about to make their first million in the NBA. Instead, they are back in Lawrence for one more season as the nation's premier inside-outside combination, prompting a lot of those Tar Heels-of-2009 comparisons.
"Sherron Collins can be coach Bill Self's Ty Lawson," wrote ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde, "and Cole Aldrich can be his Tyler Hansbrough."
Also back is sophomore star-in-the-making Tyshawn Taylor, who just made USA Basketball's U19 National Team, forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris and occasional starting guards Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed.
Players like Morningstar and Reed might find court time harder to come by now that a heralded recruiting class, headlined by Putnam City McDonald's All-American Xavier Henry, has arrived. FOXSports college basketball writer Jeff Goodman recently called Henry "arguably the most talented wing player in America."
On ESPN.com, analyst Doug Gottlieb wrote: "From top to bottom, KU has the best roster and coach combination in the country. The only question facing Bill Self is whether or not there will be minutes to keep everyone happy."
Actually, Self can probably think of a few more questions. Here's one: Can the Jayhawks, who emerged from the pack to win the '09 Big 12 title during a so-called rebuilding year, handle being frontrunners? Are they ready for that proverbial bull's-eye?
"No, we're not," Self answered last week. "I don't know if that's all bad right now. We talk about being hungry and all those things... Hopefully having the bull's-eye on your back does create a toughness level you're going to be faced with in order to have a chance to win it."
There are physical adjustments Self wants his players to make as well. The Morris twins have both reportedly packed on 20 pounds. Center Jeff Withey, a touted transfer from Arizona, needs to add even more weight. Even Aldrich, likely college basketball's best low-post defender, has something to work on.
"He's got to become stronger in the lower body and have a stronger base about him," Self said.
Otherwise, perhaps the Jayhawks' most important task will be to ignore the plaudits from the national pundits. Is it possible complacency can set in five months before a season starts? Something Self said last week should guard against just that: "We're going to get some knots put on our heads in some form or fashion. Hopefully it's not with a lot of losses....
"We do have a chance to have a great team. We do. But there's not as much margin for error as maybe what we had when we had basically seven pros playing a couple years ago. These guys all have to develop and grow."