TCU has better Athletes

Again KU gets hammered by a more Athletic team. HCBS said it last year and yet KU is like a turtle crossing a busy highway at the 5 spot. TCU fielding better athletes, then something seriously flawed about this team. KU was dominated in the 2H by freaking TCU!!!

Perhaps you are confusing "better athletes" with "played better?"

We should have clarification in a few hours.

Hawks snuck a win tonight barely by 4 pts at home. Tell me again which team looked more athletic..HCBS even said it. KU loses tonight if this game is anywhere but AFH. Freaking, TCU nearly swept KU this year.

It goes to show the impact of a coach like Self, who knows how to win most games, often with less physically gifted players. He's a hall of famer for a reason.

But I get the questions about why we seem to be smaller and less physically/athletically gifted than many opponents. I honestly believe we've been harmed by the investigation lingering for several recruiting cycles. That's self inflicted (great pun, but not intended), but nevertheless we've taken kids who weren't big recruits for other major programs. Self is getting the most out of them, though.

What I'll never agree with is how he slow plays his freshmen. I wonder in most other programs whether a guy like Clemence could be a freshman of the year type player. In Self's veteran only system, he gets at most 3-5 minutes a game, which is worthless for player development.

Still looking forward to next year's incoming class, most of whom look very athletic. I suspect we'll still have Braun around as well, given how he is struggling when facing very athletic opponents (which he'll face every night in the G League or NBA). If he comes back like Ochai did this season, he could be an exciting player and move up the draft board.

I would disagree with the lack of development of the young guys without lots of in game minutes. I remember Mr. Aldrich did not play very many minutes but came in and helped in the NCAA tournament his freshman year and developed into a strong college player. I think most of the growth is actually in practice. There are some things you can't simulate in practice and I am not saying in game experience is always bad but I would suggest HCBS knows what he is doing in developing players. When young players come in with the talent to play right now they do. I think of Mr Wiggins or Mr. Embiid.as examples of that.

I don't fully agree with the practice development concept. Of course a high school kid will improve significantly through practice his first year in a college program with a seasoned coach, but there simply is no replacement for game experience. Wiggins, Embiid, and other OADs are outlyers. those guys got full playing time year one because of who they were, their immediate contribution potential, and Self knowing he only had one year with them (and he better play them or no more OADs would come to KU). Most players aren't them, and need to be developed. I just think Self could develop them faster but for his life long reliance on veterans, regardless of potential performance.

Clemence is a 6-10 kid who is relatively athletic, can shoot, can rebound, and can play with a little junk yard dog. He's the prototypical player of the future. He simply needs more than 3-5 min, especially when Mac and Lightfoot are the only guys keeping him from getting more time. those guys aren't stars who we can't live without for maybe 10 less min a game. I honestly believe Clemence would have started or played significant minutes at many, many other schools.

DMac, wonderful kid, and he’ll be successful in what he does in life; but he reminds me so much of Eric Chenowith. So much potential, but so much inconsistency. He got bullied by the TCU center in both games. KU should not be lack into terms of athletes when compared to pretty much anyone. I agree HCBS is doing what he can with what’s in the cupboard

A little insider info on Chenowith.

I think he hated playing hoops, but was forced to try given his 7 ft height.

He had several tryouts for NBA teams, with a legit chance to get a roster spot. He arrived at his first stop, and immediately got a “stomach issue” which prohibited him from working out. He left with no offer, and I believe either did the same thing at the other stops, or just called off the workout tour. I don’t think he ever played again.

I can’t argue with a young man who has no interest in playing a sport, but was born with an NBA body and skillls. He seemed so unhappy trying to keep playing. I hope he found a path that he liked.