Morning report 2024-09-02

It's a new month, it's a new day... and I feel good...

How many days until LATE NIGHT in The PHOG! ?
and other dates of interest...
All times shown are Central Time .
RECRUITING CALENDAR DATES for D1 MEN'S BASKETBALL
The August quiet period continues into the first 3 days of September.
The next full "Recruiting" Period begins on SEP 4.

2024-09-04 thru 2025-04-30: recruiting period, except as noted below‡
..2024-11-04 thru 11-07: dead period‡
..2024-12-24 thru 12-26: dead period‡
..2025-04-03 thru 04-10: dead period‡
The Recruiting Calendar linked below contains detailed info on and explanation of recruiting periods.
‡ NCAA.org: 2024-25 NCAA RECRUITING CALENDAR Division I Men’s Basketball

KU ATHLETICS

✦ KU MEN'S HOOPS -
• Four-Star big man Eric Reibe talks about his visit to Kansas by Shay Wildeboor, JayhawkSlant 2024-09-02
Late last week, Eric Reibe, the 7-foot-0, 230-pound center from Bullis School in Potomac, Md., arrived in Lawrence for the start of his official visit. Following his return home on Saturday, Reibe, after reflecting back on his visit, caught up with JayhawkSlant.com to discuss his official visit to Kansas.

“The visit went really good,” said Reibe. “I enjoyed looking at the campus, facilities, program, practices, and their traditions. I did accomplish everything that I wanted to on the visit.

“I was surprised that they have a half-court in the player dorms,” he added.

Because of his performance on the hardwood this spring and summer, Reibe, the No. 66 ranked player in the class, has emerged as one of the most coveted prospects in the 2025 class. As it stands right now, the four-star center, following his visit to Kansas, will trip to UConn (Sept. 6-8 ), Kentucky (Sept. 13-15), UNC (Sept. 20-22), Indiana (Oct. 4-6), and Oregon (Oct. 11-13).

While those trips are still to come, Reibe spent this past weekend in Lawrence and, during his stay, spent a majority of his time with Coach Bill Self and a handful of current players.

“I was with the coaching stuff the whole time and spent a lot of time with Coach Self,” said Reibe. “They clearly told me their vision for me and how they’d use me right away.

“I spent most of my time with Hunter Dickinson, Elmarko Jackson, and Flory Bidunga. They were telling me about why they chose Kansas and how life at Kansas is,” he added.

Earlier in the summer, Houston Wilson, who helps with the Rivals.com rankings, had this to say about Eric Reibe, the No. 6 ranked center in the 2025 class.

“When Eric Reibe is on, there are not a lot of big men that I have seen dominate like him, said Wilson. “Standing at 7-foot, he can finish well around the rim, hit mid-range shots consistently and stretch his game out to the perimeter. Defensively, he is a stud, too, and is improving as a rim protector.

“This past week he was selected to the NBPA Top 100 All Camp Team, showing the same type of production he had at the end of this high school and the current AAU season, which is a major reason why he moved up 41 spots to 68 in the country,” he added.

With visits to UConn, Kentucky, UNC, Indiana, and Oregon set to take place, Reibe is still very much in the beginning stages of the visit process. Following each visit, Reibe plans to sit down with his family and evaluate that particular visit.

“We always will come together as a family after each visit and evaluate the visit,” he said

• London Jemison (Rivals #51 **** Small forward) was visiting as well, and things went great with him, too!
I do note that Rivals does NOT show him having an offer from KU as yet. Hmmm...

• Having noted all that, note this -- despite the great visits, as of yesterday Shay does not have a great feel for where things stand with either of them. He is supposed to hear back from a few people soon with some additional information.

✦ KUFB -
• The AP (and other) rankings aren't updated yet as there are still a few games today that will factor into them. But there is this 247Sports.com - Crawford: College football rankings: AP Top 25 *projections* for Week 2 after USC takes out LSU, which projects KU moving up to AP #20.

• The 247Sports Big 12 Power rankings still have KU in #5, same as the preseason ranking.

• 247Sports.com - Swain: Lance Leipold shares what he liked, didn't like from KU in its season opener (in case you missed it).

• One last note - with his Pick 6 against Lindenwood, Mello Dotson is now the KU all-time record holder for career Pick 6s. Hopefully he will grab a few more before he leaves for the pros.

✦ KUAthletics - Other
• Our volleyballers (who, btw, are picked to win the Big 12 this year), defeat Colgate (after beating host Duke in straight sets) to win the Duke tournament. (Link)

• Both the Men's and Women's Cross Country teams won at the Bob Timmons Classic held at Rim Rock Park of the weekend! (Link)

✦ ELSEWHERE -
• Shohei Ohtani Joined Historic Company With Latest Home Run . What was that Japanese battle cry in WWII when fighting American troops?
"To Hell with Babe Ruth!" IIRC.
Show how much respect they -- and the rest of the baseball loving world -- had for The Babe.
Meanwhile, Ohtani -- the guy is just sooo good.

✦ LFK weather forecast
Today it feels like Fall at ol' KU.
Partly cloudy and cooler, with lower humidity (around 60%) and
High 79° F (26.1° C), (P)recipitation 1%
Tonight partly cloudy and cool, great sleeping weather
Low 53° F (17.2° C), (P)recipitation 3%

That is all for now.

Have a Great & Safe LABOR DAY!
(Be sure to observe your water safety protocols!)

ROCK CHALK!

✦ Thought for the Day
It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.
- George H. Ruth