Expectations for 2018-2019

[Farnsworth]

Win in KC, top 4 in conference, and sweet 16.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I know Prohm doesn't usually like to play more than 8 but I think he should next year because they will have the guys to do it. And it will probably help Babb's knee if he doesn't have to play huge minutes.

Good point. If tendinitis is the problem, 38-40 minute games certainly don't help. I'd much rather see him around 25-30 (and most guys no more than 35) to keep everyone fresh and less likely to miss time due to injury.

 

[KKramer]

I know Prohm doesn't usually like to play more than 8 but I think he should next year because they will have the guys to do it. And it will probably help Babb's knee if he doesn't have to play huge minutes.

Wigginton Talley and THT can all handle intermittent point guard duties. Babb shouldn't need to play more than 30 minutes/game next year.

 

[KKramer]

They'll have Charlie Moore as an option at PG. (averaged 12.2p 3.5a for 21 win Cal team in 2016-2017). Looks like KJ Lawson played a 3 type of role too.

Are Newman and Vick expected to leave?

Also would expect a production jump from Marcus Garrett in 2018-2019.

That front court with Azubuike, D. Lawson, De Souza, and the #3 Center coming in. Jeesh.

Yeah... anyone holding out hope that KU is going to have any sort of dip next year is in for a rude awakening. They'll be ranked preseason top 5, probably win the league again and get a #1/#2 seed in the NCAA tourney.

 

[cyclones500]

They'll be ranked preseason top 5, probably win the league again and get a #1/#2 seed in the NCAA tourney.

So basically, like most seasons in recent memory.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Wigginton Talley and THT can all handle intermittent point guard duties. Babb shouldn't need to play more than 30 minutes/game next year.

It would not shock me if we start something like this part of the year...

Wigginton
Horton-Tucker
Shayok
Talley
Lard

...if NWB is, heaven forbid, hurt, or just needs to be on a pitch count.

That lineup gives you a lot of size at the wing and two really good, flexible defenders in Shayok and Talley. Maybe our defense will not suck next year.

 

[MartinCy]

Zhaire Smith reminds me of Zach LaVine when he came out of UCLA after his freshman year. Didn't put up huge numbers, but his athleticism was off the charts. It's worked out well for LaVine.

Made this comparison in my head before I got down to your comment haha

 

[ComCY]

Yeah... anyone holding out hope that KU is going to have any sort of dip next year is in for a rude awakening. They'll be ranked preseason top 5, probably win the league again and get a #1/#2 seed in the NCAA tourney.

And then fail to make it past the Sweet 16.

 

[cyclones500]

And then fail to make it past the Sweet 16.

Yes! That's another part of the pattern.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Yeah... anyone holding out hope that KU is going to have any sort of dip next year is in for a rude awakening. They'll be ranked preseason top 5, probably win the league again and get a #1/#2 seed in the NCAA tourney.

Ya KU isn’t falling off someone will have to rise up to dethrone them. Even if they get hit with post season bans by the NCAA it won’t hurt their recruiting that much.

 

[OnlyCyclones]

I know Prohm doesn't usually like to play more than 8 but I think he should next year because they will have the guys to do it. And it will probably help Babb's knee if he doesn't have to play huge minutes.

In a normal year I'd fully expect the early rotation to be 10 guys or so, cut down later. With the strength of the early schedule, it might be smart to stick with the vets early and experiment more in the middle and end of non-con play.

 

[OnlyCyclones]

In a normal year I'd fully expect the early rotation to be 10 guys or so, cut down later. With the strength of the early schedule, it might be smart to stick with the vets early and experiment more in the middle and end of non-con play.

Who Prohm's most trusted are early in the year is an open question.

 

[Big_Sill]

Our depth will be a big plus and we’ll be as good as some of our best teams player 3 or 4 to 10, but I don’t know if our top-2 or 3 will be at the level of Fizer/JT, White, Georges, Kane, (senior) Ejim, Morris, etc.

A recent comparison is the 2012-13 team. Lucious, Babb, Clyburn, freshman Georges, Ejim, Booker, McGee, and Gibson. The big difference is that team had positional mismatch in Georges, and Ejim structurally added value past his overall talent. If we wanted, we could match that with NWB, Wigginton, THT, Shayok, and Talley. Next year should be better on defense, too.

Imo the biggest needs are improvement on defense and for our highest usage guys not named Lard to be more efficient.

That 2012-2013 team made the most 3's in school history.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

That 2012-2013 team made the most 3's in school history.

Yeah I don't see the 18-19 having that type of ability from deep.

 

[FinalFourCy]

That 2012-2013 team made the most 3's in school history.

Yes, it did

 

[BryceC]

Well lets see. For a starting 5 we will have Shayok, Babb, Wigs, Lard, and Young.

Hot Take/Bold Prediction: 2 of those guys don't start next year.

 

[bosco]

To crush our enemies. See them driven before you. And to hear the lamentation of their women.

 

[ClonesFTW]

I don't think it's a hot take to say Talley could start over Young next year. He has shown the ability to be a solid B12 player, especially in the last few weeks. He also seems to have great attitude and effort based on his body language.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Who Prohm's most trusted are early in the year is an open question.

Babb
Young
Wigginton
Lard
Talley

Shayok will almost certainly be in there too.

 

[WastedTalent]

Ya KU isn’t falling off someone will have to rise up to dethrone them. Even if they get hit with post season bans by the NCAA it won’t hurt their recruiting that much.

This season was the most proof of this.
If you would have told me before the season that Preston won't play, Newman will be average, Vick will be not much better, and they'll lose 2 home conference games, I'd say yes, this is the year.