Where was Diallo?
- Thread starter cdekovic
- Start date
Maybe you are thinking of Oubre last year rather than Wiggins the year before. Wiggins played 34 minutes in his first game and at least 25 in all non-conference games.
Oubre last year had 6 games < 10 minutes in KU's first 8 games, and zero after that (early December).
If you have watched him play you know why he doesn't get a ton of minutes. He is still a high draft pick because of potential which he has a lot of. He has a lot to learn though and a lot of stuff to work on. Just like Skal at Kentucky. I think too many times people expect every high ranked prospect to be great right away.
If Diallo and Bragg develop this year, KU will without question be the best team in the country instead of just one of the best.
This is true. He was always an effort, rebounder and shot blocker with limited offensive game. If he would have come to ISU he'd be a backup for ~13 minutes for McKay. He is still on the NBA radar as Noel type player who in 3 years will be a starting C. I have a hard time believing he could provide what Lucas Traylor does as just a shot blocker rebounder though and expect we'll see more of him as the season progresses.
I'm more curious if the lack of playing time will start to hurt Self's recruiting. This will be the 4th highly rated post that is sitting behind lesser prospects. C Alexander, Oubre (early in the year), now Diallo and Bragg. One and dones want to be top 10 picks and to get there they want to get recognition during thier one season.
Say what you want about UK but Coach Cal plays his Freshman even if they are raw (Skal is the obvious example) and will take lumps as they grow.
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I don't know who told you Bragg was supposed to be a star this year but you should look for a new source of information. He is a multi year recruit that everyone paying attention knew from Day One going to be behind Perry Ellis in the rotation. Now sure how you can be a star when you are in that role.
Bragg is sitting behind Perry Ellis. He isn't a low post player so he was never going to be slotted in next to Ellis. And I would be fine if KU never landed a One and Done prospect ever again and so would Self I'd bet. Our weakest seasons under Self have been when we had OAD players in the starting rotation.
It took all of TWO GAMES before Embiid was playing 20 minutes and that was against a ranked Duke team. Don't just make stuff up.
Recognize that you are in a place where a solid number of people want ISU to play their young, not as good players over the proven, good players for the sole reason of not playing our good players as much.
This sums up how hard some fans will search to find something to complain about: Sean Lee sat out the last game for the Cowboys because his hamstring was bothering him and he didn't feel that he could play at a high enough level to help out his teammates and he wanted them to have the best chance to win. This despite the fact that sitting out cost him hitting a # of plays bonus that would have paid him two MILLION dollars and the fact that a win in the game was totally meaningless in the Cowboys dismal season. Fans are RIPPING him for being stupid. The same fans that would have ripped him if he DID play just to get the bonus because they always rip players for being selfish and not sacrificing money for the benefit of the team.
And there are KU fans that despite the amazing victory over an incredible Oklahoma team are still honking about playing time for Bragg and Diallo as well. Complainers complain. It's their thing.
Yes, Self really doesn't need him this year. Who knows what he was told when he was recruited, but Diallo has nobody to blame but himself. Unless Self did tell him he would play major minutes.
Why McD AAs all (except Simmons) want to go to the same teams and watch from the bench is beyond me. Lottery picks do not ride the bench in college.
Self told him what he tells every incoming player which is that he is going to have to earn minutes to play and that there are guys in the rotation with a lot of experience that you will have to earn those minutes over. And Self has always backed that up with who he gives playing time to.