Embarrassment of Riches

by T.J.R.
Some of the "new" Jayhawk basketball transfers have actually been on campus half a year already, and in the case of Malik Newman a whole year. Sam Cunliffe, a guy coming from Arizona State, is eligible in January.

For some reason, IMO, the guys who start late, like second semester for example, never seem to work out. They just don't. I don't know why. That said, Cunliffe is a terrific shooter, having hit on 41% of three pointers in ten games in his one semester at ASU last fall. Newman was in the top ten in his high school class, but something went wrong somewhere along the way. Remember, if nothing else, each of these guys, including Mitch Lightfoot, gives us an additional five fouls in the lane, thereby protecting Udoka Azabuike and Billy Preston who really should be about as good a 1-2 inside/ high/low combo as there is, certainly in the Big 12, and maybe in the country. Still, Liberty transfer Evan Maxwell and Preston are the only guys that are bonafide 6'10"+ and we may have trouble with two seven footers such as Kentucky, and maybe Texas, can throw out on the floor at us. All totalled, KU appears the clear favorite to win the Big 12, although depth-wise and size inside won't be fantastic. We will have an embarrassment of riches as to big guards and three point shooters, the way it looks.

I'm excited about the new transfer crop that Head Coach Bill Self (HCBS) is "harvesting," but I've also wondered: What the heck is going on between Memphis and KU? Keep in mind that 5 guys now on scholarship, LaGerald Vick, Newman and both Dedric and K.J. Lawson and even Charlie Moore all have connections to Memphis. I like that we are getting good ball players. I just hope HCBS is not doing anything illegal. There are also two more blue chippers from the Memphis area looking at KU and another who is a sophomore im high school - all three related to the Lawsons. Sounds potentially great, or potentially disastrous!