KU...retaining quality players

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ut1978

100+ Posts
Its hard not to miss the fact that KU has some serious quality players (Rush, Chalmers) who have stayed put until their senior years. They have 5 seniors overall, but these two are the gems. With these 5 seniors (and Darrell Arthur), these guys look poised to win it all.

Its hard not to look at them without envy, when one thinks about the players (Durant, Aldridge, TJ, etc) whom we lost as underclassmen. And this year, we might lose DJ and AJ.
 
It was huge for KU that Rush and Arthur stayed in school. I thought both of them could have made the jump to the NBA last year, although they might not have been high lottery picks.
 
Guess it should be pointed out that Rush and Chalmers are both juniors, and Chalmers has never been considered NBA draft-worthy. Even Rush was an uncertain draftee last year, though it looks like he's making a push to raise his stock and bolt this season.

Also KU has lost guys like Drew Gooden and Julian Wright to early entry.

But yes, they have a great program and a chance to go far this month.
 
Let's not forget Rush tore his ACL last year before the draft. That probably influenced his decision to withdraw.
 
Rush is outta there this year, and Arthur may not be far behind. KU will be in a bit of rebuilding mode, although not a complete makeover like Barnes had to do last year.
 
part of it is that they have all been late first round guys at best. Granted we lost Gibson and Tucker who were in that same situation, but Kansas hasn't had any Durant/Aldridge/Augustin level NBA prospects under Bill Self.

edit: actually they did have Julian Wright. but he left early. lol
 
I agree KU has much better luck in keeping their potential "1 and done" players on campus a little longer than we do. Even fringe 1st round players for us take off early (i.e. Maurice Evans, P.J. Tucker, Daniel Gibson, Calvin MIles, and possibly Damion James).
 
Yeah I have Kansas in the championship game on that side of the bracket. I think the phenomenal thing about that team is that they go a legitimate 9 deep.
 
Actually Chalmers and Arthur are projected as mid to late 1st round picks on nbadraft.net and Rush and Jackson are projected as 2nd rounders.

I think Robinson is the one that most scouts aren't high on for one reason or another.
 
I just wish the Longhorn players would find it in their hearts to stay to the end here, then go cash in and play until they are as old as Fisher and some of those others who've been in the NBA since I was in diapers.
 
I think one of the reasons the players like Barnes so much is that he is so unselfish. He encourages his players to go pro if he feels like that is the best thing for them to do. Most of these guys are going on to multi-million dollar contracts. Who could blame them?
 
Why do people think AJ is leaving early? That's funny, he isn't going anywhere. And why would he? His game isn't like that. He can shoot, that's it. I like AJ, but he isn't near NBA ready. And he really needs to work on that tear drop. That could be a huge weapon for him, because you have to respect his shot. But right now I cringe everytime I see him get into the lane, because I know whats coming.
 
AJ's running midrange jump shot is light years better than it was last year. He actually makes it a decent percentage of the time now.
 
He can make the runner and now he's also a threat with the jumper off the dribble. And he's playing better defense. He's much improved over last year.
 
Some of it has to do with KU's top recruits not quite living up to the hype in their first year or two in college. Rush was supposed to be one and done, but he needed more time. The same goes for Arthur.
 
The deal is that nobody that thinks they are going to be like Durant or Beasley or Oden stops to worry about the hundreds before them who thought the same thing.

A guy such as Gerald Green probably would be in much better position to not wash out in the pros, had he decided to play some college ball.
 
Kansas is like Duke in this regard. They get great team players, tell them if they play in the system they will be great players amongst other greats and will win lots of games. We seem to get good players and one or two great ones who stand out so much they get a good offer to leave early.
 
Kansas is due a reloading year, probably next year. They do a little bit better than the average at holding on to their players, but hey, at least Texas is a player on the national scene now for the Durant-level talent. That wasn't the case before Rick Barnes, and every player we get near that level makes getting the next one a little easier.
 
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