I know I have covered this during the year but wanted to go back over it and also provide some answers to things that have popped up over the course of the year. Here are some thoughts and topics that have come up.

Topic: Why aren't there a lot of weekends with larger amount if visitors:

The staff only has seven mid year spots to work to fill and at last count, none of them are high school players. All of the high school players committed are May grads. That means they have to be filled with portal transfers or juco players. And there is a possibility that might not even happen depending how many spots they can fill with quality players.

There just aren't many spots in this class. The number(s) I keep hearing is 13-14. That could change depending on how many players enter the portal and when they do from KU. KU can get up to seven additional spots back after Dec. 15 or that players last day of class.

For now, the visit lists will be small because there just aren't many spots open.


Topic: Will this staff go after high school players:

I think this staff will go after mainly high school players in the future. But this is a different year for many reasons. First off KU is the youngest Power Five team in the country with underclassmen. KU has 68 followed by Oregon and Colorado.

They can afford to add some players who come from the juco/portal who are more mature have been through a college S&C program and learned what it is like to play in a college type system. This is a good year to do that because there are several levels of freshmen-sophomore who will be around.

Also when you recruit high school players those relationships are built a year or more ahead of that time. When Leipold arrived and assembled his staff in May they were already behind high school recruiting for the 2022 class. Way behind. When they got here there wasn't a board filled with recruits to go after.

If you noticed they immediately started building relationships with the 2023 class. It is hard to make up ground with 2022 high school recruits coming in that late and trying to recruit to a program who is coming off a winless season.

I expect the 2023 class to be filled mainly with high school players and add the right portal of juco players when they can/


Topic: How many juco players will be in this class:

I think five or less. And they will not go out and add juco players just to add them. They are going to be very selective. The names you have seen who are on the board are likely to be the main ones. These are players the coaches all got a chance to see play in games or practice and get to know them. These are players who the staff believe would be good fits.

Who knows, they might only get a couple of them. But if they miss out on some of them they won't just run to the board and throw more juco names on there.


Topic: Will there be a QB in this class from the portal:

I don't believe there will be unless it comes in the spring. I think the staff believes in the current roster to move forward. Now, the one thing that could change is if a QB or two leaves the program. Then that could change the philosophy and they could go after one. I can also see them target a late-bloomer high school player or try to flip a QB if that comes up.

But getting a high school QB will also be difficult because that recruiting starts almost two years early. Most quality HS QBs are committed somewhere no later than the summer before their senior season. Also seeing what Jalon Daniels did might scare off high school QBs who know he has three years to play.


Topic: People have questioned the unofficial visits:

This has come up a few times and I can tell you I believe there it nothing to this at all. If there is, then it is on the recruit or their family.

I talk to parents and recruits who attend the events. Now, I must admit the people I talk to are the ones who staff is really recruiting and even those who might be PWO targets. Every single one of those people had nothing but good things to say about the events. They also get some extra attention.

But those are also the people who get extra access to the coaches in different meetings. This year the staff allowed a lot of recruits to visit for unofficial visits during game days. There is no way to personally recruit and show attention to all of those players on an individual level.

An unofficial visit you are crunched for time. Coaches are getting ready for the game. You can go all over the country and most people have a cookie-cutter approach to the unofficial visits. They are very similar.

They have food to eat and due to NCAA rules you have to pay for it. They have select academic people there to answer basic questions. They bring in Leipold, Ianello, Goff and Stuckey to talk to the group. Around an hour before kickoff the recruits all go to the field and watch the team warm up. Then they watch the game. The time is short and limited on unofficial visits.


Topic: If there are transfers coming from the portal when do we know:

This will be something that goes on all spring. I think there will be players who enter the portal from January through May. Recruiting will be an ongoing thing all those months.

Players coming from the portal don't sign an NLI so they aren't bound to any institution until they attend a class. Now, some players might announce their decisions before that. But they can always change their mind.

I believe after spring football we will see another round of transfers and I think the staff will have spots ready for that time.

I also have a good feeling KU will get seven additional spots back after Dec. 15 to use for the upcoming class.

Halftime now. Sunrise leads 41-28. Dick leads Sunrise (and I believe all scorers) with 12.

I'm waiting until Friday to see who all might visit but I am expecting a light group.

I have spent all day making calls and reaching out to people to see who might visit and who might get a visit from the KU coaches.

First of all this is so crazy to try and follow things because there are transfers involved and you can't always get info from them. Then you have the fact that coaches are on the road as opposed to last year when they couldn't be.

This is like recruiting on steroids and I believe coaches are getting their flights re-routed and changed by the day to see someone new.

Going to start with Hassan Hall the RB from Louisville. It wasn't just assistant coaches out to see him they also sent Leipold later on. So there were three KU coaches to see Hall yesterday. I'm tracking down info on Hall and and will have more later tonight or first thing in the morning.

Scott Fuchs was at GCCC today to visit with Isaiah Adams.

Wallace was in Alabama and from what I can gather he was looking at some 2023 prospects. With the early signing expected to be a very small group of players I think there are several coaches looking at 2023 guys getting a head start for the high school class.

Rob Ianello and Jake Schoonover met with Dom Orange on Tuesday.

Last night Fuchs and Leipold met Livingston and then Leipold met with Kaleb Purdy this morning.

Chris Simpson met with Mike Smith yesterday. I am tracking some things here with this one and will report back when I get more info.

Emmett Jones met Xavier Benson yesterday and from what I am hearing KU is still in it and Benson could take a visit.

I also believe there are some transfers in play but with that things are changing so fast. I am going to make some more calls tonight to see what more I can find but they are definitely on some new names. But the portal guys are picking up new offers by the hour and their lists are changing rapidly.

That's middle of the road.

And not bad for a first year coach who inherited perhaps the #130 in the prior year.

Is the parking garage open and is it free?? Or where should I park? Thx

Wonder what our fortunes would be if he had stuck? He’s good.

How much of the offensive playbook do you think was installed this season? I would guess it was very low based on the amount of time the coaches had with the players.

This offense put up very good numbers in the last few games. Can’t wait to see what we look like next year.

Bama vs Cincinnati and Georgia vs Michigan

SIAP.

How many times have y'all considered if he took the final shot in 08 against Davidson?

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I mean.. this guy is ridiculous.
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With all the job openings I have not seen his name mentioned for one job.

So he is the latest celebrity given the chance to ride for free to outer space. If given that same opportunity, would you go??

Miami: Rumors this job will open up. Cristobal?
Oregon: Seems to depend on Miami
Virginia
Fresno State
Duke
Temple
Colorado State
Florida International

I just stole from below article. After a flurry of activity, doesn't seem like any seismic activity on the horizon. Miami could set off some dominos, but I don't think any substance to Kiffin rumors.

If Cristobal does some how make it to Miami, Oregon might open up checkbook to try to counter USC/Riley move.

I don't see Virginia making a big splash.

But, all in all, I think all the craziness is about over and don't see much overall that will affect KU and Big 12. I think huge deal if Aranda and Fickell stay. If Fickell is still at Cincy when they join Big 12, I think that will be huge (assuming the program doesn't faceplant after this season, and I don't see any reason it would).

On Friday night, No. 8/7 Kansas moved to 6-1 on the season by defeating St. John’s (5-2), 95-75, inside UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. On a night when the Jayhawks led the Red Storm by just three points, 62-59, with 11:03 left in the game, Kansas pulled away from St. John’s and, in doing so, won its sixth game by double-digits. In moving to 6-1 on the season, Kansas was led by Christian Braun, who scored a career-high 31 points, Ochai Agbaji (23), David McCormack (15), and Remy Martin (12).

First off, this was a game that I had some concerns about heading prior to the tip, but I also had some questions about St. John's and how Mike Anderson would prepare his team for Kansas. Obviously, the Red Storm can score the ball and came into the game averaging about five or so more points than Bill Self's squad. I also knew that Julian Champagnie and, without question, was fired up to make a statement against Kansas. When the lights are the brightest, guys like Champagnie love to shine. He erupted for 32 points, I believe, against Indiana in a two-point loss. This was his opportunity to lead St. John's to a signature win at home.

The Red Storm came close, trailing by just three points with 11:03 left in the game, but as it turned out, St. John's would get no closer.

-- The player of the game, not surprisingly, was Christian Braun. In 34 minutes of action, he scored a career-high 31 points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out four assists, was credited with three steals, and one block. Offensively, Braun was 10-of-16 from the field, 2-of-4 from behind the arc, and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.

Braun, the 6-foot-7, 218-pound guard from Burlington, Kan., scored just six points against Michigan State, but since that opening game, he’s gone for 15, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 31. Currently, Braun is averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He’s shooting 61.6 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from behind the arc, and 85.0 percent from the free-throw line. Braun isn’t just a shooter and that’s something he needed to realize, which he has. He’s playing more like he did before he arrived in Lawrence and is playing the best ball of his career. Yes, Braun has the ability to be a difference-maker from behind the arc, but he’s also great at attacking the basket and loves that baseline drive that generally ends with a flush.

I might be alone in my thinking, but Braun has figured out how to play HIS game and looks extremely comfortable doing so.

-- Had it not been for Braun, Ochai Agbaji would have been the best player on the court for Kansas on Friday night. Not wanting to be outdone, Agbaji, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard from Kansas City, Mo., finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in 35 minutes of action. Scoring-wise, Agbaji hit 9-of-16 field goals and was 5-of-9 from behind the arc. Agbaji, much like Braun, didn’t force anything on Friday night and let everything come his way. His 16-point outburst in the first half allowed things to open up for Braun in the second half, and he took full advantage of that against St. John’s.

If you really look at his game, Agbaji is so comfortable on the offensive end and his shot from behind the arc is on right now. For the season, Agbaji is averaging 22.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He’s shooting 55.5 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from behind the arc, and 76.2 percent from the free-throw line.

-- It’s been another rough start for David McCormack, the 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward from Norfolk, Va. After starting out last season extremely slow, McCormack figured to get things going from the opening tip of his senior year, but as Kansas fans are well aware, that hasn’t been the case. McCormack went for 10 points against Michigan State, 6 points against Tarleton State, 12 points against Stony Brook, 3 points against North Texas, 5 points against Dayton, 13 points against Iona, and 15 points against St. John’s. Against the Red Storm, McCormack, in 27 minutes, scored 15 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, eight coming on the offensive end of the court. He was 5-of-8 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. It’s been a frustrating start for McCormack and as upset as Kansas fans are, privately, he’s more upset than he’ll ever let on. It's not like he planned this slow start before the season started.

It’s been frustrating for McCormack, but he’s finally starting to come around, at least that appears to be the case. After seven games, he’s averaging 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 59.3 percent from the free-throw line. You can expect both numbers to improve during the season. Self is going to keep giving touches to McCormack and believes that Kansas will be the best version of itself with McCormack playing his best.

-- We still haven’t seen the very best of Remy Martin, the 6-foot-0, 175-pound guard from Chatsworth, Calf. Arriving from Arizona State, Martin was viewed as the transfer that would make Kansas a legitimate National Championship contender, and that’s still very much the case. The thing is, Martin went from a coach that gave him total freedom offensively to a coach that has the highest of expectations for his point guard. It's not just about scoring points, but doing things the way Self wants them done on a nightly basis. Martin, pardon my language, is working his ass off and trying his very best to become the player Self wants, but as we all know, change is never easy.

Still, against St. John’s, Martin scored 12 points, pulled down two rebounds, dished out five assists, was credited with five turnovers, and one steal. In 28 minutes of action, Martin was 5-of-7 from the field, 1-of-3 from behind the arc, and 1-of-1 from the free-throw line. When everything finally clicks for Martin, he’s going to be special. The thing I love, he isn’t forcing anything and is playing team basketball. To me, there isn’t anything at all selfish about his game, and he has a great attitude. Got to limit the turnovers moving forward, but those things are going to happen throughout the season.

After seven games, Martin is averaging 12 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He’s shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from behind the arc, and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line. Once everything clicks, watch out.

-- I’m still quite surprised with how much Jalen Wilson has struggled this season. Against St. John’s, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from Denton, Texas, scored just five points in 15 minutes of action. He did, however, pull down nine rebounds. Offensively, Wilson was just 2-of-8 from the field, 0-of-4 from behind the arc, and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Wilson is just struggling right now and that’s the bottom line. Self isn’t going to give up on his, the assistants aren’t going to give up on him, and his teammates aren’t going to give up on him. Truthfully, he just needs some good things to happen, which will help his confidence tremendously. Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if Self inserted him into the starting lineup just to see if that gives him a boost. At some point, Wilson is going to turn the corner and this stretch will be nothing but a bad memory for the talented forward.

-- Just a few additional thoughts here and nothing more. I’d love to see Joseph Yesufu get some extended minutes in the next couple of games. I really believe that, if given some time on the court, he’d make a significant impact. He played just eight mines against St. John’s and has played double-digit minutes in a game just twice this season. Yesufu just has something about him, in terms of his game, that I love.

-- PART II: I’d love to see Jalen Coleman-Lands also get some extended minutes and let him gain some confidence from behind the arc. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard from Indianapolis, Ind., was brought to Kansas because of his ability to stretch the defense and he hasn’t done much of that YET this season. This season, he’s just 4-of-9 from behind the arc, but against Dayton, Iona, and St. John’s, Coleman-Lands played a total of 16 minutes. It would be great to see some guys get expected minutes against UTEP on Tuesday night.

-- PART III: Bobby Pettiford, K.J. Adams, and Zach Clemence are going to be players for Kansas and will help the team win some games this season. I don’t necessarily care about the stats of these three at this point in the season, just seven games, I’ve seen enough to know that the trio of Pettiford, Adams and Clemence will, without question, help Kansas win some games this season and beyond. Pettiford is so fast with the ball and isn’t afraid to attack the rim, which I love. Adams is going to be a beast on the glass and plays with so much energy and passion. I don’t care about his size or length of arms – he’s a gamer. Clemence was just made for the moment. You call his number and he’s ready to go. He’s going to be a problem, because of his ability to hit shots, throughout his career.

Any good scoop out there?? How many we losing to transfer portal, etc. thx

PAC is trash.

Bama takes opening drive of the second half and scores to go up two touchdowns

If it's those four, I won't watch any of it. So sick of what CFB has become.

KU STARTERS

Christian Braun
Dajuan Harris Jr.
Remy Martin
Ochai Agbaji
David McCormack

SERIES INFO:

Kansas leads, 9-5

KANSAS’ WIN...

• Made Kansas 6-1 or better for the 10th consecutive season and 17th time in head coach Bill Self’s 19 seasons at KU.
• Made Kansas 2-1 in the Big East/Big 12 Battle.
• Made Kansas 10-5 in conference challenges dating back to 2007.
• Gave Kansas its third-straight win against St. John’s and make the KU-St. John’s series 9-5 in favor of Kansas.
• Made Self 735-224 all-time, including 528-119 while at Kansas.
• Made Kansas 2,329-872 all-time.

TEAM NOTES

• Kansas’ 20 point advantage over Saint John’s was the largest margin, win or lose, for the Jayhawks in the Big East/ Big 12 Battle.
• Kansas shot 48.6% (34-of-70) from the field and 33.3% (9-of-27) from beyond the arc.
• Kansas led by as many as 22 points (86-64) at the 3:45 mark of the second half. The run was a part of a decisive 22-4 point run to put Saint John’s away. KU has led at the half in all seven games this season.
• Kansas has played at least 11 different players in every game this season. The Jayhawks played 12 on Friday.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Senior Ochai Agbaji started his 84th consecutive game on Friday night, tying him for ninth in KU history for consecutive starts, tying JoJo White (1966-69).
• Junior Christian Braun had a career-high 31 points on 10-of-16 (62.5%) shooting. Braun’s previous high of 30 was set against St. Joseph’s in 2020. Braun also connected on 9-of-10 (90%) from the free-throw stripe.
• Braun’s 31 points marks the fourth 20+ point effort of his career.
• Over the last two games, Braun has combined for 49 points on 18-of-31 (58.0%) from the floor. He has also scored in double-figures in six consecutive games.
• Braun’s career night also came on the boards, tying a season-high 8 rebounds, which he has done four times this season.
• Agbaji registered his 5th 20+ point game of the season, scoring 23 points on Friday on 9-of-16 (56.2%) from the field. It was also Agbaji’s 12th 20+ point game of his career and 53rd double-figure scoring game of his career.
• Agbaji also set a season-high 7 rebounds.
• Braun and Agbaji combined for 54 points on 19-of-32 (59.3%).
• Along with Braun (31 points) and Agbaji (23 points), David McCormack (15 points) and Remy Martin (12 points) scored in double-figures. Kansas has had four or more players in double-figures scoring in three games this season.
• McCormack’s 15 points came on 5-of-8 (62.5%) shooting from the floor, paired with 13 rebounds, marking his first double-double of the season and eighth of his career. Both marks were also season highs for McCormack.

….to UMKC. And @Vernon taking it to Forde is a bonus!

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