 KUSports.com editor Tom Keegan posted an article yesterday opining that "KU men's basketball team might be even better next season." Might be better, Tom? How can they not be better! Despite the 29-2 regular season record last season, the Collins-Aldrich-Henry led Jayhawks played uninspired, lackluster basketball all year until eventually bowing out of the NCAA tournament in the first weekend...to Northern Iowa.
Sure, talent was everywhere on that team, but the largest problem was how they were constructed. They featured a big, plodding center and a slashing point guard who could no longer finish in the paint, while Xavier Henry turned out to be nothing more than a pretty spot-up shooter. KU's offensive game plan seemed to be to try and force the ball down low to an out of position Aldrich, and when that failed many games would devolve into the "Sherron Show." This is why I am so perplexed by Tom Keegan's assertion that this year's team will be better because we can easily replace each component of the failed Collins-Aldrich-Xavier core. What will make KU the better team next season is the hope that Bill Self will put out a completely different group of players with a radically different style of play.
Let's start with Selby. As the #1 ranked player in this year's freshman class, he will certainly be an upgrade over Collins in all areas except perhaps leadership (although one could argue that is overrated). But should his role mirror Collins' of the past two seasons? In short, no. Collins' style of play oftentimes did not get his teammates involved with the offense, and led to players standing around watching Sherron do his thing. Of course Selby's tremendous offensive ability has to be utilized, but it must be in the same fashion Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson manned the point guard position, not like a Sherron Collins or even John Wall from last season.
Next, Tom searches for a replacement for Cole Aldrich, specifically his shot-blocking and defensive prowess. Sure, it was nice to watch a teams' offense in the paint rendered completely useless last year, but is it necessary to be a championship team? Perhaps, but not at the price you pay for having a shot-blocker such as Cole play the majority of the minutes at center. He slowed the team down, was unathletic, and the need to feed the big fella the ball on offense made KU's offense stagnant and predictable. Instead, this season will rely on an array of athletic power forwards rotating at the two forward positions. Hopefully this will allow Kansas to actually snag some rebounds this season, something that certainly hurt KU more than Cole's shot-blocking helped. Marcus Morris, Thomas Robinson and Markieff Morris are interchangeable, and any combination should be a nightmare to defend. And just like the championship team of 2007-2008, Jeff Whithey should be able to play a similar role as Sausha Kaun. This should give Bill Self the ability to give teams many different looks, run the floor better, and not be locked into relying on a big, plodding center at both ends of the court.
And finally, the notion of replacing Xavier Henry is laughable. Heck, Self could run out Tyrel Reed at SF every game and probably get the same production. But again, this is the opposite of what the new Jayhawks should be doing. The SF position will be manned by Travis Relaford and Mario Little - two players not known for possessing the ability to knock down three's with consistency, and that is a good thing. Give me a slashing, aggressive player at the SF position any day of the week over a timid jump-shooter. Combine this with Tyshawn Taylor's and Elijah Johnson's ability to drive to the hoop, and KU's offense should overwhelm even the strongest defensive teams next season. And just like Jeff Withey/Sausha Kaun, if Self feels KU needs a three-point shooting presence Tyrel Reed has proven to be as reliable as anyone. Again, it is the idea of having many different options rather than being boxed into a formulaic game plan ala last season.
So in conclusion, I agree with Tom's assertion that KU will be a better team next season, just not with how they are going to get there. Where Tom simply wants to replace last year's departed players with more talented versions, I want to replace last year's entire philosophy and construction with a more group of faster, more athletic players who possess a collective, team-oriented killer instinct - something Kansas basketball has lacked since 2007-2008.
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