Aimless Wanderings to Kill Time in the Airport

Got to the airport in Denver 4-1/2 hours before flight. Thanks to some fine Merlot I have attained a level of mental acuity heretofore unknown to mankind. Of course my thoughts go to the Jayhawks because it is so much more fun than real life, especially when they are 10-0 and ranked No. 1 in the entire metaverse. So I thought I needed to share these incredible insights that came flooding in as I increased the mental merlot lubrication.

1. I never got quite got over the feelings I had in 1997 that no matter how far behind we got or how bad things might look, the mighty Jayhawks needed only to flip the defensive switch and away we would go, shutting down teams like they were junior high opponents. That team could do that. We have had some decent defensive teams in the last 20 years but that team was special with Jacque and Jerod leading the way and Scot Pollard roaming the paint. This teams may end up the season as good as any team we have had since then. I really believe that. Dotson has instincts and seems to be reading the scout better every game. Garrett is as good a defensive player as we have had since Releford and maybe end up better (but not yet).

2. Speaking of Travis Releford ( I totally loved that kid) remember his shooting his first couple years. Put inelegantly, he sucked. Then by hi senior year he was one of the best shooters in the nation. Don’t give up hope, my friends, Marcus may yet come around. But the dude just is totally pathetic at shooting, but I am the eternal optimist.

3. I feel for Dok. He is a living throwback. He may get no love from the NBA for his style of play but he is a force inside. It will be good to get him back.

4. Dedric is another living throwback. He reminds me a bit of the bastard love child of James Worthy and Larry Bird. He has some nifty old school moves like Worthy and the court awareness of Larry Bird. If he gets going from the three point line just pencil him in for 1st team All-American right now.

5. I am pumped about Devon Dotson. He is so freshman-like in parts of his game but the dude has quan. What the hell is quan I don’t know but he has it. I have this vision of him as a senior and it looks every bit as good as Frank and Devonte’ or (dare I say it) even better. ANd that is with a boatload of love and respect for Frank and Devonte’. Devon has that instinct. The dude is 10 games into his career against a killer schedule and has grown steadily. He is neither the passer or facilitator he will be as his experience grows but man is he special.

6. Grimes may or may not come around anytime soon. But after 3 or 4 glasses or Merlot I had an epiphany. SOmeone needs to call his mom and grandma and anybody else he loves some pretty bad names. The kid just looks like life is a little too good. He needs to get pissed, I mean really pissed and just go off. So what if he makes mistakes. Mistakes are correctable. He just seems to be way too reluctant. He has the body, he has the ability, he has the skills, now he needs the Nick Bradford attitude. Remember Nick Bradford? Nick came from Arkansas with okay abilities but a ton of attitude. He parlayed a mediocre ability and a ton of attitude into a decent career. Grimes is far more talented. Imagine what he could do with a little Keith Langford or Nicky Bradford attitude.

7. Am I the only person a little worried about our lack of Blu-chip recruiting next year. We can only hope Vick is the only guy to leave.

8. True confession time, I am excited to see where David McCormack is going. He is Mitch Lightfoot 2.0 but with a bigger body and more talent. What a gem this kid will be. I hope by the end of the year.

9. Speaking of Mitch Lightfoot, we should have a question to the group of what KU player has done more with less talent. I mean the kid obviously is talented but he is not an elite talent like many of these young recruits. I love me some KU seniors and senior night for Mitch next year will be special as we prepare for our 2nd National Championship run in a row.

10. Is anyone here sold on Vick? Okay, it;s a trick question. Vick has already earned a tone of respect. I do admit I need to see him stand in and take a punch or two (figuratively) and keep delivering at this level but he is clearly trying to deliver what coach is asking. I give him major props. He is a great shooter and very athletic but his mental toughness has been left wanting in past seasons. I am rooting more and more for this kid to finish strong. He has been nails for us most of the year.

11. I get the fact that Self makes a couple trillion dollars a year and he sits at the right hand of Wooden or something in the Hll-of-Fame but what the hell is KJ not getting more court time? Cut him lose.

12. I am big enough to admit when I am wrong. I was ready to boot Charlie Moore off the team. I thought he was more of a liability than a benefit. Then he proved me wrong against South Dakota. Let’s hope that was not a flash in the pan.

13. I have little respect for the NCAA. Actually that is not true, I just want De Sousa to play. What a cluster.

14. Arizona St beat us last season in Allen Fieldhouse. They need to pay. We need to crush them into pulp in Tempe. I hope we beat them by 40. Bobby Hurley played for Duke and he coaches them. So having realized that I hope we beat them 100 to nothing.

15. Merry Christmas

If only my aimless wanderings could be a third as cogent as yours after four cocktails.

Thank you. Very much enjoyed the read.

I honestly har-harred: “bastard love child of James worthy and Larry Bird”

Too funny!

I had a longer msg written, but the board bit me, so here is a short version. Commiserations at spending that much time at DIA. Hopefully you are headed home. Are you able to watch the TT-Duke game?
I agree about Moore - until the last game, was asking why is he here. Have high hopes for Vick. Also hope Grimes regains his form from this summer. A good beat down of ASU is in order. They have dropped to 48th per KenPom.
Merry Christmas.

Great wanderings corpus. Agree with nearly all. By the time he is a senior dotson will be POY. The huge advantage of grimes playing below expectations and dok and lawson having nba out of favor games is that im really starting to think that everyone save vick of course will be back next year. If thats the case i think that means we only have one scholly left which hopefully goes to matthew hurt. When you add him to our mix plus sharpshooter braun plus se souza after his “redshirt” year and all the other guys a year older we will clearly be as good next year as we have ever been. We are set up for third best team in the country last year to second best this year to first best next year. As good a three year run as anyone has had this century anyway. I hope we are all appreciating this history making run—your post clearly sees that corpus!

of course youre right HE. clearly tho bill wld make room for hurt with a transfer or redshirt im assuming. am hoping its this math and not ncaa potential penalties that are holding down the recruiting numbers

i guess only other option might be mcbride decommitting if dotson, grimes, moore and garret all come back? i agree that the known quantity silvio is makes him the preferred option over anyone else