2B
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
KANSAN.COM
The Jayhawks: 2008 to today
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
Since the 2007-08 season, when the Jayhawks won the National Championship, it seems like every team has been compared to the one that finally accomplished that feat.
However, that doesn't mean the teams have had that much in common — or have really been that similar at all.
The layhawks have once again been picked to win the Big 12, and this time, the team has been getting some national attention as a potential National Championship contender. We went back through each of the teams since that title in 2008 and compared them with the current team, both in roster construction and overall ability.
Regardless, as the saying goes:
"Faces change. Expectations don't."
2007-08 - 37-3 - Won the National Championship Normal rotation: 9 players
Freshmen: 1 (Cole Aldrich)
Sophomores: 2 (Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins)
Juniors: 2 (Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush)
Seniors: 4 (Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun, Russell Robinson)
Rodrick Stewart)
How they're similar:
How they're similar:
Similar to this year, the 2008 team relied on seniors and had skilled power forwards — a good combination of guards and a few underclassmen looking to make their mark. No team will ever be as tenacious and scrappy as the 2008 National Championship team, but the current team actually somewhat resembles it. This year, the team will start two players that can both play point guard, along with a rotation of veteran big men who each play different roles.
How they're different:
No team will ever be like the 2008 title team. They had an attitude and toughness that really can't be recreated. Additionally, the quality of big men across the board was probably better on the '08 team, and that version's Brandon Rush would've thrived at the three for this year's team.
2008-09 — 27-8 — Lost in the Sweet 16 Normal rotation: 8 players
Freshmen: 3 (Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Tyshawn Taylor)
Sophomores: 3 (Cole Aldrich, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed)
Juniors: 2 (Sherron Collins, Mario Little)
Seniors: 0
How they're similar:
In his junior and senior years, Sherron Collins posted very similar seasons to what Frank Mason III did last year, but outside of that, there isn't a whole lot. This team earned a three-seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament and overall wasn't thought of as one of the better teams in the nation in the preseason, being ranked just
23rd and 24th in the preseason polls.
How they're different:
How they're different:
The expectations of this year's team are massively different than the one from the 2008-09 season. Additionally, after the 2008-09 season concluded, Self received the nod for a few national awards, given that his team wasn't expected to be as good as it ended up being. For him to do that this year, the team would pretty much have to win 35 or more games.
2009-2010 — 33-3—
Lost in the Round of 32
Normal rotation: 8 players
Freshmen: 1 (Xavier Henry)
Sophomores: 3 (Marcus Morris,
Markieff Morris, Tyshawn
Taylor)
Juniors: 3 (Cole Aldrich,
Brady Morningstar, Tyrel
Reed)
Seniors: 1 (Sherron Collins)
How they're similar:
As was the case with the 2008- 09 team, the play from Sherron Collins was more than solid, and he mirrored how well Mason played last season. Additionally, both teams possessed big men who could stretch the floor with their shooting, not to mention Self has compared current freshman Carlton Bragg to Marcus Morris, who broke out as a sophomore on the team.
How they're different:
how they are different Again, depth was a big difference between the two teams. Also, Xavier Henry came in as a freshman and played a significant role, finishing second on the team in points per game. It would be surprising if a freshman cracked the top three in that category this year.
2010-2011 — 35-3 —
Lost in the Elite 8
Normal Rotation: 10 players
Freshmen: 1 (Josh Selby)
Sophomores: 2 (Thomas Robinson, Eljiah Johnson, Travis
Raleford
Juniors: 4 (Marcus Morris,
Markieff Morris, Tyshawn
Taylor)
Seniors: 3 (Mario Little, Brady
Morningstar, Tyrel Reed)
How they're similar:
How they re similar:
This team had some established big men, but it also had a tough nature that the current team somewhat lacks. Regardless, both teams had high expectations coming into the season, as both were ranked in the top 10 of the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll.
How they're different:
Marcus and Markieff Morris had an attitude that no one on the current Jayhawks team can really match. Furthermore, it feels like a lot of the talent on the 2010-11 team was more polished in all areas, whereas Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Check Diallo, Carlton Bragg, Lagerald Vick and some other younger players still have some work to do in that area.
2011-12 - 32-7 -
Lost in the National
Championship
Normal rotation: 7 players
Freshmen: 0
Sophomores: 1 (Elijah Johnson)
Juniors: 4 (Travis Releford,
Thomas Pobinson, Jeff
Withey, Kevin Young)
Seniors: 2 (Tyshawn Taylor,
Cancer Turkel)
How they're similar:
These teams are not very similar, but there are some individuals who play similar roles. Conner Teahan, for example, was the sixth man for the 2011-12 team, and provided shooting on the bench, similar to how Brannen Greene will this year. Additionally, the team relied heavily on veteran play, but that's about it.
How they're different:
Like the 2012-13 team, this team had a lot more top-tier talent, while the current Jayhawk team is flooded with depth. This team went about six deep for most of the year, while the current team could probably play any combination of 10 or so players and be fine. And even though they were both leaders, Thomas Robinson and Perry Ellis had incredibly different games at the four spot.
2012-13 - 31-6 - Lost in the Sweet 16
Normal rotation: 7 players
Junior forward Perry Ellis comes up with a rebound on March 4.
Freshmen: 1 (Ben McLemore)
Sophomores: 2 (Perry Ellis,
Naadir Tharpe)
Juniors: 0
Seniors: 4 (Elijah Johnson,
Travis Releford, Jeff Withey,
Kevin Young)
The most important player for the 2012-13 team was a big man, while an underclassman pushed for minutes at the power forward position. That's about it as far as similarities are concerned. Ben McLemore would definitely be the most talented player on either team, and the senior version of Jeff Withey might be better than any one player on the current Jayhawks. Overall, the current roster is a lot better this year.
How they're different:
How they're similar:
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
The 2015-16 team's biggest question mark is at the center position, whereas in the 2012-13 season, center was probably the team's biggest strength. Jeff Withey was a dominant force, while Ben McLemore emerged as perhaps the team's most talented player. This team also wasn't very deep, and the current squad is loaded with depth.
How they're different:
2013-14 - 25-10 - Lost in the Round of 32 Normal rotation: 8 players:
Freshmen: 4 (Joel Embiid,
Frank Mason III, Wayne
Selden, Andrew Wiggins)
Sophomores: 2 (Perry Ellis,
Jamari Traylor)
Juniors: 1 (Naadir Tharpe)
Seniors: 1 (Tarik Black)
How they're similar:
Like the 2013-14 team, the current squad will play through its big men and wings a lot, but truth be told, these two teams are very different. Throughout the season, the Jayhawks never really found consistent point guard play, and the freshmen were at times sporadic with their performances — something that changed over the
How they're different. The 2013-14 team lacked a strong backcourt, which is a definitive strength for this year's team. Additionally, the team relied a lot on the unknown, needing players like Wiggins and Embid to come in and be substantial contributors. This year's team would probably finish at least top three in the Big.12 if you took away all of the freshmen on it.
How they're different;
next two years.
2014-15 - 27-9 - Lost in the Round of 32 Normal rotation: 9 players
Freshmen: 3 (Cliff Alexander, Devonte Graham, Kelly Oubre)
Sophomores: 4 (Brannen Greene, Frank Mason III, Wayne Selden, Landen Lucas) Juniors: 2 (Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor)
While the 2014-15 team relied a bit more on the freshmen during the regular season, these two teams are pretty similar. With many of the same players, there isn't much contrast between the two teams, although the expectations with this year's squad are certainly higher.
How they're different:
How they're similar:
How they are different. The current men's basketball team is more experienced than last year's. The 2014-15 team had no seniors in the rotation; this year's team has three senior big men alone.And with four juniors playing big minutes and the experience of the World University Games over the summer,this year's team should be able to rely a lot more on its experience versus having to lean on the freshmen early.
2015-16 Expected rotation: 11 players
2015-16
Freshmen: 3 (Carlton Bragg,
Cheick Diallo, Lagerald Vick)
Sophomores: 1 (Vsiatloslav
Mykhailiuk)
Juniors: 4 (Brannen Greene,
Frank Mason III, Wayne
Solden, London Luzerne)
Selden, Landen Lucas)
Seniors: 2 (Perry Ellis, Jamari
Traylor, Hunter Mickelson)
What makes this team special?
This year's team has a blend of talent at each position that really hasn't happened at KU for a while. It seems like there are two or three players capable of playing just about every position on the floor, and in most cases, at least one of those players is an upperclassman. The expectations are massive for this year's team, but many of those seem within reach. Just about every analyst has the Jayhawks winning the Big 12 again, and in some cases, they're even being picked to win the National Championship.
— Edited by Derek Johnson
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Mario Chalmers, just before making his iconic three-point shot in the NCAA Championship game on April 7, 2008.
Andrew Wiggins dunks the ball.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Sophomore Ben McLemore celebrates with teammate Jeff Withey in Kansas City on Nov. 20, 2012.
.
TEACH, STUDY OR VOLUNTEER
Study abroad with scholarships available!
Teach English and experience the culture
PANDA EAGLE PRESENTS
ALLTHINGS CHINA
Don't forget to check our volunteer programs!
...the Red Dragon Awaits You!
visit pandaeaglegroup.com to learn more
Enter coupon code - UDK15 for surprise!