Thursday, November 5, 2009
Bill Self has a problem. Granted, it’s a nice problem to have as a coach.
It isn’t that the Jayhawks don’t have the talent to win a National Championship — in that regard there’s hardly a question, Kansas is stacked — the problem is there’s too much talent to go around.
Start with the freshmen. Sometimes it’s a safe bet to assume that the newcomers will be the ones wearing the redshirts when the season rolls around, but after watching Elijah Johnson’s raw athleticism, Xavier Henry’s scoring touch and Thomas Robinson’s explosiveness in the paint, it’s hard to say that any one of them won’t see action this year.
Johnson came out and said he saw no reason to redshirt, and frankly there isn’t one. He’ll log plenty of time as a backup to Sherron Collins, and of the three freshmen, he’ll probably see the least amount of minutes. Henry will likely crack the starting lineup and Self said Robinson would see plenty of minutes thrown his way.
Last year’s new guys seem to be the prime redshirt candidates — namely Travis Releford and Mario Little — but I suspect neither is chomping at the bit to sit out on a team that has as good a chance as any to take home a title in Indianapolis later this year. Both sat out Tuesday’s exhibition — only incoming players can play exhibitions and still be eligible for a redshirt. Little, in particular, seems like an odd candidate because of his age, but as of right now, it’s impossible to predict what he could bring to the Jayhawks when completely healthy. If Little could provide an athletic presence at the three to balance Xavier Henry, he’d be a perfect fit for the Jayhawks. If he struggles with injuries or consistency, it will be a wasted senior year for Little, something neither he nor the Jayhawks want to see.
On the other hand, it would surprise me to see Releford take the floor this year for Kansas. As much of a fan favorite as the local kid was last year — Releford played high school ball in Kansas City — it’s unclear at best whether or not he’s ready to be a consistent contributor, especially on a team as deep as this year’s Jayhawks.
Two players, C.J. Henry and Brady Morningstar, would seem to be perfect redshirt candidates this year, had they not already burned them.
Henry may get lost in the shuffle at point guard, the deepest position for the Jayhawks, but he wore a redshirt last year for the Memphis Tigers. He also took three years away before that as a minor league baseball player. Keeping him away from basketball any longer would only be doing him a disservice.
Morningstar was suspended for the first semester after being arrested for a DWI. Had he not worn a redshirt during Kansas’ national title year, it would have made only too much sense for Self to bench Morningstar for the year.
Selflessness will have to prevail should this year's Jayhawks live up to their considerable potential. There’s just too much talent to keep everyone happy.
It’s a problem. But it’s a nice one to have.
— Edited by Jonathan Hermes
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