Kansas Basketball: Season Preview 2009-2010
Most Jayhawk fans would consider last season an overachievement: an outright Big XII title and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Sure the loss to national runner-up Michigan State was a tough pill to swallow. But when you look at just how much the Jayhawks matured over the course of the season, it truly was remarkable. But Bill Self knows better than anyone… championship ring or not, last season is over and done with.
Looking forward to next year, the expectations are already through the roof. With nearly every publication imaginable listing the Jayhawks as the preseason #1 team in the country, Kansas will be the hands-down favorite to cut down the nets for the second time in three years.
With arguably the most balanced team in Bill Self’s coaching tenure, the Jayhawks are solid from top to bottom. No other team can match the depth and talent Kansas will bring every game. Self has an arsenal of 15 legitimate contributors, and will have the most versatile lineup of players in the country. 
After simply being a spark plug off the bench for two years, Collins became a star for the Jayhawks in his third season. He turned down the NBA draft in the off-season, opting to return to Lawrence for a final championship run. Collins will not be counted on to score as much. Rather, he will need to create more opportunities for his teammates and limit his turnovers. If he can play smart and take care of the basketball, the Jayhawks will have the best point guard in the country... assuming he wins his annual battle of the bulge.
Aldrich was the most improved player in the country last season. He went from a freshman playing mop-up minutes to averaging a double-double in his second season. Posting a triple-double against Dayton in the NCAA Tournament created such a buzz, that Aldrich nearly left early for the NBA. Luckily for the Jayhawks, Aldrich will be around for one more season. Look for him to be a National Player of the Year candidate and a top-five pick in next year’s NBA draft.
Here’s how you sum up Tyshawn Taylor's first season: The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores. No one caused more headaches last year than the freshman guard from Jersey. But after last season, Taylor was chosen to represent Team USA in the FIBA U19 world games. His head coach (Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh) has pointed out his improved athleticism, decision making and overall basketball IQ. Numerous NBA scouts watched the team practice before they headed overseas. Some draft projections have Taylor going as high as #19 after this year. Who would’ve thought that during the season? It certainly would be shocking if Taylor left after two seasons. But if he does, it probably meant that Kansas had an unbelievable year. We’ll see just how improved Taylor is when he returns home with a gold medal around his neck!
Bill Self addressed his most obvious need (scoring wing) when he signed Xavier Henry, a top-10 recruit. The son of former Kansas guard/forward Carl Henry, Xavier (pronounced “Zah-vee-yay”) is the most highly touted prospect to sign with Kansas since Paul Pierce. His dramatic 7+ year recruitment has been well-documented. After initially signing with Memphis, John Calipari’s departure ultimately made him commit to the Jayhawks. The sweet-shooting lefty will play a similar role to what Brandon Rush did for the KU during their championship season. With the body of an NFL tight end, the McDonald’s All-American will likely be the first ever one-and-done player in Kansas history. Expect him to show flashes of potential and then bolt for the NBA after his rookie campaign.
The talented twin from Philadelphia had a typical freshman season under Bill Self. After struggling mightily with foul trouble during the first half of the season, the light suddenly came on. Towards the end of the season, Marcus looked like a completely different player. Off-season conditioning has truly accelerated his development. After adding 10-pounds of muscle and increasing his overall strength, Marcus was the most impressive player during KU’s summer camps and alumni scrimmage. His outside shot is rumored to be vastly improved, and Self has mentioned moving him onto the perimeter to cause match-up problems for opponents. Regardless of where Morris ends up, he will need to be productive enough to take the pressure off Collins and Aldrich.
Most people didn’t know what to expect out of Brady Morningstar last year. He played sparingly in blowout wins during his freshman season, and redshirted during KU’s title run in 2008. But the extra year of seasoning drastically improved his skill set. Morningstar started every game for the Jayhawks during 2009, and ended up being the team’s best on-ball defender. If all goes as planned, Brady’s minutes played will be fewer, but more productive.
The #1 Juco prospect had a disappointing first season in Lawrence. After having his left knee scoped a month before the season, he broke one of his fingers during practice just 3 days before the first exhibition game. When he finally returned to the team midway through the season, he was clearly a step behind. He admittedly played the entire season with a painful stress fracture. But similar to his fellow Chicago teammate Sherron Collins, Little has a knack for taking the big shot. Most don’t remember that Little hit the potential game-winning basket against Missouri with less than 10 seconds left, before ultimately losing at the buzzer. Hopefully Little can have an injury free senior season, and challenge for some significant minutes as well.
The “other twin” from Philadelphia desperately needed an off-season in the weight room. His overall game reminds many of former Jayhawk, Drew Gooden. After putting on 20+ pounds of muscle, Markieff should be ready to dominate the paint. He is capable of extending his range out to the 3-point line. Unfortunately, he may take a few too many ill-advised outside shots and find himself on the bench next to Bill Self. But Markieff is Kansas’ best rebounder behind Cole Aldrich. With a stronger and wider frame, Morris should see his production increase across the board. That is, if he can stay out of foul trouble.
Easily one of the most gifted players in the entire freshman class, Johnson is a human highlight reel. Bill Self has already proclaimed him the most athletic recruit he’s ever signed. Johnson will more than likely sit behind a talented group of guards for a year, before becoming a regular starter. But expect some jaw dropping dunks from this explosive playmaker along the way. Scouts compared him to former UCLA star Baron Davis for his style in the open court. Johnson is already a YouTube sensation for his 360-between-the-legs dunk in the 2009 Wazoo Sports Derby Festival Basketball Classic at Freedom Hall. He can get up and go with the best of them, but he is still quite raw in terms of skill. His outside shot and defensive awareness are areas he needs to improve on. But if he can polish his game and learn from fellow guards Sherron and Tyshawn, the sky is the limit for this flashy kid from Las Vegas.
Last year, the Jayhawks clearly missed the frontcourt presence that Darnell Jackson provided. They didn’t have that “do-whatever-it-takes” attitude underneath the basket. Thomas Robinson appears destined to fill that role. He is a hardworking, high-energy player. Nearly every recruiting analyst dubbed him as the best rebounder in his class as well. Though his offensive game is still a work in progress, Robinson is a dynamic and versatile player… ala Julian Wright. He possesses the essential trait of an incoming freshman: coachability. Many believe that Robinson could challenge for a starting spot in the frontcourt alongside Cole Aldrich. But regardless of playing time, Robinson’s non-stop motor will ensure that he sees plenty of action.
A transfer from Arizona, Withey will be eligible once the first academic semester is complete. With a jump shot that ranges out to the 3-point line, Withey appears to be a perfect combination of power and finesse. Since arriving on campus in late December, Withey has added 30 pounds of bulk. If Coach Self had his way, Withey will pack on about 15 more pounds before he plays his first game. We’ll see how effective Jeff’s daily 4000-calorie diets end up. But due to his extensive practice time with the team already, there shouldn’t be a learning curve. Expect Withey to contribute immediately, as every 7-footer should.
The local Bishop Miege product struggled to find playing time during his first season in Lawrence. It almost seems a foregone conclusion that Releford will redshirt this year… the backcourt is just too deep. But if he bypasses it, Releford will continue to be a sparkplug off the bench. His lateral quickness on defense is still below average, while his dribbling and outside shot need improvement as well. But there is no doubt that Releford excels in the open floor. His ability to finish transition buckets is unmatched. Only time will tell if we’ll see him on the court this year, though.
Originally a KU signee in 2005, Henry opted against college basketball for a Major League Baseball contract with the New York Yankees. After a rollercoaster in the minor leagues, the older brother of current freshman Xavier Henry is returning to the amateur ranks. It has yet to be seen what a 3-year hiatus from competitive basketball has done to Henry’s skill set. If he can contribute at all, then consider it a bonus. Interestingly enough, according to his contract with the Yankees, they have agreed to pay for his collegiate education. Therefore, Henry is officially a walk-on and does not count against Kansas’ scholarship limit. But let’s be honest, how many walk-ons are professional athletes with a mature, 23-year-old physique?
The mop-top, crowd favorite had a sophomore slump last season. You’re sure to see some minutes from the local Leawood, Kansas kid in blowout wins. But Teahan isn’t your typical walk-on either. Coach Self is constantly looking for ways to motivate his players. When someone is underperforming, look for Teahan to come in and try to catch fire from 3-point land. I don’t think he will ever see significant minutes during his career, but he is undeniably one of the best long-range bombers on the Jayhawk roster.
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