Can Kansas Reload to Defend 2008 Title?

UPDATE: Mario Chalmers announced that he would go pro in the afternoon after I published this. So, we're definitely in a "Florida 2008" situation rather than a "Florida 2007" situation with the Jayhawks. We'll also be taking odds on how soon Mario's dad is asked to clean out his locker as Kansas' Director of Basketball Operations, an appointment that oh-so-coincidentally coincided with Mario's decision to attend KU.


The Florida Gators' repeat championship was an anomaly.

In today's game, players who are talented enough to go pro, do it. If Brandon Rush hadn't pulled the classic "hurt myself playing pickup", followed by intense rehab, the Jayhawks probably would have never stood on that podium. But now that they have, players are launching themselves into the pros based on that momentum. Kansas graduated six seniors this year, with only Sasha Kaun likely to play in the Association. Underclassmen Rush and Darrell Arthur are probable first-rounders, bringing the total of players gone from the championship squad to eight. That's a lot of shoes to fill, with the biggest losses coming up front.

Graduating:

Russell Robinson - 6'1" Guard
Rodrick Stewart - 6'4" Guard
Jeremy Case - 6'1" Guard
Sasha Kaun - 6'11" Center
Darnell Jackson - 6'8" Forward
Brad Witherspoon - 6'1" Guard

Early-entry NBA:

Darrell Arthur - 6'9" Forward
Brandon Rush - 6'6" Guard/Forward

Of the remaining nine players, a whopping five are from the state of Kansas. Meaning lots of benchwarmers. I hate to bag on my home state, but nobody wins a repeat championship with all Sunflower Staters playing big minutes.

The good news (for now) is that the backcourt is solid, with buzzer-beating hero Mario Chalmers still in school, and Sherron Collins ready to play starters minutes if his injury woes subside. The only remotely experienced post player is Cole Aldrich, who acquitted himself very well against North Carolina (8 pts, 7 rebs, 4 blocks) in limited tournament action, and should be able to do his part.

Beyond that, it's (yecch!) recruiting. I'm not going to get into who was a McDonald's All-American or where they played AAU, because I don't care. I'm just going to try to guess which guys will get a shot to start, and who might fill out the rotation. If we assume a Chalmers/Collins backcourt, and Aldrich in the middle, we have two starting forwards to find.

The candidates:

Marcus Morris - 6'8", 220lb F, Philadelphia
Markieff Morris - 6'10", 230lb F/C, Philadelphia
Quintrell Thomas - 6'8", 235lb F, Elizabeth, NJ

That's right, KU is trying for a little bit of that Lopez brothers action, bringing in a pair of twins (obviously not sporting identical pituitary glands-they're fraternal twins) to shore up the inside. If I know Bill Self, I'd expect a rotation of all three of these guys, with Markieff spelling Aldrich and playing alongside him when necessary. Strangely enough, the Morris brothers initially committed to Memphis, but changed their minds long before the NCAA championship game was played.

Self can also play small, as he's recruited a couple of 6'5" wing players, and a 6'3" guard. If one or two of the bench jockeys show some spark, the Jayhawks could be OK in the Big 12 once again. Texas has the inside track on a championship, however, with D.J. Augustin saying he'll be back. A repeat is likely not in the cards, but a good year? Yeah, I think Bill Self can make hay with the kind of talent he recruits.