TOP TEN (20) REASONS NU WILL BE BETTER...OR NOT

KP'S TOP TEN REASONS THE 09-10 NU HOOPS SEASON COULD BE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR:


10. Dagunduro-Harley-Velander
-Ade was an excellent player. Harley and Velander were very nice players. But none of them represent the kind of loss sustained when Aleks Maric left the after the previous season. They'll certainly be missed. But it's not like KU losing Chalmers, Robinson, Rush, etc. the year before. And of course even KU managed fairly well after that group left.

9. Point guard
-Cookie Miller was good offensively in the open floor. Not so much in the half court. He was good defensively stealing the ball but a liability in terms of being shot over and being posted-up. A 5-6 point guard won't take you to the next level.

8. Depth
-Assuming the jucos all contribute, NU could come at opponents in waves. Ten deep or better realistically. Better numbers than last year.

7. Size
-There will be some.

6. Sek Henry
-As a senior, this will be his team. Expect leadership qualities not seen before. Plus, he has more help than in his first three years and won't have to do as many things. Should help him focus on his role and what he does best.

5. Ryan Anderson
-See Sek Henry notes above.

4. Toney McCray
-If it all comes together for him, he could be special. We all know that. He's that talented.

3. Juco transfers & Bear Jones
-All three Jucos and Jones were recruited for specific abilities where NU was limited last season. They'll give NU size at point (Jeter), a physical power forward (Hankins), a Dagunduro type wing (Holley), and a guard who can stroke it from the perimeter (Jones).

2. Niemann/Diaz
-I can't wait! Niemann looked to be on Maric's level in some respects the first time I saw him. Diaz is really unique. He can play out on the floor and shoot it. He has skills many bigs do not have. I have visions of them together on the floor that make me salivate.

1. Doc
-Eight wins with last years bunch says it all!


KP'S TOP TEN REASONS THE 09-10 NU HOOPS SEASON COULD BE WORSE THAN LAST YEAR:


10. Dagunduro-Harley-Velander
-These guys scored 30 points per game as a group. It's no slam dunk to replace that much offense. Not to mention the intensity and grit with which they played the game. They were true leaders.

9. Point guard
-Cookie Miller's liabilities notwithstanding, he made things happen. (Or didn't in the case of the UMBC game last year.) Things will look very different at point guard. Bigger isn't automatically better. Will NU turn opponents over as much from that position? Who will push the tempo?

8. Depth
-This team may be ten deep or better (even with a redshirt or two) but it can be hard to play that many in a regular rotation. Will some of the ten accept limited minutes? Deep benches can produce unhappy players. Will NU have great chemistry as it did last year?

7. Size
-While good size and length is certainly a positive, how does it impact style, ability to guard smaller teams, etc.? Can a much larger NU team play with the same controlled frenzy that served it so well last year?

6. Sek Henry
-For NU to get to the next level this coming season, Sek Henry needs to take his game to the next level. What have we seen to indicate this is a probability?

5. Ryan Anderson
-See Sek Henry notes above.

4. Tony McCray
-see Sek Henry notes above.

3. Neimann/Diaz
-They are first year players. First year players, more often than not, aren't huge difference makers. (Remember the debate on whether Diaz should have played late last year? That experience would be helpful going into 09-10.)

2. Juco transfers & Bear Jones
-see Neimann/Diaz notes above.

1. Doc
-Even if NU is improved, the Big 12 will be too. Perhaps exponentially. Winning eight conference games in 09-10 will be more difficult than last year. Doc can't control the quality of the other teams in the league.


For the record, I'm betting on the first set of ten above!