Part Two: MJ Rice and Ernest Udeh Hearings
Part Two: MJ Rice and Ernest Udeh Hearings
Could we expect to see the athletic freshmen soon? Like really soon?
After Thursday's MJ Rice Hearings, I went ahead and started asking around about the TCU game. Those conversations made me think this Rice conversation is just getting started.
Before I get into the follow-up, I just want to thank everyone for their support yesterday. There are A LOT of new people here today, and it just shows the power of the KU fanbase. Please keep sending this to your friends! We are literally building something new together. I want to keep learning what you want to know, what interests you, what you don't like, and how we can create a new KU community (beyond Twitter).1
OK, onto the HEARINGS follow.
TCU is a fascinating matchup for Kansas. They're fast, and they're big. They run. They keep running. And then they run some more. So KU needs a strong bench presence on Saturday. It'll also need some additional size. And it'll definitely need some athleticism.
Enter MJ Rice. Maybe even Ernest Udeh, too. The time is now.
After talking with some people about the game, I realized it's a PERFECT, albeit challenging, opportunity for Rice. If TCU plays with a similar pace its shown this year, Rice makes a lot of sense to play for the Jayhawks. He's a reinforcement of athleticism almost no other team will have. The caveat to all of this is defense. If Rice quickly gets scored on, he could get yanked.
I want to add one thing to yesterday’s MJ Rice hearings. People around the team seem to love his attitude. There have been ups and downs, which is to be expected considering his injury luck, but it appears he’s genuinely bought in and earned respect with the team. The message stood out to me, and I wanted to make sure other fans know it, too.
KU's other mystery freshman, Ernest Udeh, also checks off the size and athleticism boxes. He fits this game better than Zach Clemence, who is, um, not fast.2
Beyond TCU, the Jayhawks next two games include big bodies down low in Flo Thamba and Oscar Tshiebwe.3 Maybe Zuby Ejiofor continues to get those minutes instead, but these games are obvious Udeh fits.
Rice doesn't have the same playing-time competition as Udeh. So ultimately, I wouldn't be surprised to see the wing get some extended run Saturday. And Udeh makes sense to roll out at home if you may need him at Baylor or Kentucky. I may eat my words here if they play and give up a quick bucket or two.4
But my question to Bill Self would be: If not now, when?
We have thousands of people reading these. It’s mind blowing. KU fans deserve to be informed, and I’m so appreciative some of you see the value. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
But a perfect matchup for the slow Oklahoma bigs. He could come in handy against a team with stretch bigs in the Tournament.
SCARY
50/50 shot here