With no classes on campus, Big 12 mandate might keep KU hoops players home this summer
Kansas’ basketball players scattered to their hometowns in mid-March in response to the university’s closing of campus because of concerns surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Barring major new developments, they may not be able to return until .... when, exactly?
“At this point in time we don’t know when guys would be back,” KU hoops coach Bill Self told The Star, noting Aug. 24 — the first day of classes for the 2020-21 school year — is a possibility.
KU officials informed faculty members that summer school classes, scheduled to be taught June 2 to July 24, would be online-only. Meanwhile, the Big 12 has suspended all team and individual practices until May 31, with an update on that ruling expected sometime this month.
If workouts are prohibited, there would be no reason to have the players in town to complete their online coursework. They could continue to work on assignments from home.
“I think if guys do work on their own this summer, from a conditioning standpoint we’ll be ready to go by the start of practice. Maybe not from a playing standpoint, but from a conditioning standpoint I do think we could be ready (to start preseason drills) by early October,” Self told The Star.
Had this been a normal school year, the Jayhawks players would have left Lawrence after final exams on May 15 and returned a mere 2 1/2 weeks later for the start of summer school classes and workouts. Players in past seasons have been allowed to work out individually and as a team with coaches eight hours per week, as long as summer school is in session, in accordance with NCAA rules.
“Teams will have to rely on individuals to be self-motivated,” Self said in a recent interview with The Star, referring to a possible summer off-campus. “Social distancing … that means one-on-one work without a gym, without a weight room. Guys will have to get creative.
“This actually is a summer kids can get ahead if they wanted to work on their game, because so many won’t.”
Self said that if his players are not on campus this summer, they would continue to receive instruction regarding their individual workouts at home.
“We’ll give them certain things to do,” Self said. “We have a very self-motivated group. They’d have to get things done on their own. We’re not the only ones in this situation. It will affect all teams the same. This is the new normal, at least for a short period of time.”
Buford’s contract extended
The NBA G League’s Wisconsin Herd exercised a second-year option on coach Chase Buford’s contract Tuesday, the team announced. Buford, a 31-year-old KU graduate, had led the Herd to a 33-10 record during the 2019-20 season, which was suspended because of the pandemic.
“Chase has done a tremendous job in his first season,” Milwaukee Bucks vice president of basketball operations and Wisconsin Herd general manager Dave Dean said Tuesday. “As an organization, we’re thrilled to have Chase return for a second season and we look forward to his leadership and continued development as we build off the current campaign.”
Buford, the son of long-time San Antonio Spurs general manager and former KU assistant coach R.C. Buford, served as assistant coach for the Delaware Blue Coats, the G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, in 2018.-19.
In 2017-18, he worked as assistant coach for the Erie BayHawks, the Atlanta Hawks’ G League team. From 2015-17, Buford was coordinator of player development for the Chicago Bulls. His career began in 2012 with the Atlanta Hawks, where he started as regional scout and was promoted to video intern.
“It is a unique place,” Buford, a member of KU’s’ 2008 NCAA title team, said of the G League in an interview with The Star last August. “It’s definitely not all the glitz and glamour of the NBA. It’s growing into a competitive league where you get to learn and do a lot. So from a developmental standpoint for players and staff like myself it’s a great place to go learn and gain experience, play games, coach games. You get a chance to do that where maybe your mistakes aren’t as magnified.”
Tamar Bates headed to IMG Academy
Tamar Bates, a 6-foot-4 senior-to-be combo guard from KC’s Piper High who is being recruited by Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State and many other programs, has decided to attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for the 2020-21 season, he reported Tuesday via Twitter.
Bates averaged 22.1 points (on 58% shooting; 46% from three; 88% from the line), 5.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals in his junior season at Piper (22-1). He’s ranked No. 94 in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com.
“I’ll definitely miss Piper. Though this decision was nowhere near as easy as people may try to make it out to be, Piper showed me love and they’ll always have a special place in my heart,” Bates told The Star Tuesday. “I have a lot of options, and KU is one of them. So, yes, I’ll still consider Kansas.”
Forbes jokes about Kentucky
New Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes is hoping to convince elite senior-to-be power forward Olivier Sarr to remain with the Demon Deacons and not transfer in the wake of Danny Manning’s dismissal as coach. Sarr has entered the NCAA’s transfer portal and is believed to be considering Kentucky, among other landing spots.
Forbes was asked Tuesday to reveal his recruiting pitch to Sarr.
“I think the most important thing is, why would you go to Wake for three years, put all that time in for a prestigious degree, and end up getting your degree at a place like Kentucky?” Forbes said during an interview with Josh Graham of WSJS radio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“That got a chuckle out of him. That’s no disrespect to Kentucky, I obviously respect them, but you know what I mean,” Forbes added. “I just think there’s a lot to be said for putting all that work in academically and not being able to finish what you started. I know those things are all important to him, and he’s said that.”
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 12:42 PM with the headline "With no classes on campus, Big 12 mandate might keep KU hoops players home this summer."
