Jayhawk Slant Mailbag: February first edition

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slime1728 asks: When you reach out to a recruit and they don't answer relatively quick, how long do you give them before shooting another text or call?

Shay: I generally try to wait a couple of days to hear back from a recruit/coach/family/guardian, etc. Between school, practice, games, visits, and other obligations, I like to wait a few days, or even longer, before I try again. I fully understand how busy life can be for a teenager, especially one that is being recruited at the highest level.

slime1728 asks: When you and other experts make picks on where kids will be going to school, where does your pick come from? Like Bossi, or your feeling on your conversations with them? Another outside source? Immediate family of the recruit?

Shay: I really don’t feel comfortable speaking for anybody else, but as far as my picks go, I generally get the best feeling by talking to other people in the industry, the recruit, or a family member. On a number of occasions, I’ve built enough trust with a recruit to where he’ll tell me before hand, allow me to write the story and then post the story right after he’s announced. In this business, trust is as important as anything and takes time to build. Without trust, you’ve really got, in my opinion, nothing.

Rookiecards asks: You get to work around, interview, and generally learn the game of basketball around a man (Coach Self) that is a top 1% professional in his profession. Do you ever think about that? What have you learned the most from Coach that you apply to your everyday life?

Shay: This is absolutely a great question. Words can’t begin to describe how thankful I am to be in the position I am right now. I think about how fortunate I am each and every day, and it’s something that I would never take for granted. The thing about Coach Self, at least in my opinion, is the impact he has on the lives of so many people off the court. Win or lose, good day or bad, he’s demeanor, attitude and, to take it a step further, his interaction with the media never changes. I’ve never seen him forget a name or a face, which is something I’ve always greatly respected and admired about Coach Self.

Coach Self has always said there is no other place he’d want to coach. He has the best job in college basketball and embraces that each and every day. He makes each and every day count, so if there’s one thing I’ve tried to apply in all of my dealings with Coach Self, its applying that to my daily life – at least as best I can. For me, covering the best team in college basketball on daily basis is an absolute joy and not something most people don't get to experience. For that, I’m very grateful.

Ku15jayhawk asks: Do you feel like the success HCBS has had here will have any sort of impact on who ultimately becomes his replacement whenever he retires? Do you think potential replacements may be scared off by the expectations Bill has now and will continue to set? How can his replacement be considered a success in your eyes?

Shay: When the time comes, I expect Kansas to look for the best possible replacement available at the time. When Coach Roy Williams left for North Carolina, Bill Self was tagged as the man to replace Williams. Since taking over the program, Self has been absolutely sensational. Never in a million years did I envision Self having the type of success he’s had during his tenure.

Well, I guess that Self’s replacement could be scared off by the current expectations, but if that’s the case, do you really want that individual leading your program? Self wasn’t scares off by what Coach Williams left behind and look what he’s done. When coaching at a program like Kansas, the expectations will also be high. You either embrace that or you look elsewhere.

Coach Self’s replacement will certainly have his hands full. At the end of the day, he’ll be looked upon to keep the program rolling at the highest level. Competing for Big 12 championships, national championships, recruiting elite players, and maintaining a high level of excellence will be critical. Coach Self, without question, has set the bar extremely high.

Punkie1950 asks: At the clinic for the kids involved with Special Olympics Sunday afternoon, DeVonte' had his right hand wrapped, but it was stated that he'd be ok by Wednesday. What happened?

Shay: I was at the clinic on Sunday and Self was asked about this. Basically, Self said he had no idea it was wrapped and had no idea why it was wrapped. Just from talking to Self, it sounds like it’s not a big deal at all.

JThommmm asks: The recruit your most surprised didn't end up at Kansas since you've covered KU.

Shay: Kaleb Tarczewski, and there’s no doubt about that. I was just about as sure as you can be that he was going to sign with Kansas and have a big-time impact on the program. Tarczewski was going to be KU’s big man in the middle and have an immediate impact. His decision to attend Arizona, I still can’t believe it.

Cromwell asks: What's been the deal with Lucas' right wrist? Has it hindered him?

Shay: I’ve asked about his wrist several times and haven’t really gotten anything specific in return. My guess is it’s just bothering him a little bit and the best option is to tape it up and keep moving forward. Really, if its bother Landen on the court, I haven’t noticed at all.

JThommmm asks: Who is your favorite player you've ever covered? Also, who was your favorite player strictly on the court under Self? What about least favorite in both categories?

Shay: Well, the first two are probably the same player. One of my all-time favorite guys to cover is also one of my all-time favorite players overall – Russell Robinson. Russ has always been great to me and I’ve never forgotten that. When he first decided to commit to Kansas, I remember he called me from the Rice High School lunch room to tell me he had just committed.

Russ, at the time, talked to me about his visit and how he went to Potter Lake with all of the students after Kansas beat Missouri that Saturday in football. He talked about how he helped carry the goalposts to Potter Lake with all of the students, lost his host and felt right at home.

During his career at Kansas, Russ never changed in my eyes. He always treated me very well and was one of those guys that called me by my name, always had a smile on his face and most of the time greeted me with a handshake.

One of the last conversations we had took place the day Kansas left for San Antonio to prepare for UNC in the Final Four. There was media availability that day and Russ, and I’ll never forget his excitement or the look in his eyes, was as calm and cool as he could have been. Yes, I could tell he was excited about the opportunity Kansas was faced with, but he never lost that edge or focus he played with on the court.

Honestly, I don’t have a least favorite. All of the guys I’ve covered, whether they attended Kansas or went elsewhere, have been good to work with.

300milestoGoodland asks: What is with everyone yelling at Svi. I know he makes mistakes but do it privately.

Shay: Honestly, I’ve got no idea what was going on with Svi or why. Truthfully, I’ve got no idea what occurred or why.

ESUStorm4Hawks asks: What are your top position battles you will be keeping an eye on during Spring ball this year?

JK: Obviously it starts at quarterback with Carter Stanley and Peyton Bender. We haven’t seen Bender in a KU uniform yet and we really only got to see Stanley for about three games.

The most intense competition I feel will be along the offensive line. You have 12 players who will compete and many of them have game experience.

The biggest unknown is the secondary. Take away Mike Lee who will be a starter at safety and you have a host of players that will try to win jobs at the nickel, safety, and corner spots.

Ashley Schaeffer Kia asks: Any whispers of stadium renderings?

JK: Not long ago KU AD Sheahon Zenger said in an interview with Brain Hanni that the main focus right now is taking care of the upgrades that benefits the players and the program. So far that has paid off talking to players and recruits how well the new renovations have paid off. Zenger said he spoke with Beaty about what’s important to the program, and Beaty told him the upgrades inside the facility first.

I have heard in the last 30 days there have been meetings and new drawings exist. Keep in mind that is going to be a $200-million plus project. When it develops it will take everyone on board not just athletics. It will be a University-wide effort and will start at the top.

JayhawkA asks: Who are the best looking returning cheerleaders? Any updated measurements?

JK: We don’t have Rivals Camps or combines for the cheerleaders. Also no Hudl film is available.

Doctordave77 asks: How is Tyriek Starks developing? Has he picked up the Air Raid concept yet? Is it essentially a 2 man contest for QB, or has Starks improved enough to make it a 3-man race going into this Spring?

JK: Starks was in a new system trying to pick everything up last year. He also was the scout team quarterback. Talking to players and coaches he has good arm strength and mobility. The talent is there. But it will still more developmental time and that’s okay. No need to rush him along. I believe the spring will be a two-man race for now.

Otis Livingston asks: Is a hot dog a sandwich? how many starters do you expect to be on special teams?

JK: Anytime you put something between bread or a bun and put ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, or whatever on it…. it is absolutely a sandwich.

They want to use starters on special teams as much as possible. But it also comes down to depth issues. Last year when Dineen and Roberts were injured they went with Arnick and Loneker in the line-up. Both of them were playing special teams. So they couldn’t afford any more injuries and that created a void in special teams. ST coordinator Joe DeForest said they want to use starters but they also have to look at the overall condition of the depth chart.

McLouthJaybird asks: How is Schadler doing? Will he be ready in September?

JK: I will have to dig around. I heard he is in workouts so that is a good start.

SemperFiHawk asks: Who do you think wins out at the corner back positions? How does the competition look there with the additions of the JUCO's?

JK: I think the competition at the corner position is one of the biggest unknowns going into the spring. You have very few players with a lot of sample game time to judge by. The fact the coaches made a priority to bring in two junior college corners at mid-year should tell you they felt they needed more competition there. There are going to be eight players competing for spots at cornerback and it is wide open.

McGuzzo asks: Is Charlot going to be the KR and PR guy or do you see possibly a new guy helping out back there since Charlot will probably see a lot of snaps on offense?

JK: I think Charlot is my odds-on favorite as the punt returner. When I spoke with him last month he said he has never returned kickoffs much. He said he feels more comfortable as a punt return man.