2008-2009 Kansas Men's Basketball Preview: Rebuilding/Reloading Season

Coming off one of the best seasons the University of Kansas has ever had, the Jayhawks begin to reload with the number two recruiting class for 2008.  With six seniors leaving and some players expected to declare for the draft, Bill Self knew he was going to have to do a lot of recruiting.  

Kansas' entire starting line-up will be replaced for the '08-09 season, but two of those replacements will be McDonald's All-Americans Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich.  The rest of the team will be mainly freshmen.  

Kansas will also have another tough conference schedule, facing opponents like Texas, who lost D.J. Augustin but will be returning players such as Damion James and A.J. Abrams.  KU will also be challenged by Oklahoma, who return talented forward Blake Griffin and will have incoming freshman sensation Willie Warren. 

With so many players leaving for the NBA Draft and graduating, it may take a bit for them to become an elite team in the upcoming season.  But you never know.  This is Kansas—a final four or national title is expected almost every year.

NBA Draft Entrees:

Junior Guard Brandon Rush

Junior Guard Mario Chalmers

Sophomore Forward Darrell Arthur

Graduations:

Guard Rodrick Stewart

Guard Jeremy Case

Guard Russell Robinson

Forward Darnell Jackson

Center Sasha Kaun

Guard Brad Witherspoon

Returning Scholarship Players:

Junior Guard Sherron Collins

Sophomore Guard Tyrel Reed

Sophomore Center Cole Aldrich

Junior Guard Brady Morningstar

Returning Walk-Ons:

Matt Kleinman

Brenan Brechard

Chase Buford

Connor Teahan

2008-2009 Recruits (No. 2 Recruiting Class in the Nation):

Guard Travis Releford

Guard Tyrone Appleton

Guard Tyshawn Taylor

Guard Mario Little

Forward Marcus Morris

Forward Markief Morris

Forward Quintrell Thomas

Predicted 2008-2009 Starting Line-up:

Point Guard: Sherron Collins

Shooting Guard: Tyrel Reed

Small Forward: Mario Little

Power Forward: Marcus Morris

Center: Cole Aldrich

Minutes Off The Bench:

Tyshawn Taylor

Markief Morris

Brady Morningstar

Quintrell Thomas