Leipold's Not Perfect (and That's the Point) + Major Recruiting Wins📈

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• 🔒🏀 KU Hoops could add player this year

• 🏈 Lance Leipold and football recruiting

• 🏀 Quick look: KU-UNC Wilmington

• 📝 Quick Links: Major Big 12 TV News

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EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

🚨 Hearing: KU Hoops Could Add Player Mid-Season

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KU Football: Lance Leipold’s Imperfection and Recruiting 📈

First, if you’re going to the Colorado game, check out JTTailgates’ KU Football tailgate:

• Craft food menu

• Assorted beverages

• Games and music

• Starts at 11am CT in the west end of Lot G @ Arrowhead Stadium

• I’ve heard great things from people who have attended JT’s Tailgates

Join the tailgate here.

1) The case for Lance Leipold

Lance Leipold isn’t perfect. And that’s probably what makes him right for KU.

The coach has flaws: Some in-game decisions backfire, recruiting isn’t his sweet spot, he can be a bit awkward with media, and his willingness to fight for resources sometimes comes off as unappreciative.

All of it might make him the perfect fit for a Kansas football that has desperately needed a coach willing to scrape and claw for every single inch. His steadiness kept this KU team together when it had every reason to fall apart.

For years KU churned through coordinators and QBs with as much success as Kansas State has National Championships: None.

Leipold chose a different path. When pressured to move on from new OC Jeff Grimes — and to give up on QB Jalon Daniels — he did neither. Stability, substance, and consistency were his answer.

Saving KU football was never going to be easy. The rebuild was always going to be defined by how the coach and team would respond to adversity.

So far, so good.

The Numbers vs. FBS Competition

Before Leipold:

• Lost by 21.62 points on average

• Ranked 113th+ in 10 of 11 seasons

With Leipold:

• +3.8 scoring margin last three years

• Rankings: 84th → 32nd → 61st currently

Given the frustrating year, it’s worth the reminder that KU’s best path forward is to keep steady and keep fighting — every inch of the way.

Or as Mark Mangino would say: Keep Sawin’ Wood.

2) Football Recruiting Momentum 📈

The Jayhawks have landed a flurry of recruits lately. Here’s a breakdown of the latest key additions.

Justin Thurman (RB)

• Picked Kansas on Monday

• Thurman had been a long-time Notre Dame commit, but hasn’t been quite as electric his senior season

• While ND may have been iffy on Thurman, the Jayhawks were happy to take the once highly-touted RB

• KU’s staff has a good track record with developing running backs

Bangally Kamara (LB)

• Kamara was a huge pickup for the Jayhawks

• He’s a transfer from South Carolina and Pitt

• PFF Grades:

  • 81.6 at South Carolina (70 snaps)

  • 69.9 at Pitt (504 snaps)

    • His South Carolina grade would rank second on KU’s defense.

    • The Pitt grade would rank fourth.

Jaden Nickens (WR and Hoops Player)

• Nickens is a big-time WR pickup for the Jayhawks. He’ll also play basketball at KU

  • I’d think he’s more of a walk-on caliber hoops player

• He’s a legit 4-star WR, ranked No. 29 WR nationally (247Sports)

• The 6’3” WR may not be ready right away, but he’s got a high ceiling and projects well over the long-haul

Bryson Hayes, 3-star WR (former Nebraska commit)

• Former Nebraska commit

• Local product out of Maize

• Known for his speed

• Hayes also held offers from Iowa State and Kansas State.

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Quick Look for Today’s KU Game

• 🏟️ UNC Wilmington @ Kansas, 7pm CT

• 📺 ESPN+

• 💰 Kansas favored by 22.5 points.

What to know about UNC Wilmington:

• Finished 21-10 last season

• 3-0 start, ranked No. 160 on Kenpom

  • Averaging 108 points per game (mostly because it scored 143 against something called Mount Olive)

• Likes to play fast, 80th percentile in transition offense

• Ranked No. 1 in free throw rate

• No. 348 in three-point shooting %

• Led by senior guard Donovan Newby (22.7 ppg, 46% 3-pt shooting)

Quick Take:

I have a hard time seeing a fast-paced game ending well for a decent UNC Wilmington that has yet to be tested.

The Jayhawks should get open looks if their opponent doesn’t change their style of play.

I like KU to score a lot of points in a solid win.

🏀🏈 Wave goodbye to ESPN+ and say hello to TNT. The Big 12 is reportedly moving 13 football games and 15 basketball games off ESPN+ to TNT & TBS. Read about the change here. 👏👏

🏀 Watch Bill Self’s new banner get unveiled to a deserving roar from the Allen Fieldhouse crowd.

🏈 KU is giving away 2 pregame sideline passes and 2 in-game field passes to fans who have tickets to the Colorado game. Reply here for a chance to win.

🏀🏈 The Could Be Wrong podcast was live last night breaking down KU football’s resurgence and AJ Storr’s importance to the basketball team.

Listen on Spotify | Apple and watch on YouTube.