KU basketball returns All-American & national champs. Social media tells another story
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson is perhaps the most “online” college basketball star in the Big 12.
At the very least, he undoubtedly uses social media more than any other KU basketball player. So if you’ve tweeted about the Jayhawks in the last year, there’s a decent chance Dickinson has seen it.
Last season, Dickinson referenced KU burner accounts — anonymous fans, often students — who heavily post about the team. Naturally, when Kansas struggled last season, that conversation turned ugly.
Much of last year’s social media scrutiny centered around two members of the Jayhawks’ starting five: point guard Dajuan Harris and forward KJ Adams, both 2022 national championship winners, though Dickinson was not immune from it himself.
“I feel like there are a lot of hot takes after losses with Kansas basketball,” Dickinson said. “Deservingly so. They are used to a standard here that’s been set, especially with coach (Bill) Self, but also the coaches before him. There’s a standard we have to uphold here, especially with NIL and players making money — expectations are even higher.”
As KU prepares to start another season shortly, the Jayhawks’ starting lineup is still in question, but spots occupied by Harris, Adams and Dickinson are not up for grabs, according to Self.
While Self hopes that group can play fewer minutes this season — aiming for around 30 minutes a game — he’s planning to lean on them once again. (Transfer guard Zeke Mayo also appears to have a starting position at this time.)
“I don’t know what coach is going to do, because he might play us again at 35 minutes,” Harris said. “I don’t even know. I don’t like getting out of the games anyway, but it’s going to help me out because we have better guards.”
Harris told The Star the competition between transfers Rylan Griffen (Alabama) and AJ Storr (Wisconsin) is fierce.
No matter who the fifth starter is, there will be areas the Jayhawks need to improve in. Among them: Can they shoot better from deep? On paper, the answer is yes, as Griffen, Storr and Mayo are all capable shooters.
The starting five, though, is another question. Adams doesn’t shoot 3s, and Harris is a reluctant shooter. That’s part of what made them targets for scrutiny last year.
Dickinson, a returning second-team All-American, was asked about what fans can miss when they criticize players, and he called upon another example from last season.
“They don’t see the behind-the-scenes stuff,” Dickinson said. “Last year, with Nick Timberlake, fans were not the highest on (him), but seeing him come to work every day and getting extra shots with coach (Joe) Dooley and stuff like that, you feel for the guy. But there’s definitely another side to the work that’s put in behind closed doors.”
NIL, Dickinson continued, has added a new element to the criticism
“You’ve got to produce nowadays with NIL,” Dickinson said, “or else there’s going to be calls for people’s jobs with players and stuff.”
Dickinson, to his credit, has often had teammates’ backs in a public setting. On several occasions last season, he praised Adams and Harris.
Advanced numbers, such as lineup data at EvanMiya.com, also seemed to favor that duo when in the Jayhawks’ starting group.
“These two are probably the most unselfish guys I’ve played with in terms of really not caring about the accolades. They just want to see Kansas win,” Dickinson said. “They are so fun to play with. They always do the right stuff. They are super solid on defense. It’s a joy to play with them. I wish I could play with them longer, but I am trying to make the most out of it this year.”
As the three players enters their last season of playing basketball together, the goal is simple: win as much as possible.
The Jayhawks have lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in two straight seasons, but expectations for 2024-25 are high. Kansas, in fact, was ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll.
“I’m tired of losing in the first weekend and watching everyone else play the next four (games),” Harris said. “I want to go out with a bang. I know they do, too. We are all seniors.”
