Border War looms + KU basketball roster talk in latest Kansas Jayhawks mailbag
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas meets Missouri in first Border War football game since 2011 Saturday
- Freshman Paul Mbiya expected to serve as backup center with limited minutes
- Quarterback Isaiah Marshall gaining ground on Cole Ballard for backup spot
After a long week of anticipation, the Border War is nearly here.
Kansas will travel to Columbia to face rival Missouri in the first football matchup between the sides since 2011. Kansas coach Lance Leipold didn’t quite understand the hatred between the teams when he arrived in Lawrence, but he does now.
Kansas players have done their job of not providing any bulletin board material for the game. At times, it’s felt like KU players have been overly complimentary of Missouri.
I’m eager to see how it all unfolds Saturday.
With that, it’s time for another Kansas mailbag. Thanks, as always, for the questions!
What are we all going to talk about after the Border War? It’s been an interesting week of discourse. @DrRichardTater
Boy, that’s a good question.
Well, it depends on how the Jayhawks look against the Tigers.
If KU wins the game or loses a close one, the online discourse will be a lot more positive. But we should learn a lot about the quality of KU’s roster in its biggest test to date.
I expect Saturday’s performance to give us a better feel for this team. Missouri might end up as one of the toughest opponents KU plays this year. The Jayhawks looked good against Fresno State and Wagner, but where do they need to improve? How will they handle a true road environment?
Those will be talking points postgame.
If the Jayhawks lose this one badly, there will be a lot of disappointment and negativity all around. There will be questions about how good this Kansas team really is and what Kansas needs to add or fix to compete against its rivals.
Who do you think will be QB2 by the end of the season? @Ku_Najee
I suspect the official depth chart will continue to list Cole Ballard as the backup, but I wouldn’t be surprised if listed-third-string quarterback Isaiah Marshall is pushing him for his spot.
As I noted in my last mailbag, Marshall looked better than Ballard against Wagner (in limited snaps). Ballard quarterbacked three drives that led to just three points, while Marshall’s first drive ended with a touchdown.
On top of that, he provides a dual-threat ability that Ballard doesn’t. I asked Kansas offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski about Marshall’s play on Tuesday.
“I’m glad he got in there. … I wish we would have ended the (first) half differently,” Zebrowski said. “It gives you the chance to get guys in a tad sooner and gives those guys another series. That’s how I look at those types of moments.
“... Got the chance to see his athleticism on point. He’s fun to watch. He made some good plays. It was good to see.”
If you could pick The Booth song that will play between the 3rd and 4th quarter, what would you choose? @jaylassoku This is a fun question. After thinking it over, I’d go with “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC.
I feel like it’s the perfect song to get people hyped and would undoubtedly have people singing along. Also, can you imagine that blaring in the newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium?
The place would be rocking and certainly give the Jayhawks an edge going into the fourth quarter.
How much of an impact do you think Paul Mbiya will make this year? @Ku_Najee
I think he will play the role of KU’s backup center to Flory Bidunga.
I expect Mbiya, listed at 7-0, 245 pounds, to play about 15 minutes or so per game. Mbiya will contribute with his rebounding and interior defense, but I don’t expect him to be as good as Bidunga was for Kansas last season.
He’s just a bit raw as a freshman, and it’ll take a full season playing behind Bidunga before he’s a significant contributor for Kansas.
His 7-8 wingspan should help the Jayhawks right away, though, and his KU Athletics page projects he “will be an immediate impact player in the post,” for what it’s worth.
Feel like Bryson Tiller is being slept on and will be a factor by the end of the year. What’s his health looking like and how is the staff working with him? @double_oshoe
Things are looking good for Tiller, health-wise. He’s back to practicing and continues to progress in his rehab.
Here’s what coach Bill Self said in late July.
“He’s done great,” Self said. “His timing is off. He went a year without playing. ... Athletically, he will get better as he gets his legs underneath him. But he is a skilled guy. He’s a good player.”
Tiller should give the Jayhawks some size this year. It’ll be his first full year playing after arriving at semester last season. Listed at 6-11, 240 pounds from Overtime Elite, Tiller took some time getting healthy, but he’s drawn praise from Self since arriving on campus.
Self, in fact, has called him a future “NBA player,” so there are certainly expectations he will be pretty good. For Year 1, he’ll probably slot in at the bottom of a seven- or eight-man rotation.
