Let's forget about our glaring flaws and fixate on Johnny Furphy!

photo via KUAD

A star is born!

Ever since his first bit of run at KU, our fanbase could tell Johnny Furphy had something. Against Cincy on Monday night, he was the best player on the floor—and kept it going for a full game, not just the first half like in the West Virginia game where it was clear he tired himself out.

That three-point setup from the wings is pure, and he glides toward the rim like a deer leaping over a babbling brook. Rejoice! Furphmania has arrived!

Though it now seems like it was merely a matter of time before Furphy established himself as the fifth starter, his shooting and offensive rebounding fill two major holes in KU’s approach. With Elmarko Jackson in the starting five, KU played small, and the floor could feel crowded. Furphy’s size, shooting and dexterity allows our sets to breathe a little more. Furphy is also unexpectedly crafty in transition and a courageous finisher at the rim. He needs to move his feet and he needs to get stronger, sure, but the game has already slowed down for Furphy so much. He’s seeing through time, a little. KU will need every minute of it.

Before I move on, I want to talk about the elephant in the room—Furphy’s haircut. It’s a bit of a shag that also involves a middle part, two qualities that shouldn’t successfully co-exist. But they do! I think that’s a good metaphor for the rest of Furphy’s game, and I’d ask all Streakers to take a moment to reflect on this, at their convenience.

For a while, I refused to ask myself, Why is he here? Furphy is a year young for the level and not an American. His home pro league, the NBL, has proven to be a rock-solid training ground for future NBA players and prospects, like LaMelo Ball. According to light Googling, NIL money is probably better than the money Furphy could make as a prospect in the NBL, but it’s also a billion miles from home. I love the idea of an Australian family trying to figure out what the hell the American public university system is. It’s important to underline that I am not mad about the situation at all—he’s here and he’s perfect.

This conference is going to be a bloodbath—I’m talking “five-way tie at 11-7” level bloodbath. Hang in there, Jayhawks. One of the season’s most annoying games tips at 12:30 PM CT, and we’ll be chatting about it. I hope to see you there!