Kansas' newest luxury item

Good morning! Are you still feeling patriotic after Team USA’s impressive Olympic showing?

Let’s dive into some college hoops news you may have missed amid the cheering.

1. David Coit’s role at Kansas: ‘stretch the floor’

The rumors about Kansas and Northern Illinois guard David Coit turned out to be true. He announced Friday that he’ll be in Lawrence next season.

The senior guard who averaged 20.8 ppg — 24th in D-I hoops — recently received clearance from the NCAA for another season. He’d been in the portal since early spring, but it wasn’t clear if he’d be eligible for 2024-25.

Well, he joins an already stacked Kansas roster that added five other transfers this offseason:

• AJ Storr (Wisconsin wing, 16.8 ppg)

• Rylen Griffen (Alabama wing, 11.3 ppg, 39.1% on 3s)

• Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State guard, 18.8 ppg, 39.1% on 3s)

• Shakeel Moore (Miss State guard, 7.9 ppg, 3.5 apg)

• Noah Shelby (Rice guard; he’ll be a preferred walk-on and redshirt)

It also brings the Jayhawks’ roster to 13 scholarship players. As part of self-imposed NCAA penalties, Kansas agreed to reduce its scholarship limit by one in either the 2024-25 season or the 2025-26 season. But with the NCAA expected to raise scholarships to 15, Kansas can load up and worry about that overall reduction next season.

With all that out of the way, how will Coit a 5-11 guard who doesn’t play much defense, fit into the Kansas rotation?

As Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman discussed on their Offseason Grades video, coach Bill Self already revamped the roster to account for Kansas’ two biggest issues last season: depth and perimeter shooting.

Griffen and Mayo are both reliable outside threats. Storr can shoot it, but is more of a slasher. Moore and Harris can hit open 3s.

Coit is more like Griffen and Mayo. He’s a career .36% shooter beyond the arc, and those have been volume 3s (461 attempts in two seasons; or twice what Dajaun Harris has attempted in four seasons). His job is to score or stretch the defense and help everyone else score.

"They want me to stretch the floor, play make, play on and off the ball and just be a combo guard. I'll be tasked with using my ability to score and shoot, but also play and make it easier for the guys around me. That was the point of emphasis in my recruitment,” he told 247 Sports. “Playing with other great players is when I play my best. I enjoy scoring, but I also enjoy being unselfish and being able to make plays for others. That's what I was looking for and that's what they had to offer me."

At least one analyst likes what Coit can do as an energizer off the bench. But playing time won’t be a given. Not with the new guards, and especially not with Harris there. He played 89% of Kansas’ available minutes last season. He could use the rest, but Self’s trust in smaller guards who can’t play defense and don’t know the offense hasn’t always been high.

At worst, he’s a luxury item on the bench for a team with national title expectations. That’s a nice item to have.

2. George Mason’s trip that wasn’t

Maybe I need to start investing in travel insurance. Because this certainly makes me think twice about any trip I’ve booked.

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