Kansas Jayhawks
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #4
Conference Rank: #1 Big 12
Kansas failed to win at least a share of the Big 12 title last year. That was the first time since Coach Bill Self’s debut season with the Jayhawks back in 2003-2004. Hopefully the rest of the Big 12 enjoyed that opportunity because this group is deep and very, very talented. Three starters may be gone and this is not the most experienced team Coach Self has ever had, but the talent is there for a Final Four run.
2018-19 Record: 26-10, 12-6
2018-19 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Bill Self
Coach Record: 473-106 at Kansas, 680-211 overall
Key Departed Players:
Dedric Lawson, Forward, 19.4 ppg
Lagerld Vick, Guard, 14.1 ppg
Quentin Grimes, Guard, 8.4 ppg
K.J. Lawson, Guard, 3.1 ppg
Charlie Moore, Guard, 2.9 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Udoka Azubuike, Senior, Center, 13.4 ppg
Devon Dotson, Sophomore, Guard, 12.3 ppg
Ochai Agbaji, Sophomore, Guard, 8.5 ppg
Marcus Garrett, Junior, Guard, 7.3 ppg
David McCormack, Sophomore, Forward, 3.9 ppg
Mitch Lightfoot, Senior, Forward, 2.4 ppg
Silvio De Sousa, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Key New Players:
Christian Braun, Freshman, Guard
Elijah Elliott, RS Freshman, Guard
Tristan Enaruna, Freshman, Guard/Forward
Dajuan Harris, Freshman, Guard
Michael Jankovich, Freshman, Guard
Isaiah Moss, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Iowa
Jalen Wilson, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
Devon Dotson, Ochai Agbaji and Marcus Garrett are back to form the heart of the backcourt. Dotson averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals as a freshman and is ready to turn into a first round NBA draft pick by the end of this season. It looked like Agbaji was going to redshirt last year, but Coach Self needed him down the stretch. Agbaji played in 22 games and was a regular starter too, averaging 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds. Garrett is mostly known for his defense, but he has turned into a decent scoring threat as well. The addition of Iowa graduate transfer Isaiah Moss will provide a very dangerous three-point shooting threat to the roster. The backcourt is very talented, but it is the frontcourt that should have the rest of the Big 12 really worried. Udoka Azubuike played in just nine games last year and a wrist injury kept him out of the NBA. He is a dominating force in the paint though and the seven-footer will dominate if he can stay healthy. As a sophomore Azubuike shot an amazing 77.0 percent from the floor and averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Silvio De Sousa is surprisingly back after his suspension last year and the Jayhawks also have experienced options in David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot. Jalen Wilson highlights the freshmen class and the 6-8 forward will add another dimension to an already dynamic frontcourt. Kansas will need to grow up quickly with so many key underclassmen on the roster, but that is nothing new in Lawrence. By the time conference play rolls around, this should be one of the best teams in the country.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.7 (92nd in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.1 (143, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.5 (60, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.8 (31, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.2 (222, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.0 (143, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.5 (179, 3)
Rebound Margin: 3.2 (75, 3)
Assists Per Game: 13.3 (188, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.4 (227, 8)
Madness 2020 NBA Draft Rankings:
#22 Ochai Agbaji
#30 Devon Dotson
#49 Udoka Azubuike
Madness 2019 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#54 Jalen Wilson
#64 Tristan Enaruna
#107 Christian Braun
