Since the NCAA Tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and eventually to 68 teams in 2011, only two programs have won back-to-back national championships. duke in 1991 and 1992 florida 2006 and 2007. As the 2022-23 season approaches, Kansas If you want to join an elite fraternity of repeat champions, there are some key holes that need to be filled from last season’s roster.
After four memorable seasons together, Ochai Agbaj and David McCormack moved from KU after being instrumental in the Jayhawks’ first title win since 2008. Brown, aggressively explosive guard Remy Martin, and venerable big man Mitch Lightfoot.
Many of the faces of the rotation will be new, but two starters are back and many talented players are poised to emerge from reserve roles and national representation. 4th Place Hiring Class Helps replace departed production. Ultimately, for a program that hasn’t missed an NCAA tournament since 1989, the drastic decline is surprising.
With the new season fast approaching, let’s take a look at the Kansas roster to decipher what the Jayhawks lineup looks like as they try to repeat as NCAA tournament champions.
Expected starting lineup
1. Dahuan Harris Jr.
6-1 | 170 | Redshirt Jr.
Harris is one of only two starters to return to KU after posting 29 minutes per game in his sophomore season in redshirts. Despite his diminutive stature and limited athleticism, he has proven to be a steady hand in promoting the Jayhawks’ offense.Harris also rips opposing balls through his handlers and is a great player on defense. Pass has a knack for sneaking into his lane. His predecessors Devon Dotson, Devonte Graham, and Frank Mason set the bar pretty high for point guards in terms of offensive production. But as long as others take on the offensive role this season, Harris can continue to thrive as a role player.
2. Kevin McCuller
6-6 | 210 | Red Shirt Senior
With three years of experience in the Big 12, texas tech, McCuller arrives at KU as one of the league’s most accomplished perimeter players. He’s a tough defender, a physical presence that can help distribute and score while also dealing with difficult defensive tasks.His 29.9% all-time 3-point percentage is just average shooter. Not so good when combined with no Harris. but, 19th transfer During the offseason, he will help KU replace Agbaji and Braun.
3. Grady Dick
6-8 | 205 | Fr.
Dick finished the 2022 recruiting cycle and ranked 21st in his class. 247 sportsAs a McDonald’s All-American and former star of powerhouse Sunrise Christian, the Wichita, Kansas native is making an immediate impact. 247 Sports Recruiting Analyst Description of Brandon Jenkins Dick is a “long, skinny shooter with a strong basketball IQ and the perfect size for a wing position.” Given that his shooter left him three points in the top four of KU in percentage terms last season, Dick’s shooting ability will be needed.
4. Jalen Wilson
6-8 | 225 | Redshirt Jr.
Wilson’s performance stagnated a bit in his redshirt sophomore season as Agbaj and Brown took his play to new heights, but he still averaged 11.1 points. Now it’s his turn for a breakout year. Wilson can score at all three levels and defend multiple positions, making him a versatile weapon type his coaches rely on in nearly any type of lineup. If he can improve his 3-point mark for his 29.8% of his career, Wilson could be his pick in the 2023 NBA Draft because of his versatility. He is the most proven player on this roster to wear a Kansas uniform.
5. Zach Clemens
6-10 | 225 | Sof.
Clemens appeared in 24 games and clocked only 118 minutes in total last season as a true freshman behind a group of veterans.But when the former four-star prospect played, he flashed the type of skill set that should excite Kansas fans, for example: in his four minutes in the 2021-22 season opener. Michigan, Clemens scored seven points, hit a three-pointer, and collected two steals. He should be very good offensively and athletic enough to block shots and defend pick-and-rolls defensively. You might be worried about his physique.
bench
MJ Rice
6-5 | 220 | Fr.
Rice earned McDonald’s All-American honors and finished the 2022 recruit cycle 37th in class, according to 247Sports. While he’s listed as a bench option here, Self revealed that Rice is looking for his first job this summer.The Durham, N.C. native Rice spent last season in Napa, Calif. Fick appeared in his prep and averaged 20.1 points per game. 247 Sports Recruiting Analyst Written by Brandon Jenkins Rice “has the physique of a Mack truck, but combines his strong frame with great athleticism and skill.”
Bobby Pettiford Jr.
6-1 | 190 | Fr.
Pettiford played a stable role in the first month of the previous season, but a promising freshman campaign was derailed by an abdominal injury. Self has had no trouble deploying Harris and Martin as an undersized duo in the 2021-22 season, which should give Pettiford plenty of time in either guard slot for Self to figure out the backcourt rotation.
KJ Adams Jr.
6-7 | 225 | Sof.
Adams was an incredibly athletic forward, appearing in 37 games as a true freshman and playing a utilitarian role. As the minutes add up, he could be the Jayhawks man highlight his reel on both ends. He’s not an outside threat, but he’s the type of player who can win plays off the bench and grow into a fan favorite as his career progresses.
Joseph Yesuf
6-0 | 180 | Jr.
Yesuf will be competing in the 2020 NCAA Tournament, DrakeIn his second season at the University of Kansas, he’s battling for a stable role after seeing his minutes drop in the NCAA Tournament last season. One diminutive guard departs with Martin, but the return of Harris and Pettiford means there are still several minutes of fighting between the diminutive guards.
depth
Ernest Uday Jr. | 6-11 | 240 |
Zby Ejiofor | 6-9 | 235 |
Cam Martin | 6-9 | 230 | Redshirt Sr.
Unless Self is ready to embrace the small-ball mantra, the Jayhawks will definitely need some help in the frontcourt when McCormack and Lightfoot depart. It looks like a good bet and Adams is likely to power forward off the bench. Ejiofor and Udeh are his four-star true freshman, but Martin is the complete opposite of his sixth-grader, who transferred from Southern Missouri last season. Martin was a Division II All-American who spent last season as a redshirt. Don’t be surprised if one of these three he joins the rotation. As a McDonald’s All-American, Udeh certainly has high school pedigree and can make an early impact.
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