For Kansas Jayhawks fans, the season really tips off Tuesday night in Chicago when their beloved team, ranked #4 in the nation, take on the #5 Kentucky Wildcats.
No offense to Tennessee State of course, but their 92-56 loss this past weekend was just a glorified scrimmage. It was only the light snack. Now comes the main course Here are three storylines to watch in the house that Michael built Tuesday night.
The Quest to Replace Frank Mason III
Mason was basically the college basketball Heisman, across the board last season. It’s going to be tough for Kansas basketball coach Bill Self to replace that kind of prolific production and leadership, but he has the pieces to potentially do so. It will likely take more than a player or two to reinforce what Mason brought to the table, but Malik Newman and Devonte’ Graham are certainly up to the task. Graham could be a NBA Draft pick, and Big 12 Player of the Year.
He is the unquestioned senior leader on this team. Newman, a Mississippi State transfer, was the #2 overall ranked recruit in the class of 2015.
McDonald’s All-American Billy Preston is another player to keep an eye on. He could be a double-double machine this season, and possibly, a NBA level talent by the end of the year if he develops. He’ll be a bit raw at the beginning of the season.
Kansas Jayhawks Seasoning vs Kentucky Wildcats Freshness
Three of the four teams in this double header have a pair of players projected into the NBA Draft lottery next June. KU is the only side that doesn’t, but they do have three or four players that might end up being first rounders by the time 2018 selection extravaganza gets here. Graham, Preston, Newman and also center Udoka Azubuke could eventually find themselves in the conversation.
While the Jayhawks do have some worries about experience and depth, especially in the front court, they will be “much older” so speak than Kentucky in this one, and you have to wonder what kind of result you’d get in this match up come March, versus what you’ll see Tuesday night.
On the other hand, don’t reach too much into NBA Draft stock reports because these days the draft is as boring and irrelevant as it has ever been, as it moves closer to becoming the baseball draft.
It’s become WAY LESS about what a guy does on the court, the production he achieves and the winning he accomplishes. Now it’s much more about measurables and raw athleticism.
The Kansas Jayhawks have a couple players who did enter the exploratory process last season, got some feedback, and have now returned to school to augment their game. Let’s see what they do with it.
Anyway, here’s a link to an in-depth profile on Kentucky and what they boast on their roster.
Can Pre-Conference College Basketball Ever Really Become a Thing?
This event is often described as a Final Four in November, and that is pretty much what you’d get in a given year if chalk held serve. Pre-conference college hoops doesn’t get any better than this- #1 Duke vs #2 Michigan State, followed by #4 Kansas Jayhawks vs #5 Kentucky Wildcats.
However, getting lots of people to care about the sport before March remains an uphill battle.
In February, a small amount of people care, as conference season winds down and the tournament draws near, but getting people to check in before the New Year is tough. It’s something we’ve written about extensively for several years, and the conclusion is always the same- there’s just too much else going on during the holiday season and sports calendar this time of the year.
Still if you’re going to get into something college basketball related before January, it ABSOLUTELY will be this.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune corporation blogging community Chicago Now.
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