Kansas Basketball: Carlton Bragg Jr. suspended indefinitely

Kansas basketball is going to be awfully thin up front on Saturday when they take on the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena.

What a disastrous season it’s been for Kansas sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr.

Related Story: Sam Cunliffe transfers to Kansas

After being dealt a suspension in relation to a false battery accusation, Kansas announced that Bragg is suspended for the second time this year. The cause of the suspension was not immediately announced by Bill Self and the Kansas program, but the coach did clear air by telling ESPN’s Jeff Borzello that the ban has nothing to do with the recent alleged incident that happened in McCarthy Hall on December 17.

This is terrible timing for not only Bragg but for the Kansas Jayhawks. The main weakness for KU this season is their lack of depth up front, which in turn is causing major issues with their defense.

Ever since the Jayhawks lost Udoka Azubuike to a season-ending wrist injury, Kansas’ front court has given the team no rim protection and very little rebounding and offensive production outside of Landen Lucas.

More from Kansas Jayhawks

• Kansas Basketball: Impact of Arterio Morris suspension for Jayhawks
• Kansas Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24 season
• NCAA Basketball: Impact of Kansas landing 5-star center Flory Bidunga
• Kansas Basketball: Jayhawks land a hidden gem pickup in Johnny Furphy
• Storylines abound as Kansas and UNC announce “Battle of the Blue Bloods”

Self’s team will be playing Kentucky on Saturday on the road with just one true big man. That means Lucas, and sometimes Josh Jackson will have to check Edrice ‘Bam’ Adebayo, one of the strongest and most physical forwards in the country. Mitch Lightfoot will have to receive increased minutes, but will he really have an impact against the No. 4 team in the nation in a hostile environment as a freshman?

Meanwhile, the Jayhawks’ perimeter defense will have to be stellar if they are even going to have a chance to win the game down the stretch. Kentucky’s guards will be able to penetrate and finish at the rim, especially if they get Lucas into foul trouble.

But the bigger concern is moving forward. What is going on with Bragg? Is this a long-term concern? Because if it is, this will have a great effect on whether or not the Jayhawks can make a long run in March.

Yes, Bragg is not having the breakout year we have all expected — 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game — but as mentioned previously, they don’t exactly have multiple options to go to in the paint.

Beyond that, Kansas really doesn’t have many options on their bench in general. Lagerald Vick and Bragg have been the two players that are chipping in significant minutes as of late for Kansas. Self is now going to have to open up his rotation a bit more to see if others can give him a lift.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the only distraction that Kansas is dealing with. The basketball dorm rape allegations, in which five players were listed as witnesses for, is also a significant cloud that is hanging over Kansas’ head.

Next: Conference battles shake up top 25

Obviously, basketball is secondary to the allegations, but this doesn’t bode well for Kansas’ chances against Kentucky. And more importantly, it doesn’t bode well for the program moving forward.