Big 12 Basketball: Top 5 rising juniors for 2018-19
By Brian Rauf
1. Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
As good as Konate is, the distinction of best big man in the Big 12 belongs to Udoka Azubuike, who returned to Lawrence for his third season after racking up All-Big 12 Third Team honors a year ago.
Azubuike was dominant at times last season but was not the focal point of the offense. That distinction belonged to Devonte’ Graham – with Malik Newman breaking out late in the year – but with both players gone, everything will run through Azubuike this year.
Head coach Bill Self as a history of producing successful teams led by an elite big man, starting with Darrell Arthur to Cole Aldrich to the Morris twins to Thomas Robinson to Joel Embiid. In fact, all three of KU’s Final Four appearances under Self have come when they’ve had a dominant center they can rely on (Arthur in 2008, Robinson in 2012, Azubuike in 2018).
Azubuike knows his strengths, too. He’s dominant around the rim and led the country in field goal percentage (77 percent) because of it. Yes, he needs to become a much better free throw shooter, but it’s virtually impossible to stop him in the post – and he’s (likely) going to be getting the ball a lot more in position to score.
Throw in his shot-blocking prowess (1.7 per game), while not on Konate’s level, and it makes him a solid All-American candidate.
Next: Preseason Big 12 Rankings for 2018-19
Azubuike and Kanate will be the juniors (and the big men) you’ll hear the most about on both the national stage and in the Big 12, but all of these players will play crucial roles for their respective teams.