Kansas Basketball: 5 reasons why the Jayhawks will be title contenders

4. Udoka Azubuike is incredible

Cornerstone centers are hard to come by in college basketball. Yet, those elite level two-way centers can impact a game more than just about any other player. In the form of Udoka Azubuike, the Jayhawks have one of the best big men in the country. A true seven-footer who affects the game on both ends of the floor, Azubuike is not only incredibly efficient but also a veteran of the game.

Now entering his junior season, Azubuike has grown tremendously over the years and is one of the best returning players in the entire nation. During this past season, Azubuike posted an outstanding season inside for the Jayhawks. Although he was far from the first offensive option for Kansas, he was still a superb inside scoring threat in addition to being an elite defender. For the year, Azubuike averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while finishing on a ridiculous 77.0% of his shots.

Even though it seems unlikely that Azubuike will emerge as an elite scorer, he functions within his offensive role better than just about any other player in the nation. He understands that he is not a floor spacing center and that he can be effective as a screener, paint finisher, and offensive rebounder. Of course, it would be beneficial if he became a better free throw shooter (41.3% FT last season), but he is already an excellent two-way presence inside for the team.