Kansas Basketball: Breaking down the frontcourt depth for 2018-19
By Chris Kern
Udoka Azubuike
Udoka Azubuike is an absolute monster inside. He averaged thirteen points and seven rebounds per game. Those numbers might not stand out as a guy who is one of the best bigs in college basketball.
The efficiency he has on the offensive end is absurd. He shot 77% from the field last year, which easily led the country. Yeah, he had a lot of dunks but he also showed a soft touch around the basket with a variety of post moves.
Teams did find a way to expose last season in a variety of ways. The Oklahoma Sooners went to the hack-a-Dok strategy late in their first matchup in Norman last season. Azubuike shot just one for eight that night as the Jayhawks lost by five.
A team with a stretch big matched up on Azubuike makes it very tough for him to make an impact. Villanova exposed him doing that in the Final Four last season.
Omari Speilman had a huge day as Azubuike was just to slow on many occasions to get out and contest open shots. It is worth noting that he had suffered a knee injury just a few weeks before so that slowed him down as well.
Those two weaknesses are why he’s back with the Jayhawks and not in the NBA. If he can continue to improve on those things, this could be his final season in Lawrence, Kansas.
He is going to be the bruiser on this team yet again. They’ll rely on him on both ends of the floor. He got in foul trouble often last season so the extra depth inside will help out a lot