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NCAA Basketball: 8 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

By Brian Rauf

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

3) Kansas will be the top team that struggles the most

Kansas is the top-ranked team in the preseason AP poll and, while I think the Jayhawks certainly have a lot of talent, I don’t think they’re the best team in the country. In fact, I see plenty of potential pitfalls for Kansas.

They have to replace their top three scorers from last season (Devonte’ Graham, Svi Mykhailuk, Malik Newman, who combined for nearly 57 percent of their scoring) and, if Silvio De Sousa remains out, only four players will return from last year’s team. Of those, only two (Lagerald Vick, Udoka Azubuike) played big roles.

Of course, Kansas is re-loading with a star-studded recruiting class and some high-profile transfers. Five-star guards Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes are projected to start in the backcourt. This is some unfamiliar ground for head coach Bill Self, as he’s only had multiple freshman guards starting once (Andrew Wiggins, Wayne Seldon, Frank Mason) in the past decade.

Uncoincidentally, that is the last time the Jayhawks lost at least 10 games.

Without their usual experience in the backcourt, the Jayhawks are relying on transfers in Dedric and K.J. Lawson (Memphis) and Charlie Moore (Cal) to bring that experience. Significant hype comes with Dedric Lawson, who was a preseason first-team All-American selection.

He’s a spectacular individual talent (19.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.3 apg in 2016-17) but didn’t show any leadership at Memphis. The Tigers didn’t make the NCAA Tournament in his two years and he had consistent problems with former head coach Tubby Smith. Kansas even suspended him last year.

I’m not saying that Kansas is going to see their streak of Big 12 titles end this year. I don’t think the conference is deep enough, even though Kansas State may give them a run, and they still have a good deal of talent. But with a lack of experience, leadership, and pair of players that caused internal programs with their former team, the recipe is there for KU to disappoint this year.

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