Kansas Basketball: Biggest takeaways from win over Michigan State
By Connor Hope
Dedric Lawson is a legitimate Player of the Year candidate
Heading into the season, there were some questions surrounding forward Dedric Lawson’s transition to a tougher conference. One of the best sit-out transfers to gain eligibility this season, Lawson was an incredibly productive player with Memphis.
In his first game with the Jayhawks, the redshirt junior put all doubt to rest and displayed the same all-around production he had in the AAC. Recording 20 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists, Lawson’s only flaw was his relatively low shooting efficiency. However, the tight defense also sent him to the line for 12 free throws, of which he hit 10.
When it comes to his Player of the Year contention, Lawson has perhaps the best chance to make a case out of the Big 12. Between his incredibly productive minutes and position as the first option on the nation’s top ranked team, Lawson has just as good a shot as any to win the most prestigious individual award in all of college basketball.