Kansas Basketball: What the Jayhawks need to do to win NIT Season Tip-Off
By Rylan Stiles
How the Jayhawks can win the NIT Season Tip-Off
Starting with Marquette, the Golden Eagles have a dreadful defense. The Aforementioned shorthanded Hoosiers almost hung 100 points on Marquette.
However, they do stroke the three-ball extremely well. Marquette averages nine three-pointers a game, on 33 percent shooting. The Eagles have a ton of versatile guards that could get the Jayhawk bigs in foul trouble early. Both Udoka Azubuike and Dedric Lawson picked up two early fouls against Louisiana in the first half. As Kansas fans know, Bill Self has a quick hook when it comes to bigs picking up two fouls in the first half.
The Jayhawks give up eleven three-pointers per game, and opposing teams are shooting 38-percent from beyond the arc through three games. Two games of which came at home to mid-majors. That is a worrisome development.
Defensively, the Jayhawks have lacked an ability to rotate and communicate effectively, which has to change with the slate of games they could see in New York this week.
Many project Kansas to take care of the Marquette Golden Eagles, and the Tennessee Volunteers to top the Lousiville Cardinals, setting up the aforementioned #2 vs #5 title game.
If that happens, Kansas will have an uphill battle against Rick Barnes’ squad. The Volunteers are a veteran-led team.
Reigning SEC player of the year Grant Williams returns for the Vols, as does big man Admiral Schofield.
Williams averaged 15 points per game a year ago, and through three games this year, Williams is posting 22 points per contest. While the Vols only hoist six three-pointers per game, the veteran littered squad has great ball movement and will find the open man. That will hurt the Jayhawks, who as mentioned, has lacked the team aspect of defense.