Kansas Basketball: Why Jayhawks won’t win the Big 12 in 2018-19

No. 2: The lack of experience on Kansas’ roster

Bill Self’s teams typically follow a format; at least one upperclassman as the clear leader, followed by one-two experienced players, with freshmen and sophomores filling the gaps.

This year, Kansas is far from that.

The Jayhawks’ clear leader is a transfer, Dedric Lawson. Lagerald Vick is the only impact player with real experience, but his immaturity off court prevents him from playing the roles played by players such as Perry Ellis, Frank Mason, and Devonte Graham.

Furthermore, Kansas has a glaring lack of upperclassman supporting players. Azubuike is out for the season, the aforementioned Lightfoot hasn’t made an impact, and Marcus Garrett remains quiet.

As for the rest of the Kansas team? The rest of the starting lineup past Vick and Lawson are two freshmen, and whoever starts at center, which is either Lightfoot, or another freshman, McCormack.

And that support cast that is typically so good off the bench? How about a freshman who just removed his redshirt (Ochai Agbaji), and two transfers (K.J. Lawson and Charlie Moore).

Yeah, this doesn’t bode well for conference play. Anyone who has followed the Big 12 knows that ever game is against a legitimate opponent. There are no given wins in the Big 12. As the grueling season goes on, it takes real experience to weather the storm of conference play. Kansas simply does not have this.

Maybe the youngsters will step up in leadership roles. But nothing can replicate the experience of past Big 12 runs, and the youth of Kansas’ team, even if they play as well as they have, will always lack that.