Kansas Basketball: Udoka Azubuike’s return changes everything for Jayhawks

Kansas Basketball fans breathed a sigh of relief on Monday as it was announced that junior center Udoka Azubuike will be returning for his senior season.

With multiple players declaring for the NBA Draft — and Kansas Basketball Head Coach Bill Self falling behind his fellow blue-blood coaches in terms of recruiting — anxiety was beginning to set in regarding the positive outlook of next year’s roster. But with the return of the 7-foot behemoth in Udoka Azubuike, the optimism from the fanbase has quickly returned.

The Nigerian native Azubuike is such a major addition to next year’s Kansas team because his strength, size, and length make him a mismatch the second he steps on the floor.

With how well he creates positioning in the low post, along with his significantly improved touch around the rim, the only way to take Azubuike out of the game offensively is to double team him. And when that happens, open 3-pointers and lanes to the basket appear.

Along with being a player of pure power, his basketball IQ is every bit as impressive. Azubuike takes shot attempts strictly inside the paint because he’s fully aware that’s where his greatest strength lies. You’ll never see him attempting shots outside of five feet.

Yes, his free throw shooting is abysmal, but he’s as good of a pure center as a team could ask for.

Despite all the skills that he possesses, Azubuike’s career as a Jayhawk can be best described as hapless. He’s dealt with an injury of some sort every year of his career. And in two of those year’s he missed the NCAA Tournament completely. But when healthy, Azubuike is one of the most dominant players in college basketball.

There are no 2019 recruits or returning players that would immediately impact Kansas more favorably. Why? Look no further than last season.

In games with their junior center playing, the Jayhawks were undefeated including 2 wins against Top-5 ranked teams. Kansas went from a great team with Azubuike active to a good one at best with him injured.

Keeping him on the floor will be priority number 1 for the 2019-20 Kansas Basketball team. Assuming he will be able to stay healthy, the biggest question is: how good can Kansas be now?

Kansas is a legitimate Top-10 team with him. But as of now, there are too many moving parts to place them on the top-tier level of teams. It remains to be seen if Devon Dotson, Quentin Grimes, and Silvio De Sousa will be in a Jayhawk uniform next year.

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If I was a betting man, I would predict Devon Dotson to be the lone returner out of the 3. I believe Quentin Grimes was planning on leaving after his freshman season no matter what. And with De Sousa, well, I have no reason to be hopeful for any positive decision regarding NCAA.

In this hypothetical, KU’s roster would look as follows:

Returners: Udoka Azubuike, Devon Dotson, Marcus Garrett, Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, Mitch Lightfoot, Chris Teahan, Elijah Elliot, and Garrett Luinstra.

Committed Incoming Recruits: Issac McBride and Christian Braun.

With Teahan, Elliot, and Luinstra being walk-on players, Kansas will have multiple scholarships still available.

To fill that void, Bill Self has been heavily pursuing the abundant transfer market.

Talented Stephen F. Austin grad transfer TJ Holyfield visited Kansas this past weekend. And one of the most coveted grad transfers on the market from Arkansas-Little Rock, Rayjon Tucker, is planning to visit Kansas next weekend.

Landing one of these grad transfers would steadily improve KU’s depth, maturity, and outside shooting ability (Both players shot over 40% from 3 last season).

Kansas has missed on multiple 5-Star class of 2019 recruits, but they are still in the running for a few other big-time talents including 5-Star Small Forward Precious Achuiwa and 4-Star Small Forward Tristan Enaruna.

With his track record in late-spring recruiting, Bill Self — as he always seems to do — will likely add more quality pieces to complement his star big man. But there are plenty of other returners to be excited about as well.

Dotson (hypothetically) has the ability to be the best point guard in the country next year, Ochai Agbaji will likely be a 1st round pick in the 2020 draft, David McCormack will be an absolute force down low, and every program in the country would take role players such as Marcus Garrett and Mitch Lightfoot.

If they are able to play to their potential, the Udoka Azubuike led Kansas Jayhawks can have a very special 2019-20 season.