Kansas Basketball: 5 reasons Jayhawks will win Big 12 title in 2019-20

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: The Kansas Jayhawks mascot performs during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates with the trophy after Kansas’ 87-81 win over Tennessee Volunteers at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Barclays Center on November 23, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

5. Wealth of veteran experience

They may not be the names the country is most familiar with, but there are plenty of upperclassmen ready to contribute to the Jayhawks.

Chief among the veterans returning to Kansas is big man Udoka Azubuike. There was some chance he was going to leave for the pros, so his return is very meaningful for Kansas. He averaged 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 2018-19 but only played in nine contests before suffering a season-ending wrist injury.

Senior forward Mitch Lightfoot will be back as well. He isn’t a star contributor, but he’s an important depth piece for the Jayhawks, playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.7 minutes per contest. Senior guard Isaiah Moss is joining the fold as a grad transfer from Iowa. He could be a sneaky good pick-up for Kansas, coming off a season where he shot 42.1 percent from 3-point range.

With an improvement in 3-point shooting, junior Marcus Garrett could be ready to take the next step in his game, following a season in which he averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

All of these veterans make a difference in a sport where the driving narrative is the one-and-done player. The most important returning veteran, however, may be one who didn’t play a single minute last season.

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