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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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Silvio De Sousa #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts after being defeated by the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. Villanova defeated Kansas 95-79. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

4. Silvio de Sousa has landed

For some time, it seemed as if this day would never come. One of the lengthiest eligibility battles in college basketball history pitted the NCAA against Kansas big man Silvio de Sousa, with the former coming out on top at nearly every turn. One ruling stated de Sousa would be ineligible for both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season, the possibility of the Angolan native ever playing again for Kansas dwindling by the day.

Alas, an appeal resulted in a May ruling declaring de Sousa eligible for the coming season. Despite all of the drama accompanying his arrival, de Sousa stuck it out and will be tasked with an important role immediately for Bill Self’s squad.

de Sousa played sparingly during the 2017-18 season after arriving late in the year, averaging just 8.8 minutes per game. While bringing down 3.7 rebounds per contest, however, the big man brushed up against his potential as a disruptor, grabbing ten rebounds against Duke in the Elite Eight.

Perhaps de Sousa would be something resembling a finished product (for a college player, anyways) had he suited up for a single minute over the past year. Instead, his game remains shrouded in mystery for most.

If he can adequately slot in next to Azubuike, the Jayhawks could have one of the nation’s best frontcourts.

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