Udoka Azubuike is returning for another campaign after missing the majority of last season due to injury. He only played in nine games last season but was an All-Big 12 selection in 2017-18. An impressive physical big man at 7-foot-0 and 270 pounds, Azubuike dominates the paint. His offensive game has grown tremendously over the past few years as he is more than just a lob-it-up finisher. Azubuike now boasts a variety of moves around the basket and he is one of the most efficient scorers in the country.
Furthermore, Azubuike is a strong rebounder and does an exceptional job on the defensive end of the floor. His work as a rim-protector is a vital part of Kansas’ defense and he should hold down the fort once again this season. During his last full season (2017-18), Azubuike averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 23.6 minutes per game while shooting a whopping 77.0% from the field. It is reasonable to expect that he posts at least similar numbers during this coming campaign and that will make him a viable contender for this award.
Azubuike was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, but I am higher on one of his teammates in these NPOY rankings (stay tuned). Either way, Azubuike will be a top-notch contributor in the paint for a potential national title caliber team in the Jayhawks. He is a proven star and it will be interesting to see what he has added to his game in recent months. Simply improving on his career 39.4% shooting from the free-throw line would really help.