Busting Brackets
Fansided

Kansas Basketball: Can Jayhawks play Azubuike and De Souza together?

By Jacob Zinkula

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 02: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks grabs a rebound during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse on January 02, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 02: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks grabs a rebound during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse on January 02, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: The Kansas Jayhawks huddle prior to their game against the Auburn Tigers in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: The Kansas Jayhawks huddle prior to their game against the Auburn Tigers in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Four guard lineup?

7-foot senior Udoka Azubuike only played nine games last season due to injury but was a monster his sophomore season, posting the number one field goal percentage in the nation at 77.0%. Part of what made him so effective is all the space inside the arc he had to work with. With Devonte’ Graham, Svi Mykhailiuk, Lagerald Vick and Malik Newman stretching the floor, defenses couldn’t afford to send much extra attention towards Azubuike, who took full advantage.

Animated GIF
Animated GIF /

Could Kansas effectively put four shooters around one big man this season? It’s uncertain. While the four shooters from two seasons ago shot 41%, 44%, 37% and 42% from long-range respectively, the current Jayhawks aren’t quite at this level. Returning guards Devon Dotson, Ochai Ogbaji and Marcus Garrett shot only 36%, 31% and 24% last season. The preseason buzz, however, suggests Ogbaji and Garrett could both be significantly improved.

Iowa transfer Isaiah Moss, who missed the Duke game due to injury, shot 42% last season and should be a big help in this regard. Additionally, 6-8 freshman Tristan Enaruna (1-1 vs. Duke) projects as a potential stretch four.

Overall, Kansas should be able to muster enough shooting to produce some successful one-big-man lineups over the course of this season. If Moss can start the season strong, perhaps this will be the best way forward. Despite the game one struggles, however, it’s way too early to start abandoning two-big-men lineups.

Azubuike, McCormack and De Sousa duos can provide a lot of interior scoring and offensive rebounding, along with solid defense in the paint. One-big-man lineups would compromise some of this and result in significantly fewer minutes for the trio.

Not every defense will be as effective as Duke’s was, and if the two teams played again, Kansas (in particular its big men) would probably have more success. Still, future opponents will surely try to replicate what the Blue Devils did and adjustments may be necessary. It’s worth considering how the two-big lineups can have more success offensively. Could a solution that worked last season work again?

Home/Kansas Jayhawks