Kansas Basketball: Making or breaking Jayhawks 2020 Final Four chances

Turnovers and Udoka Azubuike’s minutes

There can be no question that the Jayhawks are going to go as far as their two stars bring them. Udoka Azubuike leads Kansas in rebounds and blocks, Devon Dotson leads them in points and steals. With the ball in both their hands so often, it can be no surprise that the two are also battling to lead the team in turnovers.

Azubuike averages 2.45 turnovers a game, whereas Dotson is right behind him at 2.43. The two have usage rates well above anybody else on the team, when the players who are trusted most with the ball, have a tendency to turn it over the most, there is always a window for the opposing team. In their three losses this season, they lost the turnover battle each time.

Udoka Azubuike only averages just over 27 minutes per game and only eight times this season did he log more than 30 minutes. While he tends to border on foul trouble in some games, if Kansas is going to be able to compete at the highest level, Azubuike is going to have to be on the floor.

In the three losses Kansas has had this season, Azubuike has played above his season average, and the extra minutes did not result in extra success. Kansas is already prone to stretches where Azubuike does not get the touches that a player with a 74% field goal percentage deserves.

One particular downfall Azubuike has, and regular readers of making or breaking will know, no slack is given to players with a poor free throw percentage. Clearly, this shortcoming limits Azubuike’s minutes down the stretch in close games., as he only has a 44% success rate. Whether it is Azubuike sitting on the bench or taking free throws, both leave Kansas vulnerable to breaking.

Teams that can potentially “break” Kansas prior to the Final Four: Baylor, Michigan, Gonzaga, Villanova, BYU