NCAA Basketball: Early tournament games in 2020-21 to get excited about

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 22: Fans pack the Lahaina Civic Center to watch the Maui Invitational NCAA college basketball game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 22, 2016 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Virginia versus Kansas at the Wooden Legacy

Is suggesting Kansas Basketball was going to win the National Championship a bit presumptuous? Sure, but no more than any other team. The Jayhawks were the #1 seed overall and were more than capable of making a Final Four run. That was all in the past, and we are looking toward the future, next November to be exact when these two teams meet up with their top fifteen recruitment classes.

A huge point of interest is how Bill Self will adjust to losing starting senior center Udoka Azubuike. Coach self is hoping incoming three-star freshman Gethro Muscadin can recoup some of the lost production. Since Muscadin might not even reach his listed 215 pounds he will not be the offensive force Azubike was. Perhaps as a freshman, he will still supply the rim protection and collect rebounds. The other two three-star recruits that will someday be expected to replace graduating guard Isaiah Moss, are Tyon Grant Foster and point guard Latrell Josell. The biggest catch for coach Self was signing five-star combo guard Bryce Thompson on Nov. 13, just over a year later his role might be larger than expected when signing.

While Virginia Basketball is in the same position when it comes to losing seniors, as they will be without Mamadi Diakite, and Braxton Key. Kansas also has several underclassmen who, even though have not officially, may potentially declare for the 2020 NBA Draft. Most notably is team leader Devon Dotson, his 18 points and four assists currently have him as a borderline first-round selection. Marcus Garrett (9 ppg) and Ochai Agbaji (10 ppg) are top 70 and 80 respectively so they have less incentive to declare and ultimately leave the Jayhawks.

While their decisions loom over Kansas, Tony Bennett is able to focus on the positions he was able to fill while recruiting. Virginia has a four-star forward in 6’5 Jabri Abdur-Rahim, four-star point guard Reece Beekman, who has Chris Dunn comparisons, and finally three-star shooting guard Carson McCorkle. If 7’1 center Jay Huff can increase his 25 minutes per game and 8 point scoring average, this early season tournament game might just increase the excitement for an end of season tournament game.

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