Big 12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 02: General view of a basketball and Big 12 logo taken before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns on January 02, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 82-74. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – MARCH 07: Guard Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

team. 462. . . . Jayhawks . 2

It takes a special circumstance to not believe that the Kansas Jayhawks aren’t the favorite to win the Big 12, and I’ll talk about them in a bit. But let’s be clear, this team that can not only win another regular-season title but even more accomplishments in March.

A lot of things will have to go right for that to happen, particularly concerning the newcomers. To replace the outgoing Devon Dotson, Kansas will be looking towards incoming five-star recruit Byrce Thompson. He’s a combo capable of playing both guard positions. And with senior Marcus Garrett more of a facilitator, Thompson will be tasked with providing the scoring.

The same goes on the wings, with top-rated JUCO newcomer Tyon Grant-Foster needed to succeed, which isn’t a guarantee for Junior College transfers when making the transition. Ochai Agbaji averaged 10 ppg last season and showed signs of being a breakout star. Already a great individual defender, the 6’5 versatile wing/forward could see his average rise to 15+ ppg with an even bigger role in the offense.

light. Related Story. Kansas offseason storylines

The biggest question Kansas has is whether junior center David McCormack can effectively take over as the replacement of Big 12 Player of the Year and All-American Udoka Azubike. The double-double man and McCormack couldn’t play together on the court since neither could play at the four but now it’s wide open for the former top-50 recruit to shine.

Due to the questions around the other forwards on the roster (Silvio De Sousa, Mitch Lightfoot, Jalen Wilson, and Tristan Enaruna), McCormack will be needed to be a stabilizing force. If not, the Jayhawks could have a rare season of being weak in the frontcourt.

Thanks to in large part the work of Dotson and Azubuike, Kansas Basketball was one of the best defensive units in all of college basketball last season. That’s likely to take a dip with this team but if they can score a little more, that trade-off will still keep them as national title contenders.

But for now, there’s a team that’s a little more of a safer bet in the preseason.

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