Kansas Basketball: 3 keys to beat No. 1 Gonzaga to open 2020-21 season
By Andrew Tineo
Kansas Basketball looks to knock off No. 1 Gonzaga to start off the 2020-21 season.
The madness of College Basketball has already begun with the cancellation of Duke’s season opener and #2 Baylor getting the boot from the Mohegan Sun. One of the matchups we are hoping that plays out over the Thanksgiving week is #1 Gonzaga and #6 Kansas Basketball.
The Jayhawks lost two of their biggest weapons from last season, in Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike. Azubuike was a huge shot-blocking presence and was extremely physical and efficient on offense. About 25 years ago, Azubuike would be a consensus Top 3 pick, but instead shocked a lot of fans and went 27th overall to the Utah Jazz.
Even with all of that, the optimism should stay with the returning production, plus adding assets in an attempt to replace Azubuike. Marcus Garrett returns as one of the best defenders in the country and the land JUCO G Tyon Grant-Foster, to bolster the backcourt with before mentioned Garrett and Ochai Agbaji.
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Having that elite consistent scorer is something the Jayhawks were missing when Dotson left. Garrett is not good beyond the arc and Agbaji can be good at times, but is streaky, more often than not. Grant-Foster averaged 16.5 points per game while averaging 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. His height makes him a defensive nightmare as he stands at 6’7 and plays guard. That is a scary combination of size and shooting.
Gonzaga brings back some of the most elite playmakers, led by Corey Kispert. The Zags also made a splash in recruiting when they snagged the #2 CG in the country in Jalen Suggs and in the transfer market with former five-star Florida guard, Andrew Nembhard. Suggs is the school’s first five-star and is immediately going to be the starter, on this loaded team.
Although this will be a difficult challenge, Kansas normally answers the bell when they get an opportunity at a blueblood to begin their season. If Kansas can win in these three categories, they are more than capable of walking out of Mohegan Sun with a humongous resume win.