Kansas Basketball: 3 keys to beat No. 1 Gonzaga to open 2020-21 season

Kansas needs to win the battle of each teams strengths

Based off of last year’s final statistics, this is the best offense facing off against the best defense in all of College Basketball. At a staggering 87.4 points per game, Gonzaga would suffocate their opponents with their relentless scoring, specifically the efficiency at the three point line.

The Zags ranked eight in the country in three point percentage at a 38.6% clip on the season. It didn’t stop there as the Zags ranked 2nd in team field goal % and first in two pointers scored per game, with 24. What is missing from this team is the dominance down low with Flip Petrusev leaving for the NBA draft.

For the Jayhawks, they were ranked #1 in the country in defense as the stifled teams to just a little over 60 points per game. However, with Azubuike gone, the shot blocking presence will be missing down low. David McCormack is not much of a rim protector (0.4 blocks) and very inconsistent with his scoring.

Kansas is still very elite at the guard position on defense and should do a pretty good job with containing Jalen Suggs, alongside others. However, with the trio of Kispert, Timme, and Ballo down low, the major question mark is whether they can limit the Bulldogs down low.

A stat that is in the Jayhawks favor is the amount of turnovers Gonzaga had last year. The Zags were pretty bad at controlling the basketball, ranking 328th in the country with coughing the ball up over 11 times per game. Gonzaga also wasn’t great being disciplined as they were one of the worst teams last year in personal fouls with almost 15 a game.

With how defensive oriented the Jayhawks are, they might be able to steal possessions with a couple charges and offensive fouls that can give this somewhat below average offense a chance to score.