Kansas Basketball: 3 keys to beat No. 1 Gonzaga to open 2020-21 season
By Andrew Tineo
Ochai Agbaji needs to be the leading scorer for the Jayhawks
The ball needs to be in the veterans hands on a team that doesn’t have a ton of proven consistent scoring. Ever since he broke out as a freshman, Agbaji has improved every season with the Jayhawks. Last year, he averaged exactly 10 points, to add 4.2 rebounds and two assists per game. The 6-5 guard is one of the better three point shooters at nearly 34% last year.
Althugh Grant-Foster could definitely be an option, the transition from JUCO to #1 Gonzaga could be a lot to handle for the man from Indian Hills Community College.
After being the #3 option last season, Agbaji needs to handle himself as the #1 until Grant-Foster is settled and gets more experience on the court with the group. Agbaji did not do well with turnovers. Even with his two assists, he turned over at about the same rate at 1.9 per game.
His jumping and 6-5 frame makes him an intriguing for a future in the NBA with mostly his defense. However, he will need to step up and become the #1 scorer on this team, until they can get consistency.
Kansas needs this game to get real ugly and force a lot of turnovers and fouls for the Jayhawks to have a chance on the defensive end. Getting Agbaji going and scoring quite a bit will be the offensive key for Kansas to get the big win.