Projected Kansas Starting Lineup
Point Guard – Marcus Garrett, Senior
The outcome of the Jayhawks season may very well ride on the performance of Marcus Garrett. A phenomenal defensive player, Garrett is not to be taken lightly on offense. While his numbers aren’t eye-popping, playing second fiddle behind Dotson will do that to just about any player in the nation. If Kansas can get any type of production out of Garrett on offense, it will be a huge bonus, as the defensive savy senior will look to put up career numbers this year.
Shooting Guard – Bryce Thompson, Freshman
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that Kansas and basketball fans alike are very excited to see Thompson play this season. Thompson, a five-star recruit, is going to draw a lot of comparisons to Dotson, and it isn’t all that hard to see why. He has an unlimited range from deep and has the ability to get to the rim as well. His defense will be something to keep an eye out for, but at 6’5″ and 190, he’ll have the physicality and athleticism needed to hold his own.
Small Forward – Ochai Agbaji, Junior
Agbaji is yet another Jayhawk who has the potential to break out this season. While he is listed as a guard, at 6’5″, he will most likely log key minutes at the small forward position. A starter in each of the last two years, he averaged 10.0 ppg while shooting an impressive 42.8% from the field. He finished third in scoring for KU this past year.
He’ll have a few more opportunities to be called upon to score this season, and if he can build a strong relationship with Garrett and Thompson, this Kansas trio of guards might end up being one of the strongest in the Big 12.
Power Forward – Mitch Lightfoot, RS Senior
A redshirt last year, Lightfoot is going to be battling throughout the season to either keep or earn a starting spot. He’s drawn seven starts in his career at Kansas, and currently has 98 blocks, good for 20th all-time in KU’s program history. The appeal to being able to play or start Lightfoot comes from his 6’8″ 225-pound frame. He is going to be a hassle to deal with down low in the paint, and with the void left by Azubuike, it’s a very welcoming sign to have Lightfoot return.
Center – David McCormack, Junior
The 6’10” Junior was able to pull down 4.1 rpg while averaging 6.9 ppg during his Sophomore campaign. The choice to start him at center is a no-brainer, as he will have field days down low against most teams Kansas runs into. If McCormack can convince himself that he doesn’t need to match the production left by Azubuike (nor should anyone expect him to), then he has a very good chance to put up some really solid numbers for Bill Self’s team this season.