Kansas Basketball: 3 keys to beating Villanova in 2022 Final Four

3. Get Ochai Agbaji going early

Ochai Agbaji was one of the best players in college basketball this season, but one might not think that judging by his NCAA Tournament performance. To take the title, Agbaji is going to have to emerge from his slump.

Agbaji scored 11 points in the First Round victory over Texas Southern. His scoring total was disappointing, but his five turnovers could’ve been even more problematic against a better opponent. The senior guard looked better against Creighton, scoring 15 points.

The low point came in the Sweet Sixteen against Providence when Agbaji was virtually absent from the score sheet. He scored just five points, hitting 25 percent of his attempts and no three-pointers. He also hit only half of his free throws in the contest.

The Agbaji of old finally started to show up in the Elite Eight domination of Miami. He scored 18 points in the win, his most since the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament. He also matched a season-high with four steals.

Kansas hopes that’s the start of a resurgence for Agbaji. He only scored in single digits once the entire season before the Sweet Sixteen game. This is one of the best scorers in the game, averaging 18.9 points per game this season.

Agbaji was named a finalist for the Wooden Award this week, the only player in the Final Four to receive the honor. It’s time for him to earn the accolade and there’s no better time than under the spotlight of the biggest moment of his collegiate career.

If Kansas is going to beat Villanova, Agbaji is going to need to be the star he’s proven to be capable of being all season long.