After only playing nine games last season, senior seven-foot big man Udoka Azubuike is back and ready to lead Kansas basketball to the top of the Big 12 once again.
Last season was possibly the worst for Kansas basketball in the past ten years, and that’s really saying something.
The Jayhawks failed to win a regular-season conference championship, or achieve either a one or two seed in the NCAA tournament. Instead, Kansas was given *gasp* a four seed in the tournament to many Jayhawk fans disapproval.
Last season may have been sub-par, but considering the injury to Udoka Azubuike, it could have been a lot worse.
In his nine games last season, Azubuike averaged 13.4 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game before tearing a ligament in his right wrist. Azubuike sustained a similar injury earlier in his Kansas career, except it was in his left wrist.
After the season ended in the second round of the tournament due to final-four bound Auburn, many fans and coaches wondered whether or not Azubuike would return for his senior season, or if he would take his chances trying to go pro.
On April 22, Kansas basketball tweeted out that Azubuike would in fact return for his senior season:
He's BACK.
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) April 22, 2019
Udoka Azubuike to return to #KUbball for his senior season.
➡️ https://t.co/QIYM8BDorl pic.twitter.com/oJeUDDX5Qq
The news was welcome in the Kansas basketball community, especially considering the Jayhawks would end up losing out on multiple five-star recruits.
While Kansas’ 15th ranked recruiting class this year was relatively weak, regaining Azubuike is better than any five-star recruit the Jayhawks could have landed. Not to mention, Silvio De Sousa was cleared by the NCAA and should be available next season.
This season, Azubuike will look to pick up where he left off last season. His impact cannot be overstated, he acts as a “security blanket” for the team. There was a noticeable difference last year from when Azubuike was on the court and when he wasn’t.
Azubuike is such a dominant post player that he demands a double team every time he touches the ball, and sometimes that’s not even enough to stop the Nigerian phenom. The attention he demands will undoubtedly open things up for Dotson to get to the rim, as well as benefit sharpshooting Iowa transfer Isaiah Moss.
Looking back at last season, having Azubuike the entire year would have undoubtedly benefitted the Jayhawks, in hindsight though, the 2019-20 season is even more important.
With possible NCAA punishments looming in the future, this could be Kansas’ last season before a postseason ban if the NCAA decides to take that route.
The tandem of Dotson and Azubuike is one of the best duos in the country, and the two stars have a chance to lead Kansas basketball to a championship before the NCAA drops the hammer.