Kansas basketball vs. UNC Greensboro Preview: Are turnovers a problem?
Kansas basketball will take on the UNC Greensboro Spartans tonight at 8:00 PM in Allen Fieldhouse. Here’s everything you need to know for the game, including how to watch, odds, and more.
Kansas basketball vs. UNC Greensboro at a glance:
Time: 8:00 PM
Place: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS.
Watch: ESPNU
Listen: FM- KKSW 105.9, or AM- KLWN 1320 (Lawrence Stations)
Line: Kansas -15.5 (Odds courtesy of The Action Network)
Last Meeting: 2002, 105-66 Kansas
All-time Series: 1-0 Kansas
Kansas basketball is coming into this game having lost their season opener to Duke 68-66 in the Champions Classic. It wasn’t an ideal start to the season, but the good thing is that there’s a long way to go and this team’s ceiling is incredibly high.
The Jayhawks committed an astounding 28 turnovers against the Blue Devils, yet almost came away with a win. Sure, Kansas could have won the game, but Kansas also shouldn’t have tried to set a new school record for turnovers. In the world of “should have” and “could have” isn’t where Kansas wants to be this season.
Freshman Tristan Enaruna commented on the Jayhawks turnover problem against Duke:
"“I’m not really worried about it happening again or anything like that.” – Tristan Enaruna"
For the Jayhawks’ sake, let’s hope that Enaruna is right and turnovers don’t become a season-defining problem with this team. Kansas can prove that the excessive turnovers were just a fluke tonight against a solid UNC Greensboro team.
Last season, the Spartans had one of their best seasons in program history, finishing 27-7 on the season. UNC Greensboro won the Southern Conference and was awarded a 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their third appearance in school history. The Spartans would challenge the Gonzaga Bulldogs, but ultimately be defeated in a close 64-68 contest.
UNC Greensboro started their 2019-20 season off with a dominant 83-50 win over North Carolina A&T at home. Sophomore guard Caleb Hunter led the Spartans in scoring with 17 points on 4-8 shooting.
The Spartans also shot a lot of thee pointers, going 11-34 on the night for 32%. That’s ten more threes than Duke shot last Tuesday against Kansas, so the Jayhawks have to be prepared to defend against the three.
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The big debate right now among those that follow Kansas basketball is whether or not the Jayhawks should play two bigs at the same time, or play four around one, and just rotate all three bigs at the center position.
In the recent past, the four around one system has worked really well for Kansas basketball, but the Jayhawks just don’t have the personnel to do that this year.
Plus, when you have a frontcourt with Udoka Azubuike, David McCormack, and Silvio De Sousa, you want those guys to see the floor as much as possible.
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Essentially, you have to ask yourself: 1. Did the turnovers against Duke happen because of the two-big system? If no, then stick with two bigs. If yes, will the team get better and improve playing the two big system, or should Kansas just scrap the whole thing and play four around one?
Right now, the question is up in the air, but all that really matters is what Bill Self and the coaching staff decide to do. It’s still early in the season, so whatever they choose doesn’t have to be permanent, but when March rolls around, the Jayhawks better have it figured out.