Kansas basketball: Pros and cons of possible starting lineups

Kansas basketball hung on last Saturday to beat a solid West Virginia team. Could a change to the starting lineup be imminent this Wednesday against Iowa State?

They didn’t look great in the conference opener against West Virginia, but that didn’t stop the Jayhawks from getting the win. Kansas basketball got some big minutes from a certain bench player.

Freshman Christian Braun played 30 minutes against the Mountaineers setting a new career-high in minutes played. Braun finished with six points, five rebounds, and two steals. After considering hist stats and time played vs. the other Jayhawks on the roster, Braun has an argument to make the starting lineup.

Would replacing McCormack with Braun make Kansas basketball be a good decision? Better yet, what would some potential starting lineups look like, and what would be their strengths and weaknesses?

1. The current lineup

• Dotson
• Garrett
• Agbaji
• McCormack
• Azubuike

Pros – Size, allow your “best” players on the floor

Cons – Hard to defend against the three-pointer,  free throws

These are probably Kansas basketball’s best five players, but that doesn’t mean they can all play together harmoniously. One of this lineup’s biggest flaws is offensive flow and spacing due to the two bigs. It makes it hard for Devon Dotson to drive, and difficult for Udoka Azubuike or DavidMcCormack to put the ball on the floor.

2. The four-guard

• Dotson
• Garrett
• Moss
• Agbaji
• Azubuike

Pros – Good spacing, three-point potential

Cons – Gives up size, “streaky”

This is the Jayhawks’ second-most frequent lineup according to KenPom. It allows Dotson and Azubuike to create and play to their strengths thanks to the spacing provided by Isaiah Moss. Obviously, the size given up forces Marcus Garrett or Ochai Agbaji to play on the opponent’s four-man. The versatility of Garrett is what makes this option viable.

3. The four-guard: Freshman edition

• Dotson
• Garrett
• Braun
• Agbaji
• Azubuike

Pros – Getting to the rim

Cons – Size

After the last game, inserting Braun into the starting lineup doesn’t seem like a bad idea. The Burlington Kansas native has been a regular contributor for the Jayhawks since they beat Milwaukee, maybe it’s time he gets the start.

4. The final four frontcourt

• Dotson
• Garrett
• Agbaji
• De Sousa
• Azubuike

Pros – Size, experience in big games

Cons – Spacing, defending the three-pointer

Silvio De Sousa has had a hard time finding minutes since returning to the Jayhawks’ lineup since gaining eligibility. I think many of us fans believed he’d make an immediate impact on this team, but that hasn’t been the case. Maybe he’ll get it figured out down the line and jump in the starting lineup come tournament time, but it doesn’t seem likely right now.

5. Offensive minded

• Dotson
• Moss
• Agbaji
• Braun
• Azubuike

Pros – Lots of scoring options, spacing

Cons – Defense

The four guards are all threats from deep, plus the dominating inside play from Azubuike would make this offense very fun to watch; however, it doesn’t seem like a practical starting lineup. The defensive side of the ball would be questionable, but it may be worth it depending on the offensive output.

At this point, head coach Bill Self may decide to stick with his current starting lineup for the duration of the season. Despite starting two bigs, Self has introduced a four-guard look too, and both looks have yielded results. It’ll be interesting to see if anything changes this week against the Cyclones.

You can catch the Jayhawks’ next game this Wednesday night on the road against Iowa State at 7:00 PM (CT). The contest is set to be streamed on ESPN+.