Kansas basketball: Enaruna and Braun must step up due to suspensions

Two Kansas basketball freshmen will have to step up now that the suspensions have been handed out for the fight last Tuesday night.

The Big 12 handed out suspensions last night for the Kansas basketball brawl that took place a couple of days ago. On the Jayhawks’ side, Silvio De Sousa was suspended 12 games, and David McCormack for two. Kansas State’s James Love will sit for eight games and Antonio Gordon for three.

Losing McCormack and DeSousa will put a lot of stress on the Kansas frontcourt, as we’re about to see how good of shape Udoka Azubuike is in. The seven-footer has been playing an average of 27.9 minutes per game this season according to ESPN, and that number will almost certainly rise.

When Azubuike inevitably needs a break, Kansas will have to switch to a small-ball lineup with Tristan Enaruna probably playing in the post.

The six-foot-eight freshman from the Netherlands will have to step up in a big way, and so will fellow freshman Christian Braun. The Kansas native has already been showing his talent, racking up 20 points on six three-pointers in the win over K-State.

READ MORE: Christian Braun’s performance upstaged by brawl

Here’s the probable starting lineup for the Jayhawks against Tennessee this Saturday:

1. Devon Dotson
2. Marcus Garrett
3. Ochai Agbaji
4. Christian Braun/Isaiah Moss
5. Udoka Azubuike

At this point, I feel like Self will favor Moss over Braun, but whoever doesn’t start between the two will probably be the first off the bench anyway. At any rate, this may even be a blessing in disguise for Kansas.

The Jayhawks will be forced to go away from their two big lineup due to a lack of personnel, and it could help lead to an offensive explosion. The other good news is the timing of the suspensions.

Kansas’ next game is against Tennessee in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, meaning it’ll have no effect on the Big 12 race. After that, the Jayhawks will hit the road to take on the struggling Oklahoma State Cowboys who are 0-6 so far in conference play.

After the game against Oklahoma State, David McCormack will return, and the Jayhawks will be more or less back to normal just in time for Kansas to take on a ranked Texas Tech squad. Silvio De Sousa’s suspension will end with one game in the Big 12 season left, so he’ll be allowed to participate in the postseason.

Kansas basketball has had a wild season so far. From Snoop Dogg to the Sunflower Throwdown, this might be one of the most chaotic and memorable seasons in recent memory. The year is far from over though, and the goals of a Big 12 title and national title are both still well within reach.