Kansas basketball duo among top-10 players in the country
By Dakota Fearn
Hours after a hard-fought win over TCU, the Kansas basketball duo of Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike were announced as semifinalists for a nationally coveted award.
Kansas basketball’s leading scorers Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike continue to shine in the national spotlight after both were named as Men’s Citizen Naismith National Player of the Year semifinalists. The pair lead the Jayhawks in all but one major statistical category, assists-per-game; in which Marcus Garrett, a semifinalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Big 12 in.
Cousy and Russell, Magic and Kareem, Kobe (RIP Mamba) and Shaq, these dynamic duos wouldn’t have had the same success without the other.
The same could be said for Dotson and Azubuike this year. If Azubuike hadn’t of stayed for his senior year, who’s to say this Kansas basketball team would be once again, Big 12 Champions.
Devon Dotson is just the latest to come from the lineage of national player of the year contending point-guards in the Bill Self era. From the beginning of the season, Dotson has played at a level on par with other Kansas all-time great PGs like Sherron Collins, Devonte Graham, and Frank Mason, who won in 2017.
Averaging a Big 12 best 18.2 PPG, Dotson’s ability to score at the rim has been vital to the Jayhawks’ success this year. Quick feet, head-fakes, and the power of someone nearly twice his size allows Dotson to drive the lane with a fearless mentality.
While Dotson shines with the flash and leadership, Udoka continues to grind in the paint, demolishing every opponent he faces.
Once again leading the nation in field-goal percentage at 75.1-percent, Dok dominates opponents down low with his ferocious slam-dunks and Mutombo-like shot-blocking ability. Azubuike leads the Big 12 in rebounds at 10.4 per game, an increase from his 2017-2018 campaign.
As the Jayhawks have shown this season, defense wins games and a large part of that success is in thanks to both Udoka and Devon’s defensive improvements. Devon leads the Big 12 in steals per game with 2.1, while Udoka leads in defensive rebounds (210), and defensive rating (82.7).
Combine the statistical success, proven leadership, and heart of these two players and it is no surprise Kansas basketball once again reigns in the Big 12.
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Odds are ever in the favor of the Jayhawks to be the home of the Naismith Player of the Year once again, but how do you pick just one? Finalists will be announced March 16th.