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Kansas basketball: Agbaji, McCormack will need to step up against Tennessee in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge

By Conner Becker

Kansas junior forward David McCormack (33) celebrates their lead with junior guard Ochai Agbaji (30) in the second half of Thursday's game inside Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 59-51.David Mccormack Ku Tcu 01282021 En 8
Kansas junior forward David McCormack (33) celebrates their lead with junior guard Ochai Agbaji (30) in the second half of Thursday's game inside Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 59-51.David Mccormack Ku Tcu 01282021 En 8 /
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It would be wrong to assume Kansas basketball doesn’t have a shot against #18 Tennessee this afternoon, but if the Jayhawks want to pull off the win, they’ll need some upperclassmen to help them out.

Kansas basketball ended their losing stint this past Thursday, but another test is knocking at the door this weekend. As they look to get back on track following a narrow win over TCU, the SEC/Big 12 Challenge will be the next step for the Jayhawks.

Historically, Kansas has performed fairly well in the exhibition series, sitting at 5-2 since its conception. This year, however, the Jayhawks have faced their share of ups and downs, which may factor into this afternoon’s matchup.

Defensive stability has been a major concern for Kansas this season and it will likely challenge head coach Bill Self’s squad against the Volunteers. To stop the pressure, the Jayhawks will need Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack to get physical and “hold the line” defensively.

This duo has contributed well for Kansas recently, both scoring consistently in their last three games. These two have been respectable leaders offensively, at times even finding ways to keep the Jayhawks in it by a couple of points.

Tennessee’s offense is led by John Fulkerson, who stands at 6’9” and averages just over 11 points per game. Controlling how much space he finds should be a major concern for Kansas, as stopping his inside attack will be a must. Simply put, McCormack will have his work cut out for him in the paint.

While the Volunteers aren’t the strongest three-point shooting team, they make up for it defensively. They’re one of the best shot-blocking teams in the SEC, being led by Yves Pons, who will be an issue inside. Pons will be tough to beat cleaning up the glass and will be another fork in the road when trying to get opportunities at the basket.

Unless Kansas can create some friction inside, they’ll be working for every rebound. This is another reason why shots will need to be clicking for the Jayhawks, they’ll need it to help give themselves an edge offensively.

This year’s matchup with Tennessee presents an interesting test for the Jayhawks. While the Volunteers are coming in with only three losses, they’ve had their share of struggles this season too, particularly the three-point ball. If Kansas can capitalize on this and work out more shots from the perimeter, things may look favorable for head coach Bill Self.

Kansas and Tennessee are set to take the floor at 5:00 pm CT from Knoxville, TN on ESPN.

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