Kansas Basketball Takeaway No. 5: One Lineup Combination Could Give Opposing Offenses Nightmares
Fort Hays State got a taste of just how suffocating the Jayhawks’ defense can be in last night’s exhibition game. The lineup consisting of Dajuan Harris, Jamari McDowell, Kevin McCullar, KJ Adams, and Hunter Dickinson is sure to give opposing offenses all sorts of fits this season.
Harris and McDowell are both excellent perimeter defenders, while McCullar and Adams have the ability to guard both the perimeter and the paint. Dickinson, while not necessarily a top-tier defender, is still 7-foot-2 with a wingspan to match. In the instances that somebody does get past their man on the perimeter, Dickinson will often be there to meet them at the rim.
What is nice about this lineup is the fact that it doesn’t lack scoring options on the other end. A lot of time when a team has a “defensive” lineup, it is a group that doesn’t necessarily have the best offensive firepower. With McCullar, Dickinson, and Harris’ pick-and-roll ability, this group should be just fine putting points on the board, while suffocating offenses on the other end of the floor.