Kansas basketball: 5 questions for the Jayhawks ahead of season opener vs. NC Central

These are five questions for the Kansas basketball team ahead of the Jayhawks’ regular-season opener vs. NC Central tonight.

The No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks and NC Central Eagles are set to square off in historic Allen Fieldhouse tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT as KU will play its long-awaited 2023-24 debut.

Although they are ranked the top team in the country and reeled in the most sought-after player in the transfer portal, Hunter Dickinson, Kansas basketball didn’t perform up to par in its first two scrimmages — so much so that some websites are calling this KU team a fluke already. They looked sluggish and didn’t bring much energy.

It isn’t the first time a Bill Self-led squad has endured some early-season struggles, but there are a handful of glaring issues with the current roster. Therefore, the answer to these five questions could determine if Kansas’ scrimmages were fluke performances or if they will have an underwhelming start to the year.

Question No. 1: Which guard will start alongside Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar?

The starting five is nearly set with Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCullar, KJ Adams, and Hunter Dickinson having guaranteed spots. However, the 2-guard slot remains up for grabs, with Nick Timberlake, Elmarko Jackson, and Johnny Furphy in the conversation. It might be difficult to read into this just yet, because if a player starts today it doesn’t mean they will moving forward. However, it would signify that Bill Self has the most trust in the player who gets the start tonight.

Question No. 2: Will Bill Self run more advanced offensive sets?

All we saw from the Kansas basketball offense against Illinois and Fort Hays State were simple pick-and-roll sets. It was tedious basketball, to say the least. Does Coach Self pull some tricks out of his bag and design personalized plays for certain players, or does he keep it straightforward with the X’s and O’s?

Question No. 3: Will Kevin McCullar show he has taken the next step?

McCullar led the team in scoring during both exhibitions despite averaging 10.7 points per game last season and struggling to find an outside shot. While he won’t be as prolific of a scorer as Dickinson, it will be interesting to observe the improvements he made over the offseason, especially with his jump shot.

Question No. 4: Which player is going to step up in the scoring department?

We know that McCullar and Dickinson will put the ball in the hoop, but in a game that should be a blowout in KU’s favor, which player will make a splash and rile up the Fieldhouse crowd? Could it be a Jayhawk in his debut trying to make a name for himself?

Question No. 5: Will KU’s defensive struggles continue?

Kansas allowed 82 points to Illinois, which is uncharacteristically bad for a Bill Self team. That was a preseason scrimmage with very little defense played, though, so we’ll see if the Jayhawks turn it up a notch on an NC Central squad that will surely make some blunders under the Fieldhouse lights.