Three things that Kansas basketball fans have to be thankful for this year
By Kyle Jones
2. Kansas Basketball Nonconference Scheduling
Year in and year out, the Jayhawks play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the entire country. Not only does it help boost their resumé come Selection Sunday, but it also helps the team get ready for when the postseason rolls around.
More often than not, KU has a couple of freshmen and/or transfers who are new to the program each year. The long season helps them get acclimated to the team, but the high level of competition gets them ready for March. That is incredibly important for this year’s team, specifically.
Of the nine rotation players for the Jayhawks, six of them are new to the program. Aside from Dickinson, all of them are taking a major step up in the level of play. Three freshmen and two mid-major transfers are being thrown into a whole different world of basketball. There will be growing pains (see the Marquette game, for example). It’s bound to happen, but playing these tough games against good teams helps those players get better. That helps the team be as prepared as possible for the postseason.