There is no question that the Jayhawks have improved their team from last season, at least from a depth perspective.
Last season, Kansas was struggling to score; if it wasn’t for star guard Darryn Peterson or performances from Tre White or Melvin Council Jr, KU would quickly lose its stardust and things would stall. Kansas’ bench rotation was short in both numbers and output, which helped them figure into the nation’s No. 161 scoring offense at just 75.1 points per game.
So far, not only is KU bringing in a transfer class comprising a solid five-star scorer in Taylen Kinney and the nation’s No. 1 player, Tyran Stokes, but the Jayhawks are also set to reel in four-stars Davion Adkins (power forward/center), Trent Perry (wing) and Luke Barnett (shooting guard.
This isn’t even factoring in the transfer depth, which involves four-star guard Leroy Blyden Jr. four-star center Christian Reeves, four-star small forward Dennis Parker Jr. and four-star power forward Keanu Dawes.
Not to mention the returning sophomores Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya, who are also set for big roles themselves.
In CBS Sports’ article titled “Way-too-early Big 12 basketball tiers: Arizona, Houston and Kansas headline wide-open league after mass exits,” Issac Trotter acutely points out one area where the Jayhawks massively struggled last season, and how their portal pickups have helped alleviate that issue.
Kansas’ rebounding has improved leaps and bounds
Last season, Kansas ranked No. 172 in offensive rebounds per game with nine per outing. On the defensive end, KU ranked No. 5 in the nation with 27.1 rebounds per game, measuring them out to No. 22 nationally; however, Trotter points out those numbers may be deceiving.
“Kansas finished with a +3 rebounding differential last season in 28 games against Quad 1 or Quad 2 competition, per CBB Analytics. That ranked just eighth in the Big 12 and lowered KU's floor dramatically,” quoted Trotter.
“Big guys who don't play that big shouldn't be a problem this year with this personnel. 7-foot-2 Charleston transfer Christian Reeves was the best per-minute rebounder in the CAA last year. 6-foot-9 Utah transfer Keanu Dawes was the second-best per-minute rebounder in Big 12 play. Top-rated recruit Tyran Stokes was one of the best rebounders in all of high school basketball.”
What’s next for the Jayhawks as the portal begins to close?
When speaking with the media earlier this month, Self relayed that while Kansas is likely not getting any more big hitters, there was still plenty of potential for KU to land a steal. While the portal looks more and more barren by the day. If there was one spot where the Jayhawks are probably lacking a clear No. 2, it would be at the power forward spot behind Dawes. Adkins is the natural replacement, but with the Florida native only being a freshman, Self may want to delve for another solid rebounder to continue this team-wide resurgence. As of publishing, Self and Co. have compiled the nation’s No. 29 transfer class.
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