After the three preseason games and the first regular season outing against Fordham, one thing is crystal clear: the Kansas basketball team is exceptionally deep. Furthermore, the KU roster has quality depth at nearly every position.
Two of those depth pieces are good enough to be starters. In fact, both Keanu Dawes and Leroy Blyden Jr. were recruited to be starters for this team. When the NCAA decided to try to enforce their new five-in-five rule while excluding the class of 2022, it opened the door for players to return through legal avenues.
Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White, starters on last season's team, were able to rejoin the Jayhawks. These additions pushed Dawes and Blyden down the depth chart. The surprise late addition of Trey Kaufman-Renn might push them further down the chart, especially Dawes.
It is certain that Kaufman-Renn will soon be starting; if not Friday against Middle Tennessee, then surely against Kentucky on Tuesday in the Champions Classic. He will probably replace transfer Christian Reeves in the starting lineup, and KU will play smaller and faster.
MUST READ: BILL SELF SAYS TO EXPECT TREY KAUFMAN-RENN TO START SOON
Keanu Dawes and Leroy Blyden Jr. provide Kansas with experienced, quality depth few teams can match
Dawes was a starter last season for Utah and has 57 career starts. He averaged 12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists for the Utes last year. That's pretty solid. He's a high-energy player who will attack the backboards. Unfortunately, White plays a similar role for Kansas.
Blyden played at Toledo last season and didn't face the same competition as Dawes, but he averaged 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists as a freshman. When Council returned, he pushed Blyden out of a possible starting gig.
Neither player seems to be sulking about not starting. Against Fordam, Dawes only scored two points but ripped down nine rebounds. Blyden had a terrific game, dropping in 15 points, with three assists and two steals. This is what Self will be looking for from them all season long.
GAME INFO: HOW TO WATCH KANSAS VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Christian Reeves falls into this category of expected starters who will slide into a reserve role. When Kaufman-Renn starts, Reeves will be his backup. Reeeves probably wouldn't have been as big a part of the KU offense as a starter as Dawes and Blyden figured to be, but his minutes are going to get cut.
Reeves isn't as athletic as getting up and down the court as most of the roster is, but he seems to be a strong rebounder. He averaged 7.8 last year at the College of Charleston and had five against Fordham on Monday in 13 minutes. He can also defend the rim, which can always be beneficial.
This roster is extremely versatile. Depending on matchups, head coach Bill Self should be able to mix and match his lineups. If an opponent has a more physical big man, more of a bruiser than a finesse player, Reeves might get more playing time. At 6-foot-9, Kaufman-Renn might get outmanned by a few players on the schedule. Having someone like Reeves will be beneficial.
SIMILAR CONTENT: KANSAS HAS SOLVED A HORRIBLE ISSUE FROM RECENT SEASONS
Blyden and Dawes would start on plenty of teams around the country, but at Kansas this season, they will be super reserves. Things like injuries and foul trouble plague teams throughout the long, grinding season, but Kansas won't see much of a dropoff if they have to dip into their depth.
Blyden can do many of the things Taylen Kinney and Council can do, while Dawes plays a similar game as that of White and Kaufman-Renn. Reeves offers a different skill set from the other players who might play center for KU.
Few teams will match the strength of KU's bench, and these three only scratch the surface of what Self has to work with. It's going to be a fun season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google