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THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MEN'S BASKETBALL
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Streak has good chance of reaching 11 next season
The Kansas bench reacts to an incredible dunk by Tarik Black during the second half of the game against Texas on Saturday, Feb. 22. Kansas defeated Texas 85-54.
BRIAN HILLIX
GEORGE MULLINIY/KANSAN
sports@kansan.com
Will another decade of dominance begin next year?
With another strong recruiting class and a slew of returners, Kansas has to feel good about its chances next season to continue its reign of terror in the Big 12.
According to rivals.com, Kansas currently boasts the No. 5 recruiting class in the nation, and that comes one year after boasting the second-best class. As of April 16, Bill Self has only signed two players, but both are dynamic athletes expected to start right away.
Ranked as the No.4 prospect by rival- com, Cliff Alexander will bring much needed toughness and physicality to a Kansas team that lacked it at critical times this season. Standing at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Alexander's long arms create havoc down low for opponents. He should lead the Jayhawks — and potentially the Big 12 — in rebounding next season and is also an effective shot blocker.
Not far behind in the rankings at No. 12, Kelly Oubre will be counted on to fill the void left by Andrew Wiggins at the small forward position. With a similar size at 6-foot-7, Oubre is a better shooter than Wiggins and is also capable of attacking the rim. His offensive prowess will be a much-needed boost to a Kansas offense that stalled at times this season, most notably in the Round of 32 loss to Stanford.
As the team stands now, Kansas is ranked as a top- 10 team by multiple college basketball analysts, including No.2 by CBS Sports College
Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein. But its stock can improve even more as the Jayhawks are in the running for two more recruits that would solidify two crucial positions.
Myles Turner, a 6-foot-11 center, is considering Kansas and will announce his decision on April 30. Kansas is also a contender for the top uncommitted point guard in Devonte Graham, who was just released from his letter
of intent to Appalachian State last week. With his ability to shoot and block shots, Turner would be a virtual lock to start at center while Graham, known for his defense and court awareness, would make a strong push to start at point guard.
While Kansas will lose three important players in Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Tarik Black, the Jayhawks return key contributors from last year's team, including
Wayne Selden Jr, Perry Ellis,
Naadir Tharpe, Frank Mason,
Conner Frankamp, Brannen
Greene and Jamari Traylor.
The Jayhawks seemed stacked
for at least the next two years.
The biggest threat to the streak should be Texas, who is returning the entire starting five from a team that finished third in the Big 12 last year. West Virginia returns key players from a team that defeated Kansas last year. Brady Heslip and Isaiah
Austin will be gone, but Baylor returns most of its core after making the Sweet 16.
Other conference contenders this season appear to be headed for a slight drop-off. Iowa State loses seniors Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane, who together averaged 35 points a game for a Cyclone team that won the Big 12 Tournament. Oklahoma State also loses a pair that combined to average 35 points a game. Do-it-all point guard Marcus Smart
The Jayhawks are highly unlikely to win another set of 10 straight conference titles. They may not even break the all-time record of 13 consecutive titles set by UCA almost three decades ago.
is heading to the NBA while sharpshooter Markel Brown graduates.
But other Big 12 teams wanting a reprieve from Kansas' stranglehold aren't going to get it anytime soon.
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