KANSAN.COM
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
9B
important games to mark in your calendar
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
Tuesday, Nov. 17 — Champions Classic
The Jayhawks will take on the Michigan State Spartans in Chicago as their first real test of the year. Last year, Kansas was obliterated by Kentucky at the same event. The Jayhawks will be looking for some redemption this year.
The last time the two teams played in the Champions Classic (held in Atlanta), Michigan State won 67-64.
Tuesday, Dec. 22 True road test
The Jayhawks will hit the road to take on the San Diego State Aztecs. In the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, San Diego State was not ranked, but it did receive 10 points in the rankings, which put it in the 38th spot.
The Jayhawks dropped a road game to Temple on the very same day last year and lost their last game against San Diego State at Allen Fieldhouse, so recent history implies that things won't be too easy for Kansas.
Saturday, Jan. 2 Conference opener
The Jayhawks will be looking for their 12th straight Big 12 regular season championship as they kick off Big 12 play against the Baylor Bears. The game will take place at Allen Fieldhouse at 3 p.m. and will broadcast on CBS.
Under Bill Self, the Jayhawks have not lost a conference opener, although they have had some close calls, including a one-point win and an overtime win.
Saturday, Jan. 30 -- #BBN comes to town
Jan. 30 likely marks the biggest nonconference game of the year for Kansas as Kentucky will make the trip to Lawrence for the second time in the Bill Self era.
After their massive loss to the Wildcats last year, the Jayhawks will be out for revenge — and with a stronger roster, they might just find it.
Saturday, March
Senior Night
The Jayhawks will close their season out at home for the first time since the 2011-12 season when they defeated the Texas Longhorns. That year, the Jayhawks made it all the way fo the National Championship game, where they fell short to Kentucky.
This year's Senior Night will come against Iowa State and could be a deciding game to see who wins the Big 12 regular season championship.
— Edited by Minami Levonowich
Five bold predictions for KU men's basketball this season
EVAN RIGGS
@EvanRiggsUDK
This season brings higher expectations for the Jayhawks than they've faced in quite a while. With a couple of talented freshmen added to a veteran-laden team, Kansas is pretty much expected to win the Big 12 and receive a top-two seed in the NCAA Tournament.
If freshman forward Cheick Diallo is declared eligible by the NCAA, those things seem likely. Diallo will round out a front court that is among the deepest in the nation, mixing youth and experience with finesse and power.
Here are five bold predictions for the upcoming season if Dialio is declared eligible:
1. Sviatoslav Mykhaliuk will average double figures in points.
This year, Kansas coach Bill Self says Mykhailiuk is a different guy from a maturity and confidence standpoint. He's also much stronger.
Offensively, Mykailuk has the potential to be the most complete wing on the roster. He's a fantastic shooter, but he can also put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. He may not ever average the most assists on the team, but in his brief playing time last season, he proved to be the smartest passer on the team.
His biggest obstacle last year was playing time, but it doesn't seem like that will be an issue.
"I expect Svi to challenge for a starting position, and
without question if he doesn't start, be as good as any reserve in the country," Self said. "Few guys have a bigger upside than what Svi does."
2. Frank Mason III will be an All-American.
Mason was the Jayhawks' most important player last season, and I don't see that changing this year.
Last season, and especially in the World University Games, Mason was able to get by his man anytime he wanted to create a shot for himself or a teammate.
If Self lets Mason run the show like he did over the summer and his decision-making continues to improve, Mason's ability to create shots for himself and his teammates at will be difficult to deal with.
3. Kansas will beat Kentucky by double digits in Allen Fieldhouse.
When the Wildcats travel to Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 30, it will be the biggest game of the regular season for both teams — maybe of the entire college basketball season.
Kansas, which was blown out 72-40 last year, will have revenge on its mind.
4. KU will enter the NCAA Tournament with
The Jayhawks would have already been difficult to beat in Allen Fieldhouse, but with an incredibly deep roster in a revenge game, the script will be flipped. This time around, it may be Kentucky coach John Calipari asking for a drink stronger than water in the postgame interview.
30 wins.
The Jayhawks haven't entered the NCAA Tournament with at least 30 wins since 2011. But this team is the deepest and most talented team Kansas has had since then.
But the layhawks don't play nearly as difficult of a schedule as the last couple of years.
As long as Tom Izzo is its coach, Michigan State will always be tough, but the Jayhawks should beat them when they play in November. In Maui, UCLA and Indiana are the only two teams that pose much of a threat.
The Jayhawks will probably lose at San Diego State right before Christmas. If you assume they are going to win every home game (which is a pretty safe assumption), their only possible losses are at
Iowa State, Oklahoma, Baylor Texas and West Virginia. It's safe to say Kansas can win at least two of those and win its first Big 12 Tournament Championship since 2013.
5. Kansas will go to the Final Four.
After two consecutive years of losing in the round of 32, the Jayhawks enter this season with a chip on their shoulder.
Calipari and Mike Krzyezewski have proven they can take young teams deep into the Tournament, but Self has typically had early exits with his young teams.
Kansas has the best mix of talent and experience in the country. Couple that with a team starving for a deep tournament run and you get a formula for a Final Four run.
Get to know the freshmen
Carlton Bragg PF - No. 21 ESPN 100
Strength: Bragg is very athletic and loves to play above the rim. He has long arms and has the ability to crash the glass. His athleticism will also be helpful in transition, where he can get the majority of his points.
Weakness: Bragg's skillset is still rather raw. His left hand is practically a non-factor and he sometimes settles for too many jump shots. In order to get meaningful minutes, he will need to develop his left hand.
Fit: Bragg is likely to go through some struggles, as most freshmen typically do. However, his superb athleticism will allow him to get rebounds and transition points off the bench.
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN Freshman Carlton Bragg goes up for a layup.
Cheick Diallo PF - No. 7 ESPN 100
SHANE JACKSON @jacksonshane3
**Strength:** Diallo is a tenacious shot blocker and defender. He can defend any position in the post and will be a tremendous rebounder on the defensive end as well.
Weakness: While his defense is tremendous, his offense has room for improvement. Diallo is unable to catch and shoot in the post. He is still rather young and raw, so there is time to learn. If he could improve his offensive postgame, Diallo could legitimately be a force.
Fit: If cleared to play, Diallo will more than likely be a starter at some point this season and potentially be the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Although his offense skill set needs improvement, his ability to protect the rim will translate right away.
MISSY MINEAR/KANSAN
Cheick Diallo dunks the ball
at Late Night in the Phog.
Lagerald Vick SG - No. 51 ESPN 100
Strength: Like the other two freshmen, Vick is very athletic. He uses that athleticism to create his offense by attacking the lane. He can finish near the rim and hit his open shots as well.
Weakness: Vick admitted his defense was his weakness. He struggles to defend both on the ball and off of it, which is surprising given how quick and athletic he is.
Fit: Vick will be a spark off of the bench, as he has the ability to score and create offense by himself. His defense is a glaring problem in his game, and that could keep him out of playing significant minutes during conference play.
Edited by Minami Levonowich
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN Lagerald Vick reads the defense.
EXPLORE AFRICAN & AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES AT KU!
BRINGING AFRICA AND ITS DIASPORAS TO KANSAS SINCE 1970
- interdisciplinary courses on African history, religion, and the black experience in the U.S. and the Caribbean
- language instruction and cultural immersion in Wolof, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Kiswahili, Somali, and Amharic
- public programming through the Langston Hughes Center, Institute of Haitian Studies, and the Kansas African Studies Center
- opportunities for social engagement and civic responsibility