3 reasons Kansas will win the NCAA Tournament
Kansas Jayhawks center Udoka Azubuike controls the ball during the first half of the State Farm Champions Classic. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
February 25th, 2020
The 2019-20 NCAA basketball season has been one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. The wild twists and turns continued this past Saturday with yet another No. 1 team losing at home. This time it was the Baylor Bears falling to the Kansas Jayhawks.
That result pushed the Jayhawks to the top of the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll, and has made Bill Self's team the new favorite to win the 2020 NCAA Tournament. Last week, the Jayhawks were available at +1000 at BetAmerica, but that impressive performance has seen their odds improve to +700. Let's look at three reasons why Kansas has what it takes to finish the season with a championship.
1. Udoka Azubuike
The towering senior from Nigeria is the main reason many believes Kansas will be the last team standing in April. Injury issues have kept Azubuike in Lawrence and out of the NBA, but this season he's fully healthy and is averaging 13.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.
In the biggest game of the season at Baylor on Saturday, he managed to put up 23 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks in an unstoppable performance. Azubuike has 13 double-doubles in 28 games this season, and has been a load for any team to try to deal with. He also leads the nation with a .744 field-goal percentage and a stellar 81.9 defensive rating.
Azubuike has been incredible today. pic.twitter.com/F5M1KkTKlo
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) February 22, 2020
2. Defense wins championships
The Jayhawks lead the nation in the KenPom defensive ratings. They are eighth in points allowed per game and fourth in opposing field-goal percentage. Only three of the past 12 championship teams have been outside the top 10 in defensive rating. However, even those three were in the top 20.
We've already touched upon Azubuike’s defensive prowess, but Kansas also has two players in the top 50 in the nation in steals per game in Devon Dotson and Marcus Garrett. Only Lamar University can boast that feat.
Not 100% healthy? Doesn’t matter.
— Jayhawk Video (@JayhawkVideo) February 2, 2020
Marcus Garrett will still put the clamps on your best player when it matters most. pic.twitter.com/X3srCe0jqG
3. History is on their side
Using the KenPom ratings, only UConn in 2011 won the title with an offensive rating outside the top seven. Kansas is currently seventh in that category. In addition, 11 of the previous 12 national champions started at least one senior or four upperclassmen. The only exception was the 2012 Kentucky Wildcats, who started three freshmen and two sophomores. Kansas currently starts three sophomores, a junior, and a senior.
Almost every team that has won a title in the past 12 seasons had a point guard that was either a superstar or at least a team leader. The starting point guards from the past 12 champions include Mario Chalmers, Ty Lawson, Jon Scheyer, Kemba Walker, Marquis Teague, Peyton Siva, Shabazz Napier, Tyus Jones, Jalen Brunson, Joel Berry, and Kihei Clark. Clark is the only name from that list that is a bit of an outlier. Kansas has Dotson running the point, and he would fit nicely into this group. The sophomore averages 17.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.
Devon Dotson's combo of burst, strength and balance are so impressive pic.twitter.com/xyhKWc98dD
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) February 22, 2020
Kansas has all the makings of a champion. However, given the way this college basketball season is going, don't be surprised if we see a new favorite emerge before the tournament tips off.