On November 1st, the Kansas basketball team will lace up their shoes, put on their home jerseys and finally step out onto the Allen Fieldhouse court for the first time this season.
Once again, Bill Self has managed to recruit the nation's top player and set up our team for a potentially historic season. The season will officially begin (well if exhibition games count) and while we won't know who KU's starting five players will be until the season progresses a little bit, we can still make a guess about which guys will take the floor and start our quest to another Big 12 title and deep NCAA tournament run.
1. Frank Mason
A returning starter, senior Frank Mason will no doubt start every game again this season, barring an injury. He averaged 33.5 minutes and 12.9 points last year and looks positioned to average the same or higher numbers. Bill Self has made sure to instill the importance of toughness and heart in this program, and Mason fits Self's profile perfectly. His fearlessness, aggressiveness and veteran leadership will be the key to our success this season.
2. Devonte' Graham
Graham's emergence as a serious scoring threat last year should continue this year. His personality is unlike any other's on the team and the energy that he brings onto the court is contagious. The older and more experienced he becomes, the more confident he'll be in his game. He probably won't shoot a ridiculous 44% from 3-point range this year, but he has the potential to score even more points. In addition, he'll have LaGerald Vick and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk coming off the bench to help give him a break during long games.
3. Josh Jackson
The top rated freshman in the country, Jackson comes to KU with lots of expectations and praise. While the transition form high school to college basketball will be different for him, he's got enough talent to start for a powerhouse school. Even though it looks like he will only be in Lawrence for one year before heading to the NBA, it truly seems like he's bought into Self's system and wants to help the team. If he listens and learns intently from Self, he will surely be one of the best players in the country.
4. Carlton Bragg
Personally, Bragg's starting spot could be the wild card and this is where Self may try some different combinations early on in the season before settling on someone. Bragg surely did show quite a bit of potential in his freshman season. He was aggressive and truly gave it his all every time he was on the court. If Self decides to play small, he could opt for starting Mykhailiuk instead, but if we're up against a bigger team, Bragg's size and energy could provide him an edge.
5. Landen Lucas
A fifth-year senior, Lucas has certainly earned his playing time here. He's a veteran who has stuck with the program and made a huge jump last year, earning more minutes and making a huge impact in the rebounding category. Another possible option to start at his position could be freshman Udoka Azubuike. However, until Azubuike shows Self that he's worthy of starting, Lucas will have this spot. With so much experience under his belt and the ability to keep his emotions in check, Lucas will definitely be KU's most reliable big man.
