2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Kansas Jayhawks
No one has dominated a league the way Kansas has dominated the Big 12 over the last few years. Seven straight years the Kansas Jayhawks have been on top of the Big 12 Conference.
2011- 2012 Kansas Jayhawks College Basketball Preview
Kansas 2011-2012 Odds to Win NCAA Championship from Bookmaker: +2,600
Kansas 2011-2012 Odds to Win Big 12 Regular Season Championship from 5Dimes: +185
No team in America has more holes to fill than the Jayhawks, but Bill Self has proven very capable of rebuilding quickly in the past. Expectations aren’t as high as normal in Lawrence, but this team is still expected to contend for a Big 12 title.
Last Year’s Results: 35-3 (Loss to VCU in Elite Eight)
The Kansas Jayhawks were one of the co-favorites, along with Ohio State, in the NCAA Tournament last year. The Buckeyes bowed out in the Sweet Sixteen, and then Kansas bowed out against VCU in the Elite Eight. The Jayhawks still finished the season with a very impressive 35-3 mark, but the losses to mid-major programs in the big dance aren’t sitting well with Kansas fans. Four times in the last eight years Kansas has been knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by a team from a mid-major conference.
Roster Changes
It really is easier to say who came back than list everyone who will leave from last year’s squad. Tyshawn Taylor and Travis Robinson are the only two players who saw significant minutes last year that will be back again this season. The Morris twins will be missed in a big way, as will the outside shooters like Morningstar and Reed. Josh Selby had an up and down year last season, but his play making abilities will be missed at the point guard spot.
Ben McLemore was the team’s top recruit, but he was declared ineligible a couple weeks ago. Naadir Thorpe and Jamari Traylor are capable of making an impact in their freshman year, but they can’t be counted on to be team leaders right away. Kevin Young, a transfer from Loyola Marymount, will likely play the biggest role of any newcomer for this team. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Top Players
Robinson developed his game nicely as the season moved along last year, and he has the skills to be a force in the post. He only averaged 14 minutes per game last year, but he did average an impressive 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in that limited action. Danny Manning is working with Robinson, and Manning has a nice history of helping big men max out their abilities. Taylor is a talented guard who is impressive on both ends of the court. Elijah Johnson didn’t play a lot last year, but many say he is the most improved player from last year. Look for Johnson to stay on the court often because of his three-point shooting ability.
Kansas 2011-2012 College Basketball Prediction: #4 Seed in NCAA Tournament (Loss in Round of 32 in NCAA Tournament)
I’m not going to predict a terrible year out of Kansas by any means, but I think it will be a bit of struggle for this very young team. This team simply doesn’t have as much athleticism as it has had in the last few years. I think they’ll miss out on the Big 12 title crown for the first time in eight years.
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