Nick Greely – @Turnstonecapper
CBB Futures
- Kansas +1600, 1 unit.
Key Losses – Marcus Garret
Key Returners – Christian Braun Jalen Wilson Ochai Agbaji David McCormack
Newcomers – Remy Martin (ASU) Joseph Yesufu (Drake) Jalen Coleman-Lands (ISU)
Kansas is locked and loaded and ready to bounce back from a Round 2 exit where they got trounced by USC by a whopping 34 points and held to 51 points. Key to that last sentence was 51 points. This offense last year under Bill Self just wasn’t that good. Marcus Garret for as good as he was at point guard was not truly what the Jayhawk team needed. They need a guy like Remy Martin who can fill it up and facilitate as well and that’s what Remy Martin simply does best. Martin averaged 19.1 PPG last season and can score at an elite level from all levels. Bringing back core guys like Wilson and Agbaji with McCormack down low is huge for Bill Self. Add in experienced Yesefu who was MVC 6th man of the year and Coleman-Lands who was a Big 12 honorable mention selection and this team is loaded. Expect Kansas to win the Big 12 and to make a deep run come March.
2. Kentucky +1600 1 1 unit
Key losses – Devin Askew, Brandon Boston, Isaiah Jackson, Olivier Sarr
Key Returners – Davion Mintz, Keion Brooks, Jacob Toppin
Newcomers – Kellan Grady (Davidson) CJ Frederick (Iowa) Sahvir Wheeler (Georgia) Oscar Tshiebwe (WVU) Daimion Collins TyTy Washington
Kentucky seems to be a true comeback story. The Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament last season and now bounce back with an incredible roster this year. I can’t stress incredible enough as they are stacked!! Kentucky basically had zero shooters last season and when you add guys like Grady and Frederick that problem should vanish. Grady who averaged 17 PPG last season at Davidson and Frederick who averaged 47% on 3 PT field goals fill the “shooter” roles perfectly. Kentucky also adds Wheeler who is better than any Kentucky guard from last year outside maybe Brandon Boston and Oscar who is better than any Kentucky big outside Jackson. Adding two top 10 HS recruits in Washington and Collins + bringing back Mintz this team is the definition of deep. Kentucky is also in the running to add Cockburn from Illinois who would be another great addition to this team, but truthfully with the guards they have, they may not even really need him. Of course he’d be great for them and who wouldn’t want him, but they’d flat out be a super team. Expect Kentucky not only to make the tournament this season, but to make a deep run come March.
