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KU Basketball: Carlton Bragg Needs More Playing Time

By Zach Blochlinger

Jan 19, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket as Kansas Jayhawks forward Carlton Bragg Jr. (15) defends during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. OSU won 86-67. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket as Kansas Jayhawks forward Carlton Bragg Jr. (15) defends during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. OSU won 86-67. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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KU Basketball has been struggling a little as of late. Should Bill Self play Carlton Bragg and others more in an attempt to help jolt this team?

KU Basketball has lost two of its last four and the two wins were not as impressive as they should be. Just yesterday against the Texas Longhorns, they trailed the entire first half and really struggled to get going.

The Jayhawks are one of the best teams in the nation because in-part to their depth which Bill Self has seemed reluctant to use at times. Freshman forward Carlton Bragg is not getting nearly enough minutes or touches in my opinion. Other than Perry Ellis, Bragg is easily the best of the Kansas big men scoring the basketball.

He has a solid 2-point jump shot and is able to score in the post using his length. He is also one of the top NBA prospects on the roster as a long, scoring forward. His weakness is his muscle mass. He is very skinny and will need about 15 lbs. of muscle before he will be able to contribute consistently at the NBA level.

Against bigger teams they might struggle due to Bragg’s lack of size, but other than that they could be a good-to-great low post tandem.

At the college level though, he could be a three or four-year star at Kansas. He is about 6’9″ and like I said, can score the basketball. He should be coming in as the sixth man or even a starter over Hunter Mickelson or Landen Lucas, who have been starting the few games. With Ellis, they should be a good rebounding duo and a decent defensive duo. Against bigger teams they might struggle due to Bragg’s lack of size, but other than that they could be a good-to-great low post tandem.

So why doesn’t Self give him more minutes?

He has always made freshman earn their minutes and seems to be wanting to stick with a veteran lineup most of the time with no freshman at all playing. That being said, I believe Bragg has looked good enough thus far offensively to get the nod over the guys he’s playing right now for the most part.

Shaking up the starting lineup might be something good to give this team a boost for the rest of the tough Big 12 Conference schedule that they have struggled with as of late.

Next: Is Svi Mykhailuk Shooting Too Much?

Let me know what you think! Should Carlton Bragg see the court more often? Other than Perry Ellis, do you think the other KU bigs should play over him? Let me hear your feedback and comments below!

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