Kansas Basketball Looks Great So Far

Bill Self has Kansas Basketball near the top once again. Devonte’ Graham, Lagerald Vick and Udoka Azubuike are leading this team to yet another dominating season.

Sitting at 7-0, Kansas Basketball quite possibly looks better than last season. With only seven players in the main rotation, they have not only won every game, but done so impressively. The Jayhawks seem like an improved team from last season, which included the National Player of the Year Frank Mason.

That may seem like a bold statement, but the proof might lie within the numbers. Kansas is scoring almost nine points more per game than last season, while allowing ten points fewer. That is just about a 20 point swing from last season. The Jayhawks are averaging 91 points per game, which is by far the highest scoring percentage Self has had in Lawrence. At the moment the 61 points they allow per game is also tops as far as numbers go for Self’s Jayhawks.

The two things that stand out for the Jayhawks are three-point percentage and free throw percentage. Currently shooting 44% from three as a team and 74% from the stripe. Last season the free throw percentage was among the worst in basketball, so it’s a huge improvement.

Of course there is still a whole bunch of ball to be played, but one can wonder if Kansas can keep this up, especially through conference play. The Jayhawks have yet to have a true road game, but they’ve beaten the likes of Kentucky and Syracuse at neutral locations.

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The victory over the #7 Kentucky Wildcats wasn’t the best game played by Kansas, but they got the job done 65-61. The game against unranked and undefeated Syracuse was not comparable as the Jayhawks beat the Orange 76-60.

Individual numbers

Devonte’ Graham has been everything we thought he needed to be as he takes over for the departed Mason. Graham is averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8 assists per game. Those numbers are up from last seasons’ numbers when he averaged 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

Svi Mykhailiuk is turning into quite the dangerous weapon. Through seven games this season he has made just shy of 55% of his three-point shots. His numbers climbed drastically as well. This season he sits at 17.1 points per game compared to 9.8 last year.

Lagerald Vick is the biggest surprise this season as he has come to play. Last season he was an often used role player, averaging seven points and three rebounds per contest. This year he has doubled those numbers with 16.4 points and seven rebounds. Shooting over 45% from three.

Udoka Azubuike, the big man down low, has not disappointed. Only playing a handful of games before getting injured last season just gave us a sample taste of what this man can do. Scoring 15 points a game and seven rebounds is exactly what the Jayhawks need out of their big man. He’s hitting 77% percent of his shots so far.

Next: Kansas' All-Time Starting Five

The season is young, but these Jayhawks looked primed for the madness coming in March. Phenom Billy Preston has yet to see the court either, so help and depth is on it’s way. Doesn’t seem fair, if he can actually make it on the court.

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