Kansas Basketball: Four Jayhawks who need to step up in March Madness

Marcus Garrett

It’ll be a game-time decision whether sophomore Marcus Garrett or Agbaji makes the start for each game this month. Either way, they’ll both be key players this month that will need to bring their top performance every day.

The guard is one of just two players on the team that has gone through the pressures of the NCAA Tournament, and brings the experience of making a Final Four run with the Jayhawks last year. His leadership will be necessary this postseason.

Garrett is one of the team’s strongest defenders which will be crucial for the Jayhawks in the National Tournament. KU hasn’t guarded beyond the arc well at all this season, and this weakness will be quickly exposed when it comes time to Dance.

Matt Galloway from the Butler County Times pointed out that KU is ranked 127th nationally in their defense against the three-pointer, as they permit their opponent to cash in on almost 34 perfect of shots from three.

Galloway added that in KU’s two worst defeats this season, losing 77-60 to Iowa State and 91-62 against Texas Tech, the opponents combined to make 29 threes against the Jayhawks—good for nearly 57 percent.

The Jayhawks won’t be able to make it through the tournament allowing their opponents to score at that percentage, and the Jayhawks’ best defender in Dedric Lawson can’t do it all. Garrett will need to step it up defensively and take some responsibility. If he can effectively close down more shot attempts behind the arc, Kansas has a shot at winning a few games this postseason.