With a mass exodus underway in Lawrence, the Kansas Jayhawks could have a radically different look next season.
The 2018-2019 season wasn’t one to put in the history books for the Kansas Jayhawks. The program’s streak of consecutive regular-season titles, a huge point of pride for Kansas fans, was snapped at 14 after Kansas State and Texas Tech split the Big 12 crown.
Kansas also had an early exit in the NCAA Tournament, getting shot to oblivion by Auburn in the Round of 32, which makes sense in hindsight as that Tigers’ team went to the Final Four and nearly upset eventual National Champion Virginia in the process. The year as a whole was disconcerting for Kansas, however, starting out as the pre-season No. 1 but never living up to expectations.
An injury to big man Udoka Azubuike crushed Kansas, and having Silvio De Sousa declared ineligible due to recruiting issues decimated the front line. Losing senior Lagerald Vick at mid-season also didn’t help, leaving Bill Self with a perilously thin roster, making the fact Kansas won as many games as it did impressive.
Things don’t look good for Kansas right now with a mass exodus of talent underway. Vick is gone, K.J. Lawson and Charlie Moore transferred out of Lawrence, while Dedric Lawson, Quentin Grimes, and Devon Dotson all declared for the NBA Draft.
Dotson is leaving the door open for a return to Lawrence, but everyone else on the list seems to be gone. Let’s take a peek at some of the options Kansas has to try and build a new Big 12 champion next season.