Kansas basketball: 3 starting lineup options for next season

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Guard Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks handles the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

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Kansas basketball(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Worst-case scenario

Point Guard: Marcus Garrett
Shooting Guard: Bryce Thompson
Forward: Ochai Agbaji
Forward: Mitch Lightfoot
Center: David McCormack

Even in the worst-case scenario for Kansas basketball in the 2019-20 season, they should be a group that still competes for a Big 12 title. The backcourt combination of Garrett and Thompson might not be as special as Dotson and Thompson taking up the mantle but it’s a duo that could still make up one of the better combinations of guards in college basketball next year.

Furthermore, there is good reason to believe in what Agbaji and McCormack should be able to bring to the table at their respective positions. While the former would be well-served to improve his range and outside shooting if he’s going to occupy a larger role, he’s still a capable all-around player. Moreover, McCormack has steadily improved and should be able to be a high-quality big man, even if he’s not as physically dominant as Azubuike.

If we’re talking about the worst-case scenario, the big change is Mitch Lightfoot taking over at power forward because De Sousa leaves for the NBA. While that may not necessarily be likely given that De Sousa was suspended for all of the 2018-19 season and had limited and relatively unproductive minutes this past year, it’s in the cards.

Lightfoot, on the other hand, redshirted this past season in hopes of returning for the 2020-21 season in a bigger role. When he last played in the 2018-19 campaign, he averaged 2.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game. He’s a fine cog but, if he’s in the starting lineup, he’ll be in a limited role to provide size in the frontcourt. But given the talent and upside around him, having him in the lineup of De Sousa is far from a death sentence for the Jayhawks.

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