Lawrence, Kan.: Kansas returned from last year’s NCAA Tournament squad for almost all of them, yet somehow the third-place Jayhawks looked completely different in Tuesday’s season opener against Michigan State in the Champions Classic Huh.
The only significant departure was Marcus Garrett, their floor leader and defensive stopper, and the Jayhawks responded by plumbing the transfer market for some speed, depth and athleticism that could help immediately.
Arizona State’s All-Pac-12 artist is point guard Remy Martin, who is expected to provide some of the scoring pop that is missing from the position. Drake transfer Joseph Yesfu and Iowa State transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands will offer some depth and shooting capability, and the Division II Transfer Cam Martin could provide some help in the paint.
Now the question is, how will all the pieces come together when it matters?
It’s a different thing, and the pressure is different, said Jayhawks coach Bill Self. “You’re yelling at you now because of pressure or whatever, wait until Tuesday. You run out of there, you’re in Madison Square Garden, you have some famous people sitting in the front row, stakes are high and Michigan State is ultra-competitive.
I don’t know how we will react, said Self, but our experienced people should be well accustomed to it.
In fact, the Jayhawks may look very different from the herd at the NCAA Tournament run off the court by Southern California inside the Hinkle Fieldhouse. But they still make four starts, although Jalen Wilson will serve the first of a three-game suspension and includes sharp-shooter Ochai Agaji and big man David McCormick.
That kind of experience is invaluable when it comes to marquee showdowns at the start of the season.
Senior backup Mitch Lightfoot said: “We’re making sure people who don’t understand the gravity of the games we play. We are reminding people that we are back in packed houses, to play the biggest stages for the highest stakes. We’ll be locked into the scouting report they do and hopefully we’ll play our best.
What it looks like is another tantalizing question in the opening game of Tuesday night’s doubleheader.
The Jayhawks were a plodding team that struggled to make their shot last season, and their lack of athleticism was evident in the NCAA Tournament. But with Martin running the show, and the arrival of Yesfu and other newcomers, the Jayhawks have the staff to drive a more up-tempo style this season.
Fans got a glimpse of it in an exhibition victory at Emporia State; The Spartans will get their full dose on Tuesday night.
Jayhawks Jr. Christian Braun said it was exciting to see all the newcomers get their roles. As you progress through the year, you will find that people are becoming more comfortable, but we are not there yet. We’re just seeing what people can do, trying to learn plays and things. It’s exciting for them. But just for me, it’s about taking a big step.
The steps from Emporia State to Michigan State aren’t huge.
People will panic for this game, more nervous than in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, simply because we don’t have 35 games under our belts that are happening, Self said. This is a completely new field. We have eight new people. It’s a lot of new people, and they haven’t understood me yet, and I’m just trying to get where I know them. I hope there may be some concern, but it is also positive.
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