Bill Self breaks down Kansas’ 2022-23 roster, headlined by Jalen Wilson, Kevin McCullar

With regards to rebuilding after a nationwide championship, Kansas is in about nearly as good a form as any latest title winner. Invoice Self was in a position to stiff-arm the switch portal from gobbling up any of his gamers, he held on to one among his two NBA Draft early-entry candidates after which he landed one of many higher recruiting lessons within the nation, strengthened on the finish by the addition of former Texas Tech wing Kevin McCullar.

Self mainly modeled this new roster off the model that simply gained a title, constructed round huge, versatile wings.

“Within the final eight to 10 years, we’ve all the time mentioned simply recruit interchangeable components,” Self advised The Athletic. “We had good measurement with MJ (Rice) and nice measurement with Gradey (Dick), and Kevin was an interchangeable half that had measurement.”

It’s slightly early to begin projecting roles. When Self felt the questioning steered towards projecting an excessive amount of, he was fast to level out that he hadn’t even coached the incoming freshmen but. However he did give a number of hints as to how he envisions enjoying in 2022-23.

So with the coach’s assist, let’s take an early have a look at the defending champs.

The brand new Ochai

Jalen Wilson pulled out of the draft final week on deadline day, and because the main returning scorer he inherits the star function. During the last 10 seasons, that participant has led KU in scoring the next season seven instances. Normally when there’s a man like Wilson returning, he sees his scoring common make a wholesome soar.

Most of Self’s groups undergo an enormous man or level guard, however he’s made exceptions when it’s apparent one among his wings is his most proficient participant. Ochai Agbaji, for example, made it clear from the beginning of final season he deserved probably the most pictures, and Self made changes to his play-calling to generate pictures for Agbaji. He tried to get him as many catch-and-shoot alternatives as attainable after which additionally ran quick-hitter actions for Agbaji like pin-downs or alley-oops, using his quickness and athletic capability. Self has an analogous starring function in thoughts for Wilson, however he mentioned the added touches will most likely look completely different.

“J-Will is a greater driver of the basketball,” Self mentioned. “He’s a man that may most likely measurement a man up and go round him nearly as good as anyone that we had final yr.”

We acquired some glimpses of what that regarded like in video games the place Wilson had an actual benefit along with his matchup, similar to in opposition to Windfall and Noah Horchler.

Self already has some favourite units for a slasher like Wilson that he’s run up to now for Marcus Garrett and Josh Jackson. That is one among his go-tos to create a downhill driving seam for his small-ball 4:

Wilson is de facto good in isolation and picks on mismatches, so Self would possibly attempt to manipulate matchups by operating some middle-of-the-floor ball-screen motion for him.

The dream can be for Wilson to shoot it nicely sufficient that the protection actually doesn’t have an awesome choice right here. If the defender goes below, he can drain the three. Go over after which he has a step head begin. Swap and he’s acquired the matchup Kansas needs.

Self additionally needs to provide Wilson the prospect to show that he’s a greater shooter than what his 3-point proportion this previous yr (26.3) would recommend.

“The one factor we didn’t do was attempt to get him a ton of pictures off the catch (final season), though he nonetheless was in a position to create sufficient on his personal, however I feel we’ve acquired to do a greater job of placing him in positions to get pictures off the catch too,” Self mentioned. “To ensure that us to most likely be a extremely actually, actually good workforce subsequent yr, he’s clearly acquired to have an enormous yr. A giant yr for him can be hopefully capturing within the excessive 30s (from 3) — perhaps low 40s. He’s gonna get many alternatives, and if he’s ready to do this, he’s gonna common loads of factors. I might see him undoubtedly being a first-team all-leaguer.”

The New Vet

Self had been complimentary of McCullar’s play at Texas Tech, speaking about him in a approach that you possibly can inform he’d love to educate that man. With Christian Braun leaving, there wasn’t a participant within the switch portal higher suited to fill his function.

I acquired into the particulars of why McCullar matches with the Jayhawks final month, however right here’s the spark notes model from Self: “I feel he’s form of a jack-of-all-trades man, very similar to Jalen. I feel he can play one by way of 4 offensively and undoubtedly play one by way of 5 defensively. He’s not some extent guard, however he’s undoubtedly acquired level guard expertise. He’s performed the place, he can get different man pictures and he’s acquired measurement. The one factor he’s acquired to do extra persistently for us is rating the ball.”

The most important knock on McCullar — and doubtless the No. 1 motive he’s not off to the NBA proper now — is his jumper. It seems to be first rate, however he made solely 28 3s at a 31.1 % clip this previous season. He’ll probably play a task much like the one Braun simply performed, and their utilization charges this previous season have been related. As an illustration, McCullar tried 3.1 pictures from past the arc to Braun’s 3.4.

Braun is a greater NBA prospect proper now primarily as a result of he shot 38.6 % from 3. McCullar isn’t fairly on Braun’s stage slashing to the basket, however he’s shut. And he’s becoming a member of an offense that’s higher at creating these alternatives. If he can merely bump up his effectivity from deep, then the Jayhawks might doubtlessly be getting a wing that’s near the equal of the one they simply misplaced. On high of all that, he’s previous — a fifth-year senior — and is aware of the Huge 12 nicely.

KU went from doubtlessly shedding Agbaji, Braun and Wilson with each Dick and Rice inheriting main duties immediately to now having some of the confirmed wing duos within the nation and little or no strain on Dick and Rice to be vital contributors immediately.

The freshmen

It’s not straightforward to play as a freshman for Self. The Jayhawks’ 2021 class graded out because the Eleventh-best within the nation, in accordance with 247Sports, but not one of the freshmen was persistently within the rotation.

That is the time of yr Self goes to see issues by way of an optimistic lens, so take all the pieces with a grain of salt, but it surely was telling how a lot conviction he had in his reply when requested concerning the place of the freshmen in his rotation.

“There’s no query we’re gonna play three,” Self mentioned. “MJ and Gradey are gonna play, after which one of many two bigs (Ernest Udeh Jr. or Zuby Ejiofor) is positively gonna play. Query is, can we play all 4? I don’t even know which one of many two bigs that can positively play — hopefully they each will — however I feel we’ve acquired a great recruiting class coming in.”

This reply helps us see Self’s imaginative and prescient for divvying up minutes. It’s secure to say that three beginning spots are locked up. Dajuan Harris, Wilson and McCullar will begin. If Self is that adamant that each Rice and Dick are going to play and we all know how a lot he likes the flexibility and switchability of his most up-to-date workforce, then it is smart for one among them to begin. At heart, he often has two within the rotation. This can be a yr the place he’s most likely going to attempt to give extra guys than ordinary a shot early on, as a result of he has 4 choices while you embrace tremendous senior Cam Martin together with the aforementioned three. Zach Clemence is the closest to a lock at that place to be within the rotation. Whether or not he begins, odds are he wins one of many two rotation spots, and with Self’s “positively play” language, it’s clear in his thoughts he needs one of many two freshmen filling that different spot.

That’s seven for-sure rotation guys: Harris, McCullar, Wilson, Rice, Dick, Clemence and a freshman heart. It’s uncommon for Self to play greater than eight usually, however he does have two guards most would count on to play in Joseph Yesufu and Bobby Pettiford. Plus there’s KJ Adams.

So given the quantity of competitors on the roster, it says so much that Self is so bullish on Rice and Dick within the rotation, and that is why he likes each: “MJ and Gradey each have scoring mentalities, and I’d somewhat have a man aggressive than have a man who it’s a must to attempt to change to be extra aggressive. I do assume that they’ve a pure knack for getting the ball within the basket.”

The backcourt

What Self needs out of Harris this offseason is apparent: enhance his soar shot. “He’s simply acquired to get extra constant and be extra of a menace.”

The coaches didn’t mess along with his type this spring, Self mentioned, however he want to see Harris get it off faster and never dip the ball as a lot. The aim with Harris is solely to make 3s at a price the place defenses at the least must account for him, and Self was happy that he had some video games the place he made groups pay for leaving him, most notably draining three treys within the Remaining 4 in opposition to Villanova.

As for the remainder of Harris’s recreation: “Defensively and understanding and having the ability to create for others, I imply he’s darn good proper now,” Self mentioned. “However he can definitely get stronger and change into extra constant.”

Remy Martin’s departure creates a gap for the backup level guard spot. Yesufu ended up enjoying there when Martin was harm in Huge 12 play, however Self is adamant he needs Yesufu off the ball this yr.

“I feel Joe simply must concentrate on simply enjoying and scoring,” Self mentioned. “Don’t fear about being some extent guard, simply rating. I feel final yr we had him considering an excessive amount of.”

McCullar’s capability to play level guard provides Self an choice if one other worthy backup doesn’t emerge, however proper now it looks as if that’s Pettiford’s spot. Clearly Self has no concern enjoying two little guards collectively, so Pettiford might play some with Harris. However when Harris is off the ground, Pettiford will get the primary shot.

“He’s acquired to do all the pieces,” Self mentioned of Pettiford. “He’s acquired be wholesome, however he’s acquired to learn to run the workforce. And though he’s some extent guard, he didn’t actually get an opportunity to do a lot final yr (due to his harm). I simply anticipate him simply mainly having a freshman yr once more.”

Pettiford is anticipated to get again on the courtroom this week after a minor setback not too long ago delayed his return from his belly harm. Kansas additionally has Kyle Cuffe Jr. within the backcourt. Cuffe, who redshirted final season, might have the hardest path to enjoying time of any scholarship participant.

Sophomore bigs

Clemence confirmed flashes final season of what he might do on each ends. He scored seven factors in 4 minutes within the opener in opposition to Michigan State, then 9 days later he went for 11 factors in 12 minutes in opposition to Stony Brook. He’d additionally had some scoring outbursts in observe that had Self raving early on. Then in a middle-of-the-season recreation in opposition to Oklahoma at Allen Fieldhouse when KU was struggling to cease Tanner Groves in pick-and-pop motion, Clemence performed 9 minutes down the stretch, taking Groves away throughout that stretch along with his protection.

Self was requested what it would take for Clemence to make the soar to be a starter.

“Aggressiveness most likely,” Self mentioned. “He can shoot the basketball, however he’s acquired to play slightly stronger and positively be extra aggressive defensively. However offensively he’s a great participant. He can put it down two or three bounces. He can move the ball slightly bit, and he can definitely shoot it. He’s clearly a a lot better offensive participant than what he’s proven thus far.”

Adams really performed extra minutes than Clemence this previous season. That may make some argue that Adams must be the sophomore with the most effective likelihood at beginning at heart, however the counter to that argument is Adams had a specialist function on the championship workforce when Self wished to play a lineup that would change all the pieces. Clemence has extra of a well-rounded recreation.

Adams, in the meantime, is a kind of program gamers who ought to see his function develop yearly. He’s form of like a Kevin Younger sort. Nobody ever anticipated Younger to be a starter, however after serving as an power bench man in 2011-12, he began as a senior in 2012-13 in one of many first years Self performed with a non-traditional energy ahead.

Self doesn’t plan to only pigeonhole Adams in that specialist spot this yr.

“Hopefully the items get the place they’re as interchanging as attainable, and he definitely can play out on the perimeter as as our so-called 4 man,” Self mentioned. “He simply didn’t get an opportunity to final yr as a result of we have been so deep in that spot. However I can see him enjoying some on the perimeter this yr. I don’t see him as strictly a backup-type 5 man.”

KU remains to be actually deep on the wing, however now that Adams is skilled, perhaps that earns him a shot early on.

This time final yr we have been projecting a a lot deeper rotation than Self ended up enjoying. That appears to be an annual prevalence now. What now we have realized is that Self likes to have choices to play quite a lot of various kinds of lineups, and he achieved that with this roster. He mainly gained April and Might.

Heart is the one query mark. However even with no confirmed man there, Kansas might be a unanimous Prime 10 workforce within the preseason with a deep core of interchangeable components.

(Prime picture of Jalen Wilson: Jamie Squire / Getty Photos)