The Jayhawks have a DEEP team this year. They have so many different ways they can throw out a lineup. What we’re going to look at is what lineups the Jayhawks can and should use this coming season.
Let’s look at the projected starters, then the entire roster and then I’ll break it down:
Starters:
PG: Charlie Moore
G: Quentin Grimes
G: Marcus Garrett
PF: Dedric Lawson
C: Udoka Azibuke
Bench:
PG: Devon Dotson
G/F: Sam Cunliffe
F: KJ Lawson
F: Ochai Agbaji (possible red-shirt?)
F: Silvio de Sousa
F: Mitch Lightfoot
C: David McCormack
Let it fly:
Bill Self’s untraditional turned traditional lineup. The Jayhawks had one of their best seasons ever in 2017 and a final four run in 2018 using a lineup like this. 1 big man surrounded by 4 guards. The Jayhawks will definitely use this lineup again this year but at a lower rate. The Jayhawks have a deep front court to go along with a deep backcourt and wings. But the Jayhawks will need buckets and this is the lineup that’ll get those buckets. Every guy, 1-5 can launch the 3 at a decent-to-great rate. If the Jayhawks want to string points together, in a quick amount of time, this lineup is the go-to.
PG: Devon Dotson
SG: Charlie Moore
SF: Sam Cunliffe
PF: Quentin Grimes
C: Dedric Lawson
Lockdown Defenders:
Bill Self always uses the term “soft” when describing his team at a low point. Usually that means the Jayhawks are not producing on the defensive side of the ball. Not this lineup. No way. Each one of these guys can defend and defend multiple positions. This lineup gets after it. They have quick hands and are lengthy on the wing, they have big bodies down low. This lineup will produce steals, blocks and lots of boards.
PG: Marcus Garrett
SG: Quentin Grimes
SF: KJ Lawson
PF: Dedric Lawson/de Sousa/ McCormack
C: Udoka Azibuke
Big on the Wings:
A completely different look for the Jayhawks. A look Self has really never used. A 2 guard, 3 big men lineup. Is Self going to use this lineup? I really believe so. And this could be the Jayhawks best lineup. If Dedric Lawson is hitting his outside shots, it’s lights out. They have two guards in Dotson or Moore at the one and Grimes at the two to control the pace of the offense, get up and down the floor and make outside shots while getting the bigs involved. You have 2 bigs down low bodying people and getting boards left and right. Finally, you have KJ Lawson on the outside with a complete mismatch for him to go to work offensively. This could be a great look for the Jayhawks.
PG: Devon Dotson/Charlie Moore
SG: Quentin Grimes
SF: Dedric Lawson
PF: David McCormack/ Silvio de Sousa
C: Udoka Azibuke
Drive & Kick:
A traditional 3 guard, 2 big man lineup but I like this look for the Jayhawks. But I like this look because of two guys: Devon Dotson and Sam Cunliffe. Devon Dotson has been at Kansas for a week now and Kurtis Townsend is already describing him as a “jet”. If Dotson drives to the hoop efficiently while improving the tempo of the offense, that opens up the 3 point line. Kick it out to the best shooters on the team and right now, with Mykhailiuk, Newman and Graham off to the NBA, that “next man up” is Cunliffe. He didn’t get much action last year but he can let it fly. If Dotson can drive to the paint and Cunliffe knocks down some 3’s, the floor opens up to the other three gentlemen on the court. Cunliffe can drive and use his athleticism, the bigs then get freed up and no one is even paying attention to Grimes over on the other wing. This lineup is a good one, but it relies on the success of Dotson and Cunliffe.
PG: Devon Dotson
SG: Quentin Grimes
SF: Sam Cunliffe
PF: Dedric Lawson
C: Udoka Azibuke