After a promising first half playing without their leading scorer Kevin McCullar, Kansas ran out of offensive punch and couldn’t get any defensive stops during the second half. No. 5 seed Gonzaga ran away and hid to end the Jayhawks season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
The 89-68 loss concluded one of the toughest seasons in Lawrence in years and now leaves Bill Self and his staff looking to retool the roster over the next couple of months.
Just moments after Saturday’s season-ending loss, Self even addressed looking towards next season in his postgame press conference. It’s clearly been on his mind – enhancing the roster for next season.
“For the last month, I’ve been thinking about next season, to be honest,” Self said. “… We had eight guys on scholarship who were healthy late… we could have done a much better job as a staff of putting more guys out there who could play. So that’s something that I have thought about for a long time.”
A safe assumption can be made that the Jayhawks will have a much different look next season. With that in mind we look to the future to gauge how their roster could look. Who is saying goodbye? Who has decisions to make? Who will be back and what needs will have to be addressed?
SAY GOODBYE TO…
Kevin McCullar, Nick Timberlake and Parker Braun are the only three Kansas players that have exhausted their eligibility. They are out, but the odds say they won’t be the only departures.
A transfer from Texas Tech who spent two years in Lawrence, McCullar withdrew from the 2023 NBA Draft in hopes of boosting his stock. Though the second half of his season was derailed by a knee injury, McCullar was still able to lead the team in scoring at 18.3 points a game. He earned first team All-Big 12 honors and put himself into first-round contention come the NBA Draft this June. Who knows how a healthy McCullar would have ultimately changed the Jayhawks fortunes, but his loss was certainly felt.
Timberlake arrived from Towson as one of the most highly regarded transfers during the 2023 cycle. However, he was never able to provide the type of shooting threat from deep that was expected. Even though he had a few nice games, he only averaged 5.1 points per game during his lone season at Kansas.
Braun, the older brother of former Jayhawk and current Denver Nugget Christian Braun, played a limited role off the bench.
DECISIONS TO MAKE…
Hunter Dickinson and Johnny Furphy.
The top-ranked player in the 2023 transfer portal, Dickinson averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors after arriving from Michigan. He has tremendous size and has been productive, but his lack of athleticism is a detriment to his NBA stock. He’s unlikely to be drafted. Dickinson will more than likely use his extra covid year to play a fifth year of college basketball. The current thought is that he’ll run it back for another year in Lawrence, but if he wanted to transfer there will be no shortage of options for him.
A late addition to the Jayhawks 2023 recruiting class, Furphy enrolled a year earlier than initially planned and turned himself into a legitimate NBA prospect. Pushing 6-foot-9 he’s got a nice-looking jump shot and is a generally fluid mover. On the other hand, he lacks strength and isn’t yet a finished product. If he were to declare, odds are pretty good he would be taken and perhaps even in the first round. However, another season of college ball would give Furphy a chance to get stronger and move up draft boards. He’ll have a real decision to make.
WELCOME BACK…
Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell.
Harris has already clear that he’ll be back to play a fifth season in Lawrence. He’s logged between 29 and 35.6 minutes per game over each of the last three seasons. There’s little doubt that Harris will be a big part of any plans moving forward. Unless something unexpected happens, he’s on pace to start 140 games in his college career.
Another stalwart of the Kansas lineup, Adams scored 12.7 points and grabbed 4.5 rebounds across 33 minutes of action per game. He excels in the short roll and as a lob finisher but hasn’t yet expanded his skillset as an undersized post.
A McDonald’s All-American in the class of 2023, Jackson started for the first half of the season but never showed the rim-attacking aggression he was known for in high school. Getting his confidence back will be huge.
A lengthy wing from Houston, McDowell is somebody who could have benefitted from a redshirt year, but the former four-star did show some flashes.
SAY HELLO TO…
Kansas currently has the ninth-ranked 2024 recruiting class that features five-tar big man Flory Bidunga, four-star point guard Labaron Philon and four-star wing Rakease Passmore.
Bidunga and Passmore will certainly go a long way toward making the Jayhawks more athletic. Bidunga is a big-time lob finisher, runs the floor, protects the rim and is a plus rebounder. He’s got a frame to build on and plays with some nasty. However, he may need some time to adjust as he continues to improve his overall skill level.
Passmore is a high-flying wing who is at his best in transition and has a great frame to build on.
Currently ranked No. 31 overall, Philon is a savvy guard who can play as a primary playmaker or be used off the ball as a scorer.
TRANSFER PORTAL NEEDS…
Like every other team in the country, Kansas is going to need to rebuild via the portal. They are deeply involved with one non-portal option: recent Indiana de-commit Liam McNeeley, who is considering the Jayhawks. Kansas desperately need shooters and the five-star McDonald’s All-American is among the best the class of 2024 has to offer.
Again, we want to stress that shooting is a major need. Finding a wing with size to replace McCullar is of the utmost importance. Kasnas may need a second if Furphy bounces.
Additionally, Self and his staff have to find another seasoned ball handler. They are adding help in Philon, but you never know what you are getting out of a freshman. A transfer with experience – preferably who can make a jump shot – will be huge to help take the pressure off of Harris to be the primary ball handler.
Last but not least, Kansas could use some more help up front. An athlete who could play both the four and five would certainly be a welcomed addition.
