Kansas Basketball: 8 Keys to Another Big 12 Title for Jayhawks

In any given season, Kansas can generally be penciled in as a favorite in the Big 12 without too much trepidation. This year, however, a Jayhawks team that must replace four starters will face one of its toughest tests to retain the dual regular-season and conference-tournament crowns that it earned in 2010-11.

The most glaring difference between this season’s Jayhawks and last year’s is the absence of 13-plus feet worth of Morris twins. The player most responsible for filling that void will be Thomas Robinson, who must go from subbing in for Marcus and Markieff to replacing the bulk of their production this season.

Herein, a look at Robinson’s importance and seven other essential factors in Kansas’ quest for another conference championship.

8. Get Naadir Tharpe Comfortable in the Rotation

Eligibility issues have gutted what was a strong recruiting class for Bill Self, but one prize freshman remains. Naadir Tharpe, a 5’11” guard, has the skills as a penetrator and distributor to step into the utility role vacated by NBA-bound Josh Selby.

With little-used Elijah Johnson being asked to take over as a primary option alongside senior Tyshawn Taylor, the Jayhawks need all the talent they can get in the backcourt. If Tharpe plays as well as advertised, he’ll become a central part of the Kansas perimeter game.

7. Sweep Baylor

No team is as much of a threat to Kansas’ repeat chances as the Baylor Bears. Perry Jones is an early favorite for conference player of the year, and Baylor’s frontcourt has more depth and talent than any other in the Big 12.

Neither squad is dominant enough to run the table in conference play, but in a close race, the head-to-head matchup will be critical.

A sweep of the Bears (in Lawrence on Jan. 16 and in Waco on Feb. 8) would go a long way toward securing the Jayhawks' Big 12 preeminence.

6. Find a Rhythm for the New-Look Frontcourt

The departure of the NBA-bound Morris twins isn't the only cause for the reshuffling down low in Lawrence.

A pair of promising transfers, 6’8” Justin Wesley (Lamar) and 6’8” Kevin Young (Loyola Marymount), are looking to work their way into the low-post rotation.

Obviously, Thomas Robinson—the erstwhile super-sub who will take the lion’s share of minutes at power forward—will be the core, but finding the right combination of players around him will be critical.

If 7-foot junior Jeff Withey can combine with the new arrivals to support Robinson, the loss of the Morrises will be a lot easier to swallow.

5. Don’t Get Pushed Around on Defense

Last year’s edition of the Jayhawks wasn’t an overpowering defensive unit, and most of the best defenders—including blocks leader Markieff Morris and steals leader Tyrel Reed—are gone.

The offense is good enough to win most of its games, but not good enough for KU to completely ignore the other end of the floor.

Tyshawn Taylor, who averaged a career-low 1.0 steals per game in 2010-11, will be the key to this effort. If he can keep the pressure high on opposing ball-handlers, he’ll make life easier for everyone behind him.

4. Hold Serve at Home

Between their lack of depth and the absence of experienced stars after Tyshawn Taylor, the Jayhawks are more vulnerable to in-conference upsets than they’ve been in many years.

Road games at lower-ranked teams like Missouri and Texas A&M are going to be especially dangerous, making the Jayhawks’ performance at Phog Allen Fieldhouse even more critical.

Although last season’s upset at the hands of the Longhorns may have put a dent in its mystique, the Jayhawks’ home court is still going to be a very tough place for opposing teams to play.

As long as KU makes that advantage count, it'll be well on its way to handling a dangerous conference schedule.

3. Trust Thomas Robinson’s Talent

The best Kansas teams have always boasted top-notch frontcourt talent, and the player who must pick up that banner this season is Thomas Robinson.

The 6’9” junior was one of the nation’s best sixth men last season, spelling both Morris twins to the tune of 8.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Robinson is being thrown into the fire as a starter, with the second game of the year (in the Maui Invitational) pitting him against Kentucky’s All-SEC first-teamer Terrence Jones.

Even if Robinson comes out second-best in that meeting, though, expect him to finish the season being listed along with Jones as one of the best post players on any team in the nation.

2. Keep an Even Keel

Kansas has one of the country's most daunting non-conference schedules, facing No. 2 Kentucky next week in Maui and hosting No. 3 Ohio State in December.

With an inexperienced team like this year’s Jayhawk squad, there’s a lot of potential to overreact to the outcome—positive or negative—of such high-pressure matchups.

KU will do well to develop a short memory by the time conference play gets under way. They’ll need it for a brutal February slate that includes road games at Missouri, Baylor and Kansas State in the span of nine days.

1. Get Leadership from Tyshawn Taylor

Point guard Tyshawn Taylor is Kansas’ only returning starter and one of just three seniors on the roster. He’s also the most talented player on the team—provided that he can keep his head on straight.

Taylor was suspended for the exhibition schedule, along with Elijah Johnson, for unspecified violations of team rules. He needs to prove that his days of unfulfilled potential are behind him and that, in his final year in Lawrence, he’s ready to carry this team on his back.