At long last, the college basketball season has finally arrived.
And for No. 3-ranked Kansas, there’s no easing into the season. As everybody (who hasn’t been hiding out in an election day bunker) knows, the Jayhawks open against No. 11 Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic on Friday in Honolulu (8 p.m. CT, ESPN).
The Hoosiers are fresh off a run to the Sweet 16 and bring back a strong core of returners. It starts with 6-foot-10 sophomore Thomas Bryant, who would’ve likely been a first-round pick in the NBA draft if he declared last spring. He averaged 11.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Then there’s James Blackmon Jr., one of the top scorers in the Big 10, returning from injury and OG Anunoby, who probably enters the season with as much hype as any up-and-comer in the country.
The biggest question for the Hoosiers is how they will replace their superstar point guard Yogi Ferrell. They don’t have a natural point guard that can take over games like he did, so they will be relying on several players to bring up the ball and avoid turnovers.
**Interesting note:** This is the first time the Jayhawks are starting a season away from Allen Fieldhouse in the Bill Self era.
**Series history:** Indiana leads, 7-6. The two schools last played in 1995 in Kansas City when the Jayhawks won 91-83.
If you’ve missed it, KUSports.com’s Matt Tait and Nick Krug are out in Hawaii [providing great coverage of the Jayhawks ahead of their game against Indiana.][1]
**INDIANA STARTERS**
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*No. 2 — G Josh Newkirk | 6-1, 195, r-jr.*
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– A transfer from Pittsburgh, Newkirk will play in his first game after sitting out for all of last season. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 assists.
– In two exhibition games, Newkirk scored eight points on 3-of-10 shooting in 51 minutes with one turnover. He added 11 assists, seven rebounds, a block and a steal.
– At Pitt, Newkirk’s stats took a dip in his sophomore season. The Raleigh, N.C., native dropped his three-point field goal percentage from 43.4 percent as a freshman to 30.1 percent. He also increased his turnover rate from 19.6 percent to 21.7.
– The Raleigh, N.C., native underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee on May, 6, 2015.
– *QUOTE:* “You can see his athleticism has improved tremendously,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said. “He’s got a friend here that coaches high school in Pittsburgh, known him for 25-plus years, and he said, I don’t even recognize this Josh Newkirk, which that’s a great compliment. And he goes up and dunks. He wasn’t doing that.”
*No. 4 — G Robert Johnson | 6-3, 195, jr.*
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– In two exhibition games, Johnson has recorded 20 points (8 of 17 shooting, 3 of 11 from deep), eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, one block and five turnovers.
– He underwent ankle surgery in the offseason after the injury forced him to miss five of the team’s final seven games, including the Hoosiers’ Sweet 16 loss to North Carolina.
– Starting in 22 games last year, Johnson improved in several categories, especially three-point percentage (39 percent to 45 percent), rebounds (2.9 per game to 3.3), assists (79 to 94) and turnover rate (24.2 percent to 22.9 percent).
– Johnson is the most experienced player on the team with 55 career starts.
– *QUOTE:* “It was a tough process,” he said on recovering from his ankle injury. “But I’m glad I had the support system around me to be able to do the best that I could.”
*No. 1 — G James Blackmon Jr. | 6-4, 200, jr.*
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Basketball is back. ???? pic.twitter.com/4mGQRipcLY
— Indiana Hoosiers (@IUHoosiers) November 2, 2016
– One of the top scorers in the Big 10, Blackmon averaged 15.8 points per game last year before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in late December. He tested the NBA draft waters, but announced his decision to return in May.
– Cleared for practice in September, Blackmon scored 25 points in 49 minutes on 8 of 18 shooting (2 of 10 from deep) with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two turnovers in Indiana’s two preseason games.
– Blackmon made 77 three-pointers as a freshman (38.7 percent), which set a freshman record at Indiana. He improved his percentage to 46.3 percent last year before his knee injury ended his year.
– The junior was named to the preseason All-Big 10 team, voted by media members. In 46 career games, he’s scored in double figures 37 times.
– The Marion, Ind. native was the eighth leading scorer all-time in Indiana high school history. His father, James Sr., played at Kentucky.
– *QUOTE:* Blackmon has received plenty of criticism for his defense, or lack thereof, and he’s made it a focus throughout the offseason. About the criticism, Blackmon said, “When you hear stuff like that, you want to show your best and I feel like I will do that this season.”
*No. 3 — F OG Anunoby | 6-8, 235, soph.*
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– After averaging 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds last year, Anunoby is predicted to be one of the next breakout stars in college basketball as a dominant two-way player. He was named to the preseason All-American list by the Sporting News.
– Anunoby has led the Hoosiers in their two exhibition games, scoring a team-best 41 points on 16 of 21 shooting (7 of 11 from behind the arc) in 53 minutes. He added 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, two blocks and six turnovers.
– In the NCAA Tournament last year, Anounoby averaged 7.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He drew plenty of praise for his defense against Kentucky guard and eventual lottery pick Jamal Murray, blocking two shots on the perimeter. Along with his 6-8 height, the Ringer says he has a 7-6 wingspan and compares his versatility to Kawhi Leonard.
– Anunoby is 16th in Draft Express’s latest NBA mock draft. The biggest reason is his advanced statistics and the potential for this season. He ended last year with last season with an effective field goal percentage of .625 and his turnover rate dipped to 13 percent in Big 10 play.
– Pronounced: Ann-uh-know-bee
– *QUOTE:* “He can guard multiple positions,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “You can put him on a point guard, you can put him on a four-man. With his ability to cover ground and take away a shot and take away a drive, that’s all great and stuff you talk about with young players in close out drills, but there aren’t many guys who can do that. He can do that.”
*No. 31 — F Thomas Bryant | 6-10, 255, soph.*
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– A third-team All-Big Ten selection last year, Bryant is a preseason All-American with plenty of extra accolades.
– During Indiana’s two preseason games, Bryant totaled 26 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, one block and six turnovers in 52 minutes.
– The 6-foot-10 sophomore from Rochester, N.Y., made a Big 10-leading 68 percent of his shots last year and 71 percent of his free throws, adding 5.7 rebounds per game. He scored 17 points in the second half against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
– Throughout the offseason, Bryant worked on his footwork to defend on the perimeter and work on his face-up shooting, including some shots from the three-point line.
– *QUOTE:* “I just felt like I needed to stay another year to develop more,” Bryant said of his decision to return to Indiana for his sophomore season. “I didn’t want to go (to the NBA combine) and give a bad impression. I thought it would be good for me just to stay here, just continue to get back into work and get better.”
**INDIANA BENCH**
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*No. 13 — F Juwan Morgan | 6-8, 230, soph.*
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Hawaii bound ✈️ @OAnunoby @juwanmorgan23 @nolimittb31 pic.twitter.com/IRTOLgLgkj
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) November 8, 2016
– Morgan underwent offseason shoulder surgery after playing through a separated shoulder since high school.
– He averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. In the first preseason game against Hope College, he posted seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
– Similar to Anunoby, Morgan is capable of guarding several positions on the court. He can also play point guard on offense, playing the position as a freshman in high school until he had a seven-inch growth spurt.
– *QUOTE:* “People don’t understand how good Juwan is,” Bryant said. “He works so hard in practice. He’s one of the reasons why I’ve been getting better. When the season comes, people will be surprised at what Juwan can do.”
*No. 11 — G Devonte Green | 6-3, 186, fr.*
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That @ChefBoyArGreen crossover though… https://t.co/zaZHkrhSMA
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) November 1, 2016
– Scored 17 points in 13 minutes in the first preseason game. Was scoreless in 11 minutes in the second game.
– He played AAU basketball alongside Thomas Bryant with the PSA Cardinals.
– Green averaged 20.3 points per game in high school, shooting 42 percent from deep.
– His older brother, Danny, played at North Carolina and is a starter for the San Antonio Spurs.
*No. 20 — F De’Ron Davis | 6-10, 240, fr.*
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– Led the Hoosiers with eight offensive rebounds in two preseason games.
– He received a scholarship offer from Indiana in the eighth grade. He missed summer workouts because of academic issues, according to the Indianapolis Star.
– Davis was the all-time leader in blocked shots in Colorado high school history.
*No. 0 — G Curtis Jones | 6-4, 175, fr.*
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– Ranked No. 69 in the nation by Rivals, Jones played at Huntington Prep and was a teammate of Thomas Bryant. He averaged 20 points per game.
– In two exhibition games, Jones has scored eight points in 30 minutes on 2 of 6 shooting.
*No. 21 — F Freddie McSwain Jr. | 6-6, 215, jr.*
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– McSwain is a JUCO transfer from Neosho County Community College, where he earned first-team All-Jayhawk Conference honors while averaging 14 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
– Had eight rebounds in eight minutes in the second preseason game against Bellarmine.
– McSwain was limited throughout fall practices with a knee injury.
*No. 15 — G Zach McRoberts | 6-6, 200, r-soph.*
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– McRoberts sat out all of last season, leaving Vermont to go to school at Indiana. He joined the basketball team as a walk-on.
– His older brother, Josh, played at Duke and plays in the NBA for the Miami Heat.
– Two years ago, McRoberts averaged 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds at Vermont. He shot 49 percent from the floor.
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/nov/10/indianas-crean-calls-clash-kansas-huge-opportunity/?mens_basketball
