TOWSON, Md. - If there was a Mt. Rushmore for legendary basketball programs, the Kansas Jayhawks would have a bust alongside North Carolina, Duke and Kentucky.
There are some programs that go through transition years and others that just simply re-load. Kansas is one of those programs that simply reloads.
Even with just one starter returning from a 35-3 team that lost to VCU in the Elite Eight, when it comes to consistency, there are few teams like Kansas. The Jayhawks have won 30 or more straight games in four of the last five seasons under Coach Bill Self.
Self (237-46 at Kansas) returns for his ninth season when his Jayhawks face the Towson Tigers at Allen Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.
Kansas lost 6-8 F Marcus Morris (17.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 6-9 F Markieff Morris (13.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg), G Tyrel Reed (9.7 ppg), G Brady Morningstar (7.1ppg) and Maryland native G Josh Selby (7.9 ppg) to graduation or the NBA.
That's typical at big-time programs and some have difficulty recovering. Kansas may have some early growing pains with several new bodies in the mix, but it's not like the Jayhawks lack talent or experience.
Towson has just one player in sophomore Erique Gumbs who saw action last season. With all of its losses, Kansas still has a boatload of talent and size along with eight players who have had some experience in Division I basketball.
The leader up front is junior Thomas Robinson (6-9, 237), a powerful player who has had to wait his turn playing behind the Morris twins. Robinson averaged 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in just 14.6 minutes per game last year while shooting 60.1% from the field. He was recovering from knee issues during preseason and still managed to score 22 points, grab 12 rebounds, block four shots and dish out five assists in KU's 101-52 exhibition win over Fort Hays State on Tuesday night.
At center, junior Jeff Withey (7-0, 235) provides even more size and while he averaged just 2.3 points per game last year while playing just over six minutes per contest, he should put up much bigger numbers this year. Withey scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds with three blocked shots in 17 minutes against Fort Hays State.
With so much size up front, the Jayhawks can afford to go with a three-guard lineup. Point guard Tyshawn Taylor (6-3, 185), who was suspended for the Jayhawks' two exhibition games, averaged 9.3 points and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc.
Taylor has the tools to become one of the best guards in the nation with great speed and size for the point. When Taylor sat out on Tuesday, freshman guard Naadir Tharpe (5-11, 170) sat in for Taylor and scored 19 points, had five steals and dished out seven assists in 29 minutes.
Junior guard Elijah Johnson (6-3, 195) was also suspended for two games but is expected back. He averaged 3.4 points per game last year while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Johnson is known for his incredible athletic ability but not an ability to put the ball on the floor.
At the wing, junior Travis Releford (6-5, 207) was a quality reserve last year and now gets a chance to start or at least play a lot of minutes in the rotation. He averaged 3.7 points per game last year while shooting 50% from the field. Former walk-on Conner Teahan (6-5, 212) is a senior who can stroke the ball and is strong enough to play some power forward when KU goes small.
Sophomore Justin Wesley (6-8, 220) is the younger brother for Keith Langford, who transferred from Lamar. He played sparingly for Lamar but did have 12 points on Tuesday against Fort Hays. Junior Kevin Young (6-8, 195) is another transfer from Loyola Marymount who averaged 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 53% from the field. He should get significant time in the rotation.
