College GameDay breaks down if Kansas is a title contender
Kansas is a bonafide contender out of the Big 12, so say the analysts on College GameDay.
The Jayhawks have everything you need to win a title, according to Andraya Carter and Seth Greenberg. The balance Kansas plays with on offense and defense could ultimately carry this team through March.
Carter broke it down first on College GameDay Saturday ahead of the team’s matchup with Baylor.
“I think Kansas maybe that makes them special … I mean, you got three guys that are in the top 20 in the Big 12 when it comes to assists,” Carter said. “The way that they find each other on offense. The way they handled Houston’s pressure. Houston’s defensive pressure is what they’re known for. Kansas handled it like a pro, they’re finding each other …
“The way they pass in the connectedness that they have on offense, and then the defensive improvements … We all thought that Houston was gonna take Kansas off the map and pick them apart in the pick and roll game … I think Kansas is a title contender out of the Big 12.”
Greenberg, in addition to breaking down film, kept it simply regarding Kansas.
“Kansas has the best offense and best defense,” Greenberg said. “They have the best starting five in the country …”
Head coach Bill Self spoke on the subject of winning on the road heading into Saturday’s home game against Baylor, saying tough games away from home are nothing new in the Big 12. College GameDay alluded to this fact when previewing the contest against the Bears.
The league might be deeper than usual, especially when you include the conference’s new additions. But getting tough road games is par for the course for Kansas.
“It’s always been hard to win on the road,” Self said. “I think some teams are more equipped to win on the road than other teams. But I think it’s always been hard to win on the road. There’s more competitive balance this year than what we’ve had in years past, I think.”
Kansas has played six true road games this season, with four of them resulting in losses. All four have been against Big 12 opponents. The only conference game Self has seen his team win away from Lawrence has been against Oklahoma State, who currently sits in dead last.
Self will need to find a way to pick up some road wins eventually. Kansas wants to be as battle-tested as they can be heading into March. It would help the team’s demeanor if some of those experiences wound up being positive ones, though.