Analysis Through K-State (2).

Through 23 games, KU’s team looks like this:

Bullet points:

• If starters could play all 200 minutes at same pace, KU would be about 4 ppg better. It isn’t unique for starters to be five best players, obviously. It is unique for all rotation bench pieces (save TGF) to be negative.
• Best way to increase starters minutes is with D-Mac, who is best per-minute player due to his offensive output. He averages 22.1 mpg on season, and 24.1 mpg over last 5. If he can get that to 28-32 mpg down the stretch, which seems realistic, this should improve team’s chances.
• Defense has picked up of late. Up to 12th in KP and 18th in Torvik. Even Jalen Wilson’s defense has turned positive for the season. McCormack is also grading out as okay defender after rough start.
• Offense has declined. After Wilson and McCormack, Agbaji is only +0.44 on that side. No rotation bench player is positive. 3-point shooting is declining, but still above average to competition.
• Marcus Garrett has 10 straight positive games.
• None of KU’s prior 7 games were decided by single digits (won 5 by 10+, lost 2 by 10+). This will likely change with remaining schedule: vs. Texas Tech, @ Texas, vs. Baylor.
• Could end up being Self’s worse team, but comparable to 2004, 2015, and 2019 teams.