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Three things we learned from Kansas winning the World University Games
A team consisting mostly of Kansas players won the U.S.'s first World University Games championship in 10 years on Monday. The U.S. overcame a late deficit to defeat Germany in double overtime in the gold-medal game.
For Kansas, the hope is that a high-level tournament like this will provide a nice springboard into the new season this fall. Here's a look at the three biggest things we learned about Kansas the past few weeks in Korea:
1. Wayne Selden may finally be ready for a breakout year
The Wayne Selden that Kansas fans had been hoping to see the past two seasons finally emerged the past few weeks in Korea. The rising junior wing averaged 19.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in Team USA's eight games, all while shooting a much higher percentage than he did during a topsy-turvy sophomore season in which he struggled to finish at the rim.
An exhausted Selden shot only 6-for-28 in Monday's double overtime title game against Germany, but even then he found a way to make an impact. He sank a go-ahead three that gave his team the lead for good in double overtime.
On a Kansas team that also returns standout point guard Frank Mason and all-conference forward Perry Ellis, Selden doesn't need to average 19.3 points per game next season. But if he can develop into a reliable wing scorer who can be counted on to consistently put up double figures, it would go a long way toward easing the pressure on Ellis and Mason and making Kansas a legit national title contender.
2. Frank Mason will have the ball in his hands late in games
Whereas Kansas entered last season with questions about who would fill its starting point guard job, there's no doubt who the Jayhawks will turn to this year. Frank Mason seized that job with a breakout sophomore season last year and showed signs in Korea that he might be ready for a starring role this fall.
Mason tallied 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the U.S.'s gold-medal victory against Germany, but it was his performance late in close games throughout the tournament that hinted that he might be Kansas' most important player next season. He showed poise and confidence with the ball in his hands, sometimes calling his own number and other times dishing to an open teammate.
With Selden and Mason seemingly locks for starting jobs on the perimeter, that leaves one more spot in the Kansas lineup for Bill Self to fill. He could either go big with wing Svi Mykhailiuk, a Ukraine native who could not play in this tournament, or go smaller with combo guard Devonte' Graham or sharpshooter Brannen Green, both of whom were injured and also sat out in Korea.
3. Hunter Mickelson has a chance to crack Kansas' frontcourt rotation
Buried on the bench throughout much of his junior season, Hunter Mickelson entered the World University Games eager to take advantage of a chance to prove himself. Cliff Alexander had moved on to the NBA and elite incoming freshman Cheick Diallo could not play for the U.S. team, opening up possible playing time for Mickelson.
The 6-foot-10 former Arkansas transfer certainly made a case for playing time in Korea, not only scoring in the paint but also doing a credible job rebounding and protecting the rim. At times, Mickelson was the U.S. team's most productive big man during the tournament.
It's likely Diallo who will start alongside Perry Ellis at center next season for Kansas, but Mickelson made a case to be ahead of fellow returners Landen Lucas and Jamari Traylor in the rotation. Lucas and Traylor are both superior rebounders but are limited in their ability to score or alter shots at the rim.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
