Kansas’ frontcourt picture got a little more interesting with Keanu Dawes in the mix, and the Utah transfer sounds ready for whatever role Bill Self throws his way - including center.
That possibility has been floating around since Tre White returned via court injunction last month. White, who started every game for Kansas a season ago, gives the Jayhawks a familiar piece back in the rotation and adds to the lineup flexibility Self has been chasing. With White expected to slide back into a starting role and Tyran Stokes likely at the other forward spot, the question naturally shifts to how Dawes fits alongside them.
One answer could be a small-ball look with Dawes at the five. Self recently called that idea “fun,” and Dawes didn’t sound like a player worried about labels during his media availability Thursday. The Houston native said he can handle whatever the Jayhawks need, including a spot in the starting five at any position.
"I feel like [me playing the five] brings a lot more spacing," Dawes said. "A lot of fives don't have the athleticism or the speed or the quick burst that I have. When I'm at the five, I keep doing my rebounding, but I might be popping more, driving off of closeouts, and just opening more space for the team."
For much of the offseason, the center battle looked like it might come down to Christian Reeves or Paul Mbiya for the season opener. Both are still expected to matter this year, but the return of White and the presence of Dawes make it far less certain that either one opens the season as the starter.
At 6-foot-9, Dawes doesn’t fit the traditional center mold, but his numbers make the idea harder to dismiss. He finished in the 98th percentile in defensive rebounding rate for Utah last season, and he did it in a major conference. That kind of work on the glass gives Kansas a real path to playing bigger without sacrificing too much on the perimeter.
The offensive upside is obvious. If Dawes is the five, Kansas can keep all of its perimeter players on the floor and stretch the defense. He shot 31.7% from 3-point range last season on 3.2 attempts per game, and he said in the interview that he believes he can get that number up to 37 or 38%.
White and Stokes could help make that setup work, too. Their size on the wings would give Kansas more support on the glass and inside, helping cover for the lack of height in the paint.
Even if Dawes never becomes the full-time center, he gives Self another lineup wrinkle to stash and use when needed. Kansas has made its offseason approach clear: keep mixing, keep experimenting, keep finding combinations that work. Dawes simply adds one more option to the board.
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Kansas Veterans Still Have To Earn Their Place In Bill Self's Rotation
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That matters for Kansas because the Jayhawks are trying to sort out a new look while leaning on whatever stability they can find. Council and White bring experience, but Self has made it clear those minutes still have to be earned, even for veterans who already know the demands of playing in Lawrence. The early read is simple enough: they can help the team, but first they have to show exactly where they fit. [Read more 🡒]