Junior point guard Sherron Collins and sophomore center Cole Aldrich announced that they will return to Kansas, making the Jayhawks a solid favorite to win their second championship in three seasons. Collins and Aldrich helped Kansas beat Memphis in 2008 for the team’s first title under coach Bill Self. This past season, Collins averaged 18.9 points and 5.0 assists per game, and Aldrich added 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Self told the Associated Press that he looks forward to those two future NBA players forming the foundation of next season’s team.
“I do think we return the best guard in the country and the best big man in the country,” said Self. “I think if you’re going to start a team, why not have an anchor and why not have a guard?”
With Collins and Aldrich bursting into stardom, the Jayhawks were a surprising 27-8 last season, winning a fifth straight Big 12 regular-season title and reaching the round of 16 before losing to eventual national runner-up Michigan State in the NCAA tournament.
