Kansas center Landen Lucas is here, and that might be the most important point to make.
He’s here at the NCAA Tournament, a starter for top-seeded KU, after averaging 4.9 minutes his redshirt freshman season. He’s here after he had thoughts of leaving the program a few years ago, and after watching as KU’s coaching staff attempted to recruit over him year after year.
“My whole time here I’ve had an end goal and an end vision of it,” Lucas said.
That wasn’t always easy to see. Lucas didn’t start out as one of KU coach Bill Self’s favorites, even if Lucas has developed into that.