Kansas’ frontcourt got thinner Wednesday.
Freshman center Udoka Azubuike is out for the season after suffering a wrist injury, the school announced.
“Surgery should take place in the next few weeks and doctors are confident he will make a full recovery and be full speed sometime this summer,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “This is a blow to our team but I know that we will rally around this and Udoka will work hard to insure a full recovery. “
Azubuike, who is not NBA draft eligible until 2018, was averaging five points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 12.9 minutes per game for Kansas, which has won 10-straight since dropping its season opener to Indiana. The Jayhawks face UNLV on Thursday before opening Big 12 play next week.
The 7-foot, 280-pounder was part of a frontcourt by committee for Self with Landen Lucas, Carlton Bragg and Mitchell Lightfoot all spending time there alongside freshman phenom Josh Jackson at power forward.
While there isn’t another 7-footer to take Azubuike’s place, the Jayhawks do have a ton of lineup versatility with players like Jackson, Svi Mykhailiuk, Lightfoot and Lagerald Vick that can slide up and down the lineup. Self doesn’t have a ready-made replacement, but he’s got plenty of options for how to move forward.