When ranking the best backcourts in the nation, it's hard not to first look at Kansas. Senior guard Devonte' Graham certainly believes the potential is there.

Despite losing Naismith Player of the Year Frank Mason III to graduation, the Jayhawks reload with Mississippi State star transfer Malik Newman to fill the starting backcourt vacancy for the 2017-18 campaign.

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The 6-foot-2 Graham will be fighting for first-team All-American status after averaging 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists last season, while Newman, a redshirt sophomore, will look to pick up where he left off when he averaged 11.3 points for the Bulldogs as a freshman before transferring.

The duo combined for 46 points (Graham 28, Newman 18), during KU's alumni scrimmage in late June, including knocking down a combined 12 3-pointers. They will get their first full games together live on FloHoops during a four-game trip to Italy next week.

Add returners Svi Mykhailiuk and Lagerald Vick to the mix and this is a very potent backcourt expected to do big things.

Of course, there is plenty of competition looking to prove to be a better tandem. Duke's Trevon Duval and Grayson Allen, Michigan State's Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford, Kentucky's Quade Green and Hamidou Diallo, Arizona's Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Rawle Alkins, Wichita State's Landry Shamet and Connor Frankamp, and West Virginia's Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles, among several others, are all in the conversation to start the season.

However, when you have an experienced leader with Graham and the talent of Newman, it is definitely near impossible to deny the potential greatness the Jayhawks have in the backcourt once again.

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