Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Details
After a phenomenal 31-5 record in 2016-17, the Kansas Jayhawks will look to build on that success and win its 10th straight regular season Big 12 title. Coached by Bill Self, the Jayhawks have been a model of consistency over the past decade, but haven’t won an NCAA Championship since 2007-2008. Last season, Kansas’ tournament run ended in a 14-point loss to the Oregon Ducks, but Kansas should get another solid shot at a title this season, thanks to the team’s great recruiting class.
Kansas lost three seniors, including Frank Mason and Landen Lucas, while also losing star freshman Josh Jackson to the NBA Draft. With Mason and Jackson gone, the Jayhawks have over 30 points per game to make up for. Devnote’ Graham returns for his senior season after a solid junior campaign where he averaged 13.4 points per game. His senior leadership will help mold the team’s incoming freshmen, including forward Billy Preston and guard Marcus Garrett. Junior guard Lagerald Vick, who averaged 7.4 points last season, should play a lot of minutes in the backcourt with Graham. 19-year-old senior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, who committed to Kansas at age 16, will get some good minutes as well. He averaged 9.8 points during his junior season.
Playing in a somewhat weak Big 12 conference should provide an easy route to the NCAA Tournament once again for Kansas but the fans inside Lawrence, Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse will be hoping for much more than a regular season title and an Elite Eight exit.