Big 12 Basketball: Big XII Preseason Team Power Rankings

Mar 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) chases after a loose ball with New Mexico State Aggies guard Daniel Mullings (23) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

1. Kansas Jayhawks

Like it or not, they aren’t leaving, and they’re going to be predicted to win the conference until they actually don’t. They return four starters, losing only Kelly Oubre, who was either the best player on the floor, or the worst, so it’s difficult to gauge how big of a loss that actually is. They lost Cliff Alexander as well, but he was suspended from late-February onward due to an NCAA eligibility issue.

Speaking of NCAA eligibility issues, Kansas premier freshman Cheick Diallo is still yet to be cleared, and the last update was that he’s hired an attorney and is prepared to fight the case. He would provide the Jayhawks with a much, much needed defensive presence in the frontcourt. Regardless, they will be super deep on the wing with sharpshooters Brannen Greene and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk coming off the banch, and can finally boast Bill Self’s favorite two point guard starting lineup with Frank Mason and Devonte Graham.

Kansas will win the conference if…

Wayne Selden is the Wayne Selden from this summer, and not last season. I wrote more about this here, but in short, over the summer, Selden averaged over 19 points per game during the World University Games, leading the Jayhawks to the gold medal, and earning himself the award for the tournament’s most outstanding player.

This came after a season in which he was supposed to form a formidable one-two punch with Perry Ellis. Instead, he regressed in just about every single statistical category. The good news for the Jayhawks is that in order for them to be good, Selden doesn’t have to be phenomenal. But in order for them to be great, he needs to roll into the season with the momentum from this summer.

Next: 2. Iowa State Cyclones