Kansas Basketball: Breaking down Jayhawks’ 2017-18 non-conference schedule

Kansas has released their non-conference schedule for the 2017-18 college basketball season. Can the Jayhawks run the table and enter Big 12 play undefeated?

Last season, the Kansas Jayhawks went 31-5 and finished the season by winning the Big 12 regular season title, losing to TCU in the Big 12 Tournament, and still entering the 2017 NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed.

The Jayhawks would eventually lose to the Oregon Ducks in the Elite Eight, but not before absolutely destroying UC-Davis, Michigan State, and Purdue on their way there. This was an extremely successful season for Kansas, even if it will be disappointing that the team was once again so close to a trip to the Final Four.

Heading into the 2017-18 season, expectations to succeed are once again there, as they always seem to be with Kansas. However, this team is not as good as some of the teams of the past few seasons and expectations should be a bit lowered.

That being said, “not as good as some of the teams of the past few seasons” just means that the Jayhawks should still start the season as one of the favorites to win it all, despite losing a player as talented as Josh Jackson to the NBA.

In fact, it would not be a surprise to me at all if this team won every single game in non-conference play and entered Big 12 play undefeated and as the No. 1 team in college basketball. So, take that for a “weaker” team.

Here is a breakdown of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 2017-18 non-conference schedule.