Bracketology 2021: 10 biggest winners from opening month of season

10. Kansas

At the end of last season, there was perhaps no team in better shape to compete for the national title than Kansas. Had the postseason not been cancelled, the Jayhawks likely would have been the top-seed and the odds on favorite to win Bill Self his second national title. However, the national pandemic changed everything, and this year’s Jayhawks team found themselves replacing Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson, two incredibly talented players.

In a season where teams like Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina have fallen off the map, the Jayhawks have avoided a similar collapse and have actually come across better than expected. They began the season with a 12-point loss to Gonzaga, the clear #1 team in the nation, but have responded in a major way. In December alone, the Jayhawks have knocked off four ranked opponents, including wins over Texas Tech and West Virginia to begin Big 12 play with a 2-0 mark.

Though Kansas does not play Baylor until mid-January, they have already shown their capability to knock off elite opponents. The Gonzaga loss was a bummer, but if the play of Ochai Agbaji, Marcus Garrett, and others continues, then the Jayhawks will again be a force when March rolls around. With the current landscape in college basketball, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see these Jayhawks with a top-seed in the NCAA Tournament again.