NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top 25 power rankings for 2023-24 season

2022-23 season record: 28-8 (13-5 Big 12)

Expected losses: Jalen Wilson, Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar, Joseph Yesufu, Bobby Pettiford, MC Rice, Zach Clemence

First and foremost, we hope that head coach Bill Self is healthy after missing the first round of the NCAA Tournament due to medical issues. Assuming that he’s good to go, he and the staff will have some work to do with this roster. They lost Big 12 Player of the Year forward, Jalen Wilson, along with star freshman, Gradey Dick.

No one back for Kansas averaged more than 11 ppg but there’s still some good depth, particularly on the defensive end. Guard Dajuan Harris, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and second in the conference with 6.2 apg should be back to run the offense and will be joined by five-star guard commit, Elmarko Jackson. Four-star commits, Chris Johnson and Jamari McDowell will be coming in as well.

Big man KJ Adams is a breakout candidate to watch in the frontcourt after moving into the starting lineup. He isn’t a great fit next to Ernest Udeh inside but there’s plenty of talent available to find in the portal at the four-spot.

If McCullar opts to come back for a fifth year, he could become the lead scoring option for the Jayhawks. But right now, this looks like one of the best defensive units in NCAA Basketball with some offensive flaws. Still, Coach Self always finds a way to make the team into a Final Four threat and this one won’t be any different.