Big 12 Basketball: Preseason conference power rankings for 2023-24 season

1. Kansas Jayhawks

Last season: 28-8, 13-5 in the Big 12

Kansas returns with Dajuan Harris Jr., Kevin McCullar Jr. and K.J. Adams Jr. and Zach Clemence back looking to do more damage. They really cashed out in the transfer portal with the addition of former Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson to the frontcourt.

Dickinson will look to impose his will on the Big 12 after making a name for himself in the Big Ten over the past three seasons. He finished with 18.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg and 1.5 apg on 56 percent shooting from the field in 2022-23. He’ll look to close out his career with the Jayhawks by leading them to a national title and should be the early favorite for Player of the Year in the conference.

K.J. Adams Jr. should continue to grow in the frontcourt after finishing with 10.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.9 apg on 62.2 percent shooting from the field. He’s an athletic 6-foot-7 forward with room to grow with their additions heading into his senior season.

Dajuan Harris Jr. will look to increase his production as a distributor after dishing out 6.2 apg and taking home the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022-23. McCullar will look to take some pressure off Dickinson with his presence on the wing. He’s coming off a 10.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.4 apg and 2.0 spg season with the Jayhawks. Repeating as regular season champions is back on the table as the Jayhawks start as the No. 1 in this year’s preseason conference power rankings.