NCAA Basketball: Preseason picks to be No. 1 seeds in 2024 NCAA Tournament

Kansas Jayhawks

2022-23: 28-8 (13-5 in Big 12), NCAA Tournament: 2nd Round

Despite losing seven players from last year’s team to the transfer portal and two others to the NBA, a strong case can be made that the Kansas Jayhawks should be the preseason No. 1 team in the country. That’s what happens when you land the biggest name in the portal and that’s what Bill Self did when Hunter Dickinson decided he was going to play in Lawrence. Dickinson is a national player of the year candidate and likely all-American who fits Kansas well as both a post-up big man and someone who can stretch the floor

. Dickinson isn’t the only reason Kansas has national title aspirations. They also bring back one of the best point guards in the country in Dajuan Harris, Jr., As well as veteran forward Kevin McCullar, Jr., and a guy I think, is in line for a big breakout year in sophomore forward KJ Adams.

Dickinson won’t be alone as a newcomer trying to make an impact for the Jayhawks this season. Fellow transfer Nick Timberlake comes over from Towson where the 6-4 guard averaged over 17 points per game and shot over 41% from deep for the Tigers. A couple of freshmen guards could also see plenty of minutes this season. Elmarko Jackson is an athletic defender who needs to work on his shot and Johnny Furphy is the bigger of the two, at 6-8 he’s a good shooter with the chance to be elite with some improvement.

Not only does Kansas play in the toughest conference in the country, but their schedule before they get there is a gauntlet. In November they get Kentucky for the champion’s classic and then take part in the Maui Invitational. That loaded field also includes among others Gonzaga, Purdue, Marquette, Tennessee, and UCLA. Then to top it all off they host the defending champs UConn in the Big East/ Big 12 Battle. The Jayhawks will certainly be battle-tested come March, and right now it would be a surprise if they didn’t land a No. 1 seed.