For most of a two decade span Kansas was an elite and powerful college basketball program under Bill Self. He has a pair of national titles under his belt, including one just three years ago, and has won a boatload of games and Big 12 titles. However, the Jayhawks are entering this new era of college basketball with NIL and increased transferring and aren’t exactly putting their best foot forward to this point.
After an underwhelming season in 2024, the Jayhawks repeated the feat last season in the new-look Big 12. Kansas did notch 21 wins but finished 6th in the league standings and were knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. What was still an impressive season for some talented players didn’t live up to the expectations this program has had in recent years.
This season looks very different as a boatload of talent left Lawrence in the offseason. Kansas will certainly miss elite point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and All-American center Hunter Dickinson, but they aren’t the only holes Self needed to fill in the offseason. The Jayhawks also shed talented guards in Rylan Griffen and Zeke Mayo, former transfers who had different experiences stepping up for Kansas last season.
Even with recently underwhelming efforts, Kansas is trying again and have added significant talent from both the transfer portal and freshmen additions, both international and local. We’ll take a look at the players who should make the impact for the Jayhawks this season and look ahead a little to the schedule. Within reason, we’ll start trying to figure out if this team can get back to the top of the Big 12.
Projected Starters
Guard – Melvin Council Jr. (Senior)
Before coming to Lawrence this offseason Council starred at the junior college level and put up great numbers at both Wagner and St. Bonaventure. First Team All-NEC two seasons ago, his year with the Bonnies saw him average 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game to earn All-A-10 honors. Council now assumes the important role running the point for a Big 12 team hoping to contend; we’ll see if he can improve on his long-range shooting as another aspect of his game.
Guard – Jayden Dawson (Senior)
Year three at Loyola Chicago was the best for Dawson, who’s coming off a breakthrough campaign in the Ramblers’ backcourt. After decent work as an underclassman, he averaged 13.9 points and 3.1 rebounds while nailing just over 36% of his 3-pointers. Another All-A-10 guard, Dawson joins a new-look backcourt with plenty of talent and brings a lot of potential in his senior season.
Guard – Darryn Peterson (Freshman)
Kansas landed the nation’s top recruit to rejuvenate this roster and Peterson could be in store for quite the freshman season. In what’s likely his only year in Lawrence, this 6-5 Californian should be able to play all over the court for the Jayhawks. He’s not a perfect prospect despite that ranking, but you won’t find a more versatile guard with that type of size and athleticism.
Guard – Tre White (Senior)
It’s year four and it’s school number four for White, a talented guard from Texas and former Top 50 recruit who’s spent time at USC, Louisville, and Illinois. He was a starter at all three schools and had his best numbers with the Cardinals, but just put up 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game with the Fighting Illini last season. He’s a strong athlete who can get to the rim and produce for the Jayhawks and should see significant minutes.
Forward – Flory Bidunga (Sophomore)
The Jayhawks really need Bidunga to have a breakout campaign in his second year in Lawrence, as the former Top 20 recruit is the biggest name back from last season. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game largely as a reserve during his freshman year. Expectations are high after leading the Big 12 in field goal percentage (69.8%), with more opportunities available with Dickinson gone.
Key Reserves
Guard – Elmarko Jackson (Sophomore)
Due to an injury, Jackson missed the entirety of last season and couldn’t build on a decent start as a freshman. The former Top 20 recruit put up just 4.3 points and 1.7 assists per game mostly in a reserve role, but showed flashes of brilliance. Now he’s back and hoping to earn a bigger role as the one returning piece in the backcourt, likely starting the season at least as the backup point guard.
Forward – Bryson Tiller (Freshman)
We didn’t see Tiller on the court last season as a redshirt, but this 6’11 forward out of Atlanta has matured over the last year and could be an asset this season for the Jayhawks. Certainly having the potential to carve out a role in this frontcourt, Tiller has an impressive frame and can impact the game at multiple levels. He’s already an incredible rebounder, but we’ll see how his offensive game plays out this season.
Center – Paul Mbiya (Freshman)
A 6-11 center originally out of France, Mbiya originally committed to NC State but changed to Kansas a few months back. He’s still a very raw prospect but projects as someone who can be a high level paint presence. He’ll have a chance to earn minutes as the backup at the 5, especially if he can develop as a rebounder and shot blocker around the rim.
Guard – Kohl Rosario (Freshman)
Rosario is a 6-4 shooting guard out of North Carolina who’s a 4-star prospect and could earn a role in Kansas’s backcourt this season. He actually joined the Jayhawks late in the offseason but his star has really risen in recent months. He’s a knockdown 3-point shooter with a decent enough build for college ball, making up for what he lacks on the other side of the ball.
Forward – Samis Calderon (Freshman)
Another Top 100 prospect, Calderon is a 6-8 forward out of Atlanta with impressive length and size. The potential is right there for Calderon to develop into a top notch frontcourt player, as he can defend at a high level and has the physicality to get to the basket. We’ll see what role he carves out with the Jayhawks, though much might depend on how his shot develops.
Guard – Corbin Allen (Freshman)
Another late addition in the offseason, Allen is a 6-4 wing out of Kansas City. He’s not going to get great minutes right off the bat, but he projects as a really solid player, who can shoot and create from all over the court and has the athleticism to be a great defender. We’ll see what type of role he carves out from himself in the coming months.
Schedule Outlook
Though eyes will be on an October exhibition at Louisville, the Jayhawks have a very intriguing game on their early calendar, heading to Chapel Hill on November 7 to face North Carolina. After a few home matchups, they’ll head out to New York City to take on Duke as part of this year’s Champions Classic. Less than a week later Kansas flies west to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival, facing Notre Dame, Syracuse, and a third opponent.
Even after that onslaught of ACC foes the challenges don’t cease, as the Jayhawks host UConn to kickstart December. Their rivalry game in Kansas City against Missouri comes a few days later on December 7 just before one more nonconference road test at NC State. Two more slightly easier matchups at home get the Jayhawks past Christmas and into conference play.
The beginning of Big 12 play actually sets up in Kansas’s favor with a number of winnable games, though an intriguing home matchup with BYU awaits on January 31. Two days later, the Jayhawks play at Texas Tech and have tough matchups with Arizona, Houston, and Iowa State during a more difficult February. The regular season ends at home against rival Kansas State before heading to Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament.
Season Outlook
There were a lot of moving pieces this offseason in Lawrence and it’s fair to wonder just where this leaves the Jayhawks. We detailed the important players but barely touched upon the outgoing talent. Replacing the contributions from Dickinson, Harris, and Mayo was the major challenge of the offseason and even with some top-rated talent it’s not an easy task.
A slew of freshmen are trying to rebuild the depth and it’s clear that Peterson is the crown jewel of the bunch. He rose to the top ranking of the Class of 2025 and projects as an elite backcourt weapon who can do it all for the Jayhawks. Kansas will really be depending on him this season before he heads off to the NBA, though at least he’s surrounded by some veteran talent.
That three-pack of potential starters from the transfer portal will all assume important roles. He’s not Harris, but Council has proven to be a point guard who can do it all and it’s all about how his game as a whole transitions to the Big 12. White has shown an ability to cause chaos and score in bunches for three years and Kansas is hoping for a more consistent season from him. Then there’s Dawson, who projects as a top-level shooter who Kansas really needs to put up impressive numbers as well.
The pressure may not be higher for any player than for Bidunga. The big splashes in the portal were in the backcourt and there’s no huge help coming for him in the paint. This frontcourt as a whole is very young and full of raw talent, meaning even as a sophomore Bidunga is something of a veteran. If he can continue to develop as a dynamic paint presence, then Kansas could have something special here.
We didn’t get around to talking about what went wrong last season at times for the Jayhawks but it’s a new day and a new era in Lawrence. The Jayhawks are banking on young talent like Bidunga and Peterson and hoping some of these other new faces can help deliver glory for this program. After what we’ve seen and discussed, Kansas doesn’t exactly enter the season as the Big 12 favorite, but could they surprise people and win another conference crown?