7. Kansas (8-2)
Ignoring the name on their jerseys, any team deserves praise for prominent wins, and Kansas did just that by beating Duke, Michigan State, and North Carolina in the opening month of the season. We’re not intentionally harping on these performances, especially with the Tar Heels looking weaker than usual, but it’s just showing that this Kansas team looks great again this season.
Since we didn’t actually see the Jayhawks in action last week, we don’t have much new to say about Bill Self’s squad, though there’s still something of a sour taste with this team. Their 7-0 start included those standout wins, but true road losses at Creighton and Missouri certainly raised question marks. If the Jayhawks were going to perform like that away from Lawrence, can they handle hostile road environments in the Big 12?
Nobody is giving up on a team with Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris Jr., and a heap of other formidable talent, though we have some questions about this offense and its consistency. We still have a lot to learn about the Jayhawks, though clearly they have a very high ceiling this season. Their last remaining test before league play isn’t much of a test at all as Brown comes to town on Sunday for what should be another easy victory.