Kansas opened the preseason with a promising NCAA Tournament path, and that says plenty about how the bracket world sees Bill Self’s team.
Bracketologist Joe Lunardi projected the Jayhawks as a 3-seed in the South Division, a strong early spot for a program that has spent 36 straight seasons in March Madness. With the NCAA Tournament expanding from 64 teams to 76 this year, Kansas is not expected to be caught in the new play-in wrinkle. That part of the calendar, at least, looks far removed from Lawrence.
It’s a notable projection for a team that has already dealt with plenty of uncertainty. Kansas has been navigating injuries and the question of whether star Darryn Peterson would be available, making the 3-seed outlook a welcome one for Self and his roster.
The season itself is just about to get rolling, but the national picture is already starting to take shape. Florida and Illinois enter as teams with plenty of continuity from last season, while Duke has reloaded through the transfer portal and is once again being treated like a threat.
Kansas, meanwhile, lands at No. 17 in the preseason AP Poll, a spot that is respectable but not exactly the standard the Jayhawks usually carry. It looked as if Self might have to build almost from scratch, but the five-for-five eligibility rulings brought back some familiar pieces for another run.
Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White are back in the mix, and Trey Kaufman-Renn is set to make his Kansas debut as a transfer. Whether the Jayhawks get those players for the full season is still tied to the legal proceedings, but there’s at least some stability in the room.
The freshman class gives Kansas another layer. Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026, arrives in Lawrence with the kind of buzz that naturally follows a player of his caliber. He’s joined by five-star guard Taylen Kinney, who has already settled in well under Self’s system.
There are still questions, especially after the Jayhawks’ offensive struggles in exhibition play. But this is the kind of program that tends to sharpen quickly once the games count, and Self has built his reputation on getting his teams ready for the highest level.
For now, Kansas has a solid starting point. A 3-seed is a strong place to begin, even if Self will surely be pushing for more. He wants a top seed, and he wants the cleanest possible road to a title.
In Other News...
Kansas Faces A Huge Road Test With Bowl Hopes On The Line
Kansas heads into a crucial conference date with TCU carrying the kind of urgency that can define a season in late October. Both teams are sitting at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, which means the margin for error has almost vanished. The Jayhawks come in off a close win over Baylor, a result that gave them a much-needed lift after a rough stretch and kept bowl eligibility within reach.
TCU has its own questions after a loss to West Virginia and the decision to fire co-offensive coordinator A.J. Ricker, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game that already carries plenty of weight. For Kansas, the road trip is about more than just staying afloat in the Big 12. It is a chance to separate itself from the pack in the standings and make sure the season still has a path forward into November. [Read more 🡒]
Tyran Stokes Is Bringing Kansas The Kind Of Buzz Fans Crave
Kansas basketball is already getting the kind of early buzz that tends to travel fast in Lawrence, and Tyran Stokes is a big reason why. ESPN pegged the freshman at No. 4 in its top 100 college basketball players entering the 2026-27 season, a striking spot for a player who arrives as a consensus No. 1 recruit and the kind of versatile talent fans immediately start circling on the schedule.
Stokes brings the profile Kansas has long valued under Bill Self, with size, athleticism and the ability to impact the game in more than one way. His high school resume and international experience only add to the anticipation, but the real test begins once he makes the jump to Division I and settles into a roster where expectations are always high and every new face is measured against the standard in Allen Fieldhouse. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads Into The Season With One Big Roster Concern
Kansas closed out its three-game exhibition run with a 1-2 mark against top-tier competition, and the preseason work offered a useful look at what this roster might become once the real games start. There is plenty of new blood in the mix, including recent additions Tre White and Melvin Council Jr., while Christian Reeves and Tyran Stokes had stretches that hinted at their value even if the performances were uneven. Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn has yet to appear, but he is still expected to give the frontcourt a boost.
The bigger question hanging over the group is not just how quickly the newcomers fit, but whether the Jayhawks will have everyone available when it matters. White and Council are the names to watch there, with their eligibility tied to a court ruling that could change the look of the rotation before the season really gets rolling. For a team trying to sort out roles and establish chemistry after an exhibition slate against strong opponents, the answer to that issue could shape a lot more than just the opening week. [Read more 🡒]