LAWRENCE - Kansas just sent a message to the rest of college basketball: this team is rounding into form, and fast.
The Jayhawks are riding an eight-game win streak after knocking off previously undefeated Arizona in a statement win at Allen Fieldhouse. That’s not just any win - that’s a takedown of the No. 1 team in the country, and Kansas did it without freshman guard Darryn Peterson on the floor. That’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder just how high this team’s ceiling might be when it’s fully healthy.
At 19-5 overall and 9-2 in the Big 12, Kansas is showing the kind of late-season surge that’s become a hallmark of the Bill Self era. The win over Arizona wasn’t just about grit and execution - it was about depth, resilience, and the ability to rise to the moment even without one of their most talented young players.
Next up? A road trip to face No.
4 Iowa State in Ames on Saturday. That’s a matchup that’s been circled on calendars since the Jayhawks handled the Cyclones earlier this season in Lawrence.
But Hilton Coliseum is a different beast entirely, and this rematch is going to test KU’s poise and toughness in one of the toughest environments in the Big 12.
While the focus is on the Big 12 grind, the NCAA tournament picture is starting to take shape - and bracketologists are taking notice of Kansas’ surge. Here’s how the Jayhawks are currently projected in the latest bracket forecasts:
USA TODAY: Kansas lands as a No. 3 seed in the East Region, opening with a first-round matchup against No. 14 seed North Dakota State. If they advance, the Jayhawks would face either No. 6 seed Clemson or the winner of a First Four game between No. 11 seeds UCLA and San Diego State. Looking ahead to a potential Sweet 16, KU could be staring down a showdown with No. 10 seed Texas or No. 2 seed Illinois - two programs with plenty of tournament pedigree.
ESPN: Another No. 3 seed projection in the East, but this time Kansas is slotted against No. 14 seed ETSU in the opening round. A second-round matchup could bring a familiar face in No. 6 seed Louisville, a team the Jayhawks beat in a preseason exhibition.
No. 11 seed Santa Clara is also in that mix. That potential Kansas-Louisville rematch would carry some intrigue, especially with both teams trending upward.
CBS Sports: Here’s where things get interesting - CBS has Kansas bumped up to a No. 2 seed in the East Region. That would put them against No. 15 seed Harvard in the first round.
From there, the Jayhawks could face either No. 7 seed Villanova or No. 10 seed Texas. And if they make it to the Sweet 16?
A potential clash with No. 3 seed Purdue looms - a heavyweight battle between two of the sport’s premier programs.
No matter which projection you look at, one thing is clear: Kansas is firmly in the mix for a top-three seed, and they’re trending in the right direction at exactly the right time. The Arizona win was more than a résumé booster - it was a reminder of what this team is capable of when it locks in defensively, shares the ball, and plays with that signature KU edge.
And with Peterson still working his way back, the Jayhawks might not even be at full strength yet. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the Big 12 - and for anyone who might see Kansas on their side of the bracket come March.