With just under a month left in the regular season, Kansas basketball is heating up at the right time-and making a serious push for the Big 12 crown. After a rocky start to conference play, the Jayhawks have flipped the script in a big way, riding their longest Big 12 win streak since 2020 and positioning themselves as legitimate contenders in one of the deepest leagues in the country.
Let’s rewind for a second. KU opened Big 12 play 1-2, with tough road losses at UCF and West Virginia.
At that point, they were ranked just 90th nationally in the Torvik ratings-a far cry from the elite standard the program is used to. But since a pivotal win over Iowa State on January 13, Kansas has surged.
They’re now ranked sixth nationally, boasting the No. 5 defense and a top-35 offense. That’s a dramatic turnaround, and it’s put them firmly in the thick of both the conference title race and the NCAA Tournament seeding conversation.
Head coach Bill Self isn’t ready to crown his squad just yet, but he likes where they stand.
“I see us being in it without question,” Self said, “but I still think we got to do some damage to put ourselves right in the middle of it. Because I still think that with one loss [for] Houston and Arizona, they're obviously the front runners.”
The Big 12 schedule down the stretch is loaded with high-stakes matchups that could swing the title race. Kansas heads to Ames this Saturday for a rematch with Iowa State-a game that carries major implications.
After that, KU hosts Houston on Big Monday in what could be one of the biggest conference games of the season. A trip to Arizona looms after that.
Meanwhile, Houston also has to travel to Iowa State, and Arizona has a tough slate that includes BYU, Iowa State, Houston, and Kansas.
It’s a gauntlet, and every game from here on out feels like a playoff matchup.
Bryson Tiller Finding His Groove
One of the biggest reasons Kansas has turned things around? The emergence of freshman forward Bryson Tiller.
Tiller has taken a big step forward in recent weeks, and Monday night was another example of his growth. He poured in 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, grabbed eight boards, dished out two assists, and added two blocks and a steal. It was the kind of all-around performance that shows just how far he’s come.
Early in conference play, Tiller was still figuring things out. Over his first six Big 12 games, he averaged just 5.7 points on 40.6% shooting, with 5.3 rebounds and a block per game.
But over the last five? He’s been a different player-averaging 13.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 54.5% from the field.
His minutes have jumped from just under 22 per game to over 33.
So what changed? According to Self, it’s all about mindset.
“Bryson early season, against Carolina, he was so good but he was an outside-in guy,” Self said. “Even though he's still skilled, I think he's understanding more and more where his bread is buttered.
He's an inside-out guy that's skilled, opposed to a perimeter player that's got a little bit of power. I'm really proud of him.”
Self also pointed out that while much of the attention has gone to Flory’s development, Tiller’s growth has been just as significant.
“From the start of the season, [Bryson] has improved as much as anybody,” Self added.
NIL Payments Still in Limbo
Off the court, there’s still some uncertainty surrounding NIL payments from the Players Era Festival-a high-profile event that guaranteed $1 million per team to be split among players, with Kansas earning an additional $300,000 bonus for finishing third.
When asked about whether KU players had received those payments, Self admitted he wasn’t sure.
“I don't know that they've received payment,” he said. “Because the way that works, everything's got to go through NIL Go, and there's been some delays on getting some of those things approved.”
NIL Go is the entity responsible for reviewing and clearing NIL deals to ensure they meet fair market value standards. According to Self, the delays could be due to a number of factors-whether it’s on the schools’ end, the timing of submissions, or the specific activation requirements players need to fulfill.
“I haven't had anybody complain to me,” Self said, “but I don't know exactly where all that is.”
As Kansas continues to climb the Big 12 standings, the focus remains on the court. But behind the scenes, like at many programs across the country, NIL logistics remain a work in progress.
For now, the Jayhawks are locked in-and with seven games left, they’re right where they want to be: surging, improving, and very much in the hunt.