Bill Self and Kansas had one offseason problem that dwarfed the rest: replacing Flory Bidunga.
Darryn Peterson’s decision to leave Lawrence for the NBA Draft was expected. Bidunga’s exit hit differently. The 2025-26 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year entered the transfer portal after the season and ended up committing to Pat Kelsey and Louisville in April, leaving Kansas with a major hole in the middle.
The Jayhawks never had a clean answer for that loss. They weren’t going to meet Bidunga’s reported NIL value, which some outlets projected at more than $5 million, and the portal didn’t hand them a ready-made rim protector to match his impact. That was always the problem: finding someone who could defend the paint the way the Congo native did was never going to be easy.
Kansas also may be dealing with another complication. Mihailo Mušikić is likely out of the picture because of the NCAA’s new age rules on international players, which leaves the roster thin at center. Right now, the Jayhawks have only three centers, and none of them has started at the Power 5 level.
That’s why the spotlight falls on Christian Reeves and Paul Mbiya. Reeves, the Charleston transfer, is one option, but his status depends on how he comes back from labrum surgery.
Mbiya, a returning junior, looks like the favorite for now simply because Reeves’ recovery is still uncertain. The timeline won’t really come into focus until a few weeks before the regular season, and even then, the situation sounds like it could stay in flux through offseason workouts.
Kansas chased more experienced frontcourt help in the portal, but the Jayhawks came up empty on the bigger names. Reeves was the addition they landed, though his injury history and limited production in a stronger conference don’t exactly scream certainty.
Mbiya, though, has real intrigue. He flashed enough last season, especially in the NCAA Tournament, to make him a legitimate breakout candidate. His 7-foot-8 wingspan and strong frame give Kansas something to work with, and there’s reason to believe he can take a step forward.
The catch is that even a sizable leap might not be enough to make him a dependable starter. As a freshman, he put up just 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, and his game still comes with plenty of rough edges. Kansas is likely going to have to live through some growing pains there.
And even if one of them gets the “starter” label, that may not mean much in practice. The coaching staff could simply play the better option on a given night, with Reeves and Mbiya each landing somewhere in the 15- to 20-minute range.
That setup matters because Kansas expects a lot of its offense to come from the backcourt. Tyran Stokes, Leroy Blyden Jr., and Taylen Kinney are the shot creators carrying that load, while Utah transfer Keanu Dawes could also carve out minutes as a small-ball five if he can handle the physical work inside.
For all of that, the bottom line hasn’t changed: Kansas did not fully solve its frontcourt issue after Bidunga left. The hope is that Mbiya and Reeves can combine to cover enough of the lost production, but if one of them doesn’t hold up, the Jayhawks could find themselves in trouble. Right now, center looks like the clearest weakness on the roster.
In Other News...
Tre White Just Put Kansas In A Bigger Roster Waiting Game
Tre White has added another layer to Kansas roster uncertainty by joining a lawsuit against the NCAA that seeks a fifth collegiate season of eligibility under the sports new rules. The case, filed in Monroe County, Indiana, includes 89 plaintiffs from the high school class of 2022 who say they have already used up their four seasons and want the updated five-year framework applied to them.
For Kansas, the timing matters because the front office of the roster picture is still being sorted out as the season approaches. The legal fight remains ongoing after a temporary restraining order recently expired, with more court filings expected, and the Jayhawks are also dealing with other eligibility matters around the edges, including waivers filed for former Rutgers center Emmanuel Ogbole. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads Into Big 12 Opener With Key Availability Questions
Kansas is spending the early part of the week sorting through the fallout from its loss to Missouri as it turns toward a Big 12 opener against Arizona State. The injury list is the main storyline for Lance Leipolds staff, with quarterback Cole Ballard, tight end Carson Bruhn and linebacker Daveon Crouch all coming out of the game banged up and their availability far from settled.
Leipold offered only partial clarity, leaving the Jayhawks to weigh what the depth chart might look like if any of those players cannot go. Chase Jenkins and Quincy Davis are among the options being considered for expanded roles, but the real uncertainty sits with the players whose status will shape both the offense and the defense heading into a conference game that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Will Get Two Huge Chances To Prove Itself In Big 12 Play
Kansas basketball will have a pair of marquee Big Monday stages in the 2026-27 season, with the Big 12 putting two of the leagues biggest names front and center for national audiences. The matchup with Houston and the meeting with Iowa State are the kind of late-season tests that usually say plenty about where a team stands in the conference race, while also giving the program a chance to draw the sort of attention that comes with playing on ESPN.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, since both games come in the heart of Big 12 play, when every result carries extra weight and every slip can reshape the standings. For Kansas, these are the sorts of nights that can sharpen a rsum, measure progress against high-level competition and remind everyone watching how much a Big Monday spotlight still matters in college basketball. [Read more 🡒]