Kansas has gotten a big lift with the returns of Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White, but neither player is walking back into Lawrence expecting anything to be handed over.
Both veterans are back after receiving preliminary injunctions that allow them to pursue additional college eligibility, and their first order of business is simple: fit back into the program, help the group, and earn whatever comes next as the Jayhawks prepare for the 2026-27 season.
That mindset showed up quickly, according to KUsports.com. Sophomore guard Kohl Rosario said Council and White have handled their returns the right way, and he pointed to Council volunteering to defend on the scout team as a clear sign of how willing he is to do whatever Kansas needs.
Rosario also made it clear that neither player came back assuming a secure role. With a roster full of new faces, both understand they still have to prove themselves in practice before anything is guaranteed.
That matters for Bill Self, who is piecing together a team with major turnover from last season. Younger players are still adjusting to college basketball, transfers are learning the program’s standards, and Council and White bring the kind of experience that can steady things while everyone gets on the same page.
Council was a key piece for Kansas last season, bringing toughness, ball-handling and defensive pressure in the backcourt. Working with the scout team can help the Jayhawks get ready for opposing guards, and it also gives Council a chance to find his rhythm again inside Self’s system.
White offers plenty as well. The forward averaged 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season and emerged as one of Kansas’ most productive players. His size, skill and versatility give the Jayhawks another important option on both ends.
White also picked up more experience with the Miami Heat in the NBA Summer League, while Council played with the New Orleans Pelicans. Yahoo Sports noted that their return gives Kansas added leadership and experience as the team works to build chemistry.
Just as important, both players can show the younger guys what it takes to compete at Kansas. By taking on practice responsibilities and battling for their spots, Council and White are setting a standard the rest of the roster can see every day.
In Other News...
Kansas Faces One More Problem In Brutal Road Test At Utah
Kansas is already staring at a difficult assignment in Salt Lake City, where the Jayhawks will face No. 12 Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium in a game that has been pushed earlier because of the expected impact from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel. The road setting alone makes this a stiff test, but the weather forecast adds another layer of uncertainty for a Kansas team trying to steady itself away from home.
Salt Lake City has been under a wind advisory, and there is a chance of thunderstorm activity during the game, conditions that could shape everything from field position to the kicking game. For Kansas, that is especially notable given the special teams issues it has already had to manage, turning what was already a brutal road trip into a matchup where even the elements could become part of the problem. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Faces Its Biggest Big 12 Test Yet At Utah
Kansas heads to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday night for its toughest Big 12 assignment yet, a late kickoff against No. 12 Utah that will say plenty about where the Jayhawks stand in the league race. Utah is undefeated, favored by 15.5 points and sitting atop the Big 12 in scoring defense, while Kansas comes in at 2-2 with a defense that has shown it can keep the Jayhawks in games.
The backdrop makes this more than just another road trip. A 9:15 p.m. CT start on ESPN puts Kansas in a hostile setting against a team that has handled every challenge so far, and the Jayhawks will need one of their cleanest efforts of the season to leave Salt Lake City with momentum. Whether this becomes a turning point or a reminder of the gap Kansas still has to close, it is the kind of test that can shape the rest of the fall. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Lineup Puzzle Could Reshape A Key Starting Battle
Kansas has spent the offseason trying to make its lineup a little less predictable, and the return of Tre White only adds to the options Bill Self and his staff are weighing. The latest wrinkle is Utah transfer Keanu Dawes, who has shown an openness to playing multiple spots, including center, giving the Jayhawks a potential way to play smaller without losing too much size on the floor.
Christian Reeves and Paul Mbiya still matter in the frontcourt picture, but the center spot may not be as straightforward as it once looked heading into the season. If Dawes can handle that role, Kansas could unlock more versatility in its rotation and create a different kind of starting battle than many expected. [Read more 🡒]