Overall, it is unlikely that any team in the country that did more College basketball betting work in the portal than Kansas. At least on paper and when it comes to name recognition. In turn, it is time to see how all that work will translate on the floor. The Jayhawks will argue that they are the top team in the country. But all you have to do is look at last year’s Kansas team to see that the roster in the game program only sometimes equates to success. The portal has turned a weakness into a major strength.
2024-25 Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Preview
| Kansas Jayhawks | Odds |
|---|---|
| National Championship Odds: | +1600 |
2024-25 Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Outlook
If Kansas can get the new faces to form some chemistry, they might have the perfect formula to cut down the nets. Following a failure in the conference you’ve owned for the better part of 20 years, you want to get back on top in a hurry.
So even if you return enough offshore betting talent to compete in the toughest conference in the country, it’s hard. Sometimes you go above and beyond to get back on top. Just ask Kansas Basketball. Consider that for just the 4th time in 21 seasons, Kansas failed to finish atop the Big 12. But, for the first time in those 21 years, last season was the first in which they didn’t finish in the top 3.
“Struggle” is a relative term, but when you’re a NCAABB betting program with the pedigree of the Jayhawks. Hence their recent performances in March could be classified as such. They have failed to reach the Sweet Sixteen every year except one since 2019; Although that one year they did, they took home the national title.
In 2024-25, the Jayhawks are hoping to halt those struggles. In turn, head coach Bill Self did everything he could to help ensure that happens. He lost three players to graduation and another, Johnny Furphy, to the NBA draft. Thus, he hit the portal so hard that one player who originally committed to Kansas, Riley Kugel, de-committed. Now, he will attend Mississippi State.
Despite the loss, Kansas brings in the 3rd best transfer class in the country. KU finished just behind Arkansas and Indiana, according to 247sports. If struggling is relative, then so is rebounding, which Kansas hopes to do this season.
At the beginning of December was a loss in Omaha against Creighton in the Big 12/Big East battle. Missouri then awaits the Jayhawks in Columbia. And then Kansas heads home to take on an N.C. State team fresh off a final-four appearance.
Self certainly isn’t solely relying on his conference schedule to make his seeding case in the NCAA tournament. The damage his team can potentially do before the calendar hits 2025 makes a statement. Specifically, KU will say, “We’re eyeing not only a No.1 seed but the top overall seed.” With that type of schedule, Kansas would be in the overall No. 1 seed conversation no matter what conference they play in. Still, playing in the Big 12 when it’s time to talk resumes, they may be at the top of the pile.
The talent is on paper for Kansas to regain its perch atop the Big 12 and beyond. To show, the depth is crazy good, and there isn’t a better set of returning players in the country. Namely, Griffen and Mayo should be able to step in. And that will open things up even more in the front court for Dickinson and Adams, Jr.