The Kansas Jayhawks are no strangers to high expectations, but after enduring their worst season under head coach Bill Self in 2023-24, the storied program found itself in an unfamiliar position. Determined to rectify the situation, Self and his staff embarked on an aggressive offseason overhaul, scouring the transfer portal for the pieces needed to restore the Jayhawks to their former glory. Now, as the 2024-25 season tips off, Kansas once again finds itself perched atop the preseason rankings, eager to prove that last year was merely an aberration.
A Season to Forget
The 2023-24 campaign was one that most Jayhawks fans would prefer to erase from their memories. Despite opening the season ranked No. 1 and holding steady at No. 4 as late as February, Kansas stumbled to a 23-11 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Big 12 play – the program’s worst showing since Self took the reins in 2003. Injuries, particularly to All-American forward Kevin McCullar Jr., exposed the team’s lack of depth and left Self with a shortened rotation that struggled to keep pace down the stretch.
Portal Power
Wasting no time, Self and his staff dove headfirst into the transfer portal, seeking to address the team’s most glaring deficiencies. The Jayhawks landed a quintet of experienced guards and wings, each bringing a unique skill set to the table. South Dakota State transfer Zeke Mayo, a 39% 3-point shooter, and Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr, who shot over 35% from deep in his career, were brought in to bolster the team’s perimeter shooting – an area where Kansas ranked 11th in the Big 12 last season.
I told my staff, we got to get guys that are good enough — eight starters that can play meaningful starter minutes at Kansas if something happens. And I think that we did that for the most part.
– Bill Self, Kansas Head Coach
Florida transfer Riley Kugel, Alabama transfer Rylan Griffen, and Mississippi State transfer Shakeel Moore provide the athleticism and defensive prowess Self craves on the wing. With returning starters Dajuan Harris Jr., KJ Adams Jr., and Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson anchoring the lineup, Kansas now boasts a roster that is both deep and versatile.
A New Mindset
For the newcomers, adjusting to the expectations that come with playing at Kansas has required a shift in mindset. No longer the focal points of their respective offenses, they must now learn to thrive in a system that demands selflessness and prioritizes winning above all else.
UConn got four guys drafted and, statistically, some of those guys’ numbers weren’t as good as other players out there. But they’re the ones that got drafted because they won a national championship. Winning is the main thing I’m focused on right now.
– AJ Storr, Kansas Guard
Dickinson, who earned All-American honors at Michigan before transferring to Kansas, has embraced this mentality wholeheartedly. Despite being offered more NIL money elsewhere, he chose the Jayhawks because he understood the value of winning at a blueblood program.
Early Returns
Though it’s early, the signs are encouraging for Kansas. In their season-opening 87-57 victory over Howard, the Jayhawks shot 50% from 3-point range and saw 10 players log at least 14 minutes – a far cry from the limited rotation Self was forced to employ last season. The newfound depth and improved shooting have given the team a level of flexibility it sorely lacked a year ago.
Of course, the true test will come against stiffer competition, starting with a showdown against No. 9 North Carolina in the Champions Classic. But for now, Self and the Jayhawks are relishing the opportunity to prove that last season was an anomaly and that Kansas is once again the team to beat in college basketball.
