LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball will look a lot different next season when things tip off for the 2025-26 campaign.
The coaching staff has added former program great Jacque Vaughn as an assistant coach after longtime assistant coach Norm Roberts’ retirement. With Fred Quartlebaum departing as director of basketball operations this month, coach Bill Self promoted Lexi Price to become the team’s director of operations. And that doesn’t even take into account how the roster itself will look, because there’s been a lot of movement in that regard as well.
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But as the offseason progresses through early June, what does that mean for the Jayhawks when it comes to potentially being a top 25 team to start the 2025-26 season? Have the additions through the transfer portal or high school ranks been enough, along with the players Self and company retained from last season, to put the program in an advantageous place? Is there still more to be done, as KU looks to move past the disappointment that came with last season’s 21-13 record and exit in the round of 64 of the NCAA tournament?
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Here are a few recent projections for where Kansas could be in the top 25 to start next season:
This projection from The Athletic would start Kansas out as No. 15 in the nation, following just three Big 12 Conference programs in No. 2 Houston, No. 7 BYU and No. 13 Texas Tech. That the Jayhawks have a freshman newcomer who’s so highly rated in guard Darryn Peterson, and a returning forward in sophomore Flory Bidunga who has a lot of potential himself, helps put KU into a conversation to be ranked this high. However, Self isn’t done building this roster, and any additions would help bolster the team’s ability to be considered at this point.
This projection from CBS Sports would place Kansas at No. 18 in the nation and behind five Big 12 teams in No. 2 Houston, No. 3 BYU, No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 11 Arizona and No. 13 Iowa State. So, the path to another Big 12 regular season championship looks all the more challenging for the Jayhawks. However, if guard Elmarko Jackson can continue to progress well after missing his sophomore season due to injury, KU will have a chance to do just that.
This projection from ESPN envisions Kansas as the No. 21 team in the nation, trailing fellow Big 12 programs likes No. 3 Houston, No. 6 BYU, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 13 Arizona and No. 18 Iowa State. It’s a reflection of the perception that while the Jayhawks have some quality options on their roster, including a trio of new transfers in guard Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure), guard Jayden Dawson (Loyola-Chicago) and guard Tre White (Illinois), not everything has been addressed. Without additions, KU’s ability to be a top 25 team when the season begins becomes more problematic.
Kansas basketball forward Flory Bidunga (40) blocks a shot against North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau (3) during a game inside Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 8, 2024.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Will Kansas basketball start the 2025-26 season as a top 25 program?
