Kansas basketball takes big jump in early Top-25

The 2017-18 Kansas basketball roster is set. Svi Mykhailiuk’s decision to return has made a big impact on paper.

Kansas basketball fans get to enjoy another year of Svi for three. I’m glad the 6 foot 8-inch guard from Ukraine decided to return for his senior season. The fans are too.

Kansas basketball will benefit by having someone who started 25 games last year and really knows Bill Self’s system.

If they weren’t already, Mykhailiuk’s decision to return has the talking heads on television and other national media even more excited about Kansas basketball.

ESPN’s latest Way too-early Top-25 now lists Kansas basketball comfortably behind a team from the Pac-12. ESPN’s Myron Medcalf described it this way.

"Svi Mykhailiuk’s return allows Kansas to make the case it now owns the nation’s best backcourt."

This is the second poll this month that ranks the Jayhawks at number two. I think that’s perfect. Bill Self’s team gets the attention they deserve. A nice comfortable spot without the stress of “preseason number one.” Let some other school work with that.

Obviously, any team coached by Bill Self is going to get significant national recognition.
But the jump in this ESPN poll from out of the top-10 to number 2 says a lot about the roster and their potential. It also says a lot about Mykhailiuk. If Svi improves on defense, the sky is the limit.

More from Through the Phog

In addition to the Jayhawks, this Top-25 includes two other Big 12 teams. West Virginia just made their top 10. The Mountaineers are listed 9th, just ahead of Louisville.

With the addition of big man Mohamed Bamba, ESPN listed Texas as the 24th team.

I think the Mountaineers deserve the ranking. Even ESPN doubts their decision to include the Longhorns.

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