Kansas basketball falls in new preseason poll
By Stan Unruh
Kansas basketball drops slightly in the latest and greatest Top-25 poll. The Jayhawks are still in the top five.
Preseason basketball polls are a dime a dozen. A few Kansas basketball fans I spoke with this week are not surprised with the latest way too early poll compiled by Myron Medcalf at ESPN. Bill Self’s Jayhawks fell from second place into a comfortable third place position. I’m sure it didn’t bother anyone on the Kansas basketball coaching staff.
On the other hand, it bothers me and here is why. ESPN moved a school into first place in this poll because of one player. Marvin Bagley decided to join a school in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That school automatically jumps everyone into first place in the poll. Is Bagley even academically eligible to enroll in college? I wrote earlier that Bagley has no desire to play college ball. Will he attend class? Is he still studying for the SAT?
Did the ESPN poll consider what Kansas basketball accomplished on their Italian Exhibition trip? As a matter of fact, the play of former top-5 recruit Malik Newman on the trip did enter into their equation. The Mississippi State transfer combined with Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk are the best backcourt anywhere.
Add Lagerald Vick, Udoka Azubuike and freshman Billy Preston to the mix and this Jayhawk team has more weapons than necessary to win another conference title. We all know that and Kansas basketball fans can’t wait to watch it all unfold.
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Beyond the Jayhawks, West Virginia is the only other Big 12 team in the poll’s top 24. Texas slipped in at #25. Another Kansas team is ranked 10th in this poll. That may be a gift since they will actually play in a competitive conference this season after a jump from the Missouri Valley Conference.