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Kansas basketball: Where are the Jayhawks ranked on ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25?

By Joshua Schulman

Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; ESPN logo prior to the 2011 Sugar Bowl between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; ESPN logo prior to the 2011 Sugar Bowl between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN released its latest edition of the Way-Too-Early Top 25. Where did Kansas basketball finish in the rankings?

The Kansas Jayhawks have not finished below a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament since Bill Self took the job 20 years ago, so it’s no surprise that they are consistently ranked among the best teams in college basketball. In 2023-24, KU is looking to garner its fourth preseason No. 1 spot during Self’s tenure as head coach.

After bringing in the best player in transfer portal history and returning three key starters from last season, expectations are as high as ever for the Jayhawks, who lost to Arkansas in the Round of 32 a year after winning a national championship. The question is: Will they be the undisputed best team in the NCAA?

ESPN updates its Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings on the first day of each month. Analyst Jeff Borzello is responsible for how it is ordered. In June and July, Kansas basketball landed at the top of Borzello’s list — and nothing changed in August.

These are the top 10 teams on the rankings, with Kansas finishing at No. 1.

  1. Kansas Jayhawks
  2. Duke Blue Devils
  3. Purdue Boilermakers
  4. Michigan State Spartans
  5. UConn Huskies
  6. Houston Cougars
  7. Gonzaga Bulldogs
  8. Tennessee Volunteers
  9. FAU Owls
  10. Marquette Golden Eagles

This is what Borzello wrote about Coach Self’s group for the upcoming season:

"Kansas basketball jumped to the top spot in the rankings after the return of Kevin McCullar Jr. While the incoming players, most notably Hunter Dickinson, are getting most of the attention so far this offseason, the returning trio of Dajuan Harris Jr., McCullar and K.J. Adams Jr. is what makes the Jayhawks a national championship contender. Harris is one of the elite pass-first guards in the country and a terrific defender, while McCullar is versatile and really defends. Adams’ role will change next to Dickinson, but he was one of the breakout stars of last season and should take an even bigger step next season.– Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer"

Next. Five things to look out for during KU’s Puerto Rico trip. dark

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