Kansas basketball: How the past ten Preseason No. 1 teams have fared

By Kyle Jones | Oct 26, 2023

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after being called for a foul against the Boston College Eagles during the second half of their game in the second round of the ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 08, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Mar 23, 2018; Omaha, NE, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Marvin Bagley III (35) drives to the basket against Kansas Jayhawks guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) during the first half in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2017 Preseason No. 1: Duke

Final Record: 29-8
NCAA Tournament Result: No. 2 Seed – Lost in Elite Eight

This team was absolutely loaded with talent. Their freshman class included four top-15 recruits, highlighted by top-ranked Marvin Bagley.

They showed their inexperience at times throughout the season, with four of their six regular season losses coming at the hands of unranked opponents. Still, their talent and pedigree made them a favorite to make a deep run in March.

Unfortunately for them, they ran into one of the more underrated (and senior-laden) Kansas basketball teams of all time in the Elite Eight. A Grayson Allen buzzer-beating shot touched every part of the rim before bouncing out, and Malik Newman took over in overtime to knock the Blue Devils out.

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