The Jayhawks can now put the 2025-2026 basketball season in the books, and it is one that some are probably happy to see over. Things never clicked consistently for Kansas this season, and some of that could be because of certain roster choices.
Head coach Bill Self focused a lot on keeping his starters in the game as long as possible and didn't utilize his bench as much as some thought he should have. That meant that the Jayhawks missed out on possible talent that could have been on the court, and now there is a worry that talent could go elsewhere.
The basketball transfer portal is set to open on April 7, the day after the National Championship game, but players are able to announce their intentions for entering the portal as soon as their season ends. Self will definitely be losing some players to the NBA and eligibility, but if he can keep some out of the portal, that could be key to building next year's team.
So, here are three players Self needs to keep in a Kansas uniform for the future.
Bryson Tiller
After redshirting his freshman season, Bryson Tiller became a valuable starter for the Jayhawks at the start of Big 12 play. Tiller was a great counterpart to big man Flory Bidunga and, at times, was a secret weapon for Self.
Towards the end of the regular season, Tiller faced some struggles, but he picked it up in the two games the Jayhawks played in the NCAA Tournament. With the experience Tiller has on the court from this past season, he is a key member Self can't let walk into the portal, as he can be someone to build a roster around.
Kohl Rosario
Kohl Rosario was one of the guys mentioned earlier on the bench who didn't get to show a lot of his talent on the court. Rosario only averaged 11.6 minutes per game on the court this season, adding 3.4 points per game, but he certainly showed up in the matchup against St. John's.
With Kansas in foul trouble, Self had no choice but to turn to his bench, and Rosario's number was called. He scored a crucial five points late in the game when Kansas was making its comeback, including a clutch layup to bring Kansas within three points.
Rosario is certainly a culture guy who has the potential to be very talented for Kansas, but he just needs the reps on the court. He got some of that this season as a freshman, but being overshadowed by Darryn Peterson could make him choose to enter the transfer portal, which Self can not let happen.
Paul Mbiya
Paul Mbiya received the most minutes off the bench against St. John's with 13, but he found himself in foul trouble with four late in the game. Mbiya contributed four points in KU's loss to the Red Storm, but his size and presence down low are something Self can't let walk out the door.
It is uncertain whether Flory Bidunga will be back next season, either heading to the transfer portal or to the NBA, but if he doesn't return, Mbiya could easily step into his role as the big man for Kansas. Like Rosario, Mbiya simply needs the reps on the court for the Jayhawks to reach his potential at Kansas.