After a rough stretch in nonconference play, the Kansas basketball team looked poised to get back on track. The Jayhawks looked much better before entering their slate of Big 12 games, giving fans optimism that the team would improve upon its struggles against Creighton and Missouri.
Unfortunately, the season took a complete 180 when KU opened conference play with an embarrassing loss to West Virginia. It marked the first time a Kansas squad did not win its first Big 12 game under head coach Bill Self. Given their struggles, it should come as no surprise that the Jayhawks dropped significantly in Jeff Borzello’s most recent college basketball power rankings.
Kansas basketball unsurprisingly drops in CBB power rankings
"Last week, we wrote that Kansas needed much more production from transfers AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen if the Jayhawks were going to reach their full potential. Well, that didn't quite go as planned in a loss to West Virginia on New Year's Eve. Storr started but played just 15 scoreless minutes and missed both of his field goal attempts. Griffen played 12 minutes off the bench, going 1-for-3 from behind the arc. That wasn't the only reason Kansas lost, but Bill Self still needs more from them."Jeff Borzello
On ESPN's power rankings, Kansas entered the week ranked No. 10 in the country. That number dropped five spots after KU's loss. While it was quite easy to see that coming, it displays the spiral that the campaign has gone for a team that entered the year ranked atop the nation.
As Borzello notes, it will be difficult for Kansas to reach its ceiling without strong play from transfers AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen. They combined for just three points in Tuesday's defeat, which is clearly not enough to put KU over the top. Coach Self is still figuring out how to employ their talents on the court, yet the season is nearing its midpoint.
With a tough road matchup at UCF this weekend, something has to give for Kansas basketball. If not, the Jayhawks could find themselves at an even lower spot in Borzello's next power rankings.