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Kansas' latest bracketology points to a strong season ahead

The Kansas Jayhawks have the potential to surprise next season
ByConnor Mardian|
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Mar 7, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self questions a call by the official during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
Mar 7, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self questions a call by the official during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

While Kansas’ 206-27 roster is not even officially filled out yet, there are already projections on what number may be tabbed alongside the Jayhawks come March. 

Oftentimes, we take a team with question marks as a bad thing. And you aren’t wrong for asking how the Jayhawks are going to ensure that the pressure is alleviated off of the nation’s No. 1 player, Tyran Stokes.



That being said, maybe the Jayhawks find the key to improving their woeful offensive numbers with strong bench contributions, and they find a balanced way of replacing Flory Bidunga’s defensive output across the whole team. 

There is no reason to slowly march through the offseason with a negative attitude. 

CBS Sports predicts a strong seed for Bill Self’s 24th season

Earlier this week, the Jayhawks revealed their conference slate. While at home, Kansas looked as if they could cruise through most matchups; away from Allen Fieldhouse, things looked different. Solely away from the Fieldhouse, KU will take on Arizona, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU and Utah. 

Combining that with a transfer-laden squad means the Jayhawks must perform decently well to attain the No. 4 seed in the East Region, which is what David Cobbe and Jacob Fetner projected of the Jayhawks in their “2027 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Duke claims No. 1 overall, Kentucky rises in 76-team projection” article. 

According to the pair, the Big 12 will be sending 11 teams, including Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, Texas Tech, BYU, Cincinnati, Arizona State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Baylor. 

The only teams KU will face this season in the Big 12 not sent to the postseason, according to CBS Sports, are Utah and Kansas State. The Utes will be a sole away game for Kansas and the Jayhawks and the Wildcats are set to split the series home and away. 

With this rigorous of a conference schedule, it likely means that Kansas is doing something right. Combine that Big 12 schedule with the likes of UConn, Kentucky, Villanova and Ohio State, all teams projected to do very well according to Bart Torvik, and it shows the backbone this team may go on to develop.



What are the reasonable expectations for next season’s March Madness?

With there still being uncertainty over the future of Self next season, any season could be his last before he retires. That being said, another season where Kansas falls before the Sweet 16 feels like a disappointment. That would mark Self’s fifth season in a row doing so. If the Jayhawks are able to consistently compete against a stringent schedule and show they have a more balanced, rotational offense, then the script completely flips. If Kansas can generate points off the bench and effectively use their combo guards in five-star Taylen Kinney and four-star transfer guard Leroy Blyden Jr. then the Jayhawks are setting themselves up for a much deeper run, hopefully breaking the duct. 

 

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