Kansas women’s basketball entered the campaign predicted to finish eighth in the Big 12 preseason poll, signaling what many expected to be a rebuilding year. After all, the senior-heavy roster had been gutted to graduation.
However, the squad has defied expectations with a stellar 9-1 start in nonconference play. The only setback came last month in a loss to Iowa, but since then, Kansas has been flawless. The Jayhawks dominated the competition at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, securing a 3-0 sweep with victories over Pittsburgh, Northern Iowa, and Auburn.
Kansas women's basketball is scorching hot heading into conference play
Replacing stars like Taiyanna Jackson and Zakiyah Franklin was expected to be a daunting challenge for head coach Brandon Schneider, but a combination of young talent and key transfers has risen to the occasion. Leading the way is former 5-star recruit S’Mya Nichols, who continues to live up to the hype in her sophomore season. She is averaging 20.6 points and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 46.2% from the field.
Complementing Nichols is transfer guard Elle Evans, who joined from North Dakota State. Evans has provided much-needed scoring depth, averaging 13.4 points per game on 39.1% 3-point shooting, the second-highest on the team. Nichols and Evans have re-energized the program and set the stage for a promising Big 12 campaign.
Kansas remains just outside the NCAA Tournament picture in ESPN’s latest edition of women’s bracketology, as it lists the Jayhawks as the second team out. However, considering KU was a March Madness afterthought at the start of the season, its rapid improvement has been remarkable.
The Jayhawks will look to reach double-digit wins on Sunday when they host Penn State in Lawrence for their final game before conference play begins. With momentum on their side, Schneider's group has positioned itself as a team to watch in the Big 12 this season.