Bill Self knew that changes needed to be made for next year's Kansas basketball team after the Jayhawks had one of the worst seasons in recent history during the 2023-24 campaign. A lack of depth and outside shooting plagued KU the entire year, but the coaching staff has wasted no time addressing those issues.
Since the offseason began in March, Kansas has reeled in four top-notch transfers in AJ Storr, Rylan Griffen, Zeke Mayo, and Riley Kugel. An even more impressive fact is that the Jayhawks were one of a few Division I schools that did not lose a single player to the transfer portal cycle. The only departures from the program were to graduation and Johnny Furphy to the NBA Draft.
Kansas basketball, Bill Self are the true winners of the offseason
Now that the portal has officially closed, KU fans have a general idea of what the roster will look like. The only decisions that must be made are whether Kugel will sign his letter of intent and if any other transfers are brought in. Regardless of what happens with those situations, the current KU squad should enter the upcoming season rated No. 1 in the preseason rankings.
ESPN's way-too-early bracketology has Kansas as the projected top-seeded team in next year's tournament. Most betting outlets have them atop the favorites to win it all. The return of All-American center and Wooden Award candidate Hunter Dickinson immediately solidified the Jayhawks as the team to beat next year.
The starting lineup will look something similar to this: Dajuan Harris, Griffen, Storr, KJ Adams, and Dickinson. Even the second unit could compete with some of the teams in the Big 12. KU has made it clear that its mission is to not only dominate the conference again but also dominate the entire realm of college hoops.
While other programs have reeled in impressive transfer and recruiting classes, there are very few, if any, rosters constructed as well as KU's. There is a mix of experience, size, outside shooting, and guard play that should give Jayhawk fans hope that Coach Self can bring home his third National Championship to Lawrence.