🏀 KuBuckets Archive

2025-26 Preseason AP Men’s Basketball poll
The men’s college basketball season officially starts Nov. 3.

1. Purdue
2. Houston
3. Florida
4. UConn
5. St. John’s
6. Duke
7. Michigan
8. BYU
9. Kentucky
10. Texas Tech
11. Louisville
12. UCLA
13. Arizona
14. Arkansas
15. Alabama
16. Iowa State
17. Illinois
18. Tennessee
19. Kansas
20. Auburn
21. Gonzaga
22. Michigan State
23. Creighton
24. Wisconsin
25. North Carolina

Others receiving votes: NC State 101, Oregon 98, San Diego State 74, Texas 35, Ohio State 23, Kansas State 13, Mississippi 11, USC 10, Missouri 8, Washington 7, Vanderbilt 7, Iowa 6, Boise State 4, Mississippi State 3, VCU 2, Virginia 2, Saint Mary's 2, Indiana 1, Oklahoma 1, Baylor 1

OH it's going to feel awesome to be the Hunter instead of the Hunted. Let them go ahead and sleep on us- --- -I dare them , I think there is a big mis conception about our team this year across the Nation --but I'll wait till later , and watch it play out , I think we are going - - -TO --BE- ---JUST-- -FINE --- ----ROCK CHALK BABY

I'm more excited for this season than I was for last season. I was pretty sure we had no nba guys and we were running back a core that still had horrible fit problems. We got the potential #1 pick on our team this year and a bunch of athletes. Tons to be positive about

We are picked as the 6th best team in the Big XII this year, preseason. It should be interesting to see how that plays out.

@rcjhdraft going to have some depth off the bench this Season too without a lot of fall off

This season can't be as bad as the last can it? Lots of question marks but if the top recruit in the country plays like it we'll win some games.

I’m looking forward to watching the group come together. Hopefully they gel and it’s fun to watch as opposed to the show we’ve been treated to lately.

Should be a very different style of basketball. I expect to see more defensive pressure and a much faster pace on offense. Probably lots of mistakes with so many new guys, but if they correct those as the season progresses should be a fun team to watch come March.

I have no idea what to expect from this year, but it's a fresh start for the fanbase. New leaders, new coaches, new start. Love Harris & Adams to pieces but it was time. Hunter imo was a paper tiger and that's the concern with high profile transfers with no NBA future.

I think they are fairly ranked for now. I think the variance is rather wide in either direction of where they could be at season's end.

How much does Peterson change the game for you? He has the chance to be the best player on the court every time he laces them up. Once we see it in action, it will be interesting to project just how good he makes us.

I would say after Peterson every position is a bit of an unknown. Flory should take a leap, if he doesn't the ceiling is low. It sounds like we recruited the portal better in terms of fit and hit on Council/White. Dawson is a TBD based on what we've heard but should be good enough.

I think the major concern is just how many 1st year players will have to play meaningful roles. Rosario, Tiller, Mbiya, Calderon could all be in your top 8. Tiller and Jackson are recovering from serious leg injuries and have missed a lot of development time.

I'm very interested to see how Self handles a lot of things. Who's the 5th starter- Dawson or Rosario. Who's the backup big- Mbiya or Tiller. Who plays the 4 when White sits- Rosario or Tiller/Calderon. I still would have preferred a veteran mature big on this squad but hopefully they are right on Mbiya and Tiller being ready. What will we get out of Jackson returning from injury. Big question marks on him and where he fits in the rotation. We should be more athletic and with the height/length of everyone be a terror defensively.

I'm excited for the season. We have a potential generational talent leading and that's going to be fun to watch.

Ngala, Dawson, Allen, White, Calderon, Rosario, Evers, Council, Thengvall, Cross, Mbiya, Tiller

Bidunga, Peterson, Jackson, McDowell

Two lists of names. I had to look up the names of the guys on the first list to see who was on the team this year. Couldn't have named any of them. 2nd list I knew.

Conclusion: I hate college basketball and what it's become. I hate the NCAA for letting it become this. I have zero clue how this team is gonna be because I've seen three of them play basketball. That's it.

Here's what else I hate: ACC Network, ESPN+, ESPN, TNT, (TruTV, HBOMax(?)) ESPN2, ESPN+, Peacock, Fox, FS1, ABC, CBS. Those are channels you'll need to have if you want to see every game this year. Peacock is horrible for sports. Can't pause, rewind live games. Can't start game from beginning if you miss the beginning, got to wait like hours to watch replay. ESPN+ works relatively well compared to them. But everything else is viewable through most cable/dish packages. Only have a digital antenna? Well 6 or 7 games will be over the air, all during the conference season.

But glad the season is upon us despite my grumpiness.

@wissox ok mc crankypants… we have been talking extensively about a lot of these guys. And when have you ever known the name of the walkons?

Things change. Hating change is a little bit pissing into the wind unfortch. Not everything can be as immutable as good ol KU buckets! ;)

Hang in there.

@wissox sadly I agree, I have just not been able to get excited about basketball these last few seasons. As @approxinfinity said we have to get with the times I guess but I’ve missed more KU basketball games the last 3 years than I did from 96-22. I loved watch guys develop and be here. Crazy to see us preseason 6th in the conference, that maybe the lowest we have been picked in the B12 days. Gosh we have fallen so far sad to see.

@kjayhawks we did win a natty 3 years ago. May have fallen far but not for long.

@approxinfinity closer to 4 years than 3 at this point but I hope you are right. Self has gotten some big names to sign here just not sure he’s coaching style matches that. For us to be special this season it’s as simple as Peterson has to be one of the best CBB OAD of all time up there with likes of Melo, Zion, AD and Durant.

I agree that we need DP to be great but I wouldn't reduce the team to one player. Flory, White, Elmarko, Rosario, Dawson, and Council will all impact how good our team is.

@Jhawk69 very true I’m just hopeful we have a guy that can hit a 3 pointer with no one within 10 feet of him. We have missed that so much the few years. Teams only had to pack the paint to stop Hunter. The last two is the only time I’d ever be down with challenging the KU BB team to game of horse.

“Things change. Hating change is a little bit pissing into the wind unfortch. Not everything can be as immutable as good ol KU buckets! ;) “

@approxinfinity you talk funny :)

@approxinfinity said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

@wissox ok mc crankypants… we have been talking extensively about a lot of these guys. And when have you ever known the name of the walkons?

Things change. Hating change is a little bit pissing into the wind unfortch. Not everything can be as immutable as good ol KU buckets! ;)

Hang in there.

Very little player analysis. No new threads started for the individual 2026 recruits even through they’re highly regarded. It seems the current landscape has dimmed our love of college basketball to the point no one really cares. Or the smart folks have left us. lol probably the latter.

@wissox

I'm grumpy too, I just tend to keep it to myself at this point. There are so many new names and unknowns, even for KU this is an unprecedented year where only 1 starter/rotation player returns that even played from last year's team. It is crazy times, and we don't have to like the current landscape.

We lived through the golden era of College Basketball and now that's over with IMO. What's here now is difficult, to say the least. I wonder what young fans think growing up in this era of the last 5 years or so as opposed a lot of us that enjoyed life before NIL and heavy transfers.

The NCAA has never been our friend & look at all the examples from just the Self era of their incompetence so it only made sense once they got caught with their pants down, they decided not to put them back on.

@dylans said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

@approxinfinity said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

@wissox ok mc crankypants… we have been talking extensively about a lot of these guys. And when have you ever known the name of the walkons?

Things change. Hating change is a little bit pissing into the wind unfortch. Not everything can be as immutable as good ol KU buckets! ;)

Hang in there.

Very little player analysis. No new threads started for the individual 2026 recruits even through they’re highly regarded. It seems the current landscape has dimmed our love of college basketball to the point no one really cares. Or the smart folks have left us. lol probably the latter.

I feel that. There's certainly been a big downturn in traffic here in the last 4-5 years. We've lost a lot of good people that used to post regularly for whatever reason. Life happens; things change. Discussions are not what they used to be when there was full on back and forth for days on a single topic. I have no excuses to make for my part in all this. Life is a lot busier for me then it was years ago when I would be knee deep in whatever topic/discussion. Hopefully this season will be fun to talk about compared to the last few..

@dylans i was referring to the software not changing in 10 years. Haha. The people that splash their souls across it, well that’s all part of the inevitable change.

Also, our page indexing is broken and we do zero advertising. So we are not easy to find with a google search. Feel free to invite new people the old fashioned way.

I suspect this team has "that dawg" in them. A defensive-minded team with a lot of length and athletes. Feels like we will be playing 4-out which is a significant upgrade over last year's scheme. A LOT of potential on the roster in Flory, Elmarko, Rosario and DP. Solid veteran transfers.

It looks like a recipe for success to me.

Late night is Friday! Basketball season is almost here!

Help, is Late nite on ESPN+ ? other Networks ?. Thanks

@indku1972 It was on espn+ last season and if google is correct this year too -

The KU Late Night in the Phog for 2025 is on Friday, October 17th, at 6:30 p.m. CT. While it is an in-person event, the scrimmages are streamed online via ESPN+, the KU Athletics website, and the KU Athletics Facebook page.

I believe it is not on espn+ this year. It might be on the kuathletics website but I am not sure

Self mentioned Dawson has been out with a knee injury but nothing serious, just limited him of late.

Most noteworthy thing to take away from yesterday

@BeddieKU23 I know nothing of Dawson, do you know if he has a history of soft tissue injuries or knee problems? Hopefully this is a one off.

Dawson has missed time every season and his durability was a concern when he committed. Broken hand freshman year, leg injury sophomore year, broken ankle junior year.

If he's already dealing with a knee injury this season, that's a concern because his past history.

@dylans

Missed 5 games last yr due to ankle injury. Missed 14 games 3 yrs ago for hand injury. Bout all I could find

@dylans It's pathetic that we have to hunt out how to watch Late Night... almost like they don't want it promoted. Looking forward to seeing the fellas run, if nothing else, just to get a taste for the speed and athleticism on this team. I've been under the impression we will be a lot more athletic than last year's team... but I've heard that before! Seriously though, I'll be surprised if we aren't noticeably more athletic!

Not trying to slam Harris... but often he look anemic and I know for certain DP will bring energy to our guard group.

I don't think there is any way to watch it without attending. Big whiff by our athletic department, as this decision will hurt our brand and our recruiting.

I hope they upload the schrimmage to youtube afterwards so I can do some ameteur scouting.

According to AI: You can watch the scrimmages from Kansas Late Night on ESPN+, KU Athletics' website (KUAthletics.com), and the KU Athletics Facebook page. While the scrimmages are streamed, other activities like performances and speeches are not due to copyright issues.

I think the AI says that because it was the case in years past.

Checked all 3, nothing

@BeddieKU23 this makes me wonder...is there almost no talk whatsoever about college football NIL or have I just tuned it out? For a few years now ALL I hear about college basketball revolves around how much money they make, what TV commercials they're doing, etc, etc. I really don't notice that about football.

@nuleafjhawk

It's just as crazy in football, if not more

@BeddieKU23 But, am I deaf? I only hear about basketball $$$

HA!!!!! ESPN had this to say about our transfers (they did a story about who gained/lost the most).

Getting rid of the two below was BY FAR an addition!!!

T-2. Kansas Jayhawks (-8)

2021-24 average net score: +6

2025 ranked players added: +1

No. 73 Tre White via Illinois (+1)

2025 ranked players lost: -3

No. 63 AJ Storr to Ole Miss (-2)

No. 91 Rylan Griffen to Texas A&M (-1)

Is it possible KU didn't want the scrimmage footage aired as an attempt to keep us lowly ranked early in this season? Maybe they are finally seeing the value of the drgnslayr CHIP! lol

I think we will dee an end to the late night within the next five years , people losing interest

@drgnslayr

Cutting costs is what I've heard is the main reason. Basically, it was expensive to produce and i'm imagining the return on investment was minimal if not a loss. Just reading the tea leaves. I can imagine KU doesn't have extra cash laying around for this anymore. Plus, Late Night used to be a big recruiting event and now it's not needed in the NIL era. KU had its 26 class wrapped up before LN even happened.

Traditions are certainly fading and becoming non-existent in this new era.

@BeddieKU23 Yep. This was basically the worst Late Night I've seen and I was told that this will be the norm going forward. At that rate they might as well get rid of it imo.

@BShark

Crazy to think in a few years both spring games for football and opening basketball festivities may be completely gone. Perhaps something else replaces them in the future but this is a live look at the struggles they face currently. It's certainly bittersweet for traditions that held some value and meaning to both the programs and fans

https://www.r1s1sports.com/really-were-booing-former-kansas-basketball-players-now/ ↗

We wouldn't have made the NCAA tournament without Hunter last year I think.

@wissox said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

We wouldn't have made the NCAA tournament without Hunter last year I think.

This is true but I also don't love this line of discussion because if he wasn't there the money would have been spent on other player(s) that could have been better or worse. The same is true of Dedric Lawson, who I'm not really a fan of.

Is the information of how much NIL we paid each player available anywhere? I would be interested in this information as players now need to be evaluated not just for how good they are, but how valuable they are.

I'm not a fan of booing any Jayhawks!

Recruiting Hunter here was not Hunter's fault. He was what he was.

@BeddieKU23

Yes! Then maybe it means reformatting it.

Maybe it keeps an entertainment part of it, but add in some things.

1. Dunk contest.
2. Invite pro scouts (I think Calipari has done this)
3. Add in other challenges like a combine for players to show off their abilities.

Make it entertaining but also helpful for players to be seen by scouts.

I'm sure others would have some ideas.

Has anyone heard or read anything about any kind of broadcast on this exhibition Friday?-- -I know the one against Arkansas was on over the Jay Hawk network when we played them.

I think its on the ACC Network

I’m lucky, I get it.

maybe if nothing else I'll be able to at least listen to it like with Arkansas

Self has named Friday Night's starting five :-- -Peterson- - -Counsel----White---Rosario- --& Bidunga.

Not saying much but Coach has said going to be hard to keep Kohl out of the starting line up. I like the combination, and know there is going to be a lot of early tinkering but I would be willing to bete this has a good chance to start REGULAR Season

Dawson is injured right? Definitely like the lineups where Dawson/Rosario are playing well enough to start as Council/White/Jackson/Flory lineups will be a bit rough in the shooting department. Maybe not as bad as the last few years but that isn't something we really want to be comparing to.

Kelvin Sampson said KU is the bellweather for the BIG12. The league needs KU to be good at basketball.

@MR11

Dawson has been injured of late. Self says everyone is good to go for the exhibition however we'll see. He mentioned Kohl would start Friday.

Wel I see where Jerome is off and running- -making some pretty strong remarks I reckon , saying K/State has THE BEST PG -- -THE BEST SHOOTER -- -AND THE BEST ATHLETE in the Big Twelve this Season.- -Strong words Jerome-- -REAL strong words.- - question did you hit your head dude ?--- Did you fall and go BOOM ?== time will tell

@SlimShaddy54 said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

Wel I see where Jerome is off and running- -making some pretty strong remarks I reckon , saying K/State has THE BEST PG – -THE BEST SHOOTER – -AND THE BEST ATHLETE in the Big Twelve this Season.- -Strong words Jerome-- -REAL strong words.- - question did you hit your head dude ?— Did you fall and go BOOM ?== time will tell

It's Jerome making noise because of how invisible KSU is to the basketball world, especially the B12 world. We are all looking forward to a very competitive, quality B12 this year and there seems to be no oxygen left in the room for the purple kitties.

@drgnslayr so very true , they can't even get an invite to cater the event lol

If you ask me, the fact that Bill has named a complete starting 5 is a good sign. Usually immediately before the season he says something like "players X, Y, and Z are likely going to start but spot A and spot B are up for grabs," meaning he has three players he trusts in. Does the complete lineup mean he trusts five players already? We won't know for a while, but I hope so.

@Jhawk69 That has caused a lot of chatter in the Jayhawkosphere about Khol and that he has come around much quicker and will have a huge impact.

I'm guessing Kohl is a fill-in starter til Dawson returns.
Bill won't dare start two freshmen and a sophomore all year! ha.

Are you guys getting ACC network through espn*?

@rockchalkjayhawk

It actually sounds like Rosario may just be better than Dawson and the team's ceiling higher with him starting. Both will play a lot but sounds like Kohl has had the edge

We like it when freshmen are better than expected. Go Kohl.

Doesnt look like #19

Is it still halftime? I just realized it was streaming...but ESPN hasn't shown anything but a still screen with team logos. I missed the first half. :angry_face:

@DanR we are at the under 16 timeout

Well, I guess it's not streaming for me. See you all when the season starts.

@approxinfinity cable, started out streaming thru espn cause hockey was on

@DanR no cable?

@DanR On ACC network

@DanR I had to update espn app

Dumba$$ play cost us 3

Flop

Tiller😳

Tiller's movement skills at that size are crazy

Terrible oop

DP doing to much?

@BeddieKU23 Dawson has been a little dinged up so they were limiting him some is what I had heard , nothing extreme just being careful

The announcers last night said - KU is ranked 19 and Louisville 11, they’re going to have to do something about that. 😂

Elmarko seemed composed and inscrutable to me. The calm he exhibited while swishing free throw after free throw under pressure thwarted the Louisville coaches attempt to get within two a possession deficit.

The schedule is tough but I think this is a top ten roster. We have Darryn and others don't 😁

Maybe this has been mentioned already, but I am aggravated. Has anyone else noticed that we have a game against BYU and then 2 days later TTech and then have a 2 day turnaround also with Arizona and Houston? Is this typical? I remember we have had quick turnarounds against other highly ranked teams before, such as Houston, but I don’t remember so many in 1 season.
Houston, Iowa State, Texas Tech and BYU all have one 2 day turnaround and Arizona has two that I can tell with my cursory glance at each school’s schedule.
Of the other blue blood’s schedules, Duke has 3 with only 1 against a ranked team. (Louisville),
UNC has 3 against 2 ranked teams (Louisville and Michigan State) and Kentucky has none.
Other recent schools that have been good:
Connecticut has none
Arkansas has none
Florida has none
Alabama has a 1 day turnaround against UNLV after playing Gonzaga. ? tournament in late November.
Ole Miss has none.
Michigan State has 1 2 day turnaround against UNC.
This does not account for any tournament games played except for maybe Alabama.

@patoh3 nice sleuthing

@drgnslayr Wet t-shirt contest.

Run the length of the court balancing an egg on a spoon. Blindfolded.

Only allow dunks or shots from beyond half court

Free concessions for everyone attending

Bryson Tiller really does look like our best big to me...

@BShark hmmmmmm this thought had not crossed my mind.

@approxinfinity Flory looked unplayable against Hays and Tiller was better in the Louisville game as well, albeit it was closer there.

Mbiya has some promise, he at least has a "presence" inside which I do not see from Flory.

@BShark interesting. Alright I will ponder on that one against GB. I thought Flory had good presence against Louisville, but Tiller looks bigger and slower but maybe with a little more versatile skill set. Its early. But its def a thing to watch. Though i dont really want a position battle there because the rotation was good and we need all of them.

Flory has the best pick and roll game. The rest of his game needs a ton of polish.

@dylans said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

Flory has the best pick and roll game. The rest of his game needs a ton of polish.

This I would agree with, so he does pair well with Darryn in that way.

@approxinfinity Agree we need all of them. Not a terrible group at least.

Council and Tiller are big time players that are going to be asked to come through and look like they just might do that. Flory has me questioning his readiness but it's early of course though with this schedule there is scant time to catch up.

Flory needs to slow down at the rim, he was on crack last night.

Perhaps a message needs to be sent by starting Tiller on Monday.

Just 2 games but neither Council or Elmarko have shown that they are any different then Harris when it comes to stretching the court from 3. Not going to work against good teams.

@BeddieKU23 said in We're preseason Number ... 19:

Just 2 games but neither Council or Elmarko have shown that they are any different then Harris when it comes to stretching the court from 3. Not going to work against good teams.

Very low team 3PA again, which is classic Bill in a bad way.

White is invisible. He's our invisible assassin. No one pays attention, and he'll probably average 16 ppg this year. He finds ways to score.

We have several guys that can put up decent numbers on a semi regular basis. And then there is DP... there with the lights shining bright, attracting defenders like bugs around a light bulb. He'll find his way to get his but more important he'll create scoring space for others and his basketball IQ will take advantage of it. I'm less interested in how many points he averages a game versus how many assists he averages.

Our bigs show promise, but on offense, they require plays, often two-man plays and lobs. None of these guys are Kareem with a sky hook in the post. Which of our 3 bigs will become most proficient at pick and rolls? I'd like to see all 3 bigs learn to "crash the boards!" We could really use a big man coach about now! Obviously, Vaughn isn't a big man coach but he knows how to teach guards to utilize bigs in several ways, including high ball screens.

I want to see some Ngala-Mbiya 2-man game at some point in their Jayhawk careers. They could communicate in French and bamboozle the defense.

So who’s red shirting this year? I saw somewhere that the KC kid Allen?

I wonder if Samis is a candidate.