The 2014-15 college basketball season may just have ended — in thrilling fashion, no less; I mean, how about those Kentucky-Wisconsin and Duke-Wisconsin games to finish things off! — but there are plenty of people already looking ahead to the 2015-16 season, which is still six months away.
The folks in Lawrence, Kansas, certainly make up a large chunk of that group, as Jayhawk fans are always in basketball mode and the intensity only grows after a disappointing tournament exit like the one the Jayhawks suffered a few weeks ago.
With that in mind, let’s take a quick ride down Prognosticator Place, where several national college basketball writers were bold enough to post their “way too early Top 25” lists for the 2015-16 season.
As you’ll see, the Jayhawks were given a lot of love from these guys, just like they seemingly always are.
Enjoy.
8. Kansas Jayhawks
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The Jayhawks will look awfully familiar in 2015-16. Freshman wing Kelly Oubre Jr. began the season in shaky form, turned into a reliable slasher, and still provided a minor shock when he announced his decision to turn pro. That may be the Jayhawks’ only notable departure. Oubre’s highly touted classmate, Cliff Alexander, proved to be too raw to play a major role as a freshman; he could benefit as much as any player in the the sport from another year in the Bill Self developmental churn. Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr., Frank Mason III and Brannen Greene — who should slide into Oubre’s spot, and provide more 3-point shooting in the exchange — are the same group that fended off a brutal Big 12 for KU’s 11th straight regular-season title. Throw in Top-25 recruit Carlton Bragg, and there’s no inherent reason to expect anything less from the Jayhawks in the year to follow.
6. Kansas
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**Key losses:** F Kelly Oubre, F Cliff Alexander (projected to leave)
**Key returners:** G Frank Mason, G Wayne Selden, F Perry Ellis, G Devonte Graham, F Jamari Traylor, F Landen Lucas, G Brannen Greene G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
**Notable newcomers:** F Carlton Bragg
**Outlook:** Thanks to the anticipated return of point guards Frank Mason and Devonte Graham and wings Wayne Selden, Brannen Greene and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Kansas appears pretty loaded on the perimeter. What will determine whether the Jayhawks extend their Big 12 title streak and make a deeper NCAA tournament run next March is how they address a series of questions about their frontcourt. Will all-conference forward Perry Ellis return for his senior season? Can heralded incoming freshman Carlton Bragg make an immediate impact? Will Kansas further bolster its frontcourt by landing spring targets Stephen Zimmerman, Cheick Diallo or Thon Maker? The return of Ellis would be critical because he was Kansas’ lone low-post scoring threat this past season. Undersized forward Jamari Traylor and reserves Landen Lucas and Hunter Mickelson are all back too, but each are better suited for backup roles. If Ellis returns and Kansas adds another big man to its class, the Jayhawks could be poised for a special season. If Ellis unexpectedly turns pro, there will be pressure on Bragg and any other incoming freshmen to develop a college-ready low-post game quickly.
5. KANSAS
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**Notable players definitely gone:** Kelly Oubre
**Others expected to leave:** Cliff Alexander
**Notable players expected to return:** Perry Ellis, Frank Mason, Wayne Selden, Jamari Traylor, Brannen Greene, Devonte’ Graham, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Landen Lucas
**Others expected to join the roster:** Carlton Bragg
**Why the Jayhawks are ranked here:** KU’s roster will lack starpower. But so many quality pieces from a Big 12 championship team are returning that it would be silly to have Kansas outside of the top five. In other words, yes, the Jayhawks should win a 12th straight league title next season — unless one of the next two teams listed wins the Big 12 instead.
No. 7 Kansas
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**Why They’re Here:** Consistency. Even with losing Kelly Oubre and likely Cliff Alexander, Kansas has a veteran core returning. As long as Perry Ellis doesn’t leave for the NBA as well, Bill Self will have four of the five guys back who were starting at the end of the season.
The Jayhawks will also be banking on a big jump for Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. Even though he only played 11.2 minutes per game and had 10 DNPs this year, NBA scouts considered the Ukrainian KU’s best pro prospect. Mykhailiuk turns 18 in June and has the ability to be an All-Big 12 wing if he’s able to relax and just play-he often looked sped up and nervous as a 17-year-old freshman.
**Greatest Asset: Guard play.** Frank Mason made a huge leap his sophomore season-averaging 12.6 points and 3.9 assists per game-and he should continue to improve. Wayne Selden has been a bit of a disappointment at Kansas because of his inconsistencies, but there’s a reason scouts once viewed him as a first-round prospect.
If Mykhailiuk doesn’t assert himself, Self has plenty of options. Backup point guard Devonte’ Graham came on strong at the end of the year, and Brannen Greene is a knockdown shooter who is a nice asset when his shot is falling.
**Will Change If…** Ellis leaves or Self adds another blue-chipper or two. There are rumblings that Ellis will consider skipping his senior season. Self is also still in the mix for several of the top unsigned players.
And, of course, we can’t forget Joey Brackets, who already has unveiled the first edition of his ESPN.com feature, Bracketology, which has KU listed as a 3 seed in the Midwest, where North Carolina and Roy Williams loom as the No. 1 seed.
Let the countdown begin!