Kansas Jayhawks: Remembering Big 12 Titles From Bill Self Era

Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0)  Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

2013-2014 Season

This team, to me, seemed to be one of the least talented teams within the 11-year Big 12 dynasty. I say that knowing that this team was still very good.

The Jayhawks lost their entire starting five before the season. Forward Kevin Young, center Jeff Withey, guard Travis Releford, and guard Elijah Johnson all graduated and guard Ben McLemore declared for the NBA draft.

Once again, Bill Self recruited a very solid group of underclassmen. Self recruited the number one overall recruit with small forward Andrew Wiggins.

With Wiggins came small forward Wayne Selden, Jr., center Joel Embiid, shooting guard Brannen Greene, point guard Conner Frankamp, and point guard Frank Mason. Wiggins, Embiid, and Selden were all five-star recruits.

Two other players, power forward Hunter Mickelson and forward Tarik Black, transferred to KU from other schools.

The Associated Press gave the Jayhawks a preseason ranking of fifth.

While KU opened the season with five straight wins, one of which came against then 4th-ranked Duke, they wouldn’t reach another long win streak.

Even though it felt like KU was losing much more than usual, it was quite entertaining to watch Wiggins and Embiid mold into two of the top players in the nation. It was even better that they were both at KU.

While Oklahoma State (with Sir Flops-a-Lot, Marcus Smart) were the favorites to win the Big 12 conference, KU came out on top with a conference record of 14-4. With this conference championship, Bill Self broke the record for most consecutive conference championships for a head coach.

An injury to star center Joel Embiid would prove to be fatal to this team. Without this rebound machine in the mix, the Jayhawks would go on to have a win-lose pattern of sorts.

They won their first game of the Big 12 tournament and then lost their second. It was the same situation in the NCAA tournament. They beat Eastern Kentucky and then eventually lost to Stanford.

The conclusion of this season saw KU finish 25-10, the most losses that the Jayhawks have had in a season during their streak of conference championships.

Next: The latest Championship