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Kansas Basketball: 5 reasons the Jayhawks won’t win their 14th straight Big 12 title

By Chris Taylor

LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks applauds his team during the first half against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks on December 18, 2017 at Allen Field House in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks applauds his team during the first half against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks on December 18, 2017 at Allen Field House in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) /
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Kansas forward Billy Preston watches from the bench during a 114-71 win against Texas Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
Kansas forward Billy Preston watches from the bench during a 114-71 win against Texas Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

5 reasons the Jayhawks won’t win 14 straight

#4 The Unknown

Who is going to be able to contribute? The odds should get better with Sam Cunliffe and Silvio De Sousa on the court regularly. Cunliffe hasn’t made too many waves as of yet, so perhaps that is all the attention he needs here.

De Sousa just showed up this week, and hasn’t been here long enough to gel with his teammates, learn the schemes, or adapt to the speed of college basketball. It is a most definite unknown as to when he will be ready to play regularly and be able to contribute significantly. How quickly he learns could determine if #14 is within reach.

Then there’s Billy Preston. Day after day we wait to see any new updates on his potential return from in-house suspension. Each day we are left with nothing. Preston is the difference maker. In a “5 reasons” piece on why the Jayhawks will win the 14th straight, Preston doing more than practicing would be the number one reason.

Bill Self undoubtedly was leaning on Preston to take the Jayhawks to the next level in the offseason, so his absence will be dangerous. The longer his return is unknown, the better chance he will not play this season, or ever again at the collegiate level. Look to Preston when Kansas doesn’t get #14 as your scapegoat.

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