Kansas Basketball: Lack of true threats pave way for KU to make run
Kansas basketball is the number one ranked team in the country and with no other true threats in college basketball this year, 2020 could be the year the Jayhawks bring home another title to Lawrence.
It’s been over a decade since the Kansas Jayhawks last reigned supreme in college basketball, but the 2020 season is theirs to lose. For one, they’re the best team in the country and their number one ranking proves as much.
Kansas has totaled just three losses all season and really do appear to be the best team in the sport heading into the conference tournaments. They ended the season on a 16-game winning streak and started a new conference title streak after breaking it last season.
Another reason to feel confident about this being Kansas’ year to win it all is that there really aren’t any teams that feel threatening. Here are the current top ten teams as of Saturday afternoon:
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- Kansas
- Gonzaga
- Dayton
- Baylor
- San Diego State
- Kentucky
- Florida State
- Seton Hall
- Maryland
- Louisville
That’s a hodgepodge of teams right there and ones that typically aren’t sitting in the top ten of college hoops, at least not this close to tournament time. Kansas has jumped around this season, but they’ve been a solid number team over their 16-game win streak and have shown that they have what it takes to win tough games.
Gonzaga is no stranger to the top of the rankings, so seeing them there isn’t shocking. Gonzaga made it to the title game a few years ago, but fell to North Carolina and hasn’t made it back since. They’re a respectable program and might be the only “scary” team in the tourney this year outside of KU.
The other blue blood in the top ten is Kentucky, but they’ve had an interesting season, losing to teams like Evansville and Utah while also blowing a huge lead against Tennessee. The typical blue bloods have had unique seasons, as Duke isn’t a normal Duke squad and North Carolina probably won’t even make the tournament unless they win the ACC tourney.
For Kansas basketball fans, this looks like it could be the year the Jayhawks bring a title back home to Lawrence, but fans have seen this same song and dance play out before where it seems so likely, but ends in disappointment.
The Big 12 tournament doesn’t matter all that much for Kansas, but it’ll be important for the team to keep their eyes on the prize and continue this winning streak so there isn’t any doubt heading into March Madness.
The good news is that no teams in the tourney are intimidating in 2020, but sometimes a team can come out of nowhere and end a frontrunner’s season. Kansas fans know that all too well, so hopefully that doesn’t happen this year.