Where the Kansas Jayhawks Mens Basketball Team Fell in the AP Preseason Poll

The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team will begin the 2026-27 season ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, which was released Monday. Although Kansas remains among the nation's ranked teams, the placement gives head coach Bill Self and his roster plenty of motivation heading into a season with championship expectations.

According to the official Kansas Athletics announcement, this marks the 35th consecutive season Kansas has appeared in the AP preseason poll. The Jayhawks have been ranked in every preseason poll since the 1990-91 season, continuing one of the most consistent traditions in college basketball.

Florida claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by Duke at No. 2 and Illinois at No. 3. UConn and Arizona rounded out the top five. Kansas sits at No. 17, directly behind Michigan and ahead of Big 12 rival Iowa State, which landed at No. 18.

The Jayhawks' ranking is especially interesting considering the talent assembled in Lawrence. Freshman Tyran Stokes, the nation's top recruit, headlines a group that also includes fellow freshman Taylen Kinney. Kansas has added experience through transfers, including former Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, while Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White return to the lineup.

As discussed in Kansas basketball coverage from the Lawrence Journal-World, the Jayhawks enter the season with a roster that could outperform its preseason position. However, questions remain about how quickly the newcomers will develop chemistry and adjust to Self's system.

The Big 12 will provide plenty of opportunities for Kansas to improve its standing. Arizona sits at No. 5, Houston is No. 10, Iowa State is No. 18, Texas Tech is No. 19 and BYU is No. 25. With six conference teams ranked, the league should feature challenging matchups throughout the season.

Kansas also faces a demanding nonconference schedule, including a matchup with Kentucky in the Champions Classic and a road contest against UConn in December. Those games could help determine how the Jayhawks measure up against the country's best teams.

For more details on the national rankings, readers can review the Associated Press preseason poll coverage.

Ultimately, the No. 17 ranking is only a starting point. Kansas has the recruiting talent, experienced players and coaching to make a significant run, but the Jayhawks must translate those advantages into consistent performances.

With the season approaching, Kansas will look to prove that its preseason ranking understates its potential and establish itself as a legitimate contender in March.  Jayhawks Roundtable.