LAWRENCE โ Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said last Thursday that it was clear the Jayhawks had the advantage.
Self's team did not see any key contributors or players enter the transfer portal or declare early for the NBA Draft. Florida State's Riley Kugel and South Dakota State's Zeke Mayo had several commitments through the transfer portal complimenting Kansas' freshman class. Although there was still uncertainty about which players would return from last season's squad, the atmosphere at the end-of-season banquet was positive.
But while all that was true, Self was not satisfied.
Self still had his eye on adding to the roster and putting together a more talented team than he already had for the 2024-25 season. Nothing definitive has come out since he spoke after the banquet, but it seems like it's just a matter of when that will happen.
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Asked about one of the transfers who had already signed a contract, Self said: “I can't speak for anyone who hasn't signed a financial aid agreement.” โAll I can do is speak generally, but we are excited about the dedication of our people.โ
The way Kansas' 2023-24 season ended was compared to how the team ended its 2020-21 season, with a blowout loss in the round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA tournament ended in exactly the same way, albeit against different teams from different cities. But from Self's perspective, they need more this offseason than they did in years past.
Heading into the 2021-22 season that ended with a national championship, the Jayhawks have added a player who will be a key part of their rotation. Heading into the 2024-25 season, there's also the 2023-24 scholarship situation, and based on the sheer numbers, that won't be possible. As Self said, they had two signings through the transfer portal who could be key contributors, and thought it could end up being three or four. .
The final number could have something to do with the decisions of freshman guard Johnny Furphy and senior center Hunter Dickinson to turn pro or return to college for another year, respectively. There is. Furphy announced Tuesday that he will declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. But even though there's some uncertainty there, Self said last week that he feels he knows enough to do some work.
Nevertheless, Self left the door open to the possibility that there would be returning players who could leave based on the players they add to the roster. He was also flexible on whether the penalty of losing another scholarship would apply this year or next, saying Kansas will wear No. 12 next season if the penalty ends this season. , the number would remain 13 the following year. . Overall, Self wants to work on his athleticism and perimeter shooting, and may not be waiting around for a player if he tests for NBA potential like Kevin McCuller Jr. did last year. do not have.
“Probably yes, Kevin, what we did was we didn't wait for Kevin,” Self said. “We just received the scholarships. So we should be able to do the same thing this time. But if they declare they're not here, we're going to recruit them. So if we can get them back, That would be a bonus.โ
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics for the Topeka Capital Journal. He has been named the National Sports Media Association's 2022 Kansas Sportswriter of the Year. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or @JordanGuskey on Twitter.
This article originally appeared in the Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball coach Bill Self isn't done in the transfer portal