Kansas men's basketball season preview 2024-25: 3 biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more
The Kansas Jayhawks entered the 2024 NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed but could not live up to their expectations due to an injury-riddled season. They dropped five of its last seven games of the season.
Nevertheless, they repeat as one of the top teams in pre-season rankings, due to the return of national player of the year candidate Hunter Dickinson through his COVID-year eligibility.
With that, let's look at potentially the most exciting games for the Jayhawks in the 2024-25 season.
Kansas men's basketball season preview 2024-25: 3 biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more
Kansas' 3 biggest games in 2024-25 season
Kansas will face Duke on Nov. 26 in Las Vegas as part of a basketball showcase organized by ESPN Events. One of the reasons behind their matchups being highly anticipated is that the Blue Devils and Jayhawks are two of the winningest programs since the 1997-98 season.
Duke has amassed 783 wins while Kansas sits closely with 779 victories. The game will also give the Sunflower State a chance to narrow the gap on their all-time series record, which Duke leads 8-6.
The next marquee matchup comes a week later on Dec. 4 when Creighton Bluejays visit the Jayhawks for the Big East Battle. Bill Self is leading with an all-time record of 11-6 against the Jays. However, given how his team was the reason for the only March Madness dent in Hays’ recent history, the 2022 second-round game, Creighton will put its best on the floor to garner an upper hand this season.
Jayhawks are on a four-game winning streak against North Carolina since 2008 and will look to maintain it through the game slated for Nov. 8. A win would match them with the program’s longest winning streak against Tar Heels, dating back to the 1986-1991 stretch.
Key Kansas players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season
Along with Hunter Dickinson, the Jayhawks also welcome super senior Dajuan Harris Jr., bringing back a solid chunk of their core.
Moreover, solid veteran additions like AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Rylan Griffen (Alabama), Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) and Riley Kugel (Florida) bring valuable NCAA Tournament experience to the table.
Kansas predictions for the 2024-25 season
Jayhawks see only half of their top-6 scorers returning for the 2024-25 season. However, their latest portal additions harbor significant March Madness experience, allowing them to make another post-season run.
Additionally, they also secured a pair of top 50 prospects in Flory Bidunga and Rakease Passmore, giving them a depth that they desperately needed in the latter stages of their 2023-24 season.