The 2024-25 season has been far from smooth sailing for the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team. For the second year in a row, Bill Self’s squad has failed to live up to expectations, leaving fans disappointed. What’s even more alarming is that this team is on track to be one of the worst Kansas squads of the 21st century. Despite starting the season ranked No. 1, the Jayhawks haven’t been able to shake off their struggles, and if they don’t turn things around soon, another early exit in March Madness seems inevitable.
In CBS Sports’ latest college basketball rankings by Gary Parrish, Kansas is stuck at No. 25—a steep fall for a team that was expected to dominate. So, what went wrong?
For starters, the team’s morale is slipping with each passing week. They’re out of the Big 12 title race and just suffered a loss to Kansas State in Bramlage Coliseum for the third straight year. On top of that, they’ve also been bested by Missouri in recent months.
The Jayhawks’ season could’ve had a different story if they hadn’t let winnable games slip away. A heartbreaker against Houston was marred by missed clutch free throws and a botched inbound pass, while a huge 21-point lead evaporated in a historic collapse to Baylor.
While Kansas does have a few solid wins this season, like victories over Iowa State and TCU, their conference play has been a disaster. Despite being ranked 17th in the AP Poll and 11th in the NET rankings, fans are beginning to lose faith in this team. Many experts, including Parrish, aren’t optimistic about the Kansas Jayhawks turning things around. The road ahead for KU looks uncertain, and March Madness may be their last shot at redemption.