By ADAM ZAGORIA
Kansas began the season as the Preseason No. 1 in the AP Poll, but the Jayhawks are now approaching an ignominious record.
With their 65-59 loss to No. 3 Houston Monday night in Big 12 play, the Jayhawks fell to 19-11 on the season, 10-9 Big 12.
They are now tied with last year’s Kansas team and the 2013-14 Kentucky squad for second in terms of most losses by a Preseason No. 1 since the 1961-62 season, per ESPN. Their nine conference losses are their most since 1982-83.
The 2022-23 North Carolina team that was the Preseason No. 1 suffered 13 losses.
Kansas has the 2nd-most losses for a Preseason No. 1 team pic.twitter.com/Yx5zlPJHCP
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 4, 2025
Kansas closes the regular season Saturday at home against No. 24 Arizona.
“Well, season’s almost over,” head coach Bill Self told reporters. “We got one more game in Allen Fieldhouse. Hopefully our fans will show up to see some seniors that have meant an awful lot to this place over time. And I’m sure they will. But it was a different feel in the locker room after the game. I thought we had a pretty tight huddle. I thought the guys competed harder, even the guys that didn’t play, they all thought it felt different, too. I thought it felt different. No moral victories, but this was going to be, you’re going to have to play a fantastic game to win down here. And we almost pulled it off, just didn’t quite get it done.”
Self recently disputed a rumor that initiated on the Field of 68 that he might retire after the season, telling me for NJ Advance Media, “No.”
Kansas has five-star guard Darryn Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in 2026, coming in next season.
Photo: Kansas Athletics
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
The post Kansas approaching ignominious record for Preseason No. 1 appeared first on Zagsblog.