Kansas’s Victory Over Duke: A Testament to Successful Offseason Moves

The core team remains consistent and Bill Self’s strategic use of the transfer portal following last season’s disappointment has solidified the No. 1 Jayhawks as a formidable contender for the championship.

In a post-game press conference last March, following a severe defeat by Gonzaga that ended their season, Bill Self confessed a hard truth: he had already been planning for the next season for a month.

At the time, Self’s comment was misinterpreted on social media as him abandoning his struggling team. However, he was merely acknowledging the evident flaws in his 2023–24 Jayhawks, such as insufficient depth, poor three-point shooting, and overall lack of scoring ability, which were crucial for a deep run in March. Addressing these issues through the transfer portal requires planning that begins well before the season ends.

“It became clear this season that we didn’t have the same level of firepower as in previous years,” Self explained during the press conference.

This firepower, strategically added after the season, shone brightly in Las Vegas on Tuesday night during Kansas’s 75–72 win over the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils. This victory, which saw Kansas newcomers scoring 32 of the 75 points, underscored the effectiveness of the off-season enhancements. Despite losing star player Hunter Dickinson to an ejection for a contentious foul, Kansas held strong without him for the last 10:26 of the game.

“Having the ability to rotate players without a drop in talent is a major advantage for us,” said KJ Adams, a returning senior forward. “We’ve brought in several three-point shooters and many athletic players this year.”

On Tuesday, Kansas entered the game with much to prove after barely scraping past Michigan State and nearly squandering a significant lead against North Carolina. Despite being an underdog, this game provided Kansas the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their championship potential, which they did impressively.

The team’s core features Dickinson as a scoring powerhouse, Dajuan Harris Jr. as a playmaker, and Adams as the cohesive force. Yet, this season, the team’s options were limited, and Kevin McCullar Jr.’s knee injury only compounded the challenges. The additions of AJ Storr, Rylan Griffen, and Zeke Mayo via the portal have injected much-needed vitality into the backcourt. Each played pivotal roles in the game, with Storr initiating an early lead, Mayo contributing a solid 12 points, and Griffen hitting crucial shots late in the game.

Dickinson’s ejection could have been a significant setback. However, Self regarded it as possibly the best scenario under the circumstances as it allowed freshman Flory Bidunga to step up and helped the team start to define their identity.

“It’s too early for this to be a defining moment, but this team lacked an identity,” Self stated. “Now, we might start to take pride in having a clearer identity, especially since we had to adopt a grittier style to secure the win without Dickinson.”

Storr and Griffen, the team’s most notable new additions, have had a slow start. While their latest performance wasn’t flawless, it highlighted the strategic depth added during the offseason—providing more options in crucial late-game moments and a roster that demands attention at all times.

After enduring early-season battles against top teams, the Jayhawks now face a less daunting December schedule, though challenges like Creighton and Missouri loom. This period will allow Self to further integrate Storr and Griffen, continue developing five-star recruit Bidunga, and refine his late-game strategies. The early successes hint at significant potential for growth, which is a daunting thought for their competitors.

While it’s debatable whether Kansas has displayed the dominance expected of a No. 1 team, their victory over Duke strongly affirms that Self’s Jayhawks possess the components required for a serious championship run, aligning with his vision following last season’s abrupt end.