Kansas returns Hunter Dickinson for his senior season, anchoring a Jayhawks squad that projects as the second-best team in D1 by scoring margin at +17.9.
The Kansas Jayhawks enter the 2026-27 season ranked No. 2 in BasketBoss scoring margin projections at +17.9, trailing only Duke. The key factor: Hunter Dickinson's decision to return for his senior season rather than enter the NBA Draft.
Dickinson, who averaged 18.9 points and 10.4 rebounds last season, is the anchor of a Kansas frontcourt that projects as one of the most dominant in the Big 12. His presence alone shifts Kansas's projected defensive PPG allowed from 68.1 (without him) to 64.8 — a 3.3-point swing that reflects his impact on both ends of the floor.
Head coach Bill Self has built the Jayhawks' 2026-27 roster around Dickinson's post presence, adding two perimeter shooters via the transfer portal to space the floor. The result is a projected offensive efficiency of 82.7 PPG — third-highest in D1 behind Duke and Alabama.
Kansas's path to a national championship runs through the Big 12 Tournament, where they are projected as the No. 1 seed. Their biggest conference threats are Houston (+15.2 margin) and Baylor (+10.8), both of whom have made significant portal additions this offseason.