LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas will begin the 2026-27 men's basketball season ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll released Monday.
The Jayhawks enter the season two spots higher than last year's preseason ranking of No. 19. However, outside of last season, it marks Kansas' lowest preseason ranking since 2008, when KU opened at No. 24.
Kansas was recently projected to finish third in the Big 12 Conference preseason coaches poll. Freshman Tyran Stokes, one of the nation's top recruits, was selected as the conference's preseason freshman of the year and earned all-conference recognition.
Stokes headlines a Kansas roster that also includes freshman Taylen Kinney and transfers Leroy Blyden Jr. and Keanu Dawes.
The Jayhawks have also received a boost with the return of Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White, along with the addition of former Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. All three players were granted additional eligibility through court rulings. It remains unclear whether AP voters submitted their ballots before the latest roster additions were announced.
Kansas will face several nationally ranked opponents throughout the season, including five Big 12 teams appearing in the preseason Top 25.
Arizona leads the conference at No. 5, followed by Houston at No. 10, Iowa State at No. 18, Texas Tech at No. 19 and BYU at No. 25.
The Jayhawks also have several ranked nonconference opponents on their schedule.
Kansas will host No. 11 Louisville in an exhibition Wednesday before welcoming No. 2 Duke to Allen Fieldhouse for another exhibition Sunday.
The Jayhawks will meet No. 23 Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Nov. 10 in Chicago and travel to face No. 4 UConn on Dec. 12.
Top-ranked Florida could also be a potential opponent for Kansas during the Players Era tournament in November.
Missouri narrowly missed the preseason rankings as the first team outside the Top 25. Other Kansas opponents receiving votes included Ohio State, TCU and Auburn, which could face the Jayhawks in the Players Era tournament.
Kansas opened its exhibition schedule Friday with an 80-62 victory over NCAA Division II Pittsburg State.
The Jayhawks return to action Wednesday against Louisville. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse, with television coverage on ESPNU.
AP Top 25 Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
- No. 1 Florida
- No. 2 Duke
- No. 3 Illinois
- No. 4 UConn
- No. 5 Arizona
- No. 6 Michigan State
- No. 7 Texas
- No. 8 Tennessee
- No. 9 Virginia
- No. 10 Houston
- No. 11 Louisville
- No. 12 Arkansas
- No. 13 St. John's
- No. 14 Miami
- No. 15 Gonzaga
- No. 16 Michigan
- No. 17 Kansas
- No. 18 Iowa State
- No. 19 Texas Tech
- No. 20 Alabama
- No. 21 USC
- No. 22 UCLA
- No. 23 Kentucky
- No. 24 Vanderbilt
- No. 25 BYU