As a result of the early departures of the Morris twins and Josh Selby and the graduation of three senior guards, Kansas will likely enter the 2011-12 college basketball season as a bit of a mystery team.
At least we know now it won't take long to find out how good the Jayhawks are.
Kansas has assembled a nonconference schedule that promises to be among the most challenging in the nation.
Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 10, the Jayhawks meet likely preseason top-five opponents Kentucky and Ohio State, and take part in perhaps the most loaded Maui Invitational field in the history of the tournament. The breathers on that schedule include a road game against a USC team that nearly won in Lawrence last year, a home date against Big East foe South Florida and a matchup with a Big West champion Long Beach State team that returns most of its roster.
"This is potentially the biggest name schedule we've played since we've been here with the guarantee of playing Kentucky, Ohio State and USC," Kansas coach Bill Self said in a statement. "Add to that the opportunity to play three of the biggest names in college basketball at the Maui Invitational. This will probably be as tough a nonconference schedule as we have played in a long time."
As if that nonconference slate isn't daunting enough, don't forget that Big 12 play gets more challenging next season with the departure of perennial bottom feeders Nebraska and Colorado. Missouri and Baylor should be formidable, Kansas State won't slip too far and Texas could still be Top 25 good even with the NBA draft losses it absorbed.
Over-scheduling in the preseason can be dangerous, as Gonzaga and Michigan State proved this past season, but there's reason to believe the Jayhawks can survive this schedule even in what promises to be a transition year.
Junior Thomas Robinson is capable of a breakout year down low now that the Morris twins are gone. Guards Tyshawn Taylor, Travis Releford and especially Elijah Johnson should assume greater roles. And a solid three-man recruiting class highlighted by shooting guard Ben McLemore promises to provide depth and make an impact off the bench.
Will that be enough to extend Kansas' streak of Big 12 championships and earn another high seed in the NCAA tournament? It's too soon to say, but one thing's for sure: We'll have a much better idea by mid-December.
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