The idiom coined by Benjamin Franklin on the few certainties in life is admittedly an old one but it nonetheless bears repeating because it has stood the test of time: Nothing can be said to be certain except death, taxes, and Kansas demanding the respect and adoration of all us spreadsheet super-nerds who pontificate and project college basketball. Lather, rinse, repeat, baby. [taps index finger to ear] OH I’m actually getting word from my producer that is not the old Franklin quote.
OK, so perhaps Mr. Franklin was in this particular instance referring to only death and taxes as constants in the late 1700s, but you know what? It’s 2023. It’s time for an amendment. We may as well adapt the above into our updated vernacular, because the Bill Self-led Kansas Jayhawks — once again — project as the clear No. 1 team in our preseason Big 12 poll taken by our group of experts within the CBS Sports family. And for good measure, too: KU’s No. 1 spot was unanimous among our panel this year, led by Michigan import Hunter Dickinson, who takes the crown as our Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year.
After winning at least a share of the Big 12 regular season in 17 seasons since taking over in 2003 (!), Self has a Kansas team favored not just to win the league’s championship, but to win the NCAA championship, according to updated betting odds. That test within the conference won’t come easy or without its traps, though, thanks to the new additions of Houston, Cincinnati, BYU and UCF, and the always-tough challengers of Baylor, Texas, Kansas State and others lying in wait.
So how do we see the league shaking out this year? Enough with the teasing — let’s hop to it.
Hunter Dickinson was the biggest prize of this offseason’s transfer portal.
Missy Minear/Kansas Athletics
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