LAWRENCE — Once again, Kansas basketball is viewed as a contender in the Big 12 Conference and has one of the league’s top freshmen.
The Big 12 Conference announced Thursday that the Jayhawks have been picked to finish No. 3 in its preseason coaches poll, and that guard Tyran Stokes is the preseason freshman of the year. KU, led by coach Bill Self, follows preseason favorite Arizona and No. 2 selection Houston. Following Kansas, in order to round out the top five, are Iowa State and Texas Tech.
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“I think that’s much deserved for him,” Jayhawks freshman guard Trent Perry said about Stokes. “I mean, he’s a great player, great — I think he’s just like a great centerpiece of the team. So, I think that’s well deserved and he should win it at the end of the year, too. And also, third, I mean, that’s a good place but we want to be one, obviously. So, I think we have something to prove against Houston and Arizona because, I mean, everybody has them over us. So, I think those would be two big games that I’m excited to play.”
Kansas is coming off of a season in which it reached the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament and the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament. With Stokes leading the way, and a member of the preseason All-Big 12 team, the Jayhawks certainly have the chance to exceed those marks this upcoming campaign. Having senior guards Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. back is key for KU, too.
There’ll be a few exhibitions as October unfolds for fans to see Stokes and his teammates in action, before the regular season begins Nov. 2 at home against Fordham. The month of November also includes the Champions Classic on Nov. 10 in Chicago against Kentucky, as well as the Players Era event later in the month in Las Vegas. The tests will come early and often for the Jayhawks this season.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at JMGuskey@usatodayco.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Big 12 has high expectations for Kansas basketball, Tyran Stokes