KANSAS

What Grade Did Kansas Basketball's 2024-25 Season Earn from ESPN?

ESPN's Myron Medcalf passed out grades for each squad in the Big 12, including the Jayhawks - and the (only) good news is they passed
Jackson Langendorf|
Feb 22, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to play against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Feb 22, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to play against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

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Kansas Jayhawks

Without context, Kansas’ 2024-25 season wasn’t bad. The Jayhawks finished sixth in the Big 12 standings (out of 16 teams), had notable wins over Michigan State (seventh in the final AP Poll) and Duke (third in the final AP Poll), and earned a seven seed in the NCAA Tournament.

But, knowing Kansas entered the year as the No. 1 team in the country, the Jayhawks’ campaign suddenly has a shadow cast over it. 

With that in mind, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf handed out his grade for Kansas’ season. And the lone bright spot?

The Jayhawks earned a passing grade!

Medcalf gave Kansas a D, initially pointing to the sky-high preseason expectations for the Jayhawks, including from coach Bill Self:

“Before the season tipped off, Bill Self said he believed he had the right players to compete for a national championship after his team unraveled late in the 2023-24 campaign before losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament,” said Medcalf. 

Ultimately, Kansas wound up putting together an “even more disappointing” season in the eyes of Mecalf.

To add insult to injury, “Kansas spent millions on transfers AJ Storr, Zeke Mayo, and Rylan Griffen.” Toss in a star returning trio of Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams, and Dajuan Harris Jr., and the Jayhawks certainly had a roster built for success, yet still fell drastically short of expectations. 

To sum it up, the Jayhawks’ season was “far below KU’s standard,” according to Medcalf.

Now, Self and his crew must turn their attention to rebuilding for next season, which they’ve done a stellar job of thus far, but aren’t quite done yet, as three scholarship spots remain.

Published
Jackson Langendorf
JACKSON LANGENDORF

Primarily covers Illinois football and basketball, and Kansas basketball, with an emphasis on analysis, features and recruiting. Langendorf, a third-generation University of Illinois alum, has been watching Illini basketball and football for as long as he can remember. An advertising student and journalism devotee, he has been writing for On SI since October 2024. He can be followed and reached on X @jglangendorf.

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