What the experts say
DICK VITALE'S BASKETBALL
1. North Carolina
Top10
2. Kentucky
3. Arkansas
5. California
2. Kansas
6. Duke
8. Temple
9. Michigan
10. Georgia Tech
The Big Eight
3. Missouri
1. Oklahoma State
4. Nebraska
12. Kansas
5. Kansas State
6. Oklahoma
7. Iowa State
8. Colorado
It is a testament to Roy Williams' program that Kansas, despite losing guards Rex Walters and Adonis Jordan, center Eric Pauley and forward Darrin Hancock, has not been buried.
That's not to say the Jayhawks will be favored in the Big Eight — they won't— or that Kansas fans should think about booking motel rooms in Charlotte, N.C., next year. The Jayhawks, while still among the nation's elite, don't figure to match recent Kansas teams that have Final Four rings for 1991 and 1993 and won at least 27 games each of the past four seasons, while never losing back-to-back games during that same span.
What Vitale says about Kansas:
Top10
STREET & SMITH'S COLLEGE/PREP BASKETBALL
1. North Carolina
2 Arkansas
2. Arkansas
5. Duke
3. Louisville
4. Minnesota
6. California
7. Kentucky
8. Illinois
9. Virginia
13. Kansas
10. Michigan
The Big Eight
7. Kansas State
8. Colorado
6. Iowa State
3. Missouri
1. Kansas
5. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma State
4. Nebraska
The key to the Jayhawks' hope of extending their string of unshared championships to three is 7-foot-2 junior Greg Ostertag. Specifically, the key is Ostertag's stamina. Handicapped by leg problems as a backup for two seasons, Ostertag averaged only 13 minutes, five points and four rebounds last year. If he increases his playing time to 30 minutes and becomes the center many envisioned, the Jayhawks will be difficult to dethrone.
What Street & Smith say about Kansas:
Top10
PETERSEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
1. Kentucky
2. Louisville
4. California
3. North Carolina
5. Michigan
6. Arkansas
7. Kansas
8. Temple
9. Cincinnati
10. Duke
The Big Eight
1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma State
3. Missouri
4. Nebraska
5. Oklahoma
6. Iowa State
7. Kansas State
8. Colorado
Once again, the Jayhawks will be a dangerous NCAA Tournament team, although they may not have enough experience to return to the Final Four. Kansas will win the Big Eight regular-season title, falter in the conference tournament and make the Sweet 16. Those things are pretty certain. Beyond that, it's up to the youngsters.
What Petersen's says about Kansas:
NCAA PREVIEW*
Top10
1. North Carolina
9. Cincinnati
6. Kansas
2. Michigan
7. Arkansas
4. Duke
8. California
3. Kentucky
5. Indiana
10. Louisville
The Big Eight
1. Oklahoma State
2. Missouri
3. Kansas
4. Nebraska
5. Kansas State
6. Iowa State
7. Oklahoma
8. Colorado
- The NCAA Preview is compiled by sports writers from around the country. Because different sports writers picked the top 10 and Big Eight selections, teams may be ranked differently in the two polls.
What the NCAA Preview says about Kansas:
The Jayhawks lost four starters from its 29-7 team that fell to North Carolina in the NCAA championship semifinals, including the unexpected departure of forward Darrin Hancock. But Kansas, under Coach Roy Williams, has received more production from its reserves than any Big Eight team.
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW • University Daily Kansan • November 17, 1993