College Basketball Rankings: 2014-15 top five teams

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Mar 20, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self addresses the media at a press conference during their practice session prior to the 2nd round of the 2014 NCAA Men /

5. University of Kansas

Lottery picks Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid left the Jayhawks removed of their superstars heading into 2014-15. But Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor are the NBA’s version of skyscrapers. Top 15 recruit Kelly Oubre will bring more toughness to a roster teeming with intensity on the glass.

Incoming freshman Cliff Alexander battled all last season against Duke’s Jahlil Okafor for top honors in the class of 2014, and his reputation is defensible. He’s an archetypal power forward with soft hands, visceral strength in the low-block, and can score over both shoulders. In other words, he’s ready to go.

Kansas was No. 39 in the country in assists per game a season ago (15.1), but have some serious concerns to address at the point guard position. Starting point guard and the team leader in assists, Naadir Tharpe, is gone, but Frank Mason appears poised to step into the starting role and Kansas will certainly need him if they hope to make a deep run in March Madness.

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