ESPN.com Preseason Power Rankings - College Basketball

5. Kansas

The Jayhawks lost the top two players -- Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor -- from a team that fell to Kentucky in last season's NCAA title game. If the past is any indication, it won't matter. Kansas has won eight straight Big 12 championships despite dealing with the same kind of yearly turnover and attrition that occurs at nearly every major program. This year's team may prove to be one of the biggest tests yet for coach Bill Self. KU does return four seniors, including three who started last season. Leading the way is All-American candidate Jeff Withey, a 7-foot senior who is regarded as one of the top shot-blockers in the country. The rest of the squad, however, is comprised largely of freshmen. New faces such as Ben McLemore, Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor and Andrew White will need to grow up in a hurry. -- Jason King

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