The Kansas University Jayhawks are favorites to win the Big 12 Conference again in 2023/24, and with good reason. The defending champions have started well, with two wins by large margins, and look set to cement bookmakers' faith in them as the season progresses.
The Jayhawks started the regular season by beating the North Carolina Central Eagles 99-56, with shooting guard Kevin McCullar Jr. scoring a game-high 22 points. Dajuan Harris Jr. assisted 10 times, while Hunter Dickinson topped the rebounds list with eight in the game.
Kansas followed up this result with another resounding win, this time overwhelming the Manhattan Jaspers by 99-61. On this occasion, it was Dickinson who top scored with 18 points, while also making another eight rebounds. Point guard Elmarko Jackson assisted 10 times against Manhattan.
With four extra teams expanding the Big 12 this season, the Kansas Jayhawks will need to keep this early-season momentum going throughout a 2023/24 packed schedule. The KU team plays 29 games through the regular season, with highly-anticipated clashes against the other favored rosters, Houston (twice), Texas, and Baylor (twice) coming up between February and April next year.
By this time, the regular season will almost be over so it's important that the Jayhawks don't falter leading up to these clashes. With offshore bookmakers listing Kansas at +180, Big 12 newcomers Houston Cougars at +420, the Texas Longhorns at +750, and the Baylor Bears at +900 in the current betting, the heat will most certainly be on come February 2024. Of course, a lot can change by then so using this guide to bet offshore will help you cement the best odds early.
Why are the reigning Big 12 champions favorites to pick up a third consecutive Big 12 regular season crown?
Bill Self's Kansas University Jayhawks have guards Harris Jr. and McCullar Jr. to lean on, along with center Dickinson. Harris Jr. and Dickinson both made the preseason all-conference team with MCCullar Jr. just missing out but receiving an honorable mention. Hunter Dickinson was also voted as preseason player of the year and newcomer of the year.
This trio alone makes a huge difference to the Jayhawks' line-up, but the starting team also features several other potential future NBA players. In Self, KU has an experienced Head Coach with 17 regular season Big 12 championships in his 20 seasons controlling matters.
The only question surrounding the Jayhawks this season is whether they have as much strength in depth as previously. They remain very worthy of their tag as favorites.
Of the other teams likely to challenge, the Houston Cougars may pose the biggest threat to KU. After almost three decades of trying, the Cougars are now part of the Big 12 and are looking to make their inclusion count. Houston is currently 3-0 in early regular season results, with big wins over the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, and the Stetson Hatters.
Based on early season form, guard LJ Cryer seems like the player to watch in the Cougars' lineup, with a Houston season-high 21 points coming in the win over the Hatters. Point guard Jamal Shead has also been in fine form, with 20 assists and 12 rebounds in the three games to date.
The Texas Longhorns are another of the bookies' favored teams to have started the regular season well. Easy victories over the Incarnate Word Cardinals and the Delaware State Hornets see the Texas University outfit sitting well-positioned in the Big 12 table.
The defending 2023 Big 12 Tournament champions are strong contenders for the Big 12 conference this season, having beaten the Kansas Jayhawks by 20 points in the post-season final. Forward Dylan Disu was voted player of the tournament, while two other Longhorns players joined him in the tournament's All-Stars team. Texas will have to do without Marcus Carr this season, though, as he's now playing in Greece.
According to the odds, offshore bookmakers consider the Baylor Bears major contenders for this season's Big 12 title. The Bears currently sit on top of the conference, with three wins from three outings. Despite this, Baylor's form has been a little sketchy as each of the three games has been closer than anticipated.
First out, the Bears overcame the lowly-rated Auburn Tigers by six points, following this with a 26-point win over minnows John Brown Golden Eagles. Last time out, Baylor beat the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs by only 15 points, meaning that some improvement is needed before meeting the more favored squads. Baylor meets Texas in late January, hoping to repeat its nine-point win in February 2023.
Freshman guard Ja'Kobe Walter currently averages 16.3 points per game for the Bears over the opening fixtures. Forward Josh Ojianwuna heads the rebound statistics with 7.7 per game, while RayJ Dennis is the top performer in both assists and steals, including eight of the former against John Brown.
The Baylor Bears will rely on these players to provide the impetus for improved performances going forward if they're to challenge for the Big 12 regular season title this year. On current form, pedigree, coaching, and reputation, it's difficult to see the Bears or any of the others overcoming the offshore bookies' favorites. The Kansas University Jayhawks remain the team to beat in 2023/24.
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