Kansas is already taking significant strides towards recovery following its disappointing exit from the NCAA men’s tournament’s second round against Gonzaga.
According to Michael Swain of 247Sports, the Jayhawks have secured the services of Florida guard Riley Kugel via the transfer portal. Kugel, a highly touted 4-star prospect from the class of 2022, as per 247Sports’ composite rankings, spent the last two seasons contributing to the Gators’ backcourt rotation.
With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Kugel presents a promising option for Kansas to fill the gap left by the departure of Kevin McCullar, who graduated.
During the 2023-24 season with Florida, Kugel posted averages of 9.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. However, his shooting efficiency, at 39.4 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from beyond the arc, raised concerns. Swain highlights an improvement in efficiency when Kugel transitioned from a starter to a bench role, shooting 40.7 percent from the field as a substitute compared to 38 percent as a starter.
While it remains premature to predict Kansas’ lineup for the 2024-25 season due to ongoing developments in the transfer portal and potential NBA decisions, the expectations for the program are consistently lofty. Just two seasons ago, head coach Bill Self led the Jayhawks to the 2022 national championship.
However, the recent season saw Kansas fall short of winning both the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. As a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, they suffered a decisive defeat to Gonzaga in the second round, marking their second consecutive early exit. In 2023, they were ousted in the second round as a No. 1 seed by No. 8 seed Arkansas.
The addition of Kugel holds promise for Kansas as they seek to rebound from these disappointments and mount a stronger campaign in the seasons to come.
