The Kansas Jayhawks have surged to the top of the odds list for the 2023-24 NCAA men’s basketball championship.
Why? Because of a player who wore a different uniform last season.
Center Hunter Dickinson, a two-time All-Big Ten player for the Michigan Wolverines, announced his transfer to the Jayhawks in May.
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As a result, Kansas went from +1500 to win it all (tied for third) to being the favorite at +1200.
The Jayhawks are in pursuit of their seventh national championship (four NCAA Tournament titles and two Helms national championships in 1922-23).
Let’s take a look at the latest odds to cut down the nets after March Madness.
2023-24 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TITLE ODDS *
Kansas Jayhawks +1000 (bet $10 to win $110)
Duke Blue Devils +1200 (bet $10 to win $130)
Purdue Boilermakers +1400 (bet $10 to win $150)
Michigan State Spartans +1400 (bet $10 to win $150)
Kentucky Wildcats +1600 (bet $10 to win $170)
UConn Huskies +1800 (bet $10 to win $190)
Creighton Bluejays +2000 (bet $10 to win $210)
Tennessee Volunteers +2000 (bet $10 to win $210)
Houston Cougars +2000 (bet $10 to win $210)
Arizona Wildcats +2500 (bet $10 to win $260)
Marquette Golden Eagles +2500 (bet $10 to win $260)
Alabama Crimson Tide +2500 (bet $10 to win $260)
North Carolina Tar Heels +3000 (bet $10 to win $310)
Villanova Wildcats +3000 (bet $10 to win $310)
Arkansas Razorbacks +3000 (bet $10 to win $310)
Texas Longhorns +3000 (bet $10 to win $310)
USC Trojans +3500 (bet $10 to win $360)
UCLA Bruins +3500 (bet $10 to win $360)
Gonzaga Bulldogs +3500 (bet $10 to win $360)
Texas A&M Aggies +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Auburn Tigers +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Florida Atlantic Owls +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Miami Hurricanes +4000 (bet $10 to win $410)
Kansas State Wildcats +4500 (bet $10 to win $460)
Saint Mary’s Gaels +4500 (bet $10 to win $460)
Baylor Bears +5000 (bet $10 to win $510)
Memphis Tigers +5000 (bet $10 to win $510)
* odds as of 8/23/2023
Last season, the 7-foot-2 Dickinson averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for Michigan, shooting 56% on field goals and 42.1% on 3-pointers. The Wolverines were not listed among the top 25 in odds with Dickinson on the roster.
“The Jayhawks have the firepower to aim for a second national championship in three seasons. They showed everybody that with the transfer splash of the summer, reeling in All-American and former Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson,” FOX Sports college basketball reporter John Fanta wrote in his article breaking down 12 teams to watch.
“It will be fascinating to see Bill Self work with an experienced All-Big Ten star who has averaged more than 18 points and nine rebounds per game in each of the last two seasons.”
Duke, seeking its sixth national title but first since Mike Krzyzewski retired in 2022, remains the +1200 second choice.
The defending champion UConn Huskies are sixth at +1800 after being fourth (+1500) heading into the summer.
Kentucky, the betting favorite in the spring, slipped from +1100 to +1600, fifth on the odds list. Oscar Tshiebwe, the 2022 player of the year, and Jacob Toppin turned pro, meaning eight scholarship players have left the team this offseason, the highest number in John Calipari’s 14-year tenure as Kentucky’s coach.
Marquette was the No. 2 seed in the East Regional but lost to Michigan State in the second round. Standout forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper was the No. 24 pick in the NBA Draft, and tthe Golden Eagles’ title odds fell from +1600 to +2500.
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