Kansas Jayhawks

AP preason ranking: No. 1

Head coach: Bill Self (169-40 at KU, 376-145 overall)

Last season: 27-8 overall, 14-2 Big 12 (first)

Returning stars: Sherron Collins, 5-11, Sr., G (18.9 ppg, 4.8 apg); Cole Aldrich, 6-11, Jr., C (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg).

Keep an eye on: A dynamic recruiting class led by Xavier Henry, the 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year, and his brother C.J. Henry.

Stats that matter: KU has won 41 consecutive games at Allen Fieldhouse, the longest active home court streak in the nation. That includes 20 straight Big 12 wins, one shy of the conference record. ... The Jayhawks

KU logo
have advanced to the regional semifinals at the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons and seven times in the last nine years.

Quotable: "He could be the best true big man Kansas has had since Wilt," Self said, comparing Aldrich to the legendary Chamberlain. "That`s a pretty big statement for 50-plus years that he could be the best true big guy."

Outlook: KU is the heavy favorite to win a sixth consecutive Big 12 championship and is on the shortlist of teams capable of cutting down the nets at the Final Four.

CU sees 'em: Feb. 3 in Boulder (7 p.m., ESPN2) and Feb. 20 at Kansas (2 p.m., Big 12 Network).

Tomorrow`s preview: Texas Longhorns

-- Ryan Thorburn