The Kansas Jayhawks enter the 2026‑27 campaign facing a stark vacancy at the center position after All‑Big 12 First Teamer Flory Bidunga decided to transfer to Louisville, leaving a hole that has dominated offseason discussions.
The Transfer Landscape
Coach Bill Self and the staff initially turned to 7‑foot‑2 transfer Christian Reeves, a former standout at Charleston, to fill the void, but Reeves arrives with a limited college résumé and a history of injuries that have restricted his on‑court impact.
Adding to the uncertainty, Serbian big man Mihailo Mušikić remains a work in progress with the NCAA, and his eligibility status is still being ironed out, leaving the roster without a proven interior anchor.
Mbiya’s Emerging Role
Amid the uncertainty, sophomore Paul Mbiya has emerged as the most promising internal option. In the 2026 NCAA Tournament he logged 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and Coach Self has repeatedly highlighted his offseason growth, increased confidence and physical development as reasons he could earn a starting role.
Mbiya will not be alone in shouldering the load; he returns alongside guard Kohl Rosario and freshman phenom Tyran Stokes, while the team hopes that a reliable center will stabilize both offensive sets and defensive rotations.
The pressure on Mbiya echoes the expectations placed on past Jayhawks such as Cole Aldrich and Thomas Robinson, whose dominant post play helped define eras of Kansas basketball, and his ability to step up could ultimately determine whether the program can maintain its traditional interior strength.