Chase Buford's move to the Denver Nuggets opened a bench slot at Kansas, and Tony Bland moved quickly to fill it. The hire signals Bill Self’s intent to broaden the Jayhawks’ recruiting footprint, leaning on Bland’s West Coast ties to help Kansas land versatile wings and guards as the roster turns over. Bland’s background—success on the high school level, a run as USC’s associate head coach, and a track record in the Mountain West and on the West Coast—positions him to connect with a new wave of prospects and speed up KU’s pipeline-building.

Bland’s career spans Syracuse and San Diego State as a player, and a coaching arc that includes St. Bernard High School, USC, and Washington. That mix of experiences affords Kansas a wide network and a nuanced eye for prospects and transfers who can adapt to Self’s system. While KU continues to refine its depth chart and recruitment strategy, Bland’s East/West connectivity could shift the balance in the coming class and influence how the Jayhawks approach the transfer market, NIL, and player development.