Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) raises up the KU fanbase during a run by the Jayhawks in the first half on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. At right is Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid (20).

Officially, the 2016-17 basketball season ended March 25th in Sprint Center when the scoreboard read Oregon 74, Kansas 60. But it doesn’t really end until exciting thoughts about the next basketball season shove the memories of the wounds of the final loss to the back of the mind.

For Kansas, last season ended and next season began Sunday when Devonte Graham announced on his Twitter account that he will stay in school instead of making himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Whatever happens with the roster from here pales in comparison to what happened Sunday night, when the ashes from the season finale gave way to renewed Final Four hopes.

Graham, the first player since Steph Curry to have a streak of four consecutive NCAA tournament games with four or more 3-point shots, had a rough game against Oregon, missing all seven shots from the field, including six from 3-point range. But his decision to return healed the wounds for so many still smarting from a Final Four near miss.

So onto talk about next year it is.

The three sure starters: Graham, shooting guard Malik Newman and center Udoka Azubuike.

Then it grows a little sketchy.

If pure point guard Trevon Duval comes to Kansas, he could be flanked by Graham and Newman. In that case, who replaces Josh Jackson at the four?

Dwight Coleby, freshman Billy Preston and Arizona State transfer Sam Cunliffe (not eligible until second semester) all are candidates, although Cunliffe, like Jackson, is more ideally suited to play on the wing.

If Duval doesn’t come to Kansas, either Lagerald Vick or Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk fills the third perimeter position and point-guard depth will be recruited.

Guesses aren’t too early to make on several fronts now that Graham has ended the suspense as to his status. Leading scorer: Newman, an athletic 6-foot-3 scorer who gets hot from 3-point range and is strong driving to the hoop.

Leading rebounder: Azubuike. Don’t forget, he had 12 rebounds in 15 minutes against Duke. He’s huge, athletic and if he has the stamina to keep up in transition, could have a big sophomore season.

Blocked-shots leader: Azubuike, obviously. Svi, if he makes help-side defense a priority, could become a sneaky shot-blocker.

Leading assist man: Duval if he comes to Kansas, Graham if he doesn’t.

Most versatile player: Nobody will be able to match Jackson in that area, but Cunliffe is the player most capable of doing a little bit of everything, in terms of becoming a quality help defender, a rebounder, a passer and a multi-faceted scorer.