Black enrolled at Kansas in the fall of 1920 and became eligible to play for the men's basketball team in his sophomore year of 1921–22.

[1] Playing for Hall of Fame coach Phog Allen, he helped guide the Jayhawks to three Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) championships and two retroactively named national championships during his three-year playing career.

It was their best record in seven years,[1] and Black's ability at the guard position alongside Paul Endacott was the biggest reason for their success.

In 1923–24, his senior year, Kansas failed to win their third straight national championship when they finished 16–3.

[2] Several years after finishing his playing career at Kansas, Black became the head coach for the men's basketball team at Nebraska.