After a shaky start to the Big 12 schedule, Kansas captured its biggest win of the season in the Phog, knocking off the undefeated Iowa State Cyclones in an electric 84-63 win. The Jayhawks are now 12–5 overall and 2–2 early in Big 12 play.
After KU fell to WVU last Saturday, skeptics began discussing some uncomfortable realities for the Jayhawks. Fortunately, on Tuesday night, Kansas put the doubters to sleep (at least for the time being).
So how did Kansas manage to rattle the Cyclones so effectively? Let’s take a look.
First Half
The KU frontcourt got off to a hot start, helping the Jayhawks jump to an early lead in the first few minutes, with Bryson Tiller and Flory Bidunga combining for 10 of Kansas’ first 11 points. Iowa State struggled out of the gate, scoring just three points until the 13:39 mark of the half.
At the midway point of the first half, Kansas got hot, going on a 20–2 run over the next eight minutes. It was by far the largest run any team has been able to pull off against the Cyclones this season. The Jayhawks’ impressive surge created Iowa State’s biggest deficit of the game at 26 points.
Tre White kept the momentum rolling for Kansas, draining four threes in the half.
KU took a 44–23 lead into the locker room, marking one of the most impressive halves the program has enjoyed in recent memory.
Second Half
The Cyclones came out of the second half scorching, scoring ten straight points in the paint to start. Over the first 6:31, Iowa State went on a 19–9 run, cutting the Jayhawks’ lead to eleven points (the smallest deficit the Cyclones would face all half).
After a few minutes of struggling, Kansas found its rhythm and responded with a 13–0 run over four minutes, extending its lead to 24 points.
The Jayhawks ultimately secured the lopsided victory, a win that could very well put them back in the conversation among the Big 12’s top teams.
Iowa State Cyclones
Positives
– 24 bench points
– Despite losing by 21 points, the Cyclones were nearly even with the Jayhawks in rebounds and steals.
– Made 9 threes
Negatives
– Shot just 37% from the field
– 84 was the most points they allowed all year
– 33 points from the "Big 3" (Jefferson, Lipsey, and Momcilovic) (typically average 49 ppg)
– Only two points each from the other starters (Buchanan and Toure)
– Allowed multiple double-digit runs which prevented them from establishing any sort of rhythm
Kansas Jayhawks
Positives
– True team-effort
– Tre White: 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists (five made threes)
– Flory Bidunga: a loud 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals (9th game with 3+ blocks this season)
– Melvin Council Jr.: 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists
– Darryn Peterson: 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals
– Elmarko Jackson: 8 points and 4 steals (11 steals over the past three games)
– Jamari McDowell: 8 points and 6 assists (6th game this season with multiple made three-pointers)
Negatives
– First seven minutes of the second half
– After the 13:54 mark in the first half, the frontcourt scored just eight more points for the rest of the game.
With no other glaring issues, the Jayhawks executed almost flawlessly on all fronts in their commanding win over the Cyclones.
After an enormous, season-defining win, can Kansas carry that momentum into Friday’s game against Baylor and through the rest of January?
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