On Saturday afternoon, the Kansas Jayhawks and Princeton Tigers engaged in their third all-time matchup. Princeton made its second visit to Phog Allen Fieldhouse, the first since 1999. The Jayhawks held a 2-0 record against the Tigers entering the game, and though they improved it to 3-0 with an eventual 76-57 win, the Tigers made a valiant effort in attempts to secure their first victory.
During the first half of the matchup, Bill Self made an unusual decision. The Jayhawks began sluggishly, trailing 11-10 when junior walk-on Wilder Evers entered the game at the 13:00 mark of the first half. It appeared that Self intended to motivate the core players to boost their performance. Despite this, the Jayhawks ultimately accumulated a five-point deficit before eventually tying it up with 8:19 remaining in the first half. After that point, they never relinquished the lead for the rest of the game.
Walk-ons aren’t typically the players who get meaningful minutes of playing time. Self has a history of playing walk-ons during insignificant moments (garbage time) or on senior night. Despite playing just two minutes, Evers had the opportunity against Princeton that players like him rarely get.
Although the Jayhawks’ delayed start was prolonged, even after Evers’ departure, the message Self conveyed to his team appeared somewhat effective. The Jayhawks rallied in the second half, securing a strong finish and entering the locker room with a 37-29 lead.
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In the second half, Princeton made a solid push, reducing the Kansas lead to just one point with 14:23 remaining in the game. However, the Jayhawks responded with a dominant 32-14 run to close it out, ultimately securing the win by a final score of 76-57.
Former five-star recruit Darryn Peterson missed his second game in a row due to complications involving a tight hamstring.
Forward Flory Bidunga had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 25 points and shooting an impressive 10-11 from the field. He also grabbed ten rebounds and made three remarkable blocked shots against the Tigers.
Illinois transfer Tre White, another standout player for the Jayhawks on Saturday, complemented Bidunga in the frontcourt. He contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, showcasing his ability to create shots for the offense at crucial moments throughout the game.
Despite playing limited time against Princeton, Nginyu Ngala showcased his ability. In just five minutes of action, he managed to score five points and two rebounds, knocking down a three-pointer. If he continues to impress in his limited opportunities, he could get more repetitions and gain a more significant role as the season progresses.
Kansas has visibly struggled by its standards without Darryn Peterson, but has still demonstrated that they can perform well with the available personnel. The Jayhawks (3-1) will look to have him back in the lineup when they face the Duke Blue Devils (4-0) on Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden during the late session of the 15th annual Champions Classic.
Can Bill Self prevent his team from dropping a second game just two weeks into the season?
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