Kansas basketball is off to its first 1–2 start to conference play since the 2005–06 season. On paper, that’s not great, but in the Big 12 it tells a different story.
The Jayhawks' next matchup against an undefeated Iowa State will determine how real those early concerns are.
Good Cop: Peterson looks healthy. He’s finding his rhythm, even amidst the chaos.
If you’ve watched Kansas basketball for any length of time during the month of November, you’ve probably seen the candid shot of Darryn Peterson sitting on the bench, quietly looking on as the Jayhawks run the floor. Well, enough is enough.
Against a tough West Virginia team, Peterson scored 23 points in 31 minutes, knocking down 6 of 17 shots from the floor, including three of nine from beyond the arc, in what later became an 86-75 loss. Saturday’s game also marked the third consecutive contest—and the fifth this season—in which the true freshman scored 20 or more points.
It’s hard to believe it’s already January, and that just enough time has passed to almost forget that Peterson didn’t play at all in November. Better yet, you get the sense that it's not Darryn’s world—everyone else is in it too.
And sure, Peterson might be coming around, but success isn’t defined by one player, and it’s almost unfair to mention the fiery offense without Flory Bidunga in the conversation.
Even in Peterson’s absence, Bidunga has shown more than the ability to take over as a floor general. Since making the decision to return, he’s averaging 13.9 points per game.
In nine games without Peterson, Bidunga averaged 15.7 points, scoring a season-high 25 against Princeton. The Tigers might rank near the bottom nationally in defensive efficiency, but Bidunga’s performance was not a one-off.
Against the Cyclones, expect much of the same.
Bad Cop: Iowa State does not shy away, and the Cyclones are already dictating conference play
It’s hard to mention Iowa State without mentioning that the Cyclones are one of five remaining Power Five teams that remain unbeaten. They rank second in the nation in defensive efficiency, sixth in scoring defense, and 19th in scoring offense, averaging of 88 points per game.
Sure, the Cyclones might only shoot a combined 68.9% from the free-throw line as a team, but they know how to get there, stretching the floor, dictating a tempo, and not shying away from contact.
Both Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic boast an impressive 17 points per game, with Momcilovic even shooting 55% from three-point range.
Tamin Lipsey and Killyan Toure also average in double figures, with Blake Buchanan playing a tough game in the paint.
The big difference from last season’s game at Allen Fieldhouse: no Hunter Dickinson, no Dishon "Big Dawg" Jackson. Buchanan plays a much more physical style in the paint than Jackson did last season, something that’s sure to benefit the Cyclones on Tuesday.
After their last road test against Baylor, you almost get the sense that the perfect season is due to an end.
Score Prediction: Kansas 90, Iowa State 86
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