The stage is set for Kansas this Saturday against BYU in the Jayhawks’ second home matchup against an AP Top 25 conference opponent, riding a wave of momentum with no signs of slowing.
How we got here: Kansas’ winning run over the last four
Things hadn’t quite panned out for the Jayhawks heading into January. Minimal minutes for Darryn Peterson, a shifting rotation; you name it, it probably went wrong in some capacity. That all changed when Kansas welcomed then-No. 2 Iowa State to Allen Fieldhouse.
Since then, it’s been nothing but dominance.
What started as an 84-63 win over the Cyclones turned into an 18-point victory over Baylor, an eight-point road win without head coach Bill Self against Colorado, and the largest margin of victory on the road against Kansas State since 2018. Even with just seven available players against the Wildcats, there was never a doubt.
And the kicker: the Sunflower Showdown was played without a single minute from Peterson. What started out as a polarizing season from the true freshman has lived up to the hype, but it hasn’t necessarily been defined by him.
In his absence, Melvin Council Jr. and Flory Bidunga have played big roles in the Jayhawks' success. And you can’t go without mentioning Elmarko Jackson, who scored 19 points off the bench for Kansas in their most recent win.
Both Jackson and Jamari McDowell show up in spurts, but when they’re on, especially in The Phog, their impact is undeniable.
Scouting BYU: key threats and what to watch
The Cougars enter Saturday’s contest after nearly pulling off a comeback against No. 1 Arizona, falling just short in the final seconds. It was a true showcase of resilience, but one that ultimately fell just short.
BYU’s AJ Dybansta is to the Cougars and Kevin Young what Peterson is to Self and Kansas: a polarizing young talent, touted as a one-and-done with NBA potential. The pair are even expected to go first and second overall in this year’s draft, but that’s beside the point.
Dybansta set the freshman scoring record previously held by Danny Ainge in the Cougars’ win over Utah, scoring 43 points on 15-of-24 shooting. He sits second in the conference in scoring behind PJ Haggerty.
Both Rob Wright III and Dawson Baker shoot 40% or higher from three-point range, with Wright listed as the team’s third-highest scorer, averaging 18 points per game.
This isn’t the same BYU team coached by Mark Pope that won at Allen Fieldhouse two seasons ago. Richie Saunders is the only player left from that roster, but the team built around him is impressive.
The weapons are in place for the Cougars, but their impact will depend on execution.
Score prediction: Kansas 76, BYU 73
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