Entering the game on Saturday night against NC State, Melvin Council Jr. was averaging a modest 10.7 PPG, while shooting a miserable 34.8% from the field and atrocious 18.5% from beyond the arc. The Wolfpack clearly saw his shooting percentages as well, as their defensive game plan was clear, “let Council Jr. shoot”... and so they did, but it did not work out well for them.
Council Jr. had a historic performance from deep, connecting on 9/15 three-pointers in the Jayhawks 77-76 overtime win. This mark is the 2nd most threes made in a single game in Kansas basketball history, topped by only “Downtown” Terry Brown in 1991, who connected on 11/17 three-pointers. Funny enough, Brown’s opponent on that day was also the NC State Wolfpack.
It was not just the three-pointers that made this an out-of-body experience and a once-in-a-lifetime game for Melvin, though. He played a game-high 43 minutes (scoring 36) and still looked to be one of the most energized players in the game in overtime. He also made four shots inside the arc, most of them being impressive driving layups, dished out 4 assists, and pulled down 7 rebounds.
To put a cherry on top of his performance, basketball phenom and future top NBA pick, Darryn Peterson, was unable to finish the game, putting even more pressure on Council to perform at the highest level. Kansas haters or Council Jr. doubters may point towards his two missed free throws at the end of the game in overtime to try to discredit him, but he more than carried his weight.
This performance is the confidence-booster that Council Jr. needed!
Coach Bill Self has been praising Council Jr. all season long, even after some very rough performances in the first 10 games of the season. His praise and continuing to empower Melvin has clearly paid off in the biggest way possible. Following the game, Self made it clear that in his 23 years with Kansas, this was one of the best road performances he had ever seen:
Self: "We had one guy that was probably the best performer that I think that I've had on the road in my 23 years at Kansas. He was unbelievable."
— Henry Greenstein (@HenryGreenstein) December 14, 2025
Securing this road win against a great coach in Will Wade, and a great team that is likely to make March Madness, came at the perfect time too. The Jayhawks will now head home to Lawrence to play two games in Allen Fieldhouse against lighter competition in Towson and Davidson, before getting to the holiday break and prior to starting Big 12 play.
It is not yet known if Darryn Peterson’s injury is serious, following him limping off the court in the final minutes of regulation against NC State, but Council Jr. and the team should feel as confident as ever if they do indeed have to face Towson and Davidson without their freshman guard.
It is unlikely that Council Jr. is ever able to replicate that performance, but if this is an indicator of a more consistent three-point shot moving forward and if this performance gives him confidence moving forward, it bodes incredibly well for the Jayhawks.