For the first two exhibition games and the first two regular-season games, Kansas basketball freshman Kohl Rosario sported a sweet, cool mustache. The problem was that Rosario didn’t play all that well with it.
In his first two official games of his KU career, he scored 13 total points, hitting three of 10 three-point field goal attempts. He pulled down five rebounds in those two outings, but none against North Carolina.
Something had to go. Evidently, that awesome ‘stache was what was bringing Rosario down.
Kansas basketball’s Bryson Tiller blamed the mustache for Kohl Rosario’s slow start
Against Texas A&M-CC on Tuesday, Rosario showed up sans the ‘stache. Just that little change made all the difference in his game, as he broke out and led the team in scoring, taking up the slack left by Darryn Peterson’s absence due to injury.
Rosario scored 16 points, shooting 60 percent from the field. He also pulled in five rebounds and recorded a blocked shot. It was obviously the fault of the mustache.
Rosario’s teammate, Bryson Tiller, thought getting rid of the hairy upper lip was a great decision on Rosario’s part.
Tiller on Kohl: I think he's way better without his mustache. I think it was weighing him down, so congrats to him on that. #kubball
— Shreyas Laddha (@shre98) November 12, 2025
Obviously, Rosario’s teammates are glad to see he’s decided to go with the clean-shaven look. If this performance is any indication of what he can do without the infamous mustache, then head coach Bill Self and his staff are thrilled the cookie duster is gone. The mustache was evidently weighing him down.
Self on Rosario: I think he was better. He drove the ball a couple of times, which was good. I thought he did well.
— Matt Tait (@mctait) November 12, 2025
"He's SO bouncy. Good God." #KUbball
It is up to Self, the coaches, and his teammates to make sure Rosario keeps that lip clear of whiskers and hair. Some might even question why he grew it in the first place, but that is easily ascertained.
Rosario should still be in high school. He re-classified this summer and joined KU late. What high school kid doesn’t grow out a cool, show-stopping mustache as soon as possible, especially now that he is playing with the big boys?
Luckily, that fashion experiment is over, and Rosario can continue to improve his game. The Jayhawks are going to need him with the gauntlet of games coming up.
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