The Kansas Jayhawks added their third Big 12 conference win in a row in an incredibly low scoring affair against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday. The crimson and blue scored a measly 54 points, but they held Cincy to an abysmal total of 40 points. This is now three lockdown defensive performances in a row, as they allowed 48 and 55 points prior to Saturday.
Shakeel Moore joining the starting lineup has this identity, but this streak sneakily goes back even further than the three-game win streak. KU has not allowed an opponent to score more than 62 points in six straight games, dating back to the 75-60 win over NC State. While the Virginia Cavaliers style of play is not the most entertaining, it has been effective for Kansas.
Following the game, Hunter Dickinson reminded fans of a Coach Self belief stating: “Bill Self always says that if you’re playing bad, you have to make the other team play worse.” That is exactly what the Jayhawks did on Saturday.
"Bill Self always says that if you're playing bad, you have to make the other team play worse," says Hunter Dickinson.
— Rock Chalk Blog (@RockChalkBlog) January 11, 2025
Your 2024-25 Kansas Jayhawks, who just might scrap their way to their fair share of victories: Make the other guys play worse.
Against Cincinnati, Kansas shot 35.3% from the field overall and connected on a pitiful 2-for-21 3-pointers, one of which was a banked-in three from senior PG, Dajuan Harris Jr. Despite these shooting woes, the Jayhawks made the Bearcats look even worse on offense, ultimately allowing them to connect on just 30.5% of their field goals and 3-for-22 of their deep shots.
Is this style of play sustainable for Kansas the rest of Big 12 play?
Everyone associated with Kansas basketball knows that they need to shoot the ball better than they have the last few games; the coaching staff, the players, and the fans. With that being said, the slogfest and defensive intensity has worked and the old slogan of “defense wins championships” may be right, especially in a gauntlet like the Big 12 Conference.
At the same time, the three-game win streak has not come against any of the top-tier teams in the Big 12, such as Iowa State, Houston, Baylor, or Arizona. The Jayhawks will face a huge test next game as they visit Iowa State who is coming off of an impressive come-from-behind victory on the road against Texas Tech.
If the defensive-oriented style works against the Cyclones, who are currently ranked third in the country, it would be safe to say that the lack of offense is less of a concern and the lower-scoring games are likely sustainable and a recipe for success. Iowa State averages an insane 86.2 PPG however, which leads the Big 12.
It is very likely that KU will need to dip into their offensive bag a bit more, and keeping Iowa State in the 60s for points is a much tougher task than against UCF, Arizona State, or Cincinnati.