After securing a commanding victory over Missouri in the Border War, the Jayhawks now shift their focus to NC State as they head to Raleigh for a matchup with the Wolfpack this Saturday. It will be KU’s second true road test of the season and its first since falling to North Carolina during the opening week of the 2025–26 campaign.
Darryn Peterson is expected to play after returning from a hamstring injury against Mizzou. The team looked solid without him, but with him, they're on a different level.
Many factors explain why this team has what it takes to compete for another national title, but one thing the Jayhawks undeniably hang their hats on is their elite defense.
Defensive Prowess
KU ranks No. 16 out of 361 Division I teams in scoring defense, allowing an average of 63.7 points per game through ten contests (eighth among high majors). Additionally, Kansas ranks No. 6 nationally in blocked shots, swatting away 6.4 per game (first in the Big 12). The ESPN BPI currently rates Kansas as the seventh-best defensive squad in the country, while KenPom has the Jayhawks at eighth.
The Jayhawk defense has been anchored by the duo in the paint, Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller. Together, they’ve averaged 4.0 blocks per game and have provided elite rim protection to start the season. Other players such as Melvin Council Jr., Tre White, Elmarko Jackson, and Jamari McDowell have also been plus defenders, contributing in ways that go well beyond scoring.
Darryn Peterson has appeared in only three games so far, but he’s an elite defender for a guard, averaging 1.7 steals and nearly a block per game when in the lineup. Getting him fully back into the rotation will only enhance the defensive intensity this team already exudes.
These promising statistics are impressive on their own, but they become even more remarkable when you consider that KU has faced the second-toughest schedule among high majors in the country (behind only Alabama) and is likely to remain in the top five all season as they navigate a grueling campaign.
The Jayhawks must showcase their defensive talent this Saturday when they travel to face Will Wade’s Wolfpack, led by Texas Tech transfer (and former KU transfer portal target) Darrion Williams. He is currently averaging 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting an impressive 46.7% from three-point range.
Enduring a brutal schedule means there will be ups and downs throughout the season, but at the end of the day, defense wins championships, and Bill Self’s group has proven they are as spectacular in that area as anyone in the country.
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