It's strange that the Kansas basketball team just hosted Louisville and Duke and took two losses in these competitive matchups, and it doesn't matter. It's natural to panic slightly after losing these games, but because they were both exhibition games, neither counts in the grand scheme of things. It is tough, though, to watch the Jayhawks lose these games in the Phog against such prominent programs.
Both games were competitive, and both came down to stretches when the KU offense struggled to produce. Against Louisville, KU struggled both offensively and defensively during the middle portion of the second half. Once the Jayhawks found their footing, they competed well down the stretch.
Against Duke, KU went ice cold for about six to seven minutes at the end of the game. Shots went in and out, while others simply rolled off the rim. It was like there was a lid on the basket.
KU didn't play poorly in either game, but the Jayhawks were unable to overcome these two lengthy stretches. It is challenging to judge much from these games because one doesn't know what head coach Bill Self might be looking for. If it was hustle and energy, KU appeared to provide these throughout both games.
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Observations from the Kansas loss against Duke
One oddity about the Duke game was that Christian Reeves and Paul Mbiya combined to play only 10 total minutes, and neither played in the second half. This was intentional on Self's part, according to Jacob Webb of the University Daily Kansan.
Self didn't think Reeves and Mbiya could guard Duke's high screens effectively. While this might have been true, KU gave up a lot on the backboards by playing small against Duke's athletic big men. The Blue Devils dominated KU in rebounding, 43-30. This included 11 offensive rebounds for Duke to just six for Kansas. There was definitely a tradeoff between the KU big men struggling to guard the ball screens and the ability to compete on the boards. In just six minutes, Reeves pulled down five rebounds. That production was missed for most of the game.
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Tyran Stokes showed why he was so highly recruited against Duke. The freshman star scored 27 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out seven assists, all of which paced the Jayhawks. What makes Stokes so exciting is his desire to be better. If he continues to make progress, he'll be a superstar by season's end.
Self on Stokes: He's a great kid. Now, is he emotional? Yes. Could he be too emotional? Maybe. But he hasn't been with us at any point and I've coached him harder than I have anybody else on the team. And all he does is come back for more everyday.
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 15, 2026
"I think he's gonna be great…
It appears that whenever Self wants a defensive spark off the bench, his go-to guy will be Trent Perry. The freshman played 14 minutes against Duke, bringing a tenacious, energetic intensity to the floor. Perry isn't much of a scoring threat right now, but he still scored four points on two hustle dunks.
Three-point shooting was a big issue for Kansas against Louisville and Duke, and the Jayhawks made just 15 of their 48 attempts, for a bleak 31.2% from beyond the arc. It is even worse when you take out Tre White's five makes on 10 shots from behind the arc. The rest of the team made only 26.3 percent. This is certainly an area that seems to always be an issue for Kansas every year. Self needs to find someone to contribute consistent long-range shooting.
It was fun to watch both of these games. Not only were the competition and atmosphere top-notch, but the Jayhawks played at a high-energy level and at a faster pace than other recent Kansas teams. It is always more fun for fans when KU plays more up-tempo. With as much depth and talent as this roster has, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Jayhawks stick to this faster-paced style this season.
There is no reason to panic after these two home losses. They have no bearing on the season going forward, and they allowed Self to evaluate where his roster is right now heading into the season. This team will be good and fun to watch, so buckle up!
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