Kansas basketball had lost two of its previous three conference tilts heading into the contest against Oklahoma State, but Bill Self and the Jayhawks were able to get it done with ease with an 83-54 victory.
It was all KU from the get-go, with the team leading by as many as 21 in the first half alone. The Cowboys never made it close and the walk-ons and backups were in with five minutes to go.
Someone needed to step up with Kevin McCullar missing his first game of the year, and the man that did was freshman guard Elmarko Jackson. He slotted into the starting lineup for the potential All-American and scored 10 points while sinking both of his 3-point attempts.
Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams tied for the team lead in points with 16. The 7-foot-2 center picked up his 12th double-double of the season with 11 rebounds, while Adams connected on each of his seven shot attempts while also assisting six buckets.
Dajuan Harris had one of the best outings of the year, turning it over less than two times for the fifth time in 2023-24. He finished with 12 points and seven assists. Johnny Furphy continues to play well in the starting lineup, posting an 11-point, 6-rebound stat line.
The bench was not impressive by any means, but there was a significant step up in production considering the second unit had made one field goal over the past two games. Nick Timberlake and Jamari McDowell combined for 13, and the walk-ons contributed five points themselves.
This was exactly the performance Coach Self needed from his squad heading into a vital matchup against No. 4 Houston this weekend. He was able to get his star player some much-needed rest, all while ending with the third-largest margin of victory of the season. Allen Fieldhouse will be electric on Saturday, but the team must come out hot to avoid a home loss during the first-ever Big 12 encounter between the two programs.