Kansas basketball: 3 takeaways from Jayhawks upset loss to UCF

UCF exposed several of KU's flaws

Jan 10, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to a call during a game against the UCF Knights
Jan 10, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to a call during a game against the UCF Knights | Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 10, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights guard Darius Johnson (3) drives around Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris (3)
Jan 10, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights guard Darius Johnson (3) drives around Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris (3) | Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

3. Dajuan Harris' poor play might be holding this team back

We have constantly talked about the statistic where Kansas is 29-1 in games in which Harris scores 10+ points. Well, he failed to reach that mark yesterday, pouring in five points on 2-of-8 shooting.

He has turned the ball over 2+ times in all but one game this season. That features four against Kentucky and Mizzou and five last time out vs. TCU.

The worst part of his performance last night was how he crumbled against the 3-2 zone. For a guy deemed the best playmaker in the country coming into the season, he looked awfully flustered on how to beat the zone. Perhaps my memory is off, but he has never looked this confused with the ball in his hands in past years.

Although the KU fanbase loves Dajuan, he is one of the reasons this team looks so off right now. And I get it, I do — there is nobody else to play over him, especially if Jackson continues to contribute very little. But when you have a pass-first point guard who can't shoot a 3-pointer that isn't wide open, struggles from the line, and carelessly throws away the ball several times a game, it's going to be difficult to look like a cohesive offensive unit.

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