The Kansas Jayhawks manufactured an improbable 14–2 run to secure a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Texas Tech on Monday night in Lubbock. The No. 11 Jayhawks now find themselves sitting pretty in third place in the Big 12, at 17–5 on the season and 7–2 in conference play.
While the starting five have been a revelation for Bill Self as of late, one difference-making element has truly begun to shine.
The Backcourt
Darryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. have anchored the Jayhawk backcourt for much of the season, but have finally begun to click simultaneously.
Darryn Peterson
Despite having a down game by his standards, Peterson re-sparked and sealed a comeback that looked as though it was about to fall just short. He made three second-half triples, two of them coming at the most opportune time.
Prior to Peterson’s game-tying three-pointer with 1:20 remaining, Texas Tech held a 77% chance to win, according to ESPN’s win probability analytics.
After his made three to give the Jayhawks a three-point lead with 0:44 to go, Peterson had completely flipped the script for KU, as ESPN’s analytics now gave Kansas nearly a 77% chance to win, a complete 180-degree swing.
Additionally, this marked only the second time all season that Peterson played until the final buzzer, with Colorado being the other.
Nobody has raised their NBA draft stock in the last couple days like Peterson, who is looking like he may be the most talented player in the sport.
On a recent broadcast, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said, “I haven’t seen a scorer in college who scores as easily as Peterson since Kevin Durant.” That’s high praise coming from such a respected figure in college basketball.
As long as Peterson’s available and reasonably healthy, this team will be a tough out in the postseason.
Melvin Council Jr
Despite a slow start early on, Melvin Council Jr. has been the motor of this team all season long.
Although he came over from a smaller school in St. Bonaventure, Council Jr. has not seen a drop-off in production at a blue blood in the Big 12, averaging numbers comparable to last season.
He’s been playing at a high level for a while now and has already emerged as a fan favorite, but lately, there’s been a different look in his eyes, especially over the past four games.
Over that span, Council Jr. is averaging 16.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
The guard from Rochester, New York, is the vocal leader of this team during games, a presence that’s evident both in person and on the screen. He carries a different approach than most, one that Kansas fans have embraced.
When you combine his motor, mentality, and leadership, you get the makings of a great point guard, especially when the NCAA Tournament comes around.
With two studs like Darryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. in the backcourt, it’s hard to find another team in the country with guards who can outmatch the toughness and intensity they bring to the table.
Though they have their deficiencies, optimism remains high among Bill Self and Jayhawk fans, not only in the elite backcourt, but across the entire group moving forward.
Up Next
The road doesn’t get any easier going forward, as the Jayhawks have upcoming games against Arizona and at Iowa State approaching quickly.
This team has proven it is legit and can make real noise in the postseason, but with plenty of basketball left to be played, Kansas hopes to keep its momentum (and six-game winning streak) rolling this Saturday against Utah in the Phog.
Heading into the final month of the regular season, could the Jayhawks have the best backcourt in the country?
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