On Tuesday night in New York, the Kansas Jayhawks dropped to 3–2 after suffering a 78–66 loss to the Duke Blue Devils (5–0) in the 15th annual Champions Classic.
Although it was a 12-point loss, the game was much closer than the final score suggests and could be considered a moral victory for KU, which was playing without the NBA’s No. 1 prospect, Darryn Peterson. Expectations at Kansas are always high, but last night was one of the few times in recent history that the Jayhawks entered a game as a double-digit underdog.
The team displayed promising traits and offered many reasons for optimism, but also showed clear areas that will require significant improvement if the Jayhawks want to achieve their ultimate goal this season.
So, after three weeks of play, where do the Jayhawks stand as they head into the Players Era Festival?
Team Deficiencies
The glaring issue (and ultimate downfall) for the Jayhawks was their lack of a true closer, a role Darryn Peterson is expected to thrive in when healthy. Several players stepped up in big moments, but Kansas didn’t have anyone who could bolster a strong push to the finish line of either half.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Ku led Duke 28–26. The Blue Devils then closed the half on a 15–5 run. By halftime, Duke led by eight, sending the Jayhawks to the locker room trailing 41–33.
In the second half, after Melvin Council Jr. knocked down his first three-pointer of the season with 4:59 remaining, Kansas trailed Duke 64–67. They were just one solid possession away from potentially tying the game. Unfortunately, during the most critical stretch, the Jayhawks surrendered an 11–2 run and ultimately fell 78–66.
Another blatant matter is the lack of frontcourt depth when Flory Bidunga and/or Bryson Tiller get into foul trouble. Beyond the extremely raw freshman Paul Mbiya, Kansas doesn’t have another option with the size needed to operate effectively in the paint. This weakness was exposed when the Jayhawks were forced to play small during stretches when Bidunga and Tiller were on the bench with foul trouble.
If they can stay healthy and avoid committing petty fouls, Bill Self should be able to work around the lack of depth. The problem is that foul trouble has been an issue for Tiller in both games against ranked opponents (UNC and Duke). He looks great on the floor, but he needs to learn that he’s too valuable to spend extended time on the bench.
The final negative perception surrounding this group is its lack of three-point shooting. They went just 4–21 from deep against the Blue Devils and 5–21 against Princeton in their forgettable win last Saturday. If even a few of these misses had gone in, it would have dramatically changed both contests. Kansas will need players like Kohl Rosario and Jayden Dawson to step into larger shooting roles if they want to make some noise as the season progresses.
Reasons for Optimism
KU played Duke extremely tough and displayed qualities that Bill Self hadn’t seen to this point. They started the game strong, with their peak coming at the 8:24 mark of the first half. Flory Bidunga threw down a sensational alley-oop dunk on a pass from Jayden Dawson to make the score 24–18, giving Kansas its largest lead of the game.
Tre White played a phenomenal game, leading the Jayhawks with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. If he can consistently score, rebound, facilitate, and defend at a high level, he’ll add an entirely new element to this team.
Last season, KU defeated Duke in a similar early-season clash in Las Vegas. After the game, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer was exuding positivity, raving about his team’s effort as if they had won, despite it being their second loss in the first six games. He was encouraged by how hard his team competed and saw a clear vision forming from the potential they displayed. He turned out to be right, as Duke went on to have the best season of his young coaching career, reaching the Final Four before falling to Houston in the national semifinal.
This season, the Jayhawks are off to an eerily similar start to last year’s Blue Devils squad and have proved they have what it takes to get to Indianapolis when healthy.
In the past, Kansas has a history of adding players at the semester break. Last season, Bryson Tiller enrolled and joined the team for the second half of the season, though he redshirted and never played. Bill Self welcomed Tiller a half year early in hopes that he could get a head start on learning the system and team culture.
Additionally, at the midpoint of the 2017–18 season, Silvio de Sousa arrived at Kansas, which eventually made a run to the Final Four. If you’re a college basketball fan, you’re likely familiar with the history surrounding de Sousa and the whirlwind that was his KU career.
This season, Bill Self will likely explore the possibility of adding another talented player to the frontcourt. That doesn’t mean it will happen, but you can be sure the coaching staff will actively search for ways to improve the team heading into conference play.
Whether or not they are fortunate enough to add another suitable player at the semester break, Kansas showed against Duke that they have a lofty ceiling, even with limited personnel. Once Darryn Peterson returns, this team will be intimidating and has a real chance to make an impact in conference play and the postseason.
Darryn Peterson Timeline
Peterson will be reevaluated this week and could return to the court as early as next week when the Jayhawks head to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival. According to Bill Self, the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, and he's optimistic that Peterson will return sometime throughout the festival.
If he doesn’t play in any of KU’s three games during the event, they should aim to have him back by the time UConn comes to town on December 2 at the Phog. The Jayhawks know that game will be a major opportunity to boost their résumé, and if healthy, Peterson will be on the floor.
The most important thing is ensuring Peterson is fully healthy and not pushing him to play unnecessarily. Bill Self has indicated that we won’t see Peterson back until he’s completely ready, and even if that takes longer than expected, it could pay dividends for Kansas down the line.
Will the Jayhawks rebound at the Players Era Festival?
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