Kansas Shows Flashes, But Missed Opportunities and Peterson’s Absence Loom Large in Loss to UConn
Kansas had its shot. Up four at halftime against the defending national champs, the Jayhawks were right where they wanted to be - at least on the scoreboard.
But as Bill Self pointed out after the 61-56 loss to No. 5 UConn, that lead could’ve - and probably should’ve - been bigger.
The Jayhawks didn’t capitalize on early momentum, and Self was quick to call out the offensive miscues that kept UConn within striking distance. Unforced turnovers, stagnant ball movement, and too much isolation play - it all added up to a stretch of six to ten possessions where Kansas had little to no chance of scoring. That’s not going to cut it against a team as disciplined and defensively sound as UConn.
And the second half? More of the same.
“We should’ve been up more,” Self said bluntly. “We had some really bad possessions.”
Defensively, Kansas wasn’t bad. In fact, Self thought the team guarded well for the most part.
A couple of missed switches down the stretch aside, the effort was there. But the rebounding?
That told a different story. UConn controlled the glass in the second half, and that’s where the Jayhawks lost their edge.
You can defend all you want, but if you can’t finish the possession with a rebound, it’s a lost cause.
Then there’s the Darryn Peterson factor. Or more accurately, the lack thereof.
The freshman guard missed his seventh straight game with a hamstring injury, and his absence continues to loom large. Without him, Kansas lacks a dynamic creator on the perimeter - someone who can break down defenders, create for others, and force defenses to react. That’s where the ball and body movement becomes even more crucial, and that’s exactly where Kansas struggled.
Peterson’s return is inching closer, and Self sounded cautiously optimistic.
“(Peterson) had a really good day today,” Self said. “Tomorrow will be his off day, and then hopefully if there’s no setbacks, he’ll be practicing with us on Thursday, Friday and Saturday full-speed.”
The staff is being careful - and rightfully so. Self said Peterson is 90-95%, but they’re holding him out until he’s fully ready.
No gray area. No risk.
Not with a long season ahead.
And while that decision may have cost them some offensive firepower against UConn, the long-term payoff could be big. Peterson’s early-season flashes were electric - he averaged 21.5 points in the two games he played and shot it efficiently from all over the floor.
That’s the kind of presence that changes the way defenses play you. That’s the kind of player who can settle a team down in the halfcourt when things get tight.
Until then, Self is leaning on his depth. That means some guys are stepping into roles they didn’t expect when the season tipped off. And while that can be a challenge in the short term, Self believes it’ll pay dividends later.
Still, he didn’t see the same team that beat Tennessee in Las Vegas.
Against the Vols, Kansas played the right way - even when they were behind. There was discipline, flow, and purpose. Against UConn, Self didn’t see that, even when they had the lead.
That disconnect, he thinks, came from trying too hard. The energy in Allen Fieldhouse was electric, and for a lot of these players, it was their first taste of that kind of big-game atmosphere in a Kansas uniform. The excitement might’ve gotten the best of them.
Now it’s about learning from it. Because there are more of these moments coming - more marquee matchups, more high-stakes games under the lights in Lawrence. And Kansas will need to be sharper, more connected, and more confident in their identity.
Getting Peterson back will help. But so will the experience of nights like this - where the margin for error is razor thin, and every possession matters.
The Jayhawks are 6-3, with plenty of room to grow. And if they do, this early-season stumble could end up being a turning point rather than a red flag.