On Friday night in Lawrence, Kansas looked every bit like the Big 12 powerhouse it’s expected to be - and a big reason why was the dynamic one-two punch of Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga. The two freshmen didn’t just flash their potential - they dominated, combining for 49 points on a blistering 22-for-27 shooting night as the Jayhawks rolled past Baylor, 80-62, at Allen Fieldhouse.
From the jump, Peterson set the tone. He poured in 26 points, and his early scoring outburst helped Kansas build a 15-point lead.
Bidunga was right there with him, adding 23 points of his own and making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. He also tallied five blocks, anchoring the Jayhawks’ defense and delivering one of the most complete performances of his young career.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. And it came against a Baylor team that didn’t back down, even after taking some early punches.
Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou did their best to keep the Bears in it, combining for 44 points. Their efforts helped Baylor claw back from that early 15-point hole and even take a brief lead late in the first half. But Kansas responded with poise, closing the half on a 7-0 run to reclaim control.
That late first-half push was a turning point. The Jayhawks never trailed again, and Baylor’s offense sputtered down the stretch, shooting just 28% in the second half. Kansas, meanwhile, kept the pressure on, thanks in large part to Peterson’s shot-making and Bidunga’s dominance inside.
Baylor coach Scott Drew tried to stop the bleeding early, calling a timeout just over a minute into the game after Kansas scored the first five points. But Peterson came out of that break unfazed - scoring on a drive to the rim, then hitting a smooth jumper in the post. Even after missing a pair of early free throws, he had seven points by the first media timeout.
Then came the back-to-back threes. Peterson drilled two in quick succession, pushing the lead to 19-6 and forcing another Baylor timeout. For a moment, it looked like this one might get out of hand early.
But to Baylor’s credit, they settled in. A Yessoufou bucket finally got them on the board, and the Bears rattled off eight straight points - a run aided by a disallowed Elmarko Jackson layup due to basket interference on Bidunga.
Still, Kansas led 27-19 when Jamari McDowell picked up his second foul battling for a rebound. That gave Baylor an opening, and Yessoufou capitalized with a corner three off the inbounds play. Peterson answered with a three-point play and a leaning jumper, but Yessoufou kept coming, scoring five more to keep things close.
Then Baylor made its biggest push. Carr capped an 8-0 run with a three-pointer that gave the Bears their first lead of the night at 37-36 with just under three minutes left in the half.
But the Jayhawks didn’t flinch. Jayden Dawson, who hadn’t played in the previous game, stepped up with a timely three to stop a nearly four-minute scoring drought.
Bryson Tiller added a pair of free throws, and Peterson hit a stepback jumper to close the half. Yessoufou had a chance to cut the lead at the buzzer, but his three rimmed out, and Kansas took a 43-37 advantage into the locker room.
At the break, Peterson led all scorers with 20, while Carr had 16 and Yessoufou 15 - a showcase of high-level individual talent from both sides.
The second half belonged to Kansas.
Peterson continued to cook, scoring twice more and dishing out an assist early in the half. Tiller added more points at the line, and Carr missed a key layup that could’ve stopped the bleeding. Instead, Peterson hit a fadeaway over Yessoufou, and the Jayhawks were off and running.
Melvin Council Jr. gave KU a spark off the bench, hitting a tough shot on the block and then delivering a lob to Bidunga for a dunk that stretched the lead to 57-40. Council added a free throw after the break, and suddenly the Jayhawks had full control.
Baylor tried to switch things up, throwing a 1-3-1 zone at Kansas. It disrupted the rhythm for a few possessions, and Carr knocked down a three to give the Bears a glimmer of hope.
But with both Peterson and Bidunga - who had accounted for 43 of KU’s points at that stage - getting a breather, Kansas found just enough elsewhere. Council muscled in another bucket inside, and the Jayhawks kept Baylor at arm’s length.
Bidunga returned and made his presence felt immediately, finding Jackson in the corner for a three that made it 71-51 with under eight minutes to play.
Baylor’s zone slowed Kansas a bit, and Carr and Obi Agbim hit back-to-back threes to trim the deficit. But time wasn’t on their side. Carr exited the game shortly after with an apparent injury after slipping on a drive, and Kansas closed it out from there.
The Jayhawks emptied the bench with two minutes to go, and while they didn’t score again, the outcome was never in doubt. Agbim knocked down another three and Yessoufou added a turnaround jumper, but Kansas cruised to the win.
With the victory, Kansas improved to 13-5 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play. Next up: a road trip to Colorado, who sit at 12-5 and 2-2 in conference.
Tipoff is set for Tuesday at 10 p.m. Central.
If Friday night was any indication, the Jayhawks are starting to find their rhythm - and with Peterson and Bidunga leading the charge, they’ve got a duo that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country.