The Kansas Jayhawks extended their winning streak to seven games with a 71-59 victory over Utah on Saturday afternoon, continuing their dominance at home. And while the final score suggests a comfortable win, this one wasn’t always smooth sailing-especially in the first half, where some early inconsistencies raised eyebrows. Still, Kansas leaned on its strengths, particularly in the paint, to wear down a Utah team that, despite its record, doesn’t go down without a fight.
Flory Bidunga: Owning the Paint
Let’s start with the big man in the middle. Flory Bidunga was a force-plain and simple.
He threw down five dunks, pulled in 10 rebounds, and sent back seven shots. That kind of interior presence isn’t just eye-catching-it’s game-changing.
Against a Utah team that prides itself on rim protection (averaging 3.5 blocks per game), Bidunga’s dominance was a tone-setter.
Kansas poured in 18 of its 38 first-half points in the paint, with Bidunga accounting for three dunks before halftime. Melvin Council Jr. chipped in nine first-half points, and the Jayhawks’ defense held Utah to just 31 points through the first 20 minutes. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective.
By the end of the game, Kansas had scored 42 points in the paint and added 14 fast-break points-all off turnovers. Those are the kind of hustle stats that don’t always make headlines but win you games.
Starting Five Shoulders the Load
Bidunga wasn’t alone in carrying the scoring load. He was one of four starters to hit double figures-finishing with 17 points.
Tre White added 16, Kevin Peterson dropped 14, and Council finished with 11. Once again, the starting five did the heavy lifting.
From beyond the arc, though, it was a different story. Kansas shot just 3-of-18 from three-point range-a season-low 16.7%.
Only Council, Peterson, and Jayden Dawson managed to connect from deep, each hitting just one. It’s a stat that stands out, especially when you consider how crucial perimeter shooting becomes against elite opponents.
Compare that to the Jayhawks’ recent game against Texas Tech, where the bench only scored two points, and the pattern is becoming clear: Kansas is getting most of its production from its starters. That’s sustainable for now, but depth will need to show up when the competition tightens.
Bench Brings Energy, Not Buckets
The bench wasn’t completely invisible, but it didn’t light up the scoreboard either. Kansas got just five points from its reserves-three from Dawson and two from Jamari McDowell. That ranks among the lowest bench scoring totals of the season.
Still, McDowell made his presence felt in other ways. He logged 24 minutes and contributed three assists, four rebounds, and a block. His ability to facilitate and defend gave Kansas valuable minutes, even if the scoring wasn’t there.
Freshman Kohl Rosario also saw six minutes of action. He missed his lone shot attempt but recorded a block and a defensive rebound-small contributions, but signs of growth in limited minutes.
A Win is a Win-But Arizona Looms
Kansas didn’t pull away until midway through the second half, and that speaks to the kind of grind-it-out performance this was. The Jayhawks never led by double digits until the final stretch, and while they ultimately controlled the game, it wasn’t a wire-to-wire blowout.
Still, this is a win that checks a lot of boxes: interior dominance, defensive pressure, and a balanced scoring effort from the starters. But with a top-ranked Arizona team on the horizon, Kansas knows it can’t afford another cold shooting night or a quiet bench.
This team has the tools. Saturday’s win was another reminder of that. Now, it’s about sharpening them for the battles ahead.