Kansas opened the regular season at Allen Fieldhouse the same way it so often does: with a win. The Jayhawks rolled past Fordham 95-65 on Monday night, extending their streak to 54 straight years of winning their regular-season home opener.
After a preseason packed with heavyweight matchups, this one was a much softer landing for KU against Mike Magpayo’s team. Every one of the 15 players on the roster saw the floor, and the night had the feel of a comfortable reset in Lawrence. Even so, there were still a few things that stood out in the 30-point victory.
The most talked-about part of the night may have been Kansas’ freshmen, but not for the reasons the crowd probably wanted. Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney both had uneven outings, even if the box score didn’t look disastrous at first glance.
Stokes went 4-for-7 at the free-throw line and committed four turnovers. Kinney, meanwhile, shot just 1-for-5 from the field and never really looked settled into the moment. That doesn’t change the bigger picture for either player, but it was a reminder that even highly touted newcomers need time before their game fully translates to the college level.
While the freshmen worked through some growing pains, Kaufman-Renn gave Kansas a steadying presence in his Jayhawk debut. He posted nine points, five rebounds and a block, and even knocked down a surprise 3-pointer in the first half.
The performance fit the kind of dependable role Kansas needed on a night when inexperience showed up in spots. It also felt like the sort of outing that could push Kaufman-Renn toward the starting five before long, especially once he’s fully conditioned.
Even in a game that was never really in doubt, Kansas made things harder on itself than it needed to. The Jayhawks were loose with the ball, particularly in the first half, and too many possessions ended with the shot clock winding down before a rushed attempt. They finished with 17 turnovers, one more than Fordham’s 16, and that’s the kind of sloppiness that will need to disappear quickly.
On the other end of the spectrum, White looked like the most polished player on the floor. In just his second year with the program, and only a little over a month on campus, he led Kansas with 22 points and made three 3-pointers.
Whenever the Jayhawks needed a stabilizer, White was the one who stepped in. He scored, defended and shot the ball with the kind of confidence that made him look like the most seasoned veteran on the roster. It’s hard not to wonder what this team would look like without him.
The matchup also served its purpose beyond the final score. After facing top-10 opponents in the preseason, Kansas needed a game that could build confidence and help the group settle in. The next one against Middle Tennessee State should serve the same purpose before the Champions Classic arrives.
Kansas has already been through plenty of high-end tests, and that experience should help as the season moves forward. Monday night was less about proving something and more about getting the rhythm back.
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Trey Kaufman-Renn Is Already Forcing His Way Into Kansas Plans
Trey Kaufman-Renn wasted little time making himself part of the conversation in his Kansas debut, giving the Jayhawks a useful lift in a victory over Fordham. In 23 minutes, he scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds, the kind of steady production that can matter quickly for a team still sorting out roles early in the season.
Bill Self already sounds ready to make the fit more permanent. After Kaufman-Renn became eligible following an injunction in Indiana that opened the door to a fifth season of college basketball, the Kansas coach confirmed he will be a starter and pointed to the way he affects the Jayhawks beyond the box score. For a team looking to build chemistry and depth, that kind of immediate buy-in can change the shape of the rotation in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Got Their First Real Look At A New Frontcourt Piece
Kansas fans got their first real look at Trey Kaufman-Renn in the Jayhawks season opener against Fordham, and the Purdue transfer gave them a useful early glimpse of what he can bring to the frontcourt. In 23 minutes, he finished with nine points, five rebounds and two assists as Kansas rolled to a 95-65 win and kept its home-opening winning streak alive at 54 games.
Kaufman-Renns debut also came with a little more room for the Jayhawks to sort through their rotation, especially with Kohl Rosario unavailable after a concussion and oral surgery tied to a recent injury. Even in a lopsided opener, those kinds of early minutes matter for a new piece in the frontcourt, and Kansas will be watching closely to see how quickly he settles into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Got An Encouraging Answer From Its New Faces
Kansas opened its season at Allen Fieldhouse the way Kansas usually likes to, with another home-opener win and enough early signs from the newcomers to make the night feel more than routine. The Jayhawks beat Fordham 95-65 for their 54th straight home opener, and the box score was headlined by Tre Whites 22 points, but the more encouraging development was the immediate impact from the new faces around him.
Leroy Blyden Jr. and Tyran Stokes each scored 15 points in their first games as Jayhawks, helping Kansas navigate a competitive first half before pulling away after the break. Bill Self had plenty to like about Blydens performance, and for a team trying to blend established pieces with fresh arrivals, the opener offered a useful early answer about how quickly some of those additions can matter. [Read more 🡒]