LAWRENCE - Kansas is heating up at just the right time.
The Jayhawks have rattled off seven straight wins, and that surge has pushed them up to No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. After sitting at No. 11 last week, Kansas (18-5 overall, 8-2 in the Big 12) picked up two statement victories - a gritty road win over now-No. 16 Texas Tech and a solid home showing against Utah.
But if you think the road ahead gets any easier, think again. This week is about as tough as it gets in college basketball.
Kansas will host No. 1 Arizona on Monday, then turn around and head to Ames for a Saturday showdown with No.
4 Iowa State. That’s two top-five teams in a six-day span - and both games could have major implications for the Jayhawks’ seeding come March.
The Big 12 is no stranger to high-level basketball, and this year is no exception. Along with Arizona and Iowa State, the conference boasts No.
3 Houston and No. 22 BYU.
Kansas already handled BYU at home, but they haven’t seen Houston yet. That matchup is circled on the calendar: Feb. 23 in Lawrence, part of another quick Saturday-Monday turnaround that includes a home game against Cincinnati.
What’s been fueling the Jayhawks' midseason surge? A few key pieces are starting to click.
Freshman Darryn Peterson, who battled through injury issues earlier in the season, is starting to close games with confidence. That’s a big development for a Kansas team that needs backcourt composure in crunch time.
Sophomore big man Flory Bidunga has been a force inside, elevating his game and giving KU a reliable presence in the paint on both ends. And senior Melvin Council Jr. has quietly become the team’s rock - steady, consistent, and always ready to make the right play when it matters most.
With momentum on their side and a brutal week ahead, the Jayhawks are about to find out just how high their ceiling can be. This stretch won’t define their season, but it could go a long way in showing whether this Kansas team has what it takes to make a deep run when the lights get brightest.