Kansas Basketball: Three Key Priorities Before Big 12 Play Begins
Kansas is sitting at 8-3 with just two non-conference games left on the calendar - and given the gauntlet they’ve already run through, that’s a record worth respecting. This team has faced a brutal early schedule and come out of it with some valuable wins and a clearer picture of what lies ahead.
Losses to North Carolina (on the road), Duke (neutral site), and UConn (at home) are nothing to hang your head about. Meanwhile, Kansas has stacked quality wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Missouri - all away from Allen Fieldhouse. Add in a road win at NC State and home victories over Green Bay, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Princeton, and you’ve got a résumé that’s already battle-tested.
Now, with just Towson and Davidson standing between Kansas and the start of Big 12 play, head coach Bill Self has a crucial two-game window - plus a 12-day break - to fine-tune his rotation and get his team physically and mentally ready for the grind ahead. And make no mistake: the Big 12 is a monster this year.
According to the latest AP poll, Arizona, Iowa State, and Houston all sit in the top seven nationally. Add BYU (No.
10), Kansas (No. 16), and Texas Tech (No. 19), and you’ve got six ranked teams in one league. That’s not just competitive - that’s a war zone.
If Kansas wants to come out on top, there are three things they need to lock in over the next two weeks.
1. Get Darryn Peterson Back to Full Strength
This one tops the list - and it’s not even close. Darryn Peterson is a difference-maker, plain and simple. But he’s been in and out of the lineup, missing seven games and playing through visible discomfort in the others.
When healthy, Peterson has shown why he was such a highly touted recruit. He’s averaging 19.3 points in just 2.3 minutes per game - an eye-popping stat that speaks to his efficiency when he’s on the floor.
But the problem is, he hasn’t looked fully mobile. During the NC State game, he was constantly working on his legs with a massage gun and staying hydrated - doing everything he could just to stay upright and available.
At one point, he was clearly frustrated on the bench, hiding his face under a towel.
The good news? Peterson has the full support of his coaches and teammates.
There’s no questioning his toughness or commitment - he wants to play. But Kansas needs him healthy, not just available.
If he can use the next two games and the holiday break to get his body right, he could be a game-changer once the conference battles begin.
2. Get Bryson Tiller and Kohl Rosario Going Again
Kansas doesn’t need Tiller and Rosario to be stars - but they do need them to be contributors. And right now, both players are in a bit of a funk.
Tiller has scored just 25 points across his last four games, and while he’s still making an impact defensively with his length and athleticism, his offensive assertiveness has dipped. He’s capable of much more.
Self knows it, and so does Tiller. This is the time to get him back in rhythm - because once the Big 12 schedule hits, Kansas will need every scoring option it can get.
As for Rosario, his early-season promise has faded. After starting the first few games, he’s now coming off the bench and has totaled just 16 points in his last five appearances.
He’s young - still technically high school-aged - and clearly adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. But his athleticism and three-point shooting could be valuable weapons off the bench.
He just needs to find his confidence again.
These next two games could be the perfect opportunity for both players to reset and recalibrate. The minutes will be there - it’s just a matter of making them count.
3. Get the End of the Bench Some Real Minutes
The Big 12 season isn’t just tough - it’s unforgiving. Injuries, fatigue, and foul trouble are inevitable, and Kansas needs to be ready for those moments when the rotation stretches deeper than usual.
That’s why this stretch against Towson and Davidson is the ideal time to get extended minutes for guys like Jayden Dawson, Paul Mbiya, Samis Calderone, Nginyu Ngala, and Rosario. These aren’t just garbage-time bodies - they’re players who could be called upon in real moments when the season’s on the line.
Of course, the starters will need to handle business early in these games to open the door for deeper rotation minutes. But even beyond blowout scenarios, Self could look to sprinkle in these players throughout the game to build their confidence and get them comfortable in live action.
Because once January hits, there won’t be any soft landings. Kansas will need a full, ready roster to navigate the Big 12 minefield - and that starts with getting everyone on the same page now.
Final Thought:
Kansas has already shown it can hang with the best, even while dealing with injuries and inconsistency. But the margin for error shrinks once conference play begins. These next two games and the holiday break are more than just a breather - they’re a chance to reset, reload, and refocus.
If Peterson can get healthy, if Tiller and Rosario can rediscover their form, and if the bench can get meaningful reps, Kansas will be in a much stronger position to chase a Big 12 title.
The talent is there. Now it’s about fine-tuning the machine before the real race begins.