The Kansas Jayhawks have officially hit the halfway mark of their Big 12 schedule, and if the first nine games are any indication, this team is rounding into form at just the right time. Sitting at 7-2 in conference play and 17-5 overall, Kansas has strung together six straight wins and is starting to look like a squad that could do some serious damage down the stretch.
But the road ahead? It's anything but easy.
That win streak includes some quality victories-home triumphs over Iowa State and BYU, plus a gritty road win at Texas Tech. But looming large are two matchups with an undefeated Arizona team, a home showdown against Houston, and a return trip to Ames to face Iowa State again. So while Kansas has built some momentum, they’re about to find out just how battle-tested they really are.
A big part of the Jayhawks’ recent surge has been the growing impact of freshman Darryn Peterson. After missing a chunk of the non-conference slate with injuries, Peterson has settled into a rhythm during Big 12 play-and he’s not easing in quietly.
He’s leading the team in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game, and doing it efficiently, shooting nearly 50% from the field and over 43% from beyond the arc. His offensive game is smooth, confident, and already polished beyond his years.
But Peterson isn’t doing it alone. Transfers Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. have been key in shaping the Jayhawks' identity.
White is a steady two-way presence, putting up 14.5 points and 7.2 boards a night while shooting a team-best 44.6% from three and 85.3% from the line. Council, meanwhile, is logging the most minutes on the team (34.4 per game) and leads Kansas in assists at 5.0 per contest.
He’s the engine that keeps the offense moving.
Then there’s Flory Bidunga, who’s quietly been a force on both ends. He’s tied for second on the team in scoring (14.5 PPG), leads the squad in rebounding (8.9 RPG), and is the Big 12’s top shot-blocker at 2.6 per game.
His 67.7% shooting clip isn’t just efficient-it’s elite. Bidunga’s presence in the paint gives Kansas a defensive anchor and an interior scoring threat that few teams can match.
And just when you thought the rotation was set, in comes Bryson Tiller. The freshman big has emerged as a legitimate contributor, averaging 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while giving the Jayhawks another physical presence inside. His development could be a game-changer, especially against the elite frontcourts Kansas is about to face.
Off the bench, Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell, and Jayden Dawson have all played their roles. Jackson has been reliable at the line (80%) and provides a steady hand in limited minutes. McDowell is shooting nearly 40% from deep, giving Kansas a spark from the perimeter, while Dawson has added depth when called upon.
Here’s how the numbers stack up as Kansas hits the midpoint of Big 12 play:
Minutes Leaders
- Melvin Council Jr.: 34.4 MPG
- Tre White: 32.3
- Flory Bidunga: 31.4
Scoring Leaders
- Darryn Peterson: 21.1 PPG
- Tre White: 14.5
- Flory Bidunga: 14.5
Rebounding Leaders
- Flory Bidunga: 8.9 RPG
- Tre White: 7.2
- Bryson Tiller: 6.0
Field Goal Percentage
- Flory Bidunga: 67.7%
- Darryn Peterson: 49.4%
- Tre White: 48.5%
Three-Point Percentage
- Tre White: 44.6%
- Darryn Peterson: 43.2%
- Jamari McDowell: 39.3%
Free Throw Percentage
- Tre White: 85.3%
- Darryn Peterson: 80.6%
- Elmarko Jackson: 80.0%
Assists
- Melvin Council Jr.: 5.0 APG
- Tre White: 2.2
- Darryn Peterson: 1.8
Steals
- Darryn Peterson: 1.3 SPG
- Tre White: 0.8
- Melvin Council Jr.: 0.8
- Elmarko Jackson: 0.8
Blocks
- Flory Bidunga: 2.6 BPG
- Bryson Tiller: 1.4
- Darryn Peterson: 0.6
Turnovers
- Tre White: 2.1 TOPG
- Bryson Tiller: 1.7
- Three players tied at 1.5
Fouls
- Bryson Tiller: 2.2 FPG
- Flory Bidunga: 2.1
- Tre White: 2.1
So, where does that leave Kansas? Right in the thick of the Big 12 title race, but with plenty of work left to do.
The Jayhawks have the talent, the depth, and the momentum-but the upcoming stretch will test their toughness and cohesion like never before. If they can keep building on what they’ve shown over the last six games, this could be a team no one wants to see come March.