Kansas Shows Flashes but Falters Late Against UConn - and Bill Self Knows Why
After Kansas’ 61-56 loss to No. 5 UConn, Bill Self didn’t need to watch the film to know where things went wrong.
The Jayhawks had a four-point lead at halftime - 33-29 - but Self felt it should’ve been much more. And in a game against a top-five opponent, missed opportunities like that tend to come back to bite you.
Kansas didn’t just leave points on the board - they left the door wide open for a second-half UConn surge. Self pointed to a string of bad offensive possessions, somewhere between six and ten by his count, where the Jayhawks had virtually no shot at scoring.
A mix of unforced turnovers, stagnant ball movement, and too much one-on-one play gave UConn’s defense exactly what it wanted. And that theme didn’t go away after halftime.
“We just didn’t move the ball the way we needed to,” Self said. “Too much dribbling, not enough cutting, not enough sharing.”
On the defensive end, Self actually liked what he saw for the most part. Kansas held its own against a UConn team with plenty of firepower.
A couple of late defensive breakdowns on switches were frustrating, but the bigger issue was on the glass. The Jayhawks didn’t rebound well enough in the second half, and that gave UConn extra chances - something you simply can’t afford in a game like this.
But the elephant in the room? Darryn Peterson’s absence.
The freshman guard missed his seventh straight game with a hamstring injury, and his presence - or lack thereof - was felt all over the floor. Without Peterson, Kansas is missing a dynamic playmaker who can break down defenses, create for others, and stretch the floor.
And when you take that kind of weapon out of the lineup, the margin for error shrinks fast.
“(Peterson) had a really good day today,” Self said. “Tomorrow’s an off day, and then hopefully, if there’s no setbacks, he’ll be back at full speed Thursday through Saturday.”
Peterson is reportedly close - 90-95% - but Self made it clear: he’s not stepping on the floor until he’s 100%. That’s not just a medical decision; it’s a confidence one. If Peterson isn’t fully trusting that hamstring, he won’t be the same player - and Self knows it.
In the meantime, Kansas is figuring things out on the fly. That means players stepping into roles they probably didn’t expect when the season tipped off. And while that can be a challenge in the short term, Self believes it’ll pay off later.
Still, the contrast between this game and the Jayhawks’ win over Tennessee in Las Vegas was striking. Against the Vols, even when Kansas trailed, Self saw a team playing the right way - moving the ball, trusting each other, staying connected. Against UConn, even with a lead, the Jayhawks didn’t look like themselves.
Some of that, Self admitted, might’ve come from the moment. The energy inside Allen Fieldhouse was electric, and for a lot of these guys, it was their first taste of that kind of atmosphere in a Kansas uniform. The adrenaline was high, maybe a little too high - and that can lead to trying to do too much.
“They were excited to play in that environment,” Self said. “And I get it. But we’ve got to learn how to play the right way regardless of the moment.”
That lesson will come with time - and with more games like this one. The Jayhawks (6-3) have plenty of high-profile matchups ahead, including a rivalry showdown with Missouri on Sunday in Kansas City. And if Peterson is back by then, that could be a turning point.
In just two games this season, Peterson has averaged 21.5 points per game while shooting efficiently from all over the floor. He’s not just a scorer - he’s a stabilizer.
A guy who can settle the offense, draw attention, and make life easier for everyone else. His return won’t fix everything, but it’ll give Kansas a much-needed boost in rhythm and confidence.
For now, Self’s message is clear: the talent is there. The effort is there.
But the execution - especially on offense - has to catch up. And with Peterson nearing a return, the Jayhawks might be getting the spark they need just in time.