Kansas Cruises Past Towson, But Bench Production Still a Work in Progress
LAWRENCE, Kan. - On paper, it was a chance for Kansas to breathe a little. After a grueling seven-game stretch that included showdowns with Duke, UConn, Tennessee, and Missouri, the Jayhawks finally got a break from the high-major gauntlet. Tuesday night’s matchup against Towson at Allen Fieldhouse offered an opportunity not just to stack another win - which they did, 73-49 - but to give the bench some meaningful minutes.
That happened. Kind of.
Kansas head coach Bill Self had hoped to stretch his rotation a bit, and in terms of minutes, he did. Elmarko Jackson, Kohl Rosario, Jayden Dawson, and Samis Calderon all saw extended time on the floor.
Even Gee Ngala and Paul Mbiya checked in for the final stretch. But while the minutes were there, the impact?
Not so much.
“I didn’t think our bench played great tonight,” Self said postgame, after KU improved to 9-3 on the season. “I was really hoping they would have a chance to play and get some rhythm and all that stuff. I tried to play them, but I think that’s an area we can certainly get better in still.”
Towson’s bench outscored Kansas’ reserves 17-9 - a stat that doesn’t exactly scream depth. And while the Jayhawks controlled the game from start to finish, the second unit’s struggles were hard to miss.
Bench Minutes, Mixed Results
Freshman guard Kohl Rosario logged 17 minutes and brought his usual energy - he’s quickly building a reputation as one of the hardest workers on the team - but the shots just aren’t falling. Rosario went 1-of-6 from deep and is now 3-for-21 from beyond the arc over his last eight games. Still, he grabbed five boards and chipped in a steal and an assist.
“Even if he’s making shots or missing shots, he’s the hardest-playing dude in the gym,” senior starter Tre White said. “I’m excited to see him making a couple more shots.”
Jayden Dawson, the senior transfer from Loyola-Chicago, had a highlight dunk late but otherwise struggled to find a rhythm. He finished with two points on 1-of-6 shooting, including 0-for-3 from three. Dawson had only played 10 minutes total over the last five games, so some rust was expected.
Elmarko Jackson, a sophomore guard, had a quieter night offensively with just two points on 1-of-4 shooting, but he did dish out four assists without a turnover. He added two rebounds and a steal, showing some of the poise Self has been looking for in his backup guards.
Then there was freshman Samis Calderon - seeing his first game action in five contests - who didn’t score but brought some energy on the glass. Calderon pulled down four rebounds, handed out two assists, and added a steal and a block in 14 minutes. He also turned it over twice, but showed flashes of the athleticism that teammates rave about.
“Samis … he’s a heck of a player. Athletic-wise is crazy,” said senior Melvin Council Jr., who followed up his 36-point outburst against NC State with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep.
“He’s the one that keeps me calm when Coach is on me, when I’m not doing well. So that’s my boy, and I’m glad to have him back.”
Freshman big man Paul Mbiya added a bucket in the paint late, while senior guard Gee Ngala missed his lone shot in four minutes of action.
All told, Kansas’ bench went 4-of-19 from the field.
Tiller Trending Up
Among the starters, freshman forward Bryson Tiller had one of his most complete games in recent weeks. After scoring in single digits in three of the last four outings, the 6-foot-11 Atlanta native dropped 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, grabbed six boards, and swatted three shots in 23 minutes. He even knocked down a three - his first in eight games after starting 0-for-15 from deep over that stretch.
“Yeah, I’m glad he made a 3,” Self said. “He didn’t rebound the ball, but none of us did.”
Self’s frustration with the team’s rebounding effort was clear. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Towson won the battle on the boards 45-43 and pulled down a staggering 22 offensive rebounds to KU’s 12.
“They got 10 offensive rebounds on two possessions,” Self said. “The other 60 possessions, they got 12, but I think a lot of it is, to me … we’re a half step behind.
Don’t anticipate. Balls hit guys in the hands and they don’t secure it.
The best rebounders are the ones that want the ball the most.”
That kind of effort - or lack thereof - is something Self will want to clean up before conference play kicks into gear. Because while this game was never in doubt, the margin for error shrinks significantly once Big 12 action begins.
Looking Ahead
Kansas closes out its nonconference slate on Monday night against Davidson at Allen Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. It’ll be one final tune-up before things get real.
The Jayhawks have shown they can hang with the best in the country. Now, it’s about building out the depth, tightening up the rebounding, and continuing to get contributions from young players like Tiller and Calderon. Because come January, every possession matters - and Kansas will need all hands on deck.