Eight games into the season, Kansas finally has a real sense of who they are-and who they still need to become. The biggest storyline hanging over the Jayhawks right now is the absence of star guard Darryn Peterson, who’s been sidelined due to injury. That’s left a major scoring void, and the question has been simple: who’s going to step up?
So far, the answer has been a collective one. Without Peterson on the floor during their recent trip to Las Vegas, Bill Self’s squad didn’t just survive-they thrived. Kansas rattled off three straight wins against power conference opponents, showing both depth and resilience in the process.
It started with a 71-61 win over Notre Dame, followed by a quick turnaround and a 71-60 victory over Syracuse less than 24 hours later. Then came the real test: No.
13 Tennessee. The Jayhawks found themselves trailing by as many as 12, but instead of folding, they fought back behind 17-point performances from Elmarko Jackson and Melvin Council Jr., the latter a transfer from St.
Bonaventure who’s quickly becoming a key piece in this rotation. Kansas closed it out with an 81-76 win, capping off a statement weekend.
Before the trip, Self had emphasized that Vegas wasn’t just about basketball-it was a chance for the team to grow closer. And after the sweep, he made it clear that the bonding wasn’t just theoretical.
“I actually think the success in Las Vegas helped us bond,” Self said ahead of Tuesday’s upcoming matchup with No. 5 UConn.
“I don't know that we're a team yet. I say this all along-I don’t know if anybody in America is a team in November.
But I think that we're closer to becoming a team, having gone out there.”
You could see it on the court. Against Tennessee, Kansas looked connected in a way they hadn’t earlier in the year. The second half alone was a showcase of that growing chemistry: 47 points scored, outpacing the Volunteers’ 35, with contributions coming from multiple spots on the floor.
Now comes the biggest challenge yet. UConn, the defending national champs, are 6-1 with their only loss coming in a tight one against No.
2 Arizona. They’re physical, deep, and well-coached under Dan Hurley.
The latest NET rankings have the Huskies at No. 8, with Kansas sitting at 17-setting up a marquee early-season showdown that should give both teams a clearer picture of where they stand.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2. This one has all the makings of a December classic.