The Kansas Jayhawks are heating up-and not a moment too soon.
After a rocky start to the season, Kansas has rattled off four straight wins, including back-to-back victories at Allen Fieldhouse over Iowa State and Baylor, followed by impressive road performances at Colorado and in-state rival Kansas State. That surge has vaulted them to 5-2 in Big 12 play and 15-5 overall, and they now sit at No. 14 in the latest AP poll-their highest ranking of the season.
It’s not just that they’re winning-it’s how they’re winning. The Jayhawks are finally playing the kind of basketball that fans, coaches, and analysts alike expected from the jump. But getting here hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride.
Early Season Hurdles
Kansas had to navigate a tough non-conference schedule without their highly touted freshman guard, Darryn Peterson, who missed eight games due to injury. His absence left a noticeable void in both scoring and playmaking. And even when he returned at the start of Big 12 play, it wasn’t an instant fix.
The team dropped road games at UCF and West Virginia and needed a furious late rally to escape TCU in overtime at home. Chemistry takes time, especially when a key piece like Peterson is in and out of the lineup.
The Jayhawks had to first learn how to play without him, then readjust to having him back in the mix. That’s a tall order for any team, let alone one with championship aspirations.
The Turnaround
But something has clearly clicked over the last four games. The Jayhawks are not just winning-they’re dominating.
In those four Big 12 matchups, Kansas holds a +67 point differential. That’s not just good-that’s elite, especially against conference opponents.
For context, in their first 16 games-excluding blowouts over overmatched teams like Green Bay, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Towson, and Davidson-Kansas outscored opponents by just 21 points and went 7-5 in those contests. So while they handled the games they were supposed to win, they struggled to assert themselves against tougher competition.
Now, that script is flipping. The Jayhawks are playing with confidence, cohesion, and a sharper edge on both ends of the floor.
Balanced Scoring and Depth Stepping Up
Perhaps the most telling sign of growth came in the most recent win-a 24-point road blowout over Kansas State, and they did it without Peterson. Only five players scored in that game, but all five reached double digits.
Flory Bidunga led the way with 21 points, while Elmarko Jackson delivered 19 off the bench. Melvin Council Jr. added 17, Bryson Tiller chipped in 16, and Tre White rounded it out with 13.
That’s the kind of balanced scoring that makes a team dangerous in March. And the best part? In recent games when Peterson has been in the lineup, the Jayhawks have shown the same kind of distribution-with Peterson simply becoming one of several reliable scoring options rather than a one-man show.
This group is learning how to win in different ways, with different lineups, and that adaptability is going to matter in the weeks ahead.
The Road Ahead
And speaking of weeks ahead-it’s about to get real.
Kansas is staring down one of the toughest stretches of its schedule. Up next: No.
13 BYU, followed by No. 11 Texas Tech.
Then come two matchups with top-ranked Arizona, a rematch with No. 8 Iowa State, and a showdown against No.
10 Houston. That’s six games against teams currently ranked in the top 13.
And that doesn’t even include the always unpredictable Big 12 tournament.
According to KenPom, Kansas has already played the third-hardest schedule in the country. That number won’t be going down anytime soon.
So no, the Jayhawks probably won’t run the table from here. There will be bumps-bad shooting nights, tough road environments, and the occasional off-game that comes with the grind of conference play.
But what matters is that this team is trending in the right direction. They’re finding their identity, and they’re doing it at the right time.
If Kansas can keep building on this momentum-if they can continue to mesh Peterson’s star power with the growing confidence of their supporting cast-they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.
This isn’t just a hot streak. It’s a team figuring itself out. And that’s always dangerous come February and March.