Kansas' Shorthanded Rotation Nearly Costs Them vs. BYU - and Raises Bigger Questions Ahead of Texas Tech Clash
Bill Self has built a Hall of Fame career on discipline, defense, and trust. One of the most consistent staples of his coaching philosophy?
A tight rotation. Seven, maybe eight guys.
That’s the formula. And with two national titles and a résumé that speaks for itself, it’s hard to argue with the results.
But on Saturday, that trademark approach nearly backfired.
Kansas held a 21-point lead over BYU before things got uncomfortably close. The Cougars trimmed the deficit to just four late in the second half, and while the Jayhawks ultimately held on for an eight-point win, the margin didn't tell the full story. The game turned into a grind, and Kansas looked like a team running on fumes.
Injuries played a big part in that. Darryn Peterson, who typically logs around 20 minutes, exited just three minutes into the second half.
Elmarko Jackson, one of KU’s key perimeter defenders, suffered a bone contusion to his knee in the first half and didn’t return. That left the Jayhawks with a skeleton crew for much of the second half.
Jayden Dawson logged just five minutes. That meant the rest of the load fell on Melvin Council Jr., Tre White, Jamari McDowell, Flory Bidunga, and Bryson Tiller.
Those five played every single one of the remaining 92 second-half minutes. By the midway point of the half, the fatigue was evident.
Kansas wasn't just battling BYU - they were battling their own legs.
And now, things don’t get any easier.
Quick Turnaround, Tough Road Test
Next up? A road trip to face a ranked Texas Tech squad on Monday night. It’s a brutal turnaround, especially for a team that just burned its starters deep into the second half two days prior.
The big question: will Peterson and Jackson be available?
If Peterson can’t give his usual 20 minutes and Jackson’s knee isn’t ready, Kansas is staring down a major depth issue. That would leave Dawson - who’s played just 37 minutes over the last five games - as the only semi-regular bench option Self has leaned on.
Beyond that, the bench gets even thinner. Kohl Rosario has appeared in just three of KU’s last seven games, logging a total of 14 minutes.
Paul Mbiya has seen the floor for only seven minutes across eight Big 12 contests. Samis Calderon?
Ten minutes in four conference games.
It’s not a new issue. Kansas fans have seen this story before.
Self rides a short rotation deep into the season, then when injuries or foul trouble hit, he’s forced to turn to players who haven’t seen meaningful minutes in weeks. That lack of game-time experience shows - not because the players aren’t talented, but because they haven’t been given the reps.
BYU, for example, rolled out nine players who each played at least 11 minutes against the Jayhawks. That kind of depth gives a team flexibility.
It gives coaches options. And it gives starters a chance to stay fresh late in games.
Kansas didn’t have that luxury on Saturday - and it nearly cost them.
Looking Ahead: Can the Bench Step Up Before March?
Now, it’s entirely possible that Peterson suits up and plays his usual role against Texas Tech. Maybe Jackson’s knee responds well and he’s good to go. If that happens, Self can roll with his trusted seven-man core, and Kansas can keep pushing forward.
But the reality is, the season is far from over. There are still 10 regular-season games left, including a rematch with Texas Tech, two clashes with Arizona, and key matchups against Houston and Iowa State.
Then comes the Big 12 tournament. Then March Madness.
At some point, Kansas is going to need more than just seven guys.
Whether it’s Rosario, Mbiya, Calderon, or someone else, the Jayhawks are going to need someone from that bench to be ready when their number is called. Because if Saturday was any indication, depth isn’t just a luxury - it could be the difference between a deep tournament run and an early exit.
The question isn’t whether Bill Self can coach - that’s long been answered. The question now is whether his bench can be ready when the moment arrives.
Because that moment is coming. And it might come sooner than anyone in Lawrence would like.