Kansas’ second exhibition of the preseason ended with an 89-83 loss to No. 11 Louisville, but the bigger moment for Jayhawk fans came well before the final buzzer. Five-star freshman Taylen Kinney left the game after appearing to be bothered by a left knee issue, then needed help getting back to the locker room in the second half after logging 21 minutes, scoring four points and handing out six assists.
Afterward, Bill Self said Kinney’s night was cut short because of cramps and that he needed IV fluids.
"He got cramps, so they put an IV in him," Self explained when he was asked why Kinney couldn't finish the game. "It wasn't as hot in [Allen Fieldhouse] as it will be Sunday, but it was still pretty warm in there.
But he only played 20 minutes. We need he and Leroy [Blyden Jr.] to both be more productive."
The concern for Kansas supporters is hard to ignore, because the reaction instantly brought back memories of Darryn Peterson’s cramping problems a year ago. That issue surfaced against Louisville in a preseason scrimmage as well, though that one came at the KFC Yum!
Center. Peterson eventually missed 11 games during a freshman season derailed by the same problem, repeatedly leaving games and struggling to finish second halves when Kansas needed him.
It was later revealed that elevated creatine levels were behind a full-body cramping episode before the season, and Peterson later said, "I thought I was going to die on the training table that day."
Kinney enters his first year in Lawrence with the same kind of buzz Peterson carried, and the resemblance is obvious enough to make the last 24 hours feel familiar around the program. Self has already said Leroy Blyden Jr. will start over Kinney this weekend against Duke, though that decision does not appear to be tied to the injury.
For now, Self downplayed the issue, just as he did a year ago. The indication is that this was a one-time cramping problem for Kinney and not something expected to linger.
Even so, the word “cramping” is bound to hang over Kansas fans until they see it stay in the past. If it starts sounding like last season all over again, the questions around the staff will come fast.
In Other News...
Louisville Just Exposed A Kansas Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Kansas got a useful early look at itself in an 89-83 exhibition loss at home to No. 11 Louisville, and the result came with the kind of warning signs that can get buried in preseason optimism. The Jayhawks led at halftime, then watched the game tilt after the break as Louisville played with more force and confidence, while Tre White put together a game-high 25 points to help swing the night.
For a fan base already watching how the roster pieces fit, the second half raised questions about the edge and consistency Kansas can expect from this group. There were also some notable moments tied to former player Flory Bidunga, along with uneven showings from Keanu Dawes and Tyran Stokes, leaving the Jayhawks with plenty to sort through before the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas May Finally Have The Shooting Fix Fans Have Wanted
Kansas spent much of last season searching for more reliable spacing, and this roster looks built to address that problem. Between a reloaded group of newcomers, a few proven transfer shooters and a freshman with a reputation for knocking down shots from the outside, the Jayhawks suddenly have the kind of depth on the perimeter that can change how defenses play them. Coaches and players have pointed to scrimmages and practices as early signs that this group can stretch the floor better and make life easier for everyone else on the court.
What makes the outlook more interesting is that the shooting boost does not seem tied to just one specialist. Kansas has more playmaking and more versatility around the floor, which should create cleaner looks and keep teams from loading up inside. The bigger question now is how quickly all of those pieces settle in once the games start counting, because the promise is there even if the real answer will only show up over time. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Just Showed A New Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Kansas saw its long exhibition home streak come to an end in a game that offered plenty to digest beyond the final score. Louisville walked out of Allen Fieldhouse with an 89-83 win, handing the Jayhawks a rare exhibition loss on their own floor and snapping a run of 58 straight home exhibition victories. Tre White provided the biggest scoring punch for Kansas with 25 points, but the game also showed how quickly a preseason tune-up can turn when an opponent starts landing shots from the perimeter.
Louisville trailed at halftime before flipping the momentum with a wave of second-half three-pointers, then finished the job in the final minute behind Jackson Shelstads 23 points and timely free throws. For Kansas, the bigger concern is not just the loss itself, but how a lead slipped away once the shooting pressure picked up and the game got tight late. In an exhibition, there is still time to sort through it, but this was the kind of result that gives a staff a clear list of issues to address. [Read more 🡒]