Kansas Jayhawks Look to Sharpen Edges Against Towson Before Big 12 Play Begins
The Kansas Jayhawks are back in Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday night, facing Towson in what amounts to another crucial tune-up before the real grind begins - Big 12 play kicks off in just a few weeks. And while the Jayhawks come into this matchup riding the high of an overtime win against NC State, head coach Bill Self isn’t sugarcoating what he saw on the court.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Self admitted after the win in Raleigh. “We didn’t have ball and body movement the whole night.
Their switches really bothered us. But we did compete.”
That’s been the theme for this Kansas team so far - finding ways to win even when the execution isn’t there. At 8-3, the Jayhawks have shown flashes of dominance, but they’ve also had to grind through some uneven performances. And with a roster still adjusting to life without star freshman Darryn Peterson at full strength, there’s been plenty of learning on the fly.
Peterson’s Status Still in Flux
Peterson, who’s been sidelined for much of the early season with a hamstring injury, is still working his way back. He’s listed as day-to-day with cramping issues, and while he’s expected to be a top-five pick in next June’s NBA Draft, Kansas is being cautious with his return. The coaching staff knows that rushing him back in December isn’t worth risking his long-term health - especially when the most important games are still ahead.
Without Peterson at full go, Kansas has leaned more heavily on the rest of its starting five - including big man Flory Bidunga, versatile forward Bryson Tiller, and guards Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White. It hasn’t always been smooth, but the group has shown resilience, especially in tight games like the NC State win.
“It’s Getting Old Not Playing Great”
That’s how Self put it - and he’s not wrong. Kansas has managed to stack up wins, but they haven’t always looked like a top-20 team doing it. The Tennessee game earlier this season was a high point in terms of execution, but performances like Saturday’s - where the Jayhawks had to rely more on grit than rhythm - have been more common than Self would like.
“It’s good. It’s getting old not playing great, though,” he said.
“Guys competed. They tried hard.
That was actually fun to watch. We didn’t execute as well as we did against Tennessee, but it was kind of like that game a little bit where guys just have to tough it out.”
That’s the silver lining: even when the offense stalls or the defense gets caught switching late, this team fights. And that’s something that could pay off come January, when every possession matters in the Big 12.
Tuesday Night: Another Test of Focus
Towson comes into Lawrence with a 6-4 record and nothing to lose. For Kansas, the challenge is about sharpening the details - cleaner ball movement, better communication on switches, and continuing to build chemistry with or without Peterson in the lineup.
Here’s what to know heading into tipoff:
- Time: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m. CST
- Location: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
- TV/Streaming: ESPN2
- Betting Line: Kansas -18.5
Projected Starting Five - Kansas
- Darryn Peterson - Day-to-day with cramping, game-time decision
- Flory Bidunga
- Bryson Tiller
- **Melvin Council Jr.
**
- Tre White
This game is another opportunity for Kansas to iron out the wrinkles - and for Self to see who’s ready to step up when the lights get brighter in conference play. With UCF looming on Jan. 3 to open the Big 12 slate, the clock is ticking for the Jayhawks to find their rhythm.
Tuesday night may not be a marquee matchup on paper, but for Kansas, it’s another step in building toward something bigger.