As the college basketball season starts to take shape, there’s still plenty of chaos left on the calendar - especially in a conference as unforgiving as the Big 12. Just ask No. 14 Kansas and standout freshman Darryn Peterson, who are navigating the early turbulence of league play while trying to build a résumé worthy of March.
This time of year, it’s tempting to start making sweeping declarations about who’s elite and who’s not - but let’s pump the brakes. Teams are still figuring themselves out, and in a conference like the Big 12, even the best squads are going to hit a few speed bumps. The margins are razor-thin every night, and there’s no such thing as an easy win.
Big 12: Where Every Game Feels Like a Tournament Game
Let’s be clear - the Big 12 isn’t just deep. It’s a gauntlet.
Six teams currently sit inside the AP Top 25, and it’s not just the polls that are singing the league’s praises. The computers are in agreement, too.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) - a predictive metric that estimates team strength and future performance - also has six Big 12 teams in its top 25.
For context, BPI evaluates how many points better or worse a team is compared to the average. It’s not just about what a team has done, but what it’s expected to do moving forward.
And right now, Kansas is projected to finish Big 12 play with an 11.7-6.3 record, and an overall mark of 21.7-9.3. That’s good enough for sixth-best odds to win the conference - just a 1.6% chance, according to the model.
Of course, projections don’t play the games. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Kansas over the years, it’s that you can never count out a Bill Self team when the stakes are high.
Statement Saturday: BYU Comes to Town
This weekend offers a golden opportunity for Kansas to flip the narrative. The Jayhawks are set to host No.
13 BYU in what’s shaping up to be one of the most compelling matchups of the season. And with ESPN’s College GameDay rolling into Lawrence, the stage doesn’t get much bigger during the regular season.
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. CT, and all eyes will be on two of the most electric young talents in the country: AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. Both are future NBA lottery picks, and both are capable of taking over a game in ways that make scouts sit up in their chairs.
For Kansas, it’s not just about adding another quality win - it’s about reasserting themselves as a legitimate national contender. The Big 12 schedule won’t get any easier, but a win over BYU could be the kind of momentum-shifting moment that sets the tone for the second half of the season.
So buckle up. This one’s got all the ingredients - star power, high stakes, and a national spotlight. It’s the kind of game that reminds us why college basketball in late January is already starting to feel like March.