The Kansas Jayhawks have weathered their fair share of turbulence this season - from early Big 12 road woes to Darryn Peterson’s injury setbacks - but lately, they’re starting to look like a team finding its stride at just the right time. Winners of six straight, including ranked victories over BYU and Texas Tech, Kansas is building some serious momentum.
That win in Lubbock? That was a statement.
It wasn’t pretty - a low-scoring, grind-it-out kind of game - but that’s exactly the kind of environment that tests a team’s toughness. And Kansas passed.
The starters delivered in crunch time, Peterson included, knocking down clutch shots to ice the game and secure a much-needed road win. For a team that had struggled away from Allen Fieldhouse earlier in the year, that one mattered.
But while the starting five has stepped up, there's a lingering concern that could become a real issue when the stakes get higher: depth.
A Top-Heavy Rotation
Kansas head coach Bill Self has leaned heavily on his starters this season - and for good reason. When healthy, Darryn Peterson has looked every bit the star they hoped for.
Tre White brings versatility, Flory Bidunga is a force in the paint, Melvin Council Jr. adds dynamic scoring, and Bryson Tiller has been steady and reliable. Together, they’ve shouldered the scoring load and logged major minutes.
Behind them, though, the bench has been more of a supporting cast than a safety net.
Let’s take a look at the four most-used reserves:
- Elmarko Jackson: 17.9 minutes per game, 4.7 points
- Kohl Rosario: 14.6 minutes per game, 3.9 points
- Jamari McDowell: 18.0 minutes per game, 3.9 points
- Jayden Dawson: 10.2 minutes per game, 2.2 points
They’re getting floor time - enough to make an impact - but the scoring just hasn’t followed. That’s not necessarily a knock on their effort or potential, but it does raise a red flag heading into March. Because when the tournament rolls around, depth isn’t just a luxury - it’s a necessity.
The March Pressure Cooker
Tournament basketball is unforgiving. One off night, one foul-prone starter, one injury - and suddenly, your bench becomes the difference between advancing and going home early.
Kansas has already seen what life is like without Peterson in the lineup. If someone like Bidunga or Council Jr. were to miss time, the Jayhawks would need more than just minutes from their reserves - they’d need production.
That’s where Self’s challenge lies. It’s not just about getting his bench guys on the floor - it’s about getting them confident, comfortable, and aggressive.
Whether that means drawing up specific sets to get them looks or emphasizing shot-making in practice, something has to shift. Because averaging under five points per game off the bench won’t cut it when the lights get brighter.
What’s Next?
The Jayhawks are trending upward, no question. They’re playing with more cohesion, their stars are stepping up, and they’ve proven they can win tough games. But as good as the starting five has been, Kansas will need more than five guys to make a deep run in March.
For now, they’re winning - and that matters. But if this team wants to be more than just a regular-season success story, they’ll need their bench to find another gear.