Welcome to Monday Musings. Each Monday morning, I'll give various thoughts on various topics.
Most of it will be KU related or college athletics related. We'll try to cover as much as we can that's going on each week.
Without further ado, let's get into it...
One positive sign from last week’s pair of exhibitions was the way KU found production from different places in each game. It wasn’t simply the same returners or freshmen carrying the load every time out.
Instead, the Jayhawks got useful stretches from a group of players, and that stood out given the level of competition. These were not games where two guys did everything and everyone else faded into the background.
Against Wednesday’s opponent, Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White were the main engines. For stretches, they looked like the only two players consistently able to score, and together they accounted for more than half of KU’s points.
Sunday brought a different mix. Tyran Stokes was the headliner with 27 points, but he wasn’t alone in making an impact.
Taylen Kinney moved from being KU’s leading assist man on Wednesday to the team’s second-leading scorer Sunday with 14 points. He opened slowly, then settled in during the middle 20 minutes.
Keanu Dawes also gave KU a boost, hitting two 3s and finishing twice at the rim.
White and Council still contributed on Sunday, but they were not the focal point of KU’s offense in that game. That kind of spread-out production across the two exhibitions is something Bill Self will likely appreciate.
In Other News...
Kansas May Have Found A Backcourt Answer Against Duke
An exhibition game against Duke gave Kansas an early glimpse at a backcourt option that could matter once the games count. Freshman wing Trent Perry logged 14 minutes and did a little of everything, finishing with four points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a plus-11 plus-minus while stepping into a larger role than expected.
His run came in part because Kohl Rosario was sidelined by injury and Tre White got into foul trouble, but Perry made the most of the opening. Bill Self and Stokes both singled him out for the energy and defense he brought, a encouraging sign for a roster still sorting out who can steady things on the perimeter when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Win Helped Trigger A Big 12 Coaching Shakeup
Baylors decision to move on from Dave Aranda came only days after the Bears came up short against Kansas, a loss that added another layer to an already uneven season in Waco. Arandas tenure had started with real high points, including a Big 12 title and a Sugar Bowl win in 2021, but the program never found steady footing for long.
For Kansas, the result carried an indirect ripple effect beyond the standings. Baylor finished under Aranda with several losing seasons and an even 40-40 mark overall, and the school turned to defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as interim head coach as it sorted out its next step. It was the kind of conference fallout that reminds everyone how much one tight game can reverberate well beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Have A Concern Fans Cant Ignore Before The Season
Kansas wrapped up its exhibition slate with a pair of losses to Louisville and Duke, a reminder that the preseason can still expose more questions than answers. There were encouraging signs along the way, especially from freshman Tyran Stokes and newcomer Christian Reeves, but the Jayhawks also spent stretches chasing the game on the defensive end and on the glass.
For a program that expects to look sharp before the real games begin, the concern is easy to spot. Kansas gave up too many points in both exhibitions and did not control the rebounding battle, two issues that can become a problem quickly once the schedule tightens and the results start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]