Kansas Climbs to No. 11 Ahead of High-Stakes Road Clash with Texas Tech
The Kansas Jayhawks are heating up at just the right time. After a rocky start to the season that saw them briefly fall out of the AP Top 25-not once, but twice-Bill Self’s squad has found its rhythm.
Now, sitting at No. 11 in the latest AP Poll, Kansas is playing its best basketball of the year. But Monday night in Lubbock?
That’s a different kind of test.
The Jayhawks will walk into a hostile environment to face a Texas Tech team that’s not just good-they’re undefeated at home. The Red Raiders are 16-5 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play, riding a wave of confidence after taking down both BYU and Houston in front of their home crowd.
This isn’t just another conference game. It’s a primetime showdown on ESPN, and it might be Kansas’ toughest road challenge yet.
Rising Through the Ranks
Kansas’ climb to No. 11 marks a new high-water mark for the season. That’s no small feat in a Big 12 that’s arguably the deepest conference in college basketball.
Five teams from the league landed in the latest AP Top 25, with Arizona topping the list at No. 1, followed by Iowa State (7), Houston (8), Texas Tech (13), and BYU (16). The Jayhawks’ recent 90-82 win over then-No.
13 BYU was a statement, and it’s helped them vault back into the national spotlight.
That win wasn’t just about the final score-it was about how Kansas got there. The Jayhawks looked composed, efficient, and, perhaps most importantly, resilient. After an 11-5 start that raised some eyebrows, they’ve steadied the ship and started to resemble the kind of team we’ve come to expect under Self: tough, disciplined, and dangerous.
Can Kansas Handle Lubbock?
Now comes the real question: can they keep it going on the road, in one of the toughest environments in the country?
According to ESPN’s analytics, Kansas has just a 45.1% chance of pulling out the win. That’s not a knock on the Jayhawks-it’s a nod to just how dominant Texas Tech has been on their home floor. They’ve already knocked off two top-tier Big 12 opponents in BYU and Houston at home, and they’ll be looking to add Kansas to that list.
And while the Jayhawks are surging, they’re not at full strength. Two key players are on the injury watch list heading into Monday night.
Freshman guard Elmarko Jackson is questionable, and his absence would be a blow to Kansas’ backcourt depth and perimeter defense. Meanwhile, Darryn Peterson-who lit up BYU in the first half last game-was forced to sit out much of the second half with cramping issues.
The early word is that Peterson is expected to play, but how close he’ll be to 100% remains to be seen.
Tipoff and Takeaways
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, and if you’re a fan of high-stakes, high-intensity basketball, this one’s appointment viewing. Kansas is surging, Texas Tech is defending its home turf, and the Big 12 standings are as tight as ever.
For the Jayhawks, this is more than just another game-it’s a chance to prove they can win in the toughest environments, even when the odds aren’t in their favor. For Texas Tech, it’s an opportunity to solidify their standing as a legitimate Big 12 title contender.
One thing’s for sure: Monday night in Lubbock is going to be electric.