The Kansas Jayhawks just sent a loud message to the rest of the Big 12: this isn’t a team content with a one-night spark - they’re building something bigger, something more sustainable. After a dominant 84-63 win over No.
2 Iowa State earlier in the week, the question was whether that performance was a flash in the pan or the start of a real turnaround. On Friday night, Kansas gave us a definitive answer with an emphatic 80-62 win over Baylor.
This wasn’t just another home-court boost at Allen Fieldhouse. This was Kansas asserting control, wire to wire, against a well-coached Baylor team that came in with plenty of firepower. The Jayhawks didn’t just beat the Bears - they outclassed them in every phase of the game.
Let’s start with the stars. Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga were a two-man wrecking crew, combining for 49 points on a blistering 22-of-27 shooting from the field.
That’s not just efficient - that’s surgical. Peterson carved up Baylor’s perimeter defense with poise beyond his years, while Bidunga owned the paint, finishing everything around the rim and anchoring the defense with his presence.
Kansas didn’t just win with talent, though. They won with toughness, focus, and execution.
The Jayhawks poured in 42 points in the paint, imposing their will inside and never letting Baylor get comfortable defensively. On the other end, they clamped down hard, holding the Bears to just 36.1% shooting - a far cry from Baylor’s season average of 47.2%.
That’s the kind of defensive effort that turns good teams into contenders.
And it wasn’t just about stats. This game had an edge to it - a purpose.
Head coach Bill Self made sure of that. Before tipoff, he left a simple message on the locker room board: *“We can’t be one-hit wonders.”
- That win over Iowa State? Impressive, sure.
But Self wanted to see if his team could bring that same energy, that same execution, when the emotion of a top-two matchup had faded. His team answered with a resounding yes.
Now sitting at 13-5 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play, Kansas has some momentum. But the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.
Three of their next four games are on the road, starting with a late-night showdown against Colorado. The Big 12 is a gauntlet, and there’s no room to coast - especially not for a team trying to claw its way back into the national conversation.
Still, if these past 80 minutes of basketball are any indication, Kansas isn’t just back - they’re dangerous. And with Peterson and Bidunga leading the charge, this team might just be finding its identity at the perfect time.
Next up: a trip to Boulder to take on the Buffaloes. Tipoff is set for Tuesday at 10 p.m. CT, streaming on ESPN.