Kansas is heading into the regular season with plenty to sort out after closing the exhibition slate with a 90-84 loss to Duke.
The Jayhawks had a second-half lead but couldn’t hold it, going cold on offense while the Blue Devils seized control. It was Kansas’ second straight exhibition defeat after also falling to Louisville in a tight game, and the performances left a few clear takeaways from a matchup against another title-level opponent.
The biggest concern right now is on the defensive end. Kansas has allowed 89 points against Louisville and 90 against Duke, and that kind of output raises a simple question: what exactly will this team be defensively?
The Jayhawks also struggled on the glass, often giving Duke players space to establish rebounding position and extend possessions. On top of that, Kansas missed nine free throws in the contest.
If the Jayhawks are going to handle the grind of a tough Big 12, that side of the floor has to tighten up fast.
There were some encouraging signs individually, though. Fifth-year senior Christian Reeves, a newcomer for Kansas, gave the frontcourt a real boost.
He spent time matched up with Patrick Ngongba and Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and settled in quickly around the offensive boards, grabbing three offensive rebounds early. Reeves also finished with two blocks.
At 7-foot-2, he has a chance to be a major defensive presence, and if he becomes a more reliable finisher around the rim, Kansas can get a lot out of his size and rebounding.
The freshmen also flashed exactly why there’s so much excitement around this class. Tyran Stokes, a candidate to go No. 1 overall in next year’s NBA Draft, looked the part in stretches while leading Kansas with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. His shot selection and efficiency were uneven - he went 7-for-17 from the field, 2-for-7 from three-point range and missed four free throws - but the playmaking was obvious, and there’s room for his game to grow from here.
Taylen Kinney had a similar night in that he showed plenty of talent while still leaving some points on the table. He finished with 14 points in 32 minutes, but was 5-for-15 from the field and 2-for-6 from deep. Between Stokes and Kinney, Kansas has a freshman group with real upside, and it’s clear the ceiling for that talent is still climbing.
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 May Have More Scoring Answers Than Fans Expected
Kansas has already given fans a glimpse of what this season could look like, and it has been a little less top-heavy than some might have expected. Across two recent exhibition games, the scoring load shifted from one night to the next, with Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White leading the way in the first outing before a different group surfaced in the second.
Tyran Stokes, Taylen Kinney and Keanu Dawes each made their presence felt in the follow-up, which only added to the sense that this roster may have more ways to generate points than the usual preseason conversation suggested. For a team still sorting out roles and rhythm, the encouraging part is not just who scored, but how many different names kept popping up. [Read more 🡒]