Kansas had chances to make its final preseason test feel like a breakthrough, but Duke’s depth and size eventually tilted things the Blue Devils’ way in a 90-84 exhibition win at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks actually spent part of the second half in front before the offense went quiet and Duke seized control for a second straight exhibition loss to an ACC opponent. KU closed the preseason at 1-2, with the results officially not counting, but the tape still left plenty to sort through before the real games begin.
One of the loudest moments of the afternoon belonged to Keanu Dawes. Midway through the second half, the Utah transfer caught a Caleb Foster matchup and hammered down an and-1 that shook the building.
It was the kind of play that turns heads in an instant, and Dawes followed it up with a solid finish to the game after starting on the bench. He ended with 11 points, including two important threes that helped keep Kansas within striking distance after he had managed just five points in the previous game.
Dawes wasn’t the only frontcourt player who stood out. Christian Reeves spent the opening stretch of the game making life difficult on the glass, ripping down three offensive rebounds in the first five minutes alone.
For a while, he looked like the most active big man on the floor against a Duke front line that included Patrick Ngongba and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje. Reeves also finished with a game-high two blocks and brought real defensive value.
Once he left the game, the rebounding edge shifted sharply toward Duke. The Jayhawks were beaten on the boards by 13 in the second half without Reeves in the mix, a result that should cool off any chatter about going small for long stretches.
Reeves still has work to do around the basket, especially with his finishing and his decisions on whether to attack a putback or kick the ball back out. Even so, the Charleston transfer gave Kansas a strong showing against his former team and made a case for more minutes.
The biggest lift for KU came from the freshmen, and Tyran Stokes was at the center of it. He led Kansas with 27 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists, even if the scoring came on inefficient shooting. Taylen Kinney also had his moments, bouncing back from a rough start to finish with 14 points and two rebounds after missing his first five attempts.
Trent Perry may have been the most unexpected spark. He helped drive Kansas’ first comeback push with four points and two rebounds, and while the box score stayed modest, his impact showed up elsewhere. Perry posted a team-best +11 and brought energy on the defensive end, giving the second unit a useful burst when KU needed one.
There was real fight in the comeback, too. Kansas erased a double-digit first-half deficit, grabbed the lead before halftime, and gave the Allen Fieldhouse crowd something to ride with. Even in defeat, the response showed some toughness from a roster still trying to settle in together.
That said, the bigger issue remains the same: pace only matters if the mistakes don’t pile up behind it. Kansas has now allowed 89 and 90 points in back-to-back exhibition games, and too many of those problems came from self-inflicted damage.
The Jayhawks missed seven free throws in the first half and finished just 18-for-27 from the line. They also gave up too many second chances and coughed up defensive breakdowns, including losing track of runners and surrendering steals.
Bill Self has heard the calls for a faster offense for years, and this group does have the playmaking to push the tempo. But as the exhibition slate showed, speed won’t matter much unless KU cleans up the freebies it’s handing the other team.
In Other News...
Kansas Gets An Early Duke Test Bill Self Clearly Wanted
Bill Self did not have to wait long for another measuring stick after Kansas dropped an 89-83 decision to No. 11 Louisville at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks now turn right around for a preseason matchup with No. 2 Duke, a game that gives Kansas another high-end challenge and, just as importantly, a chance to get a clearer read on where this team stands before the games start counting for real.
Self has talked about the value of the home-and-home setup, especially because it comes without the pressure of a conference result hanging over it. Duke has looked sharp in exhibition play, while Kansas is trying to carry the lessons from Louisville into its official season opener against Fordham. For a veteran coach trying to sort out what works and what still needs fixing, this is the kind of early test he clearly wanted. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Finally Got The Breakthrough Win Fans Desperately Needed
A long wait finally ended in Lawrence on Saturday, and Kansas got the kind of result that can reset a season. The Jayhawks edged Baylor 25-24 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, snapping a losing streak in the series that stretched back to 2007 while also landing their first Big 12 win of the year. It was the sort of game that gave the home crowd plenty to hold onto, with Dylan Edwards grinding out 156 rushing yards and Carson Bruhn adding five catches, including the first touchdown of his career.
The finish carried the kind of tension Kansas fans have been craving, with Isaiah Marshall powering in the winning touchdown run and Blake Herold turning the final minute into a pressure-packed stand by blocking a 45-yard field goal attempt. For a team looking for something to build on, the breakthrough mattered almost as much as the points on the board. It was a reminder that in a season where margins had been tight, Kansas finally found the last play it had been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Let A Wild Finish Turn Into One Brutal Collapse
For much of Saturday, Baylor looked positioned to keep its grip on a matchup that had become increasingly one-sided, but Kansas kept hanging around long enough to turn homecoming into something far louder than a celebration of the past. The Jayhawks leaned on a strong night from punter Matthew Gill, stayed patient with the offense and found a way to survive a game full of momentum swings and officiating complaints before the fourth-quarter finish took over.
Kansas erased an 11-point deficit in the final period and then slammed the door with a game-winning field goal block, turning a wild finish into a result that will stick with both sides for a while. Beyond the score, it also ended a 14-game losing streak against Baylor, which gives the Jayhawks a rare bit of history to carry forward even as the details of how they pulled it off deserve a closer look. [Read more 🡒]