Tre White came into Kansas' Big Monday showdown against Houston looking to shake off a recent slump. Known for his steady presence, White had been a key player for KU all season, adapting as the team navigated playing with and without Darryn Peterson. His shot attempts varied, but his scoring efficiency and rebounding impact remained fairly consistent-until recently.
Over the past couple of weeks, White's performance dipped. His scoring dropped from an average of 14.6 points per game to just 8.3 in the span from Arizona to Cincinnati.
His shooting percentages took a hit too, with field goals falling from 48% to 32% and three-pointers from 43% to 25%. His rebounding also suffered, going from 7.1 to 4.3 per game.
Coach Bill Self noticed White was starting to press, and his shot selection during this stretch left room for improvement. But Monday night was a different story.
"I think he was less aggressive," Self noted. "He made easy plays."
Early in the game, White missed a layup but then found his rhythm. Around the midpoint of the first half, he grabbed a defensive rebound, drew a foul, and hit his free throws. From there, he resembled the dynamic player KU relied on earlier in the season, getting to the line, being active on the boards, and hitting a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at halftime.
In the second half, White continued his resurgence, sinking two more threes and converting four of his five shots from the field.
"You shoot the ball when you're open, you pass it when you're not, you go rebound the ball," Self explained. "You get fouled getting rebounds.
I thought he was exceptional offensively. But I think up until this, when you're pressing, you try to do too much sometimes.
And I didn't think he did that tonight. I thought he let the game come to him."
White wrapped up the night with a team-high 23 points, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. It was his first time leading the team in scoring since their win over Iowa State. He also snagged five rebounds and didn't commit a single turnover in his 28 minutes on the court.
Reflecting on his performance, White credited his offseason work on shooting. Even during his slump, he stuck to his routine.
"I feel like those are good shots," White said. "I've just gotta have my confidence to keep shooting."
Self praised White as "the best player in the game offensively" for KU, and Houston's head coach Kelvin Sampson echoed that sentiment, noting White's potential impact in the NCAA tournament.
"The kid that really played well that I think is a difference maker as you get to the NCAA tournament is White," Sampson remarked. "With his size and ability, he shot it well."
As KU heads into postseason play, White's contributions will be crucial. The Jayhawks don't rely heavily on threes, but White’s 41.7% from deep is vital. He’s also the team’s most efficient player at drawing fouls, adding depth to KU's offensive strategy.
The key moving forward? Keeping it simple, just like he did on Monday.
"He made the game easy for himself," Self said.