Kansas didn’t get the result it wanted in its exhibition against Duke, but Tyran Stokes gave the Jayhawks something to build on.
In a 90-84 loss in a packed Allen Fieldhouse, Bill Self’s team ran into a second-half offensive drought it couldn’t survive. Even so, the freshman from Louisville was the brightest spot on the floor for Kansas and delivered his strongest collegiate performance yet.
Stokes finished with 27 points in 37 minutes, going 7-for-17 from the field and 11-for-15 at the line while adding eight rebounds and seven assists. He also knocked down two 3-pointers, the first time in three scrimmages that he both cleared 15 points and made a shot from deep. He entered the game 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.
That response mattered after his previous outing against Louisville, when he shot 3-for-13 and gave away costly turnovers late. Given the questions that have followed him, especially around maturity, plenty of eyes were on how he’d handle a tougher moment. He answered with a much better showing, even if it still came with rough edges.
What jumped out most over the last week was Stokes’ ability to attack the rim and force contact. Across the three exhibitions, he got to the foul line 38 times, which works out to nearly 13 trips per game. The free throws were a mixed bag - he finished the preseason at 68.4% - but that part of his game should settle as he gets more comfortable.
The flaws were still there. Stokes committed at least three turnovers in each game and had stretches where his finishing around the basket got messy. His shot selection remains a work in progress, and Kansas will need to keep sorting out which looks are worth taking.
That’s part of the learning curve for the top-ranked freshman in college basketball. There was always going to be some rough water early, and this wasn’t going to be a clean, immediate takeover.
Still, the upside is obvious. Stokes’ athleticism and playmaking were on full display against Duke, and those traits give him the kind of offensive ceiling that has scouts so interested. If he trims the turnovers and tightens up his shot choices, the trajectory only goes up from here.
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 🡒]