One of the biggest early-season showdowns in college basketball lived up to the billing for Kansas, and then some. The Jayhawks rolled past Kentucky 89-69 in the Champions Classic, turning a marquee matchup into a comfortable win after building an early cushion that kept growing as the night went on.
The game also carried a little extra buzz because of Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 freshman prospect whose final two reported choices were Kansas and Kentucky. He chose the Jayhawks, and for one night at least, that decision looked pretty good.
Kansas didn’t need a late push or a dramatic finish. It controlled the game early, stretched the lead into double digits, and never let Kentucky get close enough to make it interesting.
Tre White was the headliner. He had never scored 30 points in his first four college seasons, but he got there against Kentucky, finishing with 30 on 11-of-16 shooting and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
With only three Jayhawks reaching double figures, Kansas needed someone to take over, and White delivered. Stokes added 23 points of his own, but White’s scoring burst was the difference-maker.
If he can become that kind of high-end shot creator, that changes the ceiling for this team.
Trey Kaufman-Renn gave Kansas exactly the kind of steady frontcourt presence it needed. The super senior posted 12 points, six rebounds and six assists in 24 minutes, sliding smoothly into the offense and showing off the kind of all-around game that makes him valuable. With starting point guard Melvin Council Jr. sidelined by a foot injury, having another player who can help handle the ball and keep the offense moving mattered.
The one area that still needs sorting out is the point guard spot. Leroy Blyden Jr., the Toledo transfer, and five-star freshman Taylen Kinney were asked to carry the playmaking load in Council’s absence, but the scoring just wasn’t there.
The pair combined for 12 points on 3-of-18 shooting. Kinney did hand out a game-high eight assists, which at least showed he can run the offense, but Kansas will need more from that duo going forward.
White won’t go off like this every night, and the Jayhawks know it.
In Other News...
Kentucky Finally Got Clarity On Two Injuries That Could Shape The Stretch
Kentucky finally has a clearer picture on two defensive injuries that have lingered since the South Carolina game in early October. Nickel cornerback Jaden Smith tore his ACL in that matchup and will miss the rest of the season, a tough blow for a defense that has had to adjust without one of its key pieces in the secondary.
There is at least a sliver of better news on linebacker Antwan Smith, who underwent ankle surgery after the same game and could still have a path back for postseason play. With both players sidelined for weeks already, the latest update gives Kentucky a better sense of what it can and cannot count on as the season moves into its final stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Biggest Problem Showed Up Again In Ugly Kansas Loss
Kentucky came out with energy in Chicago and looked ready to make a statement in the Champions Classic, but the game quickly turned once Kansas started applying pressure. The Wildcats were undone by the same issues that have lingered around them, with turnovers feeding the Jayhawks run game and defensive breakdowns making it hard to recover after the opening stretch.
Zoom Diallo did his part with 24 points, and Malachi Morenos foul trouble only added to Kentuckys problems as the frontcourt rotation thinned out. Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds in the 89-69 loss, leaving Kentucky with another reminder that its margin for error shrinks fast when the ball security and physical defense are not there. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Thing That Could Wreck Kentuckys Plans
Kentuckys playoff path took a hit in Week 10 with a six-point showing against Tennessee, and now the Wildcats head into a crucial home game against Florida with little margin for error. Kenny Minchey has given Kentucky a steady hand at quarterback this season, throwing 14 touchdowns against two interceptions, and the Wildcats will need that kind of efficiency again if they want to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Florida has its own issues on defense, but the Gators still bring one wrinkle that could make this matchup tricky for Kentucky. They have not named a starting quarterback for the game, leaving some uncertainty about what the Wildcats will see on the other side, and with both defenses showing vulnerabilities, this one has the feel of a game where one mistake could swing the whole thing. [Read more 🡒]