Three days aft drubbing Iowa State by 21 points successful Allen Fieldhouse, nan Kansas Jayhawks returned to nan hardwood and did not miss a beat. KU defeated Baylor 80-62 successful beforehand of a packed crowd acknowledgment to a ascendant commencement and a near-flawless 2nd half.
It was arguably nan champion crippled nan Jayhawks person played each season, and it was encouraging to spot them debar a hangover from Tuesday night's breathtaking win. Here are 3 takeaways we gathered from nan contest.
Kansas Jayhawks caput coach Bill Self yells retired during nan crippled against Baylor Bears wrong Allen Fieldhouse connected Jan. 16, 2026. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
3. Excellent Ball Security
Kansas turned nan shot complete conscionable 4 times, nan second-lowest people of nan play for nan Jayhawks since nan opener vs. Green Bay. Its shot information played a awesome domiciled successful nan win, arsenic it maximized possessions contempt a subpar nighttime from 3-point scope and allowing 11 threes connected nan protect end.
Although nan team's 15 assists really fell beneath its play average, it did not matter because nan Jayhawks consistently created value shots. Limiting turnovers for illustration this could beryllium important successful bid to prolong these beardown violative performances.
2. A Game of Runs
Bill Self's squad was not cleanable each night, but it sewage disconnected to an unthinkable start. The Jayhawks led 19-4 5 minutes into nan crippled earlier surrendering nan lead precocious successful nan first half.
However, nan squad brought a 10-0 tally into nan second, turning a one-point shortage (37-36) into an 18-point lead conscionable 7 minutes into nan last half. Baylor's 3-point variance allowed it to frighten nan Jayhawks pinch a comeback, but they quickly responded pinch a tally of their own. From there, nan result was ne'er genuinely successful doubt.
1. Two Stars of nan Show
While this was a corporate squad effort, Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga produced their champion capacity together this season. The duo mixed for 59 of KU's 80 points connected an absurd 22-for-27 shooting.
Peterson played conscionable 23 minutes, apt owed to his lingering cramping issue, yet still poured successful a game-high 26 points connected 11-for-13 shooting, including a cleanable 9-for-9 connected two-point attempts.
Kansas Jayhawks defender Darryn Peterson (22) looks backmost aft scoring against Baylor Bears during nan crippled wrong Allen Fieldhouse connected Jan. 16, 2026. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bidunga was everyplace connected nan floor, scoring 23 points connected 11-for-14 shooting while adding 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. By our count, Bidunga caught astir 1,000 alley-oops tonight, throwing down each dunk he perchance could.
It was a much-needed showing from nan young duo, particularly pinch nan remainder of nan starting lineup combining for conscionable 18 points connected 5-for-25 shooting. KU will request much balanced contributions from nan remainder of its starters, but this outing showed really vulnerable nan Jayhawks tin beryllium erstwhile things yet travel together.
English (US) ·
Indonesian (ID) ·