Kansas Basketball: 3 takeaways from thrilling win over Creighton Bluejays

Potential yet inconsistency with Jayhawk guards

I’ve talked a lot about the frontcourt for Kansas but the guard play nearly cost them in this one. Wilson and McCormack combined for 36 of the team’s 73 total points, along with wing Christian Braun going for 14 points on 4/9 from three-point range.

Agbaji going scoreless, and Kansas still winning is a major accomplishment. But it also should slow down the belief that the junior guard/wing won’t be a consistent 20 ppg throughout the season. With Marcus Garrett (9 points on 3/10 shooting) not being that go-to guy, the Jayhawks are going to need a collective effort both inside and out to win the top games this season.

It’s also important to note the numbers of the two high-profile newcomer guards, Tyon Grant-Foster and Bryce Thompson. Grant-Foster played just four minutes in this game, by far his lowest of the season. This may have been forced by the matchup itself, with both Garrett and Agbaji playing over 34 minutes and having to defend the dynamic opposing guards Creighton has to offer.

As for Thompson, he played in 17 minutes and provided eight points of scoring on 3/6 shooting, including a pivotal three-pointer in the second half. Considering that Agbaji went scoreless, his production was crucial in keeping Kansas in this one.

Between Garrett, Agbaji, Thompson, and even Grant-Foster, there’s going to be ups and downs on offense that may even cost them a close game or two. But just like McCormack and Wilson down low, there will be plenty of development to expect in the next couple of months.

This team is far from a finished product but beating a top-10 team with your top scorer not having a point is a great sign of both the floor and ceiling for the Jayhawks in 2020-21.