9. Kansas (19-6)
This season has been something of an adventure for the Jayhawks. Freshman superstar Darryn Peterson has missed time at several junctures this season, while the team has had a few inconsistent moments both win and without him in the lineup. However, Kansas entered play as one of the hottest teams in the nation, on a 7-game winning streak that included victories over Iowa State, BYU, and Texas Tech.
That win streak got far more impressive on Monday night, as the Jayhawks handed Arizona their first loss of the season in an 82-78 win. The Jayhawks survived and thrived without Peterson in the lineup, getting 23 points apiece from Flory Bidunga and Melvin Council Jr. Unfortunately, they faced a stiff opposition at Iowa State on Saturday, falling 74-56 in a revenge game against the Cyclones. Council had 15 points while Bidunga had a double-double but they fell far short, even with Peterson back on the court.
Shaking off those earlier struggles, Kansas has looked like a real contender again and that 9-3 record in the Big 12 really stands out. Yes, Saturday’s effort in Ames stings and did end that long winning streak, but the overall outlook is good in Lawrence. We’ll have to see how consistent this team will be on both sides of the ball, though they have a significantly easier week ahead with Oklahoma State and Cincinnati, at least compared to this past week.
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