PROVO, Utah – Kansas has reached a low level with its uncharacteristic struggles in Massive 12 play.
The No. 23 Jayhawks misplaced 91-57 to BYU on Tuesday evening, matching their largest margin of defeat in Invoice Self’s tenure, after beforehand shedding 85-51 to USC within the second spherical of the 2021 NCAA Event. It additionally marked the primary time Kansas — the preseason No. 1 within the AP Prime 25 ballot — misplaced by 30-plus factors in opposition to an unranked group because the ballot started in 1948.
The Jayhawks haven’t led by their final 80 minutes of basketball after additionally falling to Utah 74-67 on Saturday. They’ve misplaced 4 of six video games because the begin of February.
“Clearly we’re going to catch a number of flak, whether or not it’s followers or nationwide media, and rightfully so as a result of we simply misplaced by rattling close to 40,” stated senior middle Hunter Dickinson, who completed with 12 factors and 14 rebounds. “No person goes to really feel dangerous for us now that NIL is the factor, and gamers are getting paid and every part like that. No person goes to really feel dangerous for you. They’re going to anticipate you to carry out like a paid participant.”
Kansas by no means got here near threatening the Cougars at any level. BYU shot 52% from the sphere and made 14 3-pointers en path to notching its third straight victory.
“We had been one foot in and one foot out in how we guarded and a number of different issues proper from the bounce,” Self stated. “It was crystal clear how we needed to attempt to guard them and proper from the bounce we doubted and ended up hurting ourselves.”
BYU completed with 24 assists and 14 steals. It marked the primary sport in opposition to a ranked opponent during the last 25 seasons the place the Cougars totaled greater than 20 assists and 10 steals.
“I believe BYU might have beat anybody tonight,” Self stated. “They had been nice after which we didn’t do something to make them play lower than nice.”
The Cougars seemed spectacular on each ends of the court docket en path to shifting into fifth place within the Massive 12 standings.
They’d 15 assists on 15 baskets within the first half and compelled eight turnovers on their solution to constructing a 20-point halftime lead. BYU led by as many as 38 factors after halftime.
It’s a assertion win for the Cougars as a lot as a press release loss for the Jayhawks. BYU began 2-4 in Massive 12 play however has gained seven of 9 since.
“We’ve been ready for a win in opposition to a extremely storied program and a group that’s good,” BYU coach Kevin Younger stated. “Tonight was spectacular by how our guys carried out the sport plan on each ends of the ground.”
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