The Kansas squad achieved a feat unmatched by any other team throughout the current season.
Remarkably, the Jayhawks accomplished this without their star player, Darryn Peterson.
On Monday, the ninth-ranked Kansas team orchestrated a second-half comeback at Allen Fieldhouse, defeating the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats 82-78. This defeat ended the Wildcats’ impressive 23-game winning streak from the season’s start, probably clearing the path for a different team to secure the top spot in the upcoming rankings. This also represented Kansas’s initial victory against a number one team since their win over Arizona in 2003.
This defeat additionally signifies that the 24-0 Miami (Ohio) squad remains the sole undefeated team nationwide.
Peterson Sits Out Yet Another Match
This contest had been hyped as a marquee event on the college basketball schedule, featuring Peterson, the anticipated top NBA Draft selection, guiding Kansas at home against the undefeated and top-ranked Wildcats.
However, Peterson was absent for yet another significant game, as various injuries and now an illness have unfortunately disrupted his otherwise exceptional freshman season. A representative for Kansas disclosed just before tip-off that Peterson would be a late withdrawal because of flu-like symptoms. Peterson initially participated with his teammates in pregame warmups but then departed the court unassisted. No additional specifics regarding his health status were disclosed.
This Monday marked Peterson’s eleventh missed game out of a possible twenty-four. Before this latest absence, he had previously sat out nine games due to a hamstring issue and one more due to an ankle problem.
Jayhawks Stage Comeback to Topple Arizona
Despite Peterson’s absence, Arizona could only establish a three-point advantage by halftime. Bryson Tiller contributed 14 points for Kansas, while Jamari McDowell added 10 during the initial twenty minutes; both performances represented single-half season bests for the players, effectively keeping the Jayhawks competitive.
Although Arizona extended its lead to an eleven-point margin early in the second half, appearing poised to dominate the game, Kansas eventually found its stride. The Jayhawks initiated an extended 12-3 scoring burst, highlighted by a significant lob pass to Flory Bidunga, who subsequently gave them their initial lead of the entire evening just a few plays later.
Arizona managed to convert only one field goal across an extended period of over eight minutes, allowing Kansas to seize command. Ultimately, Ivan Kharchenkov scored an uncontested basket, breaking their scoring drought and narrowing the gap to two points with approximately two minutes remaining.
In the last minute, Arizona reduced the difference to just one point after Jaden Bradley sank a shot from sixteen feet, followed by Brayden Burries connecting on a three-pointer subsequent to a Kansas turnover on an inbound play.
Nevertheless, two successful free throws by Melvin Council Jr. stretched Kansas’s advantage back to three points. It was then Bidunga who ultimately secured the outcome for the Jayhawks. Burries attempted to drive directly to the basket, but Bidunga soared in from behind him to deliver a monumental block. This action returned possession to the Jayhawks, enabling them to cling to a four-point victory.
Burries spearheaded Arizona’s effort with 25 points and five rebounds. Motiejus Krivas contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds in their defeat. Monday’s contest represented the initial challenge in a demanding four-game sequence for the Wildcats, who are scheduled to host 16th-ranked Texas Tech and 22nd-ranked BYU before journeying to face third-ranked Houston next weekend. Furthermore, they anticipate a second encounter with Kansas and a match against fifth-ranked Iowa State later in the season.
Bidunga was Kansas’s top performer with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in their eighth consecutive victory. According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, he is now only the third player in the past 35 years to achieve a 20-point, 10-rebound, and three-block performance against the nation’s top-ranked team.
Peterson’s Draft Prospects Seem Unaffected by Absences
When on the court, Peterson has consistently fulfilled expectations, maintaining averages of 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest. As a 6-foot-5 guard possessing a rapid initial move, Peterson poses a considerable threat, capable of driving past opponents for a dunk or executing a pull-up three-pointer, where his accuracy stands at 41.9%.
So far, the worries regarding Peterson’s presence in games have not diminished his forecast as the premier selection from an exceptional freshman group, which also includes BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, and Houston’s Kingston Flemings, all predicted to be top-5 picks in the upcoming June NBA Draft. This steadfast projection is attributable to his rare athletic abilities and versatile skill set encompassing both offense and defense.
Following a lackluster 11-5 beginning, Kansas had flourished with Peterson playing, arriving Monday night on the back of a seven-game winning streak that featured triumphs against then-second-ranked Iowa State, 13th-ranked BYU, and 13th-ranked Texas Tech.
Kansas initially fell from its preseason 19th ranking, dropping out of the polls by Week 11, but then ascended to the ninth spot prior to Monday’s Arizona match, with Peterson having returned to active play.
Although Peterson’s participation on the court unquestionably provides a substantial advantage for Bill Self’s squad, Monday evening offered ample evidence that his presence is not a prerequisite for the Jayhawks to secure a victory.
