LAWRENCE, Kansas — The No. 11 Kansas Jayhawks found themselves in a remarkable situation during their game against UCF on Tuesday night. For the first time in nearly five years, they played without point guard Dajuan Harris Jr., who sustained an ankle injury during practice. At the same time, the Jayhawks were on the verge of experiencing back-to-back losses at Allen Fieldhouse—a feat that hasn’t occurred since Roy Williams was coaching during his inaugural season nearly 36 years ago.
Ultimately, the Jayhawks (15-5, 6-3 Big 12) managed to pull through against a team they recently trounced by 51 points just weeks earlier. Zeke Mayo emerged as a crucial player, scoring 24 points, which included pivotal free throws with just 3.1 seconds remaining. Hunter Dickinson also contributed significantly, adding 24 points along with crucial free throws in Kansas’s 91-87 triumph over the Knights.
“Survival was the name of the game for us,” commented Kansas coach Bill Self. “It became apparent just how vital Juan is to us after viewing our struggles with ball handling and initiating plays on both ends of the court.”
Fortunately for Kansas, KJ Adams returned from a shoulder injury after sitting out the previous three games. He played a significant role in the closing moments, helping to prevent Kansas from suffering a third loss at home this season. “He was critical for us—exactly what we needed,” Mayo shared. “His energy is irreplaceable, and his gritty approach is something vital for us moving forward.”
Harris has participated in 159 games for the Jayhawks, starting in the last 98—a streak that ranks seventh-longest in the program’s history. He is second only to Danny Manning for the most minutes played at Kansas with a total of 4,688. The team could have benefited from his presence in the first half, especially when Shakeel Moore picked up two fouls, prompting a test of Kansas’s backcourt depth.
Mayo’s performance kept Kansas competitive; he drilled six three-pointers and showcased his versatility with several floaters while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists. Additionally, David Coit added a valuable contribution off the bench with four three-pointers and 12 total points.
Both Mayo and Coit remained composed in the critical moments, contrasting Kansas’s inability to do so in their recent double-overtime loss to Houston. After trailing by nine in the second half, the Jayhawks ignited a 12-2 run to reclaim the lead and held an 87-86 edge midway through the closing stretch. Adams forced a turnover from Keyshawn Hall, who scored 34 points, with just seconds remaining. Adams then sank two free throws, putting Kansas in a favorable position with 4.6 seconds left.
The Jayhawks ultimately decided to foul Darius Johnson, who faltered on his first free throw but succeeded on his second. Kansas then quickly inbounded to Mayo, who was fouled, securing the victory with two more free throws as the clock wound down to 3.1 seconds.
“It’s about the next man stepping up and trusting in what Coach has set for us,” Mayo said. “We focus on playing as a cohesive unit, staying connected, and just pushing forward. We’re hoping to have Juan back soon to strengthen our chances.”
Over his career, Harris has amassed 1,078 points and 786 assists, needing just 19 assists to surpass Jacque Vaughn for second on the all-time list, trailing only Aaron Miles. With Mitch Lightfoot being the only player to feature in more games than Harris (168), the timing of Harris’s return could allow him to break that record by the season’s conclusion or during upcoming Big 12 or NCAA Tournaments.
“We felt confident he would be playing this morning, and that he would be alright,” Self remarked. “But once we got to the shootaround, it was clear he couldn’t participate. Luckily, tomorrow is an off day, so we’ll reassess his situation for Thursday’s game.”
