PROVO, Utah — The Kansas Jayhawks are experiencing a significant downturn in their performance within the Big 12 conference. In a surprising turn of events, the No. 23 Jayhawks suffered a devastating 91-57 loss to BYU on Tuesday night, which matched their largest defeat margin under head coach Bill Self. This comes on the heels of an 85-51 loss to USC in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and marked the first instance since the AP poll’s inception in 1948 that Kansas, who started the season ranked No. 1, lost by more than 30 points to an unranked opponent.
In their recent games, the Jayhawks have sputtered, failing to lead for 80 consecutive minutes of play following a loss to Utah, where they were beaten 74-67 on Saturday. Overall, Kansas has struggled with four losses in their last six outings since the beginning of February.
“We’re clearly going to receive criticism from fans and the national media, and it’s deserved, considering we just lost by nearly 40 points,” remarked senior center Hunter Dickinson, who accounted for 12 points and 14 rebounds during the game. “No one is going to sympathize with us, especially with NIL now allowing players to be compensated. The expectation is for us to meet high performance standards as paid athletes.”
Throughout the game against BYU, Kansas never posed a legitimate threat. The Cougars displayed a strong offensive performance, shooting 52% from the field and sinking 14 three-pointers, marking their third consecutive victory.
Coach Self reflected on his team’s defensive shortcomings, stating, “Our defense was ineffective right from the start, and we hesitated on how to guard them, which was evident immediately.”
BYU recorded an impressive 24 assists and 14 steals, achieving a milestone as this was the first time in 25 years that the Cougars managed to attain over 20 assists and 10 steals against a ranked opponent.
“BYU played phenomenally tonight; they could have defeated anyone,” Self acknowledged. “They were nearly flawless, and we didn’t do anything to challenge their performance.”
BYU’s performance was commendable, allowing them to climb up to fifth place in the Big 12 standings. They achieved a remarkable 15 assists on their initial 15 baskets in the first half and capitalized on eight turnovers to establish a commanding 20-point lead by halftime. Following the break, the Cougars extended their lead to as much as 38 points.
This game stands as a defining victory for BYU while simultaneously representing a worrying defeat for Kansas. Having started their Big 12 campaign with a 2-4 record, BYU has regained momentum, winning seven of their last nine games.
“We’ve been looking forward to securing a win against a prestigious program like Kansas,” expressed BYU coach Kevin Young. “Tonight was a remarkable display of how our players executed the game plan effectively on both ends of the court.”
