Kansas’s Season Spirals Downward in Dismal Loss to BYU
Provo, Utah – The once-promising season for the Kansas Jayhawks has taken a precipitous turn, with Tuesday’s 91-57 thrashing at the hands of Brigham Young University (BYU) marking one of the most humiliating defeats in program history.
A Ruthless Start
From the opening tip, the Cougars unleashed a relentless onslaught, overwhelming the Jayhawks with a 22-7 blitz. BYU’s sharpshooters drilled threes from beyond the arc, igniting the crowd at the packed Marriott Center. Kansas, known for their potent offense, seemed lost and overwhelmed, struggling to keep pace.
A Widening Gap
Despite a brief flicker of life from the Jayhawks, who managed to trim the deficit to single digits with eight minutes remaining in the first half, BYU responded with a decisive 8-0 run. Kansas lacked the firepower to counter BYU’s momentum, and the Cougars cruised to a commanding 20-point lead at halftime.
A Second-Half Blowout
The second half proved no kinder to Kansas. BYU opened with a ruthless 10-0 run, pushing their lead to 30 points and effectively ending any hopes of a comeback. Kansas coach Bill Self could only watch helplessly as his team trailed by as much as 38 points in the second half.
Shooting Woes and Dominance
The disparity between the two teams’ performances was stark. BYU shot a sizzling 51.5% from the field and connected on 14 three-pointers. Conversely, Kansas shot a dismal 36.5% and a paltry 9-for-32 (28.1%) from beyond the arc.
A Troubling Trend
Tuesday’s loss marks a low point in Kansas’s season, matching their worst defeat under coach Bill Self since 2003. It is also the latest in a string of disappointing performances that have shattered the Jayhawks’ preseason hopes of a national championship.
Since the start of Big 12 play, Kansas has struggled to find consistency, suffering head-scratching losses and blowout defeats. They have fallen to Iowa State, Houston, Baylor, Kansas State, and Utah in recent weeks.
Tournament Doubts
Kansas’s poor streak has cast doubt on their chances of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Once projected as a No. 3 seed, they have now fallen to a projected No. 5 seed. Tuesday’s loss could further damage their tournament prospects.
Eerie Parallels
Kansas’s current struggles bear an uncanny resemblance to their season last year. After starting the 2023-24 season at No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, they stumbled to a 10-10 finish that included four losses of at least 20 points. This season, they are in danger of repeating that disheartening pattern.
With just six games remaining in the regular season, Kansas faces an uphill battle to salvage their season. They must find a way to regain their form and finish strong if they want to avoid a disappointing end to what once promised to be a historic campaign.
