Honestly, if you walked into Allen Fieldhouse last night expecting a typical mid-January slog, you were probably as shocked as the Baylor Bears were. The score of ku game today—well, technically from Friday night—ended up being a dominant 80-62 victory for Kansas.
It wasn't just the margin. It was the way they did it.
Bill Self has been searching for consistency from this roster all season. One week they’re dropping a head-scratcher to UCF, and the next they’re dismantling a top-tier Iowa State team. But against Baylor, something clicked. The Jayhawks (13-5, 3-2 Big 12) looked like a team that finally realized they have two of the most dangerous weapons in college basketball.
The Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga Show
You’ve gotta talk about the freshmen. Darryn Peterson is basically a walking bucket at this point. He dropped 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting. Think about that for a second. In a high-major conference game, the kid missed two shots. Two. He had 20 by halftime, including a step-back jumper that left the Baylor defenders looking for their luggage.
Then there’s Flory Bidunga.
✨ Don't miss: Kurt Warner Height: What Most People Get Wrong About the QB Legend
If Peterson is the finesse, Bidunga is the sledgehammer. He finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks. Most of those points came via the "Bidunga Dunk"—nine of them, to be exact. When he’s catching alley-oops and pinning shots against the backboard, the energy in Lawrence becomes a physical force.
Why the Score of KU Game Today Matters for the Big 12 Race
This win puts Kansas in a much better spot than they were a week ago. After that loss to West Virginia on January 10th, people were ready to hit the panic button. But beating No. 2 Iowa State and then following it up with this shellacking of Baylor suggests that the "one-hit wonder" phase is over.
The defense was the real story, though.
Baylor actually took a brief 37-36 lead late in the first half after a 3-pointer by Cameron Carr. For a minute there, it felt like the Jayhawks might fold. Instead, they closed the half on a 7-0 run and then opened the second half with a 15-3 blitz. Baylor’s offense, which usually hums, looked completely disjointed. They shot just 1-of-6 to start the second half while Kansas was turning the game into a highlight reel.
🔗 Read more: Juan Carlos Gabriel de Anda: Why the Controversial Sportscaster Still Matters
- Total Points: 80 (KU) - 62 (BU)
- Peterson's Efficiency: 84.6% from the field.
- Bidunga's Impact: 5 blocks, 11 rebounds, 23 points.
- Baylor's Leaders: Cameron Carr (24 pts), Tounde Yessoufou (20 pts).
What’s Next for the Jayhawks?
Look, the Big 12 is a meat grinder. There are no "off" nights. Even though the score of ku game today shows a blowout, the schedule ahead is brutal. Kansas heads to Boulder on Tuesday to take on Colorado. If you’ve ever seen a game at the CU Events Center, you know that altitude and that crowd make it a nightmare for visiting teams.
After that? The Sunflower Showdown.
Kansas will travel to Manhattan on January 24th to face K-State. That’s the game every Jayhawk fan has circled. Bill Self knows that as good as Peterson and Bidunga were against Baylor, the veterans like Melvin Council Jr. and Elmarko Jackson have to keep providing that steady hand. Council didn't score much against the Bears, but his five assists and floor leadership were what kept the offense from stagnating when the freshmen were on the bench.
Basically, the Jayhawks are finding their identity. They aren't the most balanced team in the country, but when their stars are shooting a combined 22-for-27, they don't really have to be.
💡 You might also like: Ja Morant Height: Why the NBA Star Looks Bigger Than He Actually Is
If you're looking to track how this impacts the rankings, expect Kansas to jump back up the AP Top 25 come Monday. They entered the week at No. 22, but after two double-digit wins against quality conference opponents, they’ve proven they belong in the top 15, if not higher.
To keep an eye on the Jayhawks' progress, focus on their defensive rebounding in the next three games. While Bidunga is a monster on the boards, the team still struggles when he gets into foul trouble. Watching how Bill Self manages the rotation against Colorado's frontcourt will tell us a lot about whether this win over Baylor was a turning point or just a really hot night at the Fieldhouse.
Get ready for Tuesday night in Boulder. The late tip-off (10:00 p.m. CT on ESPN) means it’s going to be a long night for the fans, but if the Jayhawks play like they did tonight, it'll be worth the coffee Wednesday morning.