Jordan GuskeyTopeka Capital-Journal
LAWRENCE —The 2022-23 season’s Big 12 Conference slate continued Tuesday with a matchup in Lawrence between No. 6 Kansas State and No. 8 Kansas.
The Wildcats came in after a win at home against Florida. The Jayhawks came in after a win on the road against Kentucky. Earlier this season, Kansas State won in overtime at home when the two teams faced off in Manhattan.
Did coach Jerome Tang’s Wildcats squad pull off a regular-season sweep of its rival? Did coach Bill Self’s Jayhawks squad exact some revenge in front of its home crowd? Whoever won picked up a critical victory, when it comes to where they’ll be in the conference standings.
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Here's what happened inside Allen Fieldhouse:
FINAL: Kansas 90, Kansas State 78
Kansas leads 80-70 against Kansas State with 3:43 left in 2nd half
There are a handful of key players who have four fouls who are in danger of fouling out down the stretch. For Kansas State, it's just Keyontae Johnson. For Kansas, it's Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar Jr. and Ernest Udeh Jr.
Kansas hasn't hit a shot from the field in more than three minutes, but still lead by 10 with 3:43 left in regulation. Even with that stretch from the Jayhawks, the Wildcats have only out-scored them by two points in the second half. Allen Fieldhouse will be as loud as ever as Kansas tries to close this one out.
Kansas leads 76-61 against Kansas State with 7:10 left in 2nd half
Kansas could be dealing with some injury concerns down the stretch. Both Bobby Pettiford Jr., the backup point guard, and Kevin McCullar Jr., a starter, went back to the locker room in recent minutes to receive some medical attention. But both did eventually return to the bench and Pettiford has even re-entered the game.
Kansas State's inability to hit enough quality looks from the field is really hurting the Wildcats right now. Although they're doing a better job from the free-throw line in the second half than the Jayhawks are, they are down too many points to win this game from the free-throw line. Kansas leads by 15 points and has led by as many as 16.
Kansas leads 66-54 against Kansas State with 11:54 left in 2nd half
Kevin McCullar Jr. has reached a double-double for the Jayhawks, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He's been playing a lot better recently, and it's showing with how Kansas is performing tonight and did perform in the win against Kentucky. Next to Dajuan Harris Jr., McCullar is their best defensive player.
Neither team is shooting the ball all that well from the field in the second half, but both are benefiting from getting to the free-throw line. 3-pointers also haven't been as much of a factor since halftime as they were before it. This is not trending to be the same half offensively as the first was.
Kansas leads 54-46 against Kansas State with 15:51 left in 2nd half
The second half isn't progressing very quickly, with a combined nine fouls called already. Over the course of the game, there have been 30 fouls called. Kansas is 16-for-22 from the free-throw line, while Kansas State is 13-for-16.
Although the Jayhawks have a comfortable lead, this one doesn't feel anywhere close to being over. The Wildcats aren't letting the crowd dictate their play. It's just a matter of who can be the better defensive team with the amount of people who are going to be in foul trouble.
HALFTIME: Kansas 49, Kansas State 37
Kansas leads 45-32 against Kansas State with 1:59 left in 1st half
The Jayhawks weathered the Wildcats' run, and now lead by 13 points again with about two minutes left before halftime. Jalen Wilson is playing like a first-team All-American for Kansas, and is up to 13 points with four made 3s. Even Zach Clemence just hit a 3-pointer for the Jayhawks, who are 9-for-16 from behind the arc so far.
Also, so far, a combined 18 fouls have been called in this game. Ten have been on Kansas State, and eight on Kansas. The Jayhawks are 9-for-13 from the free-throw line, while the Wildcats are 7-for-9.
Kansas leads 32-25 against Kansas State with 7:50 left in 1st half
The Wildcats have just gone on a 6-0 run heading into this break, and now trail by seven points. They've hit four of their last five shots from the field. But the Jayhawks have made four of their last five shots, so it's not as damaging a run for Kansas to give up as it could have been.
Points off of turnovers is an area to watch right now. Kansas has 10, while Kansas State has none. It could be the difference by game's end.
Kansas leads 30-19 against Kansas State with 9:16 left in 1st half
Kansas State was just forced to call a timeout, as Kansas is on a 6-0 run and leading by 11 points. The Jayhawks are 6-for-10 from behind the arc right now and thriving offensively. Everyone who's stepped onto the court for Kansas, which is eight guys, has scored at least two points.
The Wildcats could really use some inspired play from Markquis Nowell right now. He's already had a great start to the game offensively, but right now even that doesn't look like enough. Of course, more from Keyontae Johnson could help as well.
Kansas leads 16-13 against Kansas State with 11:40 left in 1st half
Jerome Tang just received a technical foul and was more than a little upset at an official just before this break. Kansas State is trailing by three points right now with a little less than 12 minutes left before halftime. When it comes to fouls called, the Wildcats are at seven and the Jayhawks are at three.
Ernest Udeh Jr. and Joseph Yesufu are getting some early first half minutes off the bench for Kansas. They don't necessarily need to be scorers for the Jayhawks to win, although Yesufu is certainly someone who could do that. They just need to play sound defensively and help their teammates get quality looks on offense.
Kansas and Kansas State are tied at 9-9 with 15:34 left in 1st half
The Jayhawks and Wildcats are battling it out, and tied through about the first four and a half minutes. Kansas started out with the lead, but Kansas State didn't let the early momentum turn this into a quick rout. Markquis Nowell has five points to lead the Wildcats and all scorers, while the Jayhawks' scoring has been more balanced.
It had appeared that Kansas State star Keyontae Johnson picked up two early fouls and would have to sit for an extended period of time, but during the break one of his fouls was given to another player. So, that's a big deal for the Wildcats. He was key during their win against Kansas earlier this season.
The game is underway
The opening tip went to Kansas State, and this game has started.
Here are the starters
Kansas students definitely wanted to see this one
Warmups are underway
No surprises in who's available for Kansas
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
