Something semi-uncharacteristic is taking place in the Big 12 this season, and it’s the recent struggles of both teams in the Sunflower State.
Those two programs, of course, are Kansas and Kansas State, each of which has looked a little sluggish out of the gates in conference play. The pair of rivals share a combined 1-5 record in conference play, with the lone win being Kansas’ dramatic comeback win over an average TCU team.
Kansas Jayhawks Uncertainty
For Kansas, it’s not the most uncommon thing to see a Bill Self team go through a lull over a two-to-three game stretch, but you could never count them out when it came to the end of the season or March Madness. Now, it’s a bit of a different story. The Jayhawks are led by star guard Darryn Peterson, who, by all accounts, looks like the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The issue with that is that his hamstring disagrees.
Peterson missed a chunk of games and has been held out in crucial moments of key games due to his hamstring tightening up. Without him on the basketball court, the Jayhawks just aren’t a very good team. Still, the blame can’t fall squarely on his shoulders as the rest of the roster cannot seem to figure out how to gel. St. Bonaventure transfer Melvin Council has been incredible this winter, but notable names like Flory Bidunga, Tre White, and several others look like a shell of their former selves.
How Bad is Kansas State?
Kansas State, on the other hand, is just a bad basketball program right now across the board, and Jerome Tang has had the team trending in the wrong direction for the better part of three seasons in a row. That statement alone is a wild reality check, given how bright the program’s future was after Tang won the Naismith Coach of the Year award in his first season and led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight.
Now, the team looks awful, and Tang appears to have another group on his hands that won’t reach the big dance. It’s not just like they’re outmatched from a talent perspective either, as PJ Haggerty is one of the best guards in America, and the backcourt tandem of Nate Johnson and Abdi Bashir can be lethal at times. They have a few issues to tackle, but their two main problems are having absolutely nobody of note in the front court and the team’s tendency to play 1-on-5 every opportunity they get instead of working like a team.
Two Fan Bases with the Same Feeling
That’s not to say that things can’t or won’t change for the Wildcats or Jayhawks, but judging by the reactions on social media, both fan bases appear to have their work cut out for them. It is worth noting that Kansas has a much better chance to reach March Madness thanks to a strong non-conference schedule, but after the issues last year in Lawrence with Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris, and KJ Adams, the group doesn’t even look better than that squad.
For K-State to improve, something has to give. The Wildcats have utilized a massive NIL war chest the last three seasons and will likely have zero trips to the NCAA Tournament to show for it. Pair that with Jerome Tang’s massive 18.6 million dollar buyout, and the skies look a little darker than usual in the Little Apple.
Kansas takes the court this evening, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the Jayhawks are underdogs at Allen Fieldhouse against No. 2 Iowa State. Kansas State hits the court next on Wednesday against UCF and will likely find themselves in a similar position: underdogs at home with a small chance to flip the script.
If you’re a fan of one of the two main teams in the state of Kansas, brace yourselves, this year might be a bumpy ride.
