Kansas made a loud statement tonight, blasting Baylor 80-62 in a charged Big 12 showdown at Allen Fieldhouse. The building shook. The Jayhawks turned a close game into a clinic, then kept pushing. Baylor had answers early, but Kansas had more of them late. That is the difference in this league, and it was clear on this floor. 🏀
Final: Kansas 80, Baylor 62. A sharp, physical, Big 12 statement at home.
Statement win in Lawrence
This was not a fluke. Kansas won the effort plays and the smart plays. The Jayhawks drove the ball hard, collapsed the defense, and trusted kickouts. They guarded the arc with focus. They kept Baylor to one shot more often than not. And when the game tilted, they played even harder.
The first half brought nerves and noise. Baylor handled it for a while, hitting tough shots and getting to spots. But Kansas leaned on patience. The Jayhawks kept moving the ball side to side, then attacked gaps. By halftime, the rhythm had shifted.
How the Jayhawks pulled away
Kansas tightened every screw after the break. Possessions got longer. Closeouts got sharper. The shots got cleaner. Baylor needed a burst. Kansas gave them a wall.
Pace plus pressure
The Jayhawks forced Baylor into late-clock decisions. That led to contested jumpers and rushed drives. On the other end, Kansas hunted paint touches, then feasted on rhythm looks. The ball did not stick. It zipped, it probed, it punished.
Here were the keys that changed the game:
- Relentless ball pressure at the point of attack
- Strong work on the glass, especially on long rebounds
- Smart paint attacks that created simple kickouts
- Veteran poise in late-clock moments
Kansas also won the mid-game moments between media timeouts. Those pockets decide Big 12 wins on the road and at home. The Jayhawks stacked stops, then turned them into quick, clean points. The margin climbed, the crowd rose with it, and Baylor was on its heels.
Darryn Peterson shows flashes, Baylor learns fast
All eyes went to Darryn Peterson, the prized freshman guard who carries big expectations. He found ways to score, even under heavy attention. Kansas chased him off comfort spots, but he did not vanish. He kept coming, and his point total will be a talking point.
Peterson’s night told two stories at once. The talent is real. The stage is huge. He made shots that few freshmen try, and he kept Baylor within range for stretches. But Big 12 games live on detail and depth. Baylor needed a cleaner support net, more shot creation from others, and fewer empty trips.
This is part of the learning curve. Peterson will see this kind of coverage again. He will draw longer, stronger wings. He will draw traps and stunts and late digs. The next step is picking the spots, then forcing easy looks for teammates when the defense loads up. That adjustment will come.
What it means for the Big 12 race
Results like this shape the top of the league. Kansas held serve at home, which contenders must do. Baylor took a punch in a harsh building, which happens here. The headline is the gap. Kansas did not just win, it controlled the final twenty minutes with purpose.
For the standings, it puts pressure on the next two weeks. Baylor needs to stack home wins and steal one on the road. Kansas just bought itself margin for error. The rematch in Waco will carry real weight. Baylor will want to turn it into a downhill game, with cleaner spacing and stronger drives. Kansas will try to repeat the blueprint, defend without fouling, and live in the paint.
Circle the rematch in Waco. The stakes just went up.
The seeding talk will come, but this is the core truth. The Jayhawks showed a veteran backbone in a high-level game. The Bears showed flashes, led by a gifted freshman who can bend a defense. March is months away, yet nights like this set the tone for who gets the better path.
What comes next
Kansas leaves this win with momentum and clarity. Guard the ball, pound the paint, trust the pass. That travel kit works in any building. Baylor leaves with tape to study and real lessons for a young star. Peterson’s growth will be a season arc to watch. He can be the spark, but the Bears need the engine around him to hum.
Big 12 play is a grind. Tonight, Kansas embraced it and took control. Baylor will have another shot, and it will look different in Waco. For now, the final says enough. The Jayhawks flexed, the crowd roared, and the league took note.
