Kansas men's basketball needed a response, and it got one in front of a national audience.
Two days after a frustrating home loss to Cincinnati, the No. 14 Jayhawks flipped the script Monday night, knocking off No. 5 Houston 69-56 inside Allen Fieldhouse. Behind Tre White’s season night and a suffocating second-half defensive effort, Kansas reminded everyone why Big Monday in Lawrence has long belonged to the Jayhawks.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Tre White delivered when Kansas needed him most
White scored a season-high 23 points and was the force in a matchup Kansas had to have. He shot 6 for 9 from the field, 3 for 4 from beyond the arc and a perfect 8 for 8 at the free-throw line. While the offense sputtered early, White stayed aggressive and under control, giving the Jayhawks a reliable scoring option against one of the nation’s top defenses.
In a game filled with pressure after Saturday’s loss, White looked poised. His shot-making and composure set the tone for a team that needed a response.
2. Defense flipped the script in the second half
Kansas’ offense took time to settle in. The Jayhawks missed nine of their first 10 shots and went more than eight minutes without a field goal. But they closed the first half on an 11-0 run to take a four-point lead into the break. Then came the decisive stretch.
Kansas opened the second half with a 12-0 run, turning a two-point game into a 49-35 advantage. The defense suffocated Houston, which shot just 32 percent from the field and 5 for 24 from 3-point range. The Cougars never found rhythm and never got closer than 10 points in the final stretch.
Bryson Tiller anchored the interior with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Melvin Council Jr. added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. The collective effort handed Houston its third straight loss, all against top-15 opponents.
3. Kansas responded like a contender
After falling six spots in the AP poll following Saturday’s defeat, Kansas faced real questions. Instead of letting one loss spiral into two, the Jayhawks leaned into what has long defined them at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas and head cooach Bill Self improved to 41-0 on ESPN's Big Monday at home. The program also has not lost consecutive home games since the 1988-89 season.
Freshman Darryn Peterson was included in a fill rotation and finished the game, scoring 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting, and he played 30 minutes and hit a late 3-pointer that helped seal the win.
For a team chasing consistency and momentum, Monday was a step in the right direction as we near March.