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That certainly wasn’t what the Kansas Jayhawks were expecting on Tuesday night.
The No. 7 team in the nation was upset at home by unranked BYU, 76-68, and a poor shooting effort was one of the primary culprits.
The Jayhawks finished shot just 39 percent from the field (23-of-59) and only 20 percent from three (3-of-15), all while the Cougars sank 13 of their 34 attempts from deep. Seeing those numbers, a quote from Kansas head Bill Self on Monday suddenly took on an almost spooky quality.
“The other day (against Texas) we made three [three-point shots] and played really well,” he told reporters. “If they make 13 threes they’ve already outscored you [by] 30 points from the field.”
Well, he called it. Unintentionally, but he still called it.
As for his Jayhawks, college basketball fans and analysts didn’t take it easy on them after the loss, though the absence of Kevin McCullar was fairly noted:
Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello
FINAL: BYU 76, No. 7 Kansas 68. In Lawrence.<br><br>Stunner in the Big 12. Jayhawks blow 12-point second-half lead, lose at home for first time all season. Offense just isn’t the same w/o Kevin McCullar Jr.<br><br>Dallin Hall and Jaxson Robinson huge in second half for BYU. Team made 13 3s.
Walker Carey @walkerRcarey
What is clear about this Kansas team is that it is just not good enough without Kevin McCullar Jr. to consistently play winning basketball against good competition.<br><br>Followed up the Baylor win with getting smacked at Texas Tech.<br><br>Followed up the Texas blowout with the BYU loss.
BYU’s Dallin Hall led all players with 18 points, while Hunter Dickinson put up a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Jayhawks.
Kansas (21-7) has now lost four games this season to teams that were unranked at the time and is now third in the Big 12 standings, trailing Houston by three games. Since Bill Self took over ahead of the 2003-04 season, Kansas has won an incredible 17 Big 12 regular-season titles, but it won’t be happening this season.
BYU (20-8), meanwhile, eradicated any lingering doubt about whether they’d earn an NCAA tournament bid. Beating Baylor and Kansas is a solid pairing of signature wins. Not too shabby for the conference newcomers.
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