Breaking: KU Basketball Upset Shakes Big 12—Jayhawks’ Freshman Phenom Drops 30 in Thriller

The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team comes out of the holiday break looking to extend a four-game winning streak and start Big 12 play on the right foot when Bill Self’s No. 17 squad (10-3) visits the surging UCF Knights (11-1) this afternoon in Orlando. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT at Addition Financial Arena, with national streaming on Peacock and a simulcast on NBCSN. Why this matchup matters • Conference opener: Both programs launch their 2025-26 Big 12 schedules today, making an early statement critical for seeding in a league projected to send eight teams to March Madness. • Streaks collide: Kansas rides a four-game run after drubbing Davidson 90-61 on Dec. 22, while UCF has rattled off 10 straight wins, including an 85-80 neutral-site victory over Florida Atlantic. • Road test: The Jayhawks are 1-1 all-time in Orlando; their last trip produced a 98-94 overtime thriller in March 2025. Key storylines to watch 1. Peterson’s status: Freshman scoring leader Darryn Peterson (19.3 ppg) missed the Davidson game but is expected to be available, giving KU a much-needed perimeter punch. 2. Front-court battle: Jayhawk sophomore center Flory Bidunga averages 14.7 points, 9.2 boards and 2.2 blocks, anchoring a defense that holds opponents to 36.6 percent shooting—sixth nationally. He’ll clash with 6-10 UCF senior Kye Johns, whose rebounding has keyed the Knights’ third-best margin in the AAC last season. 3. Three-point defense: Kansas limits foes to 25.2 percent from deep, fourth in Division I. UCF shoots 37 percent beyond the arc; whichever side wins this chess match likely controls pace. 4. Betting angle: FanDuel lists KU as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 156.5. Projected Kansas starters G Darryn Peterson • G Melvin Council Jr. • G Tre White • F Bryson Tiller • C Flory Bidunga How Kansas can win • Push tempo off defensive boards—KU’s plus-5.2 rebounding margin should generate early offense. • Exploit Bidunga in pick-and-roll; UCF struggles defending rim-runners. • Keep turnovers under 10; Council’s 3.7 assist-to-turnover ratio has been elite. How UCF can pull the upset • Target KU’s freshman wings with isolation drives to draw whistles. • Speed Peterson into tough pull-ups; the Knights force 15 turnovers per game at home. • Lean on a loud sold-out arena—KU has played just three true road games this year. Bottom line Kansas owns the deeper rotation and a proven closer in Peterson, but UCF’s momentum and home-court edge make this a dangerous opener. Expect a high-scoring battle that could hinge on late-game free throws and KU’s ability to defend the arc.