Kansas basketball likely won’t be able to maintain its No. 1 ranking when it enters the next week of play, coming off a 76-67 road loss to rival Missouri.
The Jayhawks (7-2) have now lost two games in a row, following a defeat a few days earlier against Creighton. KU head coach Bill Self’s team came back strong after running into a significant deficit, but was unable to complete the comeback. Supporters of the Tigers (8-1) stormed the field after their surprise victory.
Here are some reasons why the game played out this way:
Kansas vs. Missouri Basketball Recap: Jayhawks’ 2nd Half Comeback Attempt Fails in Loss
Turnovers thwart Jayhawks
Kansas had turned the ball over 22 times and allowed 23 points on those turnovers. Missouri had turned the ball over 11 times and allowed 10 points on those turnovers. These negative margins will never contribute to leading to a victory.
Although Kansas graduate center Hunter Dickinson finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, he also finished with seven turnovers. Eight Jayhawks finished with at least one turnover. A poor performance from senior guard Zeke Mayo saw him finish with as many turnovers (four) as he did points.
Kansas can’t complete comeback
Missouri led by 14 points at halftime and as many as 24 in the second half. Kansas cut that score to 65-63 on a three-point play by Dajuan Harris Jr. with 2:20 left.
The Jayhawks managed just one more field goal, and Mark Mitchell’s 3-pointer started Missouri’s decisive 7-0 run.
Missouri’s Tamar Bates shines
Missouri senior guard Tamar Bates finished with a game-high 29 points while shooting 9 of 15 from the field, 2 of 5 from behind the arc and 9 of 9 from the free throw line.
Kansas, besides Dickinson, saw a few more players finish with double-digit scoring. Missouri, in addition to Bates, asked a few others to do the same.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas sports at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association Sportswriter of the Year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article was originally published on Topeka Capital-Journal: How Kansas basketball’s return to Missouri ended in defeat
