It’s the holiday season, Christmas has arrived and we’re in the mood for a little giving here at R1S1 Sports.
At least theoretical giving.
So, let’s spend the next few minutes gifting each member of the Kansas men’s basketball team one skill or trait that will serve him and the team well as the Jayhawks head into the Big 12 Conference gauntlet that awaits.
Picked to finish 6th in the preseason coaches poll, the Jayhawks played most of their always-tough non-conference slate without star freshman Darryn Peterson and were forced to grow, grind and learn how to play in a way that did not include the guy that everyone expected would be their leading scorer this season.
That’s certainly not ideal — for any team — but these guys made the most of it, developing a playing style that fit the pieces they do have and finding ways to both win and compete while waiting on the Peterson injury situation to reach a resolution.
It’s been said all along, and by many people, that it will be tough for Kansas to reach the level it wants to reach with Peterson in street clothes. But there’s still a chance he will return to full strength, KU coach Bill Self believes they can get through this and the group of players not named Peterson have reached a point where, no matter what they lack, you can count on them to show up to compete hard night in and night out.
With that in mind, here’s a quick look at what each KU regular could add to his bag of tricks to make his game and this team a little more stout, starting with Mr. Peterson.
• DARRYN PETERSON • Good health. Obviously. This is a common wish for people across the world at this time of the year. And few folks out there are wishing for it this Christmas quite like Kansas fans for DP. It’s been a tough couple of months, but there’s still time for him to make this a memorable year — for himself and this team. So, here’s to good health in the new year for DP.
• MELVIN COUNCIL JR. • Time to visit as many hospitals as possible. There aren’t many stories in all of college basketball better than the one starring Melvin Council Jr., this season, KU’s new favorite dawg, who is lovingly barked at by KU’s fans wherever he goes. The best part about the whole thing, however, is how much Melvin is enjoying it. He’s playing great. He’s happier than ever. And he’s a true fan favorite who will be remembered long after his time in a KU uniform is done. You love to see a guy enjoying life and taking advantage of an opportunity like this the way Melvin is. And even just 5-10 minutes with patients at local hospitals could bring enough joy to the room to last a month or more. Talk about a special personality.
• BRYSON TILLER • A warrior’s mentality. Tiller has had a terrific start to his first season as a Jayhawk, but the most common thing we hear Self talk about with Tiller is how much he wishes he would play to his size. That means in the post instead of on the 3-point line. That means on the glass after every miss. And that means on defense against the big bodies who go at him. We know the kid is a competitor. But now it’s time to see him become a bruiser, too.
• TRE WHITE • A personal masseuse. All of those fouls drawn and trips to the free throw line can take a toll on a guy. And no Jayhawk has been beat up and abused so far this season quite like White, who has looked from the jump like he was born to play for Bill Self at Kansas. These guys are cared for incredibly well and they have state-of-the-art recovery equipment to smooth out the pounding that they take on a regular basis. But rather than let all of those times he’s hacked start to add up, make sure White’s got good hands ready to keep him fresh and feeling good.
• FLORY BIDUNGA • A jump start before every game. Bidunga has already had some big games and big moments this season. And there surely are more to come. But it’s been fairly common for it to take him a little while to get going, be it within the flow of the game or with his competitive juices. So break out the jumper cables, hook him up to KJ Adams and let that energy and intensity carry over into the game’s first possession every night.
• JAMARI MCDOWELL • A podcast. Jamari’s starting to find his footing on the floor and has carved out a nice role for himself in the KU rotation, as a part-time starter when DP’s out and a top reserve when he’s playing. But this dude has some serious personality. He’s funny, frank and he can talk with the best of ‘em. Someone needs to sponsor an NIL deal for McDowell so he can do in the Kansas basketball world what Travis Kelce has done for football fans. They’re not the same personality necessarily, but both are colorful dudes with something to say. And, if given the platform and the right side kicks, McDowell’s podcast could be a hit.
• ELMARKO JACKSON • A trampoline. Put it in the grassy areas around McCarthy Hall and let him get out there any time he wants. Maybe that will help him fully and once-and-for-all make the jump that KU fans have been waiting for and talking about since he arrived. Injuries, playing time and the fact that he’s still relatively new to basketball have limited his impact. But Jackson’s an athlete and a fiery competitor and there’s no doubt that, with a little confidence and consistency, he could make a jump from role player to regular in a hurry.
• KOHL ROSARIO • Nitrous oxide. At least of the imaginary variety. Hear me out. It’s clear that Kohl has the talent and drive to be a player. Heck, he was a starter for a while. But it’s also clear that he’s in his own head a little too much at times, which creates problems for his game and, most obviously, for his outside shot. Dentists give stressed-out patients a shot of the laughing gas to help make their procedures go smoother. So, Kohl gets whatever the basketball equivalent is of that. Maybe he should grow the mustache back?
• JAYDEN DAWSON • Spot-up shooter mentality. Dawson’s a pretty good all-around player and he knows it. It’s been a part of who he is throughout his college career. But KU doesn’t really need him to be that and some of his skills that served him well before now don’t translate to the Power 4 level. So, why not just lean into the role of spot-up shooter and master it. KU’s going to need more 3-point shooting and he can shoot the ball. The match is pretty perfect if he embraced it and KU decided to utilize him in this way.
• PAUL MBIYA • Silvio De Sousa’s confidence. Remember when De Sousa showed up midway through what became his freshman season and wound up playing important minutes on that 2017-18 team when Dok got hurt? No one’s forecasting any kind of injury here, but Silvio made some huge plays for that KU team simply by letting it rip. He played big in the Big 12 tournament and even bigger in the Elite Eight win over Duke. De Sousa’s a better athlete at this stage than Mbiya and probably had a little more meaningful prep experience, too. But their roles/jobs are similar and Paul could be a factor if he could just set screens, rim run and crash the glass without thinking and slowing himself down.
• SAMIS CALDERON • Poise and patience. Both in the big picture for his KU career and in the instances when he’s in the game. They may be few and far between, but the freshman from Brazil does have enough athleticism and length to find a few minutes if he can just settle down when he’s out there.
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
