2024-11-09 12:20:03
(This story was updated to add new information.)
(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)
LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball survived a furious comeback Friday at home against UNC in a non-conference matchup to win 92-89.
The No. 1 Jayhawks led by as many as 20 points early, but No. 10 North Carolina made this a game again in the second half. This was the first game between these two sides since the 2022 national championship game in the NCAA tournament. Kansas won that matchup, and was able to again tonight because of the efforts of Hunter Dickinson, Zeke Mayo and more.
Here is what happened inside Allen Fieldhouse:
How to watch Kansas basketball play UNC in rematch of 2022 national championship game
It remains a close one down the stretch, but Kansas has taken the lead back. The Jayhawks are up 91-89 with a little more than a minute left in the second half. Hunter Dickinson gave Kansas this lead with a bucket on an assist from Zeke Mayo, who leads all scorers with 21 points.
It’s by no means time to panic for Kansas, but the Jayhawks are trailing with three and a half minutes left in the second half. UNC has out-scored Kansas by 18 points in the second half.
Something that should be a cause for concern, though, is two Kansas starters who are in foul trouble. Both Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris Jr. will have to play the rest of the way with four fouls.
UNC is on a 9-0 run over the last minute-plus, and now trails by just two points. So far, North Carolina is 25-for-27 tonight from the free-throw line. Kansas, on the other hand, is just 7-for-11 in that regard.
Kansas has started to find its form again, and still leads by nine points with a little under 12 minutes to go in regulation. The Jayhawks have seen Zeke Mayo shine here of late, and his latest jumper pushed him to 17 points. That leads both Kansas and all scorers so far tonight.
North Carolina has started the second half just as well as it started out the first, and trail by just nine points now. The Jayhawks are really struggling to hit shots. Kansas has also been lucky that, coming into this break in the action, that UNC has missed a couple of open 3s.
One statistic to keep an eye on is points off of turnovers. So far, Kansas has 10 points off of seven North Carolina turnovers. UNC has no points off of three Jayhawks turnovers.
Kansas has had to manage Hunter Dickinson having a pair of first half fouls, but it hasn’t hurt them much at all. The Jayhawks are up 14 points with less than four minutes left in the first half. When Flory Bidunga came in for some more minutes in Dickinson’s place, overall Bidunga played well.
Zeke Mayo’s hit a pair of 3s that have really gotten him, and the crowd, going. Rylan Griffen recently made one heck of a block defending a UNC shot. Fans have had plenty to cheer about here during the first half.
Kansas is in control now, and has its largest lead at seven points. The Jayhawks have been able to get inside often against UNC, and have their fair share of dunks so far. KJ Adams Jr. and AJ Storr have both sent the fans inside Allen Fieldhouse into a frenzy.
Adams leads all scorers with 10 points. He’s 5-for-6 from the field. He, and his Kansas teammates overall, have been very efficient on offense.
UNC got off to a fast start, and led by as much as 7-2, but the Jayhawks have responded. A little more than four minutes into the first half, Kansas trails 9-7. RJ Davis leads North Carolina with five points.
On the Kansas side, KJ Adams Jr. leads the way with four points. Rylan Griffen hit a critical 3-pointer. Hunter Dickinson has missed both of his shots from the field so far.
Kansas basketball’s game against UNC will be broadcast on ESPN2. Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst), Eric Moseley (producer) and Mike Roig (director) will be on the call for the game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Streaming options include ESPN+.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 8
Kansas will be tested by UNC in this matchup. North Carolina features a lot of talent, especially in its back court. But the Jayhawks have the home-court advantage here, as well as a star in graduate center Hunter Dickinson who should lead them to an 81-71 victory.
Here’s a look at the first five games of Kansas’ regular season. The full schedule is available online.
Here’s a look at the first five games of UNC’s regular season. The full schedule is available online.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Kareena Kapoor is working with Raazi director Meghna Gulzar for her next film. The project,…
2024-11-09 15:00:03 WEST LAFAYETTE -- Daniel Jacobsen's second game in Purdue basketball's starting lineup lasted…
2024-11-09 14:50:03 Rashida Jones is remembering her late father, famed music producer Quincy Jones, in…
2024-11-09 14:40:03 A silent German expressionist film about vampires accompanied by Radiohead’s music — what…
Let's face it - life can be downright stressful! With everything moving at breakneck speed,…
Apple’s redesigned Mac Mini M4 has ditched the previous M2 machine’s SSD that was soldered…