As 7-point favorites, the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks found themselves down double digits as late as seven minutes into the second half. However, they came alive down the stretch to come back and survive, 85-81.
In a sold-out Assembly Hall, Indiana gave their fans every reason to maintain their energy, leading 40-32 at the break. Kansas stayed resilient, though. They successfully slowed down the game as the second half progressed until they were able to make some plays in the final minutes that ultimately put them over the top.
Takeaway #1: Hunter Dickinson will find a way to make a major impact, even in tougher games
The Jayhawks center had a particularly poor first 30 minutes of this contest. He looked stifled and unfocused at times. In fact, it was Indiana’s Kel’el Ware who was winning the battle of the bigs for a while.
After the under-12 timeout, the script completely flipped. Dickinson converted on his last four field goal attempts and grabbed some key boards in the process. He finished with 17 points on 8-of-17 shooting and hauled in 14 rebounds.
Kansas’ offense runs almost entirely through their “big four,” including K.J. Adams, Kevin McCullar, and Dajuan Harris. Each has a particular skill set and when you remove one from the equation, there is rarely a rotational piece that will step up. Dickinson continues to show that his presence will be felt in every game.
Takeaway #2: Although Trey Galloway steps up, Xavier Johnson’s presence is still missed by Indiana
With Johnson missing his fourth consecutive game, it was freshman Gabe Cupps who took a bulk of the ball-handling duties today. While Cupps has shown promising signs regarding his potential, it is clear he is not ready for this vast responsibility yet. Once again, Cupps struggled in this game. He finished with just 2 points and a single assist, despite playing 37 of the 40 minutes. In Johnson’s absence, Cupps has averaged just 3.8 PPG and 1.3 APG as the starting point guard.
To be fair, Galloway provided a major spark in the backcourt and was the reason the Hoosiers almost won this game. He finished with 28 points (12-of-17 FG), hitting a plethora of tough shots, before finally fouling out in the final seconds. Nonetheless, in addition to the scoring threat Johnson provides, the ball simply moves more swiftly with him on the court. His injury remains day-to-day.
Takeaway #3: If Indiana rights the ship in Big Ten play, it is because of Mackenzie Mgbako
The former McDonald’s All-American and consensus five-star freshman continues to flash. Mgbako’s 14 points Saturday, extended his double-digit scoring streak to five games. He has been efficient with the ball, capable of the catch-and-shoot three, and extremely effective in driving to the rim and converting on foul shots. His next step, both as a college player and an NBA draft prospect, will be the ability to create his own outside shot, which he has already shown flashes of in the mid-range.
Again, Galloway stepped up, but in general, the Hoosiers are missing that alpha scorer. Indiana will need to start winning big games in order to cement their NCAA Tournament spot, and it starts with Mgbako.