Kansas dominates unbeaten No. 2 Iowa State

LAWRENCE, Kan. — It’s like Bill Self’s vision for what his rebound season could look like finally came to fruition on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

With Darryn Peterson showing glimpses of why he’s considered a generational talent and, perhaps more importantly, his teammates playing with confidence around him, Kansas knocked off previously unbeaten second-ranked Iowa State 84-63 in an almost perfect game for the Jayhawks.

Peterson scored a season-low 16 points, but it was the best the Jayhawks looked as a team on both ends all year. They came in with the lowest assist rate in Big 12 games, but consistently made the extra pass against Iowa State’s over-helping defense, burying 12-of-24 3s and finishing with 17 assists on 31 made baskets.

Big 12 opponents had been feasting on mismatches, crushing on the offensive glass and taking advantage of KU’s big men getting in foul trouble. Almost none of that happened on Tuesday. Iowa State did have 17 offensive rebounds but only nine second-chance points.

The Cyclones came into Tuesday’s matchup averaging 22.5 points per game off turnovers, but KU had just nine giveaways that led to only four points. Kansas played like a team that was desperate for a big win, diving on the floor for loose balls and giving an effort that just hadn’t been present in its recent games. The Jayhawks dominated from the beginning, building a 21-point lead at halftime. Every time it looked like the Cyclones might make a push in the second half, Kansas had an answer and kept the lead at double-digits throughout.

Peterson had a scare with just under 14 minutes left when he missed a dunk and grabbed his left calf, hesitating before jogging back down the floor and allowing Iowa State’s Nate Heise to bury a 3. Luckily for the Jayhawks, Peterson would return.

The Cyclones struggled shooting from outside (9-of-27 from 3) and could never string together enough stops to get back in the game. With the loss, they fall to fourth-place in the conference standings behind the three teams still unbeaten in league play (Houston, Arizona and BYU). Kansas is now 2-2 in Big 12 play and finally finished a game without Peterson heading to the bench early because of cramps or an injury.