Sometimes, when KU has a big game and I want to get a post up, I start staging some sweet editorial copy early. This never works out. However, KU was looking at the biggest underdog line (+11.5) they’ve seen since at least 2000, predating the Self era. Even in a neutral setting, this is a huge number for a team coached by Bill Self. Things could have gone sideways quickly.

Reader, they didn’t. While KU didn’t have enough firepower to claw back from a couple of big runs by Dook, most fans in my orbit felt satisfied by the outcome. The Jayhawks looked frisky, FAST, played with some verve. They were killers in transition, which Duke adjusted to in the second half.

No one can shoot at all, the early season has been a real reality check, but the Jayhawks offense looked alright when Flory Bidunga (whose improvement is remarkable) could stay on the floor.

Tre White breakout, anyone? White didn’t fade under the Big Lights of the Big Apple, or whatever. White played with control, poise, and looked like the savvy college ball veteran he is, playing in rhythm and doing all the other stuff too: final line, 22/9/4 and two steals. The Jayhawks sorely need a third scorer to step up behind DP and Bidunga, and White could very well be that dude.

When Flory was off the floor… woof. KU has no big man depth, which is going to require Flory/Tiller to work 30+ minutes a night going forward, pending foul trouble. Self has no choice but to play Jayden Dawson, defensive liabilities and all — there was space all around the arc for easy kick-outs, which the Jayhawks just couldn’t knock down. Let’s hope we keep getting reps there. If DP played in this game, we win by 8.

Lastly, the ‘88 throwbacks should be our away blues from now on. KU has always been jersey-superstitious, going back to the ‘86 team’s Final Four faceplant in the rarely-used reds. We will see the ‘88 throwbacks again, and that’s great, because they are wondeful.

THE PETERSON THING

The Darryn Peterson situation is unchartered territory, not just for KU, but across the sport. Here is a player being paid top dollar, with an apparel deal already secured, who may or may not have anything to prove. ESPN’s draft board pegged him as the #1 pick, and he’s also atop their general prospect ranking. If scouts care about his early season struggles to get on the floor, it’s not manifesting. Yet.

Taking a moment to step into Bill Simmons Body Language Academy… DP wanted to get in that game last night. It was killing him to sit on the sideline, see all the space he could be chewing up, keening at the missed opportunity to separate his pro prospects from another top-3 candidate, Cam Boozer.

Earlier in the week, I couldn’t help but think there was a 50/50 chance we wouldn’t see Peterson again. What’s in it for him? Is a prospect like this simply too big to fail, having already shown all the tools and speed at a higher level? The tape is already there.

Nah, he’ll be back. KU is getting sturdier to support him. Rock Chalk.