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    • Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas Recap: Jayhawks lose exhibition game
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    Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas Recap: Jayhawks lose exhibition game

    Idris Bevan Posted on

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    (This story has been updated to add new information.)

    Kansas Basketball got its first taste of how its team might perform against another Friday on the road during an exhibition game against Arkansas.

    The matchup came as the Jayhawks prepared to start the regular season as the No. 1 team in the country. The Razorbacks enter the season ranked No. 16 in the nation. Each ranking was created as part of the USA TODAY Preseason Poll, voted on by the coaches.

    Kansas head coach Bill Self has led his program for more than two decades. Arkansas head coach John Calipari is in his first year at the helm after a long stint as head coach at Kentucky. These two coaches were no strangers to each other from the start, their last meeting coming last season during the Champions Classic in Chicago – a game the Jayhawks won against the Wildcats.

    Within the likely format of the Kansas basketball away game against Arkansas

    The following happened during the exhibition:

    Kansas has a 13-6 second-chance advantage. That comes from a slight advantage in offensive rebounds, 8-6. But it’s one of the few areas where the Jayhawks are leaders.

    Dajuan Harris Jr. has made plays that could turn heads at times. I have a few others too. But Kansas also missed a number of opportunities on the field, and there will certainly be a lot to learn from this matchup.

    With Kansas at full strength, the Jayhawks will have to work to ensure the turnover issues that hampered them tonight don’t continue. Arkansas outscored Kansas 15-5 after turnovers. While the Razorbacks turned it over seven times, the Jayhawks turned it over 11 times.

    The work of two Kansas freshmen continues to show promise. Rakease Passmore is up to 11 points and four rebounds. Flory Bidunga had six points and a team-high seven rebounds.

    There are open looks that aren’t falling, but overall, Kansas’ offense continues to look nothing like what many would think it could. AJ Storr and Zeke Mayo, two potential starters this season, combined for seven points while shooting 3 of 11 from the field and 1 of 8 from behind the arc. Dajuan Harris Jr. continues to lead the Jayhawks with 13 points, while KJ Adams Jr. isn’t far behind with nine points.

    Arkansas has a trio of players with double-digit scores. There’s DJ Wagner with 17, Boogie Fland with 15 and Zvonimir Ivisic with 11. Neither team is shooting the ball well behind the arc at this point, but the Razorbacks are handling it much better than Kansas.

    There is a bright spot for Kansas in Dajuan Harris Jr’s play so far. Although the veteran guard has committed a few fouls, he also has a team-high 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 shooting behind him the archway. He also has a few assists to go along with a turnover.

    The imbalance in free throws continues to be a problem. The Jayhawks are playing better defensively, but aren’t pursuing it as much on offense. Obviously they are missing center Hunter Dickinson, who is unavailable tonight due to injury, as well as guard Rylan Griffen.

    Flory Bidunga had his moments early for Kansas. The freshman had several high-profile dunks in his first contest against a college-level opponent, starting with six points and three rebounds. However, it’s important to keep in mind that he committed three fouls, and that will be a case this season if this foul trouble continues.

    The Jayhawks’ 3-point shooting has continued to decline since their quality start. Arkansas also does a much better job of getting to the free throw line. Team-wise, there is a lot to do for Kansas.

    Towards the end of the first quarter, the Kansas offense was in deep trouble. The 3s have stopped falling in love with the Jayhawks, and it’s not like they’re making up for it elsewhere. Their offense seemed stagnant without Dajuan Harris Jr. taking charge at this point, and it’s not like he was out of the game for all that long.

    Arkansas surpasses Kansas in rebounding. The Razorbacks seem far more comfortable, probably in part because they’re playing in front of their home crowd. Maybe the Jayhawks can gain some momentum if AJ Storr can knock down a 3-pointer.

    Arkansas leads at the first timeout with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter. The Razorbacks don’t miss often as they play 6-for-7 from the field, 2-for-3 from behind the arc and 2-for-2 at the free throw line. They are led by DJ Wagner, who has eight points and a perfect shooting performance so far.

    Given the players Kansas doesn’t have available, this won’t be a complete look at how the Jayhawks will play this season and whether or not some of the early issues are because it didn’t always look good. However, AJ Storr’s athleticism is evident in the minutes he has played. The Jayhawks also hit a good portion of their 3s in a small sample size.

    Before the game

    Here is Kansas Basketball’s starting lineup

    Kansas basketball coach Bill Self previews the game

    Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas exhibition game time

    • Date: Friday, October 25th
    • Time: 8 p.m. (CT)
    • Location: Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas

    What channel is the Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas exhibition game on today?

    Kansas basketball’s exhibition game against Arkansas will be broadcast on SEC Network. John Schriffen will be on-site for play-by-play, Seth Greenberg will be an analyst and Jimmy Dykes will also be an analyst.

    How did Kansas basketball play last season?

    Last season, Kansas finished 23-11 overall. The Jayhawks were able to reach the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament before the end of the season. Injuries and depth issues caused problems that ultimately led to the team’s elimination from the postseason.

    How did Arkansas basketball play last season?

    Last season, Arkansas finished 16-17 overall. The Razorbacks did not reach the NCAA Tournament. Their head coach this season, Eric Musselman, is now the head coach at USC.

    Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the 2022 National Sports Media Association Sports Writer of the Year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

    We may occasionally recommend products and services that may be of interest to you. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may receive an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently and this has no influence on our reporting.

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    Idris Bevan
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