No. 8 Kansas impressively defeats No. 4 Houston’s strong defense at Allen Fieldhouse

Entering Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, the fourth-ranked Houston team boasted the nation’s top defense.

However, eighth-ranked Kansas dominated the game, establishing a commanding 23-11 lead early on and maintaining control with a halftime score of 43-28. The Jayhawks continued their dominance, securing a 78-65 victory that reshaped the landscape in the Big 12 and college basketball rankings.

While Kansas showcased an impressive offensive performance, Houston struggled to score against the relentless Jayhawks defense. The hostile crowd, anticipating the clash between two top-10 teams, witnessed Kansas’s overwhelming offensive prowess and defensive strength.

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Kansas delivered a comprehensive performance, signaling its prominence for consideration by the NCAA tournament selection committee in March.

Houston, initially touted as the nation’s top-ranked defense in both traditional and advanced metrics, found themselves outmatched by Kansas. The Cougars, boasting an impressive 19-2 start, held the NCAA’s lowest points-per-game average at 52.9. Their dominance extended to adjusted defensive efficiency, where they led by a considerable margin, allowing only 84.7 points per 100 possessions.

Throughout the season, Houston showcased its defensive prowess by holding eight opponents under 50 points, including three below 40. However, Kansas defied these statistics, scoring 43 points in the first half alone.

The Jayhawks demonstrated offensive excellence, connecting on an outstanding 68% of their first-half field goals and converting half of their 3-point attempts (4 of 8). In particular, freshman forward Johnny Furphy played a pivotal role, leading the Jayhawks at halftime with 14 points while maintaining a perfect shooting record, both inside and outside the paint.

L.J. Cryer made a valiant effort to propel the Cougars into a comeback, igniting a 10-2 second-half run with eight consecutive points, narrowing the Kansas lead to 60-48. Despite his efforts, Houston fell short, never managing to close the gap to single digits.

As the game concluded, the Jayhawks exhibited remarkable shooting efficiency, boasting a 68.9% field goal percentage and a 46.2% success rate from beyond the arc (6 of 13). Their overall performance included 20 assists on 31 made field goals, establishing dominance in the rebounding margin at 40-24. The score remained relatively close due to 18 turnovers by Kansas.

Four Kansas players achieved double-digit scores, with Hunter Dickinson leading the charge with 20 points and eight rebounds. Johnny Furphy contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while Kevin McCullar Jr. tallied 17 points and seven rebounds with an impressive 7-of-8 shooting effort.

Houston faced challenges, shooting at 36.2% from the field and 31% (9 of 30) from 3-point distance on a challenging day. Despite maintaining ball control with only three turnovers, the Cougars attempted 24 more field goals (69-45) than Kansas. However, the Jayhawks secured a 31-25 edge in made field goals.

L.J. Cryer led Houston’s effort with 24 points and three assists, shooting 9 of 20 from the field. The outcome sets the stage for a rematch between the Jayhawks and Cougars in Houston on March 9.