The most frustrating thing about this defeat for K-State is that the Wildcats played well enough to win for much of the afternoon. But they fell behind 14-0 in the opening moments and were unable to cut the deficit closer than six the rest of the way.

The Jayhawks led by as many as 16 on Saturday, never trailing in an 84-74 win over the Wildcats. From the time it was 20-4 until the final buzzer, the No. 9 Jayhawks played cool, calm and collected, answering each K-State run with timely buckets.

The Kansas Jayhawks (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) will host their in-state and conference rivals, the Kansas State Wildcats (7-9, 1-4 Big 12) this Saturday in a must-win game. The game is set to tip off at 12 p.m. CT in Allen Fieldhouse.

Jerome Tang and the Wildcats will catch a break without KJ Adams in the lineup as he recovers from an injury. But he is only averaging 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds this season. KU can probably get by with a next-man-up approach in this game.

The Kansas Jayhawks are coming off a loss to arguably their biggest rival in the Big 12, only to face their in-state rival in the Kansas State Wildcats. But with the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse waiting, it's safe to say that they should be massive favorites in this one.

KU plays host to rival K-State at noon Saturday in the first Sunflower Showdown of the 2024-25 college hoops season.