When the University of Arizona decided a couple years ago to move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 one of the most positive developments of that choice was the prospect of annual battles against Kansas
In men’s basketball. Not football.
Like the UA, Kansas is much more known for the hardcourt than the gridiron. Both have football programs that play second fiddle but still have managed notable success from time to time.
The Jayhawks (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) are a win away from bowl eligibility after beating Oklahoma State last weekend.
To better understand Kansas we reached out to the folks at SB Nation sister site Rock Chalk Talk for some insight and a score prediction. Below are there advanced answers to our remedial questions:
AZ Desert Swarm: After going 5-7 last season, what were the expectations for Kansas this fall and how close have the results come to those projections?
Rock Chalk Talk: ’The expectations going into this year really depend on who you ask. Some fans believe Lance Leipold should be taking the next step and competing for Big 12 titles. I’m not there yet, and given the number of seniors Kansas lost, I was expecting 6-7 wins this year. We had a strong portal transfer class, but this is Kansas football, and we’re not at the plug-and-play status where losing a lot of production is easily replaced.
“Generally speaking, the expectations of the fanbase were probably that Kansas get to a bowl game, and if things really went our way, possibly getting to that 8 or 9 win mark KU pulled off in 2023. Whether the team meets that expectation remains to be seen. A big step would be winning the game Saturday, which would get the team bowl eligible. Regardless of the record though, the lack of progress on the defensive side of the ball and continued issues managing close games have been problems that are starting to irritate fans.”
Jalon Daniels has 20 touchdown passes against 3 interceptions, numbers on par with Noah Fifita (21/4). What does he do best, and where is he most vulnerable?
”Daniels has his detractors but has generally been steadily productive as a 6th-year senior. He’s had some fumbling issues and at times misses open receivers, which is frustrating given his overall level of talent. His main strength is what he does with his legs, which can be extending plays to allow receivers to get open, or taking off downfield with an explosive first step. He’s not particularly big though so the staff has seemed to try and minimize how many hits he’s taking this year.
“Where he’s most vulnerable is simply consistency. He can look like an all-conference QB on one drive, then miss an open receiver and fumble the ball on the next. If we saw peak Jalon Daniels in every game, this team would already be bowl eligible and he’d been an All-Big 12 candidate. The procurement problem is you never quite know what to expect from him on a game to game, or even drive to drive basis.”
Running the ball has been the most effective weapon against Arizona’s defense. Who among the Jayhawks’ potential ball carriers could do the most damage, or is it usually a committee approach?
3”Seniors Daniel Hishaw and Leshon Williams are the Jayhawks’ 1-2 punch at RB. Neither has the speed to really be a home run threat, but both are very willing to put their head down and charge forward for as many yards as they can get. As long as they aren’t forced to bounce around and make defenders miss, they’re both average to above-average backs who can be effective when the blocking is there.”
Kansas is allowing more than 29 points per game in Big 12 play. What does this unit do best, and who are the players to watch for?
“The defense has been a big problem this year, and it’s not improving. Edge rusher Bengally Kamara, safety Lyrik Walls, and LB Trey Lathan have been bright spots, but that’s about it. Our corners get beat far too often, and the defending the middle of the field has been a major frustration from day one. They’ve also given up a few long runs right up the middle where there’s no safety in sight, but it seems like some adjustments have been made there.”
Lance Leipold had a 9-win season in 2023 but overall is below .500. What does the fanbase think of him, and football in general, or is it like Arizona where basketball season has arrived and the Jayhawks’ game at North Carolina on Friday matters more than anything else?
“It’s really hard to summarize what the fans think of Leipold. There are fans who genuinely want him fired if Kansas doesn’t go bowling. Some are willing to give him another year but feel he should be on the hot seat after back to back years of mediocre returns. I remember how bad Kansas was for well over a decade before Leipold arrived, and I’m of the belief that there aren’t a lot of recruiting advantages at Kansas, which puts a ceiling on what to expect on a year to year basis. If I had to give an answer to the question, I’d say fans overall are glad he came to Lawrence and brought the program out of the dark ages, but are starting to get concerned that the 9-win season in 2023 was an aberration, and that he doesn’t have what it takes to consistently win.”
Prediction time. Which team gets to bowl eligibility on Saturday? Give us a score pick.
”I have a hard time seeing the Jayhawks’ defense doing what it takes to win this game on the road. I think a higher scoring game is likely, but high-scoring games that come down to doing the little things right have not been games where Kansas succeeds in the last two years. I’d probably call this a coin flip if the game were in Lawrence, but in Tucson, I think Arizona just puts up too many points and yards for KU to get the job done. I’ll say Arizona 31, Kansas 24.
