Hunter Dickinson delivered a career-defining performance Monday night, scoring 32 points and securing 13 rebounds to propel Kansas to a hard-fought 71-64 win over Colorado. The victory comes as the Jayhawks battle to regain their footing in the AP Top 25 conversation after three recent losses threatened their conference standing.
Dickinson dominated the court with 15 first-half points, setting the tone for Kansas' 19th win this season. Despite Colorado briefly claiming a 39-38 lead early in the second half, the 7'2center responded with a decisive jumper and three-point play that permanently shifted momentum. Kansas coach Bill Self later remarked,
When Hunter plays at this level, he reshapes entire defensive strategies.
Key factors in Kansas' critical Big 12 win:
- 62% field goal accuracy from Dickinson (13/18)
- 15-point contribution from KJ Adams
- Colorado's 11 missed free throws
The Jayhawks now trail #25 BYU by half a game in the conference race, with three regular-season matchups remaining. Colorado's Bangot Dak impressed with 16 points, but the Buffaloes fell to 2-15 in conference play despite recent improvements.
This victory extends Kansas' historic dominance over Colorado to 22 wins in their last 23 meetings. With Saturday's clash against #10 Texas Tech looming, Dickinson's resurgence could redefine Kansas' postseason trajectory.
