TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas and K-State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are all hoping to be on Santa’s nice list this Christmas.
Wednesday night at 10, 13 Sports’ Jason Kinander took a crack at the ideal Christmas gift for each team.
KU men’s basketball: A healthy Darryn Peterson
Darryn Peterson has played in just 4 games this season for the Kansas Jayhawks.
He scored 21 points, 22 points, 17 points, and 17 points. KU went 3-1.
Having the superstar freshman back on the court is essential in order for the Jayhawks to feel good about their chances come March. But Bill Self said earlier in the week that they won’t be rushing things this time around with Peterson.
“[His family] made a decision – which I don’t disagree with it at all – that they want him to be as close to 100 percent as possible when he comes back, and he’s just not quite there yet,” Self told reporters after Kansas’ Dec. 22 game against Davidson.
KU women’s basketball: A healthy Jaliya Davis
Kansas women’s basketball has a superstar freshman of it’s own. Unfortunately, she too has had trouble staying on the court.
Forward Jaliya Davis has played in just 3 games so far this season. She scored 28 points in 28 points on Nov. 9 against Northwestern State.
The Jayhawks generally did just fine without Davis in their non-conference slate, coasting to a 10-2 record. However, Davis’ absence was certainly felt on Dec. 21 when KU opened Big 12 against Iowa state and allowed 6-foot-3 Audi Crooks to score 41 points.
K-State women’s basketball: Size
The K-State Wildcats were thrown for a curveball when redshirt senior forward Kennedy Taylor, KSU’s only returning frontcourt player from the previous season, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA just days before the 2025-26 season.
In steps Ivona Scekic, a 6-foot-3 Slovenian center who the Wildcats welcomed to Manhattan just weeks ago. Scekic is now eligible, and K-State hopes she’ll be a presence in the post.
“I think she’s a good, young player that’s got some upside to her, and that’s why we grabbed her,” Wildcats head coach Jeff Mittie told reporters last week.
K-State men’s basketball: A trip to the NCAA Tournament
It’ll be three years this upcoming March since the last time K-State men’s basketball went dancing.
The Wildcats and 4th-year head coach Jerome Tang know the time is now. Despite an up-and-down non-conference performance which saw K-State drop a home game to Bowling Green, Tang feels good about his group going into conference play.
“I’ve got a great belief in these guys. That doesn’t mean we’re gonna win every game, but we’re gonna do just fine in the Big 12,” Tang told reporters after the Wildcats’ Dec. 20 win over South Dakota.
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