Top-ranked Kansas holds off UNC thanks to depth and shooting — or at least the threat of it

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Dajuan Harris Jr. doesn’t love his new existence on the deepest team he’s played on in his five seasons at Kansas — “I like playing,” he says — but because of the depth Bill Self added this offseason, Harris and Hunter Dickinson could save their best for last in the final minutes of a huge November matchup with No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night.

A year ago, that’s maybe a game Kansas would have let slip away because of tired legs.

But there was Harris on the final possession, looking as bouncy and quick as if it were the first minute of the game, disrupting what North Carolina wanted by making sure RJ Davis couldn’t touch the ball. Dickinson got the game-sealing stop when he switched onto Elliot Cadeau to challenge the shot that would have sent the game to overtime, and he scored the game-winning basket with just over a minute left.

Last spring, Self wanted depth and shooting and landed one of the best portal classes in college basketball. And depth and shooting — or at least the threat of it — allowed the top-ranked Jayhawks to hold off North Carolina 92-89.

Self said he didn’t think Harris and Dickinson would have finished the way they finished had they played their usual minutes load from a year ago. In games decided by 10 points or fewer last season, Harris averaged 37.8 minutes and Dickinson 34.5. Friday, they played 29 minutes apiece and Self had a rotation of eight players.

In two games, KU’s bench has scored 87 points. Last season, KU’s bench topped 20 points only three times, one of which was Senior Night when starters KJ Adams Jr. and Johnny Furphy came off the bench.

The potential for the Jayhawks was apparent in the first half when Self was able to play floor-spacers around Dickinson and made offense look easy. KU shot 59.5 percent and led 53-38 at halftime.

“They were getting everything that they wanted,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “They were running their offense like they do in shootaround.”

Davis put that on UNC’s defense, and there was some truth to that. But it’s also hard to keep up when Self is dialing up actions for his best players and everyone on the floor is a threat. Last season, teams could shrink the floor because of a lack of shooting and only a few guys who wanted to take shots. Now, with additions like Zeke Mayo (21 points Friday), AJ Storr (13 points) and Rylan Griffen (6 points), KU has perimeter scorers who must be respected.

AJ showed out‼️

🔴 13 PTS
🔵 3 AST#PayHeed x @storr_aj pic.twitter.com/ETyaNrYxJX

— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) November 9, 2024

Last year, Dickinson had to make his moves quickly. Friday, he could take multiple dribbles before UNC would even think about coming to double.

“It almost felt a little weird when I had so much space,” Dickinson said.

Last year when Dickinson went to the bench, KU was 30.2 points per 100 possessions worse, according to CBB Analytics. Against UNC when Dickinson went to the bench, the Jayhawks were just as good. Freshman Flory Bidunga is a nice changeup, providing a vertical lob threat and speed. In only 11 minutes, Bidunga had 8 points and eight rebounds, and KU was plus-six with him on the floor. It’s similar to what Connecticut had a year ago with Donovan Clingan and Samson Johnson. It’s like playing two teams.

The Jayhawks still have a lot to iron out, as evidenced by blowing a 20-point lead and having to play from behind in the last four minutes. KU struggled to keep quick guards in front of it against Arkansas and UNC. The Heels put pressure on the rim with their speed, and that got them to the free-throw line, where they made 28 of 31. They also picked on Dickinson in the pick-and-roll, which is where he has struggled for most of his career.

Self put some of the blame on himself, saying he would have changed up his coverage if he had it to do over again. And with so much roster turnover, the Jayhawks aren’t as connected as they need to be on that end. That’s the challenge of bringing in older players and not developing them in your program. There’s a learning curve that has to happen quickly in the portal era.

“We got a couple of guys that the pieces don’t quite just fit yet,” Self said. “They just don’t know yet. And hopefully that’ll change.”

But there is room for error because Self has so many options that he’s able to bring a guy like Storr, who led Wisconsin in scoring last season, off the bench. As coveted as Storr was in the portal, some coaches might feel the need to start him right away and let him learn on the job. Self has so much depth that he can wait for Storr to figure out what he wants from him and make him earn the job, which began to happen Friday.

“One thing that we did see tonight, when AJ Storr plays downhill, he’s pretty good,” Self said.

So is the Hall of Famer when he has the pieces to play chess late in games. On the final two possessions, he ran one of his favorite sets that set up Dickinson to score and get fouled. Late last year, KU was laboring to score, and it was clear Self needed to refill his board and get Harris, Dickinson and Adams some help.

“I don’t even got to make a lot of plays,” Harris said of his new life. “You know, I barely even did anything in the first half; they did all the work. So I just fall in behind. They made it easier for me.”

Harris’ time arrived down the stretch, and it was easier for him then, too.

The last time the Jayhawks had another point guard who would allow Harris to get some rest, they won a national title; he played his best basketball in the final 20 minutes of that season. The Jayhawks have a long way to go to get to that point, but saving their veterans’ legs could help ensure they have enough if they can find a way to get there again.

(Photo of KJ Adams Jr.: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)