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Postgame reaction and coverage from KU basketball's Big 12 opener vs. UCF

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

The Kansas Jayhawks will be playing from behind this Big 12 season. That is to say, the Jayhawks are 0-1 in conference action after dropping their league opener at UCF.

In a game that went down to the wire, the Jayhawks played the final 10 minutes without star guard Darryn Peterson, who coach Bill Self said postgame was on a minutes restriction. Self also seemed to indicate Peterson, who has suffered through various leg ailments, may have been dealing with cramping again down the stretch.

Melvin Council sparked KU's second-half comeback, scoring 20 points in the final 20 minutes, but the Jayhawks didn't have enough firepower to earn the win.

See our coverage from Saturday's Big 12 opener.

KU basketball freshman Darryn Peterson during the Kansas Jayhawks’ Big 12 opener against UCF on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. By Courtesy photo

NO. 1: KU BASKETBALL LOSES TO UCF AS DARRYN PETERSON SITS LATE, AGAIN: THREE TAKEAWAYS

For a while, it felt like deja vu for the Kansas Jayhawks. | Published January 3, 2026 | Read Full Story by Shreyas Laddha

FILE PHOTO: Kansas Jayhawks freshman guard Darryn Peterson lets out a shout during a men’s college basketball exhibition game against Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center on Friday, October 24, 2025. By Michael Hickey

NO. 2: BILL SELF SAYS DARRYN PETERSON WAS ON MINUTES RESTRICTION BEFORE SITTING LATE AT UCF

Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who dazzled in scoring 23 points in 18 minutes the first half, played just five minutes the final half of the Jayhawks’ 81-75 men’s basketball loss to UCF on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. | Published January 3, 2026 | Read Full Story by Gary Bedore

KU basketball guard Melvin Council attempts a floater during the Jayhawks’ Big 12 opener against UCF on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. By Courtesy photo

NO. 3: MELVIN COUNCIL OWNS UP TO ‘DUMB MISTAKE’ AFTER KU BASKETBALL FALLS TO UCF

Melvin Council Jr.’s 20-point second half helped Kansas men’s basketball rally from a nine-point deficit and stay within reach of UCF on Saturday afternoon at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida. | Published January 3, 2026 | Read Full Story by Gary Bedore

FILE PHOTO: Coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on in the first half a 2025 Players Era Championship basketball tournament game against the Tennessee Volunteers at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 26, 2025 in Las Vegas. By Candice Ward

NO. 4: BILL SELF RIPS KANSAS BASKETBALL’S ‘POOR, POOR DEFENSIVE EFFORT’ AGAINST UCF

Bill Self had one major gripe about his team’s play in an 81-75 upset loss at UCF on Saturday. | Published January 4, 2026 | Read Full Story by Shreyas Laddha

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.