The No. 14 Indiana Hoosiers never appeared to threaten the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday.
KU opened up the clash of bluebloods on a 12-2 run and that was about as close as things got for the rest of the day. The Jayhawks (-5.5) stormed away with an 84-62 win.
Kansas shot 51.5 percent from the field, held IU to 37.7 percent from the field and won the rebound battle, 35-32, despite Trayce Jackson-Davis blocking nine shots for the Hoosiers.
It was a statement game for the Jayhawks, who dropped two spots in the AP poll after demolishing undefeated Missouri last Saturday. It also set a pretty brutal tone for the home-and-home series with IU. The Jayhawks will visit Bloomington next season to complete the deal.
And based on the Jayhawks’ farewell message, Indiana should be plenty riled up for the rematch.
In 49 states, it's just basketball.
but this is 𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗦 pic.twitter.com/piFIZ9TqQR
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) December 17, 2022
That looks like a pretty harmless tweet…until you remember what Indiana posted after knocking off then-No. 18 North Carolina at Assembly Hall on Nov. 30 (what was, at the time, a signature victory for the Hoosiers).
In 49 states, it’s just basketball. pic.twitter.com/IrTzdiYxk1
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) December 1, 2022
That’s cold-blooded.
The Jayhawks really held onto this for more than two weeks just to throw it back in the Hoosiers’ faces after a non-conference matchup.
It’s worth noting Indiana lost three of its next four games after sending that tweet, so KU might want to avoid a similar jinx.
Either way, Round 2 between Kansas and Indiana just got a lot more interesting.
hoo, hoo, who? pic.twitter.com/tJXMAnG4O6
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) December 17, 2022