No. 17 Kansas absolutely steamrolled Middle Tennessee Friday night, walking away with a monstrous 89-45 victory, thanks in large part to Trey Kaufman-Renn lighting up the scoreboard with 17 points in just 18 minutes. This dude is on fire right out of the gate.
Kaufman-Renn’s Insane Efficiency Sparks Rout
Kaufman-Renn, a fifth-year senior who transferred in from Purdue, was practically automatic. He shot an absurd 7 for 8 from the field, showing why he is such a huge pickup for the Jayhawks. He even grabbed four rebounds for good measure. Through just two games with Kansas, the guy is shooting a ridiculous 11 for 13 from the field. Talk about making an immediate impact, right? When a player is that efficient, it just opens up everything else. Kansas is now 2-0 and looks like they are not messing around.
Jayhawks Put On a Clinic, Shut Down Blue Raiders
Kaufman-Renn’s efficiency was just the start, though. The entire Kansas squad put on a clinic, shooting a blistering 63% from the field as a team. On the defensive end, they clamped down hard, holding Middle Tennessee to a measly 25% shooting for the entire game. Kansas used their size to dominate the paint, outscoring the Blue Raiders 48-16 down low, and then they vacuumed up 32 defensive rebounds, completely shutting down any second-chance opportunities. Fifth-year center Christian Reeves added 10 points off the bench, which tells you everything you need to know about their depth. The Kansas bench was straight-up incredible, chipping in 46 points themselves and blowing the lead up to 50 points in the second half. Middle Tennessee struggled to even get to the basket, shooting just 18.8% in the first half and giving up 10 turnovers before halftime. By the final TV timeout of the first half, the Blue Raiders had 12 points and 12 fouls, which is just brutal. Kansas converted Middle Tennessee’s 16 turnovers into 28 points, showcasing how relentless their pressure was. The Jayhawks were up 36-14 by halftime, and honestly, the game was over before it even started.
What’s Next for These Squads?
Middle Tennessee (1-1) had only one player, Eli Rice, hit double figures, leading his team with 11 points. They are going to need a lot more than that moving forward. Up next, Middle Tennessee starts a two-game homestand on Tuesday night against Evansville. For No. 17 Kansas, their undefeated start faces a true test: they are traveling to Chicago to face Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic on Tuesday night. That is going to be a heavyweight bout, and we will see if Kaufman-Renn and the Jayhawks can keep this insane momentum rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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