No. 17 Kansas absolutely dismantled Middle Tennessee on Friday night, roaring to an 89-45 rout. The star of the show? Fifth-year senior Trey Kaufman-Renn, who dropped 17 points in just 18 minutes, shooting a ridiculous 7 for 8 from the field. This dude is already 11 for 13 through two games with the Jayhawks, and his efficiency is exactly what’s pacing this team.
Kaufman-Renn Is Balling Out Early
Let’s talk about Trey Kaufman-Renn for a second. The transfer from Purdue has hit the ground running for Kansas. Not only did he pour in 17 points on near-perfect shooting, he also snagged four rebounds. His 11 for 13 field goal percentage across their first two games is just insane, showing he’s dialed in and ready to be a major force. Fifth-year center Christian Reeves also chipped in with 10 points, adding to the Jayhawks’ powerful inside presence. This kind of depth is going to be a problem for opponents all season long, especially with Kaufman-Renn playing this efficiently.
Total Domination From Start to Finish
Kansas wasn’t just good on offense; they were suffocating on defense. They shot a scorching 63% from the field themselves, while holding Middle Tennessee to a measly 25%. Think about that for a second: the Jayhawks shot more than double their opponent’s percentage! They absolutely owned the paint, outscoring the Blue Raiders 48-16, a testament to their size and strength. Plus, their bench came through big time, adding 46 points to keep the pressure on. By the second half, Kansas had built a lead as big as 50 points. Middle Tennessee’s only player in double figures was Eli Rice, who led his team with 11 points. The Jayhawks’ defense was so locked in that they held Middle Tennessee to a horrific 18.8% from the field in the first half and forced 10 turnovers before the break. They turned those 16 total Middle Tennessee turnovers into 28 points, making every mistake count.
Kansas is now sitting pretty at 2-0. Middle Tennessee, after taking this hit, moves to 1-1. Up next, Middle Tennessee heads into a two-game homestand, kicking off against Evansville on Tuesday night. The real test for Kansas comes Tuesday when they travel to Chicago to face Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic. That’s going to be a huge early season matchup, and if Kaufman-Renn keeps this up, the Jayhawks are going to be tough to stop.
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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