College Basketball Game Nearly Turns Into a Brawl as Kansas & Hunter Dickinson Continue Big 12 Run

The Kansas Jayhawks just bagged their fifth Big 12 win of the season in a 74-61 victory over TCU, and let me tell you, the game was entertainment-packed. The most electrifying moment came in the second quarter, during a heated scuffle for the ball that had the crowd at Schollmaier Arena on their feet, all thanks to Kansas’ big man, Hunter Dickinson.

He grabbed an offensive rebound and then cradled the ball to his body, refusing to let go despite several attempts by TCU players to wrestle it from him. The crowd went wild as TCU’s Vasean Allette and Trazarien White tried to pry it away from the 7-foot-2 Dickinson, but he wasn’t having it. Not even the refs blowing their whistles could get him to release his grip.

Despite the tension, the wrestling match continued, and at one point, Dickinson and White were practically at the sideline, still tangled up. The fans were waiting to see if it would escalate into something more. After reviewing the play, the officials issued technical fouls to both players. 

It was one of those intense moments that made you feel like you were watching peak sports drama but it didn’t end well for Dickinson and TCU, obviously. Kansas coach Bill Self wasn’t pleased with how it all went down, either. 

He called it “asinine” that his player held onto the ball like that, especially after the whistle blew. He even said, “When the whistle blows, you stop. And I’m sure they blew it several times.” Consequently, Dickinson didn’t even make it to the post-game conference despite finishing with a team-high 16 points.

While the play may have been a bit of a mess, the game itself was a huge win for Kansas, especially after their slow start. The Jayhawks were struggling in the first 10 minutes, with missed opportunities at the rim and several offensive turnovers. 

Kansas found themselves trailing by 12 points early on, and TCU’s guard Vasean Allette was the main contributor to their lead. But Self’s crew wasn’t about to let that slide. Freshman Flory Bidunga came through. His presence helped Kansas claw their way back into the game.

The Jayhawks came out much stronger in the second half, opening up with a 5-0 run capped off by a three-pointer from Shakeel Moore to take the lead. The teams went back and forth, but Kansas managed to maintain a slim lead as the clock ticked down.

Then, with about 8:22 left, Moore hit another three, followed by a fast-break dunk off a turnover, stretching the lead to 9. With five minutes remaining, TCU made a push and brought it within six, but Moore sealed the deal with a 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to nine. Kansas wasn’t looking back after that, finishing with a 13-point lead. And the fact that they made it without one of their key players. 

With Adams Out, Hunter Dickinson’s other teammate steps up big 

Even though Kansas was without KJ Adams, their bench really stepped up and continued their impressive Big 12 run. The loss of Adams, who’s been dealing with a shoulder injury, could have been a significant blow, but the Jayhawks found some answers, notably from AJ Storr.

Coach Bill Self confirmed on the “Hawk Talk” podcast that Adams would miss at least 3-4 games, so his absence is going to be felt. But in his absence, Storr’s performance couldn’t have come at a better time.

Storr has had a bit of a rocky start to his Kansas career. Early on, it was clear he was struggling to adjust to his role. His body language hinted at frustration, and he often seemed disengaged. But in this game against TCU, something clicked. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and three steals in just 22 minutes—playing with the kind of intensity and joy that fans hadn’t seen from him before.

It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The baller was attacking loose balls, grabbing key rebounds, and making defensive plays that became the reason behind the Jayhawks’ second-half surge.

This game felt like a breakthrough for Storr, and if this is the version of him that sticks around, Kansas is going to be even more dangerous. With the Big 12 and a tough matchup against No. 7 Houston on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better.