Blowout loss to Texas Tech concerning for Kansas in NCAA Tournament

Kansas Jayhawks guard Kevin McCullar Jr. Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Blowout loss to Texas Tech a concerning sign for Kansas in the NCAA Tournament

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 2/13/24

Associated Press No. 6 Kansas was bludgeoned on the road against Texas Tech on Monday, losing 79-50.

The 29-point defeat was the Jayhawks' worst since an 85-51 loss to USC in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Kansas shot 32.7 percent from the field against the Red Raiders. The frontcourt of K.J. Adams Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson combined to shoot 3-of-22 for 10 points.

It would be easy to downplay the loss as the result of an off-night by two of the Jayhawks' top contributors, but the result revealed a glaring issue for Kansas, one that could sink its NCAA Tournament hopes.

CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein noted that the Jayhawks' lack of depth could be the team's biggest problem.

With Kevin McCullar, Kansas has major depth issues.

Without him, the Jayhawks could get swallowed up by the rest of the Big 12 when it plays away from Allen Fieldhouse.

Now 1-5 on the road in league play. https://t.co/HJTCzSxhVd
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 13, 2024

Guard Kevin McCullar Jr., who leads the team with 19.5 points, missed Monday's game due to injury.

Without him, Kansas scored its fewest points in a road game in the Bill Self era (2003-present), according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

FINAL: Texas Tech 79, No. 6 Kansas 50

It's the fewest points Kansas has scored in a road game in the Bill Self era, per @ESPNStatsInfo. And it's the Jayhawks' first 20-point loss to an unranked opponent since Dec. 22, 2014 at Temple.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 13, 2024

The Jayhawks (+1800) have the eighth-best odds of winning the men's 2024 NCAA Tournament, but those odds might drift. With the loss to the Red Raiders, Kansas dropped to 2-5 on the road and 4-4 in its last eight games.

Kansas will try to snap its four-game road Big 12 losing streak on Saturday against Oklahoma. The Jayhawks will end the regular season with two of their final three games on the road against ranked opponents: No. 12 Baylor on Mar. 2 and No. 3 Houston in the finale the following week.

More must-reads: