New Kansas Jayhawks Q&A: Why K-State is so hard to beat + KU basketball shooting

The KU football team looks to end its 15-game losing streak vs. Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan.

The Wildcats have had the Jayhawks’ number in recent years, but what makes K-State so challenging to beat?

The Star posed that very question to a couple of Kansas players.

“The way they drop up their plays and execute it,” wide receiver LJ Arnold said. “When you look back and look at K-State, they execute every little detail to perfection. It doesn’t matter if it’s offense, defense, or special teams. …

“They pay attention and lock in on the smallest details. Those little details take a team a long way and that’s what they capitalize (on).”

Kansas tight end Jared Casey had a slightly different perspective.

“I would say it’s their effort — they’re flying around, their physical ability and they are really poised and disciplined as a team,” he said. “They know how they play and they play it really well. I think they just stick together throughout a whole game. They are going to play a full 60 minutes, no matter what.

“Like you saw last year, we kind of let it slip away at the end and we had them on the ropes, but they played a full 60 minutes and we didn’t. They ended up winning.”

With that, let’s get into another Kansas Jayhawks mailbag. Thanks, as always, for the questions.

Prediction on how many rotation players shoot over 35% from 3? @JAndrew_Cochran

This is an excellent question. I think these five can do it: David Coit, Hunter Dickinson, Rylan Griffen, Dajuan Harris and Zeke Mayo.

Each has done it before, and everyone besides Harris is a pretty great shooter for his position. Luckily for Harris, his shot volume is low enough that he’s eclipsed the 35% mark multiple times in his career.

Overall, KU’s shooting should be much improved this season.

Of the non- football/men’s basketball programs at KU, which one would be the biggest deal if they got to a point of consistent national contention? Is there a “Nebraska volleyball” level program lying in wait? @ben_h_hooke

It would probably be KU baseball. The program under Dan Fitzgerald looks to be on an upward trajectory, and players have been selected in the MLB Draft. I’d venture to say baseball is one of the most popular sports on campus.

How hard is the staff going to have to hit the portal next year to field a competitive roster? Also who is someone we think is gone (graduation/draft) that could come back? @D_Shawn

The KU football staff has a busy few months in store. The Jayhawks have around 30 graduating seniors; maybe 15 of them are starters.

It’s going to be a big portal class for the Jayhawks. I keep thinking about Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels and the decision he has to make.

It’s clear that Daniels hopes to play in the NFL one day. According to sources close to the situation, if he’d had a healthy season and played well, the plan was for him to declare for the NFL Draft after last season.

I could see Daniels returning for another season or entering the transfer portal, depending on how the rest of the season plays out.

Biggest conference-wide takeaway from Big 12 media days? @NickSpringer29

The big ones: This might be the most competitive season of Big 12 basketball ever, and it’s clear that coaches hate the 20-game conference schedule.

Don’t be surprised if the schedule goes back to 18 conference games instead of 20 in coming seasons.