Despite coming off a three-game winning streak in the Players Era Festival, Kansas is not the betting favorite to defeat UConn at home this week.

The Jayhawks, who trailed by seven points at halftime, upended Tennessee in the Players Era tourney's third-place game.

Kansas guard Elmarko Jackson had never scored more than 12 points in a game prior to Wednesday. He had 17 total points through seven games of the 2025-26 season game prior to Wednesday. And, amid broader struggles with turnovers and general hesitation on offense,

Kansas offensive lineman Kobe Baynes (70) sheds some tears as he gets a hug from Kansas offensive lineman Amir Herring (56) following the Jayhawks’ 31-21 loss to the Utes on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

High Point and Kansas will be meeting for the first time. Since becoming Division I (1999-00), High Point has qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times. Most recently, High Point played Tennessee in 2023 and Oregon in 2024. The Vols beat High Point 3-0. Oregon, which at the time was coached by Ulmer, swept High Point 3-0 a year ago.

BOTTOM LINE: Syracuse and Kansas square off at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Jayhawks have a 4-2 record in non-conference games. Kansas ranks eighth in the Big 12 in rebounding with 35.3 rebounds. Flory Bidunga leads the Jayhawks with 7.7 boards.

The Kansas Jayhawks earned a gritty Tuesday win vs. Syracuse, showing composure and toughness with an OKC Thunder-like mindset.

The Jayhawks emptied bottles of water on their coach’s head after winning their third game in three days in Las Vegas.

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Jovana Zelenovic posted her second-highest kill total of the season with 17, and Selena Leban matched her career's second-best mark with 14