Hunter Dickinson stars as No. 1 Kansas edges No. 17 Kentucky 89-84
CHICAGO (AP) Kansas coach Bill Self delivered a relatively simple pitch to Hunter Dickinson. He told the big man he would get the ball a lot. He told him he would get to play with some great players, and have a chance to win a national championship.
“I think he's been truthful so far,” Dickinson said.
So far, so good.
Dickinson had 27 points and 21 rebounds, and the top-ranked Jayhawks outlasted No. 17 Kentucky for an 89-84 victory in the Champions Classic on Tuesday night.
The 7-foot-2 Dickinson, who announced in May that he was transferring from Michigan to Kansas, went 8 for 12 from the field and 10 for 11 at the line.
The young Wildcats, playing without a pair of injured centers, fought hard inside, but Dickinson was just too much to handle.
“What he does is he takes pressure off everybody else by having everybody else focused on him,” Self said. “So that’s a big bonus.”
Dajuan Harris Jr. scored 23 points for the Jayhawks, who trailed by as many as 14 in the second half. Kevin McCullar Jr. had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the third triple-double in the history of the program.
Kansas (3-0) closed the game with an 11-1 run. Harris opened the decisive stretch with a 3-pointer and two foul shots. Dickinson then put the Jayhawks in front with two free throws that made it 85-83 with 2:04 to go.
Kentucky (2-1) had a couple chances to tie the game in the final 1:02, but came up empty each time. After Reed Sheppard missed a 3 with 6 seconds left, Jamari McDowell made two foul shots to help close it out for Kansas.
Antonio Reeves scored 24 points for Kentucky, but he went 3 for 17 from 3-point range. Adou Thiero finished with 16 points and 13 boards.
“It feels good to have this type of performance, but when you don’t walk away with a W it doesn’t really feel the same,” Thiero said.
Rob Dillingham, part of another stellar freshman class at Kentucky, scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half. He was whistled for his fourth foul midway through the second half and eventually fouled out.
“To come in this environment with this, you know, everything that goes with this, the bells and whistles, and they perform like they did, I couldn’t ask for much more other than make some free throws and a shot down the stretch and win,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
It was Kansas' first game in Chicago since it stopped in the Windy City on its way to the 2022 NCAA championship. The Jayhawks beat Miami 76-50 in the Midwest Region final at the United Center that year.
Kansas had a 25-21 lead before Dillingham began to take over. The flashy guard made 3-pointers on four straight Kentucky possessions and then dished to Reeves for another 3, giving the Wildcats a 36-30 lead with 4:37 left in the first half.
The Jayhawks were staring at a double-digit halftime deficit before Dickinson hit two foul shots and a 3, making it 48-41 at the break. Dickinson had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas: While Dickinson had a big night, it's clear the Jayhawks have some work to do when it comes to getting used to each other. They finished with 14 turnovers, and a couple of them occurred when they tried to force the ball inside to their new center.
Kentucky: It was the first big test for the new kids on the Wildcats, and there was a lot to like. They had just eight turnovers. If Calipari can teach them how to finish close games, they could be in line for a big season.
UP NEXT
Kansas: Plays Chaminade in the opening round of the Maui Invitational on Monday night.
Kentucky: Hosts Stonehill on Friday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Hunter Dickinson vs. Tre Mitchell (Dajuan Harris Jr. gains possession) | |||
19:41 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
19:39 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
19:19 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
19:17 | Kevin McCullar Jr. defensive rebound | |||
19:07 | +3 | Dajuan Harris Jr. makes three point jump shot (Elmarko Jackson assists) | 3-0 | |
18:51 | D.J. Wagner misses two point jump shot | |||
18:49 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
18:42 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point hook shot (Kevin McCullar Jr. assists) | 5-0 | |
18:20 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
18:18 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
17:51 | Dajuan Harris Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
17:49 | Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound | |||
17:46 | +2 | Hunter Dickinson makes two point layup | 7-0 | |
17:25 | Justin Edwards turnover (lost ball) (KJ Adams Jr. steals) | |||
17:20 | Antonio Reeves shooting foul (Elmarko Jackson draws the foul) | |||
17:20 | +1 | Elmarko Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-0 | |
17:20 | +1 | Elmarko Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-0 | |
17:01 | +3 | Adou Thiero makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 9-3 | |
16:42 | Elmarko Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:40 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
16:34 | KJ Adams Jr. personal foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
16:26 | Kevin McCullar Jr. blocks D.J. Wagner's two point jump shot | |||
16:24 | Dajuan Harris Jr. defensive rebound | |||
16:12 | +2 | Hunter Dickinson makes two point hook shot (Kevin McCullar Jr. assists) | 11-3 | |
15:54 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
15:52 | Kevin McCullar Jr. defensive rebound | |||
15:41 | Elmarko Jackson misses two point jump shot | |||
15:39 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
15:35 | Elmarko Jackson personal foul (Justin Edwards draws the foul) | |||
15:35 | TV timeout | |||
15:33 | Jordan Burks misses three point jump shot | |||
15:31 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
15:12 | Tre Mitchell personal foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul) | |||
15:07 | Justin Edwards blocks Kevin McCullar Jr.'s two point layup | |||
15:05 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
14:50 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
14:48 | Nicolas Timberlake defensive rebound | |||
14:42 | Johnny Furphy misses three point jump shot | |||
14:40 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
14:34 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists) | 11-5 | |
14:34 | Johnny Furphy shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
14:34 | +1 | Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-6 | |
14:22 | Nicolas Timberlake misses two point jump shot | |||
14:20 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
14:14 | Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot | |||
14:12 | Tre Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
14:07 | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | |||
14:05 | Kevin McCullar Jr. defensive rebound | |||
14:01 | Johnny Furphy turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
13:56 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 11-8 | |
13:46 | Nicolas Timberlake misses three point jump shot | |||
13:44 | Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound | |||
13:40 | Hunter Dickinson turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
13:33 | Justin Edwards misses two point dunk | |||
13:31 | Johnny Furphy defensive rebound | |||
13:13 | Hunter Dickinson misses two point jump shot | |||
13:11 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
13:04 | +3 | Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 11-11 | |
12:43 | Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mitchell steals) | |||
12:31 | Jordan Burks misses three point jump shot | |||
12:29 | Dajuan Harris Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:24 | Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
12:16 | Dajuan Harris Jr. blocks Justin Edwards's two point layup | |||
12:14 | Nicolas Timberlake defensive rebound | |||
12:10 | Reed Sheppard shooting foul (Kevin McCullar Jr. draws the foul) | |||
12:10 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
12:10 | +1 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-11 | |
11:42 | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | |||
11:40 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
11:34 | +2 | Elmarko Jackson makes two point layup (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 14-11 | |
11:21 | KJ Adams Jr. blocks Antonio Reeves's two point layup | |||
11:19 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
11:12 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
11:10 | Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound | |||
11:03 | +2 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes two point layup (Elmarko Jackson assists) | 16-11 | |
10:37 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Adou Thiero assists) | 16-14 | |
10:08 | Elmarko Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
9:53 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists) | 16-17 | |
9:38 | +2 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes two point driving layup (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 18-17 | |
9:38 | Adou Thiero shooting foul (Kevin McCullar Jr. draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | TV timeout | |||
9:38 | +1 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-17 | |
9:15 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
9:13 | Kevin McCullar Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:50 | Reed Sheppard shooting foul (Kevin McCullar Jr. draws the foul) | |||
8:50 | +1 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-17 | |
8:50 | +1 | Kevin McCullar Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-17 | |
8:34 | Adou Thiero misses three point jump shot | |||
8:31 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
8:25 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point floating jump shot | 21-19 | |
8:06 | +2 | Dajuan Harris Jr. makes two point driving layup | 23-19 | |
7:59 | Dajuan Harris Jr. personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | |||
7:59 | TV timeout | |||
7:50 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
7:48 | Justin Edwards offensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
7:37 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
7:36 | Johnny Furphy personal foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | |||
7:27 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point driving layup (Antonio Reeves assists) | 23-21 | |
7:12 | Rob Dillingham shooting foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul) | |||
7:12 | +1 | Hunter Dickinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-21 | |
7:12 | +1 | Hunter Dickinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-21 | |
6:53 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Jordan Burks assists) | 25-24 | |
6:35 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
6:33 | Jordan Burks defensive rebound | |||
6:26 | Nicolas Timberlake personal foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
6:11 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Jordan Burks assists) | 25-27 | |
5:44 | +2 | Hunter Dickinson makes two point layup (Kevin McCullar Jr. assists) | 27-27 | |
5:26 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point pullup jump shot | 27-30 | |
5:09 | +3 | Dajuan Harris Jr. makes three point jump shot (KJ Adams Jr. assists) | 30-30 | |
4:52 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-33 | |
4:44 | Nicolas Timberlake misses two point layup | |||
4:42 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
4:37 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 30-36 | |
4:37 | Jayhawks 30 second timeout | |||
4:25 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
4:23 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
4:11 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
4:09 | Dajuan Harris Jr. personal foul (Justin Edwards draws the foul) | |||
4:09 | +1 | Justin Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-37 | |
4:09 | Justin Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:09 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
3:53 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point layup (Kevin McCullar Jr. assists) | 32-37 | |
3:44 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
3:42 | Hunter Dickinson defensive rebound | |||
3:34 | Hunter Dickinson misses three point jump shot | |||
3:32 | Jayhawks offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | TV timeout | |||
3:17 | +2 | KJ Adams Jr. makes two point dunk (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 34-37 | |
2:57 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
2:56 | Kevin McCullar Jr. personal foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | |||
2:56 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-38 | |
2:56 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-39 | |
2:41 | Kevin McCullar Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Rob Dillingham steals) | |||
2:37 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
2:35 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
2:32 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point putback dunk | 34-41 | |
2:26 | Kevin McCullar Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
2:25 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
2:25 | KJ Adams Jr. personal foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | |||
2:25 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-42 | |
2:25 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-43 | |
2:24 | Rob Dillingham personal foul (Elmarko Jackson draws the foul) | |||
2:24 | +1 | Elmarko Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-43 | |
2:24 | +1 | Elmarko Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-43 | |
2:05 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
2:03 | Parker Braun defensive rebound | |||
1:59 | Parker Braun turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:59 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
1:45 | Parker Braun blocks Antonio Reeves's two point layup | |||
1:43 | Antonio Reeves offensive rebound | |||
1:42 | Antonio Reeves turnover (lost ball) (Elmarko Jackson steals) | |||
1:26 | Dajuan Harris Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
1:24 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
1:19 | Adou Thiero misses two point layup | |||
1:18 | Antonio Reeves offensive rebound | |||
1:18 | Kevin McCullar Jr. personal foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
1:18 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-44 | |
1:18 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-45 | |
1:06 | Hunter Dickinson misses two point hook shot | |||
1:04 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
1:00 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
0:58 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
0:55 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point putback dunk | 36-47 | |
0:45 | Nicolas Timberlake misses three point jump shot | |||
0:43 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Nicolas Timberlake shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | |||
0:37 | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-48 | |
0:37 | D.J. Wagner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:37 | Tre Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
0:24 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
0:20 | Adou Thiero personal foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul) | |||
0:20 | +1 | Hunter Dickinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-48 | |
0:20 | +1 | Hunter Dickinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-48 | |
0:04 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:01 | +3 | Hunter Dickinson makes three point jump shot (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists) | 41-48 | |
0:00 | End of period |