No. 1 Kansas Overcomes Sluggish Start to Defeat UNC Wilmington 84-66, Giving Bill Self 800th Career Win

In a matchup that saw the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks facing off against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Kansas emerged victorious with an 84-66 win on November 19, 2024. This victory marked a significant milestone for Kansas head coach Bill Self, who achieved his 800th career win.

The game, played at Allen Fieldhouse, saw Kansas overcome a sluggish start to dominate the Seahawks. Despite being favored by 22 points, Kansas’s performance was not without its challenges, particularly in the early stages of the game. However, the Jayhawks managed to pull ahead and secure a comfortable lead.

Key contributors for Kansas included Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris Jr., and KJ Adams Jr., who played crucial roles in the team’s success. The Jayhawks’ ability to adjust their lineups and integrate new players, such as AJ Storr and Shakeel Moore, was also a factor in their victory. Moore recently returned from an injury, and the team is still adjusting to the absence of Elmarko Jackson, who is out for the season.

For UNC Wilmington, Donovan Newby and Noah Ross were standout players, continuing their strong scoring form this season. Despite averaging 108 points per game in their previous matches, the Seahawks were unable to keep pace with the Jayhawks’ offense.

The win sets Kansas up well as they prepare for their upcoming game against Duke next week, a matchup that is expected to be highly competitive.