The Kansas Jayhawks are banking on the highly promising dynamic duo of Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga to carry their 2025-2026 campaign. However, analysts are raising concerns about their offseason moves.
According to hoops insider Rob Dauster, Kansas’ transfer portal haul is “underwhelming,” as they lack shooters to complement their star talents.
Kansas Offseason Called “Underwhelming” by Analysts, Despite Portal Adds
Darryn Peterson, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class per 247Sports, is Kansas’s most anticipated signee since Josh Jackson in 2016.
A McDonald’s All-American and 2025 Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year, Peterson’s versatility as a guard who can play point or shooting guard, defend, and score makes him one of the most valuable players on the roster.
“He’s the best player in America,” Dauster said on The Field of 68: After Dark podcast, praising Peterson’s skills and the coach’s decision to make a team around him.
Flory Bidunga, a 6’9″ center, returned after briefly entering the portal, swayed partly by the chance to play with Peterson. “He’s a good, true point guard,” said Bidunga, noting Peterson’s ability to create shots for teammates and himself.
The Peterson-Bidunga pairing draws comparisons to Kansas’ Devon Dotson-Udoka Azubuike team-up, which powered the Jayhawks to a 28-3 record in 2019-20. Bidunga, who averaged 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds as a freshman, brings elite rim-running and shot-blocking. With his 22.4 points per game in high school, Peterson adds even more scoring.
Although Kansas added transfers like Tre White, Jayden Dawson, and Melvin Council Jr., Dauster argued they failed to surround Peterson and Bidunga with enough shooting.
“You’d think… You wanna surround them with nothing but flame-throwers,” he said, referencing Duke’s 2024 strategy around Cooper Flagg.
Dawson, who shot 38.1% from three at Loyola Marymount, is a solid pickup, and White improved his three-point shooting to 34.7% at Louisville.
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A versatile wing, Council adds secondary playmaking but isn’t a consistent shooter. With five roster spots still open as of April 2025, Kansas is reportedly pursuing Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams, a 41.2% three-point shooter, though his camp expects him to stay in the NBA Draft.
“Texas A&M looks awesome and is doing what Kansas probably should have been doing,” Dauster noted. BYU’s heavy spending further intensifies the competition. Kansas’ current roster lacks the perimeter firepower to stretch defenses, potentially clogging the paint for Bidunga and limiting Peterson’s drive-and-kick game.
Ideal targets for sharpshooters are floating around, but Kansas has yet to secure any piece. “They’re gonna get another shooter,” Dauster acknowledged, but time is ticking with the NBA Draft Combine approaching in mid-May.
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