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The outcome was right in line with what you would have expected from this one, but the path to get there was not. After jumping out to a 6-0 lead, the Jayhawks surrendered a 16-2 run to Vermont, who would keep Kansas at arm's length for much of the first half. Dedric Lawson and Quentin Grimes were ghosts, leaving Lagerald Vick and Udoka Azubuike to do the heavy lifting and gradually put Kansas on top. KU went into halftime up 40-36.
Grimes would start to work his way into the offense in the second half, but Lawson never did. The preseason 1st team All-Big 12 forward never logged a point, a big change from his 20 point, 14 rebound performance against Michigan State. Fortunately, Lagerald Vick never cooled off. The senior went 8 of 8(!) from three point range and 12 of 14 overall on his way to 32 points. Kansas was able to turn on the afterburners and pull away as the second half went on, moving to 2-0 on the season with an 84-68 victory in the home opener.
The Jayhawks next face 1-1 Louisiana-Lafayette Friday in Allen Fieldhouse at 7, broadcast on ESPN+.