Kansas
Houston has no answer for Kansas in road loss, but Kelvin Sampson says Cougars will respond in rematch at home
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kelvin Sampson never fails to deliver – postgame comments included. Four decades as a college head coach has given Sampson some perspective. There has been excellence in three Power Five conferences, a stay in NCAA jail, rebirth as an NBA assistant and spending the last decade raising Houston back to relevance.
So, a little thing like Saturday’s 78-65 potentially season-altering loss at No. 8 Kansas wasn’t going to change his outlook.
Or his candor.
“Sometimes,” Houston’s 68-year-old coach summed up following his team’s worst performance of the season, “you’ve got to give the other team some credit too. Excuse my French, but they shot the piss out of it.”
Rock Chalk, bladder control? Yes, there was that — for starters. Kansas shot 68.9% in one of the weekend’s four top-10 showdowns, running the No. 4 Cougars out of the gym. KU had two separate runs of making seven shots in a row. The 78 points scored by the Jayhawks are the most the nation’s No. 1 defensive team has given up this season. Houston’s 24 rebounds were its fewest by nine this season.
In short, the Jayhawks took one of the feel-good stories and rubbed it in mud deeper than what surrounded Allen Fieldhouse on a rainy Saturday. Well, figuratively.
Now, get out of the way for Sampson the historian. It’s been 18 years between visits here for the former Oklahoma coach. He still hasn’t won at Kansas (0-8 lifetime).
“You’re asking an expert [about playing here],” Sampson joked. “I’m the guy to ask on that one.”
Give the man credit, then, for knowing what was coming.
“Somebody made a mistake and told me we were actually favored in this game,” Sampson said. “That’s sacrilege. How is Kansas not favored in any game, especially here?”
That 1 ½-point spread at tipoff was a benchmark for both teams. On Saturday, Las Vegas recognized the job Sampson has done in his 10th season at Houston. Eight times the Cougars have won at least 21 games in that span. The last two seasons they’ve won 32 and 33 games. They have been to five NCAA Tournaments. The 2021 team went to the Final Four. If the tournament started Saturday morning Houston might have been a No. 1 seed.
Meanwhile, the Jayhawks were an underdog at home for only the second time in the Self era, and the first time in three years. Self is now an incredible 320-17 at Allen Fieldhouse since he took over in 2003.
“I didn’t know we were an underdog,” Self deadpanned.
Yeah, right.
“You challenge the Jayhawk pride, if you will, by telling them they’re not favored,” Sampson said.
And so when the decibel meter on the scoreboard measuring the crowd noise broke 123, you knew. When 7-footer Hunter Dickinson dominated inside against Houston’s (usually) stifling defense, you knew.
When the hottest thing to come out of Australia since surfing blew up, you knew. Guard Johnny Furphy dropped in 17, missing only one of his seven shots. With that charming accent and dead-eye shooting – 54% in 21 games – Kansas has itself a budding star.
“I know there’s some competitive dudes over at the Centre of Excellence in Australia, but I don’t think there’s anything like that.” Self said smiling.
The Centre of Excellence is essentially a training center for the Australian national basketball team. Furphy blew up last year at the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta. Neither of those settings matched what went on here Saturday afternoon.
Underdog status just doesn’t happen here. KU made 9 of its first 10 shots and the rout was on. Sampson’s quotes landed a lot louder than most Houston shots in this Big 12 showdown.
“I still feel like they scored 90,” Sampson said before ducking into his locker room. “It felt like they were getting 100.”
“They’re not going to play like this against everybody. But when you told them they were a 1½ point underdog …,” he continued. “I can’t get over the fact we lost by only 13. It felt like 110-40.”
A program with a thin bench (Kansas) found a good time to play its best game of the season. That says a lot for a team that had already beaten No. 1 Connecticut, No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Kentucky.
Houston’s only three losses have come in the Big 12 by 4, 1 and 13 points – all on the road. Conclusion: Both of these teams remain Final Four worthy. The tournament is all about matchups, anyway. This one didn’t go well for Houston.
But for one afternoon during the biggest weekend of the season to date, we do know this: Kansas out-Houstoned Houston – if that’s a verb, and of course it isn’t. But you get it.
Sampson is one of the game’s true survivors. A couple of run-ins with the NCAA at Oklahoma and Indiana eventually landed him outside the game’s circle of trust. He was handed a five-year show-cause order by the NCAA in 2008. That seems so long ago but deserves mention in this era when the NCAA suddenly seems on its last legs.
Sampson? Because he came back, that means the Cougars will be back even though his team playing suffocating defense left town unable to catch its breath. The team that leads the Big 12 in rebound margin was beaten on the boards 40-24. The team that leads in scoring margin (winning by 12.5 points per game) once trailed by 20. The Cougars hadn’t trailed by more than 14 all season until Saturday.
The two powerhouses got to halfway through the Big 12 schedule both 6-3. They meet again in 34 days at Houston in the regular-season finale. Near the end of Saturday’s game, the obligatory film clip from Apollo 13 played on the scoreboard with Tom Hanks saying, “Houston, we have a problem.”
Cue the decibel meter. Also, start the countdown to March 9.
“This old lady in here today was special …,” Sampson said of Allen. “[But] we weren’t playing at the Fertitta Center today.”
Kansas
Tyler Reddick needs OT at Kansas to claim fifth win of NASCAR season
It’s still more than a week until May, but Tyler Reddick already has racked up a fistful of wins.
The 23XI Racing hotshoe passed Kyle Larson in overtime to win the NASCAR Cup Series’ AdventHealth 400 on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, Kansas, for his fifth victory in nine races.
After Cody Ware spun while leader Denny Hamlin and second-place Reddick were coming to the white flag for the race’s only caution for cause, the field pitted to set up a green-white-checker finish in overtime at Kansas Speedway.
From third, Larson charged past Hamlin on the restart to claim the lead. But second-place Reddick used his No. 45 Toyota to fly by Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet in Turn 1 after the white flag.
He held on to beat the Hendrick Motorsports driver by 0.118 seconds for his 13th career win and become the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to claim five of a season’s first nine races.
Reddick also won for the fourth time in a row when being the polesitter — a run that began Feb. 22 in Atlanta and included victories at Circuit of The Americas and Darlington.
Reddick appeared doomed with a few laps left when he screamed over the radio that he was out of gas, which allowed Hamlin to make what appeared to be the winning pass for the lead.
However, Ware’s spin sent the cars to pit road one last time.
“Just really blessed with the late caution,” said Reddick, who led only 10 laps and spun a Toyota stablemate in overtime’s frantic finish. “Not thrilled that I got Christopher Bell. … These late-race restarts get really crazy. Obviously, I had a run on the 5, and I was just shocked to get to his inside.”
Larson’s car would not turn in the corners.
“It all worked out great, but I was plowing in (Turns) 3 and 4,” said Larson, the race’s defending winner who became the track’s all-time lap leader — he paced 78 of them — but had his winless streak stretch to 33 races. “Reddick was really good there (at the end).”
Chase Briscoe, Hamlin and Bubba Wallace completed the first five finishers.
A Toyota won for the sixth time in the past 11 races at the Midwest speedway.
Polesitter Reddick, Hamlin and Briscoe showed Toyota supremacy early with the first two drivers swapping the lead. Then Hamlin stormed away to a 1.25-second lead 15 circuits into the 267-lap race.
Hamlin lapped up to the 21st-place car — Todd Gilliland — as drivers such as Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain all were put a lap down. Larson was able to pass Reddick, but Hamlin claimed the 80-lap Stage 1 over Larson followed by Reddick, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell.
In the second segment, Larson began to assert himself. He immediately snatched the point from Hamlin and led until Lap 125 when he, Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Reddick pitted to split Stage 2’s 85 laps.
The completion of the second stage also was rather tame. Larson claimed the segment followed by Hamlin, Reddick, Elliot and Bell as the only problems were drivers having minor setbacks with tires.
The only cautions through the first two stages were for stage-breaks, not incidents.
On Lap 175 shortly after the restart for the run to the race’s end, Bell maneuvered by Hamlin for the lead. Wallace and Reddick rounded out a four-car Camry train with six of the top nine being Toyotas.
Running third to leader Bell and Reddick, Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Briscoe began the cycle of pits with 52 laps remaining to set up the finish while Reddick and Bell waited five more circuits for service.
Kansas
Kansas Governor signs Caleb’s Law, targeting online sextortion of minors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed Caleb’s Law, strengthening penalties for online sexual extortion targeting children.
Governor Kelly says the law is named after Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old from El Dorado, who died by suicide after becoming a victim of an online sextortion scheme.
What the Law Does
Caleb’s Law expands Kansas’s existing sexual extortion statute in three key ways:
- Broadens the definition of sexual extortion to include threats involving explicit images – including AI-generated or digitally altered images
- Increase criminal penalties when an adult offender targets a minor or a dependent adult
- Creates two felony offenses: aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death
Under the new law, sexual extortion involving a minor or dependent adult is elevated from a severity level 7 to a severity level 6 person felony for coercive intent cases.
The legislation also elevates a level 4 to a level 3 person felony when the victim is caused to produce or distribute sexual content.
Statewide Education Requirements
House Bill 2537 also directs the Kansas Attorney General to lead a statewide public education effort on sextortion. The AG’s office will:
- Prepare and distribute educational materials for schools, students, parents and the public
- Collaborate with the Kansas State Board of Education and law enforcement agencies
- File an annual report beginning July 1, 2027, to the Governor, legislative leadership and the State Board of Education on implementation progress
The Attorney General’s Office estimates the education effort will require two new positions at a cost of around $213,900 from the State General Fund, rising to an estimated $20,300 in 2028.
In Their Own Words
Gov. Kelly said the law reflects the state’s commitment to keeping pace with digital threats facing children.
“Protecting Kansas children means staying ahead of the evolving threats they face, especially in an increasingly digital world where exploitation can happen in an instant,” she said. “By prioritizing education and awareness, Caleb’s Law ensures that young people, families, and educators have the tools to recognize sexual extortion and seek help before it’s too late. By signing this bill, we’re honoring Caleb’s life by shining a light on this growing danger and taking meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.”
Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City), who introduced the bill, added that it earned unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers.
“Our kids are our future and protecting them from online predators, who are increasingly dangerous and sophisticated, must be a top legislative priority,” he stated. “I’m therefore pleased that the governor is signing Caleb’s Law, which I introduced and received unanimous, bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. What happened to Caleb is tragic and must be stopped.”
Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) credited Caleb Moore’s family for pushing the legislation forward.
“Sexual extortion in any form should never be tolerated, but children under the age of 18 are particularly vulnerable,” he added.
The Kansas Attorney General’s Office also voiced strong support, noting the law addresses one of the state’s most urgent child safety threats.
“HB 2537 is a critical measure to protect Kansans from sexual exploitation and ensure public awareness and education on this growing threat,” said Sarah Hortenstine, Division Chief of Youth Services, Kansas Office of the Attorney General.
Legislative Timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 23 | Bill introduced, referred to House Committee on Judiciary |
| Feb. 5 | House committee hearing held |
| Feb. 16 | Committee recommends passage |
| Feb. 18 | House passes bill unanimously |
| Feb. 25 | Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary |
| March 17 | Senate committee hearing held |
| March 18 | Senate committee recommends passage |
| March 19 | Senate passes bill unanimously |
The bill received unanimous, bipartisan support in both chambers – with no recorded opposition.
Background: What Is Sextortion?
Officials noted that sextortion is a form of online exploitation in which offenders coerce victims – often minors – into producing sexual images.
Those bad actors then use the images to demand more content, money, or sexual acts, according to investigators.
State leaders said cases can escalate rapidly, and the resulting trauma has led to severe psychological harm and, in some cases, suicide.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
For mental health support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Kansas Losing Momentum With Key Transfer Target After New Visits
Since losing Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the transfer portal, Bill Self has been tasked with rebuilding his frontcourt from the 2025-26 campaign. While he has landed former Utah forward Keanu Dawes to succeed Tiller at the four, the Jayhawks’ roster still lacks a true center to replace Louisville commit Bidunga.
One player KU had hoped to add was Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, who tormented the Jayhawks when the two schools met this past February. However, the chances of him committing to play in Lawrence appear to be dwindling by the day.
The Senegal native recently wrapped up a trip to St. John’s and is set to visit Ann Arbor on Monday to meet with the defending champions, Michigan.
Source: Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam will visit Michigan on Monday.
Recently visited St. John’s.
Averaged 12.8 PPG and 7.1 RPG last season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 19, 2026
Kansas was initially supposed to be one of the top schools involved in Thiam’s recruitment, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case. The Jayhawks have been relatively quiet so far and haven’t gained much traction toward securing an official visit.
Not only is Michigan a recruiting powerhouse coming off a national title win under second-year head coach Dusty May, but it also boasts one of the largest NIL collectives in the NCAA. If the Wolverines are seriously pursuing Thiam, it likely means he will come at a hefty price tag.
KU is expected to increase the NIL budget this year to handle its roster deficiencies from the past few seasons. Regardless, the program must be strategic with its spending, especially with the decision of 2026 prospect Tyran Stokes still looming.
Who Are Kansas’ Alternatives to Moustapha Thiam?
If the Jayhawks are unable to land Thiam, there are a few alternatives on the open market. Those options may not carry the same hype as the 7-foot-2 phenom, who is ranked as the No. 3 center in 247 Sports’ transfer rankings, but they could still provide solid production nonetheless.
One name to watch is Anton Bonke, another towering big man who has spent time at Providence and most recently Charlotte. He visited KU’s campus earlier this week alongside Dawes and remains a viable option.
Another possible solution could come from within if Paul Mbiya decides to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to Kansas. The incoming sophomore flashed his potential during the postseason and is reportedly open to rejoining the program.
Finally, FC Barcelona center Sayon Keita is an international prospect who could make his college decision within the next month or two. He took an official visit to Kansas last July.
Whoever ultimately replaces Bidunga, Self will need to act quickly before the remaining top targets come off the board. Bringing back Mbiya and adding a transfer would be a strong start.
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