For the fifth straight game, Kansas ran out a starting five that had not played in a game for the Jayhawks last season, and this group shouldered a huge responsibility.
Perhaps the most back-to-the-wall game the program has experienced in the Bill Self era opened with four freshmen and transfer Dedric Lawson. The only players who took the floor for KU on Monday against first-place Kansas State who had played for a Big 12 championship team were Mitch Lightfoot and Marcus Garrett.
They did their part, and so did all of the Jayhawks in a 64-49 victory.