LAWRENCE, Kan. (Interstat) — The surging Kansas Jayhawks host the struggling Utah Utes in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas (17-5, 7-2 Big 12) has won six of its last seven games, including a gritty 64-61 road victory at Texas Tech on Monday. The Jayhawks are led by versatile guard Melvin Council, who is averaging 15.4 points, 5.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds over his last seven contests. His all-around play has been pivotal during the team’s current hot streak.

Utah (9-13, 2-7) arrives mired in a slump, having lost seven of its last eight games. The Utes are coming off a 71-63 home loss to Arizona State on Wednesday. Their offense has consistently leaned on guard Don McHenry, who has scored 15 or more points in eight consecutive games, including a 23-point performance against the Sun Devils.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Kansas has solidified its standing near the top of the conference, showcasing a balanced attack. Alongside Council, forwards Flory Bidunga and Darryn Peterson provide consistent interior and scoring punch. The Jayhawks’ defense has held four of their last six opponents under 70 points.

Conversely, Utah has struggled to find consistent support for McHenry. The Utes have been competitive in several recent losses, including narrow defeats at Kansas State (81-78) and against BYU (89-84), but closing games has been an issue. They rank near the bottom of the Big 12 in conference play.

Allen Fieldhouse, one of the nation’s most formidable home courts, presents an additional challenge for the visiting Utes. Kansas is 11-1 at home this season.

For Utah to pull an upset, it will need a stellar performance from McHenry and significantly more production from its secondary scorers. Kansas will look to control the tempo, exploit its depth and extend its home dominance to maintain momentum ahead of a key showdown with Arizona on Monday.

Saturday’s game tips off at 1 p.m. CST.