KCSN Weekly: KU heating up, Royals Rally interviews and a quiet Chiefs Kingdom
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
Welcome back to KCSN Weekly.
A Chiefs-less Super Bowl is why KCSN Weekly exists. With no football to speak of this January or February, the Arrowhead news cycle has slowed, outside of That Football Show breaking down the five best postseason games of the Patrick Mahomes era, that is.
That lull opens the door for everything else going on around the region. College basketball is heating up, the Royals are inching toward spring training, high school recruiting chatter continues to grow, and the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are set to meet in the Super Bowl this weekend.
Here’s what stood out across Kansas City sports over the past week.
Super Bowl Week Check-In
With the Chiefs watching from home, Super Bowl week looks a little different in Kansas City, but the matchup remains fascinating.
The Seahawks bring a physical, balanced offense and a defense built to limit explosive plays, while the Patriots are once again here on the strength of situational football, discipline, and grinding out wins on the big stages.
Seattle is currently a 4.5-point favorite over New England. What do you think of the Sam Darnold vs. Drake Maye matchup?
College Hoops Corner
Kansas Keeps Rolling + David Booth Stadium updates
It was a massive week for Kansas.
Kansas picked up back-to-back wins over No. 13 BYU and No. 13 Texas Tech, continuing its surge up the national rankings. The Jayhawks now sit at No. 11 in the country and are starting to look like one of the Big 12's more dangerous teams.
Off the court, KU also announced Phase Two of the David Booth Memorial Stadium renovation, signaling continued long-term investment in the athletic department.
Kansas State struggles, but one bright spot
The slide continued for Kansas State, which was overmatched in a 95–61 loss to No. 8 Iowa State.
That said, P.J. Haggerty delivered a standout performance, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal. The Wildcats now sit at 10–12 on the season, searching for consistency as conference play grinds on.
Missouri takes care of Business
Missouri made the most of its lone game this week.
Mizzou led nearly wire-to-wire in an 84–79 win over Mississippi State, improving to 15–7 overall and 5–4 in SEC play. It was not flashy, but it was the kind of game that good teams find a way to win, and something they have had trouble finishing in recent weeks.
Royals Rundown
Not much on the field yet, with the Royals’ first spring training game set for February 20, but last weekend still delivered.
Royals Rally took place last weekend, and Joel Penfield of KCSN’s One Royal Way Podcast landed exclusive interviews with:
If you’re looking for actual Royals substance during the quiet part of the calendar, that’s where to find it.
What to Watch This Week
College Basketball
Kansas hosts Utah and welcomes No. 1 Arizona in what could be one of the Big 12’s games of the year.
Kansas State faces two unranked opponents: at TCU and home against Cincinnati.
Missouri hits the road for matchups at South Carolina and Texas A&M, who sit atop the SEC despite being unranked.
NFL
Super Bowl Sunday: Seahawks vs. Patriots.
That’s where things stand heading into another busy week around the region. Whether it’s college hoops heating up, the Royals inching closer to spring, or a Super Bowl without buzz around these parts, there’s still plenty worth tracking. And if you want something to look forward to, the NFL’s free agency period is just a month and a couple of days away.