This Wednesday night, Kansas basketball is going up against Iowa State on the road to Big 12 conference play. With three consecutive wins under their belt, the Jayhawks are expected to add another. But as the team trails 40-30 at halftime, it seems almost impossible.

However, Kansas’ lackluster performance isn’t the only problem its roster is facing today. Inside the raucous arena, more than 14,000 Iowa State fans directed their ire at Hunter Dickinson. Relentless chants, boos, and taunts paved the path for Kansas’ towering center as he made his way onto the court.

He’s averaging 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, and his numbers really stand out. In fact, he’s jumped to No. 4 in the latest POY rankings with a rating of 1,678. And this is all happening in a season that’s had its ups and downs.

But it’s not just about his scoring. His 10.4 rebounds per game put him 13th in the nation. Add in 2.4 assists per game and a solid 53.5% field goal percentage (tied for 72nd), and you’ve got one of the most well-rounded big men in the country. Still, despite all that, Dickinson couldn’t quite carry his team to victory today.

Iowa State fans shatter Hunter Dickinson’s confidence with harsh criticism.

As if that wasn’t enough, fans took to the comment section to criticize Dickinson even more. One frustrated Kansas fan said, “I’m not lying when I say that if every Kansas fan had the opportunity to skip to next season right now, they would. We are sick of Dajuan, KJ, and Hunter.” This frustration was only made worse by Iowa State’s ability to take advantage of Kansas’ struggles.

It’s clear that the earlier boos got to Dickinson. Despite playing 29 minutes, he only managed to score six points—far below his average of 15.9 points per game. While six points may seem decent, it’s a far cry from what Kansas needed, and they lost 57-74 to Iowa State.

Another  User on X was quick to highlight Dickinson’s struggles, with one saying, “This is a critical half for Hunter Dickinson. He has not been terrific in moments when Kansas falls behind. He’s your senior All American candidate. They need him to have one of his best halves as a Jayhawk. Great chance to win a lot of people really fast here.” The pressure was on, but he couldn’t deliver.

Adding to the pressure, Dickinson had four personal fouls and turned the ball over four times, contributing to Kansas’ total of 17 turnovers. Iowa State capitalized on those mistakes, scoring 23 points off those turnovers. “been sick of Hunter since he walked on campus,” Penned a spectator. While another wrote, “KJ, Hunter, and Harris are 3 of those worst starters in Bill Self’s history at Kansas when it comes to skill, all 3 of them have absolutely zero offensive bag.”

For Kansas, this was their first game against a ranked opponent, but it only added to Iowa State’s growing winning streak. On the other hand, the Cyclones are now sitting at 15-1, with their only loss coming in a thrilling game against Auburn in the Maui Invitational.

As Auburn currently holds the No. 1 spot in the AP Top Coaches Poll, Iowa State is right behind them, marking their first-ever No. 2 ranking in program history.

Looking ahead, Kansas is set to face Kansas State on January 18th. With all the criticism Dickinson has faced, another fan bluntly added, “He sucks! He’s tall and that’s it!” Now the question is, will Dickinson be able to live up to the hype in the upcoming game, or will his struggles continue to overshadow the team’s performance?

(Developing story)