LAWRENCE — Reese Dutton arrived on campus ahead of Kansas baseball’s 2024 season with no shortage of expectations, and since doing so has lived up to them.

Dutton, a senior, became one of the Jayhawks’ starting pitchers. After transferring from USC Upstate, which came after a stint at Heartland Community College, he adapted well to the jump to the Big 12 Conference in the Division I ranks. To date, he’s been one of the Big 12’s best and enters the postseason with a 7-4 record across 13 starts, with 70 strikeouts and 28 walks in 74 2/3 innings pitched, and a 3.50 ERA.

Dutton’s confidence remained high Tuesday ahead of the series Kansas (29-18, 15-12 in Big 12) will play this week on the road against Texas (32-20, 17-10 in Big 12). It’s one that can continue to set the Jayhawks up well for postseason play. The last time these two sides faced off, back in 2023, Kansas captured an upset victory against Texas in the Big 12 tournament.

RELATED: Kansas football spring ball: Jayhawks return veteran trio of wide receivers with goals

RELATED: 5 things to know about Kansas baseball home run leader Jake English as postseason nears

Prior to the Jayhawks’ first pitch against the Longhorns, at 6:30 p.m. (CT) Thursday in Austin, Texas, here are some things to know about Dutton to get to know him better:

This is why Reese Dutton decided to play at Kansas

As Dutton continued to move up the levels of college baseball, Kansas became his next destination. He bought into the vision head coach Dan Fitzgerald’s staff has in Lawrence. Dutton also isn’t satisfied with how far they’ve come.

“It’s a great place to be, and be a part of a baseball program that’s on the come-up,” Dutton said. “Obviously, it’s had some good history here. But we want to make it some even richer history.”

Reese Dutton values what he learned at his previous stops in college

Dutton said: “You can point out little things to big things, and I think it’s important that as a person and a player you’re growing on and off the field. That has prepared me to be here and be comfortable where my feet are at.”

This is what Reese Dutton thinks about when he steps onto the mound

Dutton said: “A little strategy, just from looking at the scouting reports and then knowing what his strengths are, weaknesses are. And then from there you just kind of let go and let the defense work, and me versus the hitter in the box, and whatever happens, happens.”

These games stand out to Reese Dutton this season

Back in March, Dutton went seven innings and allowed one earned run in what became a 3-1 victory at home against TCU. Fast forward to April, Dutton went seven innings again and allowed three earned runs in what became a 4-3 victory at home against Texas Tech. But while he pitched well in those games and more, while reflecting on the season a couple other memories stood out to him.

“I’ll be 100% honest, I don’t really like Nebraska,” Dutton said. “So, it was good to beat them both times.”

Here’s what Reese Dutton wants to do once he’s done playing

Dutton said: “I’d love to be a coach. My dad was a wrestling coach at our … high school, growing up, and kind of just model after him a little bit. And, obviously, you take little bits and pieces of coaches everywhere you go. And I think I’ve learned quite a bit and I want to give back and have a team myself and see what they can do. Obviously, the goal is to have your players reach the highest potential ability, reach their ability. But I think that would be a pretty cool job to have.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas baseball starting pitcher Reese Dutton highlights Nebraska wins