Kansas Faces Duke Tonight in Maui Final

by Owen on Nov 23, 2011 10:01 AM CST in Kansas Jayhawk Basketball 2011-12

For the past several seasons Bill Self has had the Kansas Jayhawks loaded with talent. During that time some of the complaint about Kansas was that they weren't playing top caliber teams. That has certainly changed this year.

It wasn't that Self wasn't scheduling tough programs, circumstance just wasn't on the side of the Jayhawks after the schedules were set. UCLA, Arizona and Memphis are a few examples of games scheduled by Kansas that ultimately turned into easier contests because of the other programs temporary dip.

That brings us to 2011-2012. Kansas has more question marks on the roster than many can remember since perhaps Bill Self's first couple of years at Kansas. And what have the Jayhawks done? They played no. 2 Kentucky last week in Madison Square Garden and after running through two tough opponents in Georgetown and UCLA the Jayhawks will take on the undefeated no. 6 Duke Blue Devils.

Duke is led offensively by junior Seth Curry. Curry is the brother of former Davidson standout Stephen Curry, a player that Jayhawk fans should be familiar with from the 2008 title run. Freshman Austin Rivers is the man at the point and the second leading scorer after arriving as the top recruit in the 2011 class. On the interior the Blue Devils have the Plumlee twins and an inside/out threat in Ryan Kelly.

It's a team that shoots well, defends well and has the interior presence to make things difficult. It will be a great test for Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor, Elijah Johnson and the rest of the Jayhawks as they continue to work toward finding out who exactly Kansas is.

The Jayhawks will need to be great on the defensive end, and they will need to do their best to avoid the occasional offensive drought that has plagued them during the first two games in Maui. If they can do that, then maybe Kansas can hand Duke and Coach K their first loss ever in Maui.

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Comments

Can't complain about either game.

Hasn’t been the prettiest but we knew that heading into the season. Come out and play hard tonight and I’ll be thrilled with the trip.

Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Rock Chalk Talk

by Warden11 on Nov 23, 2011 10:30 AM CST reply actions

for the first time since i started following kansas...

they meet the team that was my first love.

i dont know how to feel. i just want a good game. im in maryland with my family, we’ll watch and ill hope for a solid showing from both teams.

"C.J.: They sent me two turkeys. The most photo-friendly of the two gets a Presidential pardon and a full life at a children's zoo. The runner-up gets eaten.
Bartlet: If the Oscars were like that, I'd watch." - The West Wing, 'Shibboleth'

by scouted on Nov 23, 2011 10:33 AM CST reply actions

3 games in 3 days in a humid climate gives a big advantage to the deeper team

I’m expecting a competitive first half, but I think T2 will be running on fumes in the second half.

Also, Withey has been a wonderful surprise so far, but he doesn’t play enough minutes. We need Wesley or Young to step up this game. Duke is too tall to run out that lineup with Releford at the 4.

by KSinDC on Nov 23, 2011 11:25 AM CST reply actions

I think you've already answered your question as to why Withey doesn't play enough minutes

This is the first time in his career that he’s been asked to play a lot of minutes, and he likely isn’t conditioned for it yet.

by 2.1 seconds left on Nov 23, 2011 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

He fouls like crazy, too.

THEO!

by wrigleyrocker12 on Nov 23, 2011 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

I think it's fouls and conditioning

I don’t really question why he doesn’t play more. I just think we need to a way to fill the minutes he’s out more effectively.

by KSinDC on Nov 23, 2011 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

dewpoint in Maui is 59

with a temp of 80. That’s an average September day in Kansas. I don’t think weather will have an affect

I discovered at a very early age that if I talked long enough, I could make people believe whatever I wanted them to. So, either I'm God, or truth is relative. Either way, booyah.

by PenHawk on Nov 23, 2011 6:41 PM CST up reply actions

That's surprising

The broadcasters always complain about the humidity during this tournament, but I looked it up and you’re right.

by KSinDC on Nov 23, 2011 7:57 PM CST up reply actions

I wonder if it is because the gym wasn't air conditioned.

In the past, this arena wasn’t air conditioned. I’m not sure if that is still the case.

What? A girl who likes sports...INCONCEIVABLE!

by ladyjay78 on Nov 23, 2011 11:49 PM CST up reply actions

Jimmy Dykes was complaining about the vents blowing on him

I guess they put AC a couple years ago.

by KSinDC on Nov 23, 2011 11:51 PM CST up reply actions

I've never seen Coach Self act as giidy as the post game when discussing the Duke game

Just seemed weird to me. Although I’m glad he laid out the marker, unlike Gill vs MU.

by ocjhawk on Nov 23, 2011 1:26 PM CST reply actions

Meant giddy

by ocjhawk on Nov 23, 2011 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

I can't stand watching Duke on TV

but I’ll make the obvious exception for tonight’s game. I would love it if we handed Coach K his first Maui loss!

BTW, sweet pic at the top of the page of TT’s hops. I’ve only seen him this high one other time but that was late one night at the walk-up order window of Burrito King.

by De-Freeze on Nov 23, 2011 2:27 PM CST reply actions