Kansas Uses A Big Second Half To Beat Oklahoma
by Owen on Feb 1, 2012 10:04 PM CST
in Kansas Jayhawk Basketball 2011-12
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After a strong start that look focused and energized following a loss to Iowa State, Kansas fell into the same rut they ran into during the first half against Oklahoma down in Norman. It wasn't that the Jayhawks were ever really in any grave danger of losing, but Kansas consistently let Oklahoma crawl back into things because the Jayhawks were settling for the three and struggled to find any sort of offensive production outside of their starters.
It's a trend of late that has been troubling. The Kansas bench is really a liability. Players that are supposed to provide offensive production aren't doing so and others present a defensive liability. It's to the point where you wonder if Self would play his five starters for 40 minutes if he could.
The good news is that the second half marked a bit of a turning point. With the full slate of starters back in the game the Jayhawks pushed the lead out early in the second half and put some distance in between themselves and the Sooners. That lead would extend to over 30 and hold for the an easy second half win. Play basketball the way Kansas did in the second 20 minutes and they can be pretty effective.
It boils down to the fact that this Kansas team is can be very good when the starting five are clicking. They can be very good if Tyshawn Taylor or Thomas Robinson are playing at a high level. They start to struggle when they run into foul trouble or if they have to look elsewhere for significant offensive production. The bench just isn't getting it done. Fortunately Kansas has Bill Self pacing courtside and he's proven time and time again that he can manage a team as well as anyone.
Kansas wins by a final score of 84-62. The Jayhawks were led by Thomas Robinson who continued his player of the year campaign with a 20 points 16 rebound night. Tyshawn Taylor added 21, Jeff Withey dropped 15 and Travis Releford provided a nice lift with 12. Overall the Jayhawks had four starters in double figures. It's the formula for a successful night in Lawrence. Even despite the bench criticism, Kansas received a nine point bench effort although most of it was late.
Now all the focus shifts to a huge game in Columbia. With the Border War looming the issues in this one are probably magnified a bit, but Kansas did a pretty solid job in a lot of areas. If they can button it up for a full 40 minutes and come out with consistent energy and focus, then Kansas will give it a good run on Saturday. Win that game in Columbia and things are looking pretty good. Lose and the margin for error becomes that much smaller.
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We needed that 2nd half
Hadn’t looked that good since Baylor. Maybe we’ll be re-energized now for paige/mizzou/hearnes/thedeepsouth
Our streak without losing two in a row got a little mention in the ESPN recap.
They have also gone 225 games without consecutive defeats, the longest streak in the nation. Duke is next at 110 games.
Nice to see.
That really is an impressive stat.
Hopefully that will continue through this next week :)
by MichiganJayHawk on Feb 2, 2012 7:43 AM CST up reply actions
Even though the stat sheet doesn't totally show it...
I thought EJ played a pretty good game. He always seemed under control, most of his shots were in the flow of the offense, he didn’t try to do to much, and he even got into the lane and collapsed the defense on a couple occasions.
Supporter of Carlos Austin Boozer
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 1, 2012 10:59 PM CST reply actions
I thought EJ was trying to do all the right things.
But it is obvious that he’s not nearly as confident driving the ball as TT. He also needs to stop telegraphing his passes, something that TT used to do as well, but suddenly (and thankfully) doesn’t seem to do so much anymore.
The bench has to step up on Saturday!
Only nine points from the bench with three rebounds! Teahan also better find his shot in the next three days.. 1-5 night in and night out is driving me crazy!
That's like praying for the ability to levitate.
It won’t happen.
Supporter of Carlos Austin Boozer, and I don't want to see Dwight Howard in a Bulls uniform. Call me crazy.
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 2, 2012 3:21 PM CST up reply actions
He's just slow.
And does not anticipate all that well. That’s all there is to it.
I think we were spoiled by Reed and Morningstar. And in fairness, the team as a whole has not done well on 50/50 balls in the last few weeks.
Beyond being slow, he just doesn't go after them assertively,
He pulls back his hands and gives up quick.
You’re right of course that the whole team has been like that lately. Even in the run last night it felt more like OU blinked than KU woke up.
You all can hate me for saying this,
but I give us about a 12% chance of winning in Columbia this weekend. This is being treated like their national championship game (which it might as well be, since they’ve never been to one), and w/ the rivalry ending, etc. it’s gonna be a crazy environment. I don’t expect us to win the game, but if we somehow do pull it off, LOOK OUT. This could be a Final Four-caliber team if we win in Columbia.
Criticize FHOFNCHCBS at your own risk...
Sadly have to agree too.
This team is fully capable of dismantling MU, but the question is will they show up to do the job?
At least we get the final parting shot in Allen Field House :)
by MichiganJayHawk on Feb 2, 2012 7:45 AM CST up reply actions
a must win for many, many reasons
The name of that song played at KC Comets games in the '80's was Giorgio Moroder's "The Chase." Now you know.
One thing I am optimistic about
this team has played well in the “big games” except for the second half of the Kentucky game.
by jhwk316 on Feb 2, 2012 8:26 AM CST via Android app up reply actions
I agree as well.
I have seen almost every game they have played this year and, much as I hate to say it, they are really good when playing at home this year.
Like you, I am not expecting a win Sat. But, if we manage to get one it will be HUGE in many ways.
Have that same feeling
Just hoping it’s close, no matter who wins. Don’t want to look bad in the national spotlight.
One thing most of us forget
is that two teams take the floor for a game . . .
I feel much more secure about the energy/skill/composure of our Jayhawks than of their Tigers. This game is up in the air because MU has a much wider range of possible performances than KU, IMO. They may go either way, given the importance they are placing on the game. If they are at the top of their game, 12% chance of KU winning may be gospel, but I just don’t see that happening. They showed feet of clay in Manhattan, and could well melt in their own pressure cooker.
Either way, this is the tenth game of eighteen in conference season, so it really is just one more W for one team and another L for the other. There will be more crucial games later this month. I mean more games as well as more crucial, at least in terms of the conference championship.
RRROOOOCK CHAAAALLLK! JAAAAYYYHAAAAWWWK! KAAAAYYY UUuuuUU!
Hello
I am new to these parts and unfortunately do not get to see as many games as I would like to since I live on the East coast but it seems like a lack of depth and a weak bench are the biggest issues this team faces. Is that a fair assessment?
In the end though, a win is a win and hopefully KU can do the same on Saturday and smack Mizzou back to reality.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Definitely a fair assessment.
We could have really used McLemore and Traylor.
Questions, Comments? email me at denverjhawk@hotmail.com
Absolutely.
Will they be able to join the team next year? Haven’t heard a ton about them since they were ruled ineligible.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
yes
and have all 4 years of eligibility
I write everywhere. You're probably better off following me on twitter
They did well in classes (3.0 and 3.2 gpa)
and are now practicing with the team. That may be showing up in the way Travis and Jeff have been able to step up. Team depth may be just as important in competitive practices as it is in game minutes.
RRROOOOCK CHAAAALLLK! JAAAAYYYHAAAAWWWK! KAAAAYYY UUuuuUU!
I'll go against the grain and say KU's biggest problem
is poor perimeter shooting.
Yeah, the bench is paper thin. But even if we had two of every starter, I think we’d still be missing a piece.
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