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Defense is key for this team to grow

Let's look at it this way. The Kansas Jayhawks defense is improving. But not at the level Bill Self wants it to. After watching Monday Night's headturning affair on defense, which gave up 83 points to a then undefeated and unranked Toledo team. Which in force gave up 9 three pointers on letting them shoot 56% from behind the arc. Kansas, which only allowed New Mexico to shoot 2-14 from 3 point range and against Georgetown held them to an overall 36% from the field and a cool 28% from 3. Seemed to bring a bright spot back to Bill Self's most important staple as a coach..defense. The Jayhawks who are not necessarily a great shooting team. Though, they shot considerably well from the field in last game. Going 50% from 3 point range and 56% shooting overall. Shows us that KU offense is more ahead of itself then its defense. Kansas which had the advantage in this, much less every game thus far has given up way too many points in the paint to much smaller teams. Toledo's tallest player inside was 6'9''. Not a true force to defend against if you're 7 ft Joel Embiid and 6'10'' Perry Ellis.

If defending the 3 is key for the defense. Then most likely penetration defense is much important in defending aswell. Andrew Wiggins, which is Kansas' best on ball defender provides a tough matchup for opposing,undersized guards to shoot of off helps Kansas defense from three-point range much better. But Wayne Selden, Frank Mason, yes even veteran Naadir Tharpe havent done a great job being stout on ball defenders like in years past with Self teams. Such as Mario Chalmers, Keith Langford,Travis Releford and Brandon Rush. All of this lack of spot on defense, tends to broughton less support on the backside. Embiid and Ellis can't block out and defend everything back there. So as this season lingers on into Big 12 play. KU will face great shooting teams early. Such as Iowa State (a group of solid eagle eye shooter), Oklahoma State who brings it's baggage of Marcus Smart and Le'Byran Nash as dangerous outside threats for KU to defend against. This team will eventually become a good defending team, but in retrospect can they become a great one like the ones in years past under Self? We will see. Until then this young defense will have to rely on itself now, in order to get better in the midst of the season.

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