A (semi) Statistical Recap of South Florida

Well let's get this out of the way: Yesterday certainly wasn't pretty. But if you look beyond the ugliness Kansas played pretty effectively in yesterday's win over South Florida, winning by 28 despite a lackluster first half. The tide turned in the second half, however, as Kansas's 2nd half outscored South Florida's entire game output.

Kansas's 1.09 points per possession is not bad but not great, but it's painfully obvious that the halfcourt offense is a disaster at times. But as bad as the offense has been, the defense has been phenomenal this year. Yesterday's game was no exception, as Kansas held the Bulls to just .66 points per trip. Kansas held the Bulls to just 37.9% shooting from two and in a shocking development, only 23.5% from three.

But you all know about the defense. Let's quickly talk about the offense and how it might have been not as bad as it looked: they shot 64% from two, which helps offset some poor three point shooting, they grabbed 31% of their misses and had a 48% FT Rate. Their turnover rate (21.9%) was pretty bad but the game was only 64 possessions and I think it's a bit easier to have your TO% blow up like that in a low possession game (side note: it seemed a lot quicker of a game than that). They're obviously better in transition, but if they make threes they have the ability to score in the half court fairly well too I think. Bottom line is this team is going to be a lot better in March than it is right now, which is something we haven't really been able to say for a couple of years now.

• RIP Thomas Robinson's double double streak. Still he had a much better game in this one than against FAU. 6-9 from two, 2-3 from the line and led the team in both rebounds and steals. He probably would have gotten his double double had he not had a couple stolen from him. Sidenote: I saw a couple people tweet yesterday that they wish Self would have left him in to get the double double, which is profoundly stupid given the risk of injury and how important he is to the team (and, quite frankly, how important it is that he become a high lotto pick and make millions of dollars).
• Even though he had 5 turnovers, this was easily Tyshawn's best game of the year. He had 24 points and did it extremely efficiently, going 4-4, 4-6, 4-6. He also had 5 assists. Suffice it to say if he played like this every game we have some legitimate final four hopes.
• Conner Teahan was somehow both 1-6 from three and had 11 points. He turned into quite the slasher yesterday, getting to the line for 5 free throws. Look out, Kidd-Gillchrist!
• Another awful game for Elijah, who went 1-8 from three. I'm glad he has confidence in his shot, and it definitely beats him playing scared, but maybe make a jumper one of these times. He didn't turn it over once though, which is something to be said in this game.
• Kevin Young played only 5 minutes, but had 6 rebounds (stealing one from Robinson in the process). 5 of them were defensive boards, giving him a hilarious 121.2% defensive rebounding rate