Big 12 Tournament: A (semi) Statistical Recap of TCU vs Kansas Basketball

Thanks to my constant complaints about the Big 12 tournament and hoping we lose in the first round every year I lose no credibility by saying it is a good thing Kansas lost to TCU yesterday. Not only does Kansas not have to play 3 games in 3 days, they also probably get a little kick in the ass and a reminder that they can’t quit playing for 10+ minutes of game time and not expect to get bit.

Offensively Kansas was fine, even with their long scoring drought. They turned it over a bit too much (19 percent of possessions), but shot 58 percent inside and a not good but acceptable 33 percent from deep. I would like them to have grabbed more than 21 percent of their misses, but that was more a function of Josh Jackson being out than anything I think.

Speaking of which, this seems like the type of game where Kansas might have been saved by Jackson being in the lineup, but I think they lost more due to not really wanting to be there more than missing anything Jackson was giving them. In any event, the offense was probably good enough to win, even if it didn’t go supernova.

Defensively, Kansas wasn’t great. They forced TCU to turnovers on 19 percent of their possessions (which is fine, if a little under their average) but the Frogs shot 37.5 percent from deep and 53 percent inside the arc. The 53 percent was especially bad considering Vlad Brodziansky was just 3-11 on twos and TCU doesn’t have any other especially talented players.

Devonte Graham hurting his ankle (another bonus of the loss: him getting to rest) probably hurt the perimeter defense a bit but beyond that I think it was moreso Kansas thinking all they needed to do to win was show up, so again it is a good thing that they are disabused of that notion before the NCAA tournament begins.

• Frank Mason had to play 40 minutes, which is not great, but he will have some rest now so oh well. He was 4-7 on twos, 3-8 from three, and 12-13 from the line with 6 assists and 3 turnovers. The biggest loss from this game probably is it takes away a couple opportunities for Mason to vault up the KU all time scoring chart, and maybe some idiot thinks conference tournaments are the be all end all and gives his player of the year award to someone else.
• Landen Lucas was 5-7 on twos and had 14 rebounds. He also turned it over 4 times but had 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. If KU gets that Lucas all March they will be tough to beat.
• Svi Mykhailiuk had some very good things happen. He was 4-8 from deep and made both his twos, but again got lost in the corner and committed the foul to give TCU the win. There isn’t anything more to say on that I guess other than I doubt he lets it happen again.
• Devonte Graham had a rough game after turning his ankle, finishing just 2-10 from dep and letting that affect him a bit on the defensive end.
• Lagerald Vick was 3-6 on twos and 1-4 from three with 6 rebounds. He filled in well on the glass for Josh Jackson but obviously doesn’t have the same all around game that Jackson does.
• Carlton Bragg played just 12 minutes, and I was hoping to see more. He didn’t play very well, but it would have been an opportunity to get him some more minutes.
• Dwight Coleby played 6 minutes, scoring 2 points and blocking 2 shots, but he also committed 3 fouls.
• Mitch Lightfoot played a minute and had a turnover.