KU Falls Flat Against WV

Others receiving votes? After a record-setting run of weeks in the Top 25, another streak may have just died after Kansas fell on the road to West Virginia, 91-79.

The first half of this one was pretty much a summary of this team’s January. The opponent was on fire from three (7-11), while KU wasn’t shooting enough from beyond the arc, and simultaneously missing way too many twos at the rim. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t lead to good results. The Jayhawks never held a lead at any point in the first 20 minutes, and went into the locker room down 44-34. David McCormack was the team’s leading scorer at that point with just seven, despite missing two bunnies that seemed to be well within dunking range.

In the second half, things started to even themselves out early. West Virginia didn’t go cold, but cooled off just enough, while KU’s twos started to go in the hoop. KU made up the deficit, even tying the game at one point and getting to within one point a couple more times. Unfortunately, things didn’t stay tight, and from the under-12 to the under-8, it went from a one possession game to a 72-65 West Virginia Lead. Things only got worse from there as West Virginia was back up by double digits by the final media timeout, and KU never threatened down the stretch.

McCormack ended up with 17, plus nine boards while shooting 7-12. Jalen Wilson showed flashes of what he was earlier in the season, putting in 16 with 14 boards and four assists. Christian Braun would definitely have been at the top of the play-hard chart, if Bill Self were into such absurdities, and scored 11 with seven boards and three steals, eventually fouling out in the waning minutes of the game. Marcus Garrett would end up leading the team in scoring with 18 points.

Kansas is now 12-7 on the year, and just 6-5 in Big 12 play. No rest for the weary in the conference either, as they have a quick turnaround, hosting Oklahoma State on Monday when they’ll try to make up for a rough loss in Stillwater last month.