| They almost did it. They almost pulled it out. The Kansas Jayhawks went to Ames, IA and gave the Iowa State Cyclones all they could handle. In the end, it wasn’t enough, as the Jayhawks fell 79-71 to the best team in the Big XII over the last two seasons.
I’ve had a bit of time to reflect on this game and it is clear to me that there are a couple of stories woven into the fabric of this loss. The first story focuses on why KU should have won this game. The second story focuses on why they didn’t.
STORY #1—WHY KU SHOULD HAVE WON
--The revenge factor
KU had lost 4 straight to Iowa State. Native Iowans Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich had never beaten the Cyclones. Iowa State beat KU just a couple of weeks ago in Lawrence, the second time the Cyclones had come into Phog Allen Fieldhouse in the last two seasons and wrestled away a victory. This game was payback time and a chance for the Jayhawks to reestablish their legacy as the best in the Big XII.
--The motivation factor
-KU was coming off one of the most embarrassing losses in the history of the program. The loss at Baylor firmly planted serious doubts in the heads of the players, coaches and fans on the character and ability of the team. Even Coach Williams openly criticized/challenged the team’s lack of effort and focus. The Jayhawks came out flat, played with no emotion in the first half, and were humiliated on national television to a team that, traditionally, has been in the lower tier of the Big XII. The game at Iowa State was a chance for redemption; a chance to remind themselves (and the rest of the Big XII) what it means to wear the Kansas jersey.
--The stats
-FG %: KU 58% Iowa State 45%
-KU shot 61% from the field in the 2nd half.
-The Jayhawks were 8 of 15 (53%) from 3 point land.
-KU’s guards held Jamaal Tinsley and Kantrail Horton to a combined 3 for 21 (14%) from the field. Tinsley ended with 11 points and Horton had 6.
-KU had four players in double figures (Chenowith, Boschee, Hinrich, and Gregory). Nick Collison just missed double figures with 8 points.
-KU had 7 blocks
--Uncle MO
-The Jayhawks made a great run heading into half-time. Kirk Hinrich dribbled the ball in the lane and missed an off-balance shot. Iowa State got the rebound and took off downcourt. Hinrich came from behind and stole the ball. The clock was ticking down. Hinrich pulls up for the 3 as the last seconds of the half tick off the clock………WHAMMO! KU headed into half-time down 37-36, completely pumped up and feeling they had taken control of the game. The Iowa State fans and players looked worried. Uncle MOMENTUM was in the KU lockerroom.
STORY #2—WHY KU DIDN’T WIN
-Turnovers
-KU committed a season high 22 turnovers. The Jayhawks turned the ball over on 7 of their first 10 possessions in the second half. The lead went to 9 and eventually to 14. The turnovers to start the second half simply destroyed the Jayhawks. One thing was clear to just about everyone in the building: Uncle MO was now wearing an Iowa State jersey.
-Free Throws
--The Jayhawks were a woeful 3 of 8 (38%) from the free throw line, including an embarrassing airball from Kenny Gregory. The Cyclones were 19 of 24 (79%) from the free throw line. Yep, that’s right, folks, Iowa State had 3 times as many free throw attempts as KU. Many KU fans would like to blame the officiating and an argument certainly could be made that there were some questionable calls against Kansas. However, Iowa State regularly gets to the free throw line more than their opponents because of their ability to penetrate in the lane and draw fouls. It is good coaching and good execution that gets them to the line. And when they get there, they make their shots.
-Steals
-Iowa State had THIRTEEN steals. I’m not sure how many of those steals led directly to points, but it’s safe to assume many of them did. And those are points the Jayhawks could not afford to give up in an 8-point loss.
-KU was shorthanded
-This is in no way intended to be seen as an excuse. This is in no way intended to take anything away from Iowa State. This is in no way insinuating that KU definitely would have won if they were at full strength, BUT………playing this game without Drew Gooden, arguably the best player on the team, certainly makes one wonder what would have happened if Drew was able to play. Drew is a force on both ends of the court and brings intensity and emotion to the Jayhawk team. In addition, Drew has a much better on-court chemistry with Nick Collison than Eric Chenowith does.
-Iowa State beat KU in Lawrence with Drew playing with an injured wrist and this time they beat KU with Drew on the bench. Additionally, Luke Axtell played on a bad back the first game and did not even make the trip to Ames. Finally, Mario Kinsey left the team to focus on academics. While Kinsey was not much of a factor on the court, he did provide some depth at the guard spot.
-These factors must be taken into consideration when KU fans look at this loss. Even ISU coach Larry Eustachy agrees: "Come tourney time, they're a better team. We didn't catch them at full-bore."
-I, for one, would really like to see a healthy KU team play Iowa State in the Big XII tournament.
--The Freshmen
Shane Power: "Jake and I were open so much because Kansas was so worried about Jamaal and Kantrail."
-Not only were they open, but they were hitting their shots. Iowa State’s two freshmen guards, Jake Sullivan and Shane Power, were awesome.
-Sullivan had 14 points in the first half , hitting 4 three pointers (3 in a row at one point). Off balance…from 25 feet…..Sullivan was simply "in the zone" during the first half and finished the game with a career-high 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting, 6 of 8 from 3-point range.
-Power was deadly from the perimeter and picked up where Sullivan left off in the second half. Power was 4 for 4 from 3-point range, 5 of 6 from the field, and scored a career-high 18 points.
--Iowa State is a great TEAM
-Roy Williams: "They've been the best team the past two years, I don't think there's any question."
-Iowa State had a 33 game home winning streak going into this game, were the defending Big XII champions, and gave eventual champion Michigan State a run for their money in the Elite Eight last year.
-Iowa State has beaten Kansas five times in a row. The last time Kansas lost five straight was to Oklahoma State from 1982-84.
-Jamaal Tinsley will be the Player of the Year in the Big XII. It is really hard to quantify just how much of a factor Tinsley is on the court. He was held to 11 points, but his leadership on the court, six steals, 11 assists, and free throw shooting (9 of 12) were critical. Roy Williams: "I think he's a great, great player……one of the best players I've coached against in 13 years.''
-Iowa State is loaded with seniors that execute, make minimal mistakes, and know how to win.
-Iowa State had a 29-27 rebounding edge. It was only the third time this season KU had been outrebounded.
-Iowa State plays tremendous team defense. The Jayhawks were rarely able to get the ball inside in the second half and, when they did, Iowa State’s defense made it very difficult to score.
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