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| The Kansas Jayhawks journeyed into Bramlage Coliseum tonight and did what they always do in Manhattan: WIN. KU headed back to Lawrence for the 18th year in a row with a 77-65 victory over K-State. Lots of things to talk about after this win, so let’s get started:
- Welcome Back, Drew!! After missing the last five games with a wrist injury, the Goodenator comes up with a game-high 17 points (on 6 of 10 shooting and 5 of 6 from the free throw line), a team-high 7 rebounds, and 1 block (which he had in the first minute he was on the court) in 21 minutes!!!! What a performance. It was pure joy to see Drew back on the court, playing with the fire and intensity that KU fans have come to know and love. Yes, Drew stepped up big and was very active down low, particularly in the second half when he put the team on his back and carried the load offensively for a few possessions. One thing is certain: DREW IS BACK and the timing couldn’t be better! Drew, his teammates, the coaches and the fans have to be thrilled with how quickly he picked up right where he left off. If this was the "work out the kinks" game, I can’t wait to see what he does when the Misery Tiggers come to Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday.
Honorary STUDS OF THE GAME? Step right up Carey, Zerbe, Ballard, Harrison and Kappelman. Coach Williams pulled the starters after a pathetic display of basketball in the first 6.5 minutes of the first half. Turnovers. Offensive fouls. Giving up offensive boards. It was ugly, pure and simple. ENTER THE WALK-ONS!! With 12:31 to go in the half, Coach Williams turned to the walk-ons and Carey. The bunch stepped up, with Ballard nailing a 3 and Zerbe hitting two free throws. When the starters returned, the walk-ons had used a 5-0 run to bring the Jayhawks within one (13-12). Congratulations fellas. That was a helluva effort and I think you showed the KU coaches, players and fans just how much it means to you to have KANSAS across your chest. Nice job.
As a side note, I was happy to see Coach Williams pull the starters quickly and react to the situation. It was the right decision and one that would have come in handy at Baylor a few weeks ago.
- Nick Collison (13 pts on 5 of 10 shooting, 6 rebounds in 27 minutes) had another solid game. The team again made a concentrated effort to get the ball down low to Nick, particularly in the second half, and Nick responded. I really noticed tonight just how hard it is to stop Nick when he is committed to establishing position in the paint. That stretch in the second half was simply textbook. I’ve said it all year and I’ll say it again: KU fans are really fortunate to get to watch Nick night in and night out. If the team goes to him, he produces. Simple as that.
- Rebounds: KU 35 KSU 35. K-State had 13 offensive rebounds to KU’s 6. Unacceptable. I know, I know…we played a lot of zone and did a lot of trapping, leaving guys out of position for rebounds. The bottom line is that KU’s big men are much more talented that the K-State big men and rebounding is usually determined by how much harder one team works versus the other. Tonight, the more talented KU big men worked just good enough to keep up with the hustling big men of K-State. I realize we got the win and that is what is important, but KU has been giving up a lot of offensive boards lately and it is definitely an area of concern.
- Free Throw shooting: KU was 21 of 27 for 78%. Much better, boys. Keep it up. You’ll need every one of those free points in the post-season.
- K-State is a talented team that works really hard. They are well-coached and they hustle. No, this is not the Asbury-Cats. This version of the Wildcats believe they can win and they don’t give up. So then why did K-State lose? 24 for 67 (35.8%) from the field and 2 of 14 (14.3%) from 3-point range. If K-State would have hit a few more 3’s (like everyone else in the league has done against KU), the outcome of this game may have been different.
- This streak is simply amazing, isn’t it? 18 in a row on K-State’s home court. K-State has never beaten KU in Bramlage Coliseum. I’m not talking about this to disrespect K-State. I am just amazed by the complete dominance over such an extended period of time. "The Streak" is one of the more amazing stats in college basketball, if not in all of sport.
- WARNING: ZEBRA RANT DEAD AHEAD: Was it me or was the officiating horrendous in this game? The officials were apparently trying to send a message that they would be calling the game close. The Jayhawks were whistled for 4 offensive fouls in the first 5 minutes of the game. When is the last time 4 offensive fouls were called on one team in the first five minutes of a college basketball game? Bottom line: It rarely happens. In addition, is there any other player in college basketball that gets whistled for more fouls without actually committing a foul than Eric Chenowith? I really feel for the big man when he puts his arms straight up in the air and gets whistled for yet another "phantom" foul.
40 fouls in 40 minutes. That number isn’t outrageous when you look at total foul counts for other games, but it was the manner in which the fouls were called that bothered me. Neither team could establish any kind of rhythm or put together any kind of run because the officials called a foul virtually every time down the court. In addition, the zebras missed several traveling calls (on KU as well) and several calls where players stepped out of bounds on the baseline. I’m not even bringing this up to argue one way or another that the officials impacted the outcome. I’m bringing it up because the players need to be allowed to play. The game isn’t much fun to watch or play when so many stoppages occur. Interestingly, when the officials began to ease up with around 7 minutes to go in the game, the Jayhawks began to pull away. Also interesting that Ed Hightower was calling the game. He was a participant in many horrible officiated games when I was in school. You know how I know he’s bad? Because every Jayhawk fan knows who he is. Fans aren’t supposed to know ref’s names. Only if they regularly draw attention to themselves does that happen. Ok, enough of my zebra rant……….
- Kenny Gregory had a solid game, chipping in 13 points (on 5 of 10 shooting), 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 36 minutes. More impressive was Kenny hitting 2 of 4 from 3 point range. He is definitely looking more comfortable shooting the 3 and I think Coach Williams is getting more comfortable with it as well…….as long as Kenny keeps shooting over 40% from the arc, that is.
- Kirk Hinrich played another solid game (12 points on 3 of 6 shooting, 2 of 4 from 3-pt range, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists to only 2 turnovers, in 34 minutes). All 12 of Kirk’s points came in the second half. Kirk got whistled for two offensive fouls early and Coach Williams took him out, thus moving Boschee to the point. Anyone who doesn’t think that Kirk Hinrich is the most valuable player on this team needs to go back and watch how much the team struggled without him on the court. He is the natural leader at the point and there is a big difference between the Jayhawks with Kirk and without him. He is the consummate floor leader and I’m glad he plays for the good guys.
- Coach Williams is beginning to focus on giving the minutes to the core group of players as we head into the post-season. Barring any unforeseen issues, Collison, Gooden, Gregory, Chenowith, Boschee, and Hinrich will be shouldering the load the rest of the way. When you get into the post-season, you want to win or lose with your best players on the court. That being said, I’d really like to see Jeff Carey get 10 minutes or so per game, but I don’t think Coach Williams will do it. Regardless, it’s nice to know we can turn to our bench if we need them because those guys have proven that they are up to the challenge.
- Eric Chenowith had another solid, low key game. 8 points on 2 of 5 shooting, 4 of 4 at the free throw line, 5 boards in 24 minutes. Eric has been playing within himself the last 3 or 4 games and it’s good to see. He is letting the game come to him and not forcing many bad shots. With Drew back and Collison playing better and better, Eric definitely seems to be understanding that he is just a small piece of the puzzle in the paint. Keep up the good work, Eric. Play smart and play within yourself. That is the best thing you can do to help this team.
- Jeff Boschee (11 points on 4 of 7 shooting, 1 of 3 from 3pt range, in 37 minutes) had a pretty average game. One surprising stat is Jeff had only 1 assist and 4 turnovers. Jeff did not do much statistically in this game, but continues to play solid defense (though he did get burned on a few jump shots in the second half). I think the defensive effort Jeff has been giving has been affecting the rest of his game. I’m not worried about Jeff, though, as he has had a tremendous year and has really increased his overall contribution.
And now the real fun begins. The Misery Tiggers come to Allen Fieldhouse this Sunday, Senior Day. The Allen Fieldhouse faithful will say goodbye to seniors Kenny Gregory, Eric Chenowith and Luke Axtell. Let’s hope the fellas send the Tiggers home with their tails between their legs and the Kansas seniors have a fond memory of their last game in the house that Phog built.
Make no mistake: Allen Fieldhouse will be Rockin and Chalkin on Sunday.
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