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| We’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!
The Kansas Jayhawks, coming off two dominating performances in Dayton, sent a message this past weekend: Kansas basketball is back……….in the Sweet 16. The Jayhawks put together two of their strongest performances of the season and are arguably playing the best basketball of any team in the NCAA tournament. Yes, indeed, Jayhawk fans….the wins over Cal-State Northridge (99-75) and Syracuse (87-58), let the country know the Jayhawks are back!! My, oh my, how sweet it is!!
As you would expect, I’ve got a motherload of thoughts and observations from this past weekend’s action, so let’s get to it, starting with the players first:
THE PLAYERS (in no particular order)
- Kenny Gregory: Kenny called a “players only” meeting to get the team focused and to put behind the “bickering” that arose after the loss to OU in the Big XII tournament. I guess it worked. I give big-time credit to Kenny for officially taking the initiative to be the Senior leader this team needed. He stepped up and did it exactly when the team needed it. Against CSNU and Syracuse, we saw from KG what we’ve been seeing all season long: CONSISTENT PRODUCTION. 33 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, while averaging around 33 minutes a game. Included were a few high-flying dunks and one pretty, athletic drive in the lane against Syracuse, resulting in a scoop shot off the glass for two. Poetry in motion. Nice job, Kenny.
- Brett Ballard: Wow. Jayhawk fans simply have no choice but to love Brett Ballard. He is living out his dream…….actually, he’s living out more than he ever dreamed. Averaging 16 minutes in the tournament, Ballard showed that he is a more-than-capable backup to Hinrich and Boschee. Looking at his numbers from the CSNU game backs this up: 8 points, 2 of 4 from 3-point land, 5 assists to 1 turnover, and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Visions of Clint Normore dance through my head. Nice job, Brett. In a short time, you have become a very important part of this team and we’re glad to have you.
- Drew Gooden: What more can I possibly say about Drew Gooden? Giving him the “Stud” stamp of approval doesn’t even come close to what Drew has done since returning from his wrist injury. 20 points and 6 boards against CSNU; 17 points and 15 rebounds against Syracuse. Gooden is a complete joy to watch; he steps up whenever the team needs him; he is continuously active on both sides of the court; he works soooooooo darn well with Nick Collison; he finishes down low with a regularity only matched by Collison; he gets fired up; he imposes his will to win on his teammates; his jump hook is sooooooo pretty; he passes like Danny Manning; his blocks always seem to send an intimidating message. Plain and simple. He is THE MAN. I wonder if Gatorade will come out with a song…… “Like Drew……..if I could be like Drew”. Nice job, Drew. It’s a pleasure watching you play. You and your classmates are going a long way in revitalizing the pride in Kansas basketball.
- Nick Collison: Just about everything I said about Drew could be repeated for Nick. 23 points (on 11 of 13 shooting) and 11 rebounds against CSNU; 9 points and 13 rebounds against Syracuse. Every time Nick shoots the ball, the following thought immediately comes to mind: COUNT IT. Nick routinely finishes down low; he’s a class act on and off the court; he’s been passing the ball with great precision (did I mention how great he and Drew are together?); he has no problem stepping up when the team needs a bucket; his stroke is so smooth; his work in the paint and his low-post moves are textbook; he never loses his composure, etc., etc. Keep up the great work, Nick.
- Eric Chenowith: Statistically, Eric had a quiet game against CSNU (2 points, 8 rebounds, in 17 minutes), but he bounced back with a solid performance against Syracuse (12 points, 8 of 8 from the free throw line, and 5 rebounds). Three things stick out when I think of Eric in the first two rounds of the tournament:
- Eric has only taken 5 shots. He has taken the ball strong to the hole and has yet (if my memory serves me right) to take a turnaround, fadeaway jump shot.
- He has completely and unselfishly accepted reduced minutes for the good of the team and has focused on what he does best, rebounding, when he does get in the game. This fact is, in my opinion, one of the biggest reasons the Jayhawks are in the Sweet 16.
- He’s having fun. It was so great to see Eric on the sideline smiling and enjoying himself. He has faced a lot of adversity on and off the court, and he is enjoying this ride more than any other player.
- Jeff Boschee: I want to be completely honest with everyone. Going into the tournament, Jeff was the player I was most concerned about. Why? Because his success from 3-point land would be critical to opening up things for Drew, Nick and Eric in the paint. And because I have seen one too many KU teams go home early due, in part, to horrendous 3-point shooting.
When Jeff is hot from the perimeter, he makes this team so much more dangerous. KU fans have seen both hot and cold spells from Jeff this season. The good news is that Jeff got hot at just the right time and I am hoping and praying he’s just warming up. 19 points (4 of 8 from 3-point range) against CSNU and 16 points (4 of 9 from 3-point range) and 7 rebounds against Syracuse. Jeff’s 3-point resurgence has been another big factor in this team’s tournament success. His ability to knock down the 3 has forced opposing defenses to respect KU’s perimeter shooting, particularly with Hinrich an uncharacteristic 2 of 6 from behind the arc in the tournament. Keep up the hot shooting, Jeff.
- Kirk Hinrich: Kirk has not been his usual self at the point in this tournament. I haven’t been able to quite put my finger on it, but something just doesn’t seem right. Against CSNU, Kirk picked up two quick fouls (and the technical), had 7 points (1 for 4 from 3-point range), 9 assists, 6 turnovers in 23 minutes. That’s not your typical Kirk Hinrich line. He was a bit better in the Syracuse game, notching 10 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and one block, though he did have 4 turnovers and 4 fouls. Kirk seems to, at times, be over-pushing the action and running into the lane out of control. On one occasion, Kirk really surprised me when he took the ball to the hole himself (he was fouled and missed the shot) as he was leading a 3-on-1 fastbreak. Not really sure what he was thinking on that play.
Regardless, I’m not going to worry about Kirk too much. Statistically his numbers should be lower because the big men have been doing most of the scoring in the first couple of rounds, and that is exactly how Coach Williams wants it. Kirk continues to play strong defense and plays with a tremendous competitive drive. I feel good about Kirk going into the Sweet 16 and I hope to see a little more control and a few less turnovers.
OTHER THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS
- Is it me or is each and every hour of the day since KU’s win over Syracuse just that much better than the previous hour?
- Is it me or has the crisp passing and teamwork in the tournament reminded anyone else of those great KU teams of years gone by? The way the Jayhawks moved the ball around, and the unselfishness with which they played in the first two games, was simply a thing of beauty. No question: It’s Kansas basketball at it’s best.
- In case you didn’t catch it from one of the 10,000 times CBS broadcaster Tim Brando mentioned it: Jeff Boschee’s photograph is requested more than any other Jayhawk and apparently people think he could be one of The Backstreet Boys. This critical information discovered by CBS truly added invaluable perspective to their broadcast. And if you believe that, you’ll also believe that Coach Williams is recruiting me hard to replace Eric in the paint.
- What I loved the most about these two wins is that the Jayhawks stuck with the game plan of getting the ball inside to Nick and Drew. They didn’t get caught up in a 3-point shooting barrage and they stayed focused and went to the bread and butter; the inside game. That discipline was critical to the success in the first two rounds and will be even more critical going into the Sweet 16.
- Against CSNU, KU went on a 17-0 run to end the first half. CSNU had just taken the lead, 37-35, and the Jayhawks decided it was time to go for the kill. It was simply an impressive display of basketball.
- Some have mentioned that we are seeing a different Coach Williams in this tournament. I agree. He has made comments about wanting the guys to have fun; how he wants to enjoy this because he took some of his earlier success in the tournament for granted; the now infamous Stank ‘Em monkey that all the players got to rip off his back; showing the team videos of the 1991 and 1993 Final Four teams; making the decision to not start Eric in the Syracuse game, breaking the “rotating” pattern he has been using with the big men all season long; etc, etc. Coach Williams is taking this team to another level in the postseason, and the techniques he has been using make me recall his earlier, younger, more fiery years at Kansas. I, for one, love seeing it.
- Syracuse shot 21-69 (30%) from the field and 5-27 (18.5%) from 3-point land. Much of that was due to excellent zone defense by Kansas; the rest of it was due the fact that the Orangemen couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn
- Stats of note for the first and second rounds:
- KU averaged 58% from the field.
- KU averaged 50% from the 3 point line.
- KU averaged 78% from the free throw line.
- KU outrebounded CSNU and Syracuse by a combined total of 102 to 48. KU’s rebounding edge at half-time of the Syracuse game was 30-9. KU’s final rebounding margin of 56-23 over Syracuse was the fifth largest in NCAA tournament history. OUCH. Rebounding dominance like that is unbelievable.
- KU averaged nearly 22 assists per game.
- KU averaged 93 points per game.
- Did everyone hear Rick Pitino call KU’s execution vs. Syracuse “a clinic”? I loved hearing that.
- Remember the technical against Hinrich in the Cal-State Northridge game? Hinrich said he “didn’t remember” what he said to the official to earn the T. I was able to read his lips….He said, “Zoom Zoom”. (grin)
- How about Kenny Gregory’s change to his free-throw technique? Heck, I don’t care if spins on his back, as long as it helps his free throw percentage. So far, not too shabby…..Kenny is 4 of 7 (57%) in the tournament.
- KU had ZERO steals in the Syracuse game and still won by 29. Scary.
- The intentional-foul call on Ballard at the end of the first half vs. Syracuse was a missed call. Simple as that.
The Jayhawks now head to the Sweet Sixteen to face #1 seed Illinois. The Illini are a strong and physical team and will undoubtedly try to frustrate our post players. I think the Jayhawks will do just fine.
In the Sweet Sixteen again. Oh yes…….Kansas basketball is alive and well.
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